Shadow Alolan Sandslash has gained some new momentum in the Great League with the addition of Drill Run in its movepool. Immediately following this buff, 3 trainers topped Play! Pokemon Regional Championships with the blue blur. The Shadow Alolan Sandslash PvP IV Deep Dive aims to help players decide which Shadow ASlash to Frustration TM and Elite TM. Overall, the focus is on bulk, but there are some nice Atk Breakpoints to take advantage of along the way.
Note: this guide discusses the hidden true stats of Pokemon in Pokemon GO. In order to see these true stats you need to use an IV checking app (CalcyIV, Pokegenie) or an IV checking website (GOStadium, PvPIVs.com, or PvPoke itself). To make things simple, the guide also features standard PvP IV tables.
If you’re not familiar with PvP IVs, check out this PvP IVs Simplified video.
PvP IV Tables
The tables below feature the IV spreads with a hyperlinked table that meet some of the more important stat checks highlighted in the article. It’s important to review the guide itself to make sure you’re getting what you want out of your Shadow Alolan Sandslash. For example, you may want a slightly higher Def weight for more consistency and there is some slight Atk tech.
GL - Solid Bulk (130.6 Def, 125 HP)
- ~30-55 encounters to have a 50-75% probability of obtaining
- Sort by bulk product for tie breakers
- The closer you are to the Def/HP mins, the more flakey those wins become
- 114.79 Atk keeps the Lanturn Breakpoint consistent (1-1)
- 115.8 Atk keeps the Pelipper 1-1 consistent (Ice Punch Breakpoint)
GL - Atk Cope (117.09 Atk, bulk product >16000)
- Sort list by bulk product
- This list is more of a bandaid than precision
Great League Shadow Alolan Sandslash
Shadow Alolan Sandslash is mostly concerned about its bulk. The majority of the high end bulk checks are based on Charge Move Breakpoints, so it’s important to review the matchups themselves on PvPoke.com as having a lower Def stat or your opponent having a slightly higher Atk stat could require 2 more or less HP than what you’re expecting.
The HP checks are as follows, using 130.6 Def as a baseline for consistency, vs Rank 1 opponents unless stated otherwise:
- 120, Jellicent 1-1
- 124+, Noctowl 2-2 potential
- 124+, Pelipper 0-0
- 124, Toxapex 1-2 potential
- 125, Shadow Venusaus 1-2 potential
- 126 HP is notably safer
- 125, Spark Lanturn 0-0
- 125, Tapu Fini 0-0
- 126 HP is notably safer
- 123/125, Lickitung 0-0 if they go straight BS or go PW+BS
- 125 HP will offer slightly better consistency
- 125+, Lickitung 1-2 potential
While HP is the focus, having higher Def can have the following perks:
- 133.64-137.03, Shadow Victreebel 0-1, 1-2, & 2-2 potential
- 137.03 based on Atk weighted Shadow Victreebel
- 134.29-136.57, Sableye 0-0 maybe & more HP after the 2-2
- 136.57 based on Atk weighted Sableye
- 136.47+, Skarmory 1-2
High Atk Shadow Alolan Sandslash
If you’re lacking the general bulk check of 130.6 Def with 125 HP, Shadow Alolan Sandslash is still good to use in the Great League and even in Play! Pokemon tournaments. That said, if you’re missing the high bulk, you may as well make up for it by meeting the Azumarill Breakpoint (starting at 116.73 Atk vs the Rank 1 Azu, probably “safer” at 117.09 Atk). This breakpoint will enable Shadow Alolan Sandslash to overcome a Hydro Pump Azumarill in the 1-1 and allows more Ice Punch based KOs in general, notably in the 1-1. This Atk weight could also get a Breakpoint on Shadow Swampert, which could help beat it down in desperate situations.
The notable Atk Breakpoints are as follows (vs Rank 1 opponents):
- 114.79, Spark Lanturn 1-1 consistency (vs 0/15/10)
- 115.68, non-Shadow Alolan Sandslash (no matchup changes)
- 115.8, Pelipper Ice Punch BP for 1-1 consistency
- 116.73 Azumarill, 1-1 vs Hydro Pump & more opportunities to KO on Ice Punch
- 117.09 vs Rank 3 (0/15/12)
- 117.45 vs Rank 50 (0/14/5)
- 117.8 vs Rank 52 (0/15/6)
- <~117.58, Shadow Swampert hopium, could 1-0 maybe
Even high bulk Shadow Alolan Sandslash could take notes here, as they can still reach the Spark Lanturn and Pelipper consistency checks without losing much bulk. As for how much Def/HP you’ll want for the 117+ Atk ones, it’s hard to say. Follow a “bulk product” sort as a general rule (16000+ isn’t too bad), and run sims on PvPoke.com for any close tie breakers.
Closing
While the “premium” Shadow Alolan Sandslash IVs may be difficult to obtain, don’t let the lack of bulk prevent you from taking advantage of it if you have the Elite Fast TM to spare. Overall, Shadow Alolan Sandslash is competent in nearly all of its rolls, even with suboptimal IVs. Any Azumarill that think they got it like that will learn just how much they don’t. Either way, happy hunting!
