#027 Sandshrew

#027 Sandshrew

Height0.6 m(1'12")
Weight12 kg(26.5 lbs)
Gender50%50%
Gen 1

Sandshrew's Detailed Stats

Lv
StatBaseLv
EVsIVsTotal
HP 50
241
Attack 75
186
Defense 85
206
Sp. Atk 20
76
Sp. Def 30
96
Speed 40
116
921
Type Effectiveness

Sandshrew Abilities

Increases evasion to 1.25× during a sandstorm. Protects against sandstorm damage.

Sand RushHidden

Doubles Speed during a sandstorm. Protects against sandstorm damage.

View Sandshrew Competitive StrategySets, counters, usage stats, tier placement, and team building guides

Sandshrew Moves

Category
Type
MoveTypeCat.PowAccMethodDescription
Scratchnormalphysical40100Level 1Hard, pointed, sharp claws rake the target to inflict damage.
Defense CurlnormalstatusLevel 1The user curls up and boosts its Defense stat.
Poison Stingpoisonphysical15100Level 3The user stabs the target with a poisonous stinger to inflict damage. This may also poison the target.
Sand Attackgroundstatus100Level 6Sand is hurled in the target's face, lowering the target's accuracy.
Rolloutrockphysical3090Level 9The user continually rolls into the target over five turns. This attack becomes more powerful each time it hits.
Fury Cutterbugphysical4095Level 12The user attacks by slashing the target with scythes, claws, or the like. This attack becomes more powerful if it hits in succession.
Rapid Spinnormalphysical50100Level 15The user performs a spin attack that can also eliminate the effects of such moves as Bind, Wrap, and Leech Seed. This also boosts the user's Speed stat.
Bulldozegroundphysical60100Level 18The user strikes everything around it by stomping down on the ground. This lowers the Speed stats of those hit.
Swiftnormalspecial60Level 21Star-shaped rays are shot at opposing Pokémon. This attack never misses.
Fury Swipesnormalphysical1880Level 24The user attacks by raking the target with claws, scythes, or the like. This move hits two to five times in a row.
AgilitypsychicstatusLevel 27The user relaxes and lightens its body to move faster. This sharply boosts its Speed stat.
Slashnormalphysical70100Level 30The target is attacked with a slash of claws, scythes, or the like. This move has a heightened chance of landing a critical hit.
Diggroundphysical80100Level 33The user burrows into the ground on the first turn, then attacks on the next turn.
Gyro Ballsteelphysical100Level 36The user tackles the target with a high-speed spin. The slower the user is than the target, the greater the move's power.
Swords DancenormalstatusLevel 39A frenetic dance to uplift the fighting spirit. This sharply boosts the user's Attack stat.
SandstormrockstatusLevel 42A five-turn sandstorm is summoned to damage all Pokémon except Rock, Ground, and Steel types. The sandstorm also boosts the Sp. Def stats of Rock types.
Earthquakegroundphysical100100Level 45The user sets off an earthquake that strikes every Pokémon around it.
Aerial Aceflyingphysical60TMThe user confounds the target with speed, then slashes. This attack never misses.
AmnesiapsychicstatusTMThe user temporarily empties its mind to forget its concerns. This sharply boosts the user's Sp. Def stat.
Body Slamnormalphysical85100TMThe user attacks by dropping onto the target with its full body weight. This may also leave the target with paralysis.
Brick Breakfightingphysical75100TMThe user attacks with a swift chop. This move can also break barriers, such as Light Screen and Reflect.
CurseghoststatusTMA move that has different effects depending on whether the user is a Ghost type or not.
Double Edgenormalphysical120100TMA reckless life-risking tackle in which the user rushes the target. This also damages the user quite a lot.
Earth Powergroundspecial90100TMThe user makes the ground under the target erupt with power. This may also lower the target's Sp. Def stat.
Endeavornormalphysical100TMThe user inflicts damage by cutting down the target's HP to roughly equal the user's HP.
EndurenormalstatusTMThe user endures any attack with at least 1 HP. This move's chance of failing rises if used in succession.
Facadenormalphysical70100TMThis move's power is doubled if the user is poisoned, burned, or paralyzed.
False Swipenormalphysical40100TMA restrained attack that prevents the target from fainting. The target is left with at least 1 HP.
Flingdarkphysical100TMThe user flings its held item at the target to attack. This move's power and effects depend on the item.
Focus Punchfightingphysical150100TMThe user focuses its mind before launching a punch. This move fails if the user is hit before using the move.
High Horsepowergroundphysical9595TMThe user fiercely attacks the target using its entire body.
Knock Offdarkphysical65100TMThe user slaps down the target's held item, making it unusable for that battle. This move does more damage if the target has a held item.
Leech Lifebugphysical80100TMThe user drains the target's blood. The user's HP is restored by up to half the damage taken by the target.
Low Kickfightingphysical100TMA powerful low kick that makes the target fall over. The heavier the target, the greater the move's power.
Mud Shotgroundspecial5595TMThe user attacks by hurling a blob of mud at the target. This also lowers the target's Speed stat.
Poison Jabpoisonphysical80100TMThe target is stabbed with a tentacle, an arm, or the like steeped in poison. This may also poison the target.
ProtectnormalstatusTMThis move enables the user to protect itself from all attacks. Its chance of failing rises if it is used in succession.
RestpsychicstatusTMThe user goes to sleep for two turns. This fully restores the user's HP and cures any status conditions.
Rock Sliderockphysical7590TMLarge boulders are hurled at opposing Pokémon to inflict damage. This may also make the opposing Pokémon flinch.
Rock Tombrockphysical6095TMThe user hurls boulders at the target to inflict damage. This also lowers the target's Speed stat by cutting off its movement.
Sand Tombgroundphysical3585TMThe user traps the target inside a harshly raging sandstorm that inflicts damage for four to five turns.
Scorching Sandsgroundspecial70100TMThe user throws scorching sand at the target to attack. This may also leave the target with a burn.
Shadow Clawghostphysical70100TMThe user attacks by slashing the target with a sharp claw made from shadows. This move has a heightened chance of landing a critical hit.
Sleep TalknormalstatusTMThe user randomly uses one of the moves it knows. This move can only be used while the user is asleep.
Smack Downrockphysical50100TMThe user throws a stone or similar projectile to attack the target. If the target is in the air, it will be knocked down to the ground.
SpikesgroundstatusTMThe user lays a trap of spikes at the feet of the opposing team. The spikes will damage opposing Pokémon that switch into battle.
Stealth RockrockstatusTMThe user lays a trap of levitating stones around the opposing team. The trap damages opposing Pokémon that switch into battle.
Stomping Tantrumgroundphysical75100TMDriven by frustration, the user attacks the target. This move's power is doubled if the user's previous move failed.
Stone Edgerockphysical10080TMThe user stabs the target with sharpened stones. This move has a heightened chance of landing a critical hit.
SubstitutenormalstatusTMThe user creates a substitute for itself using some of its own HP. The substitute serves as the user's decoy.
Sunny DayfirestatusTMThe user intensifies the sun for five turns, powering up Fire-type attacks. The sunlight also lowers the power of Water-type attacks.
Super Fangnormalphysical90TMThe user chomps hard on the target with its sharp front fangs. This cuts the target's HP in half.
Take Downnormalphysical9085TMA reckless full-body charge attack for slamming into the target. This also damages the user a little.
Tera Blastnormalspecial80100TMIf the user has Terastallized, it unleashes energy of its Tera Type. This move inflicts damage using the Attack or Sp. Atk stat—whichever is higher for the user.
Thiefdarkphysical60100TMThe user attacks and steals the target's held item simultaneously. The user can't steal anything if it already holds an item.
Throat Chopdarkphysical80100TMThe user attacks the target's throat, and the resultant suffering prevents the target from using sound-based moves for two turns.
X Scissorbugphysical80100TMThe user slashes at the target by crossing its scythes, claws, or the like as if they were a pair of scissors.
Counterfightingphysical100EggA retaliatory attack that counters any physical move, inflicting double the damage taken.
Flailnormalphysical100EggThe user flails about aimlessly to attack. The less HP the user has, the greater the move's power.
Hone ClawsdarkstatusEggThe user sharpens its claws to boost its Attack stat and accuracy.
Metal Clawsteelphysical5095EggThe target is raked with steel claws. This may also boost the user's Attack stat.
Mud Slapgroundspecial20100EggThe user hurls mud in the target's face to inflict damage and lower its accuracy.
Night Slashdarkphysical70100EggThe user slashes the target the instant an opportunity arises. This move has a heightened chance of landing a critical hit.

Sandshrew Sprites

Pokedex Entries
Red

Burrows deep underground in arid locations far from water. It only emerges to hunt for food.

Yellow

Its body is dry. When it gets cold at night, its hide is said to become coated with a fine dew.

Gold

If it fell from a great height, this POKéMON could save itself by rolling into a ball and bouncing.

Silver

Disliking water, it lives in deep burrows in arid areas. It can roll itself instantly into a ball.

Crystal

It prefers dry, sandy places because it uses the sand to protect itself when threatened.

In Other Languages

Sandshrew's Japanese name is Sand (サンド). Here are all the official names for Sandshrew across different languages:

JapaneseサンドSand
Korean모래두지
Chinese (Traditional)穿山鼠
FrenchSabelette
GermanSandan
SpanishSandshrew
ItalianSandshrew
Chinese (Simplified)穿山鼠

Sandshrew Breeding

Egg Groups
Hatch Time5,120 steps(20 cycles)
Gender DifferencesNone
Misc Data
Catch Rate255
Base Friendship70
Growth RateMedium
Base Experience60

How to Get Sandshrew

Sandshrew can be encountered in the wild across multiple Pokemon games. Here is how to obtain Sandshrew in every game where it is available:

FAQ

About Sandshrew

Sandshrew is a Ground-type Pokemon introduced in Generation 1. With a Base Stat Total (BST) of 300, Sandshrew is classified as a Mouse Pokémon and is part of the Sandshrew → Sandslash → Alolan Sandshrew evolution line.

In competitive play, Sandshrew is placed in the ZU tier where it holds a 0.06% usage rate. Its key abilities are Sand Veil and Sand Rush, which allow it to function as a potent threat in sandstorm teams. Sandshrew is weak to Water, Grass, Ice-type moves, so trainers should plan around these vulnerabilities.

Sandshrew can learn 99 moves across Level-up, TM, Tutor, and Egg methods. Its most popular competitive moves include Swords Dance, Earthquake, Rock Slide, Leech Life. Standing at 0.6m tall and weighing 12kg, Sandshrew has been a fan favorite since its debut in the Kanto region games.