Diggersby, the Digging Pokémon. With power equal to an excavator, it can dig through dense bedrock. It's a huge help during tunnel construction. The fur on its belly retains heat exceptionally well. People used to make heavy winter clothing from fur shed by this Pokémon.
Overview
Diggersby returns doing the same tricks it has been pulling off for the past few generations, being a terrifying wall breaker in thanks to its great STAB combination and the utterly bonkers ability of Huge Power. Ground STAB is extremely complimentary to Normal, hitting all of Normal’s resists for neutral and vise versa for Normal hitting Ground’s resists, meaning few Pokémon are able to take Diggersby’s best attacks and Diggersby does have a wide enough movepool to cover for them.
However, Diggersby’s flaws are numerous and compounded. It offers little defensive utility to a team and is cripplingly slow without boosting. The loss of a reliable STAB in Return hurts immensely and while Diggersby may have flourished in the early Sword/Shield days, the massive influx of Pokémon reintroduced have pushed Diggersby farther and farther down. Additionally, Diggersby faces fierce competition in its niche from other potent wallbreakers like Landorus-Therian, Garchomp, Mamoswine and Krookodile, all of whom have better defensive utility and speed over Diggersby.
Positives
Huge Power turns Diggersby’s meagre attack into a wrecking ball of destruction.
Normal-Ground has fantastic Neutral coverage, making Diggersby’s STABs hard to resist
Good movepool able to cover Diggersby’s weaknesses and several boosting options.
Negatives
Common weaknesses and lack of bulk make it hard for Diggersby to switch in safely or endure many attacks.
Below average Base 78 Speed means that Diggersby struggles to act first, forcing it to rely on its lacking defenses to take a hit.
Stiff competition in its niche as a physical Ground type wallbreaker
Movesets
Bunny Boy Bruiser
-Swords Dance
-Quick Attack
-Earthquake
-Fire Punch
Item Attached: Silk Scarf
Ability: Huge Power
EVs and Nature:
4 HP /252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
Diggersby can take advantage of its two immunities to switch in, and setup Swords Dance before ripping holes in the opposing team, or in an ideal late game scenario. Swords Dance boosted Quick Attack is horrifyingly powerful for a priority move, maiming most targets while bypassing Diggersby’s lackluster Speed. Earthquake is the other workhorse move, crushing slower walls including the often slower Rock and Steel types that resist Diggersby’s Quick Attack. Fire Punch rounds out the set, giving Diggersby vital coverage against the Flying Steel types that resist its STABs like Corviknight, Skarmory and Celesteela, while also punishing Ferrothorn and Bronzong.
DYNAMAX:
Diggersby is a decent Dynamax option, greatly appreciating the bulk and offense boost. STAB Max Strike acting as an ersatz Max Airstream and Max Quake avoiding the damage reduction of Grassy Terrain are other excellent reasons. However, losing out on priority from Quick Attack is a tough pill to swallow, as Diggersby may not be healthy enough to take multiple hits if it took a hit while Swords Dancing.
EVs and Items:
Max Attack and Speed are recommended here. Max Attack is a must, Diggersby plies its niche by making One Hit Knock Outs. Max Speed is recommended to give Diggersby the ability to outspeed as many walls it can, offering more Swords Dance opportunities. If not concerned about that, you can invest into HP for more bulk. Silk Scarf is recommended to buff Quick Attack, though Life Orb offers a better power boost. Focus Sash is also an option, ensuring that Diggersby lives to setup the Swords Dance.
Partners:
Ironically, as much as they can trouble Diggersby, Corviknight, Celesteela and Skarmory all make excellent partners to Diggersby. They easily pivot into the Grass moves that trouble it, setup entry hazards that soften targets up for Diggersby’s boosted Quick Attacks later and in return appreciate Diggersby’s ability to check Electric types.:
Zapdos checks the Grass and Water types that trouble Diggersby while providing Special Offense to compliment Diggersby’s physical and potential speed control with Thunder Wave and Tailwind. Other special attackers that can deal with the physical walls that trouble Diggersby are also appreciated.
Slow Pivots like Slowking, Scizor and Swampert can all get Diggersby in safely to enable setup.
Other Options:
Flail -if using Focus Sash, this is nightmarishly powerful after setting up Swords Dance.
Façade -can be on the weak side, but it prevents Burning from being a reliable out to Diggersby and punishes other incidental statuses.
Wild Charge -covers Aerodactyl and Archeops who are immune to Earthquake and don’t take much damage from Quick Attack.
High Horsepower -weaker than Earthquake, but dodges the debuff from Grass Terrain.
Agility -Diggersby can try for a DoubleDance set, but it does lack the bulk and it really needs to OHKO it targets, which makes replacing Swords Dance for Agility unpalatable.
Bunny Bandit
-Body Slam
-Earthquake
-Fire Punch
-Bounce
Item Attached: Choice Scarf
Ability: Huge Power
EVs and Nature:
4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
Choice Scarf Diggersby is an effective revenge killer, getting the jump on many of its faster checks. Body Slam is the Normal STAB of choice here, having fantastic power and a meaty Paralysis chance that can open opportunities for Diggersby’s teammates. Earthquake is the Ground STAB of choice, being an all-around fantastic move. Fire Punch covers many of the few walls that do resist Diggersby’s STABs. Bounce is here for its Dynamax utility
DYNAMAX:
This set is expected to take advantage of Dynamax breaking the Choice Lock and the power of Max Airstream. While Max Airstream seems redundant with Max Strike, it does actively counteract the downside of losing the benefits of the Choice Scarf while Dynamaxing and enables Diggersby to outspeed even more targets post Dynamaxing. Max Strike, Max Quake and Max Flare have extremely good coverage, ensuring Diggersby can get the most out of its Dynamax turns.
EVs and Natures:
Max Speed and Attack. This set is a revenge killer and needs the best of both to do its duties. Adamant Nature Diggersby outspeeds up to base 124 speed targets like Ribombee with Choice Scarf. Jolly Diggersby does outspeed up to base 140s, but the power drop is significant. Choice Band is worth consideration, but Swords Dance excels thanks to its flexibility and greater power.
Other Options:
Superpower -gives Diggersby a Max Knuckle for escalating its Attack while Dynamaxed, but doesn’t offer much in the way of coverage over Diggersby’s other moves.
U-Turn -great for scouting and countering expected switch ins.
Giga Impact -If going all in on the Dynamax Sweeper, this is the strongest STAB Diggersby has.
Partners:
Zapdos and Rotom Heat check the Grass and Water types that trouble Diggersby while providing Special Offense to compliment Diggersby’s physical, potential speed control with Thunder Wave and Tailwind and a potential pivot option with Volt Switch.
Other special attackers that can deal with the physical walls and Intimidate users that trouble Diggersby are also appreciated.
Slow Pivots like Slowking, Scizor and Swampert can all get Diggersby in safely to enable setup.
Countering Diggersby
Diggersby is slow and frail, so there are many Pokémon that can revenge KO it. Enduring Diggerby’s attacks is a more difficult matter, as few can switch in safely. On sets lacking Fire Punch or Wild Charge, Skarmory, Corviknight, Bronzong and Celesteela do well, enduring Diggersby’s moves with ease and setting up or forcing it out.
Opposing priority users can give Diggersby trouble as most KO after a slight amount of chip damage. Azumarill, Crawdaunt, Conkeldurr, and Mamoswine all possess super effective priority that can easily maim if not OHKO Diggersby.
Rillaboom is problematic, not only easily OHKOing with Grassy Glide, but setting up Grassy Terrain reduces Earthquake’s power, making it easier for Rock and Steel walls to handle Diggersby.
Burning Diggersby also cuts its threat level, unless it is the rare Facade set.
Locations in Games
Red/Blue/Yellow:
Not in game
Gold/Silver/Crystal:
Not in game
Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Not in game
FireRed/LeafGreen:
Not in game
Colosseum/XD:
Not in game
Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Not in game
HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Not in game
Black/White:
Not in game
Black 2/White 2:
Not in game
X/Y:
Route 22, Friend Safari
Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Trade from Pokémon X/Y
Sun/Moon:
Transfer from Pokémon X/Y
Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon:
Transfer from Pokémon X/Y
Let's Go, Pikachu!/Let's Go, Eevee!:
Not in game
Sword/Shield:
Axew's Eye, Bridge Field, Giant's Cap, Giant's Mirror, Giant's Seat, North Lake Miloch, Rolling Fields
Max Raid Battles: Bridge Field, East Lake Axewell, Motostoke Riverbank, Rolling Fields, Stony Wilderness
Dynamax Adventures
Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl:
Not in game
Legends: Arceus:
Not in game
Anime Appearences
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Diggersby has made multiple appearances in the anime. Most notably Clemont's Bunnelby evolved into Diggersby and was used in a battle against Ash |
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