[OVERVIEW]
Excadrill has a fantastic typing, and two great abilities that either let it become a unique revenge killer that ignores defensive abilities, or a deadly sweeper under Sandstorms. It also has access to Horn Drill, making the idea of switching in bulky Pokemon such as Celesteela riskier than usual. However, Excadrill's mediocre bulk can give it trouble switching into neutral attacks, and if using it in sandstorm, its weaknesses stack with Tyranitar's and Hippowdon's.
Below are some sample sets. These sets are likely to be standard, but they will be expanded upon and updated as the metagame progresses.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Rock Slide
move 4: Horn Drill
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Mold Breaker
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
* With Mold Breaker and Earthquake, Excadrill can threaten to blast through Rotom-W/Rotom-H and deal massive damage to Hydreigon. Mold Breaker also lets Excadrill KO Mimikyu through its Disguise with Iron Head.
* Rock Slide is a standard coverage move that can also flinch like Iron Head.
* Horn Drill can be used as a OHKO move in desperate situations to have a chance of defeating bulky threats such as Celesteela, Suicuine, and Cresselia.
* A Jolly nature lets Excadrill outspeed Dragon Dance Mega Gyarados, boosted Blaziken, and Naive Pheromosa. Adamant can be used for more power, but then Excadrill has a chance to lose against speedy Pheromosa and Blaziken.
* This Excadrill has a harder time against bulky foes such as Celesteela, Suicune, and Cresselia, since it's only chance to defeat them is to get lucky with Horn Drill. Make sure to prepare against these threats with stall breakers.
[SET]
name: Sand Sweeper
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Rock Slide
move 4: Swords Dance
item: Groundium Z / Life Orb
ability: Sand Rush
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
* Sand Rush makes Excadrill a fearsome sweeper in the sand, with STAB Earthquake dealing an incredible amount of damage with Life Orb, and Iron Head being a good anti-Fairy move. Rock Slide is the usual coverage to hit Flying-types such as Mega Charizard Y and Zapdos.
* Swords Dance turns Excadrill into a dangerous late game sweeper, though Excadrill's not so great bulk can make it hard to set up.
* An Adamant nature works best since Excadrill outspeeds almost everything in a Sandstorm anyways. However, Jolly can be used to ensure Excadrill outspeeds Mega Gyarados if your team loses control of the weather, and outspeed +2 Jolly Blaziken if the weather is on your side.
* Groundium Z lets Excadril defeat major defensive threats after a Swords Dance with Z-Earthquake, such as Suicune, Hippowdon, and Ferrothorn. It also lets Excadrill smash through Garchomp and Mega Kangaskhan without a boost most of the time.
* If you can't afford to put a Groundium Z on Excadrill, Life Orb is still good for consistent damage output.
* Excadrill works best as a late game sweeper, since its bulk isn't very good, meaning its in serious trouble if it doesn't KO a threat.
* Excadrill will need a Pokemon with Sandstream to function well. Tyranitar and Hippowdon are the best choices for this, with Tyranitar being a versatile offensive Pokemon, and Hippowdon being a bulky check to many physical attackers, and is a better setter of Stealth Rock for Excadrill to take advantage of.
* Note that these two share a lot of weakneses with Excadrill, so preparing for bulky Water-types like Suicune, Tapu Fini, and Slowbro will be extremely important. Celesteela is an issue to prepare for as well, and Garchomp is problematic if you go with Excadrill and Tyranitar together.
[SET]
name: Versatile Attacker
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Rock Slide / Rock Tomb
move 4: Swords Dance / Stealth Rock / Horn Drill
item: Focus Sash / Air Balloon / Assault Vest
ability: Mold Breaker
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Now being able to switch between moves, Excadrill does a fantastic job against Pokemon that rely on defensive abilities such as Rotom-W and Mimikyu, thanks to Mold Breaker Earthquake and Iron Head.
* Rock Slide takes advantage of Excadrill's ok Speed and allows it to bluff a Choice Scarf, but Rock Tomb provides better support because of the Speed drop.
* Swords Dance can let Excadrill smash through slower teams, while Stealth Rock helps against opposing Focus Sash Pokemon, Volcarona, and Charizard.
* Horn Drill is Excadrill's best way of defeating Celesteela and Cresselia, and is the only reasonable last move if using Assault Vest.
* Focus Sash lets Excadrill survive one powerful attack when at full health, such as boosted Z-Shadow Claw from Mimikyu. Air Balloon works great against Pokemon that rely on Ground STAB such as Garchomp, and Assault Vest lets Excadrill survive a Hydro Pump from defensive Rotom-W.
* Adamant works best because of the extra power, but Jolly outspeeds unboosted Mega Gyarados and Adamant Mega Charizard X.
* You'll need Pokemon to deal with Celesteela, Cresselia, and bulky waters such as Suicune, Tapu Fini, and Slowbro.
Excadrill has a fantastic typing, and two great abilities that either let it become a unique revenge killer that ignores defensive abilities, or a deadly sweeper under Sandstorms. It also has access to Horn Drill, making the idea of switching in bulky Pokemon such as Celesteela riskier than usual. However, Excadrill's mediocre bulk can give it trouble switching into neutral attacks, and if using it in sandstorm, its weaknesses stack with Tyranitar's and Hippowdon's.
Below are some sample sets. These sets are likely to be standard, but they will be expanded upon and updated as the metagame progresses.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Rock Slide
move 4: Horn Drill
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Mold Breaker
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
* With Mold Breaker and Earthquake, Excadrill can threaten to blast through Rotom-W/Rotom-H and deal massive damage to Hydreigon. Mold Breaker also lets Excadrill KO Mimikyu through its Disguise with Iron Head.
* Rock Slide is a standard coverage move that can also flinch like Iron Head.
* Horn Drill can be used as a OHKO move in desperate situations to have a chance of defeating bulky threats such as Celesteela, Suicuine, and Cresselia.
* A Jolly nature lets Excadrill outspeed Dragon Dance Mega Gyarados, boosted Blaziken, and Naive Pheromosa. Adamant can be used for more power, but then Excadrill has a chance to lose against speedy Pheromosa and Blaziken.
* This Excadrill has a harder time against bulky foes such as Celesteela, Suicune, and Cresselia, since it's only chance to defeat them is to get lucky with Horn Drill. Make sure to prepare against these threats with stall breakers.
[SET]
name: Sand Sweeper
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Rock Slide
move 4: Swords Dance
item: Groundium Z / Life Orb
ability: Sand Rush
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
* Sand Rush makes Excadrill a fearsome sweeper in the sand, with STAB Earthquake dealing an incredible amount of damage with Life Orb, and Iron Head being a good anti-Fairy move. Rock Slide is the usual coverage to hit Flying-types such as Mega Charizard Y and Zapdos.
* Swords Dance turns Excadrill into a dangerous late game sweeper, though Excadrill's not so great bulk can make it hard to set up.
* An Adamant nature works best since Excadrill outspeeds almost everything in a Sandstorm anyways. However, Jolly can be used to ensure Excadrill outspeeds Mega Gyarados if your team loses control of the weather, and outspeed +2 Jolly Blaziken if the weather is on your side.
* Groundium Z lets Excadril defeat major defensive threats after a Swords Dance with Z-Earthquake, such as Suicune, Hippowdon, and Ferrothorn. It also lets Excadrill smash through Garchomp and Mega Kangaskhan without a boost most of the time.
* If you can't afford to put a Groundium Z on Excadrill, Life Orb is still good for consistent damage output.
* Excadrill works best as a late game sweeper, since its bulk isn't very good, meaning its in serious trouble if it doesn't KO a threat.
* Excadrill will need a Pokemon with Sandstream to function well. Tyranitar and Hippowdon are the best choices for this, with Tyranitar being a versatile offensive Pokemon, and Hippowdon being a bulky check to many physical attackers, and is a better setter of Stealth Rock for Excadrill to take advantage of.
* Note that these two share a lot of weakneses with Excadrill, so preparing for bulky Water-types like Suicune, Tapu Fini, and Slowbro will be extremely important. Celesteela is an issue to prepare for as well, and Garchomp is problematic if you go with Excadrill and Tyranitar together.
[SET]
name: Versatile Attacker
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Rock Slide / Rock Tomb
move 4: Swords Dance / Stealth Rock / Horn Drill
item: Focus Sash / Air Balloon / Assault Vest
ability: Mold Breaker
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Now being able to switch between moves, Excadrill does a fantastic job against Pokemon that rely on defensive abilities such as Rotom-W and Mimikyu, thanks to Mold Breaker Earthquake and Iron Head.
* Rock Slide takes advantage of Excadrill's ok Speed and allows it to bluff a Choice Scarf, but Rock Tomb provides better support because of the Speed drop.
* Swords Dance can let Excadrill smash through slower teams, while Stealth Rock helps against opposing Focus Sash Pokemon, Volcarona, and Charizard.
* Horn Drill is Excadrill's best way of defeating Celesteela and Cresselia, and is the only reasonable last move if using Assault Vest.
* Focus Sash lets Excadrill survive one powerful attack when at full health, such as boosted Z-Shadow Claw from Mimikyu. Air Balloon works great against Pokemon that rely on Ground STAB such as Garchomp, and Assault Vest lets Excadrill survive a Hydro Pump from defensive Rotom-W.
* Adamant works best because of the extra power, but Jolly outspeeds unboosted Mega Gyarados and Adamant Mega Charizard X.
* You'll need Pokemon to deal with Celesteela, Cresselia, and bulky waters such as Suicune, Tapu Fini, and Slowbro.
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