Excadrill PvE & PvP meta analysis

Excadrill

Ah, Excadrill! Undoubtedly one of the most underrated species in Pokémon GO. It sports the incredible Ground/Steel typing, combining one of the best offensive types with the best defensive type.

This popular Pokémon also has a lot going great for it in the game. Aside from the excellent typing, it also boasts good stats and a versatile movepool, making it an asset for your teams.

Let’s uncover all these and check out how exactly it performs in the PvE and PvP meta.

Excadrill Stats & Matchups

Excadrill GroundSteel
Max CP at lvl 40 3667
Max CP at lvl 50 3244
ATK 255		DEF 129		HP 242
Weaknesses			Resistances
Fighting Fire Ground Water			Poisonx3 Electricx2 Rockx2 Bug Dragon Fairy Flying Normal Psychic Steel

Excadrill has amazing ATK and HP stats but is tainted by an underwhelming DEF. That said, the 242 HP and 10 resistances compensate for the measly Defense stat to an extent, making it a lesser reason for worry.

In PvE, some dodging leads to more longevity and you’ll be able to dish out massive damage during that time, thanks to an impressive 255 ATK.

In PvP, its many resistances ensure Excadrill can go claw to claw with the mighty Dragon types, while also being able to partner up with them seamlessly since this Ground/Steel type powerhouse deals with Fairy and Steel types successfully while also not being weak to Ice type attacks.

We’ll get into its other perks once we cover Excadrill’s PvP shenanigans, but first, have a look at another major factor that makes this Pokémon so deadly – its moveset.

Excadrill Pokémon GO Moveset

Best Excadrill PvE Moveset

While the combo of Metal Claw and Scorching Sands scores the highest DPS (Damage Per Second), a Steel Quick move and a Ground Charge move lack synergy except when facing a Rock type Raid boss. However, Fighting and Water type Pokémon function as better counters in these battles.

So, as a Ground and Steel type attacker, Excadrill registers the following DPS figures as per GO Hub’s Pokémon DPS and TDO Comparer tool:

Naturally, Excadrill excels more as a Ground type attacker than a Steel type attacker. Mud-Slap is clearly superior to Mud Shot. Scorching Sands and Drill Run are both 2-bar Charge attacks, but Scorching Sands (90 DMG) > Drill Run (85 DMG), so there you go. 

Therefore, the best PvE moveset for Excadrill in Pokémon GO is Mud-Slap paired with Scorching Sands.

Best Excadrill PvP Moveset

While deducing Excadrill’s best PvE moveset was pretty straightforward, it’s more interesting in PvP since the GO Battle League update as a part of the Max Out Season brought about groundbreaking changes to several popular moves.

In this:

• Mud-Slap got buffed to the skies with an energy increase from 9 to 10 as well as a damage increase from 11 to 12
• Metal Claw received an energy upgrade from 6 to 7

This results in the following [DPT/EPT] (Damage Per Turn/Energy Per Turn] profile for Excadrill’s Quick moves:

While the Mud-Slap buff heavily muscled up Pokémon like Rhyperior (Master League), Gastrodron (Great and Ultra League), and others like Golurk (Ultra League), the biggest beneficiary of the Metal Claw buff was the one-and-only Dusk Mane Necrozma (Master League).

Ironically, DM Necrozma performs even better with Shadow Claw instead of Metal Claw, but as a Steel type attacker in PvP, this Legendary clearly outclasses Excadrill, leaving it scouring for a Ground type role. 

While Excadrill isn’t really the top Ground type attacker in PvP, at least it doesn’t have to compete with Primal Groudon. Moreover Ground is any day a better offensive type than Steel so, Excadrill in PvP should be used with its earth-shattering moves 😉 

Referring to the Quick move [DPT/EPT] table, Mud Shot (Excadrill’s) previous go-to attack in PvP is now 0.67x faster than Mud-Slap, however, Mud-Slap’s damage output is 2x of Mud Shot.

While Excadrill earlier took advantage of Mud Shot’s 4.50 EPT to use its Charge attacks at lightning-fast speed, the drop to 4.00 EPT backed with only 2.00 DPT makes this Pokémon too reliant on its Charge attacks to make an impact.

However, the buffed Mud-Slap not only sports decent energy gains at 3.33 EPT, its high damage output at 4.00 DPT makes it extremely threatening.

So, Mud-Slap it is! 😀 

For the Charge attacks, Excadrill definitely needs Drill Run (DR) as even though it has the same DMG as Scorching Sands (SS) at 80, DR costs only 45 energy while SS needs 50 energy. As such, Drill Run pairs beautifully with Mud-Slap. Keep in mind, however, that SS has a 30% chance to debuff the opponent’s ATK by one stage (0.80x).

As far as the second Charge attack is concerned, Rock Slide (65 DMG, 45 energy) is cheaper than Iron Head (70 DMG, 50 energy). Having the same 45 energy cost as Drill Run and boasting coverage against Flying types that Ground can’t tackle, Rock Slide is the way to go.

So, the best PvP moveset for Excadrill in Pokémon GO is Mud-Slap combined with Drill Run and Rock Slide.

Excadrill in PvE

As a Ground type

Stalwarts like Primal Groudon, Shadow Groudon, Mega Garchomp, Shadow Rhyperior, and even Shadow Excadrill take the cake when it comes to top-tier Ground DPS.

While Shadow Excadrill inflicts high damage, it is quite frail with the 0.83x nerf to Shadow Excadrill’s already-low 129 DEF. 

Now, if we take Megas (lasts only 8 hours, needs more Mega Energy to extend the Mega) and Shadows (expensive to power up and max out) out of consideration (will still consider Primal Groudon), here’s where Excadrill stands in the Ground department:

Excadrill is the #1 non-Legendary Ground type, making it a cheap and resourceful option. Drilbur isn’t too hard to come by either, so if you end up catching a high IV, feel free to invest XL and Rare Candy, and Stardust to max it out!

That said, keep in mind that Excadrill has the lowest TDO (Total Damage Output) of all the Ground Pokémon included in the list above. It’s not bad technically, thanks to its high HP but still, dodging is advisable for better longevity.

As a Steel type

If you have a Shadow Excadrill with good IVs, here’s a quick tip to make the most of it: Use it as a Steel type attacker as it’s only behind Dusk Mane Necrozma, Shadow Metagross, and the eventual Mega Metagross.

Remember that its low bulk is an issue but as long you’re superb at dodging, you’ll be surprised how good it is!

With that being said, let’s check out Excadrill as a Steel type, discounting Megas and Shadows in accordance with our Comparer tool:

Even without Legendaries or Mythicals in the equation, Metagross is a superior Steel type professional compared to Excadrill. 

Summing up for PvE, a regular Excadrill should adopt a Ground type role with Mud-Slap and Scorching Sands as it’s the best non-[Legendary | Mega | Shadow], while a Shadow Excadrill should take on a Steel type role with Metal Claw and Iron Head and doge to excel.

Excadrill in PvP

Excadrill’s typing, 10 resistances, and excellent moveset give it PvP potential across all three Leagues, and it gets better as you move higher.

Great League

The Mud-Slap buff makes Excadrill a Quick move threat in PvP, as it takes advantage of the Ground type’s wide super-effective coverage while also garnering impressive neutral coverage.

Among the Great League’s heavyweights, Excadrill beats Toxapex, Clodsire, Carbink, Lickilicky, Oraguru, Shadow Typhlosion, and Wigglytuff. These wins are undoubtedly impressive and in favorable situations, Excadrill can wind up as a core breaker as well. 

However, the low DEF makes it painfully awkward for our grund mole to push ahead and come out with flying colors 🙁 

The sheer presence of many Fire and Water types is a huge burden to the glass cannon Excadrill. Also, Galarian Stunfisk is way better due to its stats being better tuned for the Great League (low offense and high bulk).

Ultra League

Excadrill performs more or less the same in the Ultra League, with its weaknesses being as prominent as ever. Wins against Registeel, Typhlosion, Ampharos, and Clefable are appreciated but expected. Galarian Stunfisk is better but the gap is not as obvious as the Great League.

What really limits Excadrill in the Ultra League is that fellow Mud-Slap users Gastrodon and Golurk are deadlier. 

Master League

Excadrill justifies its high offenses best in the Master League, where this Pokémon has been a matchwinner even against the mighty Legendaries. The spot-on coverage from Drill Run and Rock Slide, and its numerous resistances help punish bigshots like Togekiss, Dragonite, Dragon Breath Gyarados, Mewtwo, Dusk Mane Necrozma, and the Dialgas. 

The thing is, while you’re going to like using Excadrill, you’d love two other Ground type Pokémon more 😐 

One, the monster that is Rhyperior, who is the undisputed best recipient of the Mud-Slap buff in the GBL. It’s a wrecking ball in the Master League and is not even a Legendary, so most trainers have it built to perfection. 

The other is the Legendary Landorus Therian, whose signature Sandsear Storm may be weaker in power to Drill Run (60 vs 80 at the same energy cost of 80), but it guarantees the opponent’s ATK drop by one stage (0.80x). Moreover, Lando-T’s moveset is even better lol.

Conclusion

Excadrill is a fantastic Pokémon overall, with PvE Ground type offense being its preferred take. A Shadow version excels as a Steel type, but overall dodging is recommended. It’s nice in PvP as well but outclassed by other Ground types across all three Leagues.

Ultimately, if you grab a high IV Drilbur then don’t hesitate maxing it out as an Excadrill. It pays rich dividends in the meta and you won’t regret it. With Dynamax Drilbur in Power Spots and easy to beat, be sure to catch them while you can.

All the best, trainers!