Gen 6 Excadrill (Done)

[ez]

[OVERVIEW]

Excadrill's strong STAB moves, enhanced by its access to Sand Rush and Mold Breaker, make it a significant offensive threat in the OU tier. Its defensive typing and natural bulk allow it to switch into attacks like Magnezone's Thunderbolt, Clefable's Moonblast, and Psychic-type moves from Latios, Alakazam, and Reuniclus. Excadrill is a solid answer to Clefable thanks to resisting Moonblast and being immune to Thunder Wave. It is also able to offensively threaten Clefable and prevent it from setting up Calm Mind, but it must be wary of Fire-type coverage that Clefable can run. Excadrill is also one of the best spinners in the tier, able to threaten common Stealth Rock users like Heatran and Clefable and wear down Ferrothorn. Thanks to Mold Breaker, Excadrill can threaten Levitate users like Rotom-W, Latios, Hydreigon, and Gengar with Earthquake. However, Excadrill does have many checks, especially when it is not using Sand Rush in sand. Pokemon like Mega Charizard Y and Keldeo are able to outspeed and OHKO it, and Pokemon like Landorus-T, Skarmory, and Gliscor are all good at checking it.

[SET]
name: Sand Rush Sweeper
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Rapid Spin
move 4: Swords Dance / Rock Slide / Toxic
item: Leftovers / Life Orb
ability: Sand Rush
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

Earthquake is Excadrill's main STAB move, hitting many types super effectively and dealing a lot of damage to pretty much any Pokemon that is not immune or resistant to it. Iron Head has a nice niche in its chance to flinch and is Excadrill's primary way to hit Fairy-types like Clefable, Mega Altaria, and Mega Gardevoir. Rapid Spin lets Excadrill remove entry hazards like Spikes for itself and Stealth Rock for its teammates. Swords Dance gives Excadrill the power to break through Pokemon like Slowbro and Gliscor. Rock Slide has excellent coverage for Flying-types immune to Earthquake like Mega Charizard Y, Tornadus-T, and Zapdos, and it hits Rotom-W neutrally.

Set Details
========

Sand Rush, maximum Speed investment, and a Jolly nature allow Excadrill to be as fast as possible, letting it outspeed foes like Timid Heatran and Adamant Mega Medicham while Speed tying other Excadrill outside of sand. Life Orb and an Adamant nature are also options; using both together gives Excadrill a 25% chance to 2HKO Slowbro from full if Stealth Rock is up, makes Iron Head a guaranteed 2HKO on Choice Scarf Landorus-T and a OHKO at +2, and lets +2 Iron Head 2HKO physically defensive Tangrowth

Usage Tips
========

Activate Sand Rush whenever possible to take advantage of the Speed boost it provides. Use Excadrill to pressure common Fairy-, Psychic-, and Electric-types. Use Swords Dance to sweep late-game or as typical checks switch in at low enough health, like Gliscor and Slowbro, so Excadrill can break through them. Excadrill's Rapid Spin will be the team's primary way to remove entry hazards, but be wary of contact damage like Rough Skin from Garchomp, Rocky Helmet on Pokemon like Tangrowth, and Iron Barbs from Ferrothorn chipping you down.

Team Options
========

Sand Rush Excadrill is very reliant on a Sand Stream user, so either Hippowdon or Tyranitar should be used alongside it. Excadrill struggles with common Ground-types like Landorus-T, Water-types like Slowbro, Grass-types like Tangrowth, and Flying-types like Gliscor. Mega Charizard Y can help Excadrill deal with Grass- and Water-types while appreciating Excadrill's ability to spin away Stealth Rock. Weavile is able to pressure Pokemon that Excadrill would normally struggle with, like Landorus-T, Gliscor, and Slowbro, and appreciates Excadrill's role as a spinner and check to Fairy-types like Clefable. Serperior can deal with Water-types like Slowbro and Keldeo and cripple threats like Tornadus-T with Glare to allow Excadrill to outspeed them outside of sand. Rotom-W forms an extremely good core with Excadrill, as these two have excellent typing synergy. Rotom-W can burn and chip at Pokemon like Ferrothorn and other Rotom-W and deal with Flying-types immune to Earthquake like Tornadus-T and Gliscor. Tornadus-T is also a great partner for Excadrill, as it helps deal with Grass-types like Tangrowth and Serperior and can remove items from and chips at Pokemon like Rotom-W. It also appreciates Excadrill's ability to absorb Thunder Wave and spin away Stealth Rock, which would otherwise nullify Tornadus-T's Regenerator.

[SET]
name: Bulky Spinner
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Toxic / Stealth Rock
move 4: Rapid Spin
item: Leftovers
ability: Mold Breaker
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 216 SpD / 40 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

Earthquake and Iron Head provide decent coverage to hit Electric-types like Rotom-W, Steel-types like Heatran, and Fairy-types like Clefable. Toxic lets Excadrill put common switch-ins on a timer; these include Electric-types like Rotom-W and Zapdos, Ground-types like Landorus-T and Garchomp, Water-types like Slowbro and Suicune, and Flying-types like Tornadus-T, Mega Charizard Y, and Talonflame.

Set Details
========

This EV spread allows Excadrill to outspeed foes like Choice Band Tyranitar, defensive Landorus-T, and defensive Rotom-W and be as bulky as possible to take special attacks; these include moves from Psychic-types like Mega Alakazam, Mega Gardevoir, and Latios, coverage from Electric-types the likes of Thundurus, Rotom-W and Zapdos, and Fire-type coverage that includes Clefable's Flamethrower, Tornadus-T's Heat Wave, and Choice Scarf Magnezone's Hidden Power Fire. You can put 32 Special Defense EVs into Speed to outspeed Jolly Crawdaunt. An EV spread of 252 HP / 212 SpD / 44 Spe with a Jolly nature allows Excadrill to outspeed the likes of Adamant Bisharp, Zapdos, specially defensive Jirachi, Adamant Mega Heracross, and Choice Scarf users like Magnezone and Tyranitar after Knock Off. Do keep in mind that investing more EVs into Speed gives Excadrill less Special Defense, making special moves like Magnezone's Hidden Power Fire, Choice Specs Latios's Draco Meteor, and Thundurus-T's Focus Blast do noticeably more damage.

Usage Tips
========

This set should be used as a defensive pivot into special attackers such as Clefable, Magnezone, and Latios. Excadrill can proceed to use Rapid Spin against these targets, as they lack a method of significantly damaging it. Use this set to lure in typical Excadrill switch-ins like bulky Grass-, Ground-, and Water-types to use Toxic on them.

Team Options
========

Rotom-W and defensive Excadrill make an excellent defensive core and have excellent typing synergy, as Rotom-W can help Excadrill deal with Water-types and chip away at checks like Ferrothorn and other Rotom-W with Will-O-Wisp. Tornadus-T and Excadrill also have good typing synergy; Tornadus-T can help Excadrill take Grass-type moves from Pokemon like Serperior, while Excadrill can take on Electric-type moves from Pokemon like Zapdos in return. Excadrill invites in heavy hitters including Mega Medicham, Keldeo, and Mega Charizard Y. Latios can offensively pressure out these Pokemon and appreciates Excadrill's ability to take on Fairy-types like Clefable. Mega Pinsir appreciates Excadrill removing Stealth Rock and taking on Rock-types like Mega Diancie and Electric-types like Zapdos. Excadrill's Toxic can be used chip down bulky Water-types like Rotom-W and Slowbro to put them in range for Mega Pinsir to KO them.

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Rock Slide / Toxic
move 4: Rapid Spin
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Mold Breaker
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

Moves
===================

Earthquake is Excadrill's main STAB move, being amazing coverage thanks to Mold Breaker allowing it to hit Pokemon like Rotom-W, Latios, and Gengar. Iron Head hits Fairy-types like Clefable and has a useful chance to flinch foes. Rock Slide is used to hit Flying-types, which are still immune to Earthquake despite Mold Breaker, like Mega Pinsir, Thundurus-T, Mega Charizard Y, and Tornadus-T.

Set Details:
===================

Maximum Speed with a Jolly nature allows Choice Scarf Excadrill to outspeed threats like Mega Alakazam, Mega Lopunny, Mega Manectric, Mega Altaria, and Mega Metagross. Mold Breaker allows Earthquake to hit Levitate users like Rotom-W, Latios, and Gengar.

Usage Tips:
===================

Choice Scarf Excadrill is used as a late-game sweeper and revenge killer. Excadrill appreciates when Flying-types like Landorus-T and Skarmory are KOed so it can spam Earthquake. It also appreciates when bulky threats like Mega Scizor, Slowbro, and Ferrothorn are put into range of its attacks so they can't switch in reliably. Being locked into Rapid Spin is a huge momentum killer, and the move should only be used versus foes that cannot significantly damage Excadrill, like Clefable.

Team Options:
===================

Choice Scarf Excadrill struggles to break through foes like Mega Scizor, Ferrothorn, and Skarmory. Pokemon that pack Fire-type coverage like Flamethrower Clefable, Fire Blast Slowbro, Heat Wave Tornadus-T, and Hidden Power Fire Mega Diancie and Tangrowth can all lure in these Steel-types to OHKO or chip at them. Water-types like Rotom-W and Keldeo can help Excadrill deal with Ground-types that it struggles with like Landorus-T and Gliscor and appreciate Excadrill helping deal with Electric-types. Electric-types like Magnezone and Thundurus-T can help Excadrill deal with bulky Water-types like Alomomola and Slowbro as well as Skarmory. Other strong offensive threats like Manaphy, Weavile, and Life Orb Tornadus-T can help break through or weaken these bulkier checks that Excadrill cannot break itself.

Other Options
========

An offensive Focus Sash set could be used as a lead to set Stealth Rock and get rid of opposing entry hazards with Rapid Spin. Substitute can also be used to help Excadrill avoid status moves as well as Bisharp's Sucker Punch giving it a free turn.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Bulky Water-types**: Pokemon like Rotom-W, Slowbro, and Alomomola can sponge any damage Excadrill dishes out and threaten it back with super effective STAB moves, usually Scald, which has a chance to cripple Excadrill with a burn. Excadrill can deal with these specific Water-types, though, by using Swords Dance to power through with Earthquake or Rock Slide. However, Quagsire can ignore these Swords Dance boosts and threaten Excadrill with Scalds and Earthquakes of its own. Mega Slowbro is able to take any hit from Excadrill and OHKO back with Scald.

**Bulky Flying-types**: Skarmory walls every variant of Excadrill. However, if Skarmory lacks Counter, Excadrill can theoretically use Swords Dance to beat Skarmory one-on-one. Skarmory commonly runs Whirlwind, though, which prevents Excadrill from setting up. Landorus-T is able to tank Iron Head from Excadrill and OHKO it with Earthquake. Do keep in mind that Landorus-T usually doesn't have a reliable way of healing back up, meaning it is easy to wear down. Gliscor can also avoid Earthquake, sponge an Iron Head, and threaten to OHKO back with Earthquake. Most Gliscor are specially defensive and not physically defensive, meaning you can break through them with Swords Dance if they are chipped enough. If Excadrill lacks Rock Slide, Zapdos can switch into it and threaten it with Heat Wave.

**Offensive Threats**: Without Sand Rush or Choice Scarf, Excadrill's Speed is mediocre, letting foes like Mega Lopunny, Keldeo, Mega Metagross, Mega Charizard Y, and Volcarona outspeed and OHKO it. Some of these Pokemon, like Keldeo, are able to take at least one hit from Excadrill as well. However, all of these threats find it challenging to switch in, especially if Sand Rush is active.

**Contact Damage** Excadrill frequently uses Iron Head and Rapid Spin, which means Iron Barbs, Rough Skin, and Rocky Helmet from the likes of Ferrothorn, Garchomp, Tangrowth, Skarmory, and Slowbro can slowly chip down Excadrill and put it in range for an attack from an opposing threat.

**Knock Off**: Removing Excadrill's Leftovers means it cannot act as a reliable spinner forever. Removing Excadrill's Choice Scarf makes it unable to outspeed the likes of Keldeo, Mega Lopunny, Mega Metagross, Latios, and more. If its Life Orb is gone, Excadrill's damage is severely lowered.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[ez, 233669]]
- Quality checked by: [[jonfilch, 472436], [Savaouras, 409438]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [Estronic, 240732]]

 

[Savouras]

Overview
Do not mention Mega Metagross, using Excadrill to defensively help vs Metagross is the last thing drill does. You could mention its defensive utility versus Psychics like Latios, Alakazam and Reuniclus.

Third line in Overview -
Excadrill is a good check to Clefable thanks to its typing resisting Clefs Stab, immunity to Thunder Wave while also being able to offensively stop and prevent Calm Mind Clefable from setting up. Gotta be careful of Fire Coverage tho.

5th Line in Overview - when talkin about MoldBreaker you could mention not just Rotom-W but Latios, Hydreigon and other Levitate Pokemons like Gengar and Mega Latias that Excadrill has utility and usage against.

First Set - Sand Rush Sweeper
I would like Life Orb and Adamant natures being slashed with various calcs and relevant reasons in mind to use while still keeping Jolly and Leftovers as the standard / more valid options for most teams and sets atm.

In the Set Description when talkin about Rock Slide talk about how using Rock Slide allows Excadrill from being checked by Zapdos and Rotom-W to have a good neutral or effective more to hit them. It also has excellent usage versus Mega Pinsir teams as its able to stop its sweep owin to its resistance to Quick Attack.

In the Set Details 2nd line - neutral nature base 100s like Manaphy arent really a thing anymore.
The only one using atk boosting nature atm is Medicham, all the others Manaphy, Charizard, Gardevoir, Volcarona and the rare Victini all use Speed Boosting nature so replace that with something else.

In the Set Details the last line where you talk about SD you should replace it with a more general use of SD allowing it to break through Checks like Zapdos, Ferrothorn and Slowbro. The way you phrase it goes for Usage Tips and not Set Details.

In the Usage Tips
Excadrill lately isnt as good as it used to be when it comes to Cleaning teams but teams mostly make use of its defensive and speed control utilities with Leftovers. It can be used early to get rid of hazards for its team, to pressure common fairies psychics and electric while also being able to sometimes work as an endgame sweeper. It needs to be carefully used against Rocky Helmet / Rough Skin / Iron Barbs Pokemons as rapid spinning often versus them can leave your Excadrill low allowing pokemons that its supposed to check breaking it or die and leave its team without hazard control.

In the Team Options
You can sum up all its weaknesses and typings that would normally be checking it so Common Ground, Water, Grass and Flying types and give a few partner examples that enjoy its many resistances things like Charizard Y, Thundurus, Weavile and Glare Serperior. Rotom-W needs a special mention, its an extremely good and common core used in the current meta as these two have excellent typing synergy while also being able to absorb and use their own Status moves to weaken key opposing pokemons and resistances. A few examples of pokemons that this core mainly focuses are Latios, Burning Ferrothorn, Slowbro, opposing Rotom-W and Tornadus-T. Speaking of Tornadus-T it should be a special mention with Excadrill. Not only they share very good typing resistances, they have excellent utility versus various common pokemons together like against Twave / Rocks Clefable, Rotom-W, Heatran and Grass types like Serperior, Tangrowth and Amoonguss. Excadrill is also able to Rapid Spin for Tornadus-T improving its longevity aton.

In the Bulky Spinner set in Moves section add abit more detail and relevant examples of pokemons each move hits including Toxic.
Toxic has excellent utility versus Electric types like Rotom-W and Zapdos, Ground types like Garchomp and Landorus, Water types like Slowbro and Suicune, Flying types like Tornadus-T Charizard and Talonflame and list goes on.

In the Set Details i would like you to talk about the different speedtiers and investments Bulky Excadrill can go for.
222 is a good speedtier for CB Tyranitar, defensive Rotom-W and Defensive Landorus. This spread aims on keeping Excadrill as bulky as possible to be able eat hits common Psychics like Mega Zam, Specs Latios and the rare Mega Gardevoir. Electric types like Thundurus, Rotom-W and Zapdos aswell as other relevant pokemons in the tier packing Fire Coverage mainly Clefable, Tornadus-T and Scarf Magnezone that you are able to always live 3 HP Fires with this spread.
Another commonly used speedtier is the 230 one making it overall abit faster while still keeping enough Bulk to eat atks for most the pokemons mentioned above. The Speed is focusing on Jolly Crawdaunt aswell as faster variants of Rotom-W and Landorus-T.
The 245 Speedtier with the EV Spread of 252 HP / 212 Spdef / 44 Speed Jolly nature making it faster than Adamant Bisharp, Faster variants of Defensive Rotom-W that also aim to hit that speedtier, Jolly Tyranitar which is valuable with partners like Knock Off Tornadus-T gettin rid of its Scarf. This Speedtier also aims to outspeed 245 speed Zapdos and toxic it, Spdef Jirachi, Mega Heracross and Knocked off Scarf Magnezone. The less bulk is noticable tho as many pokemons it used to eat atks from now deal alot more damage to it. Magnezone has chances to 3ko Drill with HP Fire, Specs Latios can deal almost 50% of Excadrills HP with its Dragon stab so not going to mention Surf Coverage, Serperior always 2koes Bulky drill and LO Thundurus with a layer of Spikes can OHKO this Drill spread with Focus Blast.
Other variants and speedtiers like 266 Speed and even Max Speed Excadrill have been used but no need to mention those.

In the Team Options i would like Rotom-W and Tornadus again mentioned for similar reasons with the set above.
Excadrill invites heavy hitters like Mega Medicham, Charizard Y and Specs Keldeo so partners that do deal with those defensively or offensively packing good speedtiers and resistances are key pokemons to use with this Drill set. Latios is excellent at doing that while also loving Excadrill providing a fairy resist for Clefable and rapid spin which allows Latios to go for a Specs set with Trick dealing big damage. Mega Pinsir is another flying type that loves excadrills ability to remove hazards, poison bulky waters and ground types while still checking fairy types like Mega Diancie and Clefable. Mega Pinsir is also capable of getting rid of common Grass types for Drill and appreciates Excadrills electric immunity.

For Choice Scarf the correct set is

name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Rapid Spin
move 4: Rock Slide / Toxic
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Mold Breaker
nature: Jolly
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

Rapid spin is must in every Excadrill set and it can not be slashed for any move except in the Sand Rush set mainly the LO set that uses Rock Slide over it.
In the Moves you definitely wanna mention Mega Pinsir and Thundurus as Scarf has the most utility versus those allowing you to immediately without sand being set to check them so please Slash it next to Charizard Y and Tornadus-T in the third line.

In the Usage Tips Excadrill is indeed a lategame sweeper and a revenge killer with key defensive utilities, excellent coverage and hazard control which provides even more utility and usage on a team.
Partners that pack Fire Coverage are very useful when using this set luring and weakening pokemons like Mega Scizor, Ferrothorn and Skarmory for this set to work. Examples being Flamethrower Clefable, Fire Blast Slowbro, Heatwave Tornadus, HP Fire Tangrowth, Diancie and many more. Toxic should be used against pokemons that do check this set easily, Grass types like Tangrowth and Serperior, Water types like Slowbro and Suicune, Ground types like Garchomp and Landorus-T. Add some of these examples too so your analysis looks more detailed.

With those changes and more detail added ill first QC your Excadrill analysis.
Would also prefer if instead of copy pasting old analysis to rewrite most of the things and take inspiration from the old analysis.
Reason being that many of these analysis we want them to be alot more detailed as the pokemons you are working on are superstars on the tier being used aton so many people would like to review their analysis and read in depth why and how they are used so the more detail the better.
It is also good to make some research and ask relevant people in the tier about specific sets to have a better idea of what is used and why in your future analysis.

 

[fade]

Sand rush: Rapid Spin is always used on drill and shouldn’t be a slash. For the 4th move slash Rock Slide, toxic, and swords dance. Mention some bulk as it's not uncommon for sand drill to use a bit of hp/sdef cus even when its on sand drill functions best as a utility mon.

Bulky spinner: If you want to put this spread with careful nature I would suggest not going below 240 speed. I, and many others, use 302 speed because lefties excadrill is so common in this meta and it's very detrimental to be slower than an opposing excadrill. More emphasis on investing in Defense and Special Defense, you get a lot more mileage out of those EVs than you do from investing in HP. Toxic should be slashed with iron head, bulky excadrill almost always uses Stealth Rock. tornadus-t is arguably bulky drills best partner, and definitely make mention of spikes weak pokemon like Gastrodon or Mega Slowbro.

Checks and counters: Mention Knock Off and Helmet/Iron Barbs/Rough Skin chip. Removing excadrills leftovers makes it unable to consistently keep hazards off, & pokemon that use rocky helmet/rough skin/iron barbs like tangrowth, slowbro, garchomp, ferrothorn, and skarmory are all able to punish drill going for spin.

I second most of the stuff Savouras said and think he covered a lot of bases.

 

[fade]

looks good, qc 1/2

 

[Savouras]

Good analysis, QC 2/2

 

[Adeleine]

AM Check :)
Add/Fix Remove Comment
(AC)/(RC): Add/Remove Comma
(AS): Add Semicolon
(AH): Add Hyphen
(RP): Remove Period

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[OVERVIEW]
Excadrill's strong STAB moves, enhanced with it's its access to Sand Rush and Mold Breaker, makes it a significant offensive threat in the OU tier. Its defensive typing and natural bulk allow Excadrill to switch into threats attacks like Magnezone's Thunderbolts, Clefable's Moonblast, Psychic attacks and Psychic-type moves from Latios, Alakazam, and Reuniclus. Excadrill is a solid answer to Clefable thanks to its typing resisting Clefable's Moonblast while also being immune to Clefable's Thunder Wave. Excadrill also abe to offensively stop Clefble is also able to offensively threaten Clefable and prevent it from setting up Calm Mind, but must be wary of Fire Coverage Fire-type coverage that Clefable can run. Excadrill is also one of the best spinners in the tier as its ability(AC), able to threaten common Stealth Rock users like Heatran and Clefable while also wearing down Ferrothorns. Thanks to Excadrill's Mold Breaker ability, it allows Excadrill to hit things that Earthquake usually cannot hit Mold Breaker, Earthquake threatens Levitate users like Rotom-Wash, Latios, Hydreigon, and Gengar. However, Excadrill does have many checks, especially when it is not under using Sand Rush in sand. Pokemon like Mega Charizard Y and Keldeo are able to outspeed and OHKO it. Common Pokemons like Landours-therian, Pokemon like Landorus-T, Skarmory, and Gliscor are all good at acting as checks for checking Excadrill as well.

[SET]
name: Sand Rush Sweeper
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Rapid Spin
move 4: Swords (spelling) Dance / Rock Slide / Toxic
item: Leftovers / Life Orb
ability: Sand Rush
nature: Jolly / Adamant (added missing space after backslash)
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe


[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description Moves
========
Moves
Earthquake is Excadrill's main STAB ground move, allowing Excadrill to hit Electric-, Poison-, Rock-, Steel, and Fire-types for super-effective damage move, hitting many types super effectively while also dealing a lot to pretty much any Pokemon that is not immune or resistant to it. Iron Head is Excadrill's main Steel STAB move and also has a nice niche for a chance to flinch and acts as it's the has a nice niche in its chance to flinch and is Excadrill's primary way to hit Fairy-types like Clefable and(AC), Mega Altaria, and Mega Gardevoir. Rapid Spin lets Excadrill remove entry hazards like Spikes for itself and Stealth Rock for its teammates. Swords Dance gives Excadrill the power to break though Pokemon like Slowbro and Gliscor. Rock Slide has excellent coverage for Flying-types that would be immune to Earthquake like Mega Charizard Y and Tornadus-Therian while also preventing things like Zapdos from checking you Rapid Spin lets Excadrill remove entry hazards like Spikes and Stealth Rocks for itself, and its teammates. Sword Dance boosts Excadrill's physical attack stats allowing it to break through things like Slowbro and Gliscor.(AC), Tornadus-T, and Zapdos while also giving Excadrill a move to hit Rotom-W wth a natural attack. hitting Rotom-W neutrally.

========
Set Details
========
Sand Rush, maximum (capitalization) Speed, with and a Jolly Nature to allow Excadrill to be as fast as possible(RP). This will enable Excadrill to outspeed things like Timid Heatran,(AC), letting it outspeed foes like Timid Heatran and Adamant Mega Medicam, and speed ties with other Excadrills Medicham while Speed tying other Excadrill outside of sand. The rest of the EVs are thrown into Attack to allow Excadrill to hit as hard as possible. Leftovers are the chosen item to give Excadrill passive recovery each turn. Use Sword Dance on the switch in on things that would typically check Excadrill like Gliscor and Slowbro when they are low enough, to break through them. (I move the third sentence to Usage Tips.) Life Orb and Adamant are also options as well an Adamant nature are also options(AC), making Excadrill more powerful. Life Orb and Adamant gives Using both together gives Excadrill a 25% chance to 2HKO Slowbro from full if Rocks are Stealth Rock is up and also makes Iron Head a guaranteed (spelling) 2HKO on Choice Scarf Landorus-Therian from full or guaranteeing the OHKO from(AC), a OHKO at +2, as well as 2HKO Physically and a 2HKO on physically defensive Tangrowth at +2.

Usage Tips
========
Use Excadrill to remove entry hazards for the team. Abuse Excadrill's Sand Rush ability and use it as a method of speed control. Use Excadrill as a means to pressure common Fairy, Psychic, and Electric while also sometimes acting as an endgame sweeper. Do be wary Activate Sand Rush whenever possible to use Excadrill as speed control. Use Excadrill to pressure common Fairy-, Psychic-, and Electric-types. Use Swords Dance to sweep late-game or as typical checks switch in at low enough health, like Gliscor and Slowbro, so Excadrill can break through them. Excadrill's Rapid Spin will be the team's primary way to remove entry hazards, but be wary (make sure "Swords Dance to sweep late-game" and "primary way to remove entry hazards" are right) of things like Rough Skin from Garchomp(AC), Rocky Helmet on things Pokemon like Tangrowth(AC), and Iron Bards from Ferrothorn chipping you down.

(added linebreak above) Team Options
========
Sand Rush Excadrill is very reliant on a Sand Stream user, so either Hippowdown or Tyranitar should be used alongside it. Excadrill struggles with common Ground-types like Landorus-Therian, Water-types like Slowbro, Grass-types like Tangrowth, and Flying-types like Gliscor. Mega Charizard Y can help Excadrill deal with Grass-types and water types Grass- and Water-types while also appreciating Excadrill's ability to spin away Stealth Rocks. Weavile is able to Pressure Pokemons pressure Pokemon that Excadrill would normally struggle with like Landorus-Therian, Gliscors, and Slowbro while also appreciate Excadrill's ability to remove entry hazards while also checking Fairy-types that Weavile would struggle against otherwise appreciating Excadrill's role as a spinner and check to Fairy-types like Clefable. Serperior can help Excadrill deal with water types deal with Water-types like Slowbro and Keldeo while also paralyzing things like Tornadus-Therian threats like Tornadus-T with Glare to allow Excadrill to outspeed them outside of sand. Rotom-W forms an extremely good core with Excadrill(AC), as these two have excellent typing synergy. Rotom-W can burn and chip at things Pokemon like Ferorothorn (spelling) and other Rotom-W while also helping deal with Flying types that can avoid Earthquakes like Tornadus-Therian Flying-types immune to Earthquake like Tornadus-T and Gliscor. Tornadus-Therian is also a great partner with Excadrill as Tornadus-Therian can help Excadrill for Excadrill, as it helps deal with Grass-types (capitalization) like Tangrowth and Serperior while also Knocking Off removing items from and chipping at things like Rotom-W. It also appreciates Excadrill's ability to absorb Thunder Wave and Excadrill's access to Rapid Spin which can help remove Stealth Rocks which spin away Stealth Rock, which would otherwise nullify Tornadus-Therian's ability Regenerator. Tornadus-T's Regenerator.

[SET]
name: Bulky Spinner
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Toxic / Stealth Rock
move 4: Rapid Spin
item: Leftovers
ability: Mold Breaker
nature: Careful
EVs: 252 HP / 216 SpD (capitalization) / 40 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description Moves
========
Moves

Earthquake and Iron Head (capitalization) act as Excadrill's main STAB moves. They provide decent coverage to hit Electric-types like Rotom-Wash, Steel-types like Heatran, and Fairy-types like Clefable. Toxic lets Excadrill cripple common Pokemons that like to switch in and put them put common switch-ins on a timer(RP). This includes Electric types(AS); these include Electric-types like Rotom-W and Zapdos, Ground-types like Landorus-Therian and Garchomp, Water-types (capitalization) like Slowbro and Suicune, and Flying(AH)-types like Tornadus-Therian, Charizard Mega Y, and Talonlame. Stealth Rock is an option that can help chip at Pokemons every time they come or force your opponent to spend a turn defogging or Rapid Spinning. Tornadus-T, Mega Charizard Y, and Talonflame. Rapid Spin is used in order to clear entry hazards for the team like Stealth Rock and Spikes.

Set Details:
Set Details
========
This EV spread allows Excadrill to hit 222 which allows Excadrill to outspeed things foes like Choice Banded Tyranitar, defensive Landorus-Therian, and defensive Rotom-W while also being as bulky as possible to eat Special Attack moves from Psychic moves from take special attacks; these include moves from Psychic-types like (or did you mean "Psychic-type moves", or something similar?) Mega Alakazam, Mega Gardevoir, and Latios, coverage from Electric-types the likes of Thundurus, Rotom-W and Zapdos(AC), and also Fire-type coverage which that includes Clefable's Flamethrower, Tornadus-Therian's Heat Wave, and Choice Scarf Magnezone's Hidden Power Fire. You have the option to take out some special defense EVs and put them can put X Special Defense EVs (replace X with the appropriate number) into Speed to hit 230 Speed which aims to outspeed Defensive Landorus-Therian outspeed defensive Landorus-T and Rotom-W that could be speed creeping and also as well as Jolly Crawdaunt. An EV Spread of 252 HP / 212 Spdef / 44 Speed Jolly nature allows Excadrill to hit the speed tier of 245 allowing it spread of 252 HP / 212 SpD / 44 Spe with a Jolly nature allows Excadrill to outspeed the likes of Adamant Bisharp, Zapdos, Spdef specially defensive Jirachi, Adamant Mega Heracross(AC), and Knocked Off Choice Scarf users after Knock Off like Magnezone and Tyranitar. Do keep in mind that if you invest more EVs into speed you will have less Special Defense making Special Attack(AC), when you invest more EVs into Speed, Excadrill will have less Special Defense, making special moves like Magnezone's Hidden Power Fire, Choice Specs Latios's Draco Meteor, and Thundurs-Therian's Focus Blast doing a noticeable amount of damage more. do noticeably more damage.

Usage Tips
========
The Bulky Spinner set should be used as a defensive pivot that likes to switch into special attackers such as Clefable, Magnezone, and Latios. It can proceed to use Rapid Spin against these targets(AC), as they lack a method of doing a significant amount of damage towards significantly damaging Excadrill. Use this set to lure things that would typically switch into Excadrill in typical Excadrill switch-ins like bulky Grass-, Ground-, and Water-types to toxic use Toxic on them.

Team Options:
Team Options
========
Rotom-W and defensive (capitalization) Excadrill make an excellent defensive core and make have excellent typing synergy(RP). as it(AC), as Rotom-W can help Excadrill deal with water types Water-types and chip away at things checks like Ferrothorn and other Rotom-W with Wil-o-Wisp. Will-O-Wisp. Tornadus-Therian and Excadrill also have good typing resist synergy in the sense that Tornadus-Therian can help Excadrill take Grass-type moves from things Pokemon like Serperior(AC), while Excadrill can help Tornadus-Therian take on Eletric-type take Electric-type moves from things like Zapdos in return. Excadrill invites in heavy hitters, which include Mega Medicam, including Mega Medicham, Keldeo, and Mega Charizard Y. Latios can offensively pressure out these Pokemons while also appreciating Excadrill's ability to take on Fairy(AH)-types for it like Clefable. Mega Pinsir appreciates Excadrill's Rapid Spin to remove Stealth Rock and its typing to take on Rock-types like Mega Diance or Diancie and Electric-types like Zapdos. Excadrill's Toxic can be used chip down bulky waters Water-types like Rotom-W and Slowbro to put them in range for Mega Pinsir to KO them.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Rock Slide / Toxic
move 4: Rapid Spin
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Mold Breaker
nature: Jolly
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

Moves:
===================
Earthquake is Excadrill's main ground STAB and also has STAB move, getting amazing coverage thanks to it's Mold Breaker ability allowing it to hit things Pokemon like Rotom-W, Latios, and Gengar. Iron Head is Excadrill's steel STAB move allowing it to hit hits Fairy-types like Clefable while also have having a useful chance to flinch its foes. Rock Slide is used as coverage to hit Flying-types that would otherwise be immune to Excadrill's Earthquakes(AC), which are still immune to Earthquake despite Mold Breaker, like Mega Pinsir, Thundurs-Therian, Mega Charizard Y, and Tornadus-Therian. Rapid Spin is used to clear entry hazards. Tornadus-T.

Set Details:
===================
Maximium Speed with a Jolly nature allows Choice Scarf Excadrill to outspeed things threats like Mega Alakazam, Mega Lopunny, Mega Manetric, Mega Altaria, and Mega Metagross as well. The rest of the EVs is thrown into attack to allow Excadrill to hit as hard as possible. Mold Breaker gives Excadrill more better coverage by allowing Excadrill Earthquake to hit Levitating Pokemons Levitate users like Rotom-W, Latios(AC), and Gengar.

Usage Tips:
===================
Choice Scarf Excadrill is used as a late-game sweeper and as a revenge killer. Excadrill appreciates when Flying-types like Landorus-Therian and Skarmory are KOed so it is allowed to can spam Earthquake. Excadrill It also appreciates when bulky threats like Mega Scizor, Slowbros, and Ferrothorns are put into range of Excadrill's attack making them an unreliable switch in. attacks so they can't switch in reliably. Being locked into Rapid Spin is a huge momentum killer(AC), and the move should only be used versus things foes that cannot do a significant amount of damage towards significantly damage Excadrill like Clefable.

Team Options:
===================
Choice Scarf Excadrill struggles to break through things foes like Mega Scizor, Ferrothorn(AC), and Skarmory. Pokemons that pack fire Fire-type coverage like Flamethrower Clefable, Fire Blast Slowbro, Heat Wave Tornadus-Therian, and Hidden Power Fire Mega Diance and Tangrowth can all lure and OHKO or chip at these steel types. in these Steel-types to OHKO or chip at them. Water-types like Rotom-W and Keldeo can help Excadrill deal with Ground-types that Excadrilll it struggles with like Landorus-Therian and Gliscor while also appreciating the fact that Excadrill can help them Excadrill's help to deal with Electric-types. Electric-types like Magnezone and Thundurs-Therian can help Gliscor Excadrill (I assume) deal with bulky (capitalization) Water-types like Alomomola (spelling) and Slowbro as well as Skarmory. Other strong offensive threats like Manaphy, Weavile, and Life Orb Tornadus-Therian can help breakthrough break through or weaken these bulkier checks that Excadrill cannot do break itself.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]

(is not having an Other Options section intended?)

Checks and Counters
===================
Bulky Water-Types: These Pokemons **Bulky Water-types**: Pokemon like Rotom-W, Slowbro, and Alomomola can sponge up any damage Excadrill dishes out while being able to threaten it back with super effective water STAB moves. Pokemons like Rotom-Wash, Slowbro, and Alomomola can eat up any hit from Excadrill while also dish back out a lot of damage with Scald, which also has a chance to burn Excadrill. A way to deal with these specific Water-types is to Sword Dance and Said STAB move is often Scald, which has a chance to cripple Excadrill with a burn. Excadrill can deal with these specific Water-types, though, by using Swords Dance to power through with Earthquake or Rock Slide. Quagsuire (spelling) can ignore these boost Swords Dance boosts while also threatening Excadrill with Scalds and Earthquakes of its own. Mega Slowbro is able to take any hit from Excadrill while also being able to and OHKO back with Scald.

Bulky Flying-Types: **Bulky Flying-types**: Skarmory walls every variant of Excadrill. However, if Skarmory lacks Counter, Excadrill can theoretically use Sword Dance and to beat Skarmory 1 on 1. one-on-one. Do be wary of the common Whirlwind that Skarmory runs that prevent(AC), which prevents Excadrill from Sword Dancing setting up. Landorus-Therian is able to tank Iron Heads from Excadrill and OHKO it with Earthquake. Do keep in mind that Landorus-Therian usually doesn't have a very reliable way of healing back up, meaning it is easy to wear down Landorus-Therian. Gliscor can also avoid Earthquakes, sponge an Iron Head, and threaten to OHKO back with an earthquake. Earthquake. Most Gliscor is usually more Special defensive variants instead of Physical, are specially defensive and not physically defensive, meaning you can break through Gliscor them with Sword Dances Swords Dance if Gliscor is low they are chipped enough. If lacking Excadrill lacks Rock Slide, Zapdos can switch into Excadrill it and threaten it with a Heat Wave.

**Offensive Threats**: When out of sand, Excadrill speed sand or lacking a Choice Scarf, Excadrill's Speed is mediocre. Things Foes like Mega Lopunny, Keldeo, Mega Metagross, Mega Charizard Y, and Volcorana Volcarona are able to outspeed and OHKO Excadrill outside of sand. Some of these Pokemons Pokemon(AC), like Keldeo(AC), are able to take at least one hit from Excadrill as well. However, all of these threats find it challenging to switch in, especially if sand is up.

Rocky Helmet/ Iron Barbs / Rough Skin: **Sources of chip damage on contact**: Excadrill has moves that make contacts like Iron Head and Rapid Spin. This means Rocky Helmet, frequently uses Iron Head and Rapid Spin, which means Iron Barbs, and Rough Skin(AC), and Rocky Helmet from the likes of Ferrothorn, Garchomp, Tangrowth, Skarmory, and Slowbro can slowly chip down Excadrill and put it in range for an attack from the enemy. an opposing threat.

**Knock Off**: Removing Excadrill's Leftovers means it cannot act as a consistent reliable spinner forever. Removing Excadrill's Choice Scarf also makes it unable to outspeed the likes of Keldeo, Mega Lopunny, Mega Metagross, Latios, etc. and more. If Life Orb is gone, Excadrill's damage is severely hindered. lowered.

(removed extra lines above) [CREDITS]
- Written by: [[ez, ]]
- Quality checked by: [[jonfilch, ], [Savouras, ]]
- Grammar checked by: [[ , ], [ , ]]

 

[Adeleine]

Add/Fix Remove Comment
(AC)/(RC): Add/Remove Comma
(AP)/(RP): Add/Remove Period
(AS: Add Semicolon

Hide

[OVERVIEW]
Excadrill's strong STAB moves, enhanced with by its access to Sand Rush and Mold Breaker, makes it a significant offensive threat in the OU tier. Its defensive typing and natural bulk allow Excadrill it to switch into attacks like Magnezone's Thunderbolts, Clefable's Moonblast, and Psychic-type moves from Latios, Alakazam, and Reuniclus. Excadrill is a solid answer to Clefable thanks to its typing resisting Moonblast while also and being immune to Thunder Wave. Excadrill It is also able to offensively threaten Clefable and prevent it from setting up Calm Mind, but most must be wary of Fire-type coverage (also removed extra space before "coverage") that Clefable can run. Excadrill is also one of the best spinners in the tier, able to threaten common Stealth Rock users like Heatran and Clefable while also and wearing down Ferrothorn. Thanks to Mold Breaker, Earthquake threatens Levitate users like Rotom-W, Latios, Hydreigon, and Gengar. However, Excadrill does have many checks, especially when it is not using Sand Rush in sand. Pokemon like Mega Charizard Y and Keldeo are able to outspeed and OHKO it, and (also changed period -> comma) Pokemon like Landours-T Landorus-T, Skarmory, and Gliscor are all good at checking Excadrill as well it.

[SET]
name: Sand Rush Sweeper
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Rapid Spin
move 4: Swords Dance / Rock Slide / Toxic
item: Leftovers / Life Orb
ability: Sand Rush
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: (capitalization) 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe


[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Earthquake is Excadrill's main STAB move, hitting many types super effectively while also and dealing a lot of damage to pretty much any Pokemon that is not immune or resistant to it. Iron Head ishas a nice niche in its chance to flinch and is Excadrill's primary way to hit Fairy-types like Clefable, Mega Altaria, and Mega Gardevoir. Rapid Spin lets Excadrill remove entry hazards like Spikes for itself and Stealth Rock for its teammates. Swords (spelling) Dance gives Excadrill the power to break through Pokemon like Slowbro and Gliscor. Rock Slide has excellent coverage for Flying-types immune to Earthquake like Mega Charizard Y, Tornadus-T, and Zapdos hitting (AC) and it hits Rotom-W neutrally.

========
Set Details
========
Sand Rush, maximum Speed, and a Jolly nature to allow Excadrill to be as fast as possible (AC) letting it outspeed foes like Timid Heatran and (RC) Adamant Mega Medicham while Speed typing (spelling) other Excadrill outside of sand. Life Orb and an Adamant nature are also options (RC) making Excadrill more powerful (RP) (AS) using both together gives Excadrill a 25% chance to 2HKO Slowbro from full if Stealth Rocks (spelling) is up and also (AC) makes Iron Head a guaranteed 2HKO on Choice Scarf Landorus-T and a OHKO at +2, and a lets +2 Iron Head 2HKO on physically defensive Tangrowth at +2.

Usage Tips
========
Activate Sand Rush whenever possible to use Excadrill as speed control. Use Excadrill to pressure common Fairy-, Psychic-, and Electric-types. Use Swords Dance to sweep late-game or as typical checks switch in at low enough health, like Gliscor and Slowbro, so Excadrill can break through them. Excadrill's Rapid Spin will be the team's primary way to remove entry hazards, but be wary of things contact damage like Rough Skin from Garchomp, Rocky Helmet on Pokemon like Tangrowth, and Iron Barbs (spelling) from Ferrothorn chipping you down.

Team Options
========
Sand Rush Excadrill is very reliant on a Sand Stream user, so either Hippowdown or Tyranitar should be used alongside it. Excadrill struggles with common Ground-types like Landorus-T, Water-types like Slowbro, Grass-types like Tangrowth, and Flying-types like Gliscor. Mega Charizard Y can help Excadrill deal with Grass- and Water-types (added hyphen) while also appreciating Excadrill's ability to spin away Stealth Rocks. (spelling) Weavile is able to pressure Pokemon that Excadrill would normally struggle with (AC) like Landorus-T, Gliscor, and Slowbro while appreciating (AC) and appreciates Excadrill's role as a spinner and check to Fairy-types like Clefable. Serperior can deal with Water-types like Slowbro and Keldeo while also and cripple threats like Tornadus-T with Glare to allow Excadrill to outspeed them outside of sand. Rotom-W forms an extremely good core with Excadrill, as these two have excellent typing synergy. Rotom-W can burn and chip at Pokemon like Ferrothorn and other Rotom-W while also helping and deal with Flying-types immune to Earthquake like Tornadus-T and Gliscor. Tornadus-T is also a great partner for Excadrill, as it helps deal with Grass-types like Tangrowth and Serperior while also removing (AC) and it removes items from and chipping at things chips at Pokemon like Rotom-W. It also appreciates Excadrill's ability to absorb Thunder Wave and spin away Stealth Rock, which would otherwise nullify Tornadus-T's Regenerator.

[SET]
name: Bulky Spinner
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Toxic / Stealth Rock
move 4: Rapid Spin
item: Leftovers
ability: Mold Breaker
nature: Careful
evs: (capitalization) 252 HP / 216 SpD / 40 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Earthquake and Iron Head act as Excadrill's main STAB moves. They provide decent coverage to hit Electric-types like Rotom-W, Steel-types like Heatran, and Fairy-types like Clefable. Toxic lets Excadrill put common switch-ins on a timer; these include Electric-types like Rotom-W and Zapdos, Ground-types like Landorus-T and Garchomp, Water-types like Slowbro and Suicune, and Flying-types like Tornadus-T, Mega Charizard Y, and Talonflame. Rapid Spin is used in order to clear entry hazards for the team like Stealth Rock and Spikes.

Set Details
========
This EV spread allows Excadrill to outspeed foes like Choice Band Tyranitar, defensive Landorus-T, and defensive Rotom-W while also being and be as bulky as possible to eat take special attacks; these include moves from Psychic-types like Mega Alakazam, Mega Gardevoir, and Latios, coverage from Electric-types the likes of Thundurus, Rotom-W and Zapdos, and also Fire-type coverage that includes Clefable's Flamethrower, Tornadus-T's Heat Wave, and Choice Scarf Magnezone's Hidden Power Fire. You can put 32 Special Defense EVs into Speed to outspeed defensive Landorus-T and Rotom-W that could be speed creeping as well as Jolly Crawdaunt. (analysis policy is to not account for speed creep) An EV spread of 252 HP / 212 SpD / 44 Spe with a Jolly nature allows Excadrill to outspeed the likes of Adamant Bisharp, Zapdos, specially defensive Jirachi, Adamant Mega Heracross, and Choice Scarf users after Knock Off like Magnezone and Tyranitar after Knock Off. Do keep in mind that when you investing more EVs into Speed (RC) gives Excadrill will have less Special Defense, making special moves like Magnezone's Hidden Power Fire, Choice Specs Latios's Draco Meteor, and Thundurus-T's (spelling) Focus Blast do noticeably more damage (AP)

Usage Tips
========
The Bulky Spinner This set should be used as a defensive pivot into special attackers such as Clefable, Magnezone, and Latios. It Excadrill can proceed to use Rapid Spin against these targets, as they lack a method of significantly damaging Excadrill it. Use this set to lure in typical Excadrill switch-ins like bulky Grass-, Ground-, and Water-types to (added missing space) use Toxic on them.

Team Options
========
Rotom-W and defensive Excadrill make an excellent defensive core and have excellent typing synergy, as Rotom-W can help Excadrill deal with Water-types and chip away at checks like Ferrothorn and other Rotom-W with Will-O-Wisp. Tornadus-T and Excadrill also have good typing synergy in the sense that (AS) Tornadus-T can help Excadrill take Grass-type moves from Pokemon like Serperior, while Excadrill can take on Electric-type moves from things Pokemon like Zapdos in return. Excadrill invites in heavy hitters including Mega-Medicham, Keldeo, and Mega Charizard Y. Latios can offensively pressure out these Pokemon while also appreciating and appreciates Excadrill's ability to take on Fairy-types like Clefable. Mega Pinsir appreciates Excadrill's Rapid Spin to remove Excadrill removing Stealth Rock and its typing to take taking on Rock-types like Mega-Diance Mega Diancie and Electric-types like Zapdos. Excadrill's Toxic can be used chip down bulky Water-types like Rotom-W and Slowbro to put them in range for Mega Pinsir to KO them.

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Rock Slide / Toxic
move 4: Rapid Spin
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Mold Breaker
nature: Jolly
evs: (capitalization) 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

Moves:
===================
Earthquake is Excadrill's main STAB move, getting amazing coverage thanks to Mold Breaker allowing it to hit Pokemon like Rotom-W, Latios, and Gengar. Iron Head hits Fairy-types like Clefable while also having and has a useful chance to flinch foes. Rock Slide is used as coverage to hit Flying-types, which are still immune to Earthquake despite Mold Breaker (AC) like Mega Pinsir, Thundurus-T, (spelling) Mega Charizard Y, and Tornadus-T.

Set Details:
===================
Maximum Speed with a Jolly nature allows Choice Scarf Excadrill to outspeed threats like Mega Alakazam, Mega Lopunny, Mega Manetric, Mega Altaria, and Mega Metagross. Mold Breaker gives Excadrill better coverage by allowing Excadrill allows Earthquake to hit Levitate users like Rotom-W, Latios, and Gengar.

Usage Tips:
===================
Choice Scarf Excadrill is used as a late-game sweeper and as a revenge killer. Excadrill appreciates when Flying-types like Landorus-T and Skarmory are KOed so it can spam Earthquake. It also appreciates when bulky threats like Mega Scizor, Slowbro, and Ferrothorn are put into range of Excadrill's its attacks so they can't switch in reliably. Being locked into Rapid Spin is a huge momentum killer, and the move should only be used versus foes that cannot significantly damage Excadrill (AC) like Clefable.

Team Options:
===================
Choice Scarf Excadrill struggles to break through foes like Mega Scizor, Ferrothorn, and Skarmory. Pokemons that pack Fire-type coverage like Flamethrower Clefable, Fire Blast Slowbro, Heat Wave Tornadus-T, and Hidden Power Fire Mega Diancie (spelling) and Tangrowth can all lure in these Steel-types (spelling) to OHKO or chip at them. Water-types like Rotom-W and Keldeo can help Excadrill deal with Ground-types that it struggles with (AC) like Landorus-T and Gliscor while also appreciating the fact that Excadrill can help them (AC) and appreciate Excadrill helping deal with Electric-types. Electric-types like Magnezone and Thundurus-Therian (spelling) can help Excadrill deal with bulky Water-types like Alomomola and Slowbro as well as Skarmory. Other strong offensive threats like Manaphy, Weavile, and Life Orb Tornadus-T can help break through or weaken these bulkier checks that Excadrill cannot break itself.

Other Options
========
An offensive Focus Sash set could be used as a lead to set up Stealth Rocks while also Rock and getting rid of opposing entry hazards with Rapid Spin. Substitute can also be used to help it Excadrill avoid status moves as well as Bisharp's Sucker Punch (AC) giving it a free turn.

Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Water-types**: Pokemon like Rotom-W, Slowbro, and Alomomola can sponge up any damage Excadrill dishes out while being able to and threaten it back with super effective STAB moves. Said STAB moves is often Scald, which has a chance to cripple Excarill with a burn. Excadrill can deal with these specific Water-types, though, by using Swords (spelling) Dance to power through with Earthquake or Rock Slide. Quagsire can ignore these Swords (spelling) Dance boosts while also threatening and threaten Excadrill with Scalds and Earthquakes of its own. Mega Slowbro is able to take any hit from Excadrill and OHKO back with Scald.

**Bulky Flying-types**: Skarmory walls every variant of Excadrill. However, if Skarmory lacks Counter, Excadrill can theoretically use Swords (spelling) Dance to beat Skarmory one-on-one. Do be wary of the common Whirlwind that Skarmory commonly runs Whirlwind, though, which prevents Excadrill from setting up. Landorus-T is able to tank Iron Heads from Excadrill and OHKO it with Earthquake. Do keep in mind that Landorus-T usually doesn't have a very reliable way of healing back up, meaning it is easy to wear down. Gliscor can also avoid Earthquake, sponge an Iron Head, and threaten to OHKO back with Earthquake. Most Gliscor are specially defensive and not physically defensive, meaning you can break through them with Swords Dance if they are chipped enough. If Excadrill lacks Rock Slide, Zapdos can switch into it and threaten it with a Heat Wave.

**Offensive Threats**: When out of sand Without Sand Rush or lacking a Choice Scarf, Excadrill's Speed (capitalization) is mediocre (RP) (AC) letting foes like Mega Lopunny, Keldeo, Mega Metagross, Mega Charizard Y, and Volcarona are able to outspeed and OHKO Excadrill outside of sand it. Some of these Pokemon, like Keldeo, are able to take at least one hit from Excadrill as well. However, all of these threats find it challenging to switch in, especially if sand is up Sand Rush is active.

**Sources of chip damage on contact Contact Damage** Excadrill frequently uses Iron Head and Rapid Spin, which means (RC) Iron Barbs, Rough Skin, and Rocky Helmet from the likes of Ferrothorn, Garchomp, Tangrowth, Skarmory, and Slowbro can slowly chip down Excadrill and put it in range for an attack from an opposing threat.

**Knock Off**: Removing Excadrill's Leftovers means it cannot act as a reliable spinner forever. Removing Excadrill's Choice Scarf also makes it unable to outspeed the likes of Keldeo, (removed extra space) Mega Lopunny, Mega Metagross, Latios, and more. If its Life Orb is gone, Excadrill's damage is severely lowered.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: (added missing space) [[ez,233669]]
- Quality checked by: [[jonfilch,472436], [Savaouras,409438]]
- Grammar checked by: (added missing space) [[Finland, 517429], [, ]]

GP 1/2

 

[Astra]

add remove (comments)

Hide

[OVERVIEW]

Excadrill's strong STAB moves, enhanced by its access to Sand Rush and Mold Breaker, make it a significant offensive threat in the OU tier. Its defensive typing and natural bulk allow it to switch into attacks like Magnezone's Thunderbolt, Clefable's Moonblast, and Psychic-type moves from Latios, Alakazam, and Reuniclus. Excadrill is a solid answer to Clefable thanks to resisting Moonblast and being immune to Thunder Wave. It is also able to offensively threaten Clefable and prevent it from setting up Calm Mind, but it must be wary of Fire-type coverage that Clefable can run. Excadrill is also one of the best spinners in the tier, able to threaten common Stealth Rock users like Heatran and Clefable and wear down Ferrothorn. Thanks to Mold Breaker, Earthquake threatens Excadrill can threaten Levitate users like Rotom-W, Latios, Hydreigon, and Gengar with Earthquake. However, Excadrill does have many checks, especially when it is not using Sand Rush in sand. Pokemon like Mega Charizard Y and Keldeo are able to outspeed and OHKO it, and Pokemon like Landorus-T, Skarmory, and Gliscor are all good at checking it.

[SET]
name: Sand Rush Sweeper
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Rapid Spin
move 4: Swords Dance / Rock Slide / Toxic
item: Leftovers / Life Orb
ability: Sand Rush
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

Earthquake is Excadrill's main STAB move, hitting many types super effectively and dealing a lot of damage to pretty much any Pokemon that is not immune or resistant to it. Iron Head has a nice niche in its chance to flinch and is Excadrill's primary way to hit Fairy-types like Clefable, Mega Altaria, and Mega Gardevoir. Rapid Spin lets Excadrill remove entry hazards like Spikes for itself and Stealth Rock for its teammates. Swords Dance gives Excadrill the power to break through Pokemon like Slowbro and Gliscor. Rock Slide has excellent coverage for Flying-types immune to Earthquake like Mega Charizard Y, Tornadus-T, and Zapdos, and it hits Rotom-W neutrally.

Set Details
========

Sand Rush, maximum Speed investment, and a Jolly nature allow Excadrill to be as fast as possible, letting it outspeed foes like Timid Heatran and Adamant Mega Medicham while Speed tying other Excadrill outside of sand. Life Orb and an Adamant nature are also options; using both together gives Excadrill a 25% chance to 2HKO Slowbro from full if Stealth Rock is up, makes Iron Head a guaranteed 2HKO on Choice Scarf Landorus-T and a OHKO at +2, and lets +2 Iron Head 2HKO physically defensive Tangrowth

Usage Tips
========

Activate Sand Rush whenever possible to use Excadrill as speed control take advantage of the Speed boost it provides (speed control refers to things like icy wind and thunder wave, not pokemon themselves). Use Excadrill to pressure common Fairy-, Psychic-, and Electric-types. Use Swords Dance to sweep late-game or as typical checks switch in at low enough health, like Gliscor and Slowbro, so Excadrill can break through them. Excadrill's Rapid Spin will be the team's primary way to remove entry hazards, but be wary of contact damage like Rough Skin from Garchomp, Rocky Helmet on Pokemon like Tangrowth, and Iron Barbs from Ferrothorn chipping you down.

Team Options
========

Sand Rush Excadrill is very reliant on a Sand Stream user, so either Hippowdown Hippowdon or Tyranitar should be used alongside it. Excadrill struggles with common Ground-types like Landorus-T, Water-types like Slowbro, Grass-types like Tangrowth, and Flying-types like Gliscor. Mega Charizard Y can help Excadrill deal with Grass- and Water-types while appreciating Excadrill's ability to spin away Stealth Rock. Weavile is able to pressure Pokemon that Excadrill would normally struggle with, like Landorus-T, Gliscor, and Slowbro, and appreciates Excadrill's role as a spinner and check to Fairy-types like Clefable. Serperior can deal with Water-types like Slowbro and Keldeo and cripple threats like Tornadus-T with Glare to allow Excadrill to outspeed them outside of sand. Rotom-W forms an extremely good core with Excadrill, as these two have excellent typing synergy. Rotom-W can burn and chip at Pokemon like Ferrothorn and other Rotom-W and deal with Flying-types immune to Earthquake like Tornadus-T and Gliscor. Tornadus-T is also a great partner for Excadrill, as it helps deal with Grass-types like Tangrowth and Serperior and it can removes items from and chips at Pokemon like Rotom-W. It also appreciates Excadrill's ability to absorb Thunder Wave and spin away Stealth Rock, which would otherwise nullify Tornadus-T's Regenerator.

[SET]
name: Bulky Spinner
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Toxic / Stealth Rock
move 4: Rapid Spin
item: Leftovers
ability: Mold Breaker
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 216 SpD / 40 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

Earthquake and Iron Head provide decent coverage to hit Electric-types like Rotom-W, Steel-types like Heatran, and Fairy-types like Clefable. Toxic lets Excadrill put common switch-ins on a timer; these include Electric-types like Rotom-W and Zapdos, Ground-types like Landorus-T and Garchomp, Water-types like Slowbro and Suicune, and Flying-types like Tornadus-T, Mega Charizard Y, and Talonflame.

Set Details
========

This EV spread allows Excadrill to outspeed foes like Choice Band Tyranitar, defensive Landorus-T, and defensive Rotom-W and be as bulky as possible to take special attacks; these include moves from Psychic-types like Mega Alakazam, Mega Gardevoir, and Latios, coverage from Electric-types the likes of Thundurus, Rotom-W and Zapdos, and Fire-type coverage that includes Clefable's Flamethrower, Tornadus-T's Heat Wave, and Choice Scarf Magnezone's Hidden Power Fire. You can put 32 Special Defense EVs into Speed to outspeed Jolly Crawdaunt. An EV spread of 252 HP / 212 SpD / 44 Spe with a Jolly nature allows Excadrill to outspeed the likes of Adamant Bisharp, Zapdos, specially defensive Jirachi, Adamant Mega Heracross, and Choice Scarf users like Magnezone and Tyranitar after Knock Off. Do keep in mind that investing more EVs into Speed gives Excadrill less Special Defense, making special moves like Magnezone's Hidden Power Fire, Choice Specs Latios's Draco Meteor, and Thundurus-T's Focus Blast do noticeably more damage.

Usage Tips
========

This set should be used as a defensive pivot into special attackers such as Clefable, Magnezone, and Latios. Excadrill can proceed to use Rapid Spin against these targets, as they lack a method of significantly damaging it. Use this set to lure in typical Excadrill switch-ins like bulky Grass-, Ground-, and Water-types to use Toxic on them.

Team Options
========

Rotom-W and defensive Excadrill make an excellent defensive core and have excellent typing synergy, as Rotom-W can help Excadrill deal with Water-types and chip away at checks like Ferrothorn and other Rotom-W with Will-O-Wisp. Tornadus-T and Excadrill also have good typing synergy; (ASC) Tornadus-T can help Excadrill take Grass-type moves from Pokemon like Serperior, while Excadrill can take on Electric-type moves from Pokemon like Zapdos in return. Excadrill invites in heavy hitters including Mega-Medicham (RH), Keldeo, and Mega Charizard Y. Latios can offensively pressure out these Pokemon and appreciates Excadrill's ability to take on Fairy-types like Clefable. Mega Pinsir appreciates Excadrill removing Stealth Rock and taking on Rock-types like Mega Diancie and Electric-types like Zapdos. Excadrill's Toxic can be used chip down bulky Water-types like Rotom-W and Slowbro to put them in range for Mega Pinsir to KO them.

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Rock Slide / Toxic
move 4: Rapid Spin
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Mold Breaker
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

Moves: (remove colon)
===================

Earthquake is Excadrill's main STAB move, getting being amazing coverage thanks to Mold Breaker allowing it to hit Pokemon like Rotom-W, Latios, and Gengar. Iron Head hits Fairy-types like Clefable and has a useful chance to flinch foes. Rock Slide is used to hit Flying-types, which are still immune to Earthquake despite Mold Breaker, like Mega Pinsir, Thundurus-T, Mega Charizard Y, and Tornadus-T.

Set Details:
===================

Maximum Speed with a Jolly nature allows Choice Scarf Excadrill to outspeed threats like Mega Alakazam, Mega Lopunny, Mega Manetric Manectric, Mega Altaria, and Mega Metagross. Mold Breaker allows Earthquake to hit Levitate users like Rotom-W, Latios, and Gengar.

Usage Tips:
===================

Choice Scarf Excadrill is used as a late-game sweeper and revenge killer. Excadrill appreciates when Flying-types like Landorus-T and Skarmory are KOed so it can spam Earthquake. It also appreciates when bulky threats like Mega Scizor, Slowbro, and Ferrothorn are put into range of its attacks so they can't switch in reliably. Being locked into Rapid Spin is a huge momentum killer, and the move should only be used versus foes that cannot significantly damage Excadrill, like Clefable.

Team Options:
===================

Choice Scarf Excadrill struggles to break through foes like Mega Scizor, Ferrothorn, and Skarmory. Pokemon that pack Fire-type coverage like Flamethrower Clefable, Fire Blast Slowbro, Heat Wave Tornadus-T, and Hidden Power Fire Mega Diancie and Tangrowth can all lure in these Steel-types to OHKO or chip at them. Water-types like Rotom-W and Keldeo can help Excadrill deal with Ground-types that it struggles with like Landorus-T and Gliscor and appreciate Excadrill helping deal with Electric-types. Electric-types like Magnezone and Thundurus-Therian can help Excadrill deal with bulky Water-types like Alomomola and Slowbro as well as Skarmory. Other strong offensive threats like Manaphy, Weavile, and Life Orb Tornadus-T can help break through or weaken these bulkier checks that Excadrill cannot break itself.

Other Options
========

An offensive Focus Sash set could be used as a lead to set up Stealth Rock and get rid of opposing entry hazards with Rapid Spin. Substitute can also be used to help Excadrill avoid status moves as well as Bisharp's Sucker Punch giving it a free turn.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Bulky Water-types**: Pokemon like Rotom-W, Slowbro, and Alomomola can sponge any damage Excadrill dishes out and threaten it back with super effective STAB moves. (RP) Said STAB moves is often, (AC) usually Scald, which has a chance to cripple Excarill Excadrill with a burn. Excadrill can deal with these specific Water-types, though, by using Swords Dance to power through with Earthquake or Rock Slide. However, (AC) Quagsire can ignore these Swords Dance boosts and threaten Excadrill with Scalds and Earthquakes of its own. Mega Slowbro is able to take any hit from Excadrill and OHKO back with Scald.

**Bulky Flying-types**: Skarmory walls every variant of Excadrill. However, if Skarmory lacks Counter, Excadrill can theoretically use Swords Dance to beat Skarmory one-on-one. Skarmory commonly runs Whirlwind, though, which prevents Excadrill from setting up. Landorus-T is able to tank Iron Heads from Excadrill and OHKO it with Earthquake. Do keep in mind that Landorus-T usually doesn't have a reliable way of healing back up, meaning it is easy to wear down. Gliscor can also avoid Earthquake, sponge an Iron Head, and threaten to OHKO back with Earthquake. Most Gliscor are specially defensive and not physically defensive, meaning you can break through them with Swords Dance if they are chipped enough. If Excadrill lacks Rock Slide, Zapdos can switch into it and threaten it with Heat Wave.

**Offensive Threats**: Without Sand Rush or a Choice Scarf, Excadrill's Speed is mediocre, letting foes like Mega Lopunny, Keldeo, Mega Metagross, Mega Charizard Y, and Volcarona outspeed and OHKO it. Some of these Pokemon, like Keldeo, are able to take at least one hit from Excadrill as well. However, all of these threats find it challenging to switch in, especially if Sand Rush is active.

**Contact Damage** Excadrill frequently uses Iron Head and Rapid Spin, which means Iron Barbs, Rough Skin, and Rocky Helmet from the likes of Ferrothorn, Garchomp, Tangrowth, Skarmory, and Slowbro can slowly chip down Excadrill and put it in range for an attack from an opposing threat.

**Knock Off**: Removing Excadrill's Leftovers means it cannot act as a reliable spinner forever. Removing Excadrill's Choice Scarf makes it unable to outspeed the likes of Keldeo, Mega Lopunny, Mega Metagross, Latios, and more. If its Life Orb is gone, Excadrill's damage is severely lowered.

[CREDITS] (fixed spacing in this section)
- Written by: [[ez, 233669]]
- Quality checked by: [[jonfilch, 472436], [Savaouras, 409438]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [, ]]

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