Sandstorm (move)

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Sandstorm
すなあらし Sandstorm
Type  Rock
Category  Status
PP  10 (max. 16)
Power  —
Accuracy  —%
Priority  0
  • Does not make contact
  • Not affected by Protect
  • Not affected by Magic Coat
  • Not affected by Snatch
  • Not affected by King's Rock
Range
Opponent Opponent Opponent
Self Ally Ally
All: Affects all Pokémon on the field
Availability
Introduced  Generation II
Condition  Tough
Appeal  3 ♥♥♥
Jam  0  
Scrambles the order of appeals on the next turn.
Condition  Tough
Appeal  2 ♥♥
Prevents the Voltage from going up in the same turn.
Condition  Tough
Appeal  2 ♥♥
Jamming  1
Badly startles all Pokémon that successfully showed their appeal.

Sandstorm (Japanese: すなあらし Sandstorm) is a non-damaging Rock-type move introduced in Generation II. It has been TM37 since Generation II.

Effect

Generation II

When this move is used, a sandstorm will brew. This effect will last for 5 turns. This clears any other weather and is usable when the weather is sandstorm.

While Sandstorm is in effect, all Pokémon who are neither Steel-, Rock-, nor Ground-type will be damaged ⅛ of their maximum HP at the end of each turn. Pokémon in the semi-invulnerable turn of Dig will also not take damage from Sandstorm, regardless of type. Also, the moves Synthesis, Morning Sun, and Moonlight will recover only half as much HP as under clear conditions.

Generation III

The damage inflicted at the end of each turn is decreased to 1/16 of the Pokémon's maximum HP. Pokémon with the Sand Stream Ability invoke a semi-permanent sandstorm when entering battle. Pokémon with the Sand Veil Ability increase their evasion by 1 stage (25%) and are immune to Sandstorm's damaging effect. Moonlight, Synthesis, and Morning Sun now only restore ¼ of the user's maximum HP. Dive will also prevent damage from Sandstorm during the semi-invulnerable turn.

Additionally, Weather Ball becomes Rock-type. Sandstorm now fails when used while Sandstorm is in effect.

Generation IV

All Rock-type Pokémon will now have their Special Defense raised by 50% for the duration of the sandstorm. Also, if a Smooth Rock is held when Sandstorm is used, its duration is lengthened from 5 to 8 turns.

Generation V

Pokémon with the Sand Rush Ability have their Speed doubled, while Pokémon with Sand Force get a power boost of 30% for their Rock-, Ground- and Steel-type moves. Both of these Abilities grant an immunity to Sandstorm's damaging effect.

Generation VI

If heavy rain, extremely harsh sunlight, or a mysterious air current are present, the move will fail.

Description

Games Description
Stad2 An attack that creates a sandstorm. The effect causes damage to both combatants.
GSC Inflicts damage every turn.
RSE Causes a sandstorm that rages for several turns.*
Causes a sandstorm that hits the foe over several turns.*
FRLG A 5-turn sandstorm that damages all types except Rock, Ground and Steel.
ColoXD Causes a sandstorm that rages for several turns.*
Causes a sandstorm that hits the target over several turns.*
DPPtHGSS A five-turn sandstorm is summoned to hurt all combatant types except Rock, Ground, and Steel.*
A five-turn sandstorm is summoned to hurt all combatants except the Rock, Ground, and Steel types.*
BWB2W2
XYORAS
A five-turn sandstorm is summoned to hurt all combatants except the Rock, Ground, and Steel types.


Learnset

By leveling up

# Pokémon Type Level
I II III IV V VI
027 Sandshrew Sandshrew Ground Ground 45 53 37 37 42 42
028 Sandslash Sandslash Ground Ground 52 62 52 52 42 42
48
095 Onix Onix Rock Ground 36 33 34 22 25 52 52
208 Steelix Steelix Steel Ground 36 33 34 22 25 52 52
246 Larvitar Larvitar Rock Ground 8 8 5 5 5
247 Pupitar Pupitar Rock Ground 1, 8 1, 8 1, 5 1, 5 1, 5
248 Tyranitar Tyranitar Rock Dark 1, 8 1, 8 1, 5 1, 5 1, 5
299 Nosepass Nosepass Rock Rock   31 37 37 36 36
34
328 Trapinch Trapinch Ground Ground   49 49 49 44 44
36
329 Vibrava Vibrava Ground Dragon   49 49 49 44 44
36
330 Flygon Flygon Ground Dragon   53 49 49 44 44
36
331 Cacnea Cacnea Grass Grass   45 53 53 53
50
332 Cacturne Cacturne Grass Dark   53 65 65 65
54
343 Baltoy Baltoy Ground Psychic   31 37 34 41 41
40
344 Claydol Claydol Ground Psychic   31 40 34 47 47
46
443 Gible Gible Dragon Ground     13 13 13
444 Gabite Gabite Dragon Ground     13 13 13
445 Garchomp Garchomp Dragon Ground     1, 13 1, 13 1, 13
476 Probopass Probopass Rock Steel     37 37 36 36
34
524 Roggenrola Roggenrola Rock Rock       33 33
525 Boldore Boldore Rock Rock       42 42
526 Gigalith Gigalith Rock Rock       42 42
529 Drilbur Drilbur Ground Ground       40 40
530 Excadrill Excadrill Ground Steel       49 49
551 Sandile Sandile Ground Dark       40 40
552 Krokorok Krokorok Ground Dark       44 44
553 Krookodile Krookodile Ground Dark       48 48
645 Landorus Landorus Ground Flying       61 61
718 Zygarde Zygarde Dragon Ground         35
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 Type Machine
I
[[|]]
II
TM37
III
TM37
IV
TM37
V
TM37
VI
TM37
006 Charizard Charizard Fire Flying
027 Sandshrew Sandshrew Ground Ground
028 Sandslash Sandslash Ground Ground
031 Nidoqueen Nidoqueen Poison Ground
034 Nidoking Nidoking Poison Ground
050 Diglett Diglett Ground Ground
051 Dugtrio Dugtrio Ground Ground
074 Geodude Geodude Rock Ground
075 Graveler Graveler Rock Ground
076 Golem Golem Rock Ground
095 Onix Onix Rock Ground
104 Cubone Cubone Ground Ground
105 Marowak Marowak Ground Ground
108 Lickitung Lickitung Normal Normal
111 Rhyhorn Rhyhorn Ground Rock
112 Rhydon Rhydon Ground Rock
113 Chansey Chansey Normal Normal
115 Kangaskhan Kangaskhan Normal Normal
128 Tauros Tauros Normal Normal
130 Gyarados Gyarados Water Flying
138 Omanyte Omanyte Rock Water
139 Omastar Omastar Rock Water
140 Kabuto Kabuto Rock Water
141 Kabutops Kabutops Rock Water
142 Aerodactyl Aerodactyl Rock Flying
143 Snorlax Snorlax Normal Normal
144 Articuno Articuno Ice Flying
145 Zapdos Zapdos Electric Flying
146 Moltres Moltres Fire Flying
149 Dragonite Dragonite Dragon Flying
150 Mewtwo Mewtwo Psychic Psychic
151 Mew Mew Psychic Psychic
185 Sudowoodo Sudowoodo Rock Rock
194 Wooper Wooper Water Ground
195 Quagsire Quagsire Water Ground
204 Pineco Pineco Bug Bug
205 Forretress Forretress Bug Steel
207 Gligar Gligar Ground Flying
208 Steelix Steelix Steel Ground
212 Scizor Scizor Bug Steel
213 Shuckle Shuckle Bug Rock
219 Magcargo Magcargo Fire Rock
220 Swinub Swinub Ice Ground
221 Piloswine Piloswine Ice Ground
222 Corsola Corsola Water Rock
227 Skarmory Skarmory Steel Flying
231 Phanpy Phanpy Ground Ground
232 Donphan Donphan Ground Ground
237 Hitmontop Hitmontop Fighting Fighting
241 Miltank Miltank Normal Normal
242 Blissey Blissey Normal Normal
243 Raikou Raikou Electric Electric
244 Entei Entei Fire Fire
245 Suicune Suicune Water Water
246 Larvitar Larvitar Rock Ground
247 Pupitar Pupitar Rock Ground
248 Tyranitar Tyranitar Rock Dark
249 Lugia Lugia Psychic Flying
250 Ho-Oh Ho-Oh Fire Flying
251 Celebi Celebi Psychic Grass
290 Nincada Nincada Bug Ground
291 Ninjask Ninjask Bug Flying
292 Shedinja Shedinja Bug Ghost
299 Nosepass Nosepass Rock Rock
303 Mawile Mawile Steel Fairy
304 Aron Aron Steel Rock
305 Lairon Lairon Steel Rock
306 Aggron Aggron Steel Rock
322 Numel Numel Fire Ground
323 Camerupt Camerupt Fire Ground
328 Trapinch Trapinch Ground Ground
329 Vibrava Vibrava Ground Dragon
330 Flygon Flygon Ground Dragon
331 Cacnea Cacnea Grass Grass
332 Cacturne Cacturne Grass Dark
337 Lunatone Lunatone Rock Psychic
338 Solrock Solrock Rock Psychic
339 Barboach Barboach Water Ground
340 Whiscash Whiscash Water Ground
343 Baltoy Baltoy Ground Psychic
344 Claydol Claydol Ground Psychic
345 Lileep Lileep Rock Grass
346 Cradily Cradily Rock Grass
347 Anorith Anorith Rock Bug
348 Armaldo Armaldo Rock Bug
351 Castform Castform Normal Normal
359 Absol Absol Dark Dark
369 Relicanth Relicanth Rock Water
375 Metang Metang Steel Psychic
376 Metagross Metagross Steel Psychic
377 Regirock Regirock Rock Rock
379 Registeel Registeel Steel Steel
380 Latias Latias Dragon Psychic
381 Latios Latios Dragon Psychic
383 Groudon Groudon Ground Ground
384 Rayquaza Rayquaza Dragon Flying
385 Jirachi Jirachi Steel Psychic
389 Torterra Torterra Grass Ground
408 Cranidos Cranidos Rock Rock
409 Rampardos Rampardos Rock Rock
410 Shieldon Shieldon Rock Steel
411 Bastiodon Bastiodon Rock Steel
413 Wormadam Wormadam
Sandy Cloak
Bug Ground
423 Gastrodon Gastrodon Water Ground
436 Bronzor Bronzor Steel Psychic
437 Bronzong Bronzong Steel Psychic
438 Bonsly Bonsly Rock Rock
443 Gible Gible Dragon Ground
444 Gabite Gabite Dragon Ground
445 Garchomp Garchomp Dragon Ground
446 Munchlax Munchlax Normal Normal
449 Hippopotas Hippopotas Ground Ground
450 Hippowdon Hippowdon Ground Ground
463 Lickilicky Lickilicky Normal Normal
464 Rhyperior Rhyperior Ground Rock
472 Gliscor Gliscor Ground Flying
473 Mamoswine Mamoswine Ice Ground
476 Probopass Probopass Rock Steel
480 Uxie Uxie Psychic Psychic
481 Mesprit Mesprit Psychic Psychic
482 Azelf Azelf Psychic Psychic
483 Dialga Dialga Steel Dragon
484 Palkia Palkia Water Dragon
493 Arceus Arceus Normal Normal
524 Roggenrola Roggenrola Rock Rock
525 Boldore Boldore Rock Rock
526 Gigalith Gigalith Rock Rock
529 Drilbur Drilbur Ground Ground
530 Excadrill Excadrill Ground Steel
551 Sandile Sandile Ground Dark
552 Krokorok Krokorok Ground Dark
553 Krookodile Krookodile Ground Dark
557 Dwebble Dwebble Bug Rock
558 Crustle Crustle Bug Rock
564 Tirtouga Tirtouga Water Rock
565 Carracosta Carracosta Water Rock
566 Archen Archen Rock Flying
567 Archeops Archeops Rock Flying
598 Ferrothorn Ferrothorn Grass Steel
599 Klink Klink Steel Steel
600 Klang Klang Steel Steel
601 Klinklang Klinklang Steel Steel
617 Accelgor Accelgor Bug Bug
618 Stunfisk Stunfisk Ground Electric
624 Pawniard Pawniard Dark Steel
625 Bisharp Bisharp Dark Steel
632 Durant Durant Bug Steel
638 Cobalion Cobalion Steel Fighting
639 Terrakion Terrakion Rock Fighting
645 Landorus Landorus Ground Flying
659 Bunnelby Bunnelby Normal Normal
660 Diggersby Diggersby Normal Ground
688 Binacle Binacle Rock Water
689 Barbaracle Barbaracle Rock Water
694 Helioptile Helioptile Electric Normal
695 Heliolisk Heliolisk Electric Normal
696 Tyrunt Tyrunt Rock Dragon
697 Tyrantrum Tyrantrum Rock Dragon
698 Amaura Amaura Rock Ice
699 Aurorus Aurorus Rock Ice
703 Carbink Carbink Rock Fairy
718 Zygarde Zygarde Dragon Ground
719 Diancie Diancie Rock Fairy
720 Hoopa Hoopa
Hoopa Confined
Psychic Ghost
720 Hoopa Hoopa
Hoopa Unbound
Psychic Dark
721 Volcanion Volcanion Fire Water
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.


Special move

Generation III

#   Pokémon Type Obtained with
0051 Dugtrio Dugtrio
Ground Purified in XD: Gale of Darkness
Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move.
Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form gets STAB
from this move.


In other games

Description

Games Description
MDRB Changes the dungeon floor's weather to Sandstorm for several turns.


In the anime

James Cacnea Sandstorm.png
Cacnea
Ritchie Cruise Sandstorm.png
Pupitar
Ash Boldore Sandstorm.png
Boldore
Khoury Gible Sandstorm.png
Gible
The user releases sand at the opponent
Pokémon Method
User First Used In Notes
Sandslash Sandslash crosses its arms and spins around counter-clockwise, whipping up a sandstorm.
Jenaro's Sandslash Hi Ho Silver... Away! Debut
Pupitar Pupitar's eyes flash blue, and it whips up a sandstorm from its body.
Ritchie's Cruise The Mystery is History None
Rico's Pupitar A Poached Ego! None
Steelix Steelix lifts its head straight up and spins around, creating a sand tornado, or the rocks with the giant spikes on Steelix's upper-body spin rapidly and sand is released from them, or Steelix floats into the air and starts rapidly spinning around in circles. It then fires a sandstorm at the opponent from its body.
Jasmine's Steelix Nerves of Steelix! None
Hun's Steelix The Legend of Thunder! None
Harrison's Steelix Playing with Fire! None
A wild Steelix All Torkoal, No Play None
Onix Onix releases a sandstorm from its body.
Brock's Onix Entei at Your Own Risk None
Nosepass Nosepass's nose glows light blue and a sandstorm whips up, or Nosepass spins around, releasing a spiraling sand tornado from its body at the opponent.
Roxanne's Nosepass A Winner by a Nosepass None
Alan's Nosepass Nosing 'Round the Mountain! None
A Coordinator's Nosepass Battling the Generation Gap! None
Camerupt Camerupt blows air out of its nose, making dirt from the ground come up and creating a sandstorm.
Vicky Winstrate's Camerupt Candid Camerupt! None
Cacnea Cacnea spins on one foot, releasing a tornado of sand and sending it at the opponent, or Cacnea waves its arms in circles and a sandstorm comes off its body, blowing the opponent away.
James's Cacnea ZigZag Zangoose! None
Magcargo Magcargo goes into its shell and spins around quickly, making a sandstorm appear.
Flannery's Mag Going, Going, Yawn None
Aggron Aggron swings its arms so one of them is in the air and its body becomes surrounded by a spiral of sand that knocks back the opponent, or Aggron stomps on the ground, kicking up dirt and sending a sand cyclone at the opponent.
A wild Aggron Pikachu's Summer Festival None
A mirage Aggron The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon None
Solrock Solrock releases a sandstorm from its body.
Tate's Solrock It's Still Rocket Roll to Me! None
Flygon Flygon flaps its wings and releases a tornado of sand at the opponent.
Drew's Flygon Rhapsody in Drew None
Donphan Donphan slams its trunk into the ground, then brings it up quickly, creating a sand tornado from the dirt it kicks up.
Tyson's Donphan At the End of the Fray None
Claydol Claydol spins around quickly near the ground and whips up a sandstorm.
Spenser's Claydol Ka Boom with a View! None
Munchlax Munchlax releases a sandstorm from its body.
May's Munchlax King and Queen for a Day! Used via Metronome
Geodude Geodude lifts its arms from the ground up and creates a sandstorm.
Brock's Geodude Grating Spaces! None
Registeel Registeel waves its arms and creates a sand tornado that it launches at the opponent.
Brandon's Registeel Overjoyed! None
Larvitar Larvitar points the horn on its head at the opponent and waves it around in circles, making a sand tornado come out and push the opponent back, or Larvitar jumps into the air, glowing several different colors and then stomps down onto the ground, causing sand to swirl out from under it in all directions.
A Larvitar Matt was Pokésitting Pinch Healing! None
Chris's Larvitar The Mystery of the Missing Cubchoo! None
Ninjask Ninjask flaps its wings fast and creates a huge sandstorm.
Brandon's Ninjask Pace - The Final Frontier! None
Sandshrew Sandshrew jumps and lands on the ground, kicking up dirt. Then, it motions its hands towards the opponent, releasing a sandstorm at them.
Mira's Sandshrew Sandshrew's Locker! None
Gliscor Gliscor flaps its wings and releases a sandstorm from them at the opponent.
Paul's Gliscor Riding the Winds of Change! None
Hippopotas Hippopotas blows out of its nose, creating a sandstorm and sending it at the opponent.
A wild Hippopotas Sleight of Sand! None
Graveler Graveler waves its arms from the ground up and releases a sandstorm at the opponent.
J's client's henchman's Graveler Pokémon Ranger and the Kidnapped Riolu! Part 2 None
A wild Graveler Genesect and the Legend Awakened None
Golem Golem waves its arms from the ground up and releases a sandstorm at the opponent.
J's client's henchman's Golem Pokémon Ranger and the Kidnapped Riolu! Part 2 None
A wild Golem Genesect and the Legend Awakened None
Wormadam Wormadam closes its arms, then opens them quickly, and a sandstorm appears and spirals around Wormadam's body.
Ursula's Wormadam Another One Gabites the Dust! None
Rhyperior Rhyperior waves one of its arms to the side, creating a tornado of sand to appear around the opponent.
Palmer's Rhyperior Challenging a Towering Figure! None
Gible Gible waves one arm to kick up sand, then waves the other to create the sandstorm, or Gible repeatedly waves its arms and a sandstorm comes out of them.
Khoury's Gible A Rivalry to Gible on! None
Gabite Gabite calls out and a giant sand twister appears and surrounds its body.
Ursula's Gabite Opposites Interact! None
Roggenrola Roggenrola spins its body, causing a large tornado of sand to form around it, or Roggenrola lowers its head slightly and a tornado of sand appears around its body. The tornado then shoots out and hits the opponent, or Roggenrola jumps into the air, glowing several different colors and then stomps down onto the ground, causing sand to swirl out from under it in all directions.
Ash's Roggenrola Gotta Catch A Roggenrola! None
Krokorok Both of Krokorok's forearms glow sparkling white. It then fires a shining golden beam from its hands at the ground, causing a giant twister of sand to spread out all over the battlefield.
Clay's Krokorok Battling the King of the Mines! None
Boldore Boldore jumps into the air, glowing several different colors and then stomps down onto the ground, causing sand to swirl out from under it in all directions.
Ash's Boldore Rocking the Virbank Gym! Part 1 None
Crustle A multicolored aura surrounds Crustle's body and travels down its body and into the ground. Then, a twister of sand erupts from the ground under Crustle's body, engulfing anything near it.
Cilan's Crustle Meloetta's Moonlight Serenade None


In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga


In the Ash and Pikachu manga


In the Be the Best! Pokémon B+W manga


In the Pocket Monsters Diamond and Pearl manga


In the Pocket Monsters Platinum: Aim to Be Battle King!! manga


In other generations

Trivia

  • As of Generation VI, Charizard is the only Pokémon to have lost ability to learn Sandstorm by TM.

In other languages

Language Title
Mandarin Chinese 沙雹 Shābáo
The Netherlands Flag.png Dutch Zandstorm
Finland Flag.png Finnish Hiekkamyrsky
France Flag.png French Tempête de Sable*
Tempêtesable*
Germany Flag.png German Sandsturm
Greece Flag.png Greek Αμμοθύελλα
India Flag.png Hindi रेतीला तूफ़ान Rayteela Toofan
Indonesia Flag.png Indonesian Badai Pasir
Italy Flag.png Italian Terrempesta
South Korea Flag.png Korean 모래바람 Morae Baram
Poland Flag.png Polish Burza Piaskowa
Portuguese Brazil Flag.png Brazil Tempestade de Areia
Portugal Flag.png Portugal Tempestade de Areia
Romania Flag.png Romanian Furtună de Deșert
Furtuna de Nisip
Serbia Flag.png Serbian Peščana Oluja
Spain Flag.png Spanish Tormenta Arena*
Torm. Arena*


Moves that cause weather conditions
StatusIC HOME.png SandstormRain DanceSunny DayHailSnowscape
Generation II TMs
01020304050607080910111213141516171819202122232425
26272829303132333435363738394041424344454647484950
Generation II HMs
01020304050607
Generation III TMs
01020304050607080910111213141516171819202122232425
26272829303132333435363738394041424344454647484950
Generation III HMs
0102030405060708RSE
Generation IV TMs
0102030405060708091011121314151617181920212223
2425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
4748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869
7071727374757677787980818283848586878889909192
Generation IV HMs
01020304 • 05 (DPPtHGSS) • 060708
Generation V TMs
01020304050607080910111213141516171819
20212223242526272829303132333435363738
39404142434445464748495051525354555657
58596061626364656667686970717273747576
77787980818283848586878889909192939495
Generation V HMs
010203040506
Generation VI TMs
0102030405060708091011121314151617181920212223242526
2728293031323334353637383940414243444546474849505152
5354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778
798081828384858687888990919293 • 94 (XYORAS) • 9596979899100
Generation VI HMs
010203040506ORAS07ORAS


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