Diglett

Alolan Diglett: steel whiskers from volcanic soil

Pokémon Sun and Moon introduced Alolan Diglett, a Ground and Steel regional form. Life in Alola's iron-rich volcanic ground gave it three thin golden whiskers that work as sensors, so it can watch its surroundings without surfacing, and that it wobbles to signal its mood to other Diglett. Its abilities are Sand Veil and Tangling Hair, which only Alolan Diglett and Alolan Dugtrio can have, with Sand Force as its hidden ability. The Isle of Armor expansion for Pokémon Sword and Shield later built a side quest around the form, asking players to find 150 Alolan Diglett hidden across the island.

Diglett on cards: Base Set Commons to Alolan Diglett

Diglett's first English card is Base Set #47 from January 1999, illustrated by Keiji Kinebuchi, who drew it again for Base Set 2 and Evolutions; his three Diglett credits are the most of any artist in our catalog. Team Rocket followed in 2000, and Gym Challenge added Brock's Diglett, drawn by Ken Sugimori, as one of the Gym series cards built around a named Trainer's Pokémon.

Alolan Diglett reached cards in the Sun & Moon base set in 2017 and has since returned in McDonald's Collection 2017, Ultra Prism, Lost Thunder, Unbroken Bonds and Surging Sparks. Across 28 printings in eight eras, every Diglett is a Common apart from two promotional cards (Pokémon Rumble and McDonald's Collection 2017) that carry no rarity mark, so its appeal is breadth rather than a chase card: a Diglett run follows the card game from the WOTC era to Scarlet & Violet.

Cards to know

• Diglett (Base Set #47)

  Diglett's first English card, a 1999 Common illustrated by Keiji Kinebuchi.

• Brock's Diglett (Gym Challenge #67)

  The Gym series version owned by Brock, drawn by Ken Sugimori in 2000.

• Alolan Diglett (McDonald's Collection 2017 #9)

  A promotional Alolan Diglett by Megumi Mizutani, who also drew the form's first card in the Sun & Moon base set.

• Alolan Diglett (Surging Sparks #122)

  A Scarlet & Violet era Alolan Diglett illustrated by Akino Fukuji.