Diglett and Dugtrio (Pinball)

Diglett (Japanese: ディグダ Digda) and Dugtrio (Japanese: ダグトリオ Dugtrio) function as game mechanics in the Red Field from Pokémon Pinball. They are able to start the Map Mode, which causes the player to travel to another area.

Their counterparts in the Blue Field are Poliwag and Psyduck.

Mechanics

In each side of the bottom screen, there is a Diglett and a Dugtrio. The Diglett are horizontally aligned and can be hit by the ball. The Dugtrio are outside the main field and can't be touched by the ball. The Dugtrio are almost completely buried, except the top of their heads is visible.

Each time the ball hits a Diglett, one of the three heads of the Dugtrio of the same side pops up. Then, the respective Diglett remains buried and inactive for 2 seconds, during which time it can't be hit again. The player has 10 seconds to hit the same Pokémon again—which can't be done during the first 2 seconds because of the Pokémon's inactivity, but it is doable during the next 8 seconds—or else the counter decreases by 1. If either Dugtrio has all 3 heads popped out, the other Dugtrio resets (buries completely again) and the Map Mode starts. The Dugtrio that caused the Map Mode to start remains popped during the whole duration of the Map Mode. When the Map Mode ends, the Dugtrio that has been popped resets as well.

As long as the Map Mode, Catch 'em Mode, or Evolution Mode is currently active, then Diglett and Dugtrio are unable to start the Map Mode. Specifically, when the Map Mode is active (with the "Hurry Up!" or "Go to Next" text in the Pokémon Panel), the Diglett at both sides remain buried, and therefore it is impossible to hit them for the purpose of popping up Dugtrio again. When the Catch 'em Mode or the Evolution Mode is active, the ball is able to hit the Diglett as usual, causing one of Dugtrio's heads to pop up, but once the three heads have poppep up, Dugtrio completely buries again without starting the Map Mode.

If the player loses a ball, all the heads of both Dugtrio get buried again.