What are Gaara's sand-based powers?

Gaara's primary ability is manipulation of sand using his chakra. He can:

• Create defensive shields (Sand Armor, Shield of Sand) that automatically protect him without conscious direction
• Form offensive attacks (Sand Burial, Sand Waterfall Funeral)
• Use sand to sense threats (Sand Eye for remote viewing)
• Generate massive sand constructions (Suna no Yoroi — full body sand armor)

The sand responds to killing intent directed at Gaara automatically — it's partly an expression of Shukaku's protective instinct, and partly Gaara's own unconscious defense mechanism built from childhood.

What is Shukaku?

Shukaku is the One-Tailed Tanuki — a tailed beast (bijuu) sealed inside Gaara at birth by the Fourth Kazekage. Unlike most jinchuriki, Gaara was not sealed with Shukaku intentionally from conception — he was selected after birth. Shukaku is associated with sand, wind, and a kind of feral madness that infected Gaara's childhood.

How does Gaara's connection to Shukaku affect him?

Before Naruto: Shukaku's presence prevented Gaara from sleeping (sleep invited Shukaku's consciousness to surface and overwhelm his own). The sleeplessness contributed to his instability and murderous behavior. After the Sasori arc, Shukaku is extracted by Akatsuki — Gaara dies and is revived by Elder Chiyo's transfer of life force. He retains his sand abilities without Shukaku.

Why does Gaara retain sand powers without Shukaku?

His powers were always partly his own — Shukaku enhanced them but the manipulation ability was Gaara's. His mother, Karura, also plays a role: her dying wish was for Gaara's protection, and her chakra is embedded in the sand that defends him. His mother's love, literally encoded in the element.

What makes Gaara's power set thematically appropriate?

Sand defends. Sand kills. Sand adapts to whatever form is needed. It's the power of someone who learned both to protect and to destroy from necessity, with no wall between the two functions.