Pokemon GO: How to Catch Sandygast and Can It Be Shiny?

Pokemon who’ve somehow snubbed the afterlife and continue to exist as ghosts are some of the most unique and interesting in the Pokemon world. And no Pokemon is quite as unique as Sandygast. Here’s how to get your own Sandygast in Pokemon GO.

Pokemon GO: How to Catch Sandygast and Can It Be Shiny?

On May 2023, the possessed Sand Pokemon Sandygast made its debut. But in Pokemon GO, it’s a particularly rare encounter. Usually, Pokemon that have made their debut in raids become available in the Wild Spawn pool and in Eggs the next season after they debut.

But as of October 20, 2023, Sandygast is still only available through raids. Fortunately, trainers seeking out this Sand Heap Pokemon have a chance to defeat and catch Sandygast in three-stairs raids until October 26, 2023.

And, unfortunately, you won’t find a Shiny Sandygast in Pokemon Go no matter how hard you look. Maybe next year!

But if you still want to go toe-to-sandy-toe with Sandygast, here are the best Pokemon to tackle it with.

All Sandygast’s Counters and Weaknesses in Pokemon GO

Sandygast is a Ghost and Ground dual-type Pokemon. That gives it a 2x weakness to Grass, Ice, Water, Ghost, and Dark type move. For that reason, the absolute best Pokemon to bring it down in a fight are:

• (Mega) Gengar with Shadow Claw and Shadow Ball
• (Mega) Banette with Shadow Claw and Shadow Ball
• (Primal) Kyogre with Waterfall and Surf
• (Shadow or Mega) Tyranitar with Bite and Brutal Swing
• (Shadow) Alola Exegguctor with Bullet Seed and Solar Beam
• (Mega) Swampert with Mud Shot and Hydro Cannon

While Mega, Primals, and Shadow Pokemon will help you ensure a clean victory, it’s not necessary. Fortunately, this is only a three-star raid, so Pokemon that take advantage of Sandygast’s many weaknesses will likely find this fight a walk down the beach.