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sandygast (pokemon)

Artist's commentary

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    Sand Heap Pokemon
    Type: Ghost/Ground
    Height: 1'08"
    Weight: 154.3 lbs
    Ability: Water Compaction

    A Sandygast emerges when the grudges of Pokémon and other creatures soak into the sand after they fall in battle. In essence, it’s a possessed lump of sand!

    If you heedlessly grab a Sandygast’s shovel, you’ll fall under the Pokémon’s control. A Sandygast uses its power to manipulate children into gathering sand to increase the size of its body. If a Sandygast loses its shovel, it may put up a tree branch, a flag, or another item in its place. These Sandygast are wanderers in search of their own shovels.

    The tunnel-like mouth of a Sandygast can suck the vitality from people and Pokémon. Apparently it’s a test of courage in the Alola region to put your hand in a Sandygast’s mouth.

    Sandygast has the new Water Compaction Ability, an Ability that no previous Pokémon has had. With Water Compaction, its Defense stat will go up by 2 if it’s hit with a Water-type move.

  • Comments
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    Baroque
    [hidden]

    On the one hand, I really like its ability, but on the other hand its ability is slightly underwhelming (because a LOT of the prominent Water-type moves are Special attacks, not physical ones). Hopefully it'll have a respectable Sp.DEF to make up for that shortcoming?

    Definitely nice to see that Ghost-Type Pokedex entries are still carrying the torch of Nightmare Fuel Pokedex Entries proudly, though. Mimikyu was just someone you'd want to hug (and that's totally fine), but this? This is the stuff. This and its evolved form, they and their entries are the stuff trauma is made of.

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    • LurkingFish
    [hidden]

    Looking at the reveal trailer, it looks like his defense goes up by 2 instead of taking damage, so it really doesn't matter that most water moves seem to be Special. What matters is whether or not your opponent has enough type coverage to deal with it, or whether or not you can predict a water move to switch into.

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    • Baroque
    [hidden]

    LurkingFish said:

    Looking at the reveal trailer, it looks like his defense goes up by 2 instead of taking damage, so it really doesn't matter that most water moves seem to be Special. What matters is whether or not your opponent has enough type coverage to deal with it, or whether or not you can predict a water move to switch into.

    INSTEAD of taking damage? I retract my concerns, that ability is BEAUTIFUL for it. Removes an entire weakness in favor of just bulking it up more. I love it.

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    • Baroque
    [hidden]

    Skyknight said:

    Sorry to shatter everyone's dreams, but the trailer had the "super-effective" sound effect; damage WAS suffered. Like Defiant, the price for getting a two-stage stat increase is actually taking the damage.

    Well then I'm back to hoping they give it appreciable Sp.DEF to make it matter. It wouldn't be surprising if they do, honestly, as a sand castle does sound like a good basis for another tanky Ghost.

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