Pokémon Legends: Z-A Alpha Excadrill Power Levelling Tips

[Eleanor]

If you’ve managed to track down an Alpha Excadrill in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, congratulations. This Pokemon hits hard, tanks well, and clears mobs faster than most early-game options. But getting it to level up quickly can feel a little tricky, especially if you caught it under-leveled or if you’re trying to keep pace with the game’s late-story curve. After spending a good amount of time testing routes and battle strategies, here are the most reliable power-levelling tips I’ve found.

Why Alpha Excadrill Is Worth Investing In

Alpha Excadrill has two major advantages: high Attack and great coverage. In Z-A, where wild encounters can sometimes overwhelm you with numbers, having a Pokemon that can one-shot multiple targets is incredibly helpful. Moves like Earthquake and Iron Head clear fights without much setup, and its natural bulk helps it take stray hits when battles get crowded.

I also like that Excadrill scales smoothly as you level it. You don’t have to wait for late-game TMs or rare drops just to unlock its potential. Even a basic moveset can carry you through most mid-game zones.

Best Locations for Fast Experience

From my runs, these areas consistently provide the best XP-per-minute without needing perfect execution.

Underground Caverns

The Underground Caverns are packed with Ground- and Rock-type Pokemon, many of which are weak to Excadrill’s STAB moves. Because they spawn in groups, you can rack up experience very quickly. Alpha Excadrill can usually wipe a full group in one or two moves, so you spend very little time per battle.

Industrial District Ruins

This zone is especially good once you’re around mid-game level. Steel-types and Electric-types appear often, both of which Excadrill can handle easily. The bonus is that you can also pick up crafting materials as you battle, which makes EXP farming feel a bit less repetitive.

One small tip: bring enough healing items so you don’t have to run back to camp every few minutes. Even in a low-level grind, Excadrill’s HP can dip if multiple enemies focus it.

Use Mass Outbreaks Whenever They Show Up

Mass Outbreaks are still one of the fastest leveling methods in the game. Whenever an outbreak includes Pokemon that Alpha Excadrill can reliably KO, head there immediately. Most of these enemies fall quickly to Earthquake or Drill Run, and the constant stream of spawns means you don’t waste time searching for new encounters.

If you prefer to keep your Pokemon box organized or experiment with different team builds, you might have moments where you want specific variants of a species. In those cases, some players choose to buy shiny pokemon from community marketplaces to skip the RNG grind. It’s not something everyone does, but it occasionally comes up when looking for outbreak targets. That said, outbreaks still remain the best way to level up Excadrill regardless of what you're collecting.

Hold Items and Moves That Speed Up Grinding

Here are a few small optimizations that add up over long sessions.

Prioritize Multi-Target Moves

If you have access to Earthquake or Rock Slide, these moves help Excadrill sweep groups in seconds. Even weaker multi-target moves are often better than strong single hits when your goal is pure experience.

Use Damage-Boosting Items

Attack-boosting items or Ground-type enhancers make a noticeable difference during long grinds. Even shaving off one extra turn per fight increases your overall XP efficiency over time.

Adjust Your Team to Support Excadrill

Bringing a tanky teammate or a healer can keep Excadrill alive through extended battles. It’s especially helpful in areas where Pokemon often spawn in waves.

When to Rely on Bonus Experience Sources

As you progress, the XP curve can feel steeper. Don’t forget to use bonus experience items or complete repeatable tasks that reward XP boosts. These are particularly useful when your Alpha Excadrill falls behind your main team and needs a quick jump in levels.

Some players also stock up on rare resources through trading. While I personally stick to in-game grinding, I’ve seen others pick up cheap shiny pokemon alongside leveling resources when trading with communities. If you go this route, just double-check that the trades are safe and legitimate. The main point is that extra items from trades can support your training loop if you’re into that style of play.

Small Tips That Make Grinding Less Painful

Here are a few quality-of-life tricks that helped me during longer sessions.

Switch Between Zones

Grinding in one area for too long gets boring fast. Rotating between the Underground Caverns, Industrial Ruins, and whatever zone has the most convenient spawns keeps things fresh.

Heal Frequently and Safely

Alpha Excadrill is sturdy, but it’s not invincible. Watching its HP is important because one unlucky crit can knock it out and waste your momentum. I usually bring more potions than I think I’ll need.

Use U4GM for Reference Materials and Player Discussions

When planning out my farming routes, I’ve sometimes browsed community discussions on U4GM, since players there compare grinding routes and share efficiency data pretty regularly. Even if you don’t use any trading services, the player tips alone can be helpful for figuring out which zones are worth your time.

When Alpha Excadrill Reaches High Level

Once Excadrill reaches the level range you want, it becomes one of the most reliable sweepers in Z-A. It’s especially great for clearing post-game quests or farming materials quickly. You can either continue optimizing its build or slot it into your main roster as a heavy hitter.

Personally, I love how self-sufficient it becomes. With the right moves, it barely needs support and can clear most encounters faster than nearly any other non-Legendary option.


Power-levelling an Alpha Excadrill in Pokemon Legends: Z-A doesn’t require complex setups. A good farming route, smart move choices, and an eye on your HP bar are usually enough to get it to high levels fast. Whether you're grinding for battle teams, material farming, or just want a strong companion for the story, Excadrill grows quickly and pays off just as fast.

If you stick to the tips above, you should see steady progress without feeling stuck in repetitive or slow battles. Enjoy the grind, and may your Excadrill hit like a truck the moment you need it.

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