Is Drilbur Good in Sword & Shield Playthrough?
Drilbur spawns in the Wild Area and Galar Mine. One of the most important catches in the entire game. Ground type evolving into Excadrill at level 31. AbilitySand Rush doubles Speed in sandstorm. Catch one immediately and never look back.
Milo's team hits Drilbur's weaknesses hard.
Nessa's team hits Drilbur's weaknesses hard.
Drilbur trades roughly evenly with Kabu's team.
Excadrill trades roughly evenly with Bea's team.
Excadrill has the type edge here and should clean up Opal's team.
Excadrill has the type edge here and should clean up Gordie's team.
Excadrill has the type edge here and should clean up Piers's team.
Excadrill trades roughly evenly with Raihan's team.
Excadrill has the type edge here and should clean up Bede's team.
Excadrill trades roughly evenly with Leon's team.
Catch Drilbur on Galar Mine (walking, Lv 11-15). All Weather.
Your Drilbur should hit Level 31 before you reach Bea, at typical leveling pace.
How to Get Drilbur in Sword & Shield
Drilbur's scattered across 20 spots in early-game routes with high spawn rates. Check the list below for the closest location to wherever you are in the game. This one's quick.
Where To Catch Drilbur in SwSh
Drilbur is your first catch on the way to Drilbur. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 11-58 across 40 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Drilbur ✓Galar MineLv.11-14OverworldRate 10%All WeatherGalar MineLv.11-15CaveRate 10%All WeatherGiant's MirrorLv.28-30OverworldRate 35%SandstormGiant's CapLv.26-28GrassRate 30%SandstormStony WildernessLv.26-28GrassRate 30%SandstormGiant's CapLv.26-28GrassRate 20%Intense SunHammerlocke HillsLv.28-30GrassRate 15%SandstormStony WildernessLv.26-28GrassRate 10%Intense SunDusty BowlLv.42-47OverworldRate 35%SandstormDusty BowlLv.42-47OverworldRate 10%Intense Sun
Step 2Catch or Evolve into ExcadrillGiant's Mirror - GroundLv.31-34OverworldSwordRate 60%SandstormGiant's Mirror - GroundLv.31-34OverworldSwordRate 60%Intense SunGiant's Mirror - GroundLv.31-34OverworldSwordRate 60%SnowstormGiant's Mirror - GroundLv.31-34OverworldSwordRate 60%SnowingGiant's Mirror - GroundLv.31-34OverworldShieldRate 50%SandstormGiant's Mirror - GroundLv.31-34OverworldShieldRate 50%Intense SunGiant's Mirror - GroundLv.31-34OverworldShieldRate 50%SnowstormGiant's Mirror - GroundLv.31-34OverworldShieldRate 50%SnowingGiant's Mirror - GroundLv.31-34OverworldSwordRate 30%OvercastGiant's Mirror - GroundLv.31-34OverworldSwordRate 30%ThunderstormGiant's Mirror - GroundLv.31-34OverworldSwordRate 30%Normal WeatherGiant's Mirror - GroundLv.31-34OverworldSwordRate 30%RainingGiant's Mirror - GroundLv.31-34OverworldSwordRate 30%Heavy FogGiant's Mirror - GroundLv.31-34OverworldShieldRate 20%OvercastGiant's Mirror - GroundLv.31-34OverworldShieldRate 20%ThunderstormGiant's Mirror - GroundLv.31-34OverworldShieldRate 20%Normal WeatherGiant's Mirror - GroundLv.31-34OverworldShieldRate 20%RainingGiant's Mirror - GroundLv.31-34OverworldShieldRate 20%Heavy FogLake of OutrageLv.55-58OverworldRate 35%Sandstormor evolve from Drilbur (Step 1)
Drilbur Weakness
Water, Grass, and Ice moves hit Drilbur for super-effective damage. The upside? Electric-type moves can't touch it at all. Standard number of weaknesses for the Ground typing.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Water, Grass, Ice |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Poison, Rock |
| 0x (Immune) | Electric |
What is Drilbur Weak Against
AvgBest Pokemon Against Drilbur
 Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodHoneycalm Island Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Drilbur View Gyarados builds →Aqua Tail 2x181-213%KO Ice Fang 2x88-104%KO | ||
 Maractus Grass | C | |
 Roselia GrassPoison | C | |
 Ludicolo WaterGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Drilbur View Ludicolo builds →Solar Beam 2x168-198%KO Hydro Pump 2x153-180%KO | ||
 Cherrim Grass | C | |
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodHoneycalm Island Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Drilbur View Gyarados builds →Aqua Tail 2x179-211%KO Ice Fang 2x87-103%KO | ||
Maractus Grass | C | |
Roselia GrassPoison | C | |
Ludicolo WaterGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Drilbur View Ludicolo builds →Solar Beam 2x172-203%KO Hydro Pump 2x157-186%KO | ||
Cherrim Grass | C | |
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodHoneycalm Island Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Drilbur View Gyarados builds →Aqua Tail 2x177-209%KO Ice Fang 2x85-101%KO | ||
Maractus Grass | C | |
Roselia GrassPoison | C | |
 Golisopod BugWater | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Drilbur View Golisopod builds →Razor Shell 2x148-175%KO | ||
 Crawdaunt WaterDark | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Drilbur View Crawdaunt builds →Razor Shell 2x142-167%KO | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodHoneycalm Island Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Drilbur View Gyarados builds →Aqua Tail 2x178-210%KO Ice Fang 2x86-102%KO | ||
Golisopod BugWater | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Drilbur View Golisopod builds →Liquidation 2x170-200%KO Icy Wind 2x38-45% | ||
Crawdaunt WaterDark | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Drilbur View Crawdaunt builds →Dive 2x155-183%KO Avalanche 2x78-92% | ||
 Krabby Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Drilbur View Krabby builds →Crabhammer 2x172-203%KO Icy Wind 2x23-27% | ||
Maractus Grass | C | |
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodHoneycalm Island Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Drilbur View Gyarados builds →Aqua Tail 2x180-212%KO Ice Fang 2x87-103%KO | ||
 Roserade GrassPoison | B | |
 Bellossom Grass | C | |
 Kingler Water | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Drilbur View Kingler builds →Dive 2x166-196%KO Icy Wind 2x34-40% | ||
Golisopod BugWater | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Drilbur View Golisopod builds →Liquidation 2x170-201%KO Icy Wind 2x39-46% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodHoneycalm Island Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Drilbur View Gyarados builds →Aqua Tail 2x184-217%KO Ice Fang 2x89-105%KO | ||
 Exeggutor GrassPsychic | C | |
 Leafeon Grass | B | |
 Lilligant Grass | C | |
Kingler Water | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Drilbur View Kingler builds →Crabhammer 2x212-250%KO Icy Wind 2x34-40% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodHoneycalm Island Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Drilbur View Gyarados builds →Aqua Tail 2x184-217%KO Ice Fang 2x89-105%KO | ||
Exeggutor GrassPsychic | C | |
Leafeon Grass | B | |
Lilligant Grass | C | |
Kingler Water | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Drilbur View Kingler builds →Crabhammer 2x212-250%KO Ice Beam 2x55-65% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodHoneycalm Island Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Drilbur View Gyarados builds →Aqua Tail 2x184-217%KO Ice Fang 2x89-105%KO | ||
Exeggutor GrassPsychic | C | |
Leafeon Grass | B | |
Lilligant Grass | C | |
Kingler Water | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Drilbur View Kingler builds →Crabhammer 2x212-250%KO Ice Beam 2x55-65% | ||
In Sword & Shield, Weavile can KO Drilbur with Ice Shard (98-115%). Urshifu threatens a KO with Close Combat (229-269%).
 Weavile DarkIce | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Drilbur View Weavile builds →Knock Off79-92% Ice Shard 2x98-115%KO | ||
 Urshifu FightingDark | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityUnseenfist ItemChoice Band NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Drilbur View Urshifu builds →Close Combat229-269%KO Sucker Punch134-157%KO U Turn89-105%KO | ||
Drilbur Evolutions
One evolution ahead. Drilbur grows into Excadrill through a straightforward two-stage chain. A massive partner pool for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are average hatch time. The evolved forms gain up to 180 total stats over Drilbur. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
SwSh Drilbur Best Moveset
Pre-evo hiding A-tier potential. AbilitySand Rush doubles 68 Speed in sand and 85 Attack is decent for a first stage. The moveset previews Excadrill's sand dominance but can't function competitively at this level. Evolve for 135 Attack and Ground/Steel typing.
Best Build
Drilbur best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Swords Dance
- Rock Slide
- Earthquake
- Rapid Spin
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
Don't skip the egg moves. Drilbur picks up Metal Sound and Slash only through breeding, and both fill gaps the natural movepool can't. STAB runs through Earthquake and High Horsepower while coverage across 8 types adds range.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Base Stats
It brings its claws together and whirls around at high speed before rushing toward its prey.
It’s a digger, using its claws to burrow through the ground. It causes damage to vegetable crops, so many farmers have little love for it.
Drilbur Sword & Shield Guide
For Sword & Shield, you can run Drilbur through the first few routes without issues. 328 BST won't carry you far though. Get it to Excadrill as fast as you can.
Game Availability
Drilbur joined the series in Black & White and has been available in 9 titles so far. With 6 generations of appearances, it's established itself despite the later start.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BWDebut
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves