[OVERVIEW]
With its new forme, ability, and movepool, Sandshrew has almost singlehandedly brought hail into viability in LC and has become a decent threat for teams to prepare for. It also has a relatively good offensive typing, although a 4x weakness to Fighting, along with weaknesses to Fire and Ground, can be detrimental under certain circumstances. Although best when functioning in hail, it can also be used outside of it as a Rapid Spin user and a relatively good attacker. Its Attack and Defense are also quite good. Additionally, not many Pokemon in LC can defend against +2 Alolan Sandshrew in Hail. However, keep in mind that its low Special Defense stat severely limits it against much of the tier.
[SET]
name: Hail Sweeper
move 1: Icicle Spear / Icicle Crash
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Swords Dance / Rapid Spin / Icicle Crash
item: Life Orb / Eviolite
ability: Slush Rush
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 36 HP / 236 Atk / 36 Def / 196 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Icicle Spear is Alolan Sandshrew's primary STAB option with 100% accuracy, taking advantage of LC's varying damage rolls as well as breaking the Focus Sash of Pokemon such as Abra and Diglett. Icicle Crash is its other Ice-type STAB option and is better for dealing with Mudbray's Stamina as well as having more reliable damage output, but it suffers from its lower accuracy. Iron Head works quite well as a secondary STAB move, as it's 100% accurate and has a useful flinch chance, making it a good default damage option. Earthquake provides very important coverage on Steel-types, Fire-types, and certain Water-types such as Mareanie and Chinchou, which is very important coverage. Swords Dance gives Alolan Sandshrew an extremely high Attack stat and essentially lets it knock out almost any Pokemon that doesn't resist all of its coverage. Finally, Rapid Spin provides utility outside of hail by letting it clear entry hazards.
Set Details
========
Life Orb provides some much-needed extra damage for Alolan Sandshrew, although it does take away from its utility in its good defensive bulk. Alternatively, Eviolite can make setting up Swords Dance as well as switching into hits much easier. Alolan Sandshrew is EVed with maximum Attack and enough Speed to outspeed or tie with most Choice Scarf Pokemon and many other sweepers that boost Speed such as Shellder and Omanyte. The rest of the EVs are put into Defense and HP to help it survive priority attacks, and since Alolan Sandshrew's low Special Defense doesn't let it survive much more even with extra investment, there is no need to add any more to that. Alolan Sandshrew's Adamant nature is the primary choice for extra Attack, but Jolly can be used to always outspeed 18 Speed Choice Scarf users such as Doduo and most sweepers.
Usage Tips
========
Try to keep Alolan Sandshrew healthy if it can make a dent in your opponent's team; this is less necessary if the opponent has Timburr or Croagunk, as they can easily stop an Alolan Sandshrew sweep. Alolan Sandshrew can also be played as a powerful attacker throughout the match to weaken the opponent's team for another late-game sweeper. Also, be careful when setting up Swords Dance or using Rapid Spin, as Alolan Sandshrew has extremely low Special Defense and can be easily OHKOed by most super effective moves, especially without Eviolite. If using Life Orb, be wary of switching Alolan Sandshrew in too much, as it can be worn down easily. Finally, if you have a hail setter, always put it up before attempting to sweep with Alolan Sandshrew.
Team Options
========
A hail setter is almost essential when using a sweeper set, and Snover and Amaura do this job quite well, as Snover covers Water-types and Amaura can set Stealth Rock. Notably, although it looks appealing, Alolan Vulpix doesn't have great synergy with Alolan Sandshrew, as it doesn't provide any of the extra coverage or utility that Snover and Amaura offer. Mareanie has good type synergy with Sandshrew, as it can check Fighting- and Fire-types while Alolan Sandshrew can provide coverage on Electric-types. Additionally, Foongus also checks Fighting-types alongside bulky Water-types that Alolan Sandshrew struggles against. Gothita traps and removes Alolan Sandshrew's biggest threats, Fighting-types, such as Timburr and Croagunk. Finally, Spikes and Stealth Rock support from Pokemon such as Dwebble and Ferroseed can help Alolan Sandshrew score some much-needed KOs.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Choice Scarf Alolan Sandshrew set can be used to reliably use Rapid Spin without hail, but it usually isn't worth running due to it being commonly outsped and being outclassed by Drilbur in this role. A set focused around Rapid Spin and extra bulk could work because it can get around Pumpkaboo-XL, but it suffers from its weaknesses to Fighting and Fire. Although it doesn't cover many Pokemon that Alolan Sandshrew doesn't already hit, Leech Life can give it some recovery against common Pokemon like Snivy and Abra, but Alolan Sandshrew uses a lot of other options better. Brick Break can be used to hit Ferroseed, but Earthquake covers many more threats and again Alolan Sandshrew uses many other options better. Alolan Sandshrew can also set up hail on its own, but this takes up an important moveslot that could easily be cleared up by a teammate like Snover or Amaura.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fighting-types**: Almost every Fighting-type can OHKO Alolan Sandshrew, including priority users. Mach Punch and Vacuum Wave both OHKO Alolan Sandshrew if used by powerful Pokemon like Timburr and Croagunk and can stop a sweep right in its tracks.
**Bulky Water-types**: If they aren't weak to Earthquake, bulky Water-types such as Staryu and Frillish can survive any attack from Alolan Sandshrew and fire back with a powerful Scald with the chance to burn. Staryu OHKOes with an Analytic-boosted Hydro Pump after Alolan Sandshrew takes a turn of damage from Life Orb. Frillish more reliably burns Alolan Sandshrew with Will-O-Wisp and can block Rapid Spin. Slowpoke with Flamethrower or Fire Blast shuts down Alolan Sandshrew completely. Dewpider also resists all of Alolan Sandshrew's main moves and can wall it easily.
**Opposing Weather**: The ever-popular sun archetype can strike a weather war against hail, and since sun sweepers use Fire-type moves, they will usually win. Vulpix especially can revenge kill Alolan Sandshrew after it scores a KO.
**Special Attackers**: Since Alolan Sandshrew has extremely low Special Defense, any Sturdy user, Focus Sash user, or just bulky Pokemon in general such as Magnemite, Abra, or Staryu can be an issue, though Magnemite can be dealt with through entry hazards and Abra through Icicle Spear.
**Bronzor**: Bronzor completely walls everything that Alolan Sandshrew can do, making it the best possible counter to it.
With its new forme, ability, and movepool, Sandshrew has almost singlehandedly brought hail into viability in LC and has become a decent threat for teams to prepare for. It also has a relatively good offensive typing, although a 4x weakness to Fighting, along with weaknesses to Fire and Ground, can be detrimental under certain circumstances. Although best when functioning in hail, it can also be used outside of it as a Rapid Spin user and a relatively good attacker. Its Attack and Defense are also quite good. Additionally, not many Pokemon in LC can defend against +2 Alolan Sandshrew in Hail. However, keep in mind that its low Special Defense stat severely limits it against much of the tier.
[SET]
name: Hail Sweeper
move 1: Icicle Spear / Icicle Crash
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Swords Dance / Rapid Spin / Icicle Crash
item: Life Orb / Eviolite
ability: Slush Rush
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 36 HP / 236 Atk / 36 Def / 196 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Icicle Spear is Alolan Sandshrew's primary STAB option with 100% accuracy, taking advantage of LC's varying damage rolls as well as breaking the Focus Sash of Pokemon such as Abra and Diglett. Icicle Crash is its other Ice-type STAB option and is better for dealing with Mudbray's Stamina as well as having more reliable damage output, but it suffers from its lower accuracy. Iron Head works quite well as a secondary STAB move, as it's 100% accurate and has a useful flinch chance, making it a good default damage option. Earthquake provides very important coverage on Steel-types, Fire-types, and certain Water-types such as Mareanie and Chinchou, which is very important coverage. Swords Dance gives Alolan Sandshrew an extremely high Attack stat and essentially lets it knock out almost any Pokemon that doesn't resist all of its coverage. Finally, Rapid Spin provides utility outside of hail by letting it clear entry hazards.
Set Details
========
Life Orb provides some much-needed extra damage for Alolan Sandshrew, although it does take away from its utility in its good defensive bulk. Alternatively, Eviolite can make setting up Swords Dance as well as switching into hits much easier. Alolan Sandshrew is EVed with maximum Attack and enough Speed to outspeed or tie with most Choice Scarf Pokemon and many other sweepers that boost Speed such as Shellder and Omanyte. The rest of the EVs are put into Defense and HP to help it survive priority attacks, and since Alolan Sandshrew's low Special Defense doesn't let it survive much more even with extra investment, there is no need to add any more to that. Alolan Sandshrew's Adamant nature is the primary choice for extra Attack, but Jolly can be used to always outspeed 18 Speed Choice Scarf users such as Doduo and most sweepers.
Usage Tips
========
Try to keep Alolan Sandshrew healthy if it can make a dent in your opponent's team; this is less necessary if the opponent has Timburr or Croagunk, as they can easily stop an Alolan Sandshrew sweep. Alolan Sandshrew can also be played as a powerful attacker throughout the match to weaken the opponent's team for another late-game sweeper. Also, be careful when setting up Swords Dance or using Rapid Spin, as Alolan Sandshrew has extremely low Special Defense and can be easily OHKOed by most super effective moves, especially without Eviolite. If using Life Orb, be wary of switching Alolan Sandshrew in too much, as it can be worn down easily. Finally, if you have a hail setter, always put it up before attempting to sweep with Alolan Sandshrew.
Team Options
========
A hail setter is almost essential when using a sweeper set, and Snover and Amaura do this job quite well, as Snover covers Water-types and Amaura can set Stealth Rock. Notably, although it looks appealing, Alolan Vulpix doesn't have great synergy with Alolan Sandshrew, as it doesn't provide any of the extra coverage or utility that Snover and Amaura offer. Mareanie has good type synergy with Sandshrew, as it can check Fighting- and Fire-types while Alolan Sandshrew can provide coverage on Electric-types. Additionally, Foongus also checks Fighting-types alongside bulky Water-types that Alolan Sandshrew struggles against. Gothita traps and removes Alolan Sandshrew's biggest threats, Fighting-types, such as Timburr and Croagunk. Finally, Spikes and Stealth Rock support from Pokemon such as Dwebble and Ferroseed can help Alolan Sandshrew score some much-needed KOs.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Choice Scarf Alolan Sandshrew set can be used to reliably use Rapid Spin without hail, but it usually isn't worth running due to it being commonly outsped and being outclassed by Drilbur in this role. A set focused around Rapid Spin and extra bulk could work because it can get around Pumpkaboo-XL, but it suffers from its weaknesses to Fighting and Fire. Although it doesn't cover many Pokemon that Alolan Sandshrew doesn't already hit, Leech Life can give it some recovery against common Pokemon like Snivy and Abra, but Alolan Sandshrew uses a lot of other options better. Brick Break can be used to hit Ferroseed, but Earthquake covers many more threats and again Alolan Sandshrew uses many other options better. Alolan Sandshrew can also set up hail on its own, but this takes up an important moveslot that could easily be cleared up by a teammate like Snover or Amaura.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fighting-types**: Almost every Fighting-type can OHKO Alolan Sandshrew, including priority users. Mach Punch and Vacuum Wave both OHKO Alolan Sandshrew if used by powerful Pokemon like Timburr and Croagunk and can stop a sweep right in its tracks.
**Bulky Water-types**: If they aren't weak to Earthquake, bulky Water-types such as Staryu and Frillish can survive any attack from Alolan Sandshrew and fire back with a powerful Scald with the chance to burn. Staryu OHKOes with an Analytic-boosted Hydro Pump after Alolan Sandshrew takes a turn of damage from Life Orb. Frillish more reliably burns Alolan Sandshrew with Will-O-Wisp and can block Rapid Spin. Slowpoke with Flamethrower or Fire Blast shuts down Alolan Sandshrew completely. Dewpider also resists all of Alolan Sandshrew's main moves and can wall it easily.
**Opposing Weather**: The ever-popular sun archetype can strike a weather war against hail, and since sun sweepers use Fire-type moves, they will usually win. Vulpix especially can revenge kill Alolan Sandshrew after it scores a KO.
**Special Attackers**: Since Alolan Sandshrew has extremely low Special Defense, any Sturdy user, Focus Sash user, or just bulky Pokemon in general such as Magnemite, Abra, or Staryu can be an issue, though Magnemite can be dealt with through entry hazards and Abra through Icicle Spear.
**Bronzor**: Bronzor completely walls everything that Alolan Sandshrew can do, making it the best possible counter to it.
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