The Ultimate Guide to Catching Alolan Sandshrew in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet

Regional variants were introduced in the Alola region, with Sandshrew and its evolution, Sandslash, being among the first Pokemon to receive this treatment. Initially exclusive to Pokemon Moon, Alolan Sandshrew became accessible to players of both Pokemon Sword and Shield in Generation 8 through the Isle of Armor DLC. In Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, regular Sandshrew and Sandslash make a return in The Teal Mask, giving trainers the opportunity to potentially obtain Alolan Sandshrew and Sandslash as well.

Trainers who battle every trainer they come across in Kitakami may encounter an opponent who uses Alolan Sandshrew and Alolan Vulpix. These Ice/Steel-type Sandshrew and Sandslash differ from their Kanto counterparts. However, trainers playing Scarlet or Violet have limited options to obtain Alolan Sandshrew in Paldea, as they cannot be found in Kitakami.

How to Get Alolan Sandshrew

Trainers have the option of obtaining Alolan Sandshrew and its evolution in two ways: by trading with another player who already has it, or by finding regular Sandshrew and Sandslash in Kitakami. However, unlike the Nectar Items for Oricorio, there is no special item available to alter their forms.

Transfer an Alolan Sandshrew to Scarlet/Violet from Sword/Shield or Pokemon GO by using Pokemon HOME.

Trading for Alolan Sandshrew

To trade Pokemon, players will need a Nintendo Online Membership. Membership prices are:

$3.99 for 30 days

$7.99 for 3 months

$19.99 for 12 months

Once players have this, they can access the Poke Portal in the pause menu (X-button), and tap the L-button to access wireless features. From there, they should select Link Trade, and then choose Set Link Code. If they are trading with a friend, it is important for both players to enter the same Code in order to be linked with one another for a trade. Alternatively, trainers can input a Trade Code specifically for Alolan Sandshrew.

Getting Alolan Sandshrew with Pokemon HOME

To obtain an Alolan Sandshrew in Pokemon Scarlet/Violet, players have two options. They can either catch it in another game and utilize Pokemon HOME for the transfer or acquire it in Sword/Shield or Pokemon GO.

For those aiming to obtain it in Sword/Shield, trainers must purchase the expansion pass. Once they have access to the Isle of Armor, they should search for buried Alolan Digletts. Once they have located 30 Alolan Digletts, they should approach the hiker NPC situated at the bridge leading to the dojo. In exchange for each set of Digletts found, the hiker will reward trainers with an Alolan Pokemon. Upon locating all 30 Digletts, trainers will be gifted with an Alolan Sandshrew.

To transfer an Alolan Sandshrew from Pokemon GO to Pokemon HOME in Sword/Shield:

Place the Alolan Sandshrew in a PC Box in Sword/Shield. Save, then close the game.

Open Pokemon HOME on the Switch, and select Sword/Shield.

Please transfer the Sandshrew from the Sword/Shield box to the Basic Box (left window). Save and exit the game.

Next, open either Scarlet or Violet and relocate the Alolan Sandshrew from the Basic Box to one of Scarlet/Violet's PC Boxes. Save and exit the game.

To transfer an Alolan Sandshrew from Pokemon GO to Pokemon HOME, ensure that the Sandshrew is not marked as "starred" or a Shadow Alolan Sandshrew. In case it is a Shadow Pokemon, players must purify it before proceeding.

Tap the Poke Ball icon on the main screen/map, then select the gear icon in the top-right corner of the screen.

Select Connected Devices and Services, then select Pokemon HOME.

Select the Alolan Sandshrew and click on Next to finalize the transfer.

Access Pokemon HOME on the Switch and tap on the GO icon in the menu to effortlessly relocate the Alolan Sandshrew to a HOME Basic Box.

Move Alolan Sandshrew from the Basic Box to a PC Box by accessing Scarlet/Violet in HOME. Remember to save and exit. To transfer to Pokemon HOME via GO, players must link their HOME account by logging in through the settings/Connected Devices in Pokemon GO.

How to Get More Alolan Sandshrews in Scarlet/Violet (How to Get Alolan Sandshrew Eggs)

Alolan Sandshrew can reproduce with a Kantonian Sandshrew, Ditto, or a Pokemon in the same Egg Group. However, Sandshrew Eggs obtained in Paldea/Kitakami will hatch into Kantonian Sandshrew of the Ground type. To hatch Alolan Sandshrew, players must ensure that it holds an Everstone.

For breeding Pokemon within the same Egg Group, the Alolan Sandshrew must be female. The characteristics of the offspring will resemble those of the mother Pokemon rather than the father.

Players can purchase an Everstone from Delibird Presents for a price of 3000. In contrast to the evolutionary stones, Everstones are readily accessible at the beginning of the game and do not require unlocking. Another method to obtain Everstones is by finding them on the ground in Paldea.

How to Evolve Alolan Sandshrew

Unlike its Kantonian counterpart, Alolan Sandshrew can only evolve when exposed to an Ice Stone. In Dalizapa Passage, located in West Province (Area Three), there is a guaranteed Ice Stone. Trainers may find it helpful to have Koraidon/Miraidon's climbing ability to make reaching the stone easier. Once at the location of the Ice Stone, players will be able to spot the nearby Pokemon Center, which can serve as a guide. Alternatively, Ice Stones can occasionally be found at the Port Marinada auction house. Trainers can also try their luck and take a stroll through the snowy mountains, as sometimes an Ice Stone can be discovered in the "wild."

Which Sandshrew Should You Use? (Alolan Sandshrew or Kantonian Sandshrew)

Trainers who plan on utilizing Alolan Sandshrew are advised to evolve it into Alolan Sandslash. Yet, they might ponder over which one to choose: Alolan Sandslash or Kantonian Sandslash. It's common knowledge among trainers that Kantonian Sandshrew/Sandslash is classified as a Ground-type Pokemon. Despite the variation in typing, both Sandshrew evolutions possess identical base stat totals.

Here's what trainers may seek clarification on:

Both Sandshrew lines can benefit greatly from having an Adamant Nature (+Attk, -Sp.Attk) or even an Impish Nature (+Def, -Sp.Attk). A Modest Nature (+Sp.Attk, -Attk) would not be ideal for them as their Special Attack is quite poor. It is important to avoid Natures that increase Defense at the expense of lowering Attack.

Most of the moves that Sandslash learns through evolution or by remembering are physical moves. It is worth noting that both Sandslash forms have the ability to learn Poison Jab, which provides coverage against the majority of Grass-type Pokemon, a weakness of the original Kantonian Sandslash. Additionally, despite being an Ice/Steel-type, Alolan Sandslash has the capability to learn Earthquake through TM149, granting it coverage against one of its major weaknesses: Fire-type Pokemon. Furthermore, it can also learn Rock Slide to effectively target Fire/Flying-types, which are immune to Ground-type moves.

In terms of type effectiveness, both Sandslash face similar weaknesses, but Alolan Sandslash is vulnerable to two types that deal four times the damage. However, Alolan Sandslash tends to have a slower base speed, making it more likely for opponents to move first. As a result, it is advisable for Alolan Sandslash to avoid battles with Fire and Fighting types. On the other hand, Kantonian Sandslash is weak to more common types like Grass and Water. Nonetheless, with the appropriate TMs, Kantonian Sandslash can defend itself against most Grass-type Pokémon.

Although both Sandslash possess high Defense, Alolan Sandslash surpasses its Kantonian counterpart with a Defense of 120. Consequently, players might have better success using Alolan Sandslash as a defensive wall against physical attackers rather than special attackers.

Both Sandshrew and Sandslash have their advantages and disadvantages. They can both learn a wide range of moves through TMs, which allows for a diverse moveset. Trainers should assess their team's needs to decide whether they prefer a dual-type Sandslash or a single-type Sandslash. Both variants make solid additions to a party, but it is advisable to avoid using them against strong special attackers. Pokémon Scarlet & Violet are now accessible on the Nintendo Switch.