Sandygast Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Sandygast in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Sandygast
Sandygast is a 1-Star Raids raid boss in Pokemon GO with ghost/ground typing. The best counter is Mega Gengar (Mega) with Lick and Shadow Ball, dealing 56.000 DPS. Sandygast's shiny form is available from raid encounters.
Sandygast 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: Sandygast is weak to Dark, Ghost, Grass, Ice, Water -type attacks. Avoid using Electric, Fighting, Normal-type moves as Sandygast 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 Sandygast is Mega Gengar (56.000 DPS), Primal Kyogre (55.455 DPS), and Mega Sceptile (51.846 DPS).
Catching Sandygast: After defeating Sandygast, the catch encounter will have a CP between 671 and 722 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 835-898 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Sandygast from raids will have exactly 722 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 Sandygast?
The best counter for Sandygast is Mega Gengar with Lick and Shadow Ball, dealing 56.000 DPS. Other top options include Primal Kyogre (55.455 DPS) and Mega Sceptile (51.846 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Sandygast?
Sandygast 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 Sandygast weak to?
Sandygast is weak to Dark, Ghost, Grass, Ice, Water-type attacks. It resists Electric, Fighting, Normal, Poison, Bug, Rock-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Sandygast be shiny in Pokemon GO?
Yes! Sandygast's shiny form is available from raid encounters. The shiny rate for legendary raids is approximately 1 in 20 (5%). Use a Pinap Berry if you already have a shiny and want extra candy.
What CP is a 100% IV Sandygast from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Sandygast from raids will have 722 CP at level 20, or 898 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 671. If you see 722 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Sandygast worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Sandygast 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 Sandygast?
For the best moveset for Sandygast itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Sandygast 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 Sandygast without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Sandygast can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Kartana (48.000 DPS) and Blacephalon (47.000 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 Sandygast in raids?
Sandygast is weather boosted during fog,sunny weather. When boosted, Sandygast is harder to defeat (higher CP in the raid) but the catch encounter will be level 25 instead of 20, giving you a higher CP catch (835-898 CP) with potentially better IVs. Weather boost is a double-edged sword — harder raid, better reward.