[OVERVIEW]
Access to Rapid Spin separates Sandslash from the other Ground-types in the tier and gives Sandslash its niche as a decent entry hazard remover. Its typing lets it beat most of the common Stealth Rock setters and Garbodor. A solid movepool containing Swords Dance, Stealth Rock, Knock Off for spinblockers, and Stone Edge for Flying-types further improves Sandslash's hazard-removing capabilities and overall turns it into a solid offensive support Pokemon. Sandslash's decent physical bulk is a nice bonus, letting it take at least one hit from most physical attackers. Unfortunately, Sandslash's bland mono-Ground typing leaves it vulnerable to common Water-, Grass-, and Ice-types in the tier and gives it few resistances with which to take advantage of its bulk, and its lacking special bulk also really cuts into its defensive utility. Competition from other Ground-types, such as Rhydon, Steelix, and even Claydol, which boast better bulk and useful secondary typings, can also make Sandslash hard to justify on a team.
[SET]
name: Offensive Rapid Spin
move 1: Rapid Spin
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Swords Dance / Stealth Rock
item: Lum Berry / Earth Plate
ability: Sand Rush
nature: Adamant
evs: 132 HP / 252 Atk / 124 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Rapid Spin gets rid of entry hazards and gives Sandslash its niche. Earthquake is Sandslash's main attacking move. Knock Off nails Ghost-types such as Rotom and Mismagius, letting Sandslash get past spinblockers, and it also hits Flying-types and Levitate users. Swords Dance further aids Sandslash in getting past Ghost-types by letting it boost as they switch in, and it even lets Sandslash act as a wallbreaker by powering through switch-ins with +2 attacks. Stealth Rock allows Sandslash to provide great role compression for offensive teams, though it can often be pressed to both set it up and use Rapid Spin. Stone Edge is an option to get past the Flying-types Sandslash has trouble with, such as Scyther, Archeops, and Xatu, and it still hits frail Ghost-types such as Rotom for decent damage.
Set Details
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The Speed EVs let Sandslash outspeed Jolly Rhydon and everything slower, maximum Attack investment and an Adamant nature give Sandslash decent power, and investing the rest of the EVs into HP makes Sandslash fairly physically bulky. Lum Berry improves Sandslash's matchup against Ghost-types by curing burns from Will-O-Wisp, letting it beat most of them one-on-one. On the other hand, Earth Plate makes Earthquake significantly more powerful. A spread with 200 Speed EVs for Modest Aurorus and everything slower, including standard Garbodor, is viable. Most of the time, Sand Rush won't come into play, but it can potentially be useful against sand teams.
Usage Tips
========
Bring Sandslash in against entry hazard setters it has a good matchup against, such as Rhydon, Steelix, and Garbodor, and proceed to spin away their hazards if they have set them up. If the opposing team has a Ghost-type to spinblock Sandslash, it's best to either use Knock Off or set up Swords Dance and then use Knock Off on the switch, KOing the spinblocker; this allows Sandslash to Rapid Spin freely the next time it switches in. Sandslash can also check Poison- and Steel-types, such as physical Skuntank and Klinklang, though it can only soft check the latter. When it doesn't need to spin, Sandslash should either use Knock Off to cripple its checks and counters or set up with Swords Dance in order to break through them. However, if running Stealth Rock, it should be a priority to set it up in free turns.
Team Options
========
Pokemon that want entry hazards to be kept off the field, such as Vivillon, Jynx, and Swellow, greatly appreciate Sandslash's support. Checks to Grass-types, such as Magmortar, Scyther, and Roselia, and checks to Water-types, such as Jynx, Lilligant, and Lanturn, also make for great partners. A lot of these also serve as general special tanks or fast revenge killers and sweepers, which makes up for Sandslash's lacking special bulk and Speed. A Pursuit trapper such as Skuntank can help Sandslash remove hazards by getting rid of Ghost-types; it can also trap Xatu to let Sandslash set up Stealth Rock without fear.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Sand Rush sweeper set with Life Orb, Swords Dance, and three attacks, with support from Hippopotas, is a good option on sand teams. Sandslash can even opt to set up its own sand by running Sandstorm, though this is generally not recommended. A defensive spread is viable to better check Rock-, Steel-, Poison-, and even Flying-types, the last provided that Sandslash runs Stone Edge. Passho or Rindo Berry keeps Sandslash from being revenge killed by Water- or Grass-types, respectively, and lets it get off a strong hit or Rapid Spin against them. Leftovers is another item option if Sandslash needs the longevity it provides. X-Scissor can be used to nail Grass-types such as Shiftry and Lilligant, in addition to Malamar.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-types**: Bulky Grass-types, such as Tangela, resist Earthquake and don't take much damage from Knock Off, though Tangela is heavily cripped by losing its Eviolite. While Vileplume doesn't resist Earthquake, it isn't 2HKOed by it either, so it's a fine answer to Sandslash; it takes a lot from Swords Dance-boosted hits, though. Torterra gets a special mention as a Stealth Rock setter that beats Sandslash with no problems. The Gourgeist formes are the Ghost-types with the best matchup against Sandslash, but they still struggle with it if it's holding Lum Berry. Faster Grass-types, such as Lilligant and Sceptile, can easily revenge kill Sandslash, and they can switch into it with relative ease.
**Water-types**: Sandslash is walled by bulky Water-types such as Quagsire and Poliwrath, as they don't take much damage from Earthquake and can retaliate with their STAB moves. In addition, faster Water-types, such as Samurott and Ludicolo, can revenge kill Sandslash with ease.
**Flying-types and Levitate Users**: Flying-types, such as Scyther, Jumpluff, and Archeops, and Levitate users, such as Weezing, are immune to Earthquake and don't take much damage from Knock Off; in fact, neither Jumpluff or Archeops generally holds items, so they don't care about anything the standard Sandslash set can do. Flying-types have to fear the occasional Stone Edge, however.
**Faster Pokemon**: Due to its relatively low Speed stat, Sandslash is easily revenge killed by faster Pokemon such as Magmortar and Jynx, though it has enough bulk to survive most neutral physical attacks and less powerful special ones, such as Tauros's Rock Climb and Mesprit's Psychic.
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