Copyediting - Utility Alolan Sandslash [QC: 2/2] [GP: 0/1] (2024)

[SET]
name: Specially Defensive Spinner
move 1: Rapid Spin
move 2: Triple Axel / Ice Spinner
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Spikes / Stealth Rock
item: Leftovers / Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Slush Rush
nature: Careful
evs:

[SET COMMENTS]

Alolan Sandslash is a great role compressor, as it can remove entry hazards and set up its own, and, on top of this, Alolan Sandslash can also check threats like Galarian Articuno(kinda an outdated example, replace), Florges, and Rotom-C. (add a sentence about triple axel being more powerful but ice spinner being more reliable/removing terrain)Knock Off allows Alolan Sandslash to remove items like Heavy-Duty Boots and Leftovers from bulkier Pokemon like Altaria, Milotic, and Bronzong.(replace the lefties mention with scarf users like pauros)(also elaborate about how removing hdb pairs well with hazards) Spikes is preferred as they can be stacked, and there are many more Stealth Rock users in PU compared to the amount that learn Spikes. However, if there are no Stealth Rock users on a team or if Spikes are covered somewhere else, Stealth Rock can be ran instead. Leftovers provides passive recovery for Alolan Sandslash as it lacks any form of it, but Heavy-Duty Boots lets it switch in and use its defensive utility more in battle.(just say hdb makes it a more reliable spinner) Triple Axel, with 20 Atk EVs, allows Alolan Sandslash to always OHKO Golurk from full health if all of Triple Axel's hits land while its Speed investment lets it outpace Sandaconda(also defensive decidueye)(also make the speed investment (italicized part) its own sentence and move it before the 20atk mention). Tera Water both lets Alolan Sandslash to take a Fire-type attack from Delphox, Salazzle, and Arcanine in a pinch and gives it a strong defensive Tera type. Tera Ghost, on the other hand, helps Alolan Sandslash act as an emergency spinblocker against Tatsugiri, Coalossal, and opposing Alolan Sandslash while also helping it take super effective coverage in Body Press from Mudsdale and Bronzong and Close Combat from Scyther.

Alolan Sandslash best (i wouldnt say 'best' here)fits on entry hazard stacking teams that use can utilize Spikes to great use alongside pressure to chip away at and break through walls. (this first sentence should be more about how alolaslash fits on a lotta teams in general thanks to the utility, hazard stacking should still be mentioned though)This means wallbreaking partners like Zoroark, Heracross, and Inteleon greatly appreciate Alolan Sandslash's support. Alolan Sandslash is easily beat by Fighting- and Fire-types like Hariyama, Paldean Tauros-F, and Arcanine, so teammates that can check these threats like Bellibolt, physically defensive Gastrodon(not a very relevent set, replace with milotic), and Mudsdale make for great partners and create a strong defensive backbone with Alolan Sandslash. While Alolan Sandslash has Knock Off, it tends to bring in offensive threats rather than walls; to circumvent this, it should be paired alongside other Knock Off users like Heracross, Ambipom, and Scrafty, as they draw in Heavy-Duty Boots users like Altaria, Milotic, and Florges. (just say that other knock off users pair well with its hazards)Alolan Sandslash's lack of recovery can be quite detrimental versus Galarian Articuno and Florges, so a second specially defensive wall, like Goodra and Assault Vest Galarian Slowbro, or a Wish-passing partner, such as Scream Tail and Florges, make for great teammates. After using Knock Off, Alolan Sandslash fails to do much of anything versus opposing Steel-types like Bronzong, Duraludon, and opposing Alolan Sandslash, which provides them a free set up opportunity. (this can just be rephrased to "it struggles against" or "can be taken adgantage of by", doesnt have to be so long)So, Pokemon like Skuntank, Flamigo, and Paldean Tauros-F can all pressure these Steel-types, not letting them take advantage of Alolan Sandslash. Pokemon weak to Stealth Rock but that also prefer to run other items instead like Staraptor and Arcanine create strong synergy with Alolan Sandslash, (also mention stuff worn down by spike)as it can chip away at their checks like Mudsdale and Milotic with Knock Off and entry hazards. In turn, Staraptor and Arcanine threaten out Fighting- and Fire-types like Flamigo and Paldean Tauros-F (both of these mons 2hko arcanine)that Alolan Sandslash struggles with taking care of. (this whole italicized part can prob be removed, it just repeats roles already mentioned)

[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/powerofmemes.583607/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bella.567483/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/uberskitty.355061/
Grammar checked by:
1

Copyediting - Utility Alolan Sandslash [QC: 2/2] [GP: 0/1] (2024)

References