Sand Tomb (move)

Sand Tomb
すなじごく Sand Hell

Battles

Type	Ground
Category	Physical
PP	15 (max. 24)
Power	35
Accuracy	85%
Priority	{{{priority}}}
Does not make contact Affected by Protect Not affected by Magic Coat Not affected by Snatch Affected by Mirror Move Affected by King's Rock

Target

Foe	Foe	Foe
Self	Ally	Ally
May affect anyone adjacent to the user

Availability

Introduced	Generation III
TM49 in Pokémon Sword and Shield

Contests

Condition	Smart
Appeal	3 ♥♥♥
Jam	0
Temporarily stops the crowd from growing excited.

Super Contests

Condition	Smart
Appeal	0
Earn a higher score the later the Pokémon performs.

Contest Spectaculars

Condition	Clever
Appeal	3 ♥♥♥
Jamming	0
Temporarily stops the crowd from growing excited.

On Smogon's Movedex:

Sand Tomb (Japanese: すなじごく Sand Hell) is a damage-dealing Ground-type move introduced in Generation III. It is TM49 in Generation VIII.

Effect

Generation III

Sand Tomb inflicts 1/16 of the target's maximum HP as damage for two to five turns upon use, in addition to the damage dealt when it is used. When successful, the text "<Pokémon> was trapped by SAND TOMB!" appears. It also traps the target, preventing switching and escape. If the user switches out, the target will be freed. If a trapped Pokémon uses Rapid Spin, it will be freed. If a wild Pokémon uses Sand Tomb on the player's Pokémon, the player may escape if the affected Pokémon has Run Away or is holding a Smoke Ball. However, these do not allow the player to switch the Pokémon out.

Sand Tomb has a power of 15 and an accuracy of 70.

Sand Tomb can also be used as part of a Pokémon Contest combination, with the user gaining three extra appeal points if move Sandstorm was used in the prior turn.

Generation IV

In Generation IV, if the user of Sand Tomb is holding a Grip Claw, the duration will always be 5 turns. Also, if an affected Pokémon is holding a Shed Shell, it can switch out.

Generation V

Sand Tomb's power and accuracy were increased to 35 and 85 respectively, and now lasts four to five turns. If a Binding Band is held by the user, the damage done at the end of each turn will increase from 1/16 of the target's maximum HP to 1/8. If the user of Sand Tomb is holding a Grip Claw, the duration will be 7 turns. The text was also altered to, "<Pokémon> became trapped by Sand Tomb!"

Generation VI onward

The end turn damage of Sand Tomb is increased from 1/16 to 1/8 of the target's maximum HP. If the user is holding a Binding Band, the end turn damage of Sand Tomb will increase to 1/6 of the target's maximum HP. Ghost-type Pokémon cannot be trapped by Sand Tomb.

Sand Tomb can also be used as part of a Contest Spectacular combination, with the user gaining an extra three appeal points if the move Sandstorm was used in the prior turn.

Description

Games	Description
RS E	Traps and hurts the foe in quicksand for 2 to 5 turns.
ColoXD	Traps and hurts target in a whirlpool for 2 to 5 turns.
FRLG	The foe is trapped inside a painful sandstorm for two to five turns.
DP Pt HGSSPBR	The user traps the foe inside a harshly raging sandstorm for two to five turns.
BW B2W2 XY ORAS SM USUM SwSh	The user traps the target inside a harshly raging sandstorm for four to five turns.

Learnset

By leveling up

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Level
#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX
0027		Sandshrew		Field		Field	45	27	27^BW 23^B2W2	23	23
0028		Sandslash		Field		Field	52	33	33^BW 23^B2W2	23^XY 24^ORAS	24	31
0051		Dugtrio		Field		Field	26	26	26	26	1, Evo.	1, Evo.
051A		Dugtrio Alolan Form		Field		Field					1, Evo.	1, Evo.
0095		Onix		Mineral		Mineral	49^RSE 52^FRLG	41^DP 46^PtHGSS	54^BW 37^B2W2	37	37	28
0208		Steelix		Mineral		Mineral						28
0328		Trapinch		Bug	Dragon	25	25	25^BW 10^B2W2	10^XY 12^ORAS	12	16
0329		Vibrava		Bug	Dragon	1, 25	1, 25	1, 25^BW 1, 10^B2W2	1, 10^XY 12^ORAS	12	16
0330		Flygon		Bug	Dragon	1, 25	1, 25	1, 25^BW 1, 10^B2W2	1, 10^XY 12^ORAS	12	16
0443		Gible		Monster	Dragon		19	19	19	19	1
0444		Gabite		Monster	Dragon		19	19	19	19	1
0445		Garchomp		Monster	Dragon		19	19	19	19	1
0449		Hippopotas		Field		Field		25	25	25	25	12
0450		Hippowdon		Field		Field		25	25	25	25	12
0551		Sandile		Field		Field			13	13	13	9
0552		Krokorok		Field		Field			13	13	13	9
0553		Krookodile		Field		Field			13	13	13	9
0645		Landorus		style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" \| Undiscovered	style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" \| Undiscovered						1
0769		Sandygast		Amorphous		Amorphous					14	10
0770		Palossand		Amorphous		Amorphous					14	1
0843		Silicobra		Field	Dragon						50
0844		Sandaconda		Field	Dragon						51
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move. A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method. An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.

By TM

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Machine
#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		I --	II --	III --	IV --	V --	VI --	VII --	VIII TM49	IX --
0027		Sandshrew		Field		Field						✔
0028		Sandslash		Field		Field						✔
0031		Nidoqueen		style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" \| Undiscovered	style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" \| Undiscovered						✔
0034		Nidoking		Monster	Field						✔
0051		Dugtrio		Field		Field						✔
051A		Dugtrio Alolan Form		Field		Field						✔
0095		Onix		Mineral		Mineral						✔
0151		Mew		style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" \| Undiscovered	style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" \| Undiscovered						✔
0185		Sudowoodo		Mineral		Mineral						✔
0208		Steelix		Mineral		Mineral						✔
0212		Scizor		Bug		Bug						✔
0213		Shuckle		Bug		Bug						✔
0220		Swinub		Field		Field						✔
0221		Piloswine		Field		Field						✔
0227		Skarmory		Flying		Flying						✔
0246		Larvitar		Monster		Monster						✔
0247		Pupitar		Monster		Monster						✔
0248		Tyranitar		Monster		Monster						✔
0259		Marshtomp		Monster	Water 1						✔
0260		Swampert		Monster	Water 1						✔
0305		Lairon		Monster		Monster						✔
0306		Aggron		Monster		Monster						✔
0328		Trapinch		Bug	Dragon						✔
0329		Vibrava		Bug	Dragon						✔
0330		Flygon		Bug	Dragon						✔
0337		Lunatone		Mineral		Mineral						✔
0338		Solrock		Mineral		Mineral						✔
0340		Whiscash		Water 2		Water 2						✔
0343		Baltoy		Mineral		Mineral						✔
0344		Claydol		Mineral		Mineral						✔
0377		Regirock		style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" \| Undiscovered	style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" \| Undiscovered						✔
0379		Registeel		style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" \| Undiscovered	style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" \| Undiscovered						✔
0423		Gastrodon		Water 1	Amorphous						✔
0438		Bonsly		style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" \| Undiscovered	style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" \| Undiscovered						✔
0443		Gible		Monster	Dragon						✔
0444		Gabite		Monster	Dragon						✔
0445		Garchomp		Monster	Dragon						✔
0449		Hippopotas		Field		Field						✔
0450		Hippowdon		Field		Field						✔
0452		Drapion		Bug	Water 3						✔
0473		Mamoswine		Field		Field						✔
0524		Roggenrola		Mineral		Mineral						✔
0525		Boldore		Mineral		Mineral						✔
0526		Gigalith		Mineral		Mineral						✔
0529		Drilbur		Field		Field						✔
0530		Excadrill		Field		Field						✔
0551		Sandile		Field		Field						✔
0552		Krokorok		Field		Field						✔
0553		Krookodile		Field		Field						✔
0557		Dwebble		Bug	Mineral						✔
0558		Crustle		Bug	Mineral						✔
0645		Landorus		style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" \| Undiscovered	style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" \| Undiscovered						✔
0660		Diggersby		Field		Field						✔
0703		Carbink		Fairy	Mineral						✔
0719		Diancie		style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" \| Undiscovered	style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" \| Undiscovered						✔
0749		Mudbray		Field		Field						✔
0750		Mudsdale		Field		Field						✔
0769		Sandygast		Amorphous		Amorphous						✔
0770		Palossand		Amorphous		Amorphous						✔
0834		Drednaw		Monster	Water 1						✔
0837		Rolycoly		Mineral		Mineral						✔
0838		Carkol		Mineral		Mineral						✔
0839		Coalossal		Mineral		Mineral						✔
0843		Silicobra		Field	Dragon						✔
0844		Sandaconda		Field	Dragon						✔
0867		Runerigus		Mineral	Amorphous						✔
0874		Stonjourner		Mineral		Mineral						✔
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move. A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method. An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.

By breeding

#	Pokémon		Types	Parent Egg Groups		Egg Move
#	Pokémon		Types	Parent Egg Groups		II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX
0185		Sudowoodo		Mineral		Mineral		✔	✔	✔	✔
0204		Pineco		Bug		Bug	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
0207		Gligar		Bug		Bug	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
0213		Shuckle		Bug		Bug		✔	✔	✔	✔
0387		Turtwig		Monster	Grass		✔	✔	✔	✔
0438		Bonsly		Mineral		Mineral		✔	✔	✔	✔
0443		Gible		Monster	Dragon		✔	✔	✔	✔
0449		Hippopotas		Field		Field		✔	✔	✔	✔
0557		Dwebble		Bug	Mineral			✔	✔	✔
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move. A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method. An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.

In other games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

In Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team, and Explorers of Time, Darkness and Sky, Sand Tomb is a move with base power of 4, 17 PP and 73% accuracy. The user hits enemy in the front, and might inflict the Constriction status condition on the enemy.

Pokémon Masters EX

Category	Move Gauge	MP	Base Power	Max Power	Accuracy	Target	Effect Tag	Description
Physical	2	—	38	45	85%	An opponent	—	Leaves the target trapped.

Pokémon GO

In Pokémon GO, Sand Tomb is a Charged Attack that has been available since February 16, 2017.

Sand Tomb

Charged Attack

Gyms & Raids

Power

60

Energy cost

33

Duration

4 seconds

Damage window

1.7 - 4 seconds

Trainer Battles

Power

25

Energy cost

40

Secondary effect

1 Opponent Defense

Effect chance

100%

Eligible Pokémon:

Standard eligibility

By GO Snapshot

Updates

Gyms & Raids

December 11, 2019
- Power: 80 → 60
- Energy cost: 50 → 33

Trainer Battles

December 11, 2019
- Power: 80 → 25
- Energy cost: 60 → 40
- Secondary effect added

Description

Games	Description
MDRB	Inflicts damage on the target. It may also cause constriction, making the foe incapable of movement.
MDTD S	Inflicts damage on the target. It may also afflict the targeted enemy with a Constriction status, making it incapable of movement.
BSL	てきポケモンにダメージをあたえるしかもいっていのかくりつでしめつけじょうたいにかえていどうできなくする
MDGtI	It damages an enemy. It could also cause the Sand Tomb status condition. (With the Sand Tomb status, the enemy can't move and keeps taking damage.)
SMD	It could trap an enemy, make it unable to move, and keep damaging the enemy.

In the anime

Main series

Pokémon	Method
Dugtrio Vibrava Gabite Krookodile
The user traps the foe inside a harshly raging sandstorm.
User	First Used In	Notes
	Dugtrio digs underground, and a huge hole opens up in the ground that sucks in the opponent. Dugtrio appears in the middle of the hole.
Katie's Dugtrio	Shocks and Bonds	Debut
Laxton's Dugtrio	How Are You Gonna Keep 'Em Off of the Farm?	None
	Vibrava's eyes glow light blue and the opponent's legs becomes surrounded by a sand tornado. When the tornado fades, the opponent's legs become trapped in sand.
Brianna's Vibrava	Spontaneous Combusken!	None
	Hippopotas releases a geyser of sand from the hole on its back, flooding the area with sand and trapping the opponent.
Hippopotas (recurring)	Mass Hip-Po-Sis!	None
	Hippowdon releases sand out of the holes on its back and digs into the ground.
A Hippowdon Jessie used briefly	One Team, Two Team, Red Team, Blue Team!	None
	Gabite waves its arms to one side, kicking up sand. Then, it waves its arms to the other side and a cyclone of sand is fired at the opponent. When the sand reaches the opponent, it spins around it like a tornado, or Gabite crouches down and medium sized sand dunes rise out of the ground and around Gabite.
A wild Gabite	Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time & Darkness	None
Ursula's Gabite	Yes in Dee Dee, It's Dawn!	None
	Krookodile creates wisps of sand that surround the opponent which then turn into a swirling sand vortex which encompasses the opponent.
Nanu's Krookodile	Tough Guy Trials!	None

Pokémon Masters Animated Trailer

Pokémon	Method
Palossand
The user traps the foe inside a harshly raging sandstorm.
User	First Used In	Notes
	Palossand traps the opponent in a tornado of sand.
Acerola's Palossand	Pokémon Masters Animated Trailer	None

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

Pokémon	Method
Hippopotas Flygon Krokorok
The user releases large amounts of sand at the opponent.
User	First Chapter Used In	Notes
	Flygon waves its wings, kicking up dirt around the opponent, causing their vision to be blocked.
Wally's Flygon	Rayquaza Redemption I	Debut
	Hippopotas releases two streams of sand from its nostrils at the opponent.
Leonardo's Hippopotas	Bombastic Bibarel & Heroic Hippopotas	None
	Krokorok sends a stream of sand flying at the opponent.
Clay's Krokorok	Mine Mayhem	None

In other generations

Core series games

Generation I	RB Y	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLG E	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	Pt HGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SM USUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD:Time, Darkness, andSky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Generation I	RB Y	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLG E	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	Pt HGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SM USUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD:Time, Darkness, andSky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Side series games

Generation I	RB Y	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLG E	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	Pt HGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SM USUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD:Time, Darkness, andSky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Spin-off series games

Generation I	RB Y	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLG E	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	Pt HGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SM USUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD:Time, Darkness, andSky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Trivia

Its Japanese name, すなじごく Suna Jigoku (Sand Hell), is likely referring to the sand pit traps dug by antlions.

In other languages

Language		Title
Chinese	Cantonese	流沙地獄 Làuhsā Deihyuhk
Chinese	Mandarin	流沙地獄 / 流沙地狱 Liúshā Dìyù
Dutch		Zandtombe
Finnish		Hiekkahauta
French		Tourbi-Sable
German		Sandgrab
Greek		Αμμόλακος
Hindi		रेत का मकबरा Rayt Ka Maqbara
Indonesian		Jebakan Pasir
Italian		Sabbiotomba
Korean		모래지옥 Morae Jiok
Polish		Piaskowy Grób
Portuguese	Brazil	Fosso de Areia (games, SM074-present, TCG, manga) Tumba de Areia (early anime)
Portuguese	Portugal	Sepultura de Areia
Serbian		Peščana Grobnica
Spanish	Latin America	Tumba de Arena (AG128-DP091) Trampa de Arena (DP145) Bucle Arena (DP161)
Spanish	Spain	Bucle Arena
Thai		สุสานทรายดูด
Vietnamese		Địa Ngục Cát

Variations of the move Fire Spin

	Clamp • Sand Tomb
	Fire Spin • Whirlpool

Generation VIII TMs
SwSh
00 • 01 • 02 • 03 • 04 • 05 • 06 • 07 • 08 • 09 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 • 39 40 • 41 • 42 • 43 • 44 • 45 • 46 • 47 • 48 • 49 • 50 • 51 • 52 • 53 • 54 • 55 • 56 • 57 • 58 • 59 60 • 61 • 62 • 63 • 64 • 65 • 66 • 67 • 68 • 69 • 70 • 71 • 72 • 73 • 74 • 75 • 76 • 77 • 78 • 79 80 • 81 • 82 • 83 • 84 • 85 • 86 • 87 • 88 • 89 • 90 • 91 • 92 • 93 • 94 • 95 • 96 • 97 • 98 • 99
BDSP
01 • 02 • 03 • 04 • 05 • 06 • 07 • 08 • 09 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 • 39 • 40 41 • 42 • 43 • 44 • 45 • 46 • 47 • 48 • 49 • 50 • 51 • 52 • 53 • 54 • 55 • 56 • 57 • 58 • 59 • 60 61 • 62 • 63 • 64 • 65 • 66 • 67 • 68 • 69 • 70 • 71 • 72 • 73 • 74 • 75 • 76 • 77 • 78 • 79 • 80 81 • 82 • 83 • 84 • 85 • 86 • 87 • 88 • 89 • 90 • 91 • 92 • 93 • 94 • 95 • 96 • 97 • 98 • 99 • 100
Generation VIII TRs (SwSh)
00 • 01 • 02 • 03 • 04 • 05 • 06 • 07 • 08 • 09 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 • 39 40 • 41 • 42 • 43 • 44 • 45 • 46 • 47 • 48 • 49 • 50 • 51 • 52 • 53 • 54 • 55 • 56 • 57 • 58 • 59 60 • 61 • 62 • 63 • 64 • 65 • 66 • 67 • 68 • 69 • 70 • 71 • 72 • 73 • 74 • 75 • 76 • 77 • 78 • 79 80 • 81 • 82 • 83 • 84 • 85 • 86 • 87 • 88 • 89 • 90 • 91 • 92 • 93 • 94 • 95 • 96 • 97 • 98 • 99

This article is part of Project Moves and Abilities, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on two related aspects of the Pokémon games.