How to Build a Sand Team in Pokemon Champions
Sand teams combine passive chip damage with Sand Rush speed. Here's the complete guide.
Why Sand is Strong
Sand does three things: chips non-Rock/Ground/Steel Pokemon for ~6% every turn, boosts Rock-type Special Defense by 50%, and doubles the speed of Sand Rush Pokemon. This gives you passive damage pressure, special bulk on your Rock types, and speed control all in one weather.
Unlike rain or sun, sand damage stacks over multiple turns — so longer games heavily favor sand teams. Your Rock-type setter becomes surprisingly bulky on the special side while Sand Rush sweepers outspeed the entire field.
Sand Core Pokemon
Every sand team needs a Sand Stream setter and at least one Sand Rush attacker to exploit the speed boost.
Sand Stream setters: Sand goes up on switch-in and never runs out, so the setter is the one Pokemon the team can't do without: Mega Tyranitar and Hippowdon.
Sand Rush sweepers: Doubled Speed in sand puts them above the entire field for as long as the weather holds: Excadrill, Lycanroc Midday, and Houndstone.
Sand abusers: Not sweepers, but sand works for them too — Sand Veil evasion or a Sand Force damage boost while the storm is up: Garchomp, Mega Steelix, and Gliscor.
How to Play Sand
Lead options: Tyranitar + Excadrill is the classic lead. Sand activates on switch-in, Excadrill immediately outspeeds and threatens with High Horsepower, Iron Head, and Rock Slide.
Weather wars: Tyranitar wins weather wars against Pelipper and Ninetales by being slower (its weather sets last). Against Torkoal, you're slower — but can switch Tyranitar back in to reset sand.
Rock Slide spam: Under sand, Rock Slide from Tyranitar/Excadrill is incredible — STAB on Tyranitar, spread damage, 30% flinch chance, and you outspeed to maximize flinch value.
Chip + sweep: Let sand chip damage weaken opponents over a few turns, then clean up with Sand Rush attacks. Don't overcommit early.
How to Beat Sand
Override weather: Rain, Sun, or Snow eliminate sand chip and disable Sand Rush. Pelipper + Swift Swim sweeper flips the matchup entirely.
Fighting types: Both Tyranitar and Excadrill are 4x weak to Fighting. Close Combat and Superpower threaten OHKOs.
Intimidate: Cuts the sand core's physical damage across the board. Cycling Intimidate with Incineroar or Arcanine (Hisui) neuters their offense.
Ground immunities: Levitate and Flying types avoid Excadrill's strongest STAB (High Horsepower/Earthquake).
Water/Grass moves: Hit the Sand Stream setter and most of its partners super effectively — sand cores stack Rock and Ground types, and both fold to these.
Support Pokemon
Sand teams need partners that cover their Fighting/Water/Grass weaknesses.
