Exeggutor, The Coconut Pokémon. Its three heads think independently. However, they are friendly and never appear to squabble. It is called "The Walking Jungle." If a head grows too big, it falls off and becomes an Exeggcute. Exeggutor originally came from the tropics. Its heads steadily grow larger from exposure to strong sunlight. It is said that when the heads fall off, they group together to form Exeggcute.
Overview
Oh how the mighty have fallen. Back in the very first Generation, Exeggutor was living the good life. It was at the top of its game, being one of the top tier threats of the first generation. It boasted the then invaluable psychic type, while its grass typing allowed it to take on the likes of Golem and Rhydon, and its massive special stat allowed it to hit hard and be incredibly bulky on the special side. Plus, if it felt like its time was up, it could just Explode and usually take something down with it. Yup, things were pretty good for Exeggutor. However, time was not kind to to this Pokemon. Much like its fellow Generation 1 Titans Tauros and Golem, Exeggutor had trouble keeping up with the changing generations. The special split ruined Exeggutor’s special bulk in Gen 2, Steel types resisted both of its STAB attacks to wall it easily, its speed continued to leave a lot to be desired, and Generation 5 nerfed its handy tool in Explosion. As a result, what was once considered a top tier Pokemon became a bottom of the barrel one instead. Not much has really changed for Exeggutor in Gen 6, as the introduction of Fairy types didn’t affect it much, while the introduction of Mega Evolutions gave it new threats to deal with. The loss of permanent weather meant that Exeggutor's weather-based abilities were no longer as potent, but given it wasn't the top choice for weather abusers in Gen 5, this was not a significant blow to it. Sadly, poor Exeggutor can only dream of the days long past, as it will probably never again be the top grass type.
Positives
+Base 125 special attack is certainly high, and can allow Exeggutor to deal some respectable damage.
+Base 95 HP and base 85 Defense gives it decent physical bulk.
+Base 95 Attack isn’t terrible either, although it’s best used as a Special Attacker.
+Resistances to Water, Grass, Electric, Fighting, Ground, and Psychic are all handy resistances to have.
+Chlorophyll is a solid ability that can allow Exeggutor to overcome its poor speed.
Negatives
-Base 65 Special Defense leaves it significantly weaker on the special side.
-Base 55 Speed is pretty slow, and even with a Chlorophyll boost, most Choice Scarf users will still outspeed it.
-A 4x weakness to bug, in addition to 2x weaknesses to Fire, Flying, Ice, Poison, Ghost, and Dark, make Exeggutor’s weaknesses very easy to prey on.
-Exeggutor’s offensive typing leaves a lot to be desired. It’s walled outright by Steel types, and there are plenty of dual types that resist both of its STAB attacks.
-The sun that allows Exeggutor to abuse both of its abilities also strengthens the fire type attacks that it’s already weak to, so its preferred weather is a double-edged sword for it.
-Its glory days of being one of the best Pokemon in the game as it was in Generation 1 are long gone, never to return…
Abilities
Chlorophyll: When sunny, the Pokémon’s Speed doubles. However, Speed will not double on the turn weather becomes Strong Sunlight. - Chlorophyll’s always been a pretty solid ability for any Pokemon that gets it, and Exeggutor is no exception. Doubling your speed when the sun is up is always good, because it can flip speed tiers on their head, causing Exeggutor to become blazing fast. However, this is only when the Sun is up, meaning that speed is very dependent on team support, and it’s always on a timer as well. Plus, you have to deal with the fact that the fire type attacks that fry Exeggutor get stronger under the sun as well. Still, it’s easily Exeggutor’s best ability, and one that can make it very dangerous. Although situational, this ability should not be underestimated.
Hidden Ability (Available):
Harvest: The Pokémon has a 50% chance of restoring a consumed berry. During sunshine, this chance increases to 100% - Harvest is an… interesting ability. With the Sun up, you’ll be getting your berry back every time you eat it, which for things like Sitrus Berry, which activates at 50% HP, can be incredibly annoying for your opponent. However… this ability has a few drawbacks. Ignoring the obvious issue of the sun making fire type attacks stronger like was the case with Chlorophyll, this ability only does anything if you’re using a Berry, and often times Exeggutor has other items it’d rather be using, such as Choice Specs. In addition, Harvest doesn’t work if your berry has been Knocked Off, and since Exeggutor is weak to Knock Off, this leaves it dangerously vulnerable. Unfortunately, this ability isn’t really worth using, especially compared to Chlorophyll… it’s just not reliable enough.
Movesets
Exeggcutioner
-Leaf Storm
-Psychic / Psyshock
-Hidden Power Fire
-Giga Drain / Sleep Powder
Item Attached: Choice Specs / Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs and Nature:
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpDef / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
With a massive base 125 special attack, it should come to no one’s surprise that Exeggutor is right at home with an offensive set. And on such an offensive set, it should be obvious that you want to hit as hard as possible. To that end, Leaf Storm is your best bet, as it’s Exeggutor’s strongest STAB attack. However, it does have the problem of a hefty special attack drop, so it favors hit and run tactics. From there, Exeggutor can utilize either Psychic or Psyshock for its Psychic STAB attack. Psychic hits a bit harder, but Psyshock is better at cutting down special walls due to targeting the defense stat of the opponent. Either one is viable. Both of Exeggutor’s STAB attacks have an obvious gap in their coverage though, and that gap would be Steel types. For this reason, HIdden Power Fire is the preferred coverage move, because despite its low base power, it manages to hit the steel types who would otherwise wall you for super-effective damage. For the final moveslot, Exeggutor has two viable choices. Giga Drain offers more sustainable damage than Leaf Storm due to the lack of the special attack drop; however, it’s worth noting that even accounting for the special attack drop, two Leaf Storms still do more damage than two Giga Drains, so you need to be staying in for a while for Giga Drain to do more damage. It’s more viable on Life Orb sets where you have the freedom to switch attacks, however. Sleep Powder is another option, and depending on your item, its effectiveness may vary. Choice Specs sets hate being locked into it, but the ability to put a check or counter to sleep can’t be denied.
Modest Nature and 252 Special Attack EVs ensures that Exeggutor hits as hard as possible. 252 Speed EVs ensures that Exeggutor outspeeds as much as possible, especially when Chlorophyll activates. The remaining 4 EVs are put into Special Defense. In terms of items, both Choice Specs and Life Orb are viable on offensive sets. Choice Specs packs ridiculous amounts of power, but being locked into an attack can be problematic when Exeggutor’s STAB attacks don’t have great individual coverage. Life Orb allows the freedom to switch attacks (which is definitely preferable if you’re packing Sleep Powder), but at the cost of recoil damage and a drop in power. Both are viable, but there’s one important thing to remember regardless of what item you choose; neither one is a berry. As a result, Harvest is useless on this set, so Chlorophyll is the ability of choice.
Other Options
-Ancient Power is able to hit Fire and Flying types for decent damage, although its low base power and PP are problems.
-Explosion can be a way to go out with a bang, but ever since its nerf in Gen 5, its effectiveness has waned.
-A Rest-Lum Berry-Harvest combo can be an interesting gimmick to stay healthy, but it’s just that; a gimmick. Without Sun up it’s not entirely reliable, it’s very easily screwed by Knock Off, and Exeggutor’s poor defensive typing makes it hard to survive.
-Petaya Berry and Harvest can allow Exeggutor to get some ridiculous levels of special attack, but in general your damage output with Choice Specs or Life Orb is more consistent.
-Sludge Bomb has decent power and hits Grass and Fairy types hard, but the coverage it affords you isn’t spectacular, especially since it furthers the Steel type woes.
-Sunny Day can be used to set up the Sun so that Exeggutor can abuse Chlorophyll.
-On the other end of the speed spectrum, Trick Room can be an option if Exeggutor wants to take advantage of its low speed, but its low duration and the fact that it doesn’t do much against slower teams makes it unreliable.
-Worry Seed is an option to impede things that rely on their abilities to be threatening, but in general it’s less reliable than something like Sleep Powder.
-Leech Seed has some decent passive damage and healing, but Exeggutor is better off with an offensive role.
-Solar Beam can be used on Sun sets as a powerful Grass STAB, but the problem is that it’s quite useless if the Sun is not up.
-For a somewhat gimmicky surprise set, Exeggutor can opt for Swords Dance along with its physical moves such as Wood Hammer, Zen Headbutt, and Low Kick. However, Exeggutor’s too slow to sweep and it’s easily forced out or revenge killed, although this can catch special walls off guard.
Countering Exeggutor
Unlike in the glory days of Generation 1, there’s quite a few Pokemon that can handle Exeggutor without much duress. In format where Exeggutor is most common, Skuntank is arguably the best counter, being immune to Psychic, resisting Grass, and not taking much damage from Hidden Power Fire. Although Choice Specs Leaf Storm can do upwards of 60% to Skuntank, it misses out on the 2HKO, while Skuntank 2HKOs it, and Pursuit traps it as well. Xatu resists both of Exeggutor’s STAB attacks, and is 4HKO’ed at best, while it can utilize Heat Wave and/or U-Turn to damage Exeggutor and Roost off any damage. Specially Defensive Eviolite Zweilous can wall Exeggutor for days, as it is only 5HKO’ed by Choice Specs Giga Drain, while Crunch can 2HKO Exeggutor. On the flipside, Choice Band Zweilous nukes Exeggutor off the face of the planet with a frightening 1HKO, but it has to watch out for Choice Specs Leaf Storm 2HKOing. Eviolite Scyther can survive any single hit from Exeggutor as long as Stealth Rock isn’t up, with its best bet being Choice Specs Psychic which can only 2HKO. Meanwhile, Scyther’s U-Turn soundly 1HKOs Exeggutor and allows it to pivot out on an obvious switch. Charizard has no problem switching into Leaf Storm, Giga Drain, or Hidden Power Fire, but Psychic can take a bite out of it and the rare Ancient Power can be problematic too. However, it outspeeds Exeggutor and fries it with Fire Blast. Likewise, Shiftry can switch into Psychic, Giga Drain, or Sleep Powder, but hates eating a Choice Specs Leaf Storm due to its raw power, and Hidden Power Fire can fry it as well. However, it outspeeds Exeggutor and Knock Off will soundly 1HKO it, in addition to punishing most switch-ins. Magmortar’s Assault Vest set is only 2HKO’ed by Choice Specs Psychic, while it can soundly 1HKO with Fire Blast. With Exeggutor’s low speed, there are numerous things that can check it with ease. Swellow obliterates Exeggutor but with its low bulk it can’t switch into much of anything. Pinsir can check Exeggutor with its powerful X-Scissor, and with a Scarf it outspeeds Modest (but not Timid) Exeggutor even in the Sun. Muk can check an Exeggutor locked into anything but Psychic, and 1HKO with Gunk Shot. However, it should go without saying that Muk doesn’t want to eat Psychic; it can survive a Psychic with an Assault Vets, but given it’s outsped by Exeggutor this should only be an emergency check. Vivillon outspeeds Exeggutor and can 1HKO with Bug Buzz or Hurricane, although Psychic, Hidden Power Fire, and the rare Ancient Power can all 1HKO on a Choice Specs set. However, if Exeggutor is locked into a Grass type move or has suffered a special attack drop from Leaf Storm, Vivillon can take the opportunity to boost with Quiver Dance as well. Mismagius doesn’t like eating a Leaf Storm, but it can 1HKO Exeggutor with Shadow Ball and outspeeds it outside of the sun. Archeops and Rotom are in the same boat, being able to hit Exeggutor hard but not being able to reliably switch in. Given Exeggutor often utilizes Choice Specs, Steel types are often safe switch-ins, but they hate eating Hidden Power Fire. Klinklang can switch in on Exeggutor’s STAB attacks and proceed to set up Shift Gear. Liepard can utilize Knock Off to hit Exeggutor hard, but can’t take a Grass STAB. It can also utilize Prankster Thunder Wave in an emergency to cripple Exeggutor in the sun, bringing its speed down to nothing. Haunter’s Choice Scarf set outspeeds Exeggutor 100% of the time, being even faster than Timid Exeggutor in the Sun, while being able to 1HKO with Shadow Ball or Sludge Bomb. Just don’t let it eat a Psychic or even a Choice Specs Leaf Storm, as these can 1HKO Haunter. Jynx can also outspeed Exeggutor in the Sun with a Choice Scarf set, but watch out for the Sun punishing Jynx’s Dry Skin ability, and Leaf Storm will slam it hard. When the sun isn’t up though, Exeggutor isn’t hard to outspeed; base 55 speed can only take it so far, and with its poor special bulk, most neutral special attacks can 2HKO it without much duress. Plus, with its shoddy typing, things like U-Turns, Knock Offs, etc. that are often utilized as coverage can hit Exeggutor hard.
In more inclusive formats, Exeggutor gets a painful reminder of why it’s no longer viable in standard play. Exeggutor has no chance of breaking powerful special walls like Blissey, Chansey, Florges, and Assault Vest Goodra. Heatran is an immovable object for Exeggutor as well, as it resists both of Exeggutor’s STAB attacks and is immune to Hidden Power Fire. Exeggutor often finds itself at the mercy of powerful special attackers such as Hydreigon, Moltres, Gengar, Mega Charizard Y, and many more. Latios and Latias are nigh insurmountable obstacles for Exeggutor as well, as they resist pretty much everything it can throw at them. Powerful U-Turns from the likes of Scizor and Mega Scizor, along with Brave Bird from Talonflame and Return from Mega Pinsir, are more than enough to 1HKO Exeggutor in a flash. This is only the tip of the iceberg; there are so many things that can make Exeggutor’s life miserable that you’d have to be foolhardy to try and utilize Exeggutor where the big boys come to play. Sadly, Exeggutor is no longer able to tangle with the best of the best, so it’s not worth trying.
Pre-Evolution Corner - Exeggcute
Overview
Easter Exeggcute
-Psychic
-Giga Drain
-Hidden Power Fire
-Sleep Powder
Item Attached: Eviolite
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs and Nature:
EVs:
116 HP / 196 SpA / 196 Spe
Timid Nature
Unlike Exeggutor, Exeggcute never really had a moment in the sun. It's always been a lackluster Pokemon whose viability in the Little Cup has been bottom of the barrel. Regardless, it can try to run a Chlorophyll set, although it's largely outclassed by Bellsprout and Bulbasaur.
Exeggcute's movepool is pretty self explanatory. Psychic and Giga Drain are your obvious STAB attacks, which actually hit a decent amount of things hard, as Psychic can hurt the myriad of fighting types, while Giga Drain deals well with Chinchou. Hidden Power Fire helps deal with steel types, the most noteworthy of which is Pawniard. Finally, Sleep Powder helps Exeggcute to neuter potential switch-ins, as only a handful of things can reliably switch into it, many of which don't want to eat one of Exeggcute's coverage moves.
Timid Nature and 196 Speed maximize Exeggcute's speed; it reaches 14 speed, which doubles to a frightening 28 speed when the Sun is activating Chlorophyll. 196 Special Attack EVs maximize Exeggcute's power, while the leftover 116 HP EVs help to bolster Exeggcute's bulk. Eviolite helps to ensure Exeggcute can take a hit, since its speed is fairly low without the Sun, although it does get decent bulk on the physical side.
Egg-citing
-Substitute
-Giga Drain
-Sleep Powder / Leech Seed
-Psychic / Hidden Power Fire
Item Attached: Oran Berry
Ability: Harvest
EVs and Nature:
EVs: 196 Def / 196 SpA / 80 SpDef / 36 Spe
Timid Nature
For a different, albeit more gimmicky approach, Exeggcute can can abuse Harvest, which, unlike Chlorophyll, isn’t something other Pokemon in the Little Cup can readily outclass it at. That said, it’s not a great niche.
Regardless, by utilizing Substitute, Exeggcute can protect itself while also helping to get itself into range for Oran Berry to heal it, which in turn with Harvest, can create a loop of Harvesting and eating the Oran Berry. Giga Drain is Exeggcute’s primary STAB choice, allowing it to deal well with Chinchou, Diglett, and Drilbur, among others. It also helps keep itself healthy, as well. Sleep Powder is the preferred move for the third slot, as it can shut down many of Exeggcute’s checks and counters, especially if it’s already behind a Substitute when they switch in. However, Leech Seed can be an option for the ever-annoying “SubSeed” strategy, but this is not a great strategy in general as Grass types ignore it entirely. Finally, Exeggcute expands its coverage with its final slot; Psychic gets a STAB boost and hits things like Foongus hard, but Hidden Power Fire covers Steel types as well, in addition to the Grass types who otherwise resist its other moves. Either is viable.
It goes without saying that Harvest is the crux of this set, as it allows Exeggcute to abuse Oran Berry. Modest Nature and 196 Special Attack EVs ensures Exeggcute hits as hard as possible. 36 Speed EVs are needed to ensure that Exeggcute speed ties with Tirtouga prior to a Shell Smash. The remainder of its EVs are spread across its defenses to afford it more bulk, with 196 EVs being put into Defense and 80 being put into Special Defense.
Locations in Games
Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Trade from FireRed/LeafGreen/XD
FireRed/LeafGreen:
Evolve Exeggcute
Colosseum/XD:
Snagged from Cipher Boss Greevil in Citadark Isle (XD)
Trade from FireRed/LeafGreen (Colosseum)
Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Evolve Exeggcute
HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Evolve Exeggcute
Black/White:
Evolve Exeggcute
Black 2/White 2:
Trade from Black/White
X/Y:
Evolve Exeggcute
Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Trade from X/Y
Animé Appearences
