Physical
Wallbreaker
508High
88Moderate
ATier

Free switch-ins on Electric and Poison moves make Excadrill useful in any team that needs that coverage. Sand Rush doubles its Speed in sandstorm. Built to hit on the physical side. Part of the Gen 5 roster.

The stat line revolves around Attack. Percentage recovery gets extra mileage here. HP backs it up, though Sp. Atk doesn't pull its weight. Worth 2 Attack EVs on a medium-fast 1M XP curve to max out.

Base Stats
508High
HP110
B
Attack135
A
Defense60
C
Sp. Atk50
D
Sp. Def65
C
Speed88
C
Total508
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Excadrill yields +2 Atk
HPAtk+2DefSpASpDSpe
Details
Catch60Challenging•Medium Fast1M XP•0.7m / 2'04"•40.4kg / 89.1 lbs•178Base XP
Pokedex Entries

It’s not uncommon for tunnels that appear to have formed naturally to actually be a result of Excadrill’s rampant digging.

Sword

Known as the Drill King, this Pokémon can tunnel through the terrain at speeds of over 90 mph.

Shield

Excadrill Weakness

Excellent

Type-wise, Excadrill takes extra damage from Fire, Water, Fighting, and Ground. Electric and Poison moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity. It resists 8 types, so it can switch into a lot of moves safely.

4xCriticali
None
2xWeaki
FireWaterFightingGround
½xResisti
NormalFlyingPsychicBugDragonSteelFairy
¼xResisti
Rock
0xImmunei
ElectricPoison
STAB (7)i
FireElectricPoisonRockSteelIceFairy
4Weak
8Resist
2Immune
Scorei+7
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
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.

Excadrill is what Drilbur becomes. Breed it for Drilbur eggs (average hatch time). A massive partner pool for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are average hatch time. The evolution from Drilbur pushed Excadrill to 508 total stats. HP saw the largest single gain at +50.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Drilbur
#529Drilbur
31
Level 31
Excadrill
#530Excadrill
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 with Excadrill to get Drilbur eggs easily using 138 partners from the Ground egg group. Notable egg moves include Metal Sound, Slash, Submission.

Egg Groups
Ground
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
3moves
Breed With (best first)
raichupikachunidokinggolduckrhydonshiftryexploudquagsiremawilenidorinofarfetchdloudred
12 of 138·

the remaining moves is what separates a good sweep from a wasted boost. After Swords Dance, Excadrill threatens a wide range with max Attack and Speed EVs and Leftovers backing every hit.

Best Build

Physical Setup Sweeper
Ability
Mold Breaker
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Nature
Jolly+SPE
EVs

Best Excadrill Moveset

  • EarthquakeSTAB
  • Rapid Spin
  • Iron HeadSTAB
  • Swords Dance

Recommended Teammates

Celesteela
CelesteelaDecent
Salamence
SalamenceDecent

The egg pool carries weight here. Metal Sound and Slash aren't available any other way for Excadrill, and they meaningfully change what it threatens. Stack those on top of Earthquake and High Horsepower for solid options.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Hone Claws
——15Dark
Lv 1
Horn Drill
—305Normal
Lv 1
Mud-Slap
2010010Ground
Lv 1
Rapid Spin
5010040Normal
Lv 1
Scratch
4010035Normal
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 34
Dig
8010010Ground
Lv 40
Swords Dance
——20Normal
Lv 46
Drill Run
809510Ground
Lv 52
Earthquake
10010010Ground
Lv 58
Fissure
—305Ground

TM Moves

Src
TM31
Attract
—10015Normal
TM43
Brick Break
7510015Fighting
TM97
Brutal Swing
6010020Dark
TM81
Bulldoze
6010020Ground
TM15
Dig
8010010Ground
TR87
Drill Run
809510Ground
TR67
Earth Power
9010010Ground
TR10
Earthquake
10010010Ground
TR26
Endure+4
——10Normal
TM39
Facade
7010020Normal
TM59
Fling
—10010Dark
TR64
Focus Blast
120705Fighting
TM09
Giga Impact
150905Normal
TR94
High Horsepower
959510Ground
TM08
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TR46
Iron Defense
——15Steel
TR74
Iron Head
8010015Steel
TM53
Mud Shot
559515Ground
TR57
Poison Jab
8010020Poison
TM25
Protect+4
——10Normal
TM21
Rest
——10Psychic
TM54
Rock Blast
259010Rock
TM22
Rock Slide
759010Rock
TM48
Rock Tomb
609515Rock
TM76
Round
6010015Normal
TM49
Sand Tomb
358515Ground
TM32
Sandstorm
——10Rock
TM65
Shadow Claw
7010015Ghost
TR27
Sleep Talk
——10Normal
TR22
Sludge Bomb
9010010Poison
TM96
Smart Strike
70—10Steel
TM24
Snore
5010015Normal
TR76
Stealth Rock
——20Rock
TM98
Stomping Tantrum
7510010Ground
TR20
Substitute
——10Normal
TM
Swords Dance
——20Normal
TR60
X-Scissor
8010015Bug

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Metal Sound
—8540Steel
Egg
Slash
7010020Normal
Egg
Submission
808020Fighting

Tutor Moves

Src
Tutor
Scorching Sands
7010010Ground

A solid number of locations for Excadrill with high spawn rates across late-game routes. The sort toggle below swaps between best odds and earliest access, so you can approach it based on where you are in the game.

Where To Catch Excadrill in Sword & Shield

To get Excadrill, start by catching Drilbur through walking encounters at Lv. 11-58. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.

  1. Drilbur
    Step 1Catch Drilbur
    Galar Mine
    ShieldOverworldLv.11-1410%EarlyCaveAll Weather
    MODERATE
    Galar Mine
    SwordOverworldLv.11-1410%EarlyCaveAll Weather
    MODERATE
    Galar Mine
    ShieldGrassLv.11-1510%EarlyCaveAll Weather
    MODERATE
    Galar Mine
    SwordGrassLv.11-1510%EarlyCaveAll Weather
    MODERATE
    Giant's Mirror
    ShieldOverworldLv.28-3035%MidSandstorm
    EFFORTLESS
    Giant's Mirror
    SwordOverworldLv.28-3035%MidSandstorm
    EFFORTLESS
    Giant's Cap
    ShieldGrassLv.26-2830%MidSandstorm
    EFFORTLESS
    Giant's Cap
    SwordGrassLv.26-2830%MidSandstorm
    EFFORTLESS
    Stony Wilderness
    ShieldGrassLv.26-2830%MidSandstorm
    EFFORTLESS
    Stony Wilderness
    SwordGrassLv.26-2830%MidSandstorm
    EFFORTLESS
    Giant's Cap
    ShieldGrassLv.26-2820%MidIntense Sun
    EASY
    Giant's Cap
    SwordGrassLv.26-2820%MidIntense Sun
    EASY
    Hammerlocke Hills
    ShieldGrassLv.28-3015%MidSandstorm
    EASY
    Hammerlocke Hills
    SwordGrassLv.28-3015%MidSandstorm
    EASY
    Stony Wilderness
    ShieldGrassLv.26-2810%MidIntense Sun
    MODERATE
    Stony Wilderness
    SwordGrassLv.26-2810%MidIntense Sun
    MODERATE
    Dusty Bowl
    ShieldOverworldLv.42-4735%LateSandstorm
    EFFORTLESS
    Dusty Bowl
    SwordOverworldLv.42-4735%LateSandstorm
    EFFORTLESS
    Dusty Bowl
    ShieldOverworldLv.42-4710%LateIntense Sun
    MODERATE
    Dusty Bowl
    SwordOverworldLv.42-4710%LateIntense Sun
    MODERATE
  2. Excadrill
    Step 2Excadrill ✓
    Giant's Mirror - Ground
    SwordOverworldLv.31-3460%LateSnowstorm
    EFFORTLESS
    Giant's Mirror - Ground
    SwordOverworldLv.31-3460%LateIntense Sun
    EFFORTLESS
    Giant's Mirror - Ground
    SwordOverworldLv.31-3460%LateSnowing
    EFFORTLESS
    Giant's Mirror - Ground
    SwordOverworldLv.31-3460%LateSandstorm
    EFFORTLESS
    Giant's Mirror - Ground
    ShieldOverworldLv.31-3450%LateSnowstorm
    EFFORTLESS
    Giant's Mirror - Ground
    ShieldOverworldLv.31-3450%LateIntense Sun
    EFFORTLESS
    Giant's Mirror - Ground
    ShieldOverworldLv.31-3450%LateSnowing
    EFFORTLESS
    Giant's Mirror - Ground
    ShieldOverworldLv.31-3450%LateSandstorm
    EFFORTLESS
    Giant's Mirror - Ground
    SwordOverworldLv.31-3430%LateThunderstorm
    EFFORTLESS
    Giant's Mirror - Ground
    SwordOverworldLv.31-3430%LateRaining
    EFFORTLESS
    Giant's Mirror - Ground
    SwordOverworldLv.31-3430%LateHeavy Fog
    EFFORTLESS
    Giant's Mirror - Ground
    SwordOverworldLv.31-3430%LateOvercast
    EFFORTLESS
    Giant's Mirror - Ground
    SwordOverworldLv.31-3430%LateNormal Weather
    EFFORTLESS
    Giant's Mirror - Ground
    ShieldOverworldLv.31-3420%LateThunderstorm
    EASY
    Giant's Mirror - Ground
    ShieldOverworldLv.31-3420%LateRaining
    EASY
    Giant's Mirror - Ground
    ShieldOverworldLv.31-3420%LateHeavy Fog
    EASY
    Giant's Mirror - Ground
    ShieldOverworldLv.31-3420%LateOvercast
    EASY
    Giant's Mirror - Ground
    ShieldOverworldLv.31-3420%LateNormal Weather
    EASY
    Lake of Outrage
    ShieldOverworldLv.55-5835%PostWaterSandstorm
    EFFORTLESS
    Lake of Outrage
    SwordOverworldLv.55-5835%PostWaterSandstorm
    EFFORTLESS
    or evolve from Drilbur (Step 1)

  • Excadrill looks average on paper at 508 BST. But Sand Rush is why it sees play — build around that and it pulls its weight. A-Tier wallbreaker on our tier list.

  • Excadrill's biggest threats include Charizard (Fire), Milotic (Water), and Blaziken (Fighting), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Ground-type attackers are also a problem.

  • Drilbur evolves into Excadrill at level 31. Excadrill is the fully evolved form. At 508 BST, it's got solid stats to work with.

  • Excadrill gets Sand Rush, Sand Force, and Mold Breaker. But Sand Rush is the one that matters — it's the centerpiece of every viable set. Build around that.

  • Excadrill is a physical attacker with base 135 Attack. Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. But the speed tells the real story — base 88 Speed is workable — faster than some, slower than many. Fits the wallbreaker role.

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

Since Black & White, Excadrill has been obtainable in 9 games. A Generation 5 debut means a shorter history, but Excadrill has appeared steadily across every generation since.