Sandstorm

Type

Rock

Category

status

Power

—

Accuracy

—

PP

10

Priority

0

Target

field

Contact

No

Spread

No

Protect blocks

Yes

Wide Guard blocks

No

A utility move whose value depends on the team's gameplan and the tempo it creates.

• Metagross Mega
• Tyranitar Mega
• Glimmora Mega
• Steelix Mega
• Gyarados Mega
• Barbaracle Mega
• Kingambit
• Scizor Mega
• Kommo O Totem
• Garchomp Mega Z
• Garchomp Mega
• Aerodactyl Mega
• Gholdengo
• Scovillain Mega
• Goodra Hisui
• Dragonite Mega
• Charizard Mega Y
• Kommo O
• Charizard Mega X
• Kangaskhan Mega
• Snorlax
• Excadrill Mega
• Golurk Mega
• Glimmora
• Dragonite
• Charizard Gmax
• Rhyperior
• Garchomp
• Aerodactyl
• Torterra
• Camerupt Mega
• Aggron Mega
• Sandaconda
• Tyranitar
• Skarmory Mega
• Charizard
• Gyarados
• Absol Mega
• Avalugg Hisui
• Tauros Paldea Aqua Breed
• Aggron
• Houndstone
• Absol Mega Z
• Lycanroc Dusk
• Sandaconda Gmax
• Tauros Paldea Blaze Breed
• Lycanroc Midnight
• Tauros Paldea Combat Breed
• Lycanroc Midday
• Barbaracle
• Scizor
• Kangaskhan
• Mawile Mega
• Steelix
• Heliolisk
• Arcanine Hisui
• Bastiodon
• Runerigus
• Orthworm
• Snorlax Gmax
• Garganacl
• Krookodile
• Rampardos
• Excadrill
• Stunfisk
• Hippowdon
• Slowbro Galar
• Mamoswine
• Torkoal
• Metagross
• Aurorus
• Tauros
• Tyrantrum
• Espathra
• Mudsdale
• Gliscor
• Kleavor
• Absol
• Klefki
• Scovillain
• Forretress
• Golurk
• Skarmory
• Stunfisk Galar
• Camerupt
• Diggersby
• Castform Snowy
• Castform Rainy
• Castform Sunny
• Castform
• Mawile

Sandstorm is a Rock-type status move. It targets field and has 10 PP. Sandstorm is a Rock-type status move. It targets the entire field and has 10 PP.

A utility move whose value depends on the team's gameplan and the tempo it creates.

Consider Sandstorm when your team needs the utility it provides rather than direct damage. Status moves define speed control, redirection, protection and disruption in VGC. Its value depends on whether your team can exploit the turns it creates. Check your team composition for Pokémon that benefit from the positioning or tempo it generates.

In team building, Sandstorm competes with other support and disruption options for a limited number of moveslots. Ask whether your team has enough offense to justify a utility move, and whether you have the speed or bulk to use it safely. Many successful teams run one or two status moves that enable the rest of the roster, so treat it as part of your overall gameplan rather than an afterthought.

Common mistakes with Sandstorm include: Using it without a clear plan for the turns it creates. Forgetting that Protect and Detect can block it, wasting a key turn. Not considering how redirectors like Follow Me and Rage Powder change targeting.

Protect and Detect block this move. These interactions are situational, so test them in the team builder and matchup analyzer before committing to the moveslot.

Use the tools below to test Sandstorm in a full team context and compare it with alternative options.

• Protect / Detect: blocks this move.
• Wide Guard: does not block this move.
• Follow Me / Rage Powder: spread moves are not redirected.
• Quick Guard: no effect (non-priority).