How to Maximize Excadrill’s Damage in Pokémon TCG Battles

In TCG ·

Excadrill card art from Fusion Strike (Lee HyunJung)

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Excadrill in Focus: tactics to push its damage output to the max

Fans of the Fusion Strike era met a drill-toting menace in Excadrill, a metal-type Stage 1 Pokémon that evolves from Drilbur. With an eye-catching 130 HP and a two-pronged approach to offense, Excadrill can land a sturdy opening hit with Metal Claw and explode into a devastating finisher with Rock Tomb. The card’s artwork by Lee HyunJung captures the Drill King’s relentless precision, and the card’s Uncommon rarity keeps it approachable for players building balanced metal-focused decks. ⚡🔥

Card profile at a glance

  • Name: Excadrill
  • Set: Fusion Strike (swsh8)
  • Rarity: Uncommon
  • Type: Metal
  • Stage: Stage 1 (evolves from Drilbur)
  • HP: 130
  • Illustrator: Lee HyunJung
  • Regulation: Mark E; Standard not legal, Expanded eligible
  • Attacks:
    • Metal Claw — Cost: Metal, Colorless; Damage: 50
    • Rock Tomb — Cost: Metal, Metal, Colorless; Damage: 120
  • Retreat cost: 2
  • Evolution note: Evolves from Drilbur; Known as the Drill King, this Pokémon tunnels through terrain at speeds of over 90 mph.
  • Pricing snapshot: Cardmarket (normal): around 0.04 EUR average; TCGplayer (normal): around 0.04–0.10 USD; reverse-holo versions typically higher; holo investments vary by market

In gameplay terms, Excadrill’s tools are straightforward but potent. Metal Claw serves as a reliable early-beat to establish presence, while Rock Tomb promises a strong mid-to-late game swing that can disrupt an opponent’s retreat plans. The synergy between these two attacks—one quick, one punishing—gives Excadrill a two-turn window to push the damage ceiling in a single turn or set up a game-ending sequence. The card’s 1–2 energy requirement on the first attack and its dramatic 120 damage on the second attack create a familiar rhythm: accumulate energy, strike hard, control the board.

Strategies to maximize Excadrill’s damage output

To squeeze every ounce of damage from Excadrill, you’ll want to orchestrate a few core tactics that align with its Mechanical nature and the Fusion Strike meta. Here are practical steps you can weave into your deck-building and match-day play:

  • Energy tempo matters: Excadrill’s 120-damage Rock Tomb demands two Metals and a Colorless. Plan your early turns to fetch or attach Metal energy efficiently—tools like energy acceleration or searchers help. The goal is to hit Rock Tomb just as you have the board control you need to prevent the opponent from retreating and reorganizing their plan.
  • Set up Drilbur quickly: As Excadrill’s pre-evolution, Drilbur can power your later Rock Tomb turns. Prioritize retrieval and evolution plays so that you can start swinging with Rock Tomb as soon as you reach Stage 1. Early pressure from Metal Claw can also keep your opponent from overcommitting their resources while you stall and prepare the finisher.
  • Retreat denial as a weapon: The Rock Tomb effect—preventing the Defending Pokémon from retreating on the opponent’s next turn—can force your opponent into unfavorable trade-offs. If you can sustain pressure on the evolving board, you’ll swing at a time when your opponent is trapped into bad matches or forced to over-commit energies elsewhere.
  • Energy management and deck synergies: Build in a few search-and-accelerator cards that help you assemble the necessary Metal energies. In metal-focused archetypes, staples that pull Metal energy or accelerate its attachment can turn the second attack into a game-ending blast sooner than expected.
  • Timing is everything: You don’t always want to use Rock Tomb on the very first opportunity. If you can anticipate your opponent’s plan, you can strike when you’ve ensured you’ll still have a column of energy to pay the Rock Tomb costs, while maintaining guard to weather a potential counter-push.
  • Post-rock-tomb pressure: After landing Rock Tomb, you can leverage Excadrill’s HP buffer and board presence to weather a counter-attack while loading the next high-damage turn. A careful sequence—Rock Tomb into a decisive Metal Claw or even finishing with a follow-up Rock Tomb—can close games efficiently.

From a collector perspective, Excadrill in Fusion Strike is an accessible build-around due to its Uncommon rarity and non-holo presentation. The card’s art by Lee HyunJung captures that mining-machine fierceness, and the two-attacks design keeps it approachable for new players while still offering depth for veterans who enjoy precise sequencing. In terms of market interest, the card’s price points tend to sit in the cents-to-dollar range for the standard version, with reverse-holo and alternative-condition copies often commanding higher values on sites like Cardmarket and TCGplayer.

“Maximizing damage in Pokémon TCG isn’t just about numbers; it’s about reading your opponent’s path and weaving your hits to bend the game toward your win condition.” ⚡

Collector’s note: value, rarity, and the ecosystem around Excadrill

As an Uncommon from Fusion Strike, Excadrill sits in a sweet spot for players balancing collection goals with playable power. Its evolution lineage from Drilbur makes it a natural target for decks that lean on stage-based lines, and its 130 HP provides a respectable cushion against many early-game pursuers. The Artist’s name, Lee HyunJung, brings a distinct character to the card that collectors appreciate, especially when pairing Excadrill with other metal-type staples to form cohesive strategies. In the broader ecosystem, market data show non-holo cards like this one remain affordable, while certain holo or reverse-holo variants can command noticeably higher prices as collectors chase complete sets or specific aesthetic variants.

When you’re building a deck and eyeing the next big game, remember Excadrill’s dual-threat nature: dependable early damage from Metal Claw and a game-changing retreat-lock from Rock Tomb. With careful energy management and precise timing, you can push for high-damage turns that feel both satisfying and strategically crushing for your opponent. And if you’re a player who loves a little lore with your lead punches, the Drill King’s backstory—tunneling through terrain at remarkable speeds—adds a touch of fantasy to every battlefield turn. 🎴🎨

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