Physical
Balanced
328Low
68Moderate
CTier

While most trainers evolve Drilbur into Excadrill immediately, the unevolved form has a niche with Eviolite boosting its defenses. Electric moves can't touch it, and only 3 types hit it super-effectively. Known as the Mole Pokemon.

Attack and Speed carry most of Drilbur's stat budget. Sp. Atk's the obvious dump stat. Common in the wild and yields 1 Attack EV. Follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.

Base Stats
328Avg
HP60
C
Attack85
C
Defense40
D
Sp. Atk30
F
Sp. Def45
D
Speed68
C
Total328
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Drilbur yields +1 Atk
HPAtk+1DefSpASpDSpe
Details
Catch120ModerateMedium Fast1M XP0.3m / 1'00"8.5kg / 18.7 lbs66Base XP
Pokedex Entries

It brings its claws together and whirls around at high speed before rushing toward its prey.

Sword

It’s a digger, using its claws to burrow through the ground. It causes damage to vegetable crops, so many farmers have little love for it.

Shield

Drilbur Weakness

Avg

Water, Grass, and Ice-type moves hit Drilbur for super-effective damage. The upside? Electric-type moves can't touch it at all. Standard number of weaknesses for the Ground typing.

4xCriticali
None
½xResisti
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
3Weak
2Resist
1Immune
Scorei-1
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Toxic SpikesVulnerable
Abilities
Sand RushDoubles Speed during a sandstorm. Protects against sandstorm damage.
Sand ForceStrengthens rock, ground, and steel moves to 1.3× their power during a sandstorm. Protects against sandstorm damage.
Mold BreakerHABypasses targets' abilities if they could hinder or prevent a move.

One evolution ahead. Drilbur grows into Excadrill through a straightforward two-stage chain. A massive partner pool for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are average hatch time. The evolved forms gain up to 180 total stats over Drilbur.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Drilbur
Ground
Excadrill
GroundSteel
HP
60
110+50
ATK
85
135+50
DEF
40
60+20
SP.ATK
30
50+20
SP.DEF
45
65+20
SPE
68
88+20
BST
328C-Tier
508S-Tier+180
ROLE
Balanced
Wallbreaker
TYPE
Physical
Physical
Breeding
Very Easy

Breed Drilbur easily with 195 breeding partners from the Ground egg group. Pass egg moves like Metal Sound, Slash to offspring.

Egg Groups
Ground
Gender
50.0%50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
2moves
Breed With (best first)
raichupikachugolduckampharosrhydondewgongarbokgranbullquagsireflaaffyrhyhornpsyduck

Find one free turn for Swords Dance and Drilbur can run through teams. Jolly nature leans fast physical, Mold Breaker supports the sweep, and the remaining moves stops anything from walling it cleanly.

Best Build

Utility
Ability
Mold Breaker
Item
EvioliteBULK
Nature
Jolly+SPE
EVs

Best Drilbur Moveset

  • EarthquakeSTAB
  • Rapid Spin
  • Poison Jab
  • Swords Dance

Recommended Teammates

Level-up moves are just the starting point for Drilbur. TMs unlock coverage across 9 types and turn a straightforward STAB kit around Earthquake and High Horsepower into something with actual range.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Mud-Slap
2010010Ground
Lv 1
Rapid Spin
5010040Normal
Lv 4
Scratch
4010035Normal
Lv 8
Hone Claws
15Dark
Lv 12
Fury Swipes
188015Normal
Lv 16
Metal Claw
509535Steel
Lv 20
Sandstorm
10Rock
Lv 24
Crush Claw
759510Normal
Lv 28
Rock Slide
759010Rock
Lv 32
Dig
8010010Ground
Lv 36
Swords Dance
20Normal
Lv 40
Drill Run
809510Ground
Lv 44
Earthquake
10010010Ground
Lv 48
Fissure
305Ground

TM Moves

Src
TM27
Aerial Ace
6020Flying
TM58
Brick Break
7510015Fighting
TM28
Bulldoze
6010020Ground
TM224
Curse
10Ghost
TM55
Dig
8010010Ground
TM204
Double-Edge
12010015Normal
TM106
Drill Run
809510Ground
TM133
Earth Power
9010010Ground
TM149
Earthquake
10010010Ground
TM47
Endure+4
10Normal
TM25
Facade
7010020Normal
TM43
Fling
10010Dark
TM130
Helping Hand+5
20Normal
TM186
High Horsepower
959510Ground
TM104
Iron Defense
15Steel
TM31
Metal Claw
509535Steel
TM223
Metal Sound
8540Steel
TM35
Mud Shot
559515Ground
TM05
Mud-Slap
2010010Ground
TM83
Poison Jab
8010020Poison
TM07
Protect+4
10Normal
TM85
Rest
5Psychic
TM86
Rock Slide
759010Rock
TM36
Rock Tomb
609515Rock
TM176
Sand Tomb
358515Ground
TM51
Sandstorm
10Rock
TM215
Scorching Sands
7010010Ground
TM61
Shadow Claw
7010015Ghost
TM70
Sleep Talk
10Normal
TM116
Stealth Rock
20Rock
TM84
Stomping Tantrum
7510010Ground
TM103
Substitute
10Normal
TM49
Sunny Day
5Fire
TM88
Swords Dance
20Normal
TM01
Take Down
908520Normal
TM171
Tera Blast
8010010Normal
TM105
X-Scissor
8010015Bug

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Metal Sound
8540Steel
Egg
Slash
7010020Normal

Tutor Moves

Drilbur can't learn any Tutor moves

Drilbur doesn't appear in Scarlet & Violet. Transfer it from Black, Black 2, or Sword to add it to your collection. Check the source games below for encounter details.

Drilbur is not available as a wild encounter in this game.

Also found in:

  • Drilbur is meant to evolve into Excadrill. At 328 BST, the stats aren't there for competitive play yet. Pre-evolution Pokemon rarely hold up against fully evolved threats.

  • Watch for Starmie (Water), Breloom (Grass), and Cloyster (Ice) when using Drilbur. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB.

  • Drilbur evolves into Excadrill at level 31. Drilbur is the base form of this evolutionary line.

  • Sand Rush is what you want on Drilbur. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Sand Force, Mold Breaker) work on paper but Sand Rush is what makes Drilbur worth using.

  • At base 68 Speed, it won't be moving first often. On offense, Drilbur is a physical attacker with base 85 Attack. Defensively? Fragile — can't afford to take many hits.

  • Drilbur appears in 9 games, including Black & White, Black 2 & White 2, and X & Y.

Drilbur joined the series in Black & White and has been available in 9 titles so far. With 5 generations of appearances, it's established itself despite the later start.