Palossand, The Sand Castle Pokémon. Possessed people controlled by this Pokémon transformed its sand mound into a castle. As it evolved, its power to curse grew ever stronger. Buried beneath the castle are masses of dried-up bones from those whose vitality it has drained.
Overview
Palossand is the Sun and Moons inanimate object ghost type following the Rotom trend. However Palossand is more defensive than its other versions boosting some nice defensive stats and decent defensive typing. However it`s no slouch in the offensive side having a really nice movepool to make use of its 100 base special attack as well as an interesting ability in Water Compaction.
Abilities
Water Compaction - When hit with a water type move the users defense stat is raised by 2 stages - The better of Palossand`s two abilities, this allows for a high risk play in that if you survive the water move, Palossand is very hard to break through without special attacks
Hidden Ability (Available)
Sand Veil - Raise the users evasion by 20% in Sandstorm - An alright ability as Palossand really enjoys sand with Shore Up but the only viable Sand Stream users in NU is Hippopotas, it falls behind Water Compation.
Movesets
Sand Guardian, Guardian of the Sand
-Earth Power
-Shadow Ball
-Giga Drain/Energy Ball
-Sludge Bomb/Hidden Power Electric
Item Attached: Assault Vest
Ability:
Water Compaction
EVs and Nature:
248 HP/8 SP Attack/252 SP Def
Modest Nature
Palossand has just an wide enough move pool as well as a nice enough stat spread to make use of an assault vest to boost its average special defense to a level enough to allow it to be a strong pivot in NU, While its ground typing doesn't lend itself well defensively, its ghost typing does, allowing it to negate fighting moves giving it nice switch in options on fighting types like Hariyama. Once in Palossand functions similar to Abomasnow last generation in that once it gets in, its hard to switch into as its stab moves hit most pokemon in the tier for at least neutral damage. Giga Drain is the best move for its third slot as it allows for a method of recovery as assault vest prevents status moves so it cant use shore up but energy ball earns a mention as its got a little move base power if you really want. Last slot is for coverage, Hidden Power electric hits flying types that resist shadow ball while Sludge Bomb hits fairys that you check like Granbull.
Posiden Quivers Before Him
-Shore Up
-Toxic
-Shadow Ball
-Earth Power
Item Attached: Leftovers
Ability: Water Compaction
EVs and Nature:
248 HP/252 Def/8 Sp Def
Relaxed Nature
Palossand’s stats lend it to being a defensive pivot, allowing it to check physical threats in NU in tier such as Granbull, the Hitmon trio, and eviolite dragons. Shore up helps to maintain Palossand’s health so it cant be removed as easily while Toxic allows it to wear down threats it otherwise has a hard time answering as well as crippling sweepers and forcing switches. Earth Power and Shadow Ball round out the build for damage and coverage having pretty decent coverage struggling mostly with Flying types.
Other Options & Partners
-Rock Slide/Stone Edge - While Palossand has medicore attack compared to special attack, Rock Slide or Stone Edge are options as it creates the famous QuakeEdge Combo and is overall stronger for dealing with Flying types
-Hidden Power Ice - Another option, helps deal with Dragons like Fraxtures and Dragonair while still hitting Flyings but is overall weak as Earth Power will hit almost the same
-Passho Berry = The Passho Berry is very niche but it allows Palossand to trigger its passive safely once as well as deal with Omastar for the most part but its not advised
-Protect = Protect is a staple on status tanks and is good here for stalling recovery and Toxic damage as well as scouting moves.
-Ancient Power = Ancient Power can be run over Shadow Ball as it give flawless coverage with the small potential to sweep but is very niche
Hippopotas = Hippopotas is a big boon to Palossand as it brings Sand Stream, boosting the heal of Shore Up, allowing it to use Sand Veil, and just wearing down threats faster.
Lilligant = Lilligant can abuse the waters that Palossand baits in to start boost Quiver Dance and look for a sweep while Palossand can find easy switch ins on bug moves aimed for Lilligant
Machamp = Machamp can switch in on dark types that are drawn in by Palossand and get a free move off, either Subsitute or Dynamic Punch, while Palossand soft checks Flying types such as Dodrio
VGC, Double, & Triple Battle Options
Palossand has had little notable success in large tournaments in VGC 2017. The ghostly sand castle does have, however, a moderate presence online on Battle Spot. While tough to use in a "best of 3" format at live tournaments, Palossand and its tricks can surprise an opponent in a single battle, especially if they have never seen it before. Typically alongside everyone's favorite sketch artist Pokemon, Palossand actually can become very difficult to take down as it accumulates boosts to its stats.
Size Matters Not
-Earth Power
-Shadow Ball
-Amnesia
-Shore Up
Item Attached: Weakness Policy
Ability: Water Compaction
EVs and Nature:
252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature (ideally with 0 attack and speed IVs)
Ready to get boosting? Palossand's most common partner right now is Smeargle. Smeargle can learn Greninja's featured move, Water Shuriken, and by using it on Palossand with Compaction, quickly max out its defense within 2 turns. Even without Smeargle, Water Compaction is the preferred ability, unless running a sand team and you are feeling lucky. Water Shuriken will also activate Palossand's Weakness Policy. Max HP and special defense with a Sassy nature shores up (pun intended) the lower of Palossand's defensive stats, allowing it to take a special hit as well as it can before using Amnesia. The Sassy nature and a zero speed IV also lets Palossand be "fast" under Trick Room, since it is not outspeeding much normally anyway.
Earth Power and Shadow Ball are Palossand's two strongest STAB moves, and give decent coverage. Amnesia boosts special defense by two stages. Combined with the defense boosts from Compaction, Palossand can quickly become nearly impenetrable. Shore Up provides a form of recovery to improve its longevity.
Other Options & Team Ideas
-Sand Veil can be considered on sand teams if you are not using the Water Shuriken trick.
-Protect keeps Palossand safe for a turn to let a teammate handle a threat.
-Giga Drain is great to both do damage and recover health after you have boosted. Energy Ball gives stronger grass coverage, but without any healing.
-Sludge Bomb is good for hitting all the Tapus, and Hidden Power Ice is strong against Garchomp. Psychic can provide additional coverage, but is inferior to any of the previously mentioned options.
-Toxic can be useful for Porygon2, Snorlax, or Chansey, but is likely best left for a teammate to use.
-Again, Smeargle is a great partner. Water Shuriken gives the Compaction boosts, and Smeargle can support with other moves like Fake Out, Follow Me, Wide Guard, and many others.
-Trick Room helps Palossand's low speed be an advantage.
-Gigalith's Sand Stream helps chip away at opponents (but not harm Palossand), and it is a strong Trick Room sweeper too. Gigalith's rock moves provide strong coverage next to Palossand's Earth Power.
-Psych Up users (including all of the Tapus) can copy Palossand's boosts and become insanely powerful.
Countering Palossand
Omastar - Omastar can scare off Palossand with its high power water moves but cant switch in or boost on it. However Palossand can’t one hit it in return if it runs a focus sash, which is common.
Eelektross - Eelektross has Levitate, allowing it to dodge Earth Power making it very hard for Palossand to deal with. Eelektross also has a wide range of coverage moves such as Grass Knot and Crunch to pressure out Palossand
Whimscott - Whimscott can come in on Earth Power and Taunt Palossand out of it defensive moves and just slowly wear it down or just look to KO with Energy Ball or Giga Drain
Alola Exeggutor - Very similar to Whimscott but has more bulk allowing it to be more aggressive with checking. The type change to Dragon also is a huge bonus as Shadow Ball will no longer cripple Exeggutor switching in
Abomasnow - Pretty tank allowing Abomasnow to switch into Earth Power and Giga Drain really easy then pressure Palossand out with its dual stab moves and higher base speed.
Locations in Games
Red/Blue/Yellow:
Not in game
Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Not in game
FireRed/LeafGreen:
Not in game
Colosseum/XD:
Not in game
Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Not in game
HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Not in game
Black/White:
Not in game
Black 2/White 2:
Not in game
X/Y:
Not in game
Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Not in game
Sun/Moon:
Evolve Sandygast
Animé Appearences
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Palossand has made an appearance in the anime. In it, it evolved from Sandygast and grew to massive levels, consuming Ash in the process.
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