The Sandslash Starter Deck is a Fighting-type Starter Deck featuring Sandslash and Onix from the Genetic Apex Set in Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket (PTCG Pocket). Read on for the complete list of cards in this deck, basic information on the deck, how to play the deck, and optimal matchups for it!

Sandslash Starter Deck Guide

Deck Evaluation

Ace Pokemon						Tier Ranking
Sandslash Genetic Apex (A1)			Onix Genetic Apex (A1)
						Energy Type(s)
						F2P Friendly?
						✔️
						Deck Difficulty
						★
Deck Strengths
Sandslash can deal a good 70 damage at the cost of 2 Energy. Use Onix to inflict damage when Sandslash is not available.
Deck Weaknesses
Weak to Psychic, which is a common threat. Needs additional cards to improve the deck's performance.

Best Meta Decks Tier List

List of Cards

Sandslash Starter Deck List
Pokemon Cards
Sandshrew ×2				Sandslash ×1				Onix ×1				Cubone ×2
Hitmonchan ×1				Mienfoo ×2				Mienshao ×1				Pidgey ×1
Rattata ×2				Raticate ×1				Jigglypuff ×1				Farfetch'd ×1
Trainer Cards
Poke Ball ×2				Professor's Research ×2

Deck Building Guide

How to Play Sandslash Starter Deck

How to Play Sandslash Starter Deck
Core Combos and Interactions Starting Hand Deck Strategies Game Phases

Sandslash Starter Deck Core Combos and Interactions

Primary Attacker	Secondary Attacker	Description
Sandslash	Onix	・Sandslash can deal 70 damage and is a bit tanky with 100 HP. ・Onix can attack with Land Crush to deal 70 damage at the cost of 3 energies.

Alternative Combo for Custom Deck

Combo Card 1	Combo Card 2	Description
Brock	Onix	・ Brock will be a big help in ramping energy for Onix to attack. ・Have Onix tank damage with its high HP and once provided enough energy with the help of Brock, it will deal lethal damage.

This Alternative Combo requires customization to the Deck

Best Starting Hand

Best Starting Hand

A good hand would be to initially have an Onix or a Sandslash in your hand, in order for you to set up your board early.

Other Good Starting Cards

Recommended Starting Hand

If in case you have drawn a bad hand but at least have many drawing cards such as Professor's Research or Poke Ball in your hand, this can still be an advantage.

Use your Poke Ball trainer card first to hopefully draw a Sandslash or an Onix, then with the other Trainer card, you should eventually draw another Pokemon you can use.

Best Cards Tier List

Sandslash Starter Deck Strategies

Sandslash Starter Deck Strategies
Sandslash and Onix Brock Lends a Hand

Strategy 1: Sandslash and Onix

Sandslash and Onix

The strategy is basically to have either Sandslash or Onix take on the active Pokemon role to dish out damage.

Use a Poke ball Trainer card to search for either Sandshrew or Onix, then have Professor's Research land you a Sandslash.

Strategy 2: Brock Lends a Hand

Brock

This Alternative Strategy requires customization to the Deck

This alternative strategy uses the Trainer card, Brock to feed Onix enough energy to perform its 70 damager attack, completely taking over the Active Pokemon role.

Game Phases

Strategy 1: Early Game to End Game Strategy

Key Card(s) Required
Step	Description
1	Initially, you want to set up a board with either a Sandshrew or an Onix in your hand. You can have whichever Pokemon you have in hand to put in the Active zone.
2	Use trainer cards to eventually draw the essential cards you need for this combo.

Strategy 2: Early Game to End Game Strategy

Key Card(s) Required
Step	Description
1	Have Onix as your Active Pokemon while you build up its energy using Brock.
2	Use trainer cards to eventually draw the essential cards you need for this combo.

Sandslash Starter Deck Best and Worst Matchups

Best Matchups

Deck	Commentary
Pikachu ex Decks	Type: ・Sandslash and Onix are both strong against Lightning types, making them gain additional 20 damage during battle.

Worst Matchups

Deck	Commentary
Mewtwo ex Decks	Type: ・Mewtwo ex and other Psychic-Type Pokemon are strong against Metal type and this deck will be in a disadvantage during matchup. ・Mewtwo ex has an HP of 150 and cannot be taken down in one turn by either Sandslash or Onix

Overall Consistency

This starter deck is the least competitive compared to the Pinsir Starter Deck and the Rapidash Starter Deck.

It contains Pokemon that require a lot of energy to attack and without any assist from other cards, like Brock, this deck is not very competitive at all.

Best Pokemon Substitutes

Card	Possible Cuts
Brock	・Brock is a good addition to this deck as it will help supply energy to Onix, which requires 3 energy to attack. ・Adding another Brock can fortify your energy supply to your Onix Pokemon, so it's best to have two of these.
Onix	・Having another Onix will help the deck's consistency.

Pokemon TCG Pocket Related Guides

Best Meta Decks Tier List

Meta Decks

S Tier Decks
Arceus ex
A+ Tier Decks
Carnivine	Rampardos	Crobat
Magnezone and Skarmory	Exeggutor ex	Heatran
Charizard ex	Palkia ex	Darkrai ex
Weavile ex	Yanmega ex	Origin Forme Palkia
A Tier Decks
Leafeon ex	Garchomp ex	Probopass ex
Infernape ex	Pachirisu ex	Gyarados ex and Greninja
Pikachu ex	Dialga ex	Articuno ex
Gallade ex	Abomasnow	Celebi ex
B Tier Decks
Glaceon ex	Bronzong	Tyranitar
Staraptor	Donphan	Starmie ex and Articuno ex
Mewtwo ex and Gardevoir	Golem	Pidgeot ex
Scolipede and Weezing	Garchomp	Porygon-Z
Arcanine ex	Dialga ex and Bastiodon	-
C Tier Decks
・Houndoom Deck ・Snorlax Deck ・Lucario Deck ・Pikachu ex and Raichu Deck ・Venusaur ex Deck ・Volkner Deck ・Togekiss Deck ・Aerodactyl ex Deck ・Alakazam and Jynx Deck ・Dragonite Deck ・Machamp ex Deck ・Blastoise ex Deck ・Marowak ex Deck ・Torterra Deck ・Empoleon Deck ・Mismagius ex Deck ・Volcarona and Arcanine ex Deck ・Wigglytuff ex Deck ・Gengar ex Deck

Off Meta Decks

(A2)
・Dialga ex and Lickilicky ex Deck ・Lake Trio Deck ・Rhyperior Deck ・Togekiss Deck
(A1)	(A1a)
・Arbok Lock Deck ・Brock Deck ・Cinccino Deck ・Frosmoth Deck ・Kingler and Articuno ex Deck ・Lt. Surge Deck ・Melmetal Deck ・Mewtwo ex and Weezing Deck ・Primeape Deck ・Venusaur ex and Weezing Deck ・Victreebel and Exeggutor ex Deck	・Gyarados ex and Vaporeon Deck ・Mew ex and Weezing Deck ・Vaporeon and Articuno ex Deck

Deck-Building Guides and Articles

All Deck Guides
Deck Building Guide	Best Cards Tier List
Best Rental Deck Tier List	Best F2P Beginner Decks
Deck Articles
How Rental Decks Work	Staple Cards for Decks
Aggro Decks Explained	Deck Matchup Statistics
Best 18 Trainers Decks	Best Misty Decks
Best Erika Decks	10 Match Tests vs Pikachu ex Deck - Statistics
List of Meme or Troll Decks	-