You can find TM37 Sandstorm in the southernmost part of the desert area on Route 111. While you can access most of Route 111 early in the game, you won’t be able to traverse the route’s desert area without the Go-Goggles Key Item. You’ll get the goggles after beating Flannery’s gym.
Using the move Sandstorm in battle whips up a sandstorm that lasts for five turns.
Every turn, all Pokémon except Rock, Ground, and Steel-types are buffeted by the sand, damaging them for a bit of HP.
Unlike other weather effects, no moves gain increased base power or accuracy from the sandstorm (except Castform’s signature move: Weather Ball). Instead, Rock-type Pokémon gain a significant boost to their Special Defense stat. Multiple abilities also benefit from the sandstorm, increasing certain stats while the sandstorm weather is active.
TM37 Sandstorm Location (Step-by-Step)
Route 111 is an expansive route in central Hoenn that connects Mauville City, Route 112, and Route 113.
A desert is also situated in the center of Route 111, which can only be explored with the Go-Goggles – a Key Item that allows the player to see through the desert sandstorm safely.
The Go-Goggles will be given to you by your Rival (Brendan/May) after you receive the Heat Badge from Flannery, the fourth Gym Leader in Lavaridge Town.
Once you’ve obtained the Go-Goggles, you’re ready to pick up the Sandstorm TM.
Step 1: Start by flying (or walking) to Lavaridge Town’s Pokémon Center. Then take the path going towards the right.
Step 2: Make your way down the ledges on Route 112 and continue to head east.
Step 3: When you’ve reached Route 111, go north by the Hiker.
Step 4: Enter Route 111’s desert area.
Step 5: Using the Go-Goggles to explore, start heading east into the desert.
Step 6: Then immediately turn down and follow the path heading south.
Step 7: Continue walking south past the Camper NPC.
Step 8: Eventually, you’ll find yourself near the Desert Ruins. Don’t enter the Ruins, but from there keep going down south.
Step 9: At the end of the path you’ll run into a dead end of rock walls. In the bottom-left corner of this dead end will be the TM for Sandstorm.
Sandstorm Details + Uses
| Sandstorm Move Details | |
|---|---|
| Type | Rock |
| Category | Status |
| Power | – |
| Accuracy | -% |
| PP | 10 (max. 16) |
Sandstorm is a Rock-type Status move that summons a sandstorm for five turns, replacing any other existing weather effects that may have been present.
At the end of each turn, it damages both active Pokémon for 1/16 of their maximum HP except Rock, Ground, and Steel-type Pokémon.
Sandstorm’s chip damage is a great way to deal with Pokémon with the ability Sturdy or the held item Focus Sash. As it makes sure that those Pokémon are still knocked out at the end of the turn despite surviving the attack you performed this turn.
While it’s not explicitly stated in the game’s text, the stat boost Sandstorm gives is much more valuable. Sandstorm provides a massive 50% boost to every Rock-type Pokémon’s Special Defense stat as long as it’s active. However, this effect boosts your opponent’s Rock-types as well.
Unlike other weather effects like rain or sunshine, only Castform’s Weather Ball positively benefits from the sandstorm weather effect.
That said, a couple of moves still interact with it, but are mostly less effective during the sandstorm. These moves are:
| Move Name | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Solar Beam | Grass | Base power is reduced by 50%, from 120 to 60 |
| Moonlight | Fairy | Healing is reduced from 50% to 25% Max HP |
| Morning Sun | Normal | Healing is reduced from 50% to 25% Max HP |
| Synthesis | Grass | Healing is reduced from 50% to 25% Max HP |
| Weather Ball | Normal | Turns into a Rock-type move, and base power is doubled from 50 to 100 |
When it comes to Sandstorm teams, there are many viable Pokémon to choose from. Besides Pokémon immune to TM37 Sandstorm’s damage, Pokémon that have Sand Rush or Sand Force as an ability are especially good because of how much they benefit from the sandstorm weather effect.
Here’s a complete list of abilities that interact with the sandstorm weather effect:
| Ability Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Magic Guard | Prevents the Pokémon from receiving indirect damage from moves, abilities, and weather conditions like sandstorm. |
| Overcoat | Prevents the Pokémon from taking damage from weather conditions like sandstorm. It also protects the user from powder and spore moves. |
| Sand Force | During a sandstorm, increase the base power of Rock, Ground, and Steel-type moves used by the Pokémon with this ability by 30%. It also takes no damage from the sandstorm if it otherwise would. |
| Sand Rush | During a sandstorm, double the Speed stat of the Pokémon with this ability. It also takes no damage from the sandstorm if it otherwise would. |
| Sand Veil | During a sandstorm, boost the Evasion stat of the Pokémon with this ability by one stage. It also takes no damage from the sandstorm if it otherwise would. |
Tip: The ability Sand Stream kicks up a sandstorm when entering battle. This is the most efficient way of running a Sandstorm team since you don’t have to use a turn setting up the weather. You can also let your Sand Stream user hold a Smooth Rock, which extends the duration of the sandstorm from five turns to eight turns.
The following Pokémon have Sand Stream as an ability:
| Pokémon | Type | Hidden Ability? |
|---|---|---|
| Tyranitar | Rock/Dark | No |
| Mega Tyranitar | Rock/Dark | No |
| Hippopotas | Ground | No |
| Hippowdon | Ground | No |
| Gigalith | Rock | No |
Guide Navigation
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Pokémon ORAS
- How To Get TM37 Sandstorm in Pokémon ORAS
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