Sandslash

Sandslash in the games: Sandshrew's evolution, in Kanto and Alola

Sandslash is the Mouse Pokémon, sharing Sandshrew's Ground typing and its Sand Veil and hidden Sand Rush abilities. Kantonian Sandslash evolves from Sandshrew at level 22. Alolan Sandslash, an Ice and Steel regional form introduced in Pokémon Sun and Moon, instead evolves from Alolan Sandshrew when an Ice Stone is used on it.

Sandslash on cards: Brock's Sandslash, Dark Sandslash and a δ

Sandslash's first card is Fossil #41 from October 1999, an Uncommon illustrated by Ken Sugimori. Our catalog lists 24 Sandslash printings across 22 sets spanning ten eras. Gym Heroes and Gym Challenge each printed a Brock's Sandslash in 2000, and Team Rocket Returns printed Dark Sandslash in 2004, reviving the Dark Pokémon cards introduced in the original Team Rocket set. Delta Species (2005) printed Sandslash δ as a Fighting and Metal type.

The Alolan form arrived in the Sun & Moon era as Rares in Guardians Rising, Ultra Prism and Cosmic Eclipse, plus three SM Black Star Promos, one of them Alolan Sandslash GX.

Sandslash in the anime: Mewtwo's clone and Lillie's Icium Z

In the first movie, Mewtwo Strikes Back, Corey's Sandslash was one of the Pokémon Mewtwo captured and cloned, a role it repeated in the Mewtwo Strikes Back: Evolution remake. In the Johto series, Koji's Sandslash battled Ash over who would keep a Cyndaquil in Good 'Quil Hunting and lost. An Alolan Sandslash evolved after touching an Ice Stone in Not Caving Under Pressure!, then gave Lillie an Icium Z for helping it fight off a Tyranitar.

Cards to know

• Sandslash (Fossil #41)

  Sandslash's first card, a 1999 Uncommon illustrated by Ken Sugimori.

• Brock's Sandslash (Gym Heroes #23)

  A 2000 Rare naming the Pewter City Gym Leader, illustrated by Ken Sugimori.

• Dark Sandslash (Team Rocket Returns #18)

  A 2004 Rare from the EX era's return of Dark Pokémon cards, illustrated by Masakazu Fukuda.

• Sandslash δ (Delta Species #27)

  A 2005 Delta Species Rare that makes Sandslash a Fighting and Metal type, illustrated by Mitsuhiro Arita.

• Alolan Sandslash GX (SM Black Star Promos #SM236)

  A Sun & Moon era promo of the Ice and Steel Alolan form, illustrated by 5ban Graphics.