Sandaconda
Sandaconda is a Ground-type Pokémon, the Sand Snake Pokémon, number 844 (#0844) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 8 and comes from the Galar region. It is 3.8 m tall and weighs 65.5 kg.
Sandaconda is the Sand Snake Pokémon, a Ground type that swells up as far as it can, then squeezes sand out of its nose with enough force, the Pokédex says, to wash away a dump truck. If its pouch runs dry, it loses heart completely.
How to pronounce Sandaconda
Sandaconda is pronounced san-duh-KON-duh. The capital letters show the stressed syllable.
Listen to Sandaconda said out loud:
In Japanese it is サダイジャ (Sadaija).
Hear every other name on the Pokémon pronunciation guide.
Lore
Biology
Sandaconda is a tan snake, 3.8 m long and 65.5 kg, marked with black and brown patches like cracked earth and coiled in a spiral. A dark greenish-brown ring round its neck is the sand pouch, which the Pokédex says sends over 100 kg (220 lb) of sand spraying from its nose when it contracts, and which Bulbapedia says is so thick and elastic that a Durant's pincers cannot hurt it. Its lime-green eyes sit above reddish bags, and its snout carries two large nostrils and a pair of fangs.
Behaviour
The Pokédex says Sandaconda's unusual way of coiling lets it blast sand out of its pouch more efficiently. The sand contains sharp gravel, which is sand that its saliva has hardened. It acts tough, but the Pokédex says it becomes disheartened when it runs out of sand.
Habitat
The Pokédex gives no habitat; Serebii lists desert and mine biomes in Paldea, where one waits in the Asado Desert. It is not available in Legends: Z-A.
Diet
Bulbapedia says it is known to eat Durant eggs.
Powers
Sandaconda strikes with Earthquake and Stone Edge, buries itself with Dig and traps foes with Sand Tomb; its Abilities are Sand Spit and Shed Skin, with Sand Veil hidden. Gigantamax Sandaconda rears up on its tail like a cobra in the middle of a sandy tornado: the Pokédex says over 1,000,000 tons of sand whirl around it, with enough speed and force to pulverise a skyscraper, and its exclusive G-Max Move is G-Max Sandblast. Base Attack 107 and Defense 125 make it a tough physical attacker.
Name origin
Sandaconda may combine 'sand' and 'anaconda'. The Japanese name Sadaija (サダイジャ) may combine sa (沙, 'sand') and daija (大蛇, 'serpent').
Design inspiration
Sandaconda looks like an anaconda, perhaps crossed with desert snakes such as the sidewinder, which coils and ripples across dunes, or the ball python, which curls up to hide its head. Bulbapedia notes that the twin nostrils that blast sand could even recall a double-barrelled gun, and that its Gigantamax tornado may be modelled on a dust devil. These are fan readings.
Evolution notes
Evolves from Silicobra at level 36, and does not evolve further.
In the games
Raihan, the eighth and final Gym Leader of the Galar League, uses a level 46 Sandaconda in Sword and Shield, where it debuted. Wild ones turn up on Route 8, at the Lake of Outrage and in Dusty Bowl raids, and in Scarlet and Violet it appears in 4-star Tera Raid Battles.
In the anime
Sandaconda debuted in 'Chasing to the Finish!', where Lyla used it alongside Sterling's Runerigus against Goh and Gary, before Gary and Goh defeated it.
Fun facts
- Bulbapedia says Sandaconda is the only Ground-type Pokémon with a Gigantamax form.
- Bulbapedia suggests its Shiny colouring may refer to axanthism, a colour condition commonly bred for in pet snakes.
- Despite being a pure Ground type, it can learn Fire Fang, Thunder Fang and Hurricane by TM.
Base stats
- HP: 72
- Attack: 107
- Defense: 125
- Sp. Atk: 65
- Sp. Def: 70
- Speed: 71
Sandaconda’s base stat total is 510. Its highest stat is Defense.
Type matchups
What is Sandaconda weak to?
Sandaconda takes extra damage from Water (2×), Grass (2×), Ice (2×) moves.
It resists Poison (½×), Rock (½×).
It is immune to Electric moves.
Evolution
What does Sandaconda evolve from?
Sandaconda evolves from Silicobra at level 36.
Sandaconda is the final stage of its evolution family.
The whole family: Silicobra, Sandaconda.
Forms
- Gigantamax Sandaconda (Gigantamax): Ground-type, base stat total 510 (HP 72, Attack 107, Defense 125, Sp. Atk 65, Sp. Def 70, Speed 71). Abilities: Sand Spit, Shed Skin, Sand Veil (hidden).
Abilities
- Sand Spit: Creates a sandstorm when hit by an attack.
- Shed Skin: Has a 33% chance of curing any major status ailment after each turn.
- Sand Veil (hidden ability): Increases evasion to 1.25× during a sandstorm. Protects against sandstorm damage.
Moves
Moves Sandaconda learns by level up in Scarlet / Violet
| Level | Move | Type | Category | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sand Attack | Ground | Status | — |
| 1 | Wrap | Normal | Physical | 15 |
| 1 | Minimize | Normal | Status | — |
| 1 | Brutal Swing | Dark | Physical | 60 |
| 15 | Bulldoze | Ground | Physical | 60 |
| 20 | Headbutt | Normal | Physical | 70 |
| 25 | Glare | Normal | Status | — |
| 30 | Dig | Ground | Physical | 80 |
| 35 | Sandstorm | Rock | Status | — |
| 42 | Slam | Normal | Physical | 80 |
| 49 | Coil | Poison | Status | — |
| 51 | Sand Tomb | Ground | Physical | 35 |
TM moves (40)
Sandaconda can learn 40 moves from TMs in Scarlet / Violet: Take Down, Mud-Slap, Scary Face, Protect, Fire Fang, Thunder Fang, Facade, Poison Tail, Bulldoze, Mud Shot, Rock Tomb, Endure, Sandstorm, Dig, Zen Headbutt, Body Slam, Sleep Talk, Rock Blast, Rest, Rock Slide, Body Press, Iron Head, Substitute, Iron Defense, Drill Run, Stealth Rock, Earth Power, Earthquake, Stone Edge, Giga Impact, Outrage, Hurricane, Hyper Beam, Tera Blast, Sand Tomb, High Horsepower, Scale Shot, Endeavor, Scorching Sands, Skitter Smack.
Egg moves (5), which Silicobra can hatch knowing:Belch, Dragon Rush, Last Resort, Mud-Slap, Poison Tail.
Breeding & training
- Gender: 50% male, 50% female.
- Egg groups: Field, Dragon.
- Egg cycles: 20 (steps to hatch, Scarlet/Violet: 2,560).
- Catch rate: 120 out of 255.
- Base friendship (Gen 8 onward): 50.
- Growth rate: Medium (1,000,000 experience points to reach level 100).
- Defeating it gives 2 Defense effort values.
- Base experience yield: 179.
Pokédex entries
Its unique style of coiling allows it to blast sand out of its sand sac more efficiently. (Shield)
When it contracts its body, over 220 pounds of sand sprays from its nose. If it ever runs out of sand, it becomes disheartened. (Sword)
Names around the world
| Japanese | サダイジャ |
|---|---|
| Romaji | Sadaija |
| French | Dunaconda |
| German | Sanaconda |
| Spanish | Sandaconda |
| Italian | Sandaconda |
| Korean | 사다이사 |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 沙螺蟒 |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 沙螺蟒 |
Trivia
- Tallest Ground type in Gen 8: 3.8 m.
- Fastest Ground type in Gen 8: 71 Speed.
- Highest Sp. Atk among Ground types in Gen 8: 65.
- Taller than 97% of all Pokémon (3.8 m).
- Heavier than 74% of all Pokémon (65.5 kg).
- Base stat total 510, ranked #237 of 1,025.
- Its best stat is Defense, ranked #52 of 1,025.
- One of 75 Ground-type Pokémon (counting dual types).
- One of 130 green Pokémon.
- Number 35 of 96 Pokémon introduced in Generation 8 (Galar).
- Part of an evolution family of 2 Pokémon.
- Can learn 51 different moves in Scarlet / Violet.
- Catch rate 120: about 15.7% per Poké Ball at full health.
- Has 1 alternate form.
- Appears in 2 distinct Pokédex entries.
Sources and fact-checking
- Stats, types, abilities, moves, evolutions, forms and Pokédex entries: PokéAPI open game data.
- Lore: written by pokee.si in our own words, researched from Bulbapedia: Sandaconda (Pokémon), Serebii: Sandaconda (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex), Bulbapedia: Raihan.
- Pronunciation (san-duh-KON-duh): it follows how the English anime, games or official videos say it.
Last checked: . Every sentence of the lore was checked against Bulbapedia, Serebii and the game data.
Explore
Ground-type Pokémon · Galar region guide · Sand Spit ability · Shed Skin ability · Sand Veil ability · Compare Sandaconda · Full Pokédex · Type chart · All moves
Browse similar Pokémon
Gen 8 Ground-type Pokémon · Gen 8 Pokémon list · Green Pokémon list · Field egg group · Dragon egg group · Pokémon that start with S · Snake Pokémon