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This is a strategy guide for using Excadrill in competitive play for the games Pokemon Sword and Shield. Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, Builds, and Held Items to use with Excadrill, as well as its strengths and weak points.
Excadrill - Related Guides | |
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Evolution and Learnset | Build for Ranked Battle |
List of Contents
Pokemon | Type 1 | Type 2 |
---|---|---|
Abilities | ||
Sand Rush | Boosts the Pokemon's Speed in a sandstorm. | |
Sand Force | Boosts certain moves'power in sandstorm. | |
Mold Breaker (Hidden) | Moves can be used regardless of Abilities. |
Type | |
---|---|
Takes 4x damage |
|
Takes 2x damage | |
Takes 0.5x damage | |
Takes 1/4x damage | |
Takes 0x damage |
HP | Attack | Defense | Sp. Atk | Sp. Def | Speed |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
110 | 135 | 60 | 50 | 65 | 88 |
Best Natures | ||
---|---|---|
Jolly (+Spd, -SpAtk) |
Adamant (+Atk, -SpAtk) |
Nature | Jolly (+Spd, -SpAtk) |
---|---|
EV Spread | Atk. 252 / Def. 4 / Spd. 252 |
Final Stat Values | HP 185 / Atk. 187 / Def. 81 / Sp. Def. 85 / Spd. 154 |
Ability | Mold Breaker |
Held Item | Choice Scarf |
Moveset | ・Iron Head ・Earthquake ・Rock Slide ・Horn Drill |
By making it hold a Choice Scarf, it can outspeed most Pokemon who are not holding one, and often finish its opponent off before taking major damage.
For difficult-to-take-down foes such as Galarian Corsola and Toxapex, Horn Drill can be used for a chance of taking them down in a single blow, making it a valuable trump card in tough situations.
Brick Break | Mostly used when Excadrill is Dynamaxed. Its Max Move counterpart, Max Knuckle, has the useful effect of boosting Excadrill's Attack. Used against Normal and Dark-types. |
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Nature | Jolly (+Spd, -SpAtk) |
---|---|
EV Spread | Spd. 216 / Atk. 172 / HP 108 / Def. 4 / Sp.Def. 4 |
Final Stat Values | HP 186 / Atk. 187 / Def. 80 / Sp.Def. 85 / Spd. 154 |
Ability | Mold Breaker |
Held Item | Assault Vest |
Moveset | ・Earthquake ・Iron Head ・Rock Slide ・Fissure |
Able to outspeed a Mimikyu with Adamant Nature, and with the boosted Special Defense from Assault Vest allowing it to withstand Hydro Pump from Wash Rotom, this is a build that can take out both of these two threats in one hit each.
Brick Break | Mostly used when Excadrill is Dynamaxed. Its Max Move counterpart, Max Knuckle, has the useful effect of boosting Excadrill's Attack. |
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Nature | Jolly (+Spd, -SpAtk) |
---|---|
EV Spread | Atk. 252 / Def. 4 / Spd. 252 |
Final Stat Values | HP 185 / Atk. 187 / Def. 81 / Sp. Def. 85 / Spd. 154 |
Ability | Mold Breaker Sand Rush |
Held Item | Focus Sash |
Moveset | ・Earthquake
・Iron Head ・Rock Tomb ・Horn Drill |
Let Excadrill hold Focus Sash so it can survive against moves that can potentially one-shot it. This build also takes advantage of Excadrill's high Attack and Speed. Use Rock Tomb on an opposing Pokemon if it is faster to lower its Speed.
For Excadrill's benefit, plan ahead and make situations that will be beneficial to it, especially when it is going face-to-face against an opponent.
Mold Breaker allows Excadrill to attack without being affected by an opponent's Ability, like with the previous build's example.
Sand Rush on the other hand doubles Excadrill's Speed during Sandstorm. It is then possible to face Gyarados and Togekiss even when their Speed is boosted by two levels.
Swords Dance | Great combination with Sand Rush during a Sandstorm. Use it before Dynamaxing to easily trample opponents. Can also be used as Max Guard while Dynamaxed. |
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Stealth Rock | Useful against opposing Pokemon holding Focus Sash. |
Excadrill has the powerful ability Mold Breaker which allows it to ignore its opponent's Ability, allowing it bypass Mimikyu's Disguise. This ability usually allows Mimikyu to take one hit with minimal damage, giving it a chance to set up Swords Dance, but Excadrill's ability to avoid wasting a turn on this makes it an ideal Mimikyu counter.
Excadrill can double its Speed with Sand Rush and fight during a Sandstorm. Even when facing opponents that have boosted their Speed, it is still possible to outspeed them during a Sandstorm thanks to Sand Rush.
Additionally, it will be easier to maneuver Excadrill when a Sandstorm has already been setup before it is switched-out. Team it up Hippowdon or Tyranitar.
Excadrill can learn both Horn Drill and Fissure, which guarantees that the opposing Pokemon is knocked out if the move lands. While it is true that these moves have low accuracy (and that Excadrill's kit relies on the items mentioned in the builds, so accuracy-boosting items will be a waste if it only benefits one move), it can be a roll-of-a-dice move and turn the tide of the match if these moves hit.
It is recommended to include Pokemon in your team that Excadrill can switch out to when it is at a disadvantage. These can be attackers that can eliminate such a threat and keep Excadrill safe.
Flying-type Pokemon works best as they are not affected by any Ground-type move, which is one of Excadrill's weaknesses.
Pokemon | Description |
---|---|
Zapdos |
・As a Flying-type, it is unaffected by Ground-type moves. ・Can go against Water-type Pokemon. Moveset & Best Build for Zapdos |
Hydreigon |
・Unaffected by Ground-type moves with its Ability Levitate. ・Resists Fire and Water-type attacks. ・Watch out for Fighting-type moves. Moveset & Best Build for Hydreigon |
Dragapult |
・Unaffected by Fighting-type moves and resists Fire and Water-type moves by half. ・Can support Excadrill with Will-O-Wisp, Reflect, and Light Screen. Moveset & Best Build for Dragapult |
Wash Rotom |
・Unaffected by Ground-type moves with its Ability Levitate. ・Switch back to Excadrill with Volt Switch. Moveset & Best Build for Wash Rotom |
Lapras |
・Can nullify any Water-type attacks with Water Absorb. ・Use Freeze-Dry to damage Ground and Water-types. Moveset & Best Build for Lapras |
Gyarados |
・Has a large move pool that covers most Pokemon that Excadrill is not good against,
Moveset & Best Build for Gyarados |
Togekiss |
・As it is an excellent Special Attacker, it goes well against opponents that has bad Special Defense stats.
Moveset & Best Build for Togekiss |
Teaming up Excadrill with Pokemon that has Sand Stream takes advanatge of Sand Rush, where Excadrill's Speed is doubled during Sandstorm. This is better than using Max Rockfall, as the Dynamax turns can now be used in a more effective way.
Pokemon | Description |
---|---|
Tyranitar |
・Can set up Stealth Rock and Taunt. ・Can also play the role of an attacker. Moveset & Best Build for Tyranitar |
Hippowdon |
・Able to set up Stealth Rock and can also use Yawn.
Moveset & Best Build for Hippowdon |
Weakness |
---|
Excadrill can only learn Moves from a limited selection of types, so opponents with high Defense who won't be hit super effectively can limit Excadrill's effectiveness.
Pokemon | Description |
---|---|
Landorus (Therian Forme) | Ranking: ★★★★★
・Lower its Attack stat with Intimidate. ・Able to one shot Exacdrill with Earthquake with the right build. Moveset & Best Build for Landorus Therian Forme |
Tapu Fini | Ranking: ★★★★★
・Highly durable and can attack Excadrill with Water-type moves. ・Can fit most teams. Moveset & Best Build for Tapu Fini |
Corviknight | Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Can handle most of Excadrill's attacks with 1/2x or less damage. ・Can use Body Press to hit Excadrill super effectively. Moveset & Best Build for Corviknight |
Celesteela | Ranking: ★★★★
・Unaffected by Ground-type moves because of its Flying typing. ・Very durable, especially with Leech Seed + Protect combination. ・Can avoid one shot moves. Moveset & Best Build for Celesteela |
Galarian Corsola | Ranking: ★★★★ ・Can drain Excadrill's attacking power with Will-o-Wisp and Strength Sap. ・Watch out for Fissure. Moveset & Best Build for Galarian Corsola |
Mandibuzz | Ranking: ★★★ ・Can even handle Rock-type moves from Excadrill. ・Can take advantage of Excadrill's high Attack with Foul Play. |
Rillaboom | Ranking: ★★★ ・Can resist most of Excadrill's attacks thanks it its typing. ・Can lower Excadrill's Speed with its attack Drum Beating. Moveset & Best Build for Rillaboom |
Ferrothorn | Ranking: ★★ ・Can handle a number of physical attackers other than Excadrill as well. ・Lacks a wide variety of effective moves to use on Excadrill. Moveset & Best Build for Ferrothorn |
Excadrill doesn't have especially high Defense or Special Defense, so fast Pokemon who can outspeed it and hit with a Super Effective attack can take it down swiftly.
Pokemon | Description |
---|---|
Urshifu Rapid-Strike Style | Ranking: ★★★★★
・Fighting-type attacks hit hard. ・Can change weather with Max Geyser. Moveset & Best Build for Urshifu Rapid-Strike Style |
Gyarados | Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Can lower Excadrill's Attack with Intimidate. ・Can dish out super effective Water-type moves ・Can survive Excadrill's Rock-type moves. Moveset & Best Build for Gyarados |
Cinderace | Ranking: ★★★★
・Can one shot Excadrill with Pyro Ball. ・Watch out for Rock and Ground-type moves. ・Can fit most teams. Moveset & Best Build for Cinderace |
Zapdos | Ranking: ★★★★
・Unaffected by Ground-type moves because of its Flying typing. Moveset & Best Build for Zapdos |
Galarian Darmanitan | Ranking: ★★★ ・If it holds Choice Scarf, can outspeed and deliver a one-hit KO with Flare Blitz. Moveset & Best Build for Galarian Darmanitan |
All our Best Teams are available for free rental, and usable in Ranked Battle with no EV Training necessary.
All Best Teams for Ranked Battle
Best Team for Ranked Battle from a World Top 3 Player | ||
---|---|---|
Dragapult | Excadrill | Grimmsnarl |
Togekiss | Snorlax | Cloyster |
This is the primary set used by a former World Top 3 from a previous game in the series. Despite that daunting promise, it's an easy set to use for beginners, as the order to use Pokemon and which moves should be used are readily apparent. Not only that, but the set is carefully sculpted to be highly effective and dangerous even in the upper echelons of the Master Ball tier.
Best Team for Ranked Battle from a World Top 3 Player
All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle
Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tier List | Best Builds | Series 10 List of Contenders | |||
Doubles Tier List | Team Building | Rental Teams |
Excadrill - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle
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