[OVERVIEW]
Ice
========
With its ability Slush Rush, Alolan Sandslash is one of Ice teams' best options for keeping faster foes in check. Under hail, Alolan Sandslash is capable of outspeeding and threatening Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Victini and Landorus-T as well as +1 Mega Charizard X. Access to Rapid Spin along with its solid offensive presence also makes Alolan Sandslash an effective entry hazard remover due to forcing switches against Pokemon like Tapu Koko and Excadrill under hail. Its Steel typing grants it a neutrality to Stealth Rock, allowing it to switch in more often when entry hazards are up, and an immunity to Toxic Spikes, improving its effectiveness as an entry hazard remover. Additionally, this secondary typing also grants it a neutrality to Steel-type moves, which, when paired with its decent Defense, allows it to take Steel-type attacks from Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Jirachi. However, Alolan Sandslash has terrible Speed outside of hail, leaving it very easily revenge killed, and a poor Attack stat makes it incapable of OHKOing Pokémon like Victini, Jirachi, and Kyurem-B without prior damage. It can't utilize an Adamant nature due to needing a Jolly nature to outspeed Choice Scarf Pokémon like Victini and Landorus-T under hail. Furthermore, its Steel typing grants it a 4x weakness to Fire- and Fighting-type moves, leaving it much more susceptible to Pokemon like Choice Scarf Blacephalon and Keldeo. Even under hail, Alolan Sandslash is outsped and OHKOed by select Choice Scarf Pokemon such as Infernape, Terrakion, and Gengar. Alolan Sandslash also finds itself very easily walled by physically defensive Pokemon such as Skarmory and Mega Venusaur without Swords Dance.
[SET]
name: Hail Sweeper (Ice)
move 1: Icicle Crash
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Rapid Spin / Swords Dance
item: Life Orb
ability: Slush Rush
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Icicle Crash is Alolan Sandslash's strongest STAB move, able to hit Ground- and Dragon-types like Landorus, Garchomp, and Dragonite. Iron Head is its strongest Steel-type STAB move and is used to hit Fairy-types like Clefable and Mega Diancie. Earthquake is essential coverage in order to hit Fire- and Steel-types like Victini, Heatran, and Jirachi. Rapid Spin is used for removing entry hazards such as Stealth Rock, which is very important for Ice teams. Swords Dance is another option if the Ice team already has another hazard remover, bolstering Alolan Sandslash's effectiveness as a sweeper and allowing it to beat defensive Pokemon like Ferrothorn and Skarmory.
Set Details
========
Maximum investment in Attack and Speed is used to make Alolan Sandslash as strong and fast as possible. A Jolly nature is important for outspeeding Choice Scarf Victini, Jirachi, and +1 Mega Charizard X under hail as well as Timid Magnezone and Adamant Bisharp outside of hail. A Life Orb is used to further increase Alolan Sandslash's damage output while also giving it the freedom of switching between its moves. The ability Slush Rush doubles Alolan Sandslash's Speed under hail, allowing it to serve as an effective sweeper and revenge killer.
Usage Tips
========
If Rapid Spin is used, try predicting when Pokemon such as Victini, Tapu Koko, and Excadrill will switch out in order to remove entry hazards for free. In a similar sense, if Swords Dance is used, try to predict your opponent to switch out in order to set up for free. This can allow Alolan Sandslash to break past defensive answers like Ferrothorn and Torkoal. Since Alolan Sandslash has awful special bulk, it's best to keep it away from special attacks, even resisted ones. In most situations, try setting up Swords Dance against passive Pokemon like Chansey and Cradily. However, if Aurora Veil is up, Alolan Sandslash can use the opportunity to set up against Pokemon like Armaldo and Latios. Make sure to keep Alolan Sandslash away from status conditions, since paralysis will nullify Slush Rush and burn will render it useless as a sweeper. Alolan Sandslash can find opportunities to sweep late-game once defensive checks such as Klefki and Rotom-W are removed on Fairy and Electric teams. Outside of hail, Alolan Sandslash is very slow and cannot be an effective sweeper, so in most instances, it's best to switch it out outside of hail.
Team Options
========
Alolan Ninetales can check Fighting-types like Keldeo and Buzzwole for Alolan Sandslash, as well as set up Aurora Veil to allow Alolan Sandslash to switch in or set up with Swords Dance more easily. Kyurem-B can break through physical walls like Skarmory, Mega Venusaur, and Slowbro for Alolan Sandslash and offer a Fire neutrality. Weavile can trap Psychic- and Ghost-types like Mew and Gengar with Pursuit, as well as remove items with Knock Off to make Normal's Eviolite core easier for Alolan Sandslash to deal with. Mamoswine can put up Stealth Rock for Alolan Sandslash, allowing it to sweep more effectively. Mamoswine can also blanket check threats like Mega Lopunny, Mega Gallade, and Mega Scizor with Endeavor + Ice Shard, all of which can severely threaten Alolan Sandslash. Piloswine can switch into Fire-type attacks for Alolan Sandslash due to its ability Thick Fat, as well as set up Stealth Rock to let Alolan Sandslash sweep more easily. Avalugg and Rotom-F can fill the role of entry hazard removers, allowing Alolan Sandslash to freely run Swords Dance as its last move. Avalugg can also switch into Choice Scarf Pokemon like Infernape and Terrakion that outspeed Alolan Sandslash even in hail, while Rotom-F can switch into Ground-type moves and utilize Volt Switch to let Alolan Sandslash in safely. Lapras and Walrein are both capable of checking defensive Mega Scizor for Alolan Sandslash with Hidden Power Fire, and they offer a neutrality to Steel as well. Lapras can break past bulky Water-types like Toxapex and Swampert with Freeze-Dry, while Walrein offers a Fire resistance with Thick Fat in order to switch into Fire-type attacks from Choice Scarf Blacephalon and Infernape, both of which outspeed Alolan Sandslash in hail. Cloyster is a powerful setup sweeper that can sweep Fire teams for Alolan Sandslash. In return, Alolan Sandslash checks Electric-types like Tapu Koko and Magnezone and can clear entry hazards to keep Cloyster healthy as it sets up.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Ice
--------
Rock Slide can be used in order to check Mega Charizard Y and Volcarona from full health without relying on Stealth Rock to guarantee a KO. However, Rapid Spin and Swords Dance are generally more useful moves. A Choice Band can be used as a means of always KOing Victini and Volcanion after Stealth Rock. However, Alolan Sandslash relies on being able to switch between its moves. Icium Z is an option for Swords Dance sets in order to break past defensive checks like Celesteela, Ferrothorn, and Mega Sableye. However, in situations where it's unable to set up, Life Orb's general power increase is preferred.
Checks and Counters
===================
Ice
--------
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-types like Keldeo and Heracross can survive a hit from Alolan Sandslash and KO it with their STAB moves. Fighting-types with priority like Breloom can easily pick it off as well.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types like Torkoal and Air Balloon Heatran can take a hit from Alolan Sandslash and KO back with their STAB moves. Torkoal can even remove its hail thanks to Drought.
**Bulky Steel-types**: Steel-types like Mega Scizor and Celesteela don't care about Earthquake and can proceed to wear Alolan Sandslash down. Celesteela even has access to Flamethrower to quickly dispose of Alolan Sandslash.
**Bulky Water-types**: Suicune, Rotom-W, and Mega Swampert don't take much damage from Alolan Sandslash's STAB moves and can wear it down easily with Scald or, in Mega Swampert's case, Earthquake.
**Physically Defensive Walls**: Skarmory, Mega Sableye, and Mega Slowbro aren't threatened by any of Alolan Sandslash's attacks and can slowly wear it down. Mega Sableye deserves a special mention due to being immune to Rapid Spin and being able to deter Alolan Sandslash from setting up with Foul Play.
**Revenge Killers**: Fast Choice Scarf Pokemon like Terrakion, Blacephalon, and Gengar can outspeed Alolan Sandslash under hail and threaten to KO it. Gengar and Blacephalon can even switch into a Rapid Spin if Alolan Sandslash attempts to remove entry hazards.
**Residual Damage**: Alolan Sandslash is very quickly worn down between hazard damage, Life Orb recoil, and status conditions like burn, making it rather difficult to preserve.
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