For those looking for a powerful Pokémon to take into the Master League in Pokémon Go, Excadrill is an excellent choice. It’s important against key match-ups in that league and can tackle some of the more difficult foes, such as Dialga, Zekrom, Dragonite, Togekiss, and Metagross. But to beat these Pokémon, you need to use its best moveset, and it does have a specific series of moves you need to teach it.
Excadrill is a Ground and Steel-type Pokémon. It’s going to be weak to Fighting, Fire, Ground, and Water-type moves, but it’s resistant to Bug, Dragon, Electric, Fairy, Flying, Normal, Poison, Psychic, Rock, and Steel-type attacks. It has a maximum CP of 3,244, an attack of 213, a defense of 113, and a stamina of 203. While it has lower defense than many Pomémon in the Master League, it can compete against specific match-ups, and you’ll have to build your team around it when battling.
Here are all of the moves Excadrill can learn.
Fast moves
- Metal Claw (Steel-type) – 5 damage and 3 energy (2.5 damage per turn)
- Mud Slap (Ground-type) – 11 damage and 2.6 energy (3.6 damage per turn)
- Mud Shot (Ground-type) – 3 damage and 4.5 energy (1.5 damage per turn)
Charge moves
- Drill Run (Ground-type) – 80 damage and 45 energy
- Earthquake (Ground-type) – 120 damage and 65 energy
- Iron Head (Steel-type) – 70 damage and 50 energy
- Rock Slide (Rock-type) – 75 damage and 45 energy
Excadrill has a great moveset, but it’s even better when you add in mud shot. This Ground-type move gives Excadrill plenty of energy, much more than the other two options for its fast move. With mud shot, you’ll be able to power up Excadrill’s charge moves far more often than you normally can.
When it comes to picking a charge move, you have several choices for Excadrill. But if you want it to exceed at being an effective choice, you want to pick the fast options. Drill run and rock slide are your best choices. Both of these moves require 45 energy to use, and they do the same amount of damage. They have different types, so you’ll be able to use them for the exact Pokémon you’re battling during the fight. Even though rock slide now does five less damage, moving from 80 to 75, Excadrill remains an excellent pick.
With Excadrill adding mud shot to its moveset, it goes from being a good Master League Pokémon to a great one. However, it still struggles in key battles. For example, it’ll have trouble battling Groudon, Melmetal, Giratina (Origin), Ho-Oh, Mewtwo, and Swampert. But if you use similar Groudon, Ho-Oh, Palkia, Zekrom, or Dragonite with it, you’ll be able to protect it.
Make sure your Excadrill is using the best moveset during these battles. It needs to learn mud shot, and then its charge moves need to consist of drill run and rock slide.
