Drilbur

Drilbur's origin and trivia

Drilbur was revealed on the Oha Suta television program on June 27, 2010. It shares its Mole Pokémon category with Diglett and Dugtrio.

Drilbur's design is based on a mole, with arms that may come from shovels and claws possibly drawn from the teeth of burrs. Its English name may combine drill with burrow or burr, while its Japanese name Mogurew may combine mogura and doryū, both readings of the kanji for mole, and possibly screw or shrew.

Drilbur's cards by era

Drilbur was introduced in the Black & White era, appearing in Emerging Powers and in a BW Trainer Kit built around its evolution Excadrill, followed by Dark Explorers and a 2012 McDonald's promo.

Later era sets each carried a single Common printing through the XY, Sun & Moon, and Sword & Shield eras, illustrated by artists including Kagemaru Himeno, Ken Sugimori, and tetsuya koizumi.

The Scarlet & Violet era added Obsidian Flames, Temporal Forces, and Surging Sparks commons plus a Black Bolt illustration rare by Koji Nakata, and the Mega Evolution era followed with a Pitch Black common illustrated by Atsushi Furusawa.

Cards to know

• Drilbur (Emerging Powers #54)

  One of Drilbur's two 2011 Emerging Powers cards, an Uncommon illustrated by match.

• Drilbur (BW trainer Kit (Excadrill) #13)

  One of two BW Trainer Kit (Excadrill) printings built around Drilbur's evolved form.

• Drilbur (Primal Clash #89)

  A Primal Clash Common illustrated by Kagemaru Himeno during the XY era.

• Drilbur (Black Bolt #124)

  A Black Bolt illustration rare by Koji Nakata from 2025.

• Drilbur (Pitch Black #046)

  A Pitch Black Common by Atsushi Furusawa, Drilbur's entry into the Mega Evolution era.