Pokémon counters guide

Best Counters for Sandshrew-Alola

Find practical counter Pokémon, attacking types, and defensive matchup notes for Sandshrew-Alola.

IceSteel
Sandshrew-Alola Pokémon sprite

Sandshrew-Alola

#0027

Quick answer

Fire and Fighting is the strongest answer because both Ice and Steel are weak to Fire, creating a 4x weakness. Ground are strong secondary attacking types.

Best move types

Fire×4Fighting×4Ground×2

Top weaknesses (2)

Fire×4Fighting×4

Type matchup table

Fire type iconFire4x
Fighting type iconFighting4x
Ground type iconGround2x
Water type iconWater1x
Electric type iconElectric1x
Rock type iconRock1x
Ghost type iconGhost1x
Dark type iconDark1x
Steel type iconSteel1x
Ice type iconIce0.25x
Normal type iconNormal0.5x
Grass type iconGrass0.5x
Flying type iconFlying0.5x
Psychic type iconPsychic0.5x
Bug type iconBug0.5x
Dragon type iconDragon0.5x
Fairy type iconFairy0.5x
Poison type iconPoison0x

Recommended practical counters

Volcarona Pokémon sprite

Volcarona

#0637

Best overallResists both STABsFast pressure
BugFire
  • Deals 4x damage with Fire-type attacks
  • Has STAB Fire-type attacks
  • Resists the target's Ice 0.5x, Steel 0.5x STAB attacks
  • Strong attacking stats help convert the matchup
  • Good Speed helps apply pressure first
Best typeFire×4

Safe into Ice 0.5x, Steel 0.5x

135 offense · 100 Speed

Cinderace Pokémon sprite

Cinderace

#0815

Resists both STABsFast pressureBudget option
Fire
  • Deals 4x damage with Fire-type attacks
  • Has STAB Fire-type attacks
  • Resists the target's Ice 0.5x, Steel 0.5x STAB attacks
  • Strong attacking stats help convert the matchup
  • Good Speed helps apply pressure first
Best typeFire×4

Safe into Ice 0.5x, Steel 0.5x

116 offense · 119 Speed

Strong theoretical counters

Best move types to use

Fire×4Fighting×4Ground×2

Move availability depends on game version and learnset data, so this page recommends move types rather than guaranteed moves.

Fire type pageFighting type pageGround type page

Counter notes for Sandshrew-Alola

  • Sandshrew-Alola's Ice / Steel typing makes Fire and Fighting the cleanest answer because it reaches 4x damage. Its 40 base Speed means very slow counters still need enough bulk to take a hit first.
  • Ground attackers are useful secondary options when the top weakness is unavailable, but they should be chosen for safety, Speed, or team fit rather than raw multiplier alone.
  • Known abilities include Snow Cloak and Slush Rush. This page does not assume ability-specific battle effects, so verify the format before relying on a single counter.
  • Avoid counters that are weak to Ice / Steel unless they are fast enough to pressure immediately or bulky enough to survive the exchange.
  • Sandshrew-Alola has alternate forms that can change this matchup, including Sandshrew. Check the specific form before relying on this defensive profile.

What not to use

Poison×0Ice×0.25Normal×0.5Grass×0.5Flying×0.5Psychic×0.5Bug×0.5Dragon×0.5Fairy×0.5

These attacking types are resisted or blocked by the defender's typing, so they are usually lower-priority choices unless they provide a special battle role.

Battle caveats

  • This ranking uses modern Gen 6+ type matchups, STAB value, defensive switch-in safety, and base stats.
  • Abilities, held items, Terastallization, weather, terrain, and format rules can change real battle outcomes.
  • Coverage moves can punish obvious counters, so treat this as type-based guidance rather than a full matchup simulator.
  • Move availability depends on game version and learnset data; this page recommends attacking types rather than guaranteed moves.

Related pages

Sandshrew-Alola weakness chartSandshrew-Alola PokédexIce / Steel countersFire type pageFighting type pageGround type pagePokémon type chartSpeed tiers

FAQ

What is the best counter for Sandshrew-Alola?

Sandshrew-Alola is best countered by Pokémon that can use Fire and Fighting (4x) attacks while avoiding bad defensive matchups into Ice / Steel STAB attacks. Because this is a 4x weakness, even moderate attackers can create pressure if they can enter safely.

What type is best against Sandshrew-Alola?

Fire and Fighting are the strongest attacking types against Sandshrew-Alola, dealing 4x damage under the modern Gen 6+ type chart.

How many useful attacking types hit Sandshrew-Alola super-effectively?

Sandshrew-Alola has 3 super-effective attacking options: Fire, Fighting, and Ground. Use the highest multiplier first, then choose a Pokémon that is not exposed to Ice / Steel STAB attacks.

Are abilities included in this counter ranking?

No. The ranking uses base typing and base stats. Abilities, items, Terastallization, weather, terrain, and special move rules can change the real matchup.

Does Terastallization change Sandshrew-Alola counters?

Yes. Terastallization can replace the defensive typing used here, so the recommended counter types may change completely in formats where Tera is active.

What should I avoid using against Sandshrew-Alola?

Avoid relying on Poison, Ice, Normal, Grass, and Flying attacks unless they have a special role or unusually high power.

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