"Ice to see you again." - Sandslash-Alola, probably
Type:
Base stats: 75 HP / 100 Atk / 120 Def / 25 SpA / 65 SpD / 65 Spe
Abilities: Snow Cloak / Slush Rush (H)
Notable moves:
- Agility
- Brick Break
- Curse
- Earthquake
- Endure
- Focus Punch
- Gyro Ball
- Hone Claws
- Ice Shard
- Ice Spinner
- Icicle Crash
- Icicle Spear
- Iron Defense
- Iron Head
- Knock Off
- Low Kick
- Rapid Spin
- Rock Slide
- Snowscape
- Spikes
- Stealth Rock
- Steel Beam
- Substitute
- Super Fang
- Swords Dance
- Thief
Aerial Ace
Agility
Amnesia
Avalanche
Blizzard
Body Slam
Brick Break
Counter
Crush Claw
Curse
Defense Curl
Dig
Drill Run
Earthquake
Endure
Facade
False Swipe
Fling
Flash Cannon
Focus Blast
Focus Punch
Fury Cutter
Fury Swipes
Giga Impact
Gyro Ball
Hone Claws
Hyper Beam
Ice Beam
Ice Shard
Ice Punch
Icicle Crash
Icicle Spear
Icy Wind
Iron Defense
Iron Head
Knock Off
Leech Life
Metal Burst
Metal Claw
Mist
Mirror Coat
Night Slash
Poison Jab
Powder Snow
Protect
Rapid Spin
Rest
Rock Slide
Rock Tomb
Rollout
Shadow Claw
Slash
Sleep Talk
Spikes
Stealth Rock
Steel Beam
Substitute
Super Fang
Swift
Tera Blast
Thief
X-Scissor
Agility
Amnesia
Avalanche
Blizzard
Body Slam
Brick Break
Counter
Crush Claw
Curse
Defense Curl
Dig
Drill Run
Earthquake
Endure
Facade
False Swipe
Fling
Flash Cannon
Focus Blast
Focus Punch
Fury Cutter
Fury Swipes
Giga Impact
Gyro Ball
Hone Claws
Hyper Beam
Ice Beam
Ice Shard
Ice Punch
Icicle Crash
Icicle Spear
Icy Wind
Iron Defense
Iron Head
Knock Off
Leech Life
Metal Burst
Metal Claw
Mist
Mirror Coat
Night Slash
Poison Jab
Powder Snow
Protect
Rapid Spin
Rest
Rock Slide
Rock Tomb
Rollout
Shadow Claw
Slash
Sleep Talk
Spikes
Stealth Rock
Steel Beam
Substitute
Super Fang
Swift
Tera Blast
Thief
X-Scissor
Pros:
- The shift of Hail -> Snow, and the subsequent Defense boost all Ice types get as a result, is excellent news. Of course, this is good for Sandslash himself, but it also means all Snow setters - particularly Ninetales-Alola - just got that much bulkier and can stick around longer to provide support.
- 75 HP / 120 Def is great physical bulk, and the aforementioned Defense boost from Snow is just the icing on the cake.
- Ice / Steel is an interesting defensive type combo that provides resistances to many common attacking types such as Ice, Flying, Bug (U-Turn), Dragon, and Fairy moves.
- As long as Snow is prominent - and it looks like it will be for a while - Sandslash is a great check to it. It takes advantage of the opponent's Snow and bodies most Ice types in return.
- Loaded Dice is a blessing, giving Sandslash a reliable 100+ BP STAB move.
- Being part Steel means Sandslash is one of the few Ice types not weak to Stealth Rock, increasing its longevity.
- He looks dope as hell I mean are you kidding me
Cons:
- Ice / Steel isn't terrible defensively, with the key resistances mentioned above, but it's not great, either. Sandslash is weak to three common types: Ground, Fire, and Fighting. Offensively, it's a similar story - Ice is a great attacking type, but Steel doesn't help it at all against the Water and Fire types switching into Ice moves.
- 65 SpD leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to taking special hits. Even resisted moves like Moonblast or Draco Meteor are gonna do a lot.
- 25 SpA is so bad there's almost zero reason to ever click a special move. The one quasi-realistic scenario I can think of is using a suicide lead set that sets up Stealth Rock or Spikes, then clicks Steel Beam to cut its HP and keep up momentum. Even then, you'd likely be better off using any other hazard setter that's better suited to this role.
- 100 base Atk is fine, but nothing special in this day and age. Sandslash won't hit incredibly hard without a +2 from Swords Dance or another boost.
- Dondozo and other bulky Water types completely stifle Sandslash, resisting both STABs without being weak to any of its coverage moves short of Tera Electric or Grass Tera Blast. Toxapex is the exception, as it's weak to EQ, which is a common, reliable coverage move for Steels as well.
- To that end, Sandslash's coverage movepool is shallow. You have EQ and a couple of Fighting moves, but that's it.
Tera Options:
Water, Grass, and Flying all flip key weaknesses into resistances. Electric + Tera Blast lures in bulky Waters. Ice oomphs up your STAB moves to help you break neutral targets.
Potential Sets:
Snow Sweeper
Sandslash-Alola @ Loaded Dice / Heavy-Duty Boots
Level: 100
Adamant Nature
Ability: Slush Rush
Tera Type: Water / Grass / Flying
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
- Swords Dance
- Icicle Spear / Ice Spinner
- Low Kick
- Earthquake
If I was a betting man (and I am), I'd guess this'll be Sandslash's bread-n-butter set. Pair it with
or another Snow setter to activate Slush Rush and start hitting things with a Loaded Dice Icicle Spear. At +2, Icicle Spear 2HKOs 
, 
, and 
(well, it's a 99% chance to). Low Kick OHKOs 
at +0, and EQ is just a good coverage move overall. In Snow, Adamant Sandslash hits 458 Spe and outspeeds the entire unboosted metagame.Snow Breaker
Sandslash-Alola @ Choice Band
Level: 100
Adamant Nature
Ability: Slush Rush
Tera Type: Grass / Electric
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
- Ice Spinner
- Earthquake
- Low Kick / Spikes
- Tera Blast
Similar to the above, but with a Choice Band for immediate breaking over sweeping potential. Grass or Electric Tera Blast does 46% to
, so while it's certainly not dummying it, it's enough to force it to Rest. If you opt for hazards on Sandslash or a teammate, one layer of Spikes or Stealth Rock guarantees the 2HKO.Suicide Lead
Sandslash-Alola @ Focus Sash
Level: 100
Jolly Nature
Ability: Slush Rush
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
- Spikes / Stealth Rock
- Ice Spinner
- Earthquake
- Steel Beam
I mean, I guess this could work if you want a stupidly fast (in Snow) hazard setter? Just use
last thoughts and a couple replays
I'm just happy he's back. One of the coolest designs and a fresh take on a classic Gen 1 mon. It seems like many are calling for a
ban or suspect, and, if/when that happens, Sandslash can vie for a spot as a Snow abuser. It's nowhere near as immediately threatening, but the Dragon/Fairy resistances could prove useful. Plus, he's cuter. I certainly don't expect Sandslash to be an OU mainstay, but I'll reiterate that, since Snow got so much better this gen, he could be a very viable option for that playstyle.Here's a couple of replays from the first few days of DLC:
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-1942903894-7iuozn3a63fhpbufu3qudv347twnnh2pw
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-1942942882-qtu6z9ksz09xrs0tpusghreva3wrw7epw
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-1942944923-e0xa33mxdc67rjm7v475jo7jnju3pq0pw
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