One of the first Pokemon to make their appearance in the original base game, Sandshrew was one of the first Pokemon many trainers encountered as they started out their adventures. A Ground type, Sandshrew started off as a potent helper in your team and as time passed, it evolved into a Pokemon that could hold its own with the best and earn a spot in your permanent team.
About Sandshrew
| First appearance in anime | In the Pokémon episode: ‘The Path to the Pokémon League!’ |
| First appearance in game | Pokemon Red and Blue |
| Region | Kanto |
| Evolution | Sandshrew → Sandslash |
| Pokedex Entry | 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. Sandshrew has a very dry hide that is extremely tough. The Pokémon can roll into a ball that repels any attack. At night, it burrows into the desert to sleep. |
Sandshrew Base stats
| HP | 50 |
| Attack | 75 |
| Defense | 85 |
| Sp. Attack | 20 |
| Ap. Defense | 30 |
| Speed | 40 |
Appearance
Resembling an armadillo, Sandshrew doesn't look too out of place in the real world. Its body is mostly covered by a yellow armored shell and is segmented into pieces. Sandshrew has a cream/white underbelly and a cream middle is shown leading to its mouth. It also has claws on all four appendages with black eyes, triangular ears with white insides and a thick, conical tail.
An Alolan Sandshrew is more suited for the cold weather and thus is a polar opposite from a normal Sandshrew. It’s hide now resembles an igloo, made from ice and helps the Alolan Sandshrew stay warm in the harsh cold. Its color palette is light blue with the same cream underbelly and it looks like it’s wearing a parka.
Behavior
Since it prefers to stay hidden for most of the day, Sandshew spends most of its time burrowing underground, surfacing only to hunt and to do little else. When Sandshrew feels it’s in danger, this Pokemon has the ability to roll into a ball, protecting itself from most attacks. Sandshrew’s sharp claws make this Pokemon adept at digging and is able to survive with little water as its body is capable of maximizing what it needs.
Strengths and Weaknesses
As one of the first Pokemon you’ll encounter in your Pokemon Journey, Sandshrew isn’t the best when it comes to stats. While Sandshrew’s stats are alright for the most part, it falls apart when it comes to Special Attack, Defense, and Speed. That means, a well placed hit from Grass, Ice or Water Types can easily take this Pokemon out of the battle if you’re not careful. However, it is immune to Electric moves and resistant against Poison and Rock type moves.
Alolan Sandshrew
In the Alola region, Sandshrew have a different Variation called Alolan Sandshrew. An Alolan Sandshew is a completely different type of typing than its original predecessor. While Sandshrew was a Ground type, Alolan Sandshew is an Ice/Steel type. This change allows Alolan Sandshrew to have several new strategies that allow it to change up the game.
Shiny Sandshrew
With it hard to locate in the wild, finding a Shiny Sandshrew is tricky as it is tough to track down. The main difference between a normal and Shiny Sandshrew is obvious, as Shiny Sandshrew’s shell is now a light green. To get a Shiny Sandshrew of your own, you’ll have to find one in the wild or hatch one from an egg although you could always find someone willing to trade one.
Shiny Alolan Sandshrew
Finding a Shiny Sandshrew is tricky, but definitely worth it in the long run. The main difference between a normal and Shiny Alolan Sandshrew is subtle, as Shiny Aolan Sandshrew seems to just be a simple palette swap from its original iteration. To get a shiny of your own, you’ll have to find one in the wild or hatch one from an egg although you could always find someone willing to trade one.
How to catch Sandshrew in Pokemon Go?
Sandshrew is an easy Pokemon to catch in Pokemon Go as all you need to do is walk for a while, and one should appear relatively close by. As it’s a weaker Pokemon, you won’t have to worry about berries or using Great or Ultra balls. A well tossed Pokeball should do the trick in catching Sandshrew.
Trivia
- They are inspired by armadillos
- Sandshrew is one of the few Pokemon to have an Alolan variant
- Alolan Sandshrew is the only Ice Steel type
FAQs
Q. Is Sandshrew a Legendary Pokemon?
No, Sandshrew is not a Legendary Pokemon.
Q. What is Sandshrew' weakness?
Pokemon with Grass, Ice or Water Types moves have the ability to easily knock Sandshrew out of battle.
Q. What is Sandshrew’ Hidden Ability?
Sandshrew’ hidden ability is Sand Veil, which means that they won’t take damage during a sandstorm.
Conclusion
Simple but full of potential, Sandshrew is a beginner Pokemon that is easy to master. With the right moves and evolution, Sandshew can become a valuable asset in your team. Furthermore, with the inclusion of the Alolan Sandslash, it’s unique typing can give you an edge in battle.
