[SET]
name: Sand Rush
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Rock Slide
move 4: Shadow Claw / Rapid Spin
item: Life Orb / Air Balloon
ability: Sand Rush
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Sand Rush Excadrill's ability to outspeed the great number of Ground-weak Pokemon in the metagame and hit them super effectively, most notably Zacian-C, Eternatus, and Necrozma-DM, as well as get past bulky walls or Ground-resistant threats such as Corviknight and Skarmory thanks to Swords Dance and Dynamax makes it a valuable asset to balance and offense teams. Even when unboosted, STAB Earthquake will often, at worst, 2HKO Zacian-C, Eternatus, and Necrozma-DM. Rock Slide allows Excadrill to set up its own sand, if necessary, when Dynamaxed, and is also the best move to use against Mandibuzz. Shadow Claw is mainly used to 2HKO Lunala with Shadow Shield intact, which potentially becomes an OHKO during Dynamax, with Max Phantasm also making it easier to break through bulky walls like Corviknight, Quagsire, and Skarmory thanks to the Defense drops it causes. Alternatively, Excadrill can run Rapid Spin instead of Shadow Claw to remove entry hazards from your side of the field and, through its Speed boosts, become less dependent on sand to outspeed the foe. Life Orb is the preferred item, as it boosts Excadrill's damage output and makes it less reliant on Swords Dance to achieve KOs; however, Air Balloon can be used to perform better against opposing Sand Rush Excadrill and to improve matchup against Ditto. A Jolly nature is generally run to outspeed Choice Scarf Zacian and Choice Scarf Zamazenta under sand, although Adamant is an option to further boost its damage output and is also the preferred nature if running Air Balloon to make up for the loss of Life Orb's damage boost.
Sand Rush Excadrill can punch holes into the opposing team early-game or be used as a wincon once problematic Pokemon like Ditto have been eliminated. It is a good idea to set up Swords Dance against Pokemon that do not possess moves to hit it hard, such as Blissey and Zekrom, although it should be careful of doing so when there's an unparalyzed Ditto on the opposing team, especially if it's not running Air Balloon. A sand setter like Tyranitar, which can also set up Stealth Rock for it, is mandatory for this set. Without using Dynamax, Excadrill struggles with getting past Corviknight and Skarmory, so Pokemon like Eternatus, Lunala, and Choice Band Dracovish are excellent partners to take them out. Choice Band Dracovish, in particular, can either KO them or force them out and deal heavy damage to the switch-in. Gothitelle is also an effective way to take them out if they are not holding Shed Shell. Corviknight and Skarmory allow Excadrill to use Swords Dance with more freedom against teams with Ditto, as they can comfortably switch into +2 Rock Slide, with the latter also providing Spikes support, making it easier for Excadrill to achieve KOs. Ferrothorn, likewise, can also provide Spikes support.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Rock Slide
move 3: Rapid Spin / Swords Dance
move 4: Toxic / Swords Dance
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Sand Force
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
With Choice Scarf, Excadrill adds flexibility to sand teams, as it can revenge kill threats like Zacian-C and Eternatus without having your sand setter switch in and take damage or otherwise faint, also allowing it to run an item other than Smooth Rock. In addition, it can also remove entry hazards with Rapid Spin without worrying about being outsped and KOed before doing so. Toxic allows it to cripple Pokemon like Quagsire and Lunala on the switch. It can optionally run Swords Dance instead of Rapid Spin or Toxic to potentially achieve a clutch sweep with Dynamax. As Excadrill already outspeeds many threats with Choice Scarf, Sand Force is its ability of choice.
A sand setter like Tyranitar or Hippowdon is mandatory for this set. Both can also set up Stealth Rock for it, as Choice Scarf Excadrill struggles to OHKO defensive variants of Eternatus, and Tyranitar can switch in against Lunala for it. As Excadrill has no ways of getting past Skarmory, Quagsire, and Corviknight, Pokemon like Eternatus, Lunala, and Choice Band Dracovish are good teammates that can deal with them, while in return all of them appreciate the removal of Zacian-C from the battle. Choice Band Dracovish also benefits from the removal of other faster threats like Eternatus. Gothitelle can also be an effective partner, as it can trap those threats if they are not holding Shed Shell. It is worth mentioning that Choice Scarf Excadrill can be used as a lure to Zacian-C and Eternatus, as it can fake a Sand Rush set and lure them in when sand is over and KO them with STAB Earthquake.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Ryota Mitarai, 318452]]
- Quality checked by: [[Manaphy, 50695], [Nayrz, 212134]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
name: Sand Rush
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Rock Slide
move 4: Shadow Claw / Rapid Spin
item: Life Orb / Air Balloon
ability: Sand Rush
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Sand Rush Excadrill's ability to outspeed the great number of Ground-weak Pokemon in the metagame and hit them super effectively, most notably Zacian-C, Eternatus, and Necrozma-DM, as well as get past bulky walls or Ground-resistant threats such as Corviknight and Skarmory thanks to Swords Dance and Dynamax makes it a valuable asset to balance and offense teams. Even when unboosted, STAB Earthquake will often, at worst, 2HKO Zacian-C, Eternatus, and Necrozma-DM. Rock Slide allows Excadrill to set up its own sand, if necessary, when Dynamaxed, and is also the best move to use against Mandibuzz. Shadow Claw is mainly used to 2HKO Lunala with Shadow Shield intact, which potentially becomes an OHKO during Dynamax, with Max Phantasm also making it easier to break through bulky walls like Corviknight, Quagsire, and Skarmory thanks to the Defense drops it causes. Alternatively, Excadrill can run Rapid Spin instead of Shadow Claw to remove entry hazards from your side of the field and, through its Speed boosts, become less dependent on sand to outspeed the foe. Life Orb is the preferred item, as it boosts Excadrill's damage output and makes it less reliant on Swords Dance to achieve KOs; however, Air Balloon can be used to perform better against opposing Sand Rush Excadrill and to improve matchup against Ditto. A Jolly nature is generally run to outspeed Choice Scarf Zacian and Choice Scarf Zamazenta under sand, although Adamant is an option to further boost its damage output and is also the preferred nature if running Air Balloon to make up for the loss of Life Orb's damage boost.
Sand Rush Excadrill can punch holes into the opposing team early-game or be used as a wincon once problematic Pokemon like Ditto have been eliminated. It is a good idea to set up Swords Dance against Pokemon that do not possess moves to hit it hard, such as Blissey and Zekrom, although it should be careful of doing so when there's an unparalyzed Ditto on the opposing team, especially if it's not running Air Balloon. A sand setter like Tyranitar, which can also set up Stealth Rock for it, is mandatory for this set. Without using Dynamax, Excadrill struggles with getting past Corviknight and Skarmory, so Pokemon like Eternatus, Lunala, and Choice Band Dracovish are excellent partners to take them out. Choice Band Dracovish, in particular, can either KO them or force them out and deal heavy damage to the switch-in. Gothitelle is also an effective way to take them out if they are not holding Shed Shell. Corviknight and Skarmory allow Excadrill to use Swords Dance with more freedom against teams with Ditto, as they can comfortably switch into +2 Rock Slide, with the latter also providing Spikes support, making it easier for Excadrill to achieve KOs. Ferrothorn, likewise, can also provide Spikes support.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Rock Slide
move 3: Rapid Spin / Swords Dance
move 4: Toxic / Swords Dance
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Sand Force
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
With Choice Scarf, Excadrill adds flexibility to sand teams, as it can revenge kill threats like Zacian-C and Eternatus without having your sand setter switch in and take damage or otherwise faint, also allowing it to run an item other than Smooth Rock. In addition, it can also remove entry hazards with Rapid Spin without worrying about being outsped and KOed before doing so. Toxic allows it to cripple Pokemon like Quagsire and Lunala on the switch. It can optionally run Swords Dance instead of Rapid Spin or Toxic to potentially achieve a clutch sweep with Dynamax. As Excadrill already outspeeds many threats with Choice Scarf, Sand Force is its ability of choice.
A sand setter like Tyranitar or Hippowdon is mandatory for this set. Both can also set up Stealth Rock for it, as Choice Scarf Excadrill struggles to OHKO defensive variants of Eternatus, and Tyranitar can switch in against Lunala for it. As Excadrill has no ways of getting past Skarmory, Quagsire, and Corviknight, Pokemon like Eternatus, Lunala, and Choice Band Dracovish are good teammates that can deal with them, while in return all of them appreciate the removal of Zacian-C from the battle. Choice Band Dracovish also benefits from the removal of other faster threats like Eternatus. Gothitelle can also be an effective partner, as it can trap those threats if they are not holding Shed Shell. It is worth mentioning that Choice Scarf Excadrill can be used as a lure to Zacian-C and Eternatus, as it can fake a Sand Rush set and lure them in when sand is over and KO them with STAB Earthquake.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Ryota Mitarai, 318452]]
- Quality checked by: [[Manaphy, 50695], [Nayrz, 212134]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
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