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CARD INFORMATION

  • SUBTYPES:
    • Stage 1
    • ex
  • HP: 270
  • TYPES:
    • Fighting
  • EVOLVES FROM: Drilbur
  • RULES:
    • Pokémon ex rule: When your Pokémon ex is Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.
  • WEAKNESSES:
    • TYPE: Grass
    • VALUE: ×2
  • RETREATCOST:
    • Colorless
    • Colorless
    • Colorless
  • RETREAT COST: 3
  • RARITY: Ultra Rare
  • REGULATIONMARK: I

CARD ABILITIES

This card has no abilities

CARD ATTACKS

  • NAME: Piercing Drill
  • COST:
    • Fighting
    • Fighting
  • ENERGY COST: 2
  • DAMAGE: 60
  • DETAILS: This attack also does 60 damage to 1 of your opponent's Benched Pokémon that has any damage counters on it. (Don't apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.)
  • NAME: Rock Tumble
  • COST:
    • Fighting
    • Fighting
    • Fighting
  • ENERGY COST: 3
  • DAMAGE: 200
  • DETAILS: This attack's damage isn't affected by Resistance.

MARKET PRICES FOR EXCADRILL EX 💰

Last updated: 2025/10/12
HIGH

15.00

USD
MID

0.72

USDTREND
LOW

0.22

USD

Check the latest prices on:
Tcgplayer
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Excadrill ex emerges as a powerful Fighting-type attacker with impressive damage output and bench pressure capabilities.

This Stage 1 Pokémon combines formidable direct attacks with strategic bench targeting, making it a serious threat in the current meta where multi-prize Pokémon ex dominate tournament play.




Offensive Score Image Offensive rating: 9/10

Excadrill ex's offensive capabilities are genuinely impressive.

Its first attack, Piercing Drill, deals 60 damage to the active and an additional 60 to a damaged benched Pokémon for just two Fighting energy.

This creates immediate pressure across your opponent's board, punishing previous chip damage and threatening important bench-sitters.

The real star, however, is Rock Tumble—delivering a massive 200 damage for three Fighting energy, ignoring Resistance.

This attack can OHKO many popular Pokémon V, while threatening even the bulkiest Pokémon ex with a two-hit knockout.

The damage-to-energy ratio is excellent, and the Resistance-ignoring effect adds consistency against problematic matchups.

While it lacks damage modifiers or ability-based boosts, the raw power and bench pressure compensate substantially, making Excadrill ex a legitimate offensive threat in the current format.




Survival Score Image Survival rating: 7/10

With 270 HP, Excadrill ex boasts impressive durability for a Stage 1 Pokémon.

This substantial health pool allows it to potentially absorb multiple attacks, even from some of the format's hardest hitters.

However, several factors undermine this apparent tankiness.

First, Excadrill carries a common Grass weakness, making it vulnerable to popular Grass attackers that could potentially OHKO it.

Its heavy three-energy retreat cost severely limits mobility, potentially leaving it stranded in the active position.

Most critically, the Pokémon ex rule means your opponent claims two prize cards when Excadrill is knocked out, creating a significant prize trade disadvantage.

The card lacks any built-in defensive abilities, healing mechanics, or damage reduction effects that would enhance its survival.

While the raw HP is impressive, these factors collectively reduce Excadrill's effectiveness as a defensive option.




Versatility Score Image Versatility rating: 7/10

Excadrill ex demonstrates solid versatility with its dual-purpose attack suite.

Piercing Drill offers excellent utility by applying bench pressure and can be strategically valuable for picking off damaged support Pokémon.

Meanwhile, Rock Tumble delivers raw power with the added benefit of ignoring Resistance.

This combination allows Excadrill to fulfill both sniper and primary attacker roles, adapting to different game states and matchups.

Being a Fighting type grants it advantageous coverage against popular Dark, Lightning, and Fire types.

However, several limitations constrain its versatility: it lacks an ability to provide additional utility, requires evolution from Drilbur, and demands specific energy requirements.

Its dependency on Fighting energy makes it less splashable in multi-type decks without significant energy acceleration or conversion support.

While competent in its attacking role, Excadrill ex doesn't offer the deck-building flexibility or matchup adaptability of more versatile cards.




setup Score Image Speed/Setup rating: 6/10

As a Stage 1 Pokémon, Excadrill ex requires evolving from Drilbur, which inherently slows its battlefield deployment compared to Basic Pokémon.

This evolution requirement means you'll need at least one turn to set up, assuming you've already drawn both Drilbur and Excadrill ex.

Its attacks require significant energy investment—two Fighting energy for Piercing Drill and three for Rock Tumble.

Without energy acceleration, reaching Rock Tumble's full potential takes three turns of manual attachments, which is fairly slow in the current meta.

The card lacks any built-in mechanisms to accelerate its own setup, like energy-attachment abilities or draw effects.

To optimize Excadrill's performance, you'll need to pair it with energy acceleration cards or abilities.

While not the slowest setup in the format, the combination of evolution requirement and substantial energy needs places Excadrill in a moderate speed tier that requires strategic deck building to address.




To maximize Excadrill ex's potential, focus on three key support areas: energy acceleration, consistent evolution, and damage manipulation.

Fighting-type energy accelerators like Turbo Patch or Baxcalibur significantly reduce setup time for Rock Tumble.

Evolution consistency cards such as Rare Candy, Evolution Incense, or Irida help ensure timely evolution from Drilbur.

Since Piercing Drill targets damaged Pokémon, companions that spread damage counters like Hisuian Decidueye or Cramorant are excellent partners, creating targets for the bench snipe.

Scoop Up Net can reset Excadrill if stranded active or recycle utility Pokémon.

Heavy-hitting Fighting-type partners like Sudowoodo from Obsidian Flames provide type synergy while covering different matchups.

Finally, Item cards like Switch or Escape Rope mitigate the high retreat cost, keeping Excadrill mobile and ready to attack.

Perfect Partners examples:

Baxcalibur's Dragon Seat ability allows you to accelerate Fighting energy directly to your Pokémon, dramatically reducing Excadrill ex's setup time for both attacks. This energy acceleration is crucial for reaching Rock Tumble's full potential earlier in the game, turning a potential three-turn setup into a much more manageable tempo play.

Hisuian Decidueye's Splitting Arrow attack places damage counters on your opponent's bench, creating perfect targets for Excadrill's Piercing Drill. This synergy maximizes Excadrill's utility by ensuring bench targets are always available, while also applying consistent pressure across your opponent's entire board.

Irida's Supporter ability lets you search for both a Water Pokémon and an Item card, helping secure your Drilbur/Excadrill evolution line with cards like Evolution Incense. This consistency boost ensures Excadrill ex hits the field reliably, while the additional Item search provides utility through Switch cards to address Excadrill's mobility issues.




Excadrill ex emerges as a formidable Fighting-type attacker with distinct strengths and clear weaknesses.

Its impressive offensive output—featuring both precise bench pressure and raw power—makes it a threat opponents must respect.

The combination of 270 HP and attacks that can target multiple Pokémon creates significant board presence, while the ability to ignore Resistance adds consistency against traditionally problematic matchups.

However, tournament success with Excadrill ex requires addressing its fundamental challenges.

The two-prize liability inherent to Pokémon ex demands careful prize trading.

Its heavy retreat cost and multi-turn setup require strategic deck building focused on energy acceleration and mobility solutions.

To maximize effectiveness, pair Excadrill with damage-spreading Pokémon that create targets for Piercing Drill, along with Fighting-type support to reduce setup time.

Excadrill ex performs best in mid-range Fighting decks where it can serve as either a primary attacker or strategic bench sniper depending on the matchup.

Against decks relying on important bench-sitters, Piercing Drill creates unique pressure, while Rock Tumble provides the raw power needed against tankier opponents.

With proper support to address its setup limitations, Excadrill ex can be a versatile weapon in competitive play—not quite top-tier, but certainly capable of punishing unprepared opponents and securing victories through strategic bench pressure and consistent damage output.



POWER INDEX

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70

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