In-battle formes
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| HP: | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Attack: | 55 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Defense: | 25 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Atk: | 35 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Def: | 45 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Speed: | 95 |
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Evolutions
- Diglett
Formes
- Base
- Alola
Strategies
- en
- LC
Overview
Despite poor defensive stats and mediocre offensive stats, Diglett is one of the defining Pokemon of the Little Cup metagame thanks to its ability Arena Trap, which allows it to revenge kill grounded Pokemon without giving them the option to switch out. Diglett is helped in its revenge killing by a high Speed stat, which allows it to tie for the fastest unboosted Pokemon in the metagame, and a useful offensive typing that gives it super effective STAB coverage on a wide variety of Pokemon. Its moveset is also somewhat customizable, with its movepool including options such as Sucker Punch and Sludge Bomb, allowing it to, for the most part, trap and take on whatever Pokemon its team needs removed. A wide variety of support moves are also at its disposal, allowing Diglett to support its team after trapping the Pokemon it aims to eliminate.
However, Diglett's poor defensive stats leave it unable to safely switch into the Pokemon it aims to trap and susceptible to opposing priority. It is forced to choose between a Focus Sash set, which lacks power, or a Life Orb set, which has no chance of switching into battle. Even with a Life Orb, Diglett is still quite weak, as it only reaches 15 Attack. Diglett is also easily revenge killed or set up on after trapping and KOing an opposing Pokemon thanks to its mediocre stats.
Offensive Trapper
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Moves
Earthquake is a reliable STAB move that allows Diglett to take out the Electric-, Steel-, and Rock-types that it aims to trap. If Groundium Z is run, Diglett can use Tectonic Rage, a powered-up version of Earthquake that will take out Pokemon that Earthquake could not normally KO, such as fast Mienfoo variants and slightly weakened Foongus and Staryu. Rock Slide allows Diglett to take out weakened Pokemon that are immune to Earthquake, such as Vullaby. Sucker Punch is useful against weakened or frail Choice Scarf users, such as Chinchou and slower priority users, such as Doduo. Sludge Bomb is an alternative that lets Diglett trap Cottonee and deal decent damage to other Grass-type Pokemon that aim to revenge kill it. Substitute allows Diglett to play mind games with Sucker Punch users such as Pawniard and, potentially, gives Diglett free turns against foes Choice-locked into Electric-type moves. Memento lets Diglett give a partner a free setup opportunity against the foe of its choice, with the opponent unable to switch out. Sludge Bomb remains an option in this slot, giving Diglett the ability to trap the Pokemon mentioned above. Stealth Rock can be used as well on teams that need it, as Diglett can use it after trapping and taking out a Pokemon.
Set Details
The given EV spread maximizes Diglett's Attack and Speed, with the remaining EVs giving Diglett an extra point in HP. With maximum Speed investment and a Jolly nature, Diglett hits 20 Speed, outspeeding or tying with the entire unboosted metagame. Groundium Z is the preferred item to trap and remove key targets such as Knocked Off Mienfoo and Foongus from a much higher HP than otherwise possible. Life Orb is a viable alternative if the team already has a Z move, as it grants Diglett more consistent damage output. Arena Trap allows Diglett to be the metagame's top revenge killer, as it keeps grounded targets from switching out, allowing Diglett to KO them.
Usage Tips
Diglett should be used to trap and revenge kill specific Pokemon throughout a match. It should almost never be switched into attacks, due to its frailty, but instead brought in by a slow pivot or after the opponent KOes a Pokemon. Scout out opposing Pokemon that may be equipped with a Choice Scarf early on, as Pokemon such as Chinchou and Magnemite that Diglett can often trap can also surprise and outspeed it with a Choice Scarf. If a foe is equipped with a Choice Scarf, Diglett should wait until it is within range of a Sucker Punch KO before trapping it. Be aware that, even with a Life Orb, Diglett is not particularly powerful and with a Groundium Z is even less so when not using Tectonic Rage. Thus, be careful of opposing Pokemon that could come in after Diglett KOes a Pokemon and use it as setup bait, including Timburr, Snivy, and Pumpkaboo-S. If Groundium Z is run, it should be used to power up Earthquake once, when Diglett needs to provide a KO for its team that Diglett's other coverage moves cannot provide. After getting the KOs it needs, Diglett can use its high speed to get off a Memento or Stealth Rock before being KOed.
Team Options
Pokemon that appreciate Diglett's ability to remove Rock-, Steel-, Fire-, and Electric-type foes make the most obvious partners. Flying-types such as Vullaby and Rufflet appreciate Diglett dealing with all of these, as do Normal-types such as Aipom. Fairy-types such as Spritzee, which appreciate Diglett's ability to remove Poison- and Steel-types, make good partners, as do Grass-types, such as Snivy and Pumpkaboo-S, which appreciate the removal of Fire-, Steel-, and Poison-types. Slow pivots that can bring Diglett in safely make good partners as well. Mienfoo is one such option that also appreciates Diglett's ability to remove Ponyta and Poison-types, significantly damage most Fairy-types, and KO Cottonee if running Sludge Bomb. Chinchou also pairs fairly well with Diglett, as Diglett can trap opposing Chinchou for it to pivot more easily. If Diglett is running Groundium Z, Pokemon that appreciate its ability to KO bulky Fighting-types with Tectonic Rage make good partners, especially Carvanha and Scraggy. Pokemon that can take on the bulky Flying-types that don't mind Rock Slide are good partners for Diglett, especially Electric-types such as Elekid and Magnemite. Entry hazard support from the likes of Onix or Ferroseed helps Diglett safely secure more KOs and can break Magnemite's Sturdy to allow Diglett to trap it more safely. Similarly, Knock Off users, including Mienfoo and Pawniard, help Diglett secure more KOs it couldn't get otherwise by removing Eviolites and Berry Juices from foes, and can also remove Choice Scarves to help Diglett trap Pokemon such as Magnemite and Chinchou. Sticky Web setters, specifically Surskit, help Diglett by allowing it to outspeed grounded Choice Scarf Pokemon and trap them reliably.
Choice Scarf
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Moves
Earthquake is Diglett's most powerful STAB attack, letting it trap and take out Pokemon weak to Ground-type moves such as Ponyta and Onix. Diglett can also effectively trap Pokemon not weak to Ground-type with fairly significant prior damage. Rock Slide is Diglett's best coverage move, letting it hit Flying-types such as Vullaby and Doduo for super effective damage. Final Gambit can be used to usually remove bulkier Pokemon such as Foongus and Spritzee that have been weakened throughout the match but cannot be KOed with either Earthquake or Rock Slide. However, since Diglett has a terrible HP stat, some Pokemon may have to be severely weakened for this to be effective, and Diglett must keep its HP high in order to have Final Gambit remain effective. Memento can be used over Final Gambit on teams that rely on setup sweepers such as Shellder, Omanyte, Vullaby, and Zigzagoon. Final Gambit and Memento circumvent Choice Scarf Diglett often being setup bait after a revenge-kill. Beat Up helps Diglett trap and KO full HP Focus Sash Abra as long as Diglett has at least four healthy teammates. Pursuit is an option for Pokemon such as Gastly and Doduo that are not trapped by Arena Trap and attempt to switch out.
Set Details
Since this Diglett set is used as a revenge killer, most of its EVs are invested into Attack and Speed so it can reliably trap and take out as many Pokemon as possible. The remaining EVs are put into HP so that Diglett has a slightly stronger Final Gambit. A Jolly nature and Choice Scarf allow Diglett to outspeed every viable Choice Scarf user in the tier and also outpace many Pokemon at +2, including Shell Smash users such as Shellder and Omanyte, as well as Flame Charge Ponyta and Weak Armor Vullaby after they obtain a Speed boost. Arena Trap is Diglett's best ability, allowing it to to trap grounded Pokemon and remove threats to its team.
Usage Tips
Diglett should almost never be switched into an attack, as its terrible bulk causes it to take a lot of damage even from weak attacks. If the team does not have the option of pivots to bring Diglett in safely, make sure to use it solely as a revenge killer once a Pokemon has fainted. Try to avoid situations where Diglett can be revenge killed by opposing Diglett or Pursuit trappers such as Alolan Grimer and Pawniard, which can take advantage of Diglett being locked into Rock Slide, Beat Up, or Pursuit. As it is quite hard to scout Choice Scarf Diglett due to its already great Speed stat, try to take advantage of this when playing against Pokemon that have the ability to set up. Diglett is able to outspeed Pokemon such as Shellder, Omanyte, Vullaby, and Ponyta after their Speed boosts and can deal with them afterwards. However, Diglett is very weak and is unable to 2HKO Pokemon such as Vullaby and Shellder. Try to deal with Pokemon such as Abra and Gastly early on with Diglett, as Beat Up relies on multiple Pokemon being alive and healthy in the party. However, Memento is more beneficial to use later on in the game in order to weaken the opposing Pokemon's stats so that a setup sweeper can clean late-game. Using Memento too early can result in a wasted setup opportunity, so make sure that the sweeper you are using is able to break through the remainder of the team before using Memento. Final Gambit should be used to open a hole in the opposing team for Diglett's teammates to exploit. For example, removing a Pokemon like Foongus can open the way for a Snivy sweep. Be wary of Pokemon that can easily boost on Diglett such as opposing Snivy, as they are able to use Diglett as setup fodder regardless of which move it is locked into.
Team Options
Thanks to its Choice Scarf, Diglett is able to cover many weak points in a team. It is able to outspeed every unboosted Pokemon in the tier including every viable Choice Scarf user, letting it reliably revenge kill Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Magnemite and Pawniard to open doors for Pokemon such as Abra and Gastly to clean without being revenge killed. This also benefits defensive Pokemon such as Spritzee and Ferroseed that are passive enough to give free switches to both Pawniard and Magnemite. Choice Scarf Diglett also has the ability to trap opposing Life Orb or Groundium Z Diglett from the field. This is amazing for Pokemon such as Ponyta, Mareanie, and Alolan Grimer, as they are less threatened to stay in. Diglett can also outspeed and revenge kill opposing setup sweepers such as Shellder and Omanyte, which works really well with more offensive Pokemon that can be taken advantage of by these setup sweepers, such as Amaura and Doduo. As Diglett is unable to switch in on Pokemon, slow pivots such as bulky Mienfoo and Vullaby are good partners for it, as they can absorb hits and U-turn into Diglett safely, letting it trap Pokemon without having to take prior damage. Pokemon that benefit from Memento support are brilliant with Diglett, as it is able to pick and choose which Pokemon it wants to trap and Memento on. Zigzagoon and Shellder are some of the best recipients of this utility, as they are able to sweep teams with just one turn of setup. Knock Off users such as Pawniard and Timburr are good partners for Diglett, as they can Knock Off Eviolites throughout a match, making it easier for Diglett to trap Pokemon such as Foongus and Mienfoo. Pokemon that can handle Flying- and Ghost-type Pokemon are really handy as teammates for Diglett. Onix and Alolan Grimer are excellent choices, as they can deal with Pokemon such as Vullaby and Gastly with ease. As Choice Scarf Diglett is so easy to set up on by bulkier Pokemon such as Snivy and Timburr, it is beneficial to pair it with a Pokemon that can reliably check them such as Foongus or Vullaby.
Focus Sash
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Moves
Earthquake is a fairly powerful STAB move that allows Diglett to take out most Rock-, Steel-, Fire-, and Electric-type Pokemon. Sucker Punch gives Diglett a form of priority to outspeed and take out weakened priority users, such as Doduo. Memento can be used instead so that Diglett can give a teammate a setup opportunity after it is weakened itself. Rock Slide allows Diglett to hit Flying-types and other Pokemon that resist Earthquake. Sludge Bomb is an alternative that does a fair amount of damage to Grass-types, specifically Cottonee. Memento can also be used in the final moveslot; if it is not, however, Reversal gives Diglett an extremely powerful attack that hits Pokemon such as Scraggy super effectively after it survives an attack using its Focus Sash, and Stealth Rock can give a team a Stealth Rock setter if it can't fit the move in elsewhere.
Set Details
Diglett's Attack and Speed are maximized to enable it to revenge kill as best it can. The remaining EVs are put into HP, boosting it by one point. With 236 Speed EVs and a Jolly nature, Diglett hits 20 Speed, outspeeding or tying with every unboosted LC Pokemon. A Focus Sash lets Diglett safely switch in on one attack and use its Speed to outspeed and take out the foe. Arena Trap is the preferred ability because it keeps Diglett's foes from switching out, making it an extremely effective revenge killer.
Usage Tips
Diglett should be brought in against a Pokemon it can trap to remove it from the match. If entry hazards are up or Diglett's Focus Sash is no longer intact, it shouldn't be switched in at all, but instead saved as a revenge killer only. If Diglett's item will remain intact, it can come in safely against a Pokemon it can hit super effectively with Earthquake, take a hit with Focus Sash, and KO. Scouting for opposing Choice Scarf users is helpful, as Pokemon that Focus Sash Diglett could normally beat, such as Pawniard and Chinchou, cannot be switched into if they are equipped with a Choice Scarf. Be cautious of the fact that Diglett is not particularly strong and can become setup bait for Pokemon it doesn't hit super effectively with Earthquake. Bulkier setup sweepers, including Nasty Plot and Z-Mirror Move Vullaby variants, Scraggy, Shellder, and Snivy can be especially troubling. If Diglett's Focus Sash is intact, it can act as a last-ditch stop to setup sweepers such as Omanyte, either by KOing them or by using Memento to lower their attacking stats.
Team Options
Focus Sash Diglett is the best option on teams that need Diglett to be able to take a single hit and take out a foe. Hazard control is absolutely necessary for this Diglett set to perform its role effectively, as entry hazards will break its Focus Sash and limit its overall effectiveness. Staryu and Drilbur can both use Rapid Spin to remove hazards, and Vullaby can use Defog. Diglett is appreciated by anything that enjoys the removal of Rock-, Steel-, Fire-, and Electric-types. Vullaby, Rufflet, and Doduo appreciate Diglett taking out Rock- and Steel-types, Chinchou appreciates its ability to take out opposing Electric-types, and Grass-type attackers such as Snivy appreciate its ability to take out Steel-, Fire-, and Poison-types. Diglett also appreciates support from strong attackers, such as Abra and Timburr, to help it get KOs despite its mediocre Attack stat by softening up the opposition. Knock Off support from the likes of Mienfoo, Pawniard, and Cottonee also weakens opposing teams by removing foes' Eviolites for Diglett to deal with more easily. Entry hazard support is appreciated as well, with Pokemon such as Onix and Omanyte performing this role well. Diglett's Rock Slide is quite weak, so Pokemon that can weaken bulky Flying-types, which are immune to Earthquake, is appreciated. Electric- and Rock-type Pokemon provide this support well. If Memento is run, Pokemon that can take advantage of Memento support, such as Shellder and Zigzagoon, make good partners. Lastly, Sticky Web support from Surskit allows Diglett to outspeed even Choice Scarf users and more reliably trap foes for its team.
Other Options
Beat Up is an option on either Diglett set to reliably KO Focus Sash Abra on teams that need Abra removed but can't run a Pursuit trapper. It also can be used against Weak Armor Pokemon to lower their Defense stat for a teammate to revenge kill. An Eviolite set can be used to take weak attacks from Choice Scarf Magnemite among others, but Diglett will still get KOed by most attacks. Pursuit is a usable move on teams that really need Gastly removed. Final Gambit allows Diglett to take out slightly weakened bulky Pokemon that it otherwise could not with a regular attack, though Diglett's low base HP means that this rarely KOes. Diglett should not attempt to use Sand Force, as it makes a poor sand sweeper after the initial surprise value due to its susceptibility to revenge killing, poor power even with a Sand Force boost, and the fact that it is outclassed by Alolan Diglett in this role. Shadow Claw is an option that hits Gastly without forcing Diglett into Sucker Punch mindgames but hits little else. Similarly, Aerial Ace gives Diglett a way to hit Grass-types, but it is extremely weak and has little general use. Finally, Diglett can use Sunny Day to act as an alternate weather setter for sun teams, but this comes at the expense of a utility move such as Memento or a coverage move such as Rock Slide.
Checks and Counters
Flying-types: Flying-type Pokemon are immune to Arena Trap, so Diglett cannot trap them, and they are immune to Diglett's STAB. Some, such as Vullaby, do not take significant damage from Diglett's attacks even if they do choose to stay in, and others, such as Doduo, can KO Diglett with powerful priority attacks.
Revenge Killers: Strong priority and Choice Scarf Pokemon can move before Diglett and easily take advantage of its low defenses to remove it from a match. Corphish, Pawniard, and Doduo are all common priority users that threaten Diglett.
Grass-types: Grass-type Pokemon such as Snivy, Pumpkaboo, and Foongus can all easily KO Diglett, and the former two can use it as setup bait, with Snivy able to gain Special Attack boosts and potentially initiate a sweep just by KOing Diglett with Leaf Storm. Cottonee can also check Diglett if it is not running Sludge Bomb. However, these Pokemon are usually limited to revenge killing Diglett due to Arena Trap.
Bulky Pokemon: Many bulky Pokemon, including Spritzee, Slowpoke, and Timburr, are not KOed by Diglett's attacks and can easily KO in return. Corphish and Shellder are especially threatening, as they are bulky enough to take Diglett's attacks and can set up and initiate a sweep in return.
Credits
- Written by Nineage, snow, and Merritt
- Quality checked by Corporal Levi, Xayah, Hilomilo, jake, and Nineage
- Grammar checked by talkingtree, Lumari, and frostration
