In terms of moves affected by the sand, Solar Beam gets a reduction in power and Thunder gets a reduction in accuracy. Restorative moves like Moonlight, Synthesis, and Morning Sun only recover 25 percent of the user'🅷s hit points.

With the right Pokemon, sand can be devastating. 💯The ability Sand Veil increases a Pokemon's evasion rate during a sandstorm. Several Pokemon have this ability, including the powerful Garchomp. This Pokemon is an offensive men🥂ace; combined with a high evasion rate, Garchomp can be especially nasty during a sandstorm. Tyranitar, a ridiculously powerful Pokemon as it is, benefits greatly from sandstorms as well. Since it's a Rock Pokemon, it gets the defensive boost on top of its already high defense.

Above: Garchomp's Sand Veil ability makes him tough to beat in a sandstorm

One way to exploit the sand is to use moves that incrementally drain your opponents Pokemon. Moves like Toxic or Leech Seed are particularly filthy if your f🐻oe is using Pokemon that aren't resistant to sandstorms; the hit points lost from the weather and from a degenerative move will make things extremely difficult for your opponent or force a switch.

Sandstorms are arguably the toughest weather effect to deal with 🎐in this generation of Pokemon. If you're caught with your pants down in a sandstorm (not literally), you really only have two choices. You can switch out Pokemon, which essentially gives your opponents a free turn, or you can change the weather to something more preferable to your team. Many players that are new to competitive play terribly underestimate weather-control moves like Rain Dance and Sunny Day. Getting slaughtered by the doubles team of Garchomp and Tyranitar during a sandstorm wiꦏll quickly teach them how vital it is.