Sandslash (Alola) Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Sandslash (Alola) in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Sandslash (Alola)
Sandslash (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 58.000 DPS.
Sandslash (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: Sandslash (Alola) is weak to Fighting (double weak!), Fire (double weak!), Ground -type attacks. Avoid using Ice, Poison, Bug-type moves as Sandslash (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 Sandslash (Alola) is Mega Blaziken (58.000 DPS), Mega Lucario (57.500 DPS), and Blacephalon (53.667 DPS).
Catching Sandslash (Alola): After defeating Sandslash (Alola), the catch encounter will have a CP between 1353 and 1424 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 1683-1772 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Sandslash (Alola) from raids will have exactly 1424 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 Sandslash (Alola)?
The best counter for Sandslash (Alola) is Mega Blaziken with Counter and Aura Sphere, dealing 58.000 DPS. Other top options include Mega Lucario (57.500 DPS) and Blacephalon (53.667 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Sandslash (Alola)?
Sandslash (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 Sandslash (Alola) weak to?
Sandslash (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 Sandslash (Alola) be shiny in Pokemon GO?
No, Sandslash (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 Sandslash (Alola) from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Sandslash (Alola) from raids will have 1424 CP at level 20, or 1772 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 1353. If you see 1424 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Sandslash (Alola) worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Sandslash (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 Sandslash (Alola)?
For the best moveset for Sandslash (Alola) itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Sandslash (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 Sandslash (Alola) without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Sandslash (Alola) can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Blacephalon (53.667 DPS) and Reshiram (46.571 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 Sandslash (Alola) in raids?
Weather boost information for Sandslash (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.