Scorching Sands
GroundScorching Sands is a Ground-type special attack. It has 70 base power, 100% accuracy, 10 PP and targets a single adjacent target.
Technical data
- Type
- Ground
- Category
- special
- Power
- 70
- Accuracy
- 100
- PP
- 10
- Priority
- 0
- Target
- adjacent
- Contact
- No
- Spread
- No
- Protect blocks
- Yes
- Wide Guard blocks
- No
Competitive value
A coverage or STAB option worth comparing with alternatives of the same type in the team builder.
How to learn it
Pokémon that can learn or be taught this move, by method.
TM / HM105 Pokémon
Incineroar
Blaziken Mega
Delphox Mega
Garchomp Mega Z
Garchomp Mega
Charizard Mega Y
Charizard Mega X
Excadrill Mega
Infernape
Golurk Mega
Arcanine
Charizard Gmax
Rhyperior
Garchomp
Torterra
Camerupt Mega
Sandaconda
Flareon
Skeledirge
Typhlosion
Armarouge
Charizard
Blaziken
Ninetales
Sandaconda Gmax
Delphox
Arcanine Hisui
Bastiodon
Typhlosion Hisui
Krookodile
Excadrill
Hippowdon
Torkoal
Ninetales Alola
Golurk
Camerupt
Move Tutor91 Pokémon
Incineroar
Blaziken Mega
Steelix Mega
Garchomp Mega Z
Garchomp Mega
Charizard Mega Y
Charizard Mega X
Excadrill Mega
Golurk Mega
Arcanine
Charizard Gmax
Rhyperior
Garchomp
Sandaconda
Flareon
Charizard
Blaziken
Ninetales
Sandaconda Gmax
Steelix
Arcanine Hisui
Krookodile
Excadrill
Hippowdon
Torkoal
Ninetales Alola
Golurk
Diggersby
Pokémon that use this move
130 Pokémon, sorted by usage
Incineroar
Blaziken Mega
Steelix Mega
Delphox Mega
Garchomp Mega Z
Garchomp Mega
Charizard Mega Y
Charizard Mega X
Excadrill Mega
Infernape
Golurk Mega
Arcanine
Charizard Gmax
Rhyperior
Garchomp
Torterra
Camerupt Mega
Sandaconda
Flareon
Skeledirge
Typhlosion
Armarouge
Charizard
Blaziken
Ninetales
Sandaconda Gmax
Delphox
Steelix
Arcanine Hisui
Bastiodon
Typhlosion Hisui
Krookodile
Excadrill
Hippowdon
Torkoal
Ninetales Alola
Golurk
Camerupt
Diggersby
What this move does
Scorching Sands is a Ground-type special attack. It has 70 base power, 100% accuracy, 10 PP and targets a single adjacent target. Scorching Sands is a Ground-type special attack. It has 70 base power, 100% accuracy, 10 PP and targets a single adjacent target.
A coverage or STAB option worth comparing with alternatives of the same type in the team builder.
When to consider it
Consider Scorching Sands when its type and power cover targets your team otherwise struggles with. Single-target attacks are reliable and do not risk your own partner, but they can be redirected by Follow Me or Rage Powder. Evaluate the move alongside your team's speed tiers and overall coverage.
How to evaluate it in team building
In team building, Scorching Sands is usually a coverage or primary STAB option. It shines when your team already has speed control or when it patches a matchup hole. Compare it with alternative moves of the same type and category to decide whether the extra power, accuracy or side effect justifies the slot over a more defensive option.
Common mistakes
Common mistakes with Scorching Sands include: Using it without a clear plan for the turns it creates. Forgetting that Protect and Detect can block it, wasting a key turn. Spamming it predictably and letting the opponent switch into a resist. Not considering how redirectors like Follow Me and Rage Powder change targeting.
VGC interactions
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.
Related tools and guides
Use the tools below to test Scorching Sands in a full team context and compare it with alternative options.
VGC interactions
- 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).
Frequently asked questions
+Is Scorching Sands good in ChampionsVGC?
A coverage or STAB option worth comparing with alternatives of the same type in the team builder. It is blocked by Protect and Detect, which can waste a key turn if predicted.
+Is Scorching Sands blocked by Protect?
Yes, Scorching Sands is blocked by Protect and Detect.