Sandstorm

Tier S ⭐

Earthquake × Wind = Sandstorm

Effect

Lingering vortex with damage and slow

Damage Multiplier

1.6x

How to Unlock

Level Earthquake ball to Level 3
Level Wind ball to Level 3
Collect a rainbow orb (XP level-up reward)
Select "Evolution" option from the menu
Choose Earthquake + Wind combination

Strategy & Tips

Meta evolution. Creates persistent damage zones while slowing enemies. Synergizes well with most characters.

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S-Tier Meta Evolution

Sandstorm is considered one of the strongest evolutions in the game. Prioritize this in your builds when possible.

Why Sandstorm is Top-Tier

🟢 **VERIFIED MECHANICS:** Sandstorm is a piercing ball surrounded by a raging storm dealing 10-20 damage per second and blinding nearby enemies for 3 seconds (SOURCE: Steam Community Guide). The piercing mechanic allows the ball to pass through all enemies while the storm aura continuously damages and blinds them. 🟢 **S-TIER META DEFINING:** Rosenberryrooms rates Sandstorm as S-Tier (Game-Changing), stating it "dominates in almost any situation and defines the current meta." The combination of "wide pass-through damage plus Blind for excellent control" makes it universally powerful. 🟢 **AOE + CROWD CONTROL:** Gaming.News classifies Sandstorm as "AoE + CC," emphasizing its dual utility: continuous area damage from the storm aura combined with the 3-second blind providing crowd control. Unlike burst evolutions, Sandstorm provides sustained pressure as long as the ball is in play. ⚠️ **UNIQUE ADVANTAGE:** The piercing + aura combination means Sandstorm deals damage to enemies TWICE: once on piercing contact and again from the lingering storm aura. This double-dip damage makes it exceptionally efficient for wave clearing.

Strategic Tips & Synergies

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Best Character Pairings

These characters create exceptional synergies with Sandstorm:

The Pitling (A-Tier Pairing): 🟡 Pitling's Leadership bonus increases ball count, multiplying Sandstorm's piercing coverage. Multiple Sandstorm balls create overlapping storm auras, covering larger screen areas with continuous 10-20 DPS damage (logical synergy, general inference).

The Repentant (S-Tier Pairing): 🟡 The Repentant's Speed-focused build amplifies Sandstorm's effectiveness. Faster ball movement means more frequent passes through enemy lines, reapplying blind and aura damage repeatedly. Each additional pass = another 10-20 DPS application cycle (mathematical synergy, logical calculation).

Hollow Maiden (A-Tier Pairing): 🟡 Hollow Maiden's high damage / low defense build benefits from Sandstorm's 3-second blind providing defensive utility. The crowd control window allows safe repositioning between attacks, compensating for low survivability (tactical synergy, general inference).

Common Mistakes to Avoid

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Using Sandstorm Against Single Targets: 🟢 Sandstorm's strength is piercing through multiple enemies while the storm aura (10-20 DPS, verified) damages all nearby foes. Against single bosses with no adds, the piercing mechanic is underutilized. Pair with burst damage evolutions for single-target scenarios (verified mechanics, tactical logic).

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Ignoring Movement Speed: 🟡 Sandstorm's continuous damage model (10-20 DPS) scales with how frequently the ball passes through enemies. Without movement speed passives, the ball moves slowly, reducing damage output. Prioritize ball speed to maximize DPS efficiency (mathematical optimization, general advice).

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Poor Positioning for Piercing: 🟡 Sandstorm's piercing is wasted against scattered enemies. Position yourself to fire through enemy lines (horizontal or vertical alignments) rather than targeting isolated groups. A single piercing shot through 8 aligned enemies = 8 hits + continuous aura damage to all (tactical efficiency, general positioning advice).

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Premature Evolution Lock-Out: 🟡 Creating Swamp (Earthquake + Poison) or Inferno (Wind + Burn) before securing BOTH Earthquake and Wind locks you out of Sandstorm. Track your ball inventory and prioritize Sandstorm above other Earthquake/Wind evolutions given its S-Tier meta status (strategic planning, verified tier ranking).

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Undervaluing Blind Control: 🟢 Sandstorm's 3-second blind (SOURCE: Steam Guide) is not just damage—it disrupts enemy attack patterns, reducing incoming damage. Many players focus only on the 10-20 DPS aura and ignore the defensive value of crowd control. Use blind windows to reposition or set up combos (verified CC mechanic, tactical application).