Mega GarchompGarchomppokemonThe premier spread attacker under Tailwind. Earthquake hits both opponents, Scale Shot chains Speed boosts, and Dragon Claw threatens opposing dragons.Click to read more → is the premier sand team sweeper. Under Tyranitar’s Sand StreamSand StreamabilityAn ability that summons permanent sandstorm on entry, dealing 1/16 HP chip to non-Rock/Ground/Steel types each turn.Click to read more →, Sand Force boosts its Ground and Dragon STABSTABmechanicSame-Type Attack Bonus: a move deals ×1.5 damage when its type matches one of the user's types.Click to read more → moves by 30%, and Earthquake already hits both opposing Pokémon simultaneously. At 170 base Attack, a sand-boosted Earthquake from Mega Garchomp cleans most of the meta.
Dragon/Ground is one of the strongest offensive type combinations. Ground covers Steel, Fire, and Rock types. Dragon covers most of the meta neutrally and hits Dragon-types for 2×. The two STAB types have very little overlap in resisted matchups.
Sand Force math
Sand Force’s 1.3× boost stacks multiplicatively with STAB. For Earthquake:
- Normal: 100 base power × 1.5 STAB = 150 effective power
- In sand: 100 × 1.5 × 1.3 = 195 effective power
Rock SlideRock SlidemoveA Rock-type spread move with 75 base power and a 30% flinch chance on each target it hits.Click to read more → (spread) also receives the boost, letting Mega Garchomp apply massive pressure to both opposing Pokémon simultaneously under sand.
Sand immunity
Sand Force includes immunity to sand chip damage. This means Mega Garchomp doesn’t lose HP from Tyranitar’s sandstorm — unlike most of the meta, it benefits from the sand without any passive cost. Ground/Dragon typing also means sand never affected it in the first place (but the immunity from Sand Force is an additional safeguard).
What stops it
- Ice-type moves — Ice hits both Dragon and Ground for 2× (Dragon is the relevant 4× weakness). Weavile and Froslass threaten immediate KOs.
- Fairy-type moves — Fairy hits Dragon for 2× and isn’t affected by sand. Clefable and HattereneHatterenepokemonMagic Bounce setter and Trick Room anchor. Reflects status, sets terrain, and powers slow attackers under reversed Speed.Click to read more → are natural checks.
- Water moves — Water hits Ground for 2×, and common rain team threats can wash out Mega Garchomp before sand is established.