Bunnelby

Using Bunnelby in a Playthrough

Bunnelby evolves into Diggersby at level 20, making this one of Kalos's earliest fully evolved Normal-types. Diggersby becomes Normal/Ground with base 85 HP, 77 Defense, 77 Special Defense, and only base 56 Attack on paper, but the Hidden Ability Huge Power doubles its Attack stat and completely changes its offensive value. Earthquake and Return in older generations or Body Slam provide strong dual STAB, while Quick Attack, U-turn, Knock Off, Stone Edge, Wild Charge, Fire Punch, Swords Dance, and Spikes in some generations offer priority, pivoting, coverage, or setup. Pickup can recover or obtain used items in some contexts, while Cheek Pouch restores one-third of maximum HP in addition to a Berry's normal effect whenever Diggersby eats a Berry. Normal/Ground grants complete Ghost and Electric immunities but is weak to Water, Grass, Ice, and Fighting. Adamant maximizes Huge Power wallbreaking, while Jolly can help compensate for the merely base 78 Speed.

Bunnelby in Competitive Pokémon

Diggersby was far more dangerous in XY than its base 56 Attack suggests because Huge Power doubles its effective Attack before other modifiers. Smogon placed it in UUBL and recognized it as a legitimate OU wallbreaker, where Choice Band or Swords Dance sets could use Earthquake, Return, Quick Attack, Fire Punch, Knock Off, and U-turn to overwhelm most defensive cores. Its two immunities create some entry opportunities, and Quick Attack gives useful priority despite the mediocre base 78 Speed. The tradeoff is that Diggersby has only average 85/77/77 bulk and several common weaknesses, while burns sharply reduce its physical offense. Without Huge Power it loses most of the feature that makes it competitively exceptional, so the ability is not simply a minor optimization—it defines the species' serious competitive sets.

Bunnelby in Nuzlockes

Diggersby can be excellent in a Nuzlocke if it has Huge Power because the doubled Attack turns an early-route Pokemon into a genuine wallbreaker by level 20. Ghost and Electric immunities create predictable safe switches, and Quick Attack can finish weakened opponents without taking another hit. The family is not especially bulky, however, and Water, Grass, Ice, and Fighting attacks are all common enough that type knowledge matters. Cheek Pouch is a respectable alternative for survivability because eating a Berry restores additional HP, but it sacrifices the enormous damage advantage of Huge Power. Adamant is usually best when Huge Power is available, while Jolly can be safer if moving before a specific threat prevents a dangerous retaliation.

Bunnelby uses the hand-like ends of its large ears as digging tools strong enough to shovel soil and chop through tree roots. A single individual can excavate a nest roughly 33 feet deep in one night and may continue digging for hours without rest. It is highly sensitive to danger and quickly retreats underground when it hears the wingbeats of predators such as Corviknight. Constant digging gradually strengthens its ears.