Base Stats
Abilities
Type Matchups
View full type chart →Damage multipliers vs. ground / dark typing. Ability-based immunities (e.g. Levitate) are not included.
Evolution Line
Battle & Lore Hub
Battle Strategy
Sandile operates as a glass-cannon physical sweeper in Little Cup, utilizing the Moxie ability to snowball into an unstoppable force after obtaining a single knockout. It relies on its high speed tier for its bracket and STAB-boosted Knock Off to disrupt opponents while preparing for a late-game cleanup.
Best Used In
Sandile excels primarily in the Little Cup (LC) tier as a revenge killer or late-game sweeper. It is also effective in Gen 5 playthroughs and lower-tier VGC formats as a budget Intimidate user.
Strengths
- ›High Attack and Speed for LC tier
- ›Access to the snowballing Moxie ability
- ›Dual STAB utility with Knock Off and Earthquake
- ›Immunity to Electric and Psychic-type moves
Weaknesses
- ›Extremely low defensive stats (44/35/35)
- ›Vulnerable to common priority moves like Mach Punch
- ›Six different type weaknesses including Fairy and Fighting
- ›Struggles against bulky Grass and Water types
Competitive Tips
- ›Run Choice Scarf to outspeed the entire unboosted metagame and act as a revenge killer.
- ›Utilize Moxie over Intimidate for offensive sets to capitalize on KOs during late-game sweeps.
- ›Equip Eviolite if running a Stealth Rock utility set to survive at least one neutral hit.
- ›Always run Knock Off to remove Eviolites from defensive switch-ins like Mienfoo or Mareanie.
- ›Tera Ghost or Tera Poison can be used to flip weaknesses to Fighting or Fairy types in relevant generations.
Recommended Teammates
Mienfoo
Provides U-turn support to bring Sandile in safely and checks opposing Steel-types.
Mareanie
Absorbs Toxic Spikes and resists the Fighting, Fairy, and Bug moves that target Sandile.
Foongus
Offers Spore support to create setup windows and resists Grass/Water/Fighting attacks.
Gligar
Forms a powerful Ground-stacking core in tiers where both are legal, handling physical attackers.
Pawniard
Applies immense pressure to Fairy-types and benefits from Sandile weakening shared checks.
Game History
Introduced in Generation V (Unova), Sandile was a common encounter in the Desert Resort and served as a signature species for N's desert team. It has maintained a niche in the Little Cup metagame across generations as a premier Ground/Dark offensive threat.
Trivia
- ◆Sandile is based on a spectacled caiman, evidenced by the black mask-like markings around its eyes.
- ◆Its evolutionary line is the only one to possess the Ground/Dark typing combination.
- ◆The Pokédex states that its eyes are covered by a thin membrane that shields them from sandstorms and regulates body temperature.
- ◆In the anime, a sunglasses-wearing Sandile followed Ash through Unova before eventually evolving into Krookodile.
- ◆Despite being a desert dweller, it cannot learn the move Shore Up, which is reserved for the Sandygast line.
- ◆Its dark stripes are actually specialized scales that absorb sunlight to keep it warm at night.
Moves · 80 total
Level-Up
9 movesTM / HM
64 movesEgg Moves
6 movesMove Tutor
1 movesWhere to find· 14 games
Black
4 spots- •Desert Resort
- •Desert Resort Entrance
- •Relic Castle A
- •Unova Route 4
White
4 spots- •Desert Resort
- •Desert Resort Entrance
- •Relic Castle A
- •Unova Route 4
Black 2
5 spots- •Desert Resort
- •Desert Resort Entrance
- •Relic Castle A
- •Relic Castle C
- •Unova Route 4
White 2
5 spots- •Desert Resort
- •Desert Resort Entrance
- •Relic Castle A
- •Relic Castle C
- •Unova Route 4
X
2 spots- •Friend Safari Dark
- •Kalos Route 9
Y
2 spots- •Friend Safari Dark
- •Kalos Route 9
Omega Ruby
PokédexIn this game's Pokédex — wild location data unavailable.
Alpha Sapphire
PokédexIn this game's Pokédex — wild location data unavailable.
Sun
1 spot- •Haina Desert
Moon
1 spot- •Haina Desert
Ultra Sun
PokédexIn this game's Pokédex — wild location data unavailable.
Ultra Moon
PokédexIn this game's Pokédex — wild location data unavailable.
Sword
PokédexIn this game's Pokédex — wild location data unavailable.
Shield
PokédexIn this game's Pokédex — wild location data unavailable.