TailGlowVM
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[Overview]
Excadrill is a versatile threat in the OU metagame thanks to its impressive Attack stat, decent movepool, and access to two useful abilities. On sand teams, Excadrill is a strong sweeper that outspeeds almost every Pokemon in the tier thanks to the Speed boost given by Sand Rush. It also offers defensive utility despite its poor bulk, as it can set Stealth Rock, is one of the few viable users of Rapid Spin, and can deter Volt Switch attempts from Pokemon like Zeraora and Tapu Koko due to its Electric immunity. These traits can allow it to take on a more supportive role, utilizing its useful defensive typing and utility movepool to check Fairy-type Pokemon such as Tapu Koko, Tapu Lele, and Clefable and either set or remove entry hazards depending on the needs of its team. Unfortunately, Excadrill is very frail, and its Speed is mediocre if not boosted by Sand Rush or Rapid Spin, making it easily revenge killed by strong priority moves from Pokemon such as Rillaboom and Urshifu-R as well as by faster Pokemon like Garchomp and Kartana. It is easily walled by common physically defensive Pokemon like Slowbro, Corviknight, and Skarmory, leaving offensive sets heavily reliant on support from teammates to successfully sweep. The Sand Rush set also suffers from poor defensive synergy with both viable sand setters, sharing weaknesses with both Tyranitar and Hippowdon.
[SET]
name: Sand Sweeper
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Rapid Spin / Rock Slide
move 4: Swords Dance / Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Sand Rush
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
If your team has other reliable forms of entry hazard removal, Rock Slide can be used over Rapid Spin to provide coverage for some Pokemon that resist Excadrill's STAB moves, such as Zapdos and Mandibuzz. Swords Dance allows Excadrill to take advantage of forced switches and Pokemon it walls like Tapu Koko. Alternatively, Toxic can be used to cripple walls that can otherwise switch into Excadrill with ease, such as Slowbro and Tangrowth. A Jolly nature is used to allow Excadrill to outspeed Timid Nidoking, Timid Heatran, and Modest Kyurem outside of sand. Leftovers makes Excadrill harder to wear down so it can find more opportunities to sweep.
Sand Rush Excadrill fits exclusively with either Tyranitar or Hippowdon to set sand. Specially defensive Tyranitar in particular can set Stealth Rock for it and check threats to it such as Zapdos. Hippowdon is an alternative sand setter that can switch into opposing Excadrill and also set Stealth Rock. It has better longevity due to its reliable recovery but is more passive than Tyranitar. Dracozolt can be added to this sand core to break through walls Excadrill struggles against like Mandibuzz, Slowbro, and Corviknight. If Excadrill is running Toxic, it can lure in and cripple some of Dracozolt's checks like Hippowdon and Landorus-T, making it easier for Dracozolt to beat them. Garchomp can lure in and weaken Zapdos and Corviknight with Stone Edge and Fire Fang, respectively, to ease Excadrill's sweep, and it can wear down Water- and Grass-types like Slowbro and Tangrowth that check Excadrill. Mandibuzz, Corviknight, and Skarmory are consistent checks to Rillaboom, which sand cores typically struggle against, as well as Ground-types like Garchomp and opposing Excadrill. The former two can also remove entry hazards, allowing Excadrill to run Rock Slide over Rapid Spin more freely, while Skarmory is of particular note, as it is able to set Spikes, which is particularly effective at chipping Excadrill's checks down into its KO range.
[SET]
name: Utility
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Stealth Rock / Rapid Spin
move 4: Toxic / Swords Dance
item: Leftovers
ability: Mold Breaker
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 Atk / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
With these Special Defense EVs, Excadrill can take full advantage of its defensive typing to check special attackers such as Clefable lacking Flamethrower and Tapu Koko. Stealth Rock is usually the best choice for the third move, as Excadrill can pressure many entry hazard removers with the combination of its STAB moves and Toxic, like Tornadus-T and Mandibuzz. If Excadrill's team already has a Stealth Rock setter, it can instead use Rapid Spin to remove entry hazards. Toxic is typically preferred to cripple Pokemon that do not mind Excadrill's attacks such as Landorus-T and Slowbro. Swords Dance can be used instead to allow Excadrill to sweep late-game and take advantage of Pokemon it checks. It works especially well with the Speed boost of Rapid Spin. Swords Dance does, however, make Excadrill easier to wall without Toxic to punish its checks. Mold Breaker is the chosen ability for this set, as it allows Excadrill to use Earthquake more freely by ignoring Levitate from Pokemon like Hydreigon and Latios. Although it may seem unusual to use Special Defense EVs over HP EVs on a defensive set, they are most optimal for maximizing Excadrill's special bulk due to its already high base HP and low base Special Defense.
While Excadrill's typing gives it many useful resistances, it also leaves it vulnerable to common types in the metagame such as Water, Ground, and Fighting. Consequently, a good defensive backbone for it is required. Pokemon like Corviknight, Tornadus-T, and Tangrowth are good teammates, as they can check Ground-types for it. The former two can also provide entry hazard removal, allowing Excadrill to run Stealth Rock over Rapid Spin more freely. Clefable and Toxapex are solid checks to Fighting-types like Hawlucha and Urshifu-R. They also benefit from Excadrill's ability to check Pokemon like Tapu Koko and prevent strong wallbreakers like Tapu Lele from freely using their strongest moves. If Excadrill is using Stealth Rock, it often draws in entry hazard removers like Zapdos, Corviknight, and Mandibuzz. Consequently, Pokemon that can take advantage of them like Tapu Koko are good teammates. On the other hand, if Excadrill is using Rapid Spin, many offensive Pokemon appreciate being able to pivot in and out of battle more freely, such as Urshifu-R and Choice Specs Dragapult.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
On hyper offensive teams, Excadrill can be used as a suicide lead entry hazard setter with Stealth Rock, Rapid Spin, and Steel Beam, but it is typically outclassed in this role by Landorus-T, which can utilize a powerful Explosion, and Mew, which is faster and has access to Spikes and Taunt. Excadrill can use some alternative items to Leftovers. For example, Heavy-Duty Boots allows Excadrill to switch in without taking damage from entry hazards, which can be helpful if using Rapid Spin. However, Excadrill is already immune to Toxic Spikes and resistant to Stealth Rock, meaning that the chip damage is not usually significant. An Air Balloon is another item that can be used on Sand Rush variants to allow Excadrill to set up against some Ground-types like Hippowdon, Garchomp, and Landorus-T that would usually force it out, but it isn't useful otherwise, and Excadrill will be unable to take advantage of its defensive typing if it wants to keep its item intact. Additionally, Excadrill is worn down more quickly without the passive recovery of Leftovers. High Horsepower can be used over Earthquake on either set to avoid having Excadrill's strongest STAB move weakened by Grassy Terrain, although in other situations its reduced power and imperfect accuracy can be undesirable.
Checks and Counters
====
**Flying-types**: Corviknight and Skarmory are the best counters to Excadrill, resisting its STAB moves and being immune to Toxic. Zapdos also resists Excadrill's STAB moves but must watch out for Rock Slide and Toxic. Corviknight and Zapdos also are able to remove Stealth Rock against utility Excadrill.
**Physically Defensive Walls**: Many physically defensive Pokemon like Slowbro, Tangrowth, Hippowdon, and defensive variants of Landorus-T and Garchomp are able to switch into Excadrill's attacks and force it out with their STAB moves. All of them can be worn down if Excadrill hits them with Toxic, though, and if Excadrill carries an Air Balloon, it can potentially set up on the Ground-types.
**Revenge Killers**: Rillaboom easily revenge kills Excadrill with its priority Grassy Glide, and it is of particular annoyance because Grassy Terrain weakens Earthquake. Urshifu-R and Weavile can also revenge kill it with Aqua Jet and Ice Shard, respectively, and many other Pokemon faster than Excadrill outside of sand can OHKO it, such as Volcarona and offensive Garchomp. However, none of these Pokemon can switch directly into Excadrill safely, and Sand Rush Excadrill under sand beats most revenge killers lacking priority moves.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[TailGlowVM, 546123]]
- Quality checked by: [[airfare, 513717], [ausma, 360720]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [Milak, 262594]]
[/hide]
Excadrill is a versatile threat in the OU metagame thanks to its impressive Attack stat, decent movepool, and access to two useful abilities. On sand teams, Excadrill is a strong sweeper that outspeeds almost every Pokemon in the tier thanks to the Speed boost given by Sand Rush. It also offers defensive utility despite its poor bulk, as it can set Stealth Rock, is one of the few viable users of Rapid Spin, and can deter Volt Switch attempts from Pokemon like Zeraora and Tapu Koko due to its Electric immunity. These traits can allow it to take on a more supportive role, utilizing its useful defensive typing and utility movepool to check Fairy-type Pokemon such as Tapu Koko, Tapu Lele, and Clefable and either set or remove entry hazards depending on the needs of its team. Unfortunately, Excadrill is very frail, and its Speed is mediocre if not boosted by Sand Rush or Rapid Spin, making it easily revenge killed by strong priority moves from Pokemon such as Rillaboom and Urshifu-R as well as by faster Pokemon like Garchomp and Kartana. It is easily walled by common physically defensive Pokemon like Slowbro, Corviknight, and Skarmory, leaving offensive sets heavily reliant on support from teammates to successfully sweep. The Sand Rush set also suffers from poor defensive synergy with both viable sand setters, sharing weaknesses with both Tyranitar and Hippowdon.
[SET]
name: Sand Sweeper
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Rapid Spin / Rock Slide
move 4: Swords Dance / Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Sand Rush
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
If your team has other reliable forms of entry hazard removal, Rock Slide can be used over Rapid Spin to provide coverage for some Pokemon that resist Excadrill's STAB moves, such as Zapdos and Mandibuzz. Swords Dance allows Excadrill to take advantage of forced switches and Pokemon it walls like Tapu Koko. Alternatively, Toxic can be used to cripple walls that can otherwise switch into Excadrill with ease, such as Slowbro and Tangrowth. A Jolly nature is used to allow Excadrill to outspeed Timid Nidoking, Timid Heatran, and Modest Kyurem outside of sand. Leftovers makes Excadrill harder to wear down so it can find more opportunities to sweep.
Sand Rush Excadrill fits exclusively with either Tyranitar or Hippowdon to set sand. Specially defensive Tyranitar in particular can set Stealth Rock for it and check threats to it such as Zapdos. Hippowdon is an alternative sand setter that can switch into opposing Excadrill and also set Stealth Rock. It has better longevity due to its reliable recovery but is more passive than Tyranitar. Dracozolt can be added to this sand core to break through walls Excadrill struggles against like Mandibuzz, Slowbro, and Corviknight. If Excadrill is running Toxic, it can lure in and cripple some of Dracozolt's checks like Hippowdon and Landorus-T, making it easier for Dracozolt to beat them. Garchomp can lure in and weaken Zapdos and Corviknight with Stone Edge and Fire Fang, respectively, to ease Excadrill's sweep, and it can wear down Water- and Grass-types like Slowbro and Tangrowth that check Excadrill. Mandibuzz, Corviknight, and Skarmory are consistent checks to Rillaboom, which sand cores typically struggle against, as well as Ground-types like Garchomp and opposing Excadrill. The former two can also remove entry hazards, allowing Excadrill to run Rock Slide over Rapid Spin more freely, while Skarmory is of particular note, as it is able to set Spikes, which is particularly effective at chipping Excadrill's checks down into its KO range.
[SET]
name: Utility
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Stealth Rock / Rapid Spin
move 4: Toxic / Swords Dance
item: Leftovers
ability: Mold Breaker
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 Atk / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
With these Special Defense EVs, Excadrill can take full advantage of its defensive typing to check special attackers such as Clefable lacking Flamethrower and Tapu Koko. Stealth Rock is usually the best choice for the third move, as Excadrill can pressure many entry hazard removers with the combination of its STAB moves and Toxic, like Tornadus-T and Mandibuzz. If Excadrill's team already has a Stealth Rock setter, it can instead use Rapid Spin to remove entry hazards. Toxic is typically preferred to cripple Pokemon that do not mind Excadrill's attacks such as Landorus-T and Slowbro. Swords Dance can be used instead to allow Excadrill to sweep late-game and take advantage of Pokemon it checks. It works especially well with the Speed boost of Rapid Spin. Swords Dance does, however, make Excadrill easier to wall without Toxic to punish its checks. Mold Breaker is the chosen ability for this set, as it allows Excadrill to use Earthquake more freely by ignoring Levitate from Pokemon like Hydreigon and Latios. Although it may seem unusual to use Special Defense EVs over HP EVs on a defensive set, they are most optimal for maximizing Excadrill's special bulk due to its already high base HP and low base Special Defense.
While Excadrill's typing gives it many useful resistances, it also leaves it vulnerable to common types in the metagame such as Water, Ground, and Fighting. Consequently, a good defensive backbone for it is required. Pokemon like Corviknight, Tornadus-T, and Tangrowth are good teammates, as they can check Ground-types for it. The former two can also provide entry hazard removal, allowing Excadrill to run Stealth Rock over Rapid Spin more freely. Clefable and Toxapex are solid checks to Fighting-types like Hawlucha and Urshifu-R. They also benefit from Excadrill's ability to check Pokemon like Tapu Koko and prevent strong wallbreakers like Tapu Lele from freely using their strongest moves. If Excadrill is using Stealth Rock, it often draws in entry hazard removers like Zapdos, Corviknight, and Mandibuzz. Consequently, Pokemon that can take advantage of them like Tapu Koko are good teammates. On the other hand, if Excadrill is using Rapid Spin, many offensive Pokemon appreciate being able to pivot in and out of battle more freely, such as Urshifu-R and Choice Specs Dragapult.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
On hyper offensive teams, Excadrill can be used as a suicide lead entry hazard setter with Stealth Rock, Rapid Spin, and Steel Beam, but it is typically outclassed in this role by Landorus-T, which can utilize a powerful Explosion, and Mew, which is faster and has access to Spikes and Taunt. Excadrill can use some alternative items to Leftovers. For example, Heavy-Duty Boots allows Excadrill to switch in without taking damage from entry hazards, which can be helpful if using Rapid Spin. However, Excadrill is already immune to Toxic Spikes and resistant to Stealth Rock, meaning that the chip damage is not usually significant. An Air Balloon is another item that can be used on Sand Rush variants to allow Excadrill to set up against some Ground-types like Hippowdon, Garchomp, and Landorus-T that would usually force it out, but it isn't useful otherwise, and Excadrill will be unable to take advantage of its defensive typing if it wants to keep its item intact. Additionally, Excadrill is worn down more quickly without the passive recovery of Leftovers. High Horsepower can be used over Earthquake on either set to avoid having Excadrill's strongest STAB move weakened by Grassy Terrain, although in other situations its reduced power and imperfect accuracy can be undesirable.
Checks and Counters
====
**Flying-types**: Corviknight and Skarmory are the best counters to Excadrill, resisting its STAB moves and being immune to Toxic. Zapdos also resists Excadrill's STAB moves but must watch out for Rock Slide and Toxic. Corviknight and Zapdos also are able to remove Stealth Rock against utility Excadrill.
**Physically Defensive Walls**: Many physically defensive Pokemon like Slowbro, Tangrowth, Hippowdon, and defensive variants of Landorus-T and Garchomp are able to switch into Excadrill's attacks and force it out with their STAB moves. All of them can be worn down if Excadrill hits them with Toxic, though, and if Excadrill carries an Air Balloon, it can potentially set up on the Ground-types.
**Revenge Killers**: Rillaboom easily revenge kills Excadrill with its priority Grassy Glide, and it is of particular annoyance because Grassy Terrain weakens Earthquake. Urshifu-R and Weavile can also revenge kill it with Aqua Jet and Ice Shard, respectively, and many other Pokemon faster than Excadrill outside of sand can OHKO it, such as Volcarona and offensive Garchomp. However, none of these Pokemon can switch directly into Excadrill safely, and Sand Rush Excadrill under sand beats most revenge killers lacking priority moves.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[TailGlowVM, 546123]]
- Quality checked by: [[airfare, 513717], [ausma, 360720]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [Milak, 262594]]
[/hide]
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