Imposter (Ability)

Imposter	かわりもの
	Changer
Flavor text Generation V It transforms itself into the Pokémon it is facing. Generation VI The Pokémon transforms itself into the Pokémon it's facing. Generation VII The Pokémon transforms itself into the Pokémon it's facing. Generation VIII The Pokémon transforms itself into the Pokémon it's facing. Generation IX The Pokémon transforms itself into the Pokémon it's facing.

Imposter (Japanese: かわりもの Changer) is an Ability introduced in Generation V. It is the signature Ability of Ditto.

Effect

In battle

Main article: Transform (move)

As soon as the user comes into battle, it transforms into its opponent. Broadly, the target's appearance (including form), types, Ability, stats, and moves are copied; the user retains its HP and level. More precise details are at Transform (move) → Effect.

Imposter will not activate if the opponent is transformed, disguised with Illusion, or behind a substitute. Imposter only activates when the Pokémon with the Ability is sent out; if it fails to transform into an opponent, it will not activate unless the Pokémon with Imposter is withdrawn and sent out again. Imposter will also not activate when obtained during battle.

In Double Battles, Triple Battles, and Battle Royals, Imposter will target the opponent in the position directly opposite it. If there is no opponent directly opposite it, it will not transform. In Horde Encounters, Imposter will copy the opponent in the right-most position.

Role Play fails if the target has the Ability Imposter. Entrainment fails if the user has the Ability Imposter. Imposter cannot be copied by Trace, Power of Alchemy, or Receiver.

Outside of battle

Imposter has no effect outside of battle.

Pokémon with Imposter

#	Pokémon		Types		First Ability	Second Ability	Hidden Ability
0132		Ditto	Normal		Normal	Limber	None	Imposter
Please note that Abilities marked with a superscript are only available in the stated generation or later. For Generation III and IV games, ignore Hidden Abilities.

Trivia

• Although Abilities do not occur in Pokémon GO, wild Ditto will appear in the game transformed as a random Pokémon, alluding to this Ability. For a list of Pokémon that Ditto can transform into, see Ditto's Pokémon GO section.

In other languages

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 變身者 Binsānjé Mandarin 變身者 / 变身者 Biànshēnzhě French Imposteur German Doppelgänger Italian Sosia Korean 괴짜 Goejja Portuguese Impostor Spanish Impostor

This article is part of Project Moves and Abilities, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on two related aspects of the Pokémon games.