Ditto (Pokémon)

← #131: Lapras

Pokémon

#133: Eevee →

Ditto メタモン Metamon #132
Artwork from FR/LG
Type Normal ' Unknown Unknown Blue-Striped Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown	Category Transform Pokémon
Ability Limber Blue-Striped -----	Exp. at Lv. 100 1,000,000
Regional Pokédex numbers Kanto #132 Johto #092 Hoenn #287 Sinnoh — Unova Not in any regional Pokédex
Regional Browser numbers Fiore R— Almia R— Oblivia
Height 1'00" Imperial 0.3 m Metric 1'00"/0.3 m Red-Striped 0'0"/0.0 m Blue-Striped 0'0"/0.0 m
Weight 8.8 lbs. Imperial 4.0 kg Metric 8.8 lbs./4.0 kg Red-Striped 0.0 lbs./0.0 kg Blue-Striped 0.0 lbs./0.0 kg
Dex color Purple	Catch rate 35 (4.6%)
Body style Blue-Striped	Footprint      Blue-Striped
Gender ratio Gender unknown Unknown Gender unknown
Breeding Ditto group 21 cycles (5355 minimum steps)
EV yield HP 1 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 Base Exp.: 61 Battle Exp.: 611*
External links On Smogon Pokédex: Generation I Generation II Generation III Generation IV Generation V Generation VI Generation VII Generation VIII Generation IX Artwork on Bulbagarden Archives

Ditto (Japanese: メタモン Metamon) is a Template:Type2 Pokémon.

It is not known to evolve into or from any other Pokémon.

Ditto uses the move Transform to copy the opponent's moves, types, form, and non-HP stats. It is sought out for its ability to breed with any Pokémon other than the Pokémon in the No eggs group, including some genderless ones.

Biology

Physiology

In its natural state, Ditto is a purplish gelatinous blob with vestigial facial features. However, it can take the form of anything, even inanimate objects.

Gender differences

Ditto is a genderless species.

Special abilities

Ditto is capable of transforming into an exact replica of any other Pokémon (an ability that is also shared with Mew), or indeed any physical object. However, if Ditto tries to transform into something based on memory, it may get some of the details wrong. Ditto will also be unable to remain in a transformed state if it starts laughing. Frequently, a Ditto appears that can't transform its face. This fact is seen in the anime, as well as in Pokémon Snap (in which several Ditto are transformed into Bulbasaur), and Pokémon Diamond and Pearl (in which, during the Game Corner slot machine game, a Clefairy with a Ditto's face will occasionally appear instead of a real Clefairy). In rare cases it will lack the ability to increase or decrease in size, thus rather than creating exact duplicates, it will create (usually) miniature versions. Ditto cannot mimic the strength of another Pokémon. Ditto's ability to breed with any non-legendary Pokémon is also useful for creating Pokémon eggs of rarer Pokémon that it may be difficult to get a mate for, such as the starter Pokémon.

Behavior

Ditto's primary defense mechanism is its ability to rearrange its cellular structure. This permits it to transform into essentially any other physical object. When two Ditto meet in the wild, they will attempt to transform into each other. This tendency makes Ditto a unique Pokémon in battle, as it will adapt the form and abilities of its foe. Ditto is best able to transform into something if it has a model to work from. Although Ditto can transform via memory, it has a tendency to forget important details, particularly with its foe's face.

Habitat

File:Urban.gif

Urban Pokémon

Ditto live in very diverse habitats, the most common being caves and forested areas. However, Ditto are never far from civilization or people. There have even been sightings of Ditto in places such as the Pokémon Mansion.

Diet

Main article: Pokémon food

In the anime

File:DittosMysteriousMansion.gif

Ditto in the anime

Major Appearances

Ditto first appeared in Ditto's Mysterious Mansion. Duplica and her Ditto used to perform for people, but the two hadn't had an audience since people saw that Ditto couldn't change its face. Ditto fixed that problem near the end of the episode, when captured by Team Rocket. Duplica found another Ditto sometime before Imitation Confrontation that she named Mini-Dit. This second Ditto could transform into an exact mirror image of anything, but it couldn't change its size.

In Hello Pummelo, Drake of the Orange Islands owns a Ditto and uses it to fight Ash's Pikachu. After the battle with Drake's Ditto, Pikachu came out the victor.

Minor Appearances

A Ditto was used by one of the students of the Pokémon Trainer's School in Gonna Rule The School!.

Ditto was also owned by a member of Team Magma named Brodie, who debuted in Unfair Weather Friends.

Pokédex entries

Episode Pokémon Source Entry EP037 Ditto Ash's Pokédex Ditto, a Transform Pokémon. It is able to rearrange the cells of its body and assume any form. Its only attack is Transform.

In the manga

Ditto is one of the members on Green's team in Pokémon Adventures. As a master of transformation, Green uses Ditto extensively in her schemes, such as morphing over her face to disguise her appearance (like when she infiltrated the Silph Co. building disguised as Sabrina), camouflaging into its background for subterfuge, as well as forming a protective shield with Green's umbrella.

Ditto is seen later used by Team Rocket, to lure Crystal and Eusine away from Suicune, and smother them when discovered. It was, however, defeated by Crystal's Hitmonchan, Hitmonee.

Duplica and her Ditto are seen in The Electric Tale of Pikachu. Finding Ditto appealing, Misty decides to capture one of her own, but the plan is called off when Pikachu goes missing. Ditto also featured in a minicomic in which it transforms into Ash, harasses Misty and thereby getting Ash into a lot of pain.

Ditto is also featured in Pokémon Zensho under the ownership of Satoshi.

In the TCG

Main article: Ditto (TCG)

Other appearances

Super Smash Bros. Melee

A screenshot of Ditto in Melee

Ditto was originally intended to be one of the Pokémon randomly released from a Poké Ball. It would have transformed into a copy of the user's character and aided them in battle. However, processing problems forced its removal before the game's release. Ditto can be still be unlocked through the debug menu (which is only accessible through the use of Action Replay), though it does not do anything other than give 7-8% damage to those who touch it.

As for its official status, Ditto only appears as a random trophy and as a cameo in the Tournament Mode menu. In Winner Out or Loser Out tournaments, holding down L and R and pressing A will give the player a random character and color. The usual character image will instead be taken by a picture of Ditto.

Trophy information

Every Ditto has the ability to copy a Pokémon's entire cell structure in an instant and become its exact replica. They're terrible at remembering techniques, but when they use Transform, they temporarily learn all of their foe's moves. If a Ditto starts to laugh, it weakens and can't hold its transformation.

Game data

NPC appearances

• Pokémon Trozei!: Ditto serves as a "wild card", meaning it can Trozei with any Pokémon and must be used to get rid of Jammer Balls. One will appear when a Trozei is made with more Pokémon than necessary and multiple appear at the beginning of a new round in Endless and Forever mode to clear out the remaining Pokémon.

Pokédex entries

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
Generation I Red Capable of copying an enemy's genetic code to instantly transform itself into a duplicate of the enemy. Blue Yellow When it spots an enemy, its body transforms into an almost perfect copy of its opponent. Stadium Capable of reorganizing its cells to transform into an exact duplicate of its enemy. It is usually a shapeless blob.
Generation II Gold It can transform into anything. When it sleeps, it changes into a stone to avoid being attacked. Silver Its transformation ability is perfect. However, if it is made to laugh, it can't maintain its disguise. Crystal When it encounters another Ditto, it will move faster than normal to duplicate that opponent exactly. Stadium 2 It can transform into anything. When it sleeps, it changes into a stone to avoid being attacked.
Generation III Ruby Ditto rearranges its cell structure to transform itself into other shapes. However, if it tries to transform itself into something by relying on its memory, this Pokémon manages to get details wrong. Sapphire Ditto rearranges its cell structure to transform itself into other shapes. However, if it tries to transform itself into something by relying on its memory, this Pokémon manages to get details wrong. Emerald A Ditto rearranges its cell structure to transform itself. However, if it tries to change based on its memory, it will get details wrong. FireRed It can freely recombine its own cellular structure to transform into other life-forms. LeafGreen Capable of copying an opponent's genetic code to instantly transform itself into a duplicate of the enemy.
Generation IV Diamond It has the ability to reconstitute its entire cellular structure to transform into whatever it sees. Pearl It has the ability to reconstitute its entire cellular structure to transform into whatever it sees. Platinum It has the ability to reconstitute its entire cellular structure to transform into whatever it sees. HeartGold It can transform into anything. When it sleeps, it changes into a stone to avoid being attacked. SoulSilver Its transformation ability is perfect. However, if it is made to laugh, it can't maintain its disguise.
Generation V Black {{{blackdex}}} White {{{whitedex}}} Black 2 {{{black2dex}}} White 2 {{{white2dex}}}
Generation VI X Unknown Y Unknown

Game locations

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
Generation I Red Blue Common Routes 13, 14, 15, 23, Cerulean Cave Blue (Japan) None Trade Yellow Uncommon Pokémon Mansion and Cerulean Cave
Generation II Gold Silver Common Routes 34 and 35 Crystal Common Routes 34 and 35
Generation III Ruby Sapphire None Trade Emerald Common Desert Underpass FireRed LeafGreen Uncommon Routes 13, 14, 15, Pokémon Mansion, Cerulean Cave Colosseum None Trade XD None Trade
Generation IV Diamond Pearl Rare Route 218 (Poké Radar) Platinum Rare Trophy Garden HeartGold SoulSilver Uncommon Routes 34, 35, and 47 Pal Park Field Pokéwalker None
Generation V Black White None Trade Black 2 White 2 None Trade Dream World None
Generation VI X Y None Trade

In side games

Game	Location
Pokémon Snap	Cave
Pokémon Channel	Bus Stop
Pokémon Trozei!	Everywhere
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Red/Blue Rescue Team	Frosty Forest (4F-9F) Fiery Field (10F, 20F) Buried Relic (16F-34F) Wish Cave (53F-64F) Joyous Tower (53F-64F) Oddity Cave (B1-B15)
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time/Darkness	Sky Stairway (1F-49F)
Pokémon Rumble	Quiet Forest Cold Meadow Gravel Cave Fiery Furnace Shiny Beach Tower of Eternity

Held items

Game		Held Item(s)
Red*	Blue*	Metal Powder (100%)
Yellow*
FireRed	LeafGreen	Metal Powder (5%)
Diamond	Pearl	Quick Powder (50%)	Metal Powder (5%)
Platinum

Stats

Base stats

Stat		Range
		At Lv. 50	At Lv. 100
HP: 48		108 - 155	206 - 300
Attack: 48		47 - 110	90 - 214
Defense: 48		47 - 110	90 - 214
Sp. Atk: 48		47 - 110	90 - 214
Sp. Def: 48		47 - 110	90 - 214
Speed: 48		47 - 110	90 - 214
Total: 288	Other Pokémon with this total
Minimum stats are calculated with 0 EVs, IVs of 0, and (if applicable) a hindering nature. Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and (if applicable) a helpful nature. This Pokémon's Special base stat in Generation I was 48.

Pokéthlon stats

Speed 2/5 ★★☆☆☆	Power 2/5 ★★☆☆☆
Skill 2/5 ★★☆☆☆	Stamina 2/5 ★★☆☆☆
Jump 2/5 ★★☆☆☆	Total 10/25 ★★☆☆☆

Type effectiveness

These numbers are good only for a Ditto that has not Transformed. After that point, please see the type effectiveness for the species that it Transformed into.

Under normal battle conditions in Generation V, this Pokémon is:

Damaged normally by: Normal 1× Fighting 2× Flying 1× Poison 1× Ground 1× Rock 1× Bug 1× Ghost 0× Steel 1× Fire 1× Water 1× Grass 1× Electric 1× Psychic 1× Ice 1× Dragon 1× Dark 1× None

Weak to: Normal 1× Fighting 2× Flying 1× Poison 1× Ground 1× Rock 1× Bug 1× Ghost 0× Steel 1× Fire 1× Water 1× Grass 1× Electric 1× Psychic 1× Ice 1× Dragon 1× Dark 1× None

Immune to: Normal 1× Fighting 2× Flying 1× Poison 1× Ground 1× Rock 1× Bug 1× Ghost 0× Steel 1× Fire 1× Water 1× Grass 1× Electric 1× Psychic 1× Ice 1× Dragon 1× Dark 1× None

Resistant to: Normal 1× Fighting 2× Flying 1× Poison 1× Ground 1× Rock 1× Bug 1× Ghost 0× Steel 1× Fire 1× Water 1× Grass 1× Electric 1× Psychic 1× Ice 1× Dragon 1× Dark 1× None

Learnset

By leveling up

|- style="text-align:center" | style="text-align:left" | normal | style="background:#9FA19F" |  normal 

| style=" background:#FFF" | 4 | style=" background:#FFF" | 1 | style=" background:#FFF" | Ditto | style="display:none; background:#FFF" | {{{6}}} Template:Mlentry4 Template:Movelist/note

By TM/HM

None.

By breeding

None.

By tutoring

None.

TCG-only moves

• Pound
• Energy Ball

Evolution

Does not evolve Ditto  Normal

Sprites

Gen	Game
I	Red	Blue	Yellow		Red (Ja)	Green	Back
II	Gold	Silver	Crystal				Back
III	Ruby	Sapphire	Emerald		FireRed	LeafGreen	Back
IV	Diamond	Pearl	Platinum		HeartGold	SoulSilver	Back
V	Black	White	Black 2	White 2			Back

For other sprites and images, please see Ditto images on Bulbagarden Archives.

Trivia

• Ditto is the only Pokémon to date with a catch rate of 35.
• Ditto and Manaphy are the only Pokémon that are both able to breed yet unobtainable through breeding. Ditto, however, is the only one of the two that is not available at level 1 legally (legitimately the lowest level it is able to be is 10, in Generation II).
• Ditto is one of the few Generation I non-legendary Pokémon that have no evolutionary relatives, along with Farfetch'd, Kangaskhan, Pinsir, Tauros, Aerodactyl, and Lapras.
• In Pokémon Snap, Ditto takes the form of Bulbasaur towards the begining of the game. The player can cause them to return to their Ditto form by hitting them with an object. When the player takes their picture, Professor Oak treats the photo as that of a real Bulbasaur, although Ditto has the same eyes when it is transformed as when it is not. This trait is shared by Duplica's Ditto in the anime, although it was understood that this was not natural.
• Ditto is one of two Pokémon to have two different species-specific items associated with it, the other being Clamperl.
  • Ditto's two associated items, the Metal Powder and Quick Powder, seem to be the same colors as Ditto's normal and shiny forms, respectively.
• In Generation I any Pokémon that uses Transform is regarded as a Ditto in its new form; this means that if the player catches a Mew or a Glitch Pokémon which has used the move Transform instead they will obtain a Ditto because a wild Mew is not normally encountable. This system was later changed in Generation III so that the Mew on Faraway Island is not caught as Ditto if it uses Transform.
• Ditto along with Arceus, Giratina's Origin Forme, Sunkern, and Mew is one of the few Pokémon who can have a 5 in all of its performance stats.
• Ditto can't be taught any TM moves.

Glitches

Ditto is closely associated with several glitches throughout the series, most stemming from its nearly unique ability.

In Generation I, if the player manages to capture an 'M, an invisible wild Ditto will still be in battle with the player where 'M was before, and the battle will not end. Additionally, a Ditto is a necessary Pokémon for carrying out method #3 of the Mew glitch, which allows the player to encounter any Pokémon or glitch Pokémon (correspondence based upon this list). Furthermore, switching the order of moves in a Transformed Ditto's movelist in-battle causes Ditto to have the blank space glitch move when the battle ends.

Another glitch in Generation I involves one switching Ditto's first move with the second move after it has used transform in battle. If one of the copied moves is Whirlwind or Roar, at the end of the battle Ditto will appear to have no moves whilst Ditto will actually have a glitch move with the type 'Cooltrainer♀' This move will have 0 PP but if the player uses a PP Up and then an Elixir it is usable, yet crashes the game. If this Ditto is traded to Gold or Silver, the game will reset itself with different colors (a "Glitch dimension") upon clicking attack.

By exploiting the factors that determine a shiny Pokémon, a shiny Ditto can be obtained by trading the red Gyarados to Generation I and capturing a Ditto that transforms into it.

Several more glitches involving Ditto's transformation have been discovered in Generation IV as well. In the original Japanese Diamond and Pearl, due to an oversight in the programming of Transform, a Ditto will copy the Pokémon's held item in addition to its species, allowing rare items to be duplicated. Another glitch allows for Ditto to transform and then permanently keep the moveset of the Pokémon it became, allowing for the passing down of previously impossible egg move combinations in a large-scale version of Smeargle's ability to do so with all Ground Group Pokémon through Sketch.

The Transform Paradox

If Ditto (or another Pokémon with only Transform) faces another Pokémon with Transform in a Trainer battle where neither Trainer has any items and no Pokémon besides the Pokémon with Transform, the battle will never end. This is because when Transform is used, the Pokémon will turn into its opponent, resulting in a Transform moveset of, again, only Transform. Since every time Transform is used, it gives the Pokémon using it the target's moveset with 5 PP each, Transform will continue to Transform into itself, restoring the PP every time it is used. Due to this, one will never reach a point where it can only use Struggle, unlike what is the case with Wynaut and Wobbuffet. This is likely why no Trainers have Ditto in the Generation IV games, except in the Battle Tower, where one can always retire.

Origin

Ditto strongly resembles an amoeba, a single-celled organism with no definite shape. This may emphasize its ability to alter its cellular composition. This could also explain why Ditto is unavailable through breeding, since single-celled organisms reproduce differently from multi-cellular plants and animals. It may also be based on an undifferentiated cell, a cell in the body that can change into any other cell by sampling it. It could also have be based on a blob.

Name origin

A ditto is a substitute for repeating what was previously written or said. Ditto's Japanese name is a combination of metamorph, monster, and possibly transformation.

In other languages

• German: Ditto
• French: Metamorph - From metamorph.
• Korean: 메타몽 Metamong

Related articles

• Duplica's Ditto

Notes

← #131: Lapras

Pokémon

#133: Eevee →

This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.