sugar ovens
blood inside
[OVERVIEW]
With access to Sand Rush, decent stats and typing, and an expansive movepool, Sandslash is a versatile offensive and defensive presence and a defining member of PU sand teams. Swords Dance Sandslash is one of the most dangerous sweepers in the tier. Under the effect of sand, it outspeeds almost the entire unboosted metagame and even some Choice Scarf users such as Gallade. Its typing and decent natural physical bulk give it ample setup opportunities against the common Rock- and Steel-types such as Gigalith and Togedemaru. Once boosted by Swords Dance, it has very few reliable defensive answers, and with access to useful coverage moves in Rock Slide, Leech Life, Knock Off, and Poison Jab, it can choose to narrow down its checks and counters even further. With its utility options in Rapid Spin, Spikes, and Knock Off, Sandslash also carves itself a niche as a versatile spinner that can compress several roles in one slot. Due to it's lack of reliable recovery along with its average stats, it can get worn down rather quickly, and can't be relied upon to repeatedly take on strong attackers like Perrserker. Furthermore, its poor special bulk and low Speed outside of sand leave it vulnerable to special attackers like Magneton, and common utility Pokemon like Wishiwashi, Eldegoss, and Levitate Weezing can exploit its overall passivity to gain momentum via U-turn, and either remove or set up entry hazards of their own.
[SET]
name: Offensive Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Rock Slide / Leech Life
move 4: Knock Off / Leech Life / Rapid Spin
item: Life Orb / Heavy-Duty Boots / Leftovers
ability: Sand Rush
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Most Rock-weak Ground-resistant Pokemon like Ribombee, Charizard, and Archeops are already OHKOed by Rock Slide; as such, it is preferred over the stronger, but less accurate Stone Edge. Stone Edge can still be used to deal more damage to neutral targets when not running Leech Life or Poison Jab. After using Swords Dance, Leech Life in conjunction with Life Orb allows Sandslash to OHKO Eldegoss. It also allows Sandslash to threaten Tangela. With Knock Off, Sandslash can OHKO Trevenant and weaken Pokémon that wall it, namely Levitate Weezing, Quagsire, and Tangela. Sandslash can perform as an effective offensive spinner. Rapid Spin is also useful for boosting its Speed outside of sand. Instead of Leech Life, Poison Jab can be used to OHKO defensive Whimsicott. Life Orb is the most powerful choice of an item for a dedicated sweeper set, notably allowing Sandslash to OHKO Eldegoss. Leftovers and Heavy-Duty Boots can be used to improve Sandslash's longevity instead, particularly if an utility move is chosen as the last moveslot. A Jolly Nature can be considered to outspeed Choice Scarf Togedemaru and a few other uncommon Choice Scarf users like Gourgeist-S in sand, and Modest Magneton when unboosted, but this is typically not worth the drop in power.
Swords Dance Sandslash should be ran with Gigalith, as it is the only viable sand setter in the tier. Spikes or Toxic Spikes support from the likes of Ferroseed, Weezing, or Qwilfish is appreciated to help Sandslash break through physically defensive walls like Sandaconda, Jellicent, and Wishiwashi. Ribombee and Whimsicott are useful utility Pokemon that can use U-turn to bring Sandslash safely into their typical Steel- and Rock-type switch-ins, like Togedemaru, Aggron, and Gigalith. Galarian Articuno and Vikavolt can switch in on Grass-types that check Sandslash and fire off powerful attacks or pivot with U-turn and Volt Switch, respectively. Charizard is a great Gigalith magnet that also counters most Grass-types and wears down Wishiwashi and Jellicent with Toxic. Wallbreakers like Gallade can weaken walls like Tangela, while Sandslash itself can benefit sweepers such as Doublade, dealing heavy damage to their shared checks.
[SET]
name: Utility
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Rapid Spin
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Spikes
item: Leftovers / Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Sand Rush
nature: Impish
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Knock Off makes typical Sandslash switch-ins like Eldegoss and Wishiwashi more susceptible to residual damage, including Sandslash's own Spikes, by removing their Heavy-Duty Boots and Leftovers and discouraging spinblockers like Trevenant from switching in. Spikes are chosen to wear down grounded targets, forming an entry hazard-stacking core with Gigalith. If you choose to not use Gigalith, Stealth Rock is a viable option. Leftovers give Sandslash a bit of passive recovery, improving its longevity. Heavy-Duty Boots is an alternative that protects Sandslash from entry hazards, particularly Toxic Spikes. Sandslash's EV spread is quite flexible and it can easily run some Speed investment to outpace certain threats according to its team's needs. One of the possibilities is a spread of 248 HP / 124 Def / 136 Spe to outpace Adamant Perrserker outside of sand, while outspeeding Jolteon in sand.
Although this set does not necessarily require sand in order to function, Gigalith is still recommended. With a Sand Rush boost, Sandslash is far less passive, and it can be situationally used to revenge kill Pokemon like Magmortar. Gigalith can also take care of most special attackers, including Charizard and Ribombee. Pokemon that can switch into bulky Grass- and Water-types are necessary, as these will often come in on Sandslash to remove its Spikes, block Rapid Spin, or gain momentum. Bulk Up Scrafty can comfortably come in, absorb status with Rest, and use most of the tier's walls as a setup fodder. Weezing is a solid switch-in to Grass-types and can help wear down the opposition with Toxic Spikes. Eldegoss can deal with most Water-types and provide cleric support. Running Eldegoss along with Sandslash also allows you to free up a moveslot that is typically occupied by Rapid Spin on either of the two Pokemon. Wallbreakers like Magneton and Galarian Articuno can take advantage of the likes of Eldegoss and Weezing. Doublade has good typing synergy with both Sandslash and Gigalith, can effectively spinblock and, as a late-game sweeper, benefits from Spikes wearing down its checks.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[sugar ovens, 383140]]
- Quality checked by: [[asa, 400292]], [Heracross2.0, 414072]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Sulo, 528036]]
With access to Sand Rush, decent stats and typing, and an expansive movepool, Sandslash is a versatile offensive and defensive presence and a defining member of PU sand teams. Swords Dance Sandslash is one of the most dangerous sweepers in the tier. Under the effect of sand, it outspeeds almost the entire unboosted metagame and even some Choice Scarf users such as Gallade. Its typing and decent natural physical bulk give it ample setup opportunities against the common Rock- and Steel-types such as Gigalith and Togedemaru. Once boosted by Swords Dance, it has very few reliable defensive answers, and with access to useful coverage moves in Rock Slide, Leech Life, Knock Off, and Poison Jab, it can choose to narrow down its checks and counters even further. With its utility options in Rapid Spin, Spikes, and Knock Off, Sandslash also carves itself a niche as a versatile spinner that can compress several roles in one slot. Due to it's lack of reliable recovery along with its average stats, it can get worn down rather quickly, and can't be relied upon to repeatedly take on strong attackers like Perrserker. Furthermore, its poor special bulk and low Speed outside of sand leave it vulnerable to special attackers like Magneton, and common utility Pokemon like Wishiwashi, Eldegoss, and Levitate Weezing can exploit its overall passivity to gain momentum via U-turn, and either remove or set up entry hazards of their own.
[SET]
name: Offensive Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Rock Slide / Leech Life
move 4: Knock Off / Leech Life / Rapid Spin
item: Life Orb / Heavy-Duty Boots / Leftovers
ability: Sand Rush
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Most Rock-weak Ground-resistant Pokemon like Ribombee, Charizard, and Archeops are already OHKOed by Rock Slide; as such, it is preferred over the stronger, but less accurate Stone Edge. Stone Edge can still be used to deal more damage to neutral targets when not running Leech Life or Poison Jab. After using Swords Dance, Leech Life in conjunction with Life Orb allows Sandslash to OHKO Eldegoss. It also allows Sandslash to threaten Tangela. With Knock Off, Sandslash can OHKO Trevenant and weaken Pokémon that wall it, namely Levitate Weezing, Quagsire, and Tangela. Sandslash can perform as an effective offensive spinner. Rapid Spin is also useful for boosting its Speed outside of sand. Instead of Leech Life, Poison Jab can be used to OHKO defensive Whimsicott. Life Orb is the most powerful choice of an item for a dedicated sweeper set, notably allowing Sandslash to OHKO Eldegoss. Leftovers and Heavy-Duty Boots can be used to improve Sandslash's longevity instead, particularly if an utility move is chosen as the last moveslot. A Jolly Nature can be considered to outspeed Choice Scarf Togedemaru and a few other uncommon Choice Scarf users like Gourgeist-S in sand, and Modest Magneton when unboosted, but this is typically not worth the drop in power.
Swords Dance Sandslash should be ran with Gigalith, as it is the only viable sand setter in the tier. Spikes or Toxic Spikes support from the likes of Ferroseed, Weezing, or Qwilfish is appreciated to help Sandslash break through physically defensive walls like Sandaconda, Jellicent, and Wishiwashi. Ribombee and Whimsicott are useful utility Pokemon that can use U-turn to bring Sandslash safely into their typical Steel- and Rock-type switch-ins, like Togedemaru, Aggron, and Gigalith. Galarian Articuno and Vikavolt can switch in on Grass-types that check Sandslash and fire off powerful attacks or pivot with U-turn and Volt Switch, respectively. Charizard is a great Gigalith magnet that also counters most Grass-types and wears down Wishiwashi and Jellicent with Toxic. Wallbreakers like Gallade can weaken walls like Tangela, while Sandslash itself can benefit sweepers such as Doublade, dealing heavy damage to their shared checks.
[SET]
name: Utility
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Rapid Spin
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Spikes
item: Leftovers / Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Sand Rush
nature: Impish
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Knock Off makes typical Sandslash switch-ins like Eldegoss and Wishiwashi more susceptible to residual damage, including Sandslash's own Spikes, by removing their Heavy-Duty Boots and Leftovers and discouraging spinblockers like Trevenant from switching in. Spikes are chosen to wear down grounded targets, forming an entry hazard-stacking core with Gigalith. If you choose to not use Gigalith, Stealth Rock is a viable option. Leftovers give Sandslash a bit of passive recovery, improving its longevity. Heavy-Duty Boots is an alternative that protects Sandslash from entry hazards, particularly Toxic Spikes. Sandslash's EV spread is quite flexible and it can easily run some Speed investment to outpace certain threats according to its team's needs. One of the possibilities is a spread of 248 HP / 124 Def / 136 Spe to outpace Adamant Perrserker outside of sand, while outspeeding Jolteon in sand.
Although this set does not necessarily require sand in order to function, Gigalith is still recommended. With a Sand Rush boost, Sandslash is far less passive, and it can be situationally used to revenge kill Pokemon like Magmortar. Gigalith can also take care of most special attackers, including Charizard and Ribombee. Pokemon that can switch into bulky Grass- and Water-types are necessary, as these will often come in on Sandslash to remove its Spikes, block Rapid Spin, or gain momentum. Bulk Up Scrafty can comfortably come in, absorb status with Rest, and use most of the tier's walls as a setup fodder. Weezing is a solid switch-in to Grass-types and can help wear down the opposition with Toxic Spikes. Eldegoss can deal with most Water-types and provide cleric support. Running Eldegoss along with Sandslash also allows you to free up a moveslot that is typically occupied by Rapid Spin on either of the two Pokemon. Wallbreakers like Magneton and Galarian Articuno can take advantage of the likes of Eldegoss and Weezing. Doublade has good typing synergy with both Sandslash and Gigalith, can effectively spinblock and, as a late-game sweeper, benefits from Spikes wearing down its checks.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[sugar ovens, 383140]]
- Quality checked by: [[asa, 400292]], [Heracross2.0, 414072]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Sulo, 528036]]
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