Pokemon Set of the Day- Alolan Sandlash (TBD):
(As requested by @brocktomb)
Alolan Sandslash is one of the original Generation I Pokemon to receive a new imagining in Generation VII, and with it sweeping potential for Hail teams in the metagame!
Sandlash-Alola @ Life Orb
Ability: Slush Rush
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Icicle Crash
- Iron Head
- Earthquake
- Alolan Sandslash has a radically different role than Sandlash of old, acting as a sweeper for Hail teams rather than Hazard support. Maximum Speed investment with a Jolly Nature allows Sandslash to get the most out of it’s Slush Rush ability, with the rest of the EV investment put into Attack to hit hard and get value out of Swords Dance. Life Orb is the item of choice here, as it allows Sandslash to switch moves while offering a good boost in power.
- Swords Dance is the boosting move of choice for Alolan Sandslash, as it doubles the Attack stat and along with a doubled Speed from Slush Rush Sandslash assuredly sweeps the opponent’s team. Icicle Crash is the Ice type STAB move of choice, dealing strong damage and potentially flinching the opponent’s Pokemon in the process. In a similar vein, Iron Head is the Steel STAB move choice with a similar flinching chance but offers less power and more accuracy. Earthquake is a callback to the Ground type Sandlash of old, and helps Alolan Sandslash deal with Steel and Fire type Pokemon it’s STAB moves couldn’t hit otherwise.
- Alolan Sandslash is an Ice/Steel type Pokemon, which is absolutely awful in regards to weaknesses. Taking 4x damage from Fighting and Fire attacks is horrible considering those are some of the common offensive types to come across. Alolan Sandslash is also rather linear in it’s usage, as it’s quite mediocre on anything other than a Hail team. Alolan Ninetails, Latios, Rotom-W, and Starmie make for fantastic partners to mitigate these weaknesses, and Alolan Sandslash works best on Offensive Hail teams in a much needed sweeper role.
How did you like this set? Have a Pokemon you want me to make a set for? Let me know!