Best Sandshrew Combos for Your Pokémon TCG Deck

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Sandshrew ex11-82 card art from Delta Species by Tomokazu Komiya

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Strategic Sandshrew Combos for Your Pokémon TCG Deck

Delta Species brought a quirky twist to the Pokémon TCG, and Sandshrew, a Water-type Basic with 50 HP, fits the theme of clever, tempo-driven plays. Drawn with the distinctive flair of Tomokazu Komiya, this little sand-piercer offers a patient, disruption-heavy path rather than a raw power rush. Its two attacks—Dig Under and Scratch—create open-ended opportunities to pressure your opponent while you assemble your board. The old-school charm here is not just nostalgia; it’s about finding clean lines of play that outmaneuver bigger threats with precise timing.

Card snapshot

  • Name: Sandshrew
  • HP: 50
  • Type: Water
  • Stage: Basic
  • Attacks:
    • Dig Under — Cost: Fighting
    • Scratch — Cost: Colorless, Colorless; 20 damage
  • Weakness: Lightning ×2
  • Rarity: Common ( holo variants exist within the set)
  • Illustrator: Tomokazu Komiya

With Dig Under, Sandshrew can ping an opponent’s Pokémon for 10 damage to a chosen target, and importantly, this damage ignores Weakness and Resistance. That nuance lets you pick off a fragile threat on the bench or add consistent pressure to a busy active, even when you’re short on energy or trying to stall a faster opponent. Scratch provides a reliable 20 on a turn where you’re building field presence and stamina. The combination of a low-commitment two-attack package and a weakness to Lightning invites careful target selection and timing, especially when you’re faced with aggressive Electric strategies in the same era of play.

Core combos you can build around

  • Disrupt-and-Shadow—Dig Under as a disruptor, Scratch as your steady pressure. Use Dig Under to force your opponent to think twice about where to place their threats. If you can pin a key threat on the bench, you’ll slow their tempo while you set up your next stages.
  • Bench-scouting tempo—Keep Sandshrew on the bench while you load up your active with a different Water-type or a safe attacker. When the moment is right, bring Sandshrew forward to apply targeted damage to a chosen Pokémon and then swap to your heavier hitter to close the turn gap.
  • Evolution timing with Sandslash—Sandshrew naturally evolves into Sandslash. If your deck includes a Sandslash (as is typical in a Delta Species lineup), you’re looking at a tempo shift: early chip damage and bench pressure with Dig Under, then a mid-game swing with Sandslash’s own threats, leveraging your prior board development.
  • Energy-smoothing approach—Dig Under costs Fighting energy, while Scratch uses colorless energy. A disciplined energy plan lets you attach the necessary Fighting energy early and still keep colorless access for Scratch, keeping your options open for a late-game push.
  • Targeted finish with soft threats—Because Dig Under ignores weakness/resistance, you can safely target a low-HP threat on the bench to prevent a sweep while your heavy hitters in the deck clean up the rest.

Deck-building tips that maximize Sandshrew’s value

  • Balance your energy mix—Ensure you can meet the Fighting energy requirement for Dig Under without starving your Scratch turns. A lean engine that can fetch both Fighting and colorless energies keeps your two-attack plan resilient.
  • Load supportive trainers—Supporters and items that accelerate draws and search can compress your setup window. You’ll want cards that help you glimpse the top of your deck and dig for a Sandshrew/Sandslash line or the needed energy cards to keep your tempo intact.
  • Plan for the Lightning weakness—Since Sandshrew carries a ×2 vulnerability to Lightning, anticipate Electric-type threats and pair it with protection or retreat options to keep Sandshrew safe while you execute disruption plays.
  • Utilize Sandslash as the payoff—If your local meta or your collection includes higher-stage water or mixed-types with alternative spreads, the Sandslash evolution can give you a larger, sustained offensive plan, complementing Sandshrew’s early disruption with stronger mid-game pressure.
  • Collector’s note—The ex11 Delta Species set’s holo version of Sandshrew is a desirable pull for collectors. While common, holo variants fetch a premium in steady markets, making building around this card a nice blend of play and collection value.

Market and collectible insights

The Sandshrew card from Delta Species sits in the common tier, but its holo variant stands out for collectors who appreciate Tomokazu Komiya’s art and the Delta Species era’s distinctive flavor. On the modern market, non-holo Sandshrew typically trades in the low dollar range (roughly under $3, with typical listings around $1–$2 depending on condition and print). The holo variant tends to command higher attention, with market activity often placing average prices well above the non-holo, and direct sale prices occasionally rising into the teens or higher for well-preserved copies. Lunar fluctuations aside, this card rewards patient builds that mix classic play patterns with nostalgic charm.

Ultimately, Sandshrew’s Delta Species version is as much about the story of a card’s journey as it is about its mechanics. You’re playing a patient, tempo-focused card that rewards careful reading of your opponent’s board state. The artwork by Tomokazu Komiya adds a tactile, adventurous feel that resonates with fans who remember the era’s bold, experimental energy—perfect for a strategic bench-and-disruption deck that keeps a smile on your face as you navigate the table ⚡🔥💎.

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