Sandstorm (move) - Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia (2024)

When this move is used, a sandstorm will brew. This effect will last for 5 turns. This clears any other weather, but will fail if there is already a sandstorm.

While Sandstorm is in effect, all Pokémon who are neither Steel-, Rock-, nor Ground-type will be damaged ⅛ of their maximum HP at the end of each turn. Pokémon in the semi-invulnerable turn of Dig will also not take damage from Sandstorm, regardless of type. Also, the moves Synthesis, Morning Sun, and Moonlight will recover only half as much HP as under clear conditions.

The damage inflicted at the end of each turn is decreased to 1/16 of the Pokémon's maximum HP. Pokémon with the Sand Veil Ability have the accuracy of any move used against them modified by a factor of ⁴/₅ when Sandstorm is in effect, and are immune to Sandstorm's damaging effect. Moonlight, Synthesis, and Morning Sun now only restore ¼ of the user's maximum HP. Dive will also prevent damage from Sandstorm during the semi-invulnerable turn.

All Rock-type Pokémon will now have their Special Defense raised by 50% for the duration of the sandstorm. Also, if a Smooth Rock is held when Sandstorm is used, its duration is lengthened from 5 to 8 turns.

Pokémon with the Sand Rush Ability have their Speed doubled, while Pokémon with Sand Force get a power boost of 30% for their Rock-, Ground- and Steel-type moves. Both of these Abilities grant an immunity to Sandstorm's damaging effect. Sandstorms increase the health recovered from Shore Up from ½ to ⅔ of the user's maximum HP.

If powered up by a Rockium Z into Z-Sandstorm, the user's Speed stat is raised by one stage.

Sandstorm can no longer override weather in the overworld.

Despite being considered a wind move, Sandstorm does not activate neither Wind Power nor Wind Rider if a Pokémon with that Ability is hit with it.

Sandstorm turns the current floor's weather to sandstorm for 18 turns^RB / entire floor^TDS^GtI / 66 turns^SMD.

Gible

Boldore

Carbink

Flygon

The user summons a sandstorm to damage all Pokémon except Rock, Ground, and Steel types.PokémonMethodUserFirst Used InNotesSandslash crosses its arms and spins around counter-clockwise, whipping up a sandstorm.Jenaro's SandslashHi Ho Silver... Away!DebutPupitar's eyes flash blue, and it whips up a sandstorm from its body.Ritchie's CruiseThe Mystery is HistoryNoneRico's PupitarA Poached Ego!NoneSteelix lifts its head straight up and spins around, creating a sand tornado; or, the rocks with the giant spikes on Steelix's upper body spin rapidly, and sand is released from them; or, Steelix floats into the air and starts rapidly spinning around in circles. It then fires a sandstorm at the opponent from its body.Jasmine's SteelixNerves of Steelix!NoneHun's SteelixThe Legend of Thunder!NoneHarrison's SteelixPlaying with Fire!NoneA wild SteelixAll Torkoal, No PlayNoneOnix releases a sandstorm from its body.Brock's OnixEntei at Your Own RiskNoneNosepass's nose glows light blue and a sandstorm whips up; or, Nosepass spins around, releasing a spiraling sandstorm from its body at the opponent.Roxanne's NosepassA Winner by a NosepassNoneAlan's NosepassNosing 'Round the Mountain!NoneA Coordinator's NosepassBattling the Generation Gap!NoneCamerupt blows air out of its nose, making dirt from the ground come up and creating a sandstorm.Vicky Winstrate's CameruptCandid Camerupt!NoneCacnea spins on one foot, releasing a sandstorm and sending it at the opponent; or, Cacnea waves its arms in circles, causing a sandstorm to generate from its body, blowing the opponent away.James's CacneaZigZag Zangoose!NoneMagcargo goes into its shell and spins around quickly, making a sandstorm appear.Flannery's MagGoing, Going, YawnNoneAggron swings its arms so one of them is in the air and its body becomes surrounded by a sandstorm that knocks back the opponent; or, Aggron stomps on the ground, kicking up dirt and sending a sandstorm at the opponent.A wild AggronPikachu's Summer FestivalNoneA mirage AggronThe Mastermind of Mirage PokémonNoneSolrock releases a sandstorm from its body.Tate's SolrockIt's Still Rocket Roll to Me!NoneFlygon flaps its wings and fires a sandstorm from them that causes all Pokémon that are not Ground, Rock, or Steel-type to take damage over time.Drew's FlygonRhapsody in DrewNoneGoh's FlygonMaking Battles in the Sand!NoneRaihan's FlygonAim For The Eight!NoneDonphan slams its trunk into the ground, then brings it up quickly, creating a sandstorm from the dirt it kicks up.Tyson's DonphanAt the End of the FrayNoneClaydol spins around quickly near the ground and whips up a sandstorm.Spenser's ClaydolKa Boom with a View!NoneMunchlax releases a sandstorm from its body.May's MunchlaxKing and Queen for a Day!Used via MetronomeGeodude lifts its arms from the ground up and creates a sandstorm.Brock's GeodudeGrating Spaces!NoneRegisteel waves its arms and creates a sand tornado that it launches at the opponent.Brandon's RegisteelOverjoyed!NoneLarvitar points the horn on its head at the opponent and waves it around in circles, creating a sandstorm that pushes the opponent back; or, Larvitar jumps into the air as its body becomes surrounded in a multicolored aura. It then stomps down onto the ground, transferring the aura from its body into the ground, creating a sandstorm.A Larvitar Matt was PokésittingPinch Healing!NoneChris's LarvitarThe Mystery of the Missing Cubchoo!NoneNinjask flaps its wings fast, and they create a huge sandstorm.Brandon's NinjaskPace - The Final Frontier!NoneSandshrew jumps and lands on the ground, kicking up dirt. Then, it motions its hands toward the opponent, releasing a sandstorm at them.Mira's SandshrewSandshrew's Locker!NoneGliscor flaps its wings and releases a sandstorm from them at the opponent.Paul's GliscorRiding the Winds of Change!NoneHippopotas blows out of its nose, creating a sandstorm and sending it at the opponent.Hippopotas (recurring)Sleight of Sand!NoneGraveler waves its arms from the ground up and releases a sandstorm at the opponent.J's client's henchman's GravelerPokémon Ranger and the Kidnapped Riolu! Part 2NoneA wild GravelerGenesect and the Legend AwakenedNoneGolem waves its arms from the ground up and releases a sandstorm at the opponent.J's client's henchman's GolemPokémon Ranger and the Kidnapped Riolu! Part 2NoneA wild GolemGenesect and the Legend AwakenedNoneWormadam closes her arms, then opens them quickly, and a sandstorm appears and spirals around Wormadam's body.Ursula's WormadamAnother One Gabites the Dust!NoneRhyperior waves one of its arms to the side, causing a sandstorm to appear around the opponent.Palmer's RhyperiorChallenging a Towering Figure!NoneGible waves one arm to kick up sand then waves the other to create the sandstorm; or, Gible repeatedly waves its arms and a sandstorm comes out of them.Khoury's GibleA Rivalry to Gible on!NoneGabite calls out and a giant sand twister appears and surrounds its body.Ursula's GabiteOpposites Interact!NoneRoggenrola spins its body, causing a large sandstorm to form around it; or, Roggenrola lowers its head slightly and a sandstorm appears around its body. The sandstorm then shoots out and hits the opponent; or, Roggenrola jumps into the air as its body becomes surrounded by a multicolored aura. It then stomps down onto the ground, transferring the aura from its body into the ground, creating a sandstorm.Ash's RoggenrolaGotta Catch A Roggenrola!NoneBoth of Krokorok's forearms glow sparkling white. It then fires a shining golden beam from its hands at the ground, causing a giant twister of sand to spread out all over the battlefield.Clay's KrokorokBattling the King of the Mines!NoneBoldore jumps into the air as its body becomes surrounded by a multicolored aura. It then stomps down onto the ground, transferring the aura from its body into the ground, creating a sandstorm that causes all Pokémon that are not Ground, Rock, or Steel-type to become surrounded in white sparks of energy as they take damage.Ash's BoldoreRocking the Virbank Gym! Part 1NoneA multicolored aura surrounds Crustle's body and travels down its body and into the ground. Then, a twister of sand erupts from the ground under Crustle's body, engulfing anything near it.Cilan's CrustleMeloetta's Moonlight SerenadeNoneCarbink spins its body in a counterclockwise direction and then a sandstorm swirls around it, causing Pokémon to be hit by it and/or sent flying from the strong winds that are created by it; or, Carbink flies in the air in a circular rotation with the front of its body always facing towards the center of the storm will be and then it creates the sandstorm.A wild CarbinkA Diamond in the Rough!NoneSandygast creates a sandstorm that surrounds its body, causing nearby Pokémon to be hit by the strong winds.A Trainer's SandygastMounting an Electrifying Charge!NoneTyranitar creates a sandstorm that surrounds its body and any nearby opponents.A wild TyranitarNot Caving Under Pressure!NoneGarchomp creates a sandstorm that surrounds its body and any nearby opponents.Cynthia's GarchompStar Night, Star Flight!NoneAn illusionary Garchomp created by UnownStar Night, Star Flight!NoneCopperajah waves its trunk, creating a sandstorm that surrounds the whole battlefield.Poppy's RajahHZ055None