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This thread is for Alolan Sandslash. For Kantonian Sandslash, please go here.

If you have a good competitive moveset for Alolan Sandslash, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for any of its pre-evolutions can also be shared on this thread.

Be sure to include full set details in your post, e.g. items, abilities, natures and EVs. Some detail, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated. Access the full list of guidelines here.

Sandslash Pokédex and learnset for reference.

Alolan Sandslash sprite

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12 Answers

2 votes

SLUSH RUSH ABUSER

Sandslash @ Life Orb/Chople Berry
Ability: Slush Rush
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant/Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Icicle Crash
- Iron Head
- Earthquake

Both Icicle Crash and Iron Head are the main offensive moves. Both of them get STAB and 30% flinch rate. Earthquake completes the coverage allowing it to face opposing Steel and Rock types and punishing possible Fire opposition. Thanks to some key resistances as Psychic or Fairy and to its 120 base defense, it can set Swords Dance to raise its attack. For nature, go to Adamant if you want full power, or Jolly if you want to outspeed opposing non-scarf Pheromosa or scarf Genesect. Life Orb is the main item to use, but you can use Chople Berry to survive a Fighting move and set up or attack.

Alola Sandslash main partner is Alola Ninetales which set up hail, Aurora Veil and can scare Fighting types with Moonblast. That Hail+Aurora Veil support allows Sandslash to do its job to the fullest (Vanilluxe can also fit for that role, but in a lesser way).

Another great partner could be Dugtrio, thanks to its power to trap and eliminate Steel, Rock, and Fire types, making easier the work of Sandslash (have in mind Alolan Marowak can't be trapped). Magnezone could be also considered for trapping Skarmory and Celesteela.

http://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/alola-sandslash.3588582/

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edited by
How rare is the ability slush rush?
It's a hidden ability so your going to need to do some SOS chaining
1 vote

Gen 8 PU
Sandslash
Sandslash-Alola @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Slush Rush
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Icicle Crash / Triple Axel
- Earthquake
- Rapid Spin
- Swords Dance

Icicle Crash is STAB. You could use Triple Axel instead of Icicle Crash. Earthquake deals with fire types. Rapid Spin clears away entry hazards on your side and gives you a speed boost. Swords Dance boosts your attack.

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edited by
No Ice STAB?
1 vote

Gen 8 PU


Sandslash-Alola @ Choice Band / Life Orb
Ability: Slush Rush
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly / Adamant Nature

  • Triple Axel
  • Earthquake
  • Knock Off
  • Iron Head / Rock Slide

Triple Axel is multi-hit and very powerful Ice type STAB that covers Ground types too. Earthquake is coverage against Fire types. Knock Off is item removal. Iron Head is STAB. Alolan Sandslash has a great matchup against most Defog users, as they are almost all Flying types. However, it struggles against Defog Flame Body Talonflame, which is why Rock Slide can be used.

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1 vote

Sandslash-Alola @ Chople Berry/Life Orb
Ability: Slush Rush
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant/Jolly Nature
- Hone Claws
- Triple Axel
- Iron Tail
- Drill Run/Earthquake

Slush Rush abuser. Use after a hail setter. For items you can go chople berry or life orb. Personally, I prefer life orb because he will probably get one shotted by a fighting type move anyway. I prefer adamant to jolly nature because if hail is activated only Ninjask, Regieleki, and Deoxys will be able to out speed him with max EV and IV speed, and he is too low of a tier to deal with any of them except ninjask, who probably will not do much to him anyway considering this guy's defense. hone claws is to boost attack and to make triple axel and iron tail more reliable. Drill run and earthquake are for coverage.

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1 vote


Sandslash-Alola @ Wide Lens
Ability: Slush Rush
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Triple Axel
- Iron Head
- Earthquake / Brick Break / Rock Slide

Use this as a Slush Rush sweeper in Hail teams. Swords Dance to double attack. Triple Axel is STAB, and also increases power each turn (the miss chance is lowered by the wide lens). Iron Head for STAB with a nice flinch. The other moves are all for good coverage that help make it a more viable Slush Rush sweeper.

Have fun using this set, hope I helped! :D

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1 vote

Gen 9 NU Snow Sweeper

Sandslash-Alola @ Life Orb
Ability: Slush Rush
Tera Type: Ice
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant / Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Icicle Crash / Ice Spinner
- Earthquake / Iron Head
- Knock Off

Alolan Sandslash dropped to NU recently, making Snow teams a viable archetype in Gen 9 NU. This set is used on Snow teams. Swords Dance makes Alolan Sandslash a scary threat under Snow. Icicle Crash is Alolan Sandslash's strongest Ice STAB also having a chance to flinch opposing Pokemon. Ice Spinner can be used instead if you want an accurate Ice STAB. Earthquake lets Alolan Sandslash hit Pokemon who resist its Icicle Crash such as Copperajah, Coalossal, opposing Alolan Sandslash, Salazzle, Klefki, and Qwilfish. Iron Head can be used instead if you want to have a Steel STAB to hit Piloswine, Avalugg, and Glastrier super effectively. If Orthworm gets more popular to try to stop this icy threat, you could slot in Low Kick in the Earthquake / Iron Head slot to hit Orthworm super effectively. Knock Off lets Alolan Sandslash hit Bronzong super effectively so it doesn't get walled by it. Knock Off also lets Alolan Sandslash remove items from opposing Pokemon.

Life Orb boosts the power of Alolan Sandslash's attacks to make this thing a scarier threat. Tera Ice is used to make Alolan Sandslash's Ice STAB go brr, while still retaining the +1 defense boost from Snow. You could use another Tera Type such as Tera Flying to shed off some weaknesses. Adamant Nature lets Alolan Sandslash have more power, while Jolly Nature allows Alolan Sandslash to outspeed fast Pokeomon such as Choice Scarf Bruxish when Snow is up.

Abomasnow is a mandatory teammate, as it sets up Snow to give Alolan Sandslash a +1 Defense boost and activate Slush Rush. Abomasnow can also setup Aurora Veil to help Alolan Sandslash setup. Eject Button Hattrem is a good teammate to deny hazards and potentially help get Alolan Sandslash in via Eject Button. Hattrem also provides Healing Wish support. Fighting checks such Gligar and Qwilfish are nice to be able to switch into Fighting-types such as Heracross and Tauros-Paldea-Blaze.

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0 votes

Alolan Sandslash @ Leftovers
Ability: Snow Cloak
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant / Jolly Nature
- Hail
- Icicle Crash / Iron Head
- Leech Life
- Aerial Ace

This set is a bit of a speedy, evasive tank. Always set up with Hail, and heal with Leech Life as necessary. Aerial Ace is there for coverage against Fighting and Ground types, I didn't include coverage for Fire because Alolan Sandslash should never go against a Fire type because of its 4× weakness. Lastly your real hard hitters are EITHER Icicle Crash or Iron Head both of them are very strong moves with a good chance to make the opponent flinch, so either one is a good pick.

A great teammate to have can definitely be Walrein with Ice Body to heal itself and even for Walrein to use Hail freeing up Alolan Sandslash to have BOTH Icicle Crash and Iron Head.

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edited by
Snow cloak ?
........ LOL
...ice can cover ground, flying isn't supereffective against ground...
Best to have Slush rush at all times Lol otherwise, you're screwed.
It's not that hard to hunt a HA, just sos call at least 30 times,get trevenant with harvest skill swap and trick, use skill swap to change the pokemon's ability to the pokemon that used skill swap then use trick to give it your leppa berry then get a pokemon with false swipe, I would max out it's attack because alola sandshrew gets iron defense that sharply raises it's defense, then sos call at least 30 sandshrew, Then use skill swap on the 30th sos called sanshrew to see if it has slush rush, if not keep repeating each time it sos calls a sandshrew until it has slush rush, then get your leppa berry back with trick, then knock it out then proceed to catch the ha sandshrew. I suggest getting T wave pokemon or one with spore, when a pokemon has a status condition, it cannot call for help. So that's your chance to catch it.  it seems complicated when I explain, but it's easier to just do it and you'll learn as you go. Who knows, you might even get a shiny trying to hunt down it's HA :) Happy hunting
0 votes

Speed is Key

Sandslash @ King's Rock / Life Orb / Focus Sash
Ability: Slush Rush
EVs: 252 Spe / 126 Atk / 126 Def / 4 SpD OR 252 Spe / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Jolly Nature
- Hail
- Icicle Spear / Icicle Crash
- Iron Head / Earthquake / Aerial Ace / Rock Slide
- Swords Dance / Fling

Reasonings:
I based my Alolan Sandslash around Speed. That's why I chose Slush Rush over Snow Cloak. It can hold a King's Rock for Fling and making other moves get a better flinch rate. (Only choose Fling with a King's Rock.) Life Orb for better power in its attacks, and Focus Sash to withstand a super-effective Fire or Fighting type move. These EV spreads I find useful for Sandslash, to unlock its true power.

Its moveset I had trouble filling in, so here's what I came up with.
-Hail is necessary for activating Slush Rush. The Focus Sash is useful with this move so that he can take a hit while setting up.
-Icicle Spear has better accuracy, better power 1/4 of the time, and can break through Substitutes and Focus Sashes. Icicle Crash is better for flinching, and usually more power. Both get STAB.
-Any of these moves can be used. Iron Head for STAB and flinching, Earthquake to counter Fire type with good power, Aerial Ace to counter Fighting types and has unlimited accuracy, or Rock Slide to counter Fire types and flinch.
-You should probably go with Swords Dance. Only have Fling if you're holding a King's Rock, and even then you still might want Swords Dance. This can also be a flinch master set.

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0 votes

Gen 8 Super Hail Sweeper

Sandslash-Alola @ Life Orb
Ability: Slush Rush
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Iron Head
- Triple Axel
- Earthquake

Quick Note: This Set works well ONLY in hail, please mind that.

Set Explanation:
Both Iron Head and Triple Axel are its STAB moves, Iron Head has also 30% to flinch and 100% accuracy which is pretty nice, and Triple Axel is good because it can turn up to a power of 120. Sword Dance for good stat boosting, and Earthquake for covering Fire types. And if you want, here’s the calculation:

+2 (After Sword Dance) 252+ Atk Life Orb Sandslash-Alola Iron Head vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Shuckle: 242-283 (99.1 - 115.9%) -- 87.5% chance to OHKO

+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Sandslash-Alola Triple Axel (40 BP) (3 hits) vs. 200 HP / 252+ Def Blissey: 846-999 (120.6 - 142.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO

OMG! See how strong this set is It could kill Shuckle and Blissy without a minute!

I really like this set. Seems Slush Rush also makes it faster than the other in Hail, hope you guys like it too!

Teammate Suggestion see HERE

Hope I helps!

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edited by
It’s a really good set up for possibly a double battle or lead off with an Alolan nine tails with snow warning too set up the hail and then switch into Sandslash
haha, good choice. But i mainly play single, and click the green triangle button pointing on top if you think this answer was helpful!
0 votes

Gen 8 NU

Sandslash-Alola @ Wide Lens
Ability: Slush Rush
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Triple Axel
- Knock Off
- Rapid Spin

With the quickbanning of Mienshao, hail abusers have gotten better. Earthquake is for coverage against things like Copperajah. Triple Axel is STAB and hits 3 times, each hit getting more powerful. Knock Off is to remove the opponent's item. Rapid Spin is to clear away entry hazards. Before you go and say Wide Lens is bad, here me out please. Wide Lens gives your STAB move Triple Axel better accuracy and can land 3 hits more consistently. Wide Lens is even the most item used on Alolan-Sandslash for the High Ladder Gen 8 NU Usage Stats.

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0 votes

Gen 8 NU

Sandslash-Alola @ Leftovers / Heavy Duty Boots
Ability: Snow Cloak / Slush Rush (Doesn't matter which ability you use)
EVs: 252 HP / 212 SpD / 44 Spe
Careful Nature
- Spikes
- Knock Off
- Rapid Spin
- Toxic

If you want to use Alolan Sandslash as a Spikes setter, here you go. Spikes is for setting up Spikes. Knock Off removes items from Pokemon and can annoy fire types like Arcanine and Talonflame switching in (be careful of using Knock Off on Talonflame though) by removing their Heavy Duty Boots. Rapid Spin is for clearing away hazards on your side. Toxic can also annoy swittch ins by slowly wearing them down. 252 HP EVs is to help with maximizing your bulk. 44 Speed EVs allow you to outspeed Vaporeon running 40 (or 36?) speed EVs. The rest of the EVs are in Special Defense to help you take special defense. Leftovers can be used for a little HP recovery. Heavy Duty Boots can be used instead so you won't get worn down by hazards.

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0 votes

Sandslash-Alola @ Leftovers
Ability: Snow Cloak
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Def / 4 HP
Brave/Relaxed Nature
- Curse
- Triple Axel / Avalanche
- Gyro Ball
- Rest
Okay, soooo curse boost atk/def and lower speed with a nature that lowers speed, gives a lot of damage for the attack Gyro Ball. Triple Axel is an ok strong damage but Avalanche is also good because if the Sandslash gets attacked first, the damage rises 2 times than the original amount of damage of the attack. Rest is just for healing when the Pokemon has low health, in addition Leftovers helps us survive longer. But you can't forget that Sandslash is supposed to be a physical tank, so watch out for special sweepers.

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