Sandshrew (Alola) Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Sandshrew (Alola) in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Sandshrew (Alola)
Sandshrew (Alola) is a 5 raid boss in Pokemon GO with Ice/Steel typing. The best counter is Mega Blaziken (Mega) with Counter and Aura Sphere, dealing 87.250 DPS.
Sandshrew (Alola) can be defeated by a minimum of 2 trainers using optimal counters at level 40+. We recommend 4+ trainers for a comfortable win, especially if your team isn't fully powered up.
Type strategy: Sandshrew (Alola) is weak to Fighting (double weak!), Fire (double weak!), Ground -type attacks. Avoid using Ice, Poison, Bug-type moves as Sandshrew (Alola) resists them. Focus your team on the highest DPS counters from the list below — even budget options without Shadow or Mega forms perform well in larger groups.
Top 3 counters: The strongest lineup against Sandshrew (Alola) is Mega Blaziken (87.250 DPS), Mega Lucario (86.333 DPS), and Blacephalon (81.111 DPS).
Catching Sandshrew (Alola): After defeating Sandshrew (Alola), the catch encounter will have a CP between 705 and 757 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 878-942 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Sandshrew (Alola) from raids will have exactly 757 CP — look for that number! Use Golden Razz Berries and Excellent curveball throws to maximize your catch rate.
Quick Stats
Weak To
Best Counters
Budget Counters (No Shadow / No Mega)
Catch CP
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best counters for Sandshrew (Alola)?
The best counter for Sandshrew (Alola) is Mega Blaziken with Counter and Aura Sphere, dealing 87.250 DPS. Other top options include Mega Lucario (86.333 DPS) and Blacephalon (81.111 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Sandshrew (Alola)?
Sandshrew (Alola) can be defeated by a minimum of 2 high-level trainers with optimal counters. We recommend 4+ trainers for a comfortable win. In public lobbies, 5-6 is a safe number.
What is Sandshrew (Alola) weak to?
Sandshrew (Alola) is weak to Fighting (double weak), Fire (double weak), Ground-type attacks. It resists Ice, Poison, Bug, Dragon, Fairy, Flying, Grass, Normal, Psychic-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Sandshrew (Alola) be shiny in Pokemon GO?
No, Sandshrew (Alola)'s shiny form is not currently available in Pokemon GO. It may be released in a future event.
What CP is a 100% IV Sandshrew (Alola) from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Sandshrew (Alola) from raids will have 757 CP at level 20, or 942 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 705. If you see 757 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Sandshrew (Alola) worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Sandshrew (Alola) is a lower-tier raid boss that can be soloed or defeated easily with 1-2 trainers. It's useful for farming candy, earning XP, and potentially getting a high-IV specimen. Worth doing when convenient, but doesn't require spending Premium Passes.
What is the best moveset for Sandshrew (Alola)?
For the best moveset for Sandshrew (Alola) itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Sandshrew (Alola) stats page which includes optimal fast and charged move combinations for both PvE raids and PvP GO Battle League, along with DPS calculations and PvP rankings.
Can I beat Sandshrew (Alola) without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Sandshrew (Alola) can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Blacephalon (81.111 DPS) and Reshiram (69.643 DPS). You may need 5-6 trainers instead of the minimum 2 when using budget teams. Check the Budget Counters section above for the full F2P-friendly list.
What weather boosts Sandshrew (Alola) in raids?
Weather boost information for Sandshrew (Alola) is not currently available. Ice-type Pokemon are typically boosted in specific weather conditions. When weather boosted, the raid is harder but the catch encounter is level 25 with higher CP.