Sandshrew

Author: Bryan Lance

Sandshrew is considered to be a bipedal mammalian type Pokemon, but it runs on all four of its legs most of the time. This Pokemon has a yellow-colored hide that resembles bricks. This dry, tough hide helps to protect this Pokemon. Sandshrew uses this skin color to blend in with the desert sand. The underbelly of this Pokemon is white and it has oval-shaped blue eyes, pointed ears, and a pointed snout. Sandshrew has a long, thick tail and claws on all four of its paws. 2 claws on the back paws and three claws on the front ones. It uses its claws to help it burrow deep into the ground. Sandshrews like to hide in these burrows and jump out at bug-type Pokemon that walk by. This Pokemon can roll itself into a tight ball. They have been known to do this to protect themselves from high falls and from potential enemies. If attacked, this Pokemon has been known to throw sand as a defense mechanism.

Sandshrews are normally found in desert areas but they have also been found living in caves as well. Sandshrews that live in the Alola region have migrated to the snowy mountains because of the volcanic activities in that area. Deseret Sandshrews are 2ft tall and they weigh almost 30lbs. Alolan Sandshrews are a little over 2ft tall and they weigh almost 90lbs. These Alolan Sandshrew look much different than normal Sandshrew. Instead of having a yellow-colored hide, they have an icy blue-colored hide. This helps them to better hide in the snow. These snow Sandshrews are unable to roll themselves into a ball like the desert ones. There hide is covered in a thick sheet of ice. This layer of ice serves as an extra form of protection against its enemies. They use their claws to help their heavy ice-covered bodies move easier in the snow and on the ice. But this Pokemon is able to slide on its belly when it wants to get somewhere faster.

Sandshrews Abilities

One of the abilities that desert Sandshrews use in battle, is an ability called Sand Veil. When Sand Veil is used it will boost Sandshrew’s evasion during a Sandstorm. Another ability used by desert Sandshrews in an ability called Sand Rush. When Sand Rush is used in battle, during a Sandstorm, the Pokemon’s Speed will be doubled, and the Pokemon will not receive any damage from the Sandstorm.

One of the abilities that Alolan Sandshrews use in battle, is an ability called Snow Cloak. When Snow Cloak is used, Alolan Sandshrew’s Evasion will be boosted, and they won't take any damage when the ability Hail is cast on to them in battle. Another ability used by Alolan Sandshrews in battle is an ability called Slush Rush. When Slush Rush is used in battle, Alolan Sandshrew’s Speed will be doubled, and the Pokemon will not receive any damage from the Hailstorm.

Major Appearances

Sandshrew made its first appearance in the episode The Path to the Pokemon League. This episode was first released in Japan on May 20, 1997, and in the United States on September 17, 1998. In the episode, a Sandshrew appeared under the ownership of a Pokemon trainer named AJ. AJ mistreated his Sandshrew in the episode and used really harsh training practices to train the Pokemon. AJ would use a whip on his Sandshrew and make the Pokemon train in a pool. Even tho the Sandshrew was mistreated, it was still very loyal to his trainer.

A Sandshrew made an appearance in the episode Pikachu's PikaBoo. The episode was first released in Japan on July 7, 2001, and then in the United States on March 18, 2003. In the episode, Sandshrew was one of the Pokemon that played hide and go seek. The Sandshrew hid by standing in front of a brick wall. The wall camouflaged the Sandshrew by matching very closely to the brick-like markings on its back.

A Sandshrew appeared in the episode Sandshrew’s Locker. The episode was first released in Japan on September 27, 2007, and then in the United States on January 26, 2008. In the episode, a Sandshrew belonged to a Pokemon trainer by the name of Mira. Mira had to ask Ash and his friends to help her rescue some family jewelry from the bottom of a lake. Ash agrees to help but later finds out that it wasn’t jewelry at the bottom of the lake. It was Mira’s Sandshrew who was left in a Pokeball when the town flooded. They end up rescuing the Sandshrew for Mira at the end of the episode.

There were multiple Alolan Sandshrews that appeared in the episode Not Caving Under Pressure. The episode was first released in Japan on June 28, 2018, and then in the United States on November 24, 2018. In the episode, the group of Sandshrew was menaced by a mean Tyranitar that wanted to take over their home. Which was a cave that was located at Mount Lanakila. The leader of the Sandshrew group, a giant Sandshrew, later got turned into an Alolan Sandshrew after touching an Ice Stone.

Sandshrew Pokemon Cards

Since the release of the playing cards, Sandshrew has been featured on 18 different cards. All of the cards have Sandshrew classified as a fighting-type Pokemon. While the Alolan Sandshrew cards have the Pokemon classified as a water-type Pokemon. In its first feature, In the Base Set, Sandshrew has 40 HP and the ability Sand Attack. Sand Attack deals out 10 damage. If your opponent is going to attack their next turn, they have to flip a coin. If the coin lands on heads, their attack does nothing to Sandshrew.

In the Extended Sheet 2 expansion, Sandshrew has 40 HP and the abilities Poison Sting and Swift. When you use the ability Poison Sting in battle it causes 10 damage to your opponent. You also get to flip a coin, if the coin lands on heads, your opponents Pokemon is Poisoned. When you use the ability Swift in battle, you deal out 20 damage to your opponent. Swift isn’t affected by any Pokemon Powers, Weakness, or Resistance.

In the Skyridge expansion, Sandshrew has 40 HP and te abilities Double Scratch and Dig Under. When you use Double Scratch in battle, you get to flip 2 coins. This attack will deal out 10 damage times the number of times the coin lands on heads. When you use Dig Under in battle, you get to choose any one of your opponents Pokemon and deal out 10 damage to them.

In the Guardians Rising expansion, Alolan Sandshrew has 60 HP and the abilities Defense Curl and Ice Ball. When you use Defense Curl in battle, you get to flip a coin, if the coin lands on heads, all the damage done to Alolan Sandshrew will be prevented during your opponents next turn. When you use the ability Ice Ball in battle, you deal out 30 damage to your opponent.

In the Ultra Prism expansion, Alolan Sandshrew has 60 HP and the ability Fury Swipes. When you use the ability Fury Swipes in battle, ou gets to flip 3 coins, the attack deals out 10 damage for every time the coin lands on heads.