[OVERVIEW]
Diggersby holds a few notable niches within the 1v1 metagame, being a fast physical Normal-type Pokemon able to OHKO Pokemon that traditionally pose a threat to most Normal-types, like Tapu Lele, Kommo-o, and Meloetta, with Huge Power and a Choice item. Its Ground typing also allows it to stonewall most Zeraora, which traditionally serves as a counter to Normal-types. However, Diggersby's overall middling base stats betray it, leaving it unable to run setup or leave its Speed stat uninvested. Diggersby is therefore forced to choose between running a Choice Scarf to shore up its below average Speed, leaving it vulnerable to naturally bulky Pokemon, like Primarina, Kommo-o, and Tapu Fini, and going all in on Attack with a Choice Band, forfeiting any potential to outspeed and OHKO Pokemon like Mega Charizard Y and Greninja. It also faces competition from Slaking as a hyper offensive Normal-type; with its natural bulk and Speed, Slaking hits much harder with its Choice Band-boosted Giga Impact when compared to Choice Scarf Diggersby and is much more capable of tanking hits than Choice Band Diggersby.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Giga Impact
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Fire Punch
move 4: Gunk Shot / Ice Punch
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Huge Power
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Giga Impact is Diggersby's go-to STAB option, able to one-shot threats like Mega Gardevoir, Mega Charizard Y, Greninja, and potentially Pokemon like Serperior, depending on rolls. Earthquake is Diggersby's Ground-type STAB attack of choice, hitting Pokemon like Zeraora, Aegislash, and Grassium Z Heatran. Fire Punch can break down Steel-types that are hit neutrally by Earthquake, like Genesect, Kartana, Durant, Mega Scizor, and Ferrothorn. Gunk Shot can also be run in order to give Diggersby much better odds against Serperior and Tapu Fini. Ice Punch serves as a more reliable answer for Pokemon like Garchomp.
Set Details
========
The EVs are designed to maximize Attack and Speed, giving Diggersby the highest odds at beating Pokemon like bulky Mega Charizard X and Garchomp. Huge Power is run for this purpose as well, making Diggersby viable. The remaining 4 EVs are put into Special Defense in order to not lose to Download users like Choice Scarf Genesect. A Choice Scarf is run in order to outspeed Greninja, Naganadel, and Jumpluff. An Adamant nature should be run in order to consistently beat threats like Tapu Lele, Magearna, and Ferrothorn. However, Jolly is an option to catch speedier Pokemon like Mega Lopunny, Mega Gengar, and Modest Choice Scarf Porygon-Z off guard.
Usage Tips
========
The matchup against bulky Mega Charizard X is a coinflip, depending on whether or not you predict it to Mega Evolve or not. If you predict it to stay in its regular forme, use Giga Impact, and if you expect it to Mega Evolve to tank Giga Impact, use Earthquake. If one of Diggersby's more accurate coverage moves can also OHKO the opposing Pokemon, use it over Giga Impact, as this will circumvent any chance of losing due to a miss. Against Pokemon that threaten to beat Diggersby, use Ice Punch if that hits neutrally or super effectively, in order to fish for freezes. This is less than ideal, but it is the only way to win against Pokemon like Crustle, Meloetta, Aron, Kommo-o, and Mega Altaria. Despite it having access to Ice Punch, do not use Diggersby against Landorus-T and Zygarde-C, as Landorus-T will either tank an Ice Punch or outspeed it with its own Choice Scarf and OHKO back, and Zygarde will be able to KO Diggersby with Tectonic Rage followed by Extreme Speed or after using Coil. For the same reason, Mega Mawile and Incineroar should be avoided, as they can easily take an Earthquake after Intimidate and OHKO back with Metal Burst or Play Rough or Fake Out followed by Malicious Moonsault. Some other bulkier Pokemon will be able to shrug off damage dealt by Giga Impact or super effective damage, like Primarina, Celesteela, and Mega Aggron, and retaliate with their respective offensive options.
Team Options
========
Grass- and Electric-type Pokemon like Serperior, Tapu Bulu, Magnezone, and Zeraora are especially helpful partners of Diggersby, as they can deal with Diggersby's ineptitude against several common bulky Water-types, like Mega Gyarados, Primarina, and Mega Slowbro. In return, Diggersby deals with dangerous Fire-types like Mega Charizard X and Y, Victini, and Volcarona and dangerous Ground- and Steel-types like Garchomp and non-Counter Registeel. Diggersby will appreciate bulky Taunt users like Kommo-o, stall Deoxys-S, and Tapu Fini, which can break past stall or setup Pokemon that can take a few of Diggersby's hits, like Umbreon, Necrozma, Zygarde-C, Landorus-T, and Meloetta. Diggersby can aid these Pokemon by beating back faster and more offensive opposing Taunt users, like Mega Gardevoir, Tapu Lele, and Zeraora.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Giga Impact
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Fire Punch
item: Choice Band
ability: Huge Power
nature: Adamant
evs: 120 HP / 188 Atk / 4 SpD / 196 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Giga Impact is Diggersby's go-to STAB option, able to one-shot threats like Kommo-o, Mega Altaria, Meloetta and Primarina. Earthquake hits Pokemon like Zeraora, Mega Metagross, and Magearna, as well as 2HKOing Tapunium Z Tapu Fini. Superpower is run in order to KO Heatran, Type: Null, and Umbreon. Fire Punch can be run in order to OHKO Mega Scizor and physically defensive Ferrothorn. Ice Punch is an option to beat Occa Berry Whimsicott and non-maximum Defense Zygarde-C and fish for potential freezes in unwinnable matchups. Foul Play can be run in order to lure in and OHKO Magnet Rise Mega Metagross.
Set Details
========
120 HP and 4 Special Defense EVs are run in order to always survive an Ice Punch from Mega Metagross and an Overheat from Heatran and to give Choice Scarf Genesect an Attack boost instead of Special Attack from Download. 196 Speed EVs enable Diggersby to always outspeed Magnezone, which could potentially 2HKO with Flash Cannon, as well as neutral-natured Volcanion and uninvested base 100 Speed Pokemon like Manaphy. 188 Attack EVs are run in order to maximize Diggersby's Attack as much as possible, granting it absurd matchups against some of the physically bulkiest Pokemon in the metagame, like Mega Altaria, Primarina, and Meloetta. Huge Power is run in order to double Diggersby's Attack, aided by Choice Band as well. Alternatively, a simple 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe set with an Adamant nature allows Diggersby to OHKO Waterium Z Tapu Fini and outspeed and OHKO niche threats like neutral-natured speedy Tapu Bulu.
Usage Tips
========
If one of Diggersby's coverage moves can OHKO the foe, use it over Giga Impact, as this will circumvent any chance of losing due to a miss. It is relevant to know that Choice Band Diggersby, as one of the most physically powerful attackers in 1v1, can win against foes that would normally be able to tank a neutral or even super effective hit from almost anything else, including bulky Mega Charizard X, Meloetta, Kommo-o, Primarina, Tapu Fini, Mega Altaria, Clefable, maximum Defense Hoopa-U, and almost always Mega Swampert. These are all threats you can lure in, as they will be expecting Choice Scarf. Physically defensive Tapunium Z Tapu Fini is not consistently OHKOed by Giga Impact, so instead use Earthquake to 2HKO.
Team Options
========
Diggersby is deathly weak to basically any faster offensive threat, like Dragonite, Mega Gyarados, Mega Charizard X and Y, Greninja, and Porygon-Z, as well as Pokemon like Smeargle and Jumpluff, whose strategies rely on putting an opponent to sleep first, then stalling with Leech Seed. Therefore, stall users that can set up against their defenses and mitigate sleep strategies, like Type: Null, Mega Slowbro, Mega Sableye, Mega Audino, and Deoxys-S, act as reasonable support for Diggersby. They in return appreciate Diggersby's ability to annihilate common Taunt attackers, like Kommo-o, Mega Mawile, and Tapu Fini, as well as Pokemon like Incineroar, Meloetta, and Aegislash, which all have strategies that can ignore stat boosts. Outside of Magnezone, Sturdy Pokemon like Donphan, Golem, and Carracosta will threaten Diggersby, as it will be unable to break them fast enough due to their innate ability. To threaten these Pokemon, bulky Water-types like Mega Gyarados, Primarina, and Tapu Fini can be run, alongside some other faster threats like Mega Charizard X and Y, Greninja, Dragonite, and Mega Lopunny. In return, they appreciate Diggersby's positive matchup against Electric- and Grass-types like Zeraora, Magnezone, Ferrothorn, and bulky Tapu Bulu, as well as opposing Primarina and Tapu Fini, and certain bulky Pokemon like Meloetta and defensive Hoopa-U.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Diggersby has no viable other options.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Sturdy Users**: Diggersby will struggle against most Pokemon it cannot OHKO, and thus most Sturdy users have ways to work around Diggersby, be it hyper offense of their own, setup, Counter, Metal Burst, or priority, or a combination of these. Do not send Diggersby against Donphan, Golem, Aggron, Carracosta, Sawk, and Avalugg. Endure Porygon-Z should also not be considered a reliable win, for similar reasoning.
**Faster Pokemon**: Pokemon that can naturally outspeed Diggersby even after Choice Scarf will make quick work of it, and thus Diggersby should not go up against Mega Lopunny, Choice Band Zeraora, Pheromosa, Haxorus, Mega Blaziken, and Choice Scarf Porygon-Z and Tapu Lele. Running a Jolly nature can clean up a few of these, but not all.
**Physically Defensive Bulky Pokemon**: Pokemon that can tank an attack from Diggersby will usually win. Do not use Diggersby against Mega Gyarados, Zygarde-C, Dragonite, Mega Slowbro, Mega Venusaur, Mega Sableye, and Kee Berry Mew. It should also be noted that Intimidate users like Landorus-T, Mega Mawile, and Krookodile are deceptively bulky and can easily tank super effective hits from the Choice Scarf variant.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Alakazam, 276708]]
- Quality checked by: [[pqs, 425798], [Synonimous, 457703], [Osra, 239997]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [Kris, 241023]]
Diggersby holds a few notable niches within the 1v1 metagame, being a fast physical Normal-type Pokemon able to OHKO Pokemon that traditionally pose a threat to most Normal-types, like Tapu Lele, Kommo-o, and Meloetta, with Huge Power and a Choice item. Its Ground typing also allows it to stonewall most Zeraora, which traditionally serves as a counter to Normal-types. However, Diggersby's overall middling base stats betray it, leaving it unable to run setup or leave its Speed stat uninvested. Diggersby is therefore forced to choose between running a Choice Scarf to shore up its below average Speed, leaving it vulnerable to naturally bulky Pokemon, like Primarina, Kommo-o, and Tapu Fini, and going all in on Attack with a Choice Band, forfeiting any potential to outspeed and OHKO Pokemon like Mega Charizard Y and Greninja. It also faces competition from Slaking as a hyper offensive Normal-type; with its natural bulk and Speed, Slaking hits much harder with its Choice Band-boosted Giga Impact when compared to Choice Scarf Diggersby and is much more capable of tanking hits than Choice Band Diggersby.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Giga Impact
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Fire Punch
move 4: Gunk Shot / Ice Punch
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Huge Power
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Giga Impact is Diggersby's go-to STAB option, able to one-shot threats like Mega Gardevoir, Mega Charizard Y, Greninja, and potentially Pokemon like Serperior, depending on rolls. Earthquake is Diggersby's Ground-type STAB attack of choice, hitting Pokemon like Zeraora, Aegislash, and Grassium Z Heatran. Fire Punch can break down Steel-types that are hit neutrally by Earthquake, like Genesect, Kartana, Durant, Mega Scizor, and Ferrothorn. Gunk Shot can also be run in order to give Diggersby much better odds against Serperior and Tapu Fini. Ice Punch serves as a more reliable answer for Pokemon like Garchomp.
Set Details
========
The EVs are designed to maximize Attack and Speed, giving Diggersby the highest odds at beating Pokemon like bulky Mega Charizard X and Garchomp. Huge Power is run for this purpose as well, making Diggersby viable. The remaining 4 EVs are put into Special Defense in order to not lose to Download users like Choice Scarf Genesect. A Choice Scarf is run in order to outspeed Greninja, Naganadel, and Jumpluff. An Adamant nature should be run in order to consistently beat threats like Tapu Lele, Magearna, and Ferrothorn. However, Jolly is an option to catch speedier Pokemon like Mega Lopunny, Mega Gengar, and Modest Choice Scarf Porygon-Z off guard.
Usage Tips
========
The matchup against bulky Mega Charizard X is a coinflip, depending on whether or not you predict it to Mega Evolve or not. If you predict it to stay in its regular forme, use Giga Impact, and if you expect it to Mega Evolve to tank Giga Impact, use Earthquake. If one of Diggersby's more accurate coverage moves can also OHKO the opposing Pokemon, use it over Giga Impact, as this will circumvent any chance of losing due to a miss. Against Pokemon that threaten to beat Diggersby, use Ice Punch if that hits neutrally or super effectively, in order to fish for freezes. This is less than ideal, but it is the only way to win against Pokemon like Crustle, Meloetta, Aron, Kommo-o, and Mega Altaria. Despite it having access to Ice Punch, do not use Diggersby against Landorus-T and Zygarde-C, as Landorus-T will either tank an Ice Punch or outspeed it with its own Choice Scarf and OHKO back, and Zygarde will be able to KO Diggersby with Tectonic Rage followed by Extreme Speed or after using Coil. For the same reason, Mega Mawile and Incineroar should be avoided, as they can easily take an Earthquake after Intimidate and OHKO back with Metal Burst or Play Rough or Fake Out followed by Malicious Moonsault. Some other bulkier Pokemon will be able to shrug off damage dealt by Giga Impact or super effective damage, like Primarina, Celesteela, and Mega Aggron, and retaliate with their respective offensive options.
Team Options
========
Grass- and Electric-type Pokemon like Serperior, Tapu Bulu, Magnezone, and Zeraora are especially helpful partners of Diggersby, as they can deal with Diggersby's ineptitude against several common bulky Water-types, like Mega Gyarados, Primarina, and Mega Slowbro. In return, Diggersby deals with dangerous Fire-types like Mega Charizard X and Y, Victini, and Volcarona and dangerous Ground- and Steel-types like Garchomp and non-Counter Registeel. Diggersby will appreciate bulky Taunt users like Kommo-o, stall Deoxys-S, and Tapu Fini, which can break past stall or setup Pokemon that can take a few of Diggersby's hits, like Umbreon, Necrozma, Zygarde-C, Landorus-T, and Meloetta. Diggersby can aid these Pokemon by beating back faster and more offensive opposing Taunt users, like Mega Gardevoir, Tapu Lele, and Zeraora.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Giga Impact
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Fire Punch
item: Choice Band
ability: Huge Power
nature: Adamant
evs: 120 HP / 188 Atk / 4 SpD / 196 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Giga Impact is Diggersby's go-to STAB option, able to one-shot threats like Kommo-o, Mega Altaria, Meloetta and Primarina. Earthquake hits Pokemon like Zeraora, Mega Metagross, and Magearna, as well as 2HKOing Tapunium Z Tapu Fini. Superpower is run in order to KO Heatran, Type: Null, and Umbreon. Fire Punch can be run in order to OHKO Mega Scizor and physically defensive Ferrothorn. Ice Punch is an option to beat Occa Berry Whimsicott and non-maximum Defense Zygarde-C and fish for potential freezes in unwinnable matchups. Foul Play can be run in order to lure in and OHKO Magnet Rise Mega Metagross.
Set Details
========
120 HP and 4 Special Defense EVs are run in order to always survive an Ice Punch from Mega Metagross and an Overheat from Heatran and to give Choice Scarf Genesect an Attack boost instead of Special Attack from Download. 196 Speed EVs enable Diggersby to always outspeed Magnezone, which could potentially 2HKO with Flash Cannon, as well as neutral-natured Volcanion and uninvested base 100 Speed Pokemon like Manaphy. 188 Attack EVs are run in order to maximize Diggersby's Attack as much as possible, granting it absurd matchups against some of the physically bulkiest Pokemon in the metagame, like Mega Altaria, Primarina, and Meloetta. Huge Power is run in order to double Diggersby's Attack, aided by Choice Band as well. Alternatively, a simple 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe set with an Adamant nature allows Diggersby to OHKO Waterium Z Tapu Fini and outspeed and OHKO niche threats like neutral-natured speedy Tapu Bulu.
Usage Tips
========
If one of Diggersby's coverage moves can OHKO the foe, use it over Giga Impact, as this will circumvent any chance of losing due to a miss. It is relevant to know that Choice Band Diggersby, as one of the most physically powerful attackers in 1v1, can win against foes that would normally be able to tank a neutral or even super effective hit from almost anything else, including bulky Mega Charizard X, Meloetta, Kommo-o, Primarina, Tapu Fini, Mega Altaria, Clefable, maximum Defense Hoopa-U, and almost always Mega Swampert. These are all threats you can lure in, as they will be expecting Choice Scarf. Physically defensive Tapunium Z Tapu Fini is not consistently OHKOed by Giga Impact, so instead use Earthquake to 2HKO.
Team Options
========
Diggersby is deathly weak to basically any faster offensive threat, like Dragonite, Mega Gyarados, Mega Charizard X and Y, Greninja, and Porygon-Z, as well as Pokemon like Smeargle and Jumpluff, whose strategies rely on putting an opponent to sleep first, then stalling with Leech Seed. Therefore, stall users that can set up against their defenses and mitigate sleep strategies, like Type: Null, Mega Slowbro, Mega Sableye, Mega Audino, and Deoxys-S, act as reasonable support for Diggersby. They in return appreciate Diggersby's ability to annihilate common Taunt attackers, like Kommo-o, Mega Mawile, and Tapu Fini, as well as Pokemon like Incineroar, Meloetta, and Aegislash, which all have strategies that can ignore stat boosts. Outside of Magnezone, Sturdy Pokemon like Donphan, Golem, and Carracosta will threaten Diggersby, as it will be unable to break them fast enough due to their innate ability. To threaten these Pokemon, bulky Water-types like Mega Gyarados, Primarina, and Tapu Fini can be run, alongside some other faster threats like Mega Charizard X and Y, Greninja, Dragonite, and Mega Lopunny. In return, they appreciate Diggersby's positive matchup against Electric- and Grass-types like Zeraora, Magnezone, Ferrothorn, and bulky Tapu Bulu, as well as opposing Primarina and Tapu Fini, and certain bulky Pokemon like Meloetta and defensive Hoopa-U.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Diggersby has no viable other options.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Sturdy Users**: Diggersby will struggle against most Pokemon it cannot OHKO, and thus most Sturdy users have ways to work around Diggersby, be it hyper offense of their own, setup, Counter, Metal Burst, or priority, or a combination of these. Do not send Diggersby against Donphan, Golem, Aggron, Carracosta, Sawk, and Avalugg. Endure Porygon-Z should also not be considered a reliable win, for similar reasoning.
**Faster Pokemon**: Pokemon that can naturally outspeed Diggersby even after Choice Scarf will make quick work of it, and thus Diggersby should not go up against Mega Lopunny, Choice Band Zeraora, Pheromosa, Haxorus, Mega Blaziken, and Choice Scarf Porygon-Z and Tapu Lele. Running a Jolly nature can clean up a few of these, but not all.
**Physically Defensive Bulky Pokemon**: Pokemon that can tank an attack from Diggersby will usually win. Do not use Diggersby against Mega Gyarados, Zygarde-C, Dragonite, Mega Slowbro, Mega Venusaur, Mega Sableye, and Kee Berry Mew. It should also be noted that Intimidate users like Landorus-T, Mega Mawile, and Krookodile are deceptively bulky and can easily tank super effective hits from the Choice Scarf variant.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Alakazam, 276708]]
- Quality checked by: [[pqs, 425798], [Synonimous, 457703], [Osra, 239997]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [Kris, 241023]]
Last edited:
