Sandshrew Alola

#251 in the Sun & Moon Pokédex • Mouse Pokémon

Normal

Shiny

Sandshrew Sandslash

Pokédex entries

Sun

It can roll its body into a ball. It moves through the desert by rolling at high speeds.

Moon

It usually makes its home in deserts and arid zones, where rain does not fall. It digs holes to catch Bug-type Pokémon.

Details

Types

Weak to

4×

4×

2×

Resists

0.25×

0.5×

0.5×

0.5×

0.5×

0.5×

0.5×

0.5×

Immune to

0×

Growth

EV yield, catch rate, and experience details for this Pokémon.

Pokédexes	Alola #251Ula'ula #123
EV yield	1 Def
Catch rate	255
Base Exp.	60

Eggs

Egg groups, gender ratio, and hatching details for this Pokémon.

Egg groups	Field
Gender	50% male 50% female
Egg cycles	20

Evolution

Evolution requirements shown in a compact table or chain view.

Pokémon	Requires	Evolution
Sandshrew #251	Use Ice Stone	Sandslash #252

Encounters

Known encounter locations for this Pokémon in this game.

Moon

Location	Method	Level	Chance	Conditions
Route 14 Alola Route 14 Area	Walking in tall grass or a cave	28-31	10%	-
Mount Lanakila Mount Lanakila — Mountainside	Walking in tall grass or a cave	42-45	30%	-
Tapu Village	Walking in tall grass or a cave	28-31	10%	Nighttime in the current game world. Moon’s normal-world clock is shifted by 12 hours relative to the system clock.
Mount Lanakila Mount Lanakila — Mid-Point	Walking in tall grass or a cave	42-45	30%	-
Tapu Village	Walking in tall grass or a cave	28-31	10%	Daytime in the current game world. Moon’s normal-world clock is shifted by 12 hours relative to the system clock.
Mount Lanakila Mount Lanakila — Mountainside	SOS ally encounter	42-45	-	SOS ally of sandshrew alola; requires a successful call for help., Ally-selection proportions apply after a successful SOS call; they are not the chance of an ordinary encounter or a successful response.
Mount Lanakila Mount Lanakila — Mid-Point	SOS ally encounter	42-45	-	SOS ally of sandshrew alola; requires a successful call for help., Ally-selection proportions apply after a successful SOS call; they are not the chance of an ordinary encounter or a successful response.

Held-item rates for this form. Some Pokémon have no wild encounter in Sun/Moon; check their acquisition requirements.

Grip Claw

Moon

Sun

Moves

Moves this Pokémon learns naturally by reaching specific levels.

		Class				Description
Start	Scratch	Physical	40	100	35	Hard, pointed, sharp claws rake the target to inflict damage.
Start	Defense Curl	Status	-	-	40	The user curls up to conceal weak spots and raise its Defense stat.
3	Bide	Physical	-	-	10	The user endures attacks for two turns, then strikes back to cause double the damage taken.
5	Powder Snow	Special	40	100	25	The user attacks with a chilling gust of powdery snow. This may also freeze the opposing Pokémon.
7	Ice Ball	Physical	30	90	20	The user attacks the target for five turns. The move’s power increases each time it hits.
9	Rapid Spin	Physical	20	100	40	A spin attack that can also eliminate such moves as Bind, Wrap, Leech Seed, and Spikes.
11	Fury Cutter	Physical	40	95	20	The target is slashed with scythes or claws. This attack becomes more powerful if it hits in succession.
14	Metal Claw	Physical	50	95	35	The target is raked with steel claws. This may also raise the user’s Attack stat.
17	Swift	Special	60	-	20	Star-shaped rays are shot at the opposing Pokémon. This attack never misses.
20	Fury Swipes	Physical	18	80	15	The target is raked with sharp claws or scythes quickly two to five times in a row.
23	Iron Defense	Status	-	-	15	The user hardens its body’s surface like iron, sharply raising its Defense stat.
26	Slash	Physical	70	100	20	The target is attacked with a slash of claws or blades. Critical hits land more easily.
30	Iron Head	Physical	80	100	15	The user slams the target with its steel-hard head. This may also make the target flinch.
34	Gyro Ball	Physical	-	100	5	The user tackles the target with a high-speed spin. The slower the user compared to the target, the greater the move’s power.
38	Swords Dance	Status	-	-	20	A frenetic dance to uplift the fighting spirit. This sharply raises the user’s Attack stat.
42	Hail	Status	-	-	10	The user summons a hailstorm lasting five turns. It damages all Pokémon except the Ice type.
46	Blizzard	Special	110	70	5	A howling blizzard is summoned to strike opposing Pokémon. This may also leave the opposing Pokémon frozen.

Machines

Moves this Pokémon can learn from Technical Machines in Pokémon Sun and Moon.

		Class				Description
TM01	Work Up	Status	-	-	30	The user is roused, and its Attack and Sp. Atk stats increase.
TM06	Toxic	Status	-	90	10	A move that leaves the target badly poisoned. Its poison damage worsens every turn.
TM07	Hail	Status	-	-	10	The user summons a hailstorm lasting five turns. It damages all Pokémon except the Ice type.
TM10	Hidden Power	Special	60	100	15	A unique attack that varies in type depending on the Pokémon using it.
TM11	Sunny Day	Status	-	-	5	The user intensifies the sun for five turns, powering up Fire-type moves. It lowers the power of Water-type moves.
TM14	Blizzard	Special	110	70	5	A howling blizzard is summoned to strike opposing Pokémon. This may also leave the opposing Pokémon frozen.
TM17	Protect	Status	-	-	10	Enables the user to evade all attacks. Its chance of failing rises if it is used in succession.
TM20	Safeguard	Status	-	-	25	The user creates a protective field that prevents status conditions for five turns.
TM21	Frustration	Physical	-	100	20	This full-power attack grows more powerful the less the user likes its Trainer.
TM26	Earthquake	Physical	100	100	10	The user sets off an earthquake that strikes every Pokémon around it.
TM27	Return	Physical	-	100	20	This full-power attack grows more powerful the more the user likes its Trainer.
TM28	Leech Life	Physical	80	100	10	The user drains the target’s blood. The user’s HP is restored by half the damage taken by the target.
TM31	Brick Break	Physical	75	100	15	The user attacks with a swift chop. It can also break barriers, such as Light Screen and Reflect.
TM32	Double Team	Status	-	-	15	By moving rapidly, the user makes illusory copies of itself to raise its evasiveness.
TM40	Aerial Ace	Physical	60	-	20	The user confounds the target with speed, then slashes. This attack never misses.
TM42	Facade	Physical	70	100	20	This attack move doubles its power if the user is poisoned, burned, or paralyzed.
TM44	Rest	Status	-	-	10	The user goes to sleep for two turns. This fully restores the user’s HP and heals any status conditions.
TM45	Attract	Status	-	100	15	If it is the opposite gender of the user, the target becomes infatuated and less likely to attack.
TM46	Thief	Physical	60	100	25	The user attacks and steals the target’s held item simultaneously. The user can’t steal anything if it already holds an item.
TM48	Round	Special	60	100	15	The user attacks the target with a song. Others can join in the Round to increase the power of the attack.
TM56	Fling	Physical	-	100	10	The user flings its held item at the target to attack. This move’s power and effects depend on the item.
TM65	Shadow Claw	Physical	70	100	15	The user slashes with a sharp claw made from shadows. Critical hits land more easily.
TM70	Aurora Veil	Status	-	-	20	This move reduces damage from physical and special moves for five turns. This can be used only in a hailstorm.
TM74	Gyro Ball	Physical	-	100	5	The user tackles the target with a high-speed spin. The slower the user compared to the target, the greater the move’s power.
TM75	Swords Dance	Status	-	-	20	A frenetic dance to uplift the fighting spirit. This sharply raises the user’s Attack stat.
TM78	Bulldoze	Physical	60	100	20	The user strikes everything around it by stomping down on the ground. This lowers the Speed stat of those hit.
TM79	Frost Breath	Special	60	90	10	The user blows its cold breath on the target. This attack always results in a critical hit.
TM80	Rock Slide	Physical	75	90	10	Large boulders are hurled at the opposing Pokémon to inflict damage. This may also make the opposing Pokémon flinch.
TM81	X-Scissor	Physical	80	100	15	The user slashes at the target by crossing its scythes or claws as if they were a pair of scissors.
TM84	Poison Jab	Physical	80	100	20	The target is stabbed with a tentacle or arm steeped in poison. This may also poison the target.
TM87	Swagger	Status	-	85	15	The user enrages and confuses the target. However, this also sharply raises the target’s Attack stat.
TM88	Sleep Talk	Status	-	-	10	While it is asleep, the user randomly uses one of the moves it knows.
TM90	Substitute	Status	-	-	10	The user makes a copy of itself using some of its HP. The copy serves as the user’s decoy.
TM100	Confide	Status	-	-	20	The user tells the target a secret, and the target loses its ability to concentrate. This lowers the target’s Sp. Atk stat.

Breeding

Moves this Pokémon can inherit through breeding or similar methods.

	Class				Description
Amnesia	Status	-	-	20	The user temporarily empties its mind to forget its concerns. This sharply raises the user’s Sp. Def stat.
Chip Away	Physical	70	100	20	Looking for an opening, the user strikes consistently. The target’s stat changes don’t affect this attack’s damage.
Counter	Physical	-	100	20	A retaliation move that counters any physical attack, inflicting double the damage taken.
Crush Claw	Physical	75	95	10	The user slashes the target with hard and sharp claws. This may also lower the target’s Defense stat.
Curse	Status	-	-	10	A move that works differently for the Ghost type than for all other types.
Endure	Status	-	-	10	The user endures any attack with at least 1 HP. Its chance of failing rises if it is used in succession.
Flail	Physical	-	100	15	The user flails about aimlessly to attack. The less HP the user has, the greater the move’s power.
Icicle Crash	Physical	85	90	10	The user attacks by harshly dropping large icicles onto the target. This may also make the target flinch.
Icicle Spear	Physical	25	100	30	The user launches sharp icicles at the target two to five times in a row.
Metal Claw	Physical	50	95	35	The target is raked with steel claws. This may also raise the user’s Attack stat.
Night Slash	Physical	70	100	15	The user slashes the target the instant an opportunity arises. Critical hits land more easily.

Imports and compatible Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon trades have separate requirements. Individual options do not guarantee every four-move combination.

	Class				Acquisition source	Description
Aqua Tail	Physical	90	90	10	Trade from Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon; only original Sun/Moon-compatible forms and moves	The user attacks by swinging its tail as if it were a vicious wave in a raging storm.
Covet	Physical	60	100	25	Trade from Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon; only original Sun/Moon-compatible forms and moves	The user endearingly approaches the target, then steals the target’s held item.
Focus Punch	Physical	150	100	20	Trade from Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon; only original Sun/Moon-compatible forms and moves	The user focuses its mind before launching a punch. This move fails if the user is hit before it is used.
Hone Claws	Status	-	-	15	Trade from Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon; only original Sun/Moon-compatible forms and moves	The user sharpens its claws to boost its Attack stat and accuracy.
Ice Punch	Physical	75	100	15	Trade from Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon; only original Sun/Moon-compatible forms and moves	The target is punched with an icy fist. This may also leave the target frozen.
Icy Wind	Special	55	95	15	Trade from Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon; only original Sun/Moon-compatible forms and moves	The user attacks with a gust of chilled air. This also lowers the opposing Pokémon’s Speed stats.
Iron Tail	Physical	100	75	15	Trade from Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon; only original Sun/Moon-compatible forms and moves	The target is slammed with a steel-hard tail. This may also lower the target’s Defense stat.
Knock Off	Physical	65	100	20	Trade from Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon; only original Sun/Moon-compatible forms and moves	The user slaps down the target’s held item, and that item can’t be used in that battle. The move does more damage if the target has a held item.
Snore	Special	50	100	15	Trade from Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon; only original Sun/Moon-compatible forms and moves	This attack can be used only if the user is asleep. The harsh noise may also make the target flinch.
Stealth Rock	Status	-	-	20	Trade from Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon; only original Sun/Moon-compatible forms and moves	The user lays a trap of levitating stones around the opposing team. The trap hurts opposing Pokémon that switch into battle.
Super Fang	Physical	-	90	10	Trade from Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon; only original Sun/Moon-compatible forms and moves	The user chomps hard on the target with its sharp front fangs. This cuts the target’s HP in half.
Throat Chop	Physical	80	100	15	Trade from Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon; only original Sun/Moon-compatible forms and moves	The user attacks the target’s throat, and the resultant suffering prevents the target from using moves that emit sound for two turns.