[Final] Excadrill

Discussion in 'Gen 5 Ubers Analyses' started by Epikhairz, Jul 23, 2013.

  1. Epikhairz

    Epikhairz Delta Stream

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    Can't let Msyu do all the work around here...and I reserved this a month ago :P

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    ==General==
    Say hello to Excadrill, one of the few non-legendaries to be banished from OU due to it's raw power and sweeping potential. It has an enormous attack stat, which grow to legendary levels after a [[Swords Dance]] boost. It also resists a number of status moves and hazards such as [[Toxic Spikes]] and [[Thunder Wave]] thanks to its superb Ground / Steel typing. It is also very versatile, having the movepool to function as a sweeper, a Rapid Spin user, or both. However, Excadrill does have weaknesses to common types such as [[Water]] and Ground. However, once it gets past that, an opponent can only watch as this mole tunnels through their entire team.

    ==Sand Rush Sweeper==

    {{set
    |name=Sand Rush Sweeper
    |pkmn=Excadrill
    |item=Life Orb
    |ability=Sand Rush
    |nature=Adamant
    |ev=4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
    |move1=Swords Dance
    |move2=Earthquake
    |move3=Rock Slide
    |move4=Iron Head
    |move41=Rapid Spin
    |move2=Shadow Claw
    }}

    ===Set Comments===
    This set right here is the main reason Excadrill was banished to Ubers. Its Attack stat reaches incredible levels after a Swords Dance boost. If you couple that with the fact that its Speed reaches blitzing levels in the sand thanks to Sand Rush, then you've got one dangerous mole. In the sand, Excadrill outspeeds almost all non-[[Choice Scarf]] users, and even a few notable [[Choice Scarf]] users are outsped, such as {{5gubers|Terrakion}}. Earthquake is a powerful and reliable STAB move that can even hit hard enough to 2HKO {{5gubers|Groudon}} after a Swords Dance boost. Rock Slide is able to dent just about anything that resists Earthquake, with the notable exceptions of {{5gubers|Bronzong}} and {{5gubers|Skarmory}}, both of which aren't extremely common in the tier anyways. Iron Head is a respectable STAB move which can be used on anything that resists both Rock Slide and Earthquake while getting some flinch hax in, but it still won't do much to Bronzong and Skarmory. Shadow Claw is used almost solely for getting {{5gubers|Giratina-O}}, who is immune to Earthquake. Finally, Rapid Spin can be used to turn Excadrill into an offensive Rapid Spin user, and makes it comparable to a sand version of {{5gubers|Kabutops}}.

    ===Other Options===
    There are a few noteworthy options that you can take into consideration when using this on your team. For instance, a Jolly nature could be used over Adamant to outspeed {{5gubers|Deoxys-S}} and a few other Choice Scarf users, but that's all it really does. An [[Air Balloon]] could be used so that Excadrill doesn't have to worry about [[Ground]]-type moves and avoid Spikes damage, though the extra power of Life Orb is usually preferred. [[X-Scissor]] can be run on the final moveslot for additional coverage against [[Grass]]-, [[Psychic]]-, and [[Dark]]-types, though you lose out on coverage against Giratina-O. Finally, [[Toxic]] can be run for extremely physically bulky walls such as {{5gubers|Lugia}}.

    ===Checks and Counters===
    As powerful as this set is, it doesn't come without its checks and counters. Skarmory walls every single move that this set runs, and can not only use [[Roost]] to heal off any damage, but use [[Whirlwind]] to phaze it out and negate all its boosts. Physically defensive Lugia is also able to wall a hit from Excadrill and phaze it out as long as [[Stealth Rock]] is not present. {{5gubers|Kyogre}} is a major threat, as it can negate the sandstorm that gives Excadrill its extra speed and threaten it with STAB [[Water]]-type moves that are boosted in the rain. {{5gubers|Groudon}} pretty much does the same thing as Kyogre, only it summons Sun and it can hit hard with STAB Earthquake. {{5gubers|Rayquaza}}'s [[Air Lock]] ability allows it to ignore Sand Rush and hit hard with either [[Fire Blast]] or [[V-Create]], depending on the variant. {{5gubers|Giratina}} has no problem taking hits and can burn and/or phaze it out. A variety of Arcues Formes also give the mole trouble. {{5gubers|Arceus-Ground}} can also take hits and hit with STAB supereffective [[Judgement]] and support {{5gubers|Arceus-Normal}}, while rare, can still cripple it with [[Will-O-Wisp]]. Finally, {{5gubers|Arceus-Fighting}} and {{5gubers|Arceus-Grass}} can crush Excadrill with their STAB attacks.

    ===Synergy===
    This is a set that can only sweep with sand present, so either {{5gubers|Tyranitar}} or {{5gubers|Hippowdon}} are must-have teammates. Tyranitar is more offensive and can take out some common checks to Excadrill, such as Giratina-O, while Hippowdon is extremely phyiscally bulky. {{5gubers|Arceus-Grass}} is an excellent teammate, because not only is it able to cover a lot of Excadrill's weaknesses, such as [[Water]] and [[Ground]], but it also has the edge against opposing weather starters Groudon and Kyogre, allowing sand to be kept longer and Excadrill to sweep easier. Kyogre is a major threat to Excadrill, so anything to get rid of it, such as the aformentioned Arceus-Grass, or Pokemon such as {{5gubers|Palkia}} and {{5gubers|Gastrodon}} will help your team immensely, as cores based around sand are naturally very weak to rain. [[Stealth Rock]] support is extremely helpful for Excadrill to take down more bulky Pokemon such as Lugia, so {{5gubers|Deoxys-S}} can act as a suicide Stealth Rock supporter or Tyranitar can go the support route and do that as well. Finally, [[Fighting]] and Ground resists such as {{5gubers|Gliscor}} and Giratina will help cover Excadrill's weaknesses, as well as being strong enough to help the team in its own ways.

    ==Bulky Rapid Spin==

    {{set
    |name=Bulky Rapid Spin
    |pkmn=Excadrill
    |item=Leftovers
    |ability=Mold Breaker
    |nature=Adamant
    |ev=176 HP / 60 Atk / 252 SDef / 20 Spd
    |move1=Rapid Spin
    |move2=Earthquake
    |move3=Rock Slide
    |move31=Substitute
    |move4=Swords Dance
    |move41=Stealth Rock
    }}

    ===Set Comments===
    At a glance, this set seems really odd. It is totally different from the Sand Rush sweeper set that Excadrill is famous for. However, Excadrill's stats allow it to play as a suprisingly useful defensive Rapid Spin user. This set is used most effectively in rain, where its [[Fire]] weakness is lessened to some extent, the [[Thunder]] immunity is appreciated, and will also allow Excadrill to fare better against Giratina-O's [[Hidden Power]] Fire. Excadrill has a lot of resistances due to its unique typing, including immunity to a variety of status moves, so it has a lot of switch-in opportunities. The unique typing, when coupled with a good moveset, allows Excadrill to work as a great stallbreaker. It can also defeat common spinblockers with relative ease, even Giratina-O, thanks to Mold Breaker allowing Excadrill to hit Pokemon with [[Levitate]] with Earthquake. Once again, as you've probably already guessed, Earthquake is the STAB move of choice. Rock Slide is still there to hit Pokemon that resist Earthquake. Substitute can be used instead to block dreaded status moves such as Will-O-Wisp and prevent being forced out by moves like [[Dragon Tail]] and also eases prediction. The EV spread listed above also allows Excadrill to make 101 HP Substitutes, so that they aren't broken by a [[Seismic Toss]] by {{5gubers|Chansey}}. However, note that if you do choose to run Substitute, the only viable attacking move you will be able to use is Earthquake, so don't use it if you are planning to sweep with this set. The last move, Swords Dance, is useful, for if an opportunity arises, Excadrill can easily double as a frightening bulky sweeper. However, Stealth Rock is also a viable move to consider, because with Mold Breaker, Excadrill can easily set up on [[Magic Bounce]] users and not have to fear hazards getting bounced back.

    ===Other Options===
    There are a few good options that could be considered if one doesn't think this set suits the needs of their team. First of all, X-Scissor is useful for hitting Psychic-type Pokemon, though Earthquake tends to do more damage in general. [[Toxic]], an excellent support move, can be great for crippling defensive juggernauts such as Lugia. Iron Head can be used as a powerful secondary STAB move, and the flinch effect can come in handy during critical times. Finally, if the current EV spread doesn't fit your team very well, you can always change to a more Speed-invested variant if it really wants to outspeed threats such as {{5gubers|Terrakion}}

    ===Checks and Counters===
    Just like the previous set, this set isn't without its checks and counters, and both sets share some. For example, Skarmory still walls every attack and can phaze with Whirlwind. Giratina can still burn it with Will-O-Wisp and phaze it out. Physically Defensive Lugia can also phaze Excadrill provided that Stealth Rock is not on the field. Groudon is one to watch out for, as its mammoth defense stats allow it to take any hit with ease and KO with STAB Earthquake. An opposing Kyogre can also defeat Excadrill with STAB Water-type moves. The third of the weather trio, {{5gubers|Rayquaza}}, is also a threat to this set, as it easily scores an OHKO with [[Fire Blast]] or [[V-Create]]. Support {{5gubers|Arceus}}-Normal, while rare, is able to seriously cripple Excadrill with Will-O-Wisp. Finally, supereffective Arceus Formes such as {{5gubers|Arceus-Fighting}}, can crush Excadrill with STAB [[Judgement]]

    ===Synergy===
    As mentioned before, this set works best in rain, so Kyogre is a very good choice for a teammate, as it summons the rain, as well as getting rid of Groudon, this set's biggest counter. However, this set is just as viable in sand, so there are two Pokemon that you can pick from to summon it. Tyranitar is more offensive, while Hippowdon is very physically bulky. Arceus-Grass is a great teammate for Excadrill, as it can defeat both Kyogre and Groudon, both of which are seriously threatening to this set, with supereffective STAB moves. Finally, [[Fighting]] and Ground resists such as Giratina or {{5gubers|Gliscor}} help cover Excadrill's weaknesses, as well as carrying their own weight on the team, of course.

    [/HIDE]

    Skeleton:
    ==General==:
    *Insane Attack stat, especially after a Swords Dance boost
    *Immune or resisant to all sorts of hazards and status moves (e.g. Toxic Spikes, Thunder Wave) due to excellent Ground / Steel typing
    *Has the movepool to function as a sweeper, a Rapid Spin user, or even both.
    *Has very common weaknesses to Water and Ground

    ==Sand Rush Sweeper==:
    Excadrill (M) @ Life Orb
    Trait: Sand Rush
    EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
    Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
    - Swords Dance
    - Earthquake
    - Rock Slide
    - Iron Head / Rapid Spin / Shadow Claw

    ===Set Comments===
    *Attack stat reaches incredible levels after a Swords Dance boost
    *Sand Rush turns Excadrill into a high-speed mole who is near impossible to revenge-kill and outspeeds almost all non-Scarf users
    *Earthquake provides a powerful STAB that is enough to 2HKO even Groudon
    *Rock Slide is able to dent anything that resists or is immune to Earthquake, except Bronzong and Skarmory, who aren't common in the tier anyways.
    *Iron Head is a respectable STAB move that can be used on anything that resists both Rock Slide and Earthquake while also getting some flinch hax in, though Bronzong and Skarmory still wall it
    *Shadow Claw hits Giratina-O, who is immune to Earthquake.
    *Rapid Spin can be used instead to turn Excadrill into an offensive Rapid Spin user, kinda like the Kabutops of sand.

    ===Other Options===
    *Jolly nature can be run to outspeed Deoxys-S and a couple of other Choice Scarf users but that's about it.
    *An Air Balloon can be run to avoid Spikes damage and get an immunity to Ground-type moves (better if choice-locked), though the power of Life Orb is usually preferred.
    *X-Scissor can be used over Shadow Claw to dent Psychic-, Dark-, and Grass-types, though Excadrill loses coverage against Giratina-O
    *Toxic can be used to cripple extremely bulky physical walls such as Lugia

    ===Checks and Counters===
    *Skarmory walls every move, uses Roost to heal, and uses Whirlwind to phaze it and negate the Swords Dance boosts.
    *Physically Defensive Lugia can also phaze Excadrill of the battlefield if Stealth Rock is not present
    *Kyogre can eliminate sand, negating Sand Rush, and KO with Surf
    *Groudon does the same thing, but with Sun and Earthquake.
    *Rayquaza's Air Lock ability ignores Sand Rush and allows it to get the KO with Fire Blast or V-create, depending on the variant.
    *Giratina can burn and/or phaze Excadrill
    *Arceus-Ground can take any move and hit with a supereffective Judgement
    *Support Arceus-Normal can neuter Excadrill with Will-O-Wisp
    *Supereffective Arceus Formes such as Arceus-Grass and Arceus-Fighting can crush Excadrill with STAB

    ===Synergy===
    *Tyranitar summons Sand and gets rid of some common checks such as Giratina-O
    *Arceus-Grass gets rid of some common Ground- and Water-types in the tier such as Groudon and Kyogre, who also stop the sandstorm.
    *Anything to get rid of Kyogre, such as the aforementioned Arceus-Grass, or Pokemon such as Palkia and Gastrodon will help your team immensely, as sand cores are naturally weak to Kyogre
    *Stealth Rock support is appreciated for use against Pokemon such as Lugia, so Deoxys-S can do that as a suicide lead or Tyranitar can go the support route and do that.
    *Hippowdon can also set up sand and is more physically bulky.
    *Fighting and Ground resists such as Gliscor and Giratina will help cover Excadrill's weaknesses, and are strong enough to pull their own weight

    ==Bulky Rapid Spin==:
    Excadrill (M) @ Leftovers
    Trait: Mold Breaker
    EVs: 176 HP / 60 Atk / 252 SDef / 20 Spd
    Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
    - Rapid Spin
    - Earthquake
    - Rock Slide / Substitute
    - Swords Dance / Stealth Rock

    ===Set Comments===
    *Can be used in rain quite effectively, weakening its Fire-type weakness, allowing Excadrill to defeat a Giratina-O which has Hidden Power Fire, and is also immune to the 100% accurate Thunder
    *Gets immunity to a lot of status moves and has a Dragon-type immunity, providing lots of switch-in opportunities
    *Can blow through most stall Pokemon, due to unique typing and good moveset.
    *Able to defeat common spinblockers with relative ease, and can even hit Giratina-O with STAB Earthquake thanks to Mold Breaker.
    *Once again, Earthquake is the STAB move of choice.
    *Rock Slide still hits Pokemon that resist or are immune to Earthquake
    *Substitute can be used to block Will-O-Wisp, Leech Seed, and Dragon Tail, and allows Excadrill to make switches in a safer manner. EVs also allow Excadrill 404 HP Substitutes to sponge Seismic Toss from Blissey. Is viable if Excadrill doesn't want to sweep and wants to be a mono-attacking spinner (emphasis on spinner)
    *If Excadrill has the opportunity, it can set up Swords Dance to become a bulky sweeper.
    *Stealth Rock can be used instead for Excadrill to be more of a support Pokemon, and Mold Breaker lets it use the move on Magic Bounce users

    ===Other Options===
    *X-Scissor is useful for hitting Pokemon that are weak to it, but Earthquake tends to do moe damage as a whole
    *Toxic can be used to cripple extremely bulky physical walls such as Lugia
    *EVs can be shifted to make Excadrill more Speed oriented if it really wants to outspeed common threats such as Terrakion.
    *Iron Head can be used as a powerful secondary STAB option while providing flinch hax

    ===Checks and Counters===
    *Skarmory walls every move, uses Roost to heal, and uses Whirlwind to phaze it and negate the Swords Dance boosts.
    *Giratina can burn and/or phaze Excadrill
    *Physically Defensive Lugia can also phaze Excadrill of the battlefield if Stealth Rock is not present
    *Groudon completely walls this set with its mammoth Defense stat and can hit with a supereffective Earthquake
    *An opposing Kyogre can easily defeat Excadrill with a STAB Water-type move
    *Rayquaza OHKO's with Fire Blast or V-create
    *Arceus-Ground can take any move and hit with a supereffective Judgement
    *Support Arceus-Normal can neuter Excadrill with Will-O-Wisp
    *Supereffective Arceus Formes such as Arceus-Grass and Arceus-Fighting can crush Excadrill with STAB

    ===Synergy===
    *Kyogre can be used to summon rain, weakening Excadrill's weakness to Fire and allowing Excadrill to defeat Giratina-O carrying Hidden Power Fire. It can also get rid of Groudon, this set's biggest counter
    *This set can also be used in the sand, so Tyranitar might be useful in this case
    *Arceus-Grass is able to defeat both Groudon and Kyogre with STAB Judgement
    *Because Excadrill can spin with ease, sweepers (especially Choice users) will have no trouble switching in and out.
    *Hippowdon can also set up sand and is more physically bulky.
    *Hippowdon can also set up sand and is more physically bulky.
    *Fighting and Ground resists such as Gliscor and Giratina will help cover Excadrill's weaknesses, and are strong enough to pull their own weight
    [/HIDE][/HIDE]
     
    Last edited: Sep 6, 2013
  2. Spoovo The Pirate

    Spoovo The Pirate Meep! Article Contributor Article Contributor

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    Errm...

    I'm no Ubers expert (though I actually have played some recently), but I noticed a couple of things:

    1. Iron Head. Does it deserve a mention somewhere? There's some stuff it'll hit harder than Earthquake or Rock Slide, such as Grasseus, and it's also a respectably powerful STAB option.

    2. Do the second set's EVs do anything specific? I see that the 20 Speed EVs are to get the jump on uninvested base 90s, which is like half the tier, and the special bulk is of course to sponge random Dragon Pulses and stuff, but what about those 60 Attack EVs? Do they gain a 2HKO on something? *shrugs*
     
  3. Epikhairz

    Epikhairz Delta Stream

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    Ah crap I derped a little on the Sand Rush set. Iron Head > Shadow Claw for sure.

    The EVs in defensive set kinda balance out Exca's defensive stats while dumping the remaining EVs on Attack for possible sweep. Those Speed EVs do exactly what you said they do. Special Defense EVs are more useful than Defense EVs because Excadrill can wall Fire better, especially in Rain, and also against Dragon Pulses and stuff like you said, while Ground is easy to predict out of.

    And also yay I'm in your sig :3

    EDIT: Just realized the EVs in Spinner allow for 101HP Substitutes. Added as a slash to Rock Slide
     
    Last edited: Jul 23, 2013
  4. puregenius

    puregenius :<

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    Looks pretty complete
    Only thing I would add is stealth rocks on support set as a slash
    mold breaker lets u set up rocks on bouncers, compared to others who will just have them reflected
     
  5. Blimlax

    Blimlax A Silent and Serene Heart

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    ===Synergy===

    Add Hippowdon in synergy, it also sets up sand & stealth rock to benefit excadril. Anything that checks kyogre [Palkia, Gastrodon, Palkia, Arceus-Grass, etc] is a great team member, as the core of sand teams [t-tar / hippo + exca] is very kyogre weak by design. Fighting / Ground Resists such as Gliscor and Giratina are good team members too, as both of them can help cover excadrill's weaknesses. In addition, both of them are also very good indiviual pokemon in the ubers metagame so they'll be doing a lot for your team.


    ===Checks and Counters===

    Need to add Arceus Fight & Arceus Grass here.

    I'll add more suggestions later.
     
  6. Epikhairz

    Epikhairz Delta Stream

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    OK added everything here - waiting for Blim's other suggestions, I guess
     
  7. -Leon-

    -Leon- bae <3

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    Looks complete after those suggestions,so don't have anything to add (sorry if I'm late.I've been a bit busy with rl stuff).
     
  8. Epikhairz

    Epikhairz Delta Stream

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    Over one month later, it has been uploaded
     
  9. puregenius

    puregenius :<

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    at least you waited for qc checks!
     
  10. Epikhairz

    Epikhairz Delta Stream

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    not sure if sarcasms or not but...

    I could only assume that was a paraphrased "Approved" ;~;
     
  11. puregenius

    puregenius :<

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    Lol yeh those did mean 'approved' I was referring to a certain someone else
     
  12. Spoovo The Pirate

    Spoovo The Pirate Meep! Article Contributor Article Contributor

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    ... it wasn't me, was it? D:
     
  13. puregenius

    puregenius :<

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    Of course not :/
    I actually see skeletons from u and what not
     
  14. Epikhairz

    Epikhairz Delta Stream

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    Oh I think I know who you're talking about now :P
    Yay me
     
  15. Spoovo The Pirate

    Spoovo The Pirate Meep! Article Contributor Article Contributor

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    Ahh, that's good to hear. I was just getting a bit paranoid because I was the only other poster on the thread at the time lol