‹ #26 Raichu

Alolan Sandshrew

#27 (Kanto)

#28 Sandslash ›

Pokémon type

Ice

Steel

Boosted in Snow weather

Alolan Sandshrew weaknesses

Alolan Sandshrew is weak to Ground-type moves, and doubly weak to Fighting and Fire-type moves.

256%

160%

Resistances

Alolan Sandshrew is resistant to Normal, Flying, Bug, Grass, Psychic, Dragon and Fairy-type moves, and doubly resistant to Poison and Ice-type moves.

63%

39%

Best moveset for Alolan Sandshrew

The best moves for Alolan Sandshrew are Metal Claw and Blizzard when attacking Pokémon in Gyms. This move combination has the highest total DPS. In Trainer Battles, Powder Snow and Blizzard deal the most damage per turn.

Attacking

Metal Claw

14.4DPS

Blizzard

52DPS

Defending

Powder Snow

7.2DPS

Gyro Ball

29.1DPS

Trainer Battles

Powder Snow

4EPT

Blizzard

2.24DPE

View all moves »

Evolution calculator »

Evolution

There are 2 Pokémon in the Alolan Sandshrew family. Alolan Sandshrew evolves into Alolan Sandslash for 50 Candy.

Alolan Sandshrew

Alolan Sandslash

Purified Pokémon cost less to evolve: Alolan Sandshrew for 45 Candy.

Sandshrew

Sandslash

Purified Pokémon cost less to evolve: Sandshrew for 45 Candy.

Forms

There are 2 different forms of Sandshrew:

Normal

Alolan Form

Game images

Alolan Sandshrew, with the shiny version on the right. There is a very low chance of getting a shiny one.

Events

2026 Pokémon World Championships

28th Aug

Winter Holiday Part 2

24th Dec 2025

Summary

Alolan Sandshrew is an Ice & Steel Pokémon. It is weak to Fighting, Fire and Ground moves. Sandshrew's best moveset is Metal Claw & Blizzard and it has a Max CP of 1,462. Alolan Sandshrew evolves into Alolan Sandslash.

About

"Sandshrew's body is configured to absorb water without waste, enabling it to survive in an arid desert. This Pokémon curls up to protect itself from its enemies."

Moves & Movesets

All moves

Raids

Trainer Battles

Quick move	Damage	EPS	DPS
Metal Claw	6	10	14.4
Powder Snow	6	15	7.2

Main move	Damage	Energy	DPE
Gyro Ball	85	2	2.04
Blizzard	130	1	1.56
Night Slash	45	3	1.36
Return Purified	25	3	0.76
Frustration Shadow	10	3	0.3

Quick move	Damage	Turns	DPT	EPT
Powder Snow	6	2	3.6	4
Metal Claw	5	2	3	3.5

Main move	Damage	Energy	DPE
Blizzard	140	75	2.24
Gyro Ball	80	50	1.92
Return Purified	130	70	1.86
Night Slash ▲ att	50	35	1.43
Frustration Shadow	10	70	0.14

The moves highlighted in green benefit from the Same Type Attack Bonus, and deal 20% more damage.

All movesets

Attacking

Defending

Trainer Battles

Quick move	Main move	DPS	Relative
Metal Claw 14.4 DPS	Blizzard 52 DPS	7.9	100%
Metal Claw 14.4 DPS	Gyro Ball 29.1 DPS	6.9	88%
Metal Claw 14.4 DPS	Return Purified 50 DPS	6.9	88%
Powder Snow 7.2 DPS	Blizzard 52 DPS	6.7	85%
Metal Claw 14.4 DPS	Night Slash 22.5 DPS	6.1	77%
Powder Snow 7.2 DPS	Gyro Ball 29.1 DPS	6	76%
Metal Claw 14.4 DPS	Frustration Shadow 5 DPS	5.4	69%
Powder Snow 7.2 DPS	Return Purified 50 DPS	5.2	67%
Powder Snow 7.2 DPS	Night Slash 22.5 DPS	4.8	62%
Powder Snow 7.2 DPS	Frustration Shadow 5 DPS	2.7	35%

Quick move	Main move	DPS	Relative
Powder Snow 7.2 DPS	Gyro Ball 29.1 DPS	2.6	100%
Powder Snow 7.2 DPS	Blizzard 52 DPS	2.4	93%
Metal Claw 14.4 DPS	Gyro Ball 29.1 DPS	1.9	74%
Powder Snow 7.2 DPS	Night Slash 22.5 DPS	1.9	73%
Metal Claw 14.4 DPS	Blizzard 52 DPS	1.8	70%
Metal Claw 14.4 DPS	Night Slash 22.5 DPS	1.6	60%
Powder Snow 7.2 DPS	Return Purified 50 DPS	1.5	59%
Metal Claw 14.4 DPS	Return Purified 50 DPS	1.4	53%
Metal Claw 14.4 DPS	Frustration Shadow 5 DPS	1.1	40%
Powder Snow 7.2 DPS	Frustration Shadow 5 DPS	0.9	35%

Quick move	Main move	Turns	DPT	Relative
Powder Snow 4 EPT	Blizzard 2.24 DPE	20	12.6	100%
Powder Snow 4 EPT	Gyro Ball 1.92 DPE	14	11.3	90%
Powder Snow 4 EPT	Return Purified 1.86 DPE	18	11	88%
Metal Claw 3.5 EPT	Blizzard 2.24 DPE	22	10.8	86%
Metal Claw 3.5 EPT	Gyro Ball 1.92 DPE	16	9.7	77%
Metal Claw 3.5 EPT	Return Purified 1.86 DPE	20	9.5	76%
Powder Snow 4 EPT	Night Slash ▲ att 1.43 DPE	10	9.3	74%
Metal Claw 3.5 EPT	Night Slash ▲ att 1.43 DPE	10	8	64%
Powder Snow 4 EPT	Frustration Shadow 0.14 DPE	18	4.2	33%
Metal Claw 3.5 EPT	Frustration Shadow 0.14 DPE	20	3.5	28%

A rough guide only. Turns is how many turns of Fast Attacks it takes to reach the Charged Attack; DPT is the damage per turn over repeated Fast and Charged Attacks, from move power and STAB. It leaves out shields, stat changes and matchups.

Counters & Raids

Top Alolan Sandshrew counters

For the full ranking, the boss's moves and a raid simulator, see best Alolan Sandshrew Raid Counters »

Pokémon Moveset Trainers

1
Reshiram (Shadow)

Fire Fang

Fusion Flare

0.03
2
Blacephalon

Incinerate

Mind Blown

0.03
3
Blaziken (Shadow)

Counter

Aura Sphere

0.03
4
Keldeo (Resolute Form)

Low Kick

Secret Sword

0.03
5
Heatran (Shadow)

Fire Spin

Magma Storm

0.04

The best Mega or Primal to bring is Mega Mewtwo X with Counter and Dynamic Punch+.

All Alolan Sandshrew counters »

Stats & IVs

Base stats

Attack		125
Defense		129
Stamina		137

Max HP

Level 40	120
Level 50	127

Average size

Height	0.7 m
Weight	40 kg

Second charged move cost

Stardust	50,000
Candy	50

Purification cost

Stardust	3,000
Candy	3

Other

Buddy walk distance

3 km

Max CP

Level 15 Research encounters	554
Level 20 Max hatched / raids	739
Level 30 Max wild	1,108
Level 40	1,293
Level 50	1,462

Max CP with weather boost

Level 25 (raids)	924
Level 35 (wild)	1,201