What is a good moveset for Alolan Sandslash?

Question

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.

Answer 1

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

Answer 2

Gen 8 PU

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.

Comments

No Ice STAB?

Answer 3

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.

Answer 4

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.

Answer 5

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.

Answer 6

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.

Comments

Snow cloak ?

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........ LOL

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...ice can cover ground, flying isn't supereffective against ground...

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Best to have Slush rush at all times Lol otherwise, you're screwed.

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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

Answer 7

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.

Answer 8

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!

Comments

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

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haha, good choice. But i mainly play single, and click the green triangle button pointing on top if you think this answer was helpful!

Answer 9

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.

Answer 10

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.

Answer 11

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.

Answer 12

Gen 9 NU Specially Defensive

Sandslash-Alola @ Leftovers
Ability: Slush Rush
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 252 HP / 224 SpD / 32 Spe
Careful Nature
- Stealth Rock / Spikes
- Icicle Crash
- Knock Off / Earthquake
- Rapid Spin

A Specially Defensive set Alolan Sandslash uses in Gen 9 NU. Alolan Sandslash has a niche in Gen 9 NU as a role compressor: being a Steel-type, hazard setter, hazard removal, and potentially item remover via Knock Off all in one slot. Stealth Rock / Spikes depends on if you have Stealth Rock on your team. If your team doesn't already have Stealth Rock, use Stealth Rock for the hazard Alolan Sandslash sets. If your team already has Stealth Rock, Spikes can be used to set a hazard that can pressure grounded Pokemon. Icicle Crash is the STAB move over something like Iron Head on this set since it doesn't make contact, and it deals more damage to Pokemon such as Tsareena, Talonflame, Noivern, and Brambleghast, Pokemon that can remove hazards. You can consider doing Triple Axel instead of Icicle Crash since it can hit 3 times, but keep in mind that you'll take Rocky Helmet damage and can risk activating Effect Spore and Flame Body. Knock Off allows Alolan Sandslash to remove items from opposing Pokemon to cripple them, providing more utility for its team. Earthquake is an option over Knock Off to deal super effective damage to Pokemon such as Magnezone, Klefki, Copperajah, and Incineroar switching in. Rapid Spin allows Alolan Sandslash to remove hazards on your side without removing the hazards on the opponent's side.

Leftovers is used to give Alolan Sandslash some HP recovery. Slush Rush is used for the Ability since OU banned Slow Cloak, so Slush Rush is Alolan Sandslash's only Ablity. Tera Ghost allows Alolan Sandslash to turn its 4x Fighting weakness into an immunity, and it allows Alolan Sandslash to spinblock. 252 HP EVs are used for bulk. 32 Speed EVs allow Alolan Sandslash to have more than enough speed to outspeed univested base 65 Pokemon such as Umbreon as well as Pokemon speed creeping to outspeed uninvested 65 Pokemon. It basically allows Alolan Sandslash to be faster than a specific benchmark that slow Pokemon may aim for. The rest of the EVs are used in Special Defense with a Careful Nature to give Alolan Sandslash some bulk to take special attacks a bit better.