[OVERVIEW]
Huge Power makes Diggersby a decent wallbreaker and cleaner that can pressure many Pokemon in the tier. A Swords Dance boost allows Diggersby to KO defensive walls like Chansey and Celesteela; even the latter is KOed by Mega Kick after chip damage despite being the only Pokemon in the tier that resists or is immune to both STAB moves. Quick Attack also provides a strong STAB priority attack that allows Diggersby to perform late-game sweeps, while a Choice Scarf set can outspeed and KO some of its usual offensive checks like Cobalion and Lycanroc-D; however, other common Choice Scarf users like Krookodile and Zarude outspeed Diggersby and have more defensive utility, with the former having Intimidate and the latter having decent natural bulk. Without Choice Scarf, Diggersby is slow and will rarely outspeed its foes, forcing it to usually rely on Quick Attack for a late-game sweep and making it easy fodder for faster revenge killers like Keldeo if they are healthy enough to survive a boosted Quick Attack. Other offensive Pokemon that can boost their Speed, such as Dragon Dance Salamence and Gyarados, can better position themselves to sweep. With Diggersby's low defenses and lack of any meaningful defensive utility outside of switching in on a predicted Electric-type attack with its Choice Scarf set, it needs to typically OHKO its foes to prevent taking heavy damage in return. Additionally, it is weak to common priority users such as Aqua Jet Azumarill and Mach Punch Conkeldurr.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Quick Attack
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Mega Kick / Body Slam
item: Silk Scarf
ability: Huge Power
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
The combination of Swords Dance and Quick Attack makes this set particularly lethal, as +2 Quick Attack can KO Pokemon such as Keldeo and Thundurus-T after minimal chip damage. Mega Kick KOes Pokemon like Rotom-W and Rotom-H on the switch after minimal damage and OHKOes Nidoqueen and Keldeo; additionally, at +2 Attack, it OHKOes every Pokemon in the tier except Aegislash and defensive Celesteela. Body Slam can be used over Mega Kick as a more reliable option that will still deal enough damage to KO defensive Pokemon like Amoonguss after one Swords Dance boost. The damage increase from Silk Scarf enables Diggersby to more easily clean late-game with +2 Quick Attack, allowing it to KO Pokemon like Azelf, Keldeo, and Thundurus-T after chip damage.
Diggersby best fits on offense teams, particularly ones that can offer entry hazard support. A Sticky Web setter like Slurpuff or Shuckle helps Diggersby outspeed most of its common checks like Cobalion and Lycanroc-D. Necrozma can function as a complementary sweeper that can also offer Stealth Rock, making it easier for Diggersby to break through tough walls like Tangrowth. Diggersby can struggle at times with Celesteela and Buzzwole, so a teammate like Rotom-H, Raikou, or Thundurus can help threaten them offensively. Additionally, these partners offer pivot support and can safely bring in Diggersby against their common switch-ins like Chansey. Nihilego can help check problematic Pokemon like Rotom-H and defensive Salamence for Diggersby, and in return, Diggersby assists Nihilego by threatening Chansey. Togekiss is a good partner that can ease Diggersby's Speed issues with Thunder Wave and paralyze foes such as Tentacruel and Jirachi. Heal Bell also allows Diggersby to be more aggressive against foes like Moltres, and Togekiss checks Salamence and defensive Pokemon like Buzzwole and Tangrowth. Additionally, Pokemon that threaten Togekiss, like Celesteela, can be worn down by Diggersby over time. Amoonguss and Tangrowth help check common revenge killers to Diggersby such as Zarude and Keldeo and also offer sleep support to allow Diggersby to enter play more easily.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Body Slam
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Spikes / Fire Punch
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Huge Power
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
A Choice Scarf set allows Diggersby to outspeed offensive threats like Nihilego and Lycanroc-D and OHKO them with Earthquake. U-turn allows Diggersby to maintain momentum. Diggersby is able to set Spikes effectively due to the number of switches it can force throughout a match. This helps the team make significant progress by wearing down Pokemon like Buzzwole and Tangrowth, which stop Diggersby's momentum. While Fire Punch can be used to better threaten Celesteela and Buzzwole, typically it is better to relegate other teammates to help deal with these Pokemon, as Diggersby can use U-turn to safely get in other teammates like Rotom-H in against these foes. Knock Off removes Heavy-Duty Boots from Pokemon like Salamence and Rotom-H, but Body Slam is typically more effective at heavily damaging both foes and potentially paralyzing them. Adamant Choice Scarf Diggersby outspeeds a majority of the tier except other Choice Scarf users like Krookodile.
Choice Scarf Diggersby fits best on offense or balance teams that require a strong wallbreaker that can overcome any Speed deficiencies within the team. Since Diggersby is able to use U-turn on its primary switch-ins like defensive Buzzwole, Kommo-o, and Salamence, it appreciates a teammate like Primarina, Azumarill, or Nihilego that can be brought in to pressure these foes. Diggersby can also form a strong VoltTurn core with Pokemon like Thundurus and Rotom-H, as both can pivot against common switch-ins like Chansey and bring Diggersby in on a favorable matchup. A Stealth Rock setter like Nihilego or Cobalion helps stack entry hazards and significantly improves Diggersby's ability to clean through chipped foes. Being Choice-locked into Body Slam or Earthquake puts Diggersby in a disadvantageous position against a common Normal- or Ground-immune Pokemon like Aegislash, Chandelure, Galarian Moltres, or Gyarados. Since these Pokemon can use Diggersby as a free entry point, with the latter two being able to set up for a sweep, Diggersby will need teammates(space)that can immediately pressure these foes, like Lycanroc-D. A more defensive teammate like Chansey can also be used to switch in and pivot out with Teleport to gain momentum for another wallbreaker.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Choice Band gives Diggersby more immediate wallbreaking potential, as it can deal severe damage to anything that switches in on it. Body Slam can KO Rotom-H and Rotom-W on the switch with minimal chip damage, and Fire Punch deals substantial damage to typically defensive foes like Celesteela and Tangrowth. Unfortunately, this set is very prediction reliant. Additionally, Diggersby's poor Speed makes it easy for many foes like Keldeo and Lycanroc to revenge kill it.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Faster Offensive Pokemon**: Diggersby's main drawback is its below average Speed without Choice Scarf, allowing many offensive threats in the tier like Keldeo and Lycanroc-D to OHKO it. While +2 Quick Attack can OHKO certain frail Pokemon like Thundurus and Azelf, it will fail to KO Pokemon with good or average bulk such as Mamoswine.
**Priority Users**: Azumarill, Crawdaunt, and Conkeldurr OHKO Diggersby with super effective priority attacks in Aqua Jet and Mach Punch. While Diggersby can threaten to OHKO Crawdaunt with +2 Quick Attack, it cannot do the same to Azumarill and Conkeldurr.
**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Defensive Pokemon like Buzzwole, Tangrowth, and Celesteela effectively check Choice Scarf Diggersby, as Diggersby fails to inflict enough damage and all of these can threaten it offensively. However, Swords Dance Diggersby can break through all these threats, as none of these Pokemon are able to withstand +2 Mega Kick after chip damage.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[BigFatMantis, 507497]]
- Quality checked by: [[avarice, 346653], [Twilight, 344575], [Estarossa, 461329]]
- Grammar checked by: [[DC, 449990], [Lumari, 232216]]
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