Sandshrew (Pokémon)

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Sandshrew サンド Sand #027
Artwork from FR/LG
Type Ground ' Unknown Unknown Blue-Striped Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown	Category Mouse Pokémon
Ability Sand Veil Blue-Striped -----	Exp. at Lv. 100 1,000,000
Regional Pokédex numbers Kanto #027 Johto #048 Hoenn #112 Sinnoh Unova Not in any regional Pokédex
Regional Browser numbers Fiore R— Almia R— Oblivia
Height 2′00″ Imperial 0.6 m Metric 2′00″/0.6 m Red-Striped 0'0"/0.0 m Blue-Striped 0'0"/0.0 m
Weight 26.5 lbs. Imperial 12.0 kg Metric 26.5 lbs./12.0 kg Red-Striped 0.0 lbs./0.0 kg Blue-Striped 0.0 lbs./0.0 kg
Dex color Yellow	Catch rate 255 (33.3%)
Body style Blue-Striped	Footprint      Blue-Striped
Gender ratio Gender unknown Unknown Gender unknown
Breeding Ground group 1 cycles (255 minimum steps)
EV yield HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 Base Exp.: 93 Battle Exp.: 931*
External links On Smogon Pokédex: Generation I Generation II Generation III Generation IV Generation V Generation VI Generation VII Generation VIII Generation IX Artwork on Bulbagarden Archives

Sandshrew (Japanese: サンド Sand) is a Ground-type Pokémon.

Biology

Physiology

A Sandshrew is a ground-dwelling rodent notable for its defensive capabilities. Its body is mostly covered in a dry, tough hide which is colored to blend in with the sands of the desert. It can curl into a tight ball about the same size as a basketball to protect its soft underbelly. Its primary weapon is the small but sharp claws on its paws, which are also useful for burrowing and can sometimes be poisoned.

Gender differences

None.

Special abilities

Sandshrew's special abilities are extremely limited compared to other Pokémon. It has a greater control over the ground and sand than the average Pokémon, mostly derived from adaptation to its habitat.

Behavior

In the wild, Sandshrew are 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. They may venture out to hunt, taking advantage of the desert sands to hide themselves.

However, with the help of a trainer, a Sandshrew can become bolder and much more daring, and can even be trained to swim despite the fact that they are weakened by the water. They are still fond of curling up, though, even if not for defense.

Habitat

They are adapted to dry, arid areas. Thus, they can be commonly 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.

Diet

Main article: Pokémon food

Sandshrew 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

Sandshrew was first featured in The Path to the Pokémon League. It was owned by a Pokémon trainer named A.J.. Despite A.J.'s seemly barbaric training methods (e.g. using a whip), it was very loyal to him.

An ailing Sandshrew is seen briefly near the beginning of Clefairy and the Moon Stone.

A Sandshrew was one of the Pokémon that played Hide-n-Seek in Pikachu's PikaBoo. Sandshrew hid in front of a brick wall.

In the manga

Professor Oak had a Sandshrew in the Electric Tale of Pikachu.

In the Pokémon Special manga

Sandshrew makes a cameo in Onix is On!, part of the Red, Green & Blue chapter, battling against Red's Bulbasaur as a Pewter Gym trainer's Pokémon.

Red had a Sandshrew in Pokémon Special he uses to fight Fire-types.

Game data

Pokédex entries

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
Generation I Red Burrows deep underground in arid locations far from water. It only emerges to hunt for food. Blue Yellow Its body is dry. When it gets cold at night, its hide is said to become coated with a fine dew. Stadium When hunting, it hides at the lip of its burrow. If prey comes close, it lunges out and drags in the prey instantly.
Generation II Gold If it fell from a great height, this Pokémon could save itself by rolling into a ball and bouncing. Silver Disliking water, it lives in deep burrows in arid areas. It can roll itself instantly into a ball. Crystal It prefers dry, sandy places because it uses the sand to protect itself when threatened. Stadium 2 If it fell from a great height, this Pokémon could save itself by rolling into a ball and bouncing.
Generation III Ruby 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. Sapphire 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 sand to sleep. Emerald When it curls up in a ball, it can make any attack bounce off harmlessly. Its hide has turned tough and solid as a result of living in the desert. FireRed It burrows and lives underground. If threatened, it curls itself up into a ball for protection. LeafGreen Burrows deep underground in arid locations far from water. It only emerges to hunt for food.
Generation IV Diamond To protect itself from attackers, it curls up into a ball. It lives in arid regions with minimal rainfall. Pearl To protect itself from attackers, it curls up into a ball. It lives in arid regions with minimal rainfall. Platinum {{{platinumdex}}} HeartGold {{{heartgolddex}}} SoulSilver {{{soulsilverdex}}}
Generation V Black {{{blackdex}}} White {{{whitedex}}} Black 2 {{{black2dex}}} White 2 {{{white2dex}}}
Generation VI X Unknown Y Unknown

Game locations

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
Generation I Red Blue Few Routes 4, 11, and 23 (Blue only) Blue (Japan) None Trade Yellow Uncommon Routes 3 and 4, Mt. Moon
Generation II Gold Silver Few Routes 4, 32, Union Cave, Mt. Moon (Gold only) Crystal Uncommon Routes 2, 4, Union Cave, Mt. Moon
Generation III Ruby Sapphire Uncommon Route 113 Emerald Common Routes 111, 113, Mirage Tower FireRed LeafGreen Uncommon Routes 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 22, 23 (LeafGreen only) Colosseum None Trade XD Uncommon Desert PokéSpot
Generation IV Diamond Pearl Uncommon Wayward Cave (dongle method: LeafGreen) Platinum None Trade HeartGold SoulSilver None Trade Pal Park Mountain Pokéwalker None
Generation V Black White None Trade Black 2 White 2 None Trade Dream World None
Generation VI X Y None Trade

In side games

Game	Location
Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire	Hatch from egg
Pokémon Trozei	Secret Storage 2 Huge Storage 3 Endless Level 9 Mr. Who's Den
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon	Magma Cavern (1F-6F) Buried Relic (36F-59F) Desert Region (1F-6F) Joyous Tower (68F-73F)

Base stats

Stat		Range
		At Lv. 50	At Lv. 100
HP: 50		110 - 157	210 - 304
Attack: 75		72 - 139	139 - 273
Defense: 85		81 - 150	157 - 295
Sp. Atk: 20		22 - 79	40 - 152
Sp. Def: 30		31 - 90	58 - 174
Speed: 40		40 - 101	76 - 196
Total: 300	Other Pokémon with this total
Minimum stats are calculated with 0 EVs, IVs of 0, and (if applicable) a hindering nature. Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and (if applicable) a helpful nature. This Pokémon's Special base stat in Generation I was 30.

Learnset

By leveling up

Game	Generation I	Generation II	Generation III	Generation IV
Start	Scratch	Scratch	Scratch	Scratch
3				Defense Curl
6		Defense Curl	Defense Curl
7				Sand-Attack
9				Poison Sting
10	Sand-Attack
11		Sand-Attack	Sand-Attack
13				Rapid Spin
15				Swift
17	Slash	Poison Sting	Poison Sting
19				Fury Swipes
21				Rollout
23		Slash	Slash
24	Poison Sting
25				Fury Cutter
27				Sand Tomb
30		Swift	Swift
31	Swift			Slash
33				Gyro Ball
37		Fury Swipes	Fury Swipes	Sandstorm
38	Fury Swipes
45		Sandstorm	Sand Tomb
53			Sandstorm

By TM/HM

Number	Generation I	Generation II	Generation III	Generation IV
TM01		Dynamicpunch	Focus Punch	Focus Punch
TM02		Headbutt
TM03	Swords Dance	Curse
TM04		Rollout
TM06	Toxic	Toxic	Toxic	Toxic
TM08	Body Slam	Rock Smash
TM09	Take Down
TM10	Double-Edge	Hidden Power	Hidden Power	Hidden Power
TM11		Sunny Day	Sunny Day	Sunny Day
TM13		Snore
TM17	Submission	Protect	Protect	Protect
TM19	Seismic Toss
TM20	Rage	Endure
TM21		Frustration	Frustration	Frustration
TM23		Iron Tail	Iron Tail	Iron Tail
TM26	Earthquake	Earthquake	Earthquake	Earthquake
TM27	Fissure	Return	Return	Return
TM28	Dig	Dig	Dig	Dig
TM31	Mimic	Mud Slap	Brick Break	Brick Break
TM32	Double Team	Double Team	Double Team	Double Team
TM34	Bide	Swagger
TM35		Sleep Talk
TM37		Sandstorm	Sandstorm	Sandstorm
TM39	Swift	Swift	Rock Tomb	Rock Tomb
TM40	Skull Bash	Defense Curl	Aerial Ace	Aerial Ace
TM42			Facade	Facade
TM43		Detect	Secret Power	Secret Power
TM44	Rest	Rest	Rest	Rest
TM45		Attract	Attract	Attract
TM46		Thief	Thief	Thief
TM48	Rock Slide
TM49		Fury Cutter
TM50	Substitute
TM56				Fling
TM58				Endure
TM65				Shadow Claw
TM74				Gyro Ball
TM75				Swords Dance
TM76				Stealth Rock
TM78				Captivate
TM80				Rock Slide
TM81				X-Scissor
TM82				Sleep Talk
TM83				Natural Gift
TM84				Poison Jab
TM87				Swagger
TM90				Substitute
HM01	Cut	Cut	Cut	Cut
HM04	Strength	Strength	Strength	Strength
HM06			Rock Smash	Rock Smash
HM08				Rock Climb

By breeding

• Counter
• Crush Claw
• Flail
• Metal Claw
• Night Slash
• Rapid Spin
• Rock Slide
• Safeguard
• Swords Dance

Trivia

Origin

Though its design appears to be inspired by armadillos, its actual inspiration was the pangolin, which is a scaly-anteater by another name. It to curls up into a ball, has sharp claws, and lives in deserty regions.

Name origin

Sandshrew's name is a combination of sand and shrew, a type of rodent. Its Japanese name simply refers to sand.

In other languages

• German: Sandan
• French: Sabelette - Sable means sand, belette means weasel.
• Korean: 모래두지 Moraeduji
• Chinese (Hong Kong and Taiwan): 穿山鼠 Chuan Shan Shű - A portmanteau of 穿山甲 (Chuan Shan Jia), meaning pangolin, and 鼠, meaning mouse. Literally means 'mouse that passes through mountains'.

External links

• Article on Wikipedia
• Sand-Attack, the fanlisting for Sandshrew at The Anime Fanlistings Network

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This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.