RBY 4U (Under3U) Diglett [GP Ready]

Diglett
Type: Ground
Stats: 10 | 55 | 25 | 45 | 95

Introduction

Diglett's combination of base 95 speed and Electric-immunity allows it to fill a unique micro-niche, outspeeding the common base 90s without fearing Thunder Wave. This allows it to stay in and defeat Abra without being crippled by paralysis and use predicted Thunder Waves as free switch-ins. Outside of checking Abra, it serves as a specialized revenge-killer primarily preying on Earthquake-weak Pokemon such as Nidoking. However, its frailty and lackluster power outside of super-effective hits leaves a lot to be desired, and unless you are specifically looking for a speedy revenge killer that can switch into Thunder Wave or absorb Electric attacks, its best to use one of the other fast Pokemon available in the tier.

Sets

Standard

Diglett
-Earthquake
-Body Slam / Slash
-Rock Slide / Slash
-Substitute

Set Details

Earthquake is its main attack, but is lacking in power except against Ground-weak Pokemon and squishy Pokemon like Abra or Poliwag. Its other moves are very situational. Body Slam gives Diglett a chance to paralyze a switch-in (except Porygon) or as a last-ditch effort to paralyze something threatening that isn't weakened enough to be KO'd. Rock Slide is Diglett's strongest attack against Flying-types and hits Venomoth very slightly harder than Earthquake, and can hit Scyther for major damage if a switch-in is predicted or Scyther is paralyzed. Slash is Diglett's strongest attack against Tangela, albeit still very weak (5HKOs), and cuts through Abra if it is protected by Reflect. Substitute eases prediction and gives protection from Body Slam paralysis, and also allows Diglett to fish for full paralysis or misses.

Other Options

Unless you're playing with Fissure legal, the only possible other option left is using Sand-Attack and hoping for misses.

Checks and Counters

Tangela takes little from any of Diglett's attacks (worst case scenario is a 44% chance of 4HKO from successive critical hit Body Slams) and can use it to come in and spread status, setup Growth or 2HKO Diglett with Mega Drain. Venomoth can be pressured by Diglett's attacks, but similarly to Tangela it can 2HKO or threaten Diglett with status. Water-types with STAB or Blizzard, including the frail Poliwag and Earthquake weak Omastar, are usually able to switch in and OHKO Diglett. Porygon is 4HKO'd by Earthquake, which allows Porygon is most cases to wall it.

Most other viable Pokemon outside of Abra and Magneton are able to serve atleast as shaky checks at full health. Even though they are weak to Earthquake (or 4x weak to Rock Slide in Scyther's case), all Pokemon as fast or faster than Diglett can potentially switch into even super-effective attacks and beat it as long as they are unparalyzed. Among them, those with high Attack stats can OHKO with Hyper Beam or Slash, Ninetales can win through using Fire Spin to soften it before Fire Blast or Hyper Beam and Electrode 2HKOs with Take Down + Hyper Beam, though if it switches into Earthquake or gets paralyzed by Body Slam it can only take out Diglett by exploding or getting lucky with a critical hit Hyper Beam.

Nidoqueen (barely) can switch into Diglett and OHKO with Blizzard while taking massive damage in the process, however there is a small chance that Nidoqueen can be KO'd without inflicting any damage. Machamp and Lickitung take Earthquakes like champs and can OHKO with their strongest physical attacks. Muk has a small chance to be 2HKO'd by Earthquake, but OHKOs with Hyper Beam and can OHKO with Hyper Beam or Explosion. Nidoking can switch into anything but Earthquake and threaten a 50% chance to OHKO with its own Earthquake, but it should only do so in the most dire circumstances as it can be KO'd itself if it takes a critical hit or fails to OHKO Diglett.