Excadrill - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle | Pokemon Sword and Shield

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
Evolution and Learnset	Build for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Excadrill

Types and Abilities

Pokemon	Type 1	Type 2
Excadrill
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 Defenses

	Type
Takes 4x damage	-
Takes 2x damage
Takes 0.5x damage
Takes 1/4x damage
Takes 0x damage

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

Best Nature for Excadrill

What are Natures?

Singles Movesets for Excadrill

Choice Scarf Moveset & Best Build

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, Fissure can be used for a chance of taking them down in a single blow, making it a valuable trump card in tough situations.

Other Viable Moves

Assault Vest Moveset & Best Build

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.

Other Viable Moves

How to Use Excadrill Effectively

A Physical sweeper that takes advantage of Mold Breaker

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.

Counters for Excadrill

Weather its hits with a defensive Pokemon

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.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Corviknight	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Can handle most of Excadrill's attacks with 1/2x or less damage ・Can use Body Press to hit Excadrill super effectively Best Ranked Battle Build for Corviknight
Galarian Corsola	Ranking: ★★★★☆ ・Can drain Excadrill's attacking power with Will-o-Wisp and Strength Sap ・Watch out for Fissure Best Ranked Battle 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 Best Ranked Battle 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 Best Ranked Battle Build for Ferrothorn

Outspeed it and aim for the weak spots

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.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Gyarados	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Can lower Excadrill's Attack with Intimidate ・Can dish out super effective Water-type moves ・Can survive Excadrill's Rock-type moves Best Ranked Battle Build for Gyarados
Galarian Darmanitan	Ranking: ★★★☆☆ ・If it holds Choice Scarf, can outspeed and deliver a one-hit KO with Flare Blitz Best Ranked Battle Build for Galarian Darmanitan

Best Teams Featuring Excadrill

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

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

Related Links

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

Movesets & Best Builds for The Crown Tundra Pokemon
Galarian Articuno	Galarian Zapdos	Galarian Moltres
Raikou	Entei	Suicune
Articuno	Zapdos	Moltres
Tornadus	Thundurus	Landorus
Tapu Koko	Tapu Lele	Tapu Bulu
Tapu Fini	Regieleki	Regidrago
Latios	Latias	Heatran
Cresselia	Glastrier	Spectrier
Nidoking	Swampert	Dragonite
Salamence	Garchomp	Metagross
Galarian Slowking	Nihilego	Naganadel
Pheromosa	Buzzwole	Celesteela
Kartana	Stakataka	Blaziken
Kyogre	Yveltal	Xerneas
Necrozma (Dusk Mane)	Calyrex (Shadow Rider)	Mewtwo
Calyrex (Ice Rider)	Dialga	Lugia
Black Kyurem	Zekrom	Ho-Oh
Rayquaza	Zygarde	Reshiram
White Kyurem	Groudon

Movesets & Best Builds for Isle of Armor Pokemon
Scizor	Kingdra	Magnezone
Volcarona	Chansey	Blissey
Talonflame	Azumarill	Galarian Slowbro
Porygon2	Urshifu Single-Strike Style	Urshifu Rapid-Strike Style
Slowbro	Alolan Marowak	Dragalge
Klefki	Lycanroc	Amoonguss
Poliwrath	Palossand	Mienshao
Starmie	Heracross	Comfey
Porygon-Z	Alakazam

Movesets & Best Builds for New Pokemon
Dragapult	Galarian Corsola	Toxtricity
Galarian Darmanitan	Corviknight	Dracovish
Grimmsnarl	Rillaboom	Duraludon
Cinderace	Alcremie	Dracozolt
Hatterene	Eiscue	Inteleon
Pincurchin	Frosmoth	Zacian
Sirfetch'd	Flapple	Coalossal
Centiskorch	Arctozolt	Zarude
Galarian Weezing	Eternatus	Indeedee (Female)

Movesets & Best Builds for Returning Pokemon
Mimikyu	Wash Rotom	Gyarados
Ferrothorn	Aegislash	Excadrill
Tyranitar	Hydreigon	Heat Rotom
Arcanine	Mamoswine	Toxapex
Togekiss	Cloyster	Durant
Snorlax	Charizard	Sylveon
Lucario	Hippowdon	Umbreon
Conkeldurr	Quagsire	Gastrodon
Lapras	Whimsicott	Rhyperior
Goodra	Haxorus	Glaceon
Mow Rotom	Type: Null	Gengar
Milotic	Gardevoir	Flygon
Chandelure	Lanturn	Torkoal
Bisharp	Seismitoad	Silvally
Butterfree	Primarina	Incineroar
Blastoise	Decidueye	Venusaur
Darmanitan	Alolan Ninetales	Gothitelle
Crawdaunt	Clefable	Reuniclus
Kommo-o	Terrakion	Cobalion
Virizion	Noivern	Fan Rotom
Toxicroak	Pelipper	Jellicent
Celebi	Clefairy	Hitmontop
Diggersby	Ditto	Raichu

Movesets & Best Builds for Gigantamax Pokemon
Gigantamax Grimmsnarl	Gigantamax Snorlax	Gigantamax Charizard

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Singles Tier List		Best Builds		Series 8 Tier List Contenders
Doubles Tier List		Team Building		Rental Teams