[SET]
name: Defensive Regenerator
move 1: Rapid Spin
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Iron Head / Toxic / Rock Slide
move 4: Stealth Rock
item: Rocky Helmet
ability: Regenerator
nature: Jolly
evs: 56 HP / 200 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Defensive Excadrill is one of the few reliable spinners in the metagame and, thanks to its excellent typing, can also switch into all common variants of Tapu Koko. Regenerator lets it come in multiple times per game to clear entry hazards, supporting offensive and entry hazard-setting teammates alike by clearing hazards on its side only. Earthquake provides reliable damage and OHKOes Tapu Koko, which Excadrill is often tasked with checking. Iron Head is a secondary STAB move that helps against Tapu Lele, but Rock Slide is an option to beat Defog Moltres and catch Talonflame on the switch. Toxic is also an option to poison Excadrill's common switch-ins like Tapu Fini and Garchomp. Stealth Rock makes Excadrill an all-in-one entry hazard control package and allows it to force chip damage onto Tapu Koko. Rocky Helmet is the preferred item to further chip Pixilate Tapu Koko and opposing pivots. The given EV spread outspeeds Modest Tapu Lele, avoids the 2HKO from Pixilate Tapu Koko's Facade, and avoids the 3HKO from Tapu Koko's Dazzling Gleam.
Excadrill works well on hazard-stack balance and bulky offense teams thanks to its good longevity and Rapid Spin. It pairs especially well with Spikes Ferrothorn, Skarmory, and Mew, especially since it also bears the burden of checking Tapu Koko for them. While Excadrill has decent bulk, it can easily be overwhelmed by powerful wallbreakers like Zarude and Inteleon, making solid checks like Chansey and Intimidate Skarmory excellent teammates. It also can't check strong Fire-, Fighting-, and Water-types due to its typing, necessitating teammates like Toxapex and Tapu Fini. Thanks to Excadrill keeping entry hazards off the field without removing opposing hazards, it pairs well with powerful offensive teammates like Garchomp and Zarude, which appreciate the extra chip damage; additionally, Excadrill can reliably switch into Tapu Koko, one of their more prominent revenge killers. Excadrill has a poor matchup against several common entry hazard setters, especially Garchomp and Skarmory, so a secondary entry hazard remover like Defog Corviknight can be valuable.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Swords Dance is an option to take advantage of passive walls that cannot meaningfully threaten Excadrill like Chansey and Ferrothorn. While Regenerator is Excadrill's most consistent set, it can consider immunity abilities like Water Absorb and Bulletproof to better check certain key threats like Zapdos and Tapu Lele; this does leave it without reliable recovery. Excadrill can also run a Pressure + Protect set to stall out dangerous attacks, as several key threats like Terrakion and Zapdos rely on one move to reliably beat it.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-types**: Excadrill is heavily threatened by Barraskewda and Inteleon, as they can easily OHKO it and also pivot out against it.
**Ground-types**: Pokemon like Garchomp and Swampert can set Stealth Rock while threatening to heavily damage Excadrill with Earthquake, preventing it from using Rapid Spin reliably.
**Fire- and Fighting-types**: Excadrill can't reliably switch into Fire-types like Cinderace and Heatran and Fighting-types like Terrakion; however, all of these threats fear Earthquake or Rock Slide.
**Dhelmise**: Dhelmise does not fear any of Excadrill's common attacks and can block its attempts to spin.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[UT, 523866]]
- Quality checked by: [[avyrie, 476520], [Isaiah, 375662]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Adeleine, 517429]]
name: Defensive Regenerator
move 1: Rapid Spin
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Iron Head / Toxic / Rock Slide
move 4: Stealth Rock
item: Rocky Helmet
ability: Regenerator
nature: Jolly
evs: 56 HP / 200 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Defensive Excadrill is one of the few reliable spinners in the metagame and, thanks to its excellent typing, can also switch into all common variants of Tapu Koko. Regenerator lets it come in multiple times per game to clear entry hazards, supporting offensive and entry hazard-setting teammates alike by clearing hazards on its side only. Earthquake provides reliable damage and OHKOes Tapu Koko, which Excadrill is often tasked with checking. Iron Head is a secondary STAB move that helps against Tapu Lele, but Rock Slide is an option to beat Defog Moltres and catch Talonflame on the switch. Toxic is also an option to poison Excadrill's common switch-ins like Tapu Fini and Garchomp. Stealth Rock makes Excadrill an all-in-one entry hazard control package and allows it to force chip damage onto Tapu Koko. Rocky Helmet is the preferred item to further chip Pixilate Tapu Koko and opposing pivots. The given EV spread outspeeds Modest Tapu Lele, avoids the 2HKO from Pixilate Tapu Koko's Facade, and avoids the 3HKO from Tapu Koko's Dazzling Gleam.
Excadrill works well on hazard-stack balance and bulky offense teams thanks to its good longevity and Rapid Spin. It pairs especially well with Spikes Ferrothorn, Skarmory, and Mew, especially since it also bears the burden of checking Tapu Koko for them. While Excadrill has decent bulk, it can easily be overwhelmed by powerful wallbreakers like Zarude and Inteleon, making solid checks like Chansey and Intimidate Skarmory excellent teammates. It also can't check strong Fire-, Fighting-, and Water-types due to its typing, necessitating teammates like Toxapex and Tapu Fini. Thanks to Excadrill keeping entry hazards off the field without removing opposing hazards, it pairs well with powerful offensive teammates like Garchomp and Zarude, which appreciate the extra chip damage; additionally, Excadrill can reliably switch into Tapu Koko, one of their more prominent revenge killers. Excadrill has a poor matchup against several common entry hazard setters, especially Garchomp and Skarmory, so a secondary entry hazard remover like Defog Corviknight can be valuable.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Swords Dance is an option to take advantage of passive walls that cannot meaningfully threaten Excadrill like Chansey and Ferrothorn. While Regenerator is Excadrill's most consistent set, it can consider immunity abilities like Water Absorb and Bulletproof to better check certain key threats like Zapdos and Tapu Lele; this does leave it without reliable recovery. Excadrill can also run a Pressure + Protect set to stall out dangerous attacks, as several key threats like Terrakion and Zapdos rely on one move to reliably beat it.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-types**: Excadrill is heavily threatened by Barraskewda and Inteleon, as they can easily OHKO it and also pivot out against it.
**Ground-types**: Pokemon like Garchomp and Swampert can set Stealth Rock while threatening to heavily damage Excadrill with Earthquake, preventing it from using Rapid Spin reliably.
**Fire- and Fighting-types**: Excadrill can't reliably switch into Fire-types like Cinderace and Heatran and Fighting-types like Terrakion; however, all of these threats fear Earthquake or Rock Slide.
**Dhelmise**: Dhelmise does not fear any of Excadrill's common attacks and can block its attempts to spin.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[UT, 523866]]
- Quality checked by: [[avyrie, 476520], [Isaiah, 375662]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Adeleine, 517429]]
Last edited: