Sandslash is a tailed bipedal, ground-dwelling pholidote notable for its offensive and defensive capabilities. Its body is mostly covered in sharp quills formed from its tough, dry hide. It has two large claws on its paws and feet. It can curl into a large ball to protect its underbelly, and in this position it can roll to attack or escape. Its primary weapon is the large claws on its paws, which can be used to slash at enemies. The claws are also useful for burrowing quickly and can sometimes be poisoned. Its claws and spikes can both break off and are shed regularly, but grow back quickly.
Gender differences
None.
Special abilities
Sandslash are able to roll themselves into sharp balls of spikes, which can be used to both attack and defend themselves. In this ball form Sandslash can protect themselves from heatstroke, and can even kick up a dust storm. Sandslash is also adept at climbing trees, and is prone to ambush its enemies from above.
Like most fully evolved Pokémon, Sandslash can generate a Hyper Beam and Giga Impact.
Behavior
In the wild, Sandslash are more offensive than their pre-evolution, Sandshrew, but are still mostly defensive by nature. They spend much of their time hidden underground in their burrows, and will kick up sand or curl into a ball to escape predators. It will also curl into a ball to prevent heatstroke during the high temperatures of the daytime in its habitat. Although it is known to regrow its claws and spines if broken or snapped off, it does seem to have habitual molting. Once a year the old spikes fall out, to be replaced with new spikes that grow out from beneath the old spikes.
When needed, they can perform a variety of techniques to attack enemies, including slashing at them, rolling at them while curled up, and even climbing trees and attacking from above. Although Sandslash are usually bipedal, they are able to run on all fours.
They are adapted to dry, arid areas. Thus, they can mostly be found in deserts and grasslands, and sometimes in river valleys or the upper levels of caves as well. Wherever they are, they live underground in burrows. They are most common in Kanto, Johto and Hoenn, but can be found in Sinnoh on certain circumstances.
Sandslash do not require a lot of water, due to a very efficient system of staying hydrated with minimal moisture. They hunt for prey in the wild.
In the anime
Sandslash in the anime
Major appearances
In Good 'Quil Hunting, a Pokémon Trainer named Koji informed Ash about a place that was good for catching Cyndaquil. After Ash captured a Cyndaquil, the Trainer challenged Ash to a 1-on-1 Pokémon battle to determine who'd keep the Cyndaquil. Koji used a Sandslash against Ash's Cyndaquil and lost.
A Sandslash appeared in A Chansey Operation, where it was one of the injured Pokémon brought to the clinic.
A Sandslash appeared in To Master the Onixpected. It was stuck underneath the rocky skin of a giant Onix and causing so much pain, that the Rock Snake Pokémon was on a rampage. Bruno helped to get the Sandslash out.
A Sandslash owned by Corey was one of the Pokémon that was captured and cloned by Mewtwo in Mewtwo Strikes Back. When Team Rocket saw this Pokémon being cloned, it was mistaken for its pre-evolution, Sandshrew. The Sandslash clone was seen again in Mewtwo Returns.
Sandslash's most dominant appearance was in When Sandslash Gets Rowdy. While trying to find out their location, Gold and Silver are attacked by a swarm of spiky balls, which are revealed to be Sandslash migrating in response to the wrath of Lugia.
Sandslash's body is covered by tough spikes, which are hardened sections of its hide. Once a year, the old spikes fall out, to be replaced with new spikes that grow out from beneath the old ones.
Sandslash can roll up its body as if it were a ball covered with large spikes. In battle, this Pokémon will try to make the foe flinch by jabbing it with its spines. It then leaps at the stunned foe to tear wildly with its sharp claws.
Sandslash shares various physical traits with the pangolin. It also takes elements from hedgehogs, porcupines and echidnas, due to having spikes instead of scales, and also in its coloration. Both Sandshrew and Sandslash are mentioned to have poisonous claws, similar to how some species of the shrew are poisonous.
Name origin
Sandslash is a combination of sand and slash (referring to its long claws).
Sandpan may be a combination of sand and pangolin.