Ditto (Pokémon)

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Lapras #131: Lapras
Pokémon
#133: Eevee Eevee
Ditto
メタモン Metamon
#132
132Ditto.png
Art by Ken Sugimori from FireRed and LeafGreen
Type
Normal '
Category
Transform Pokémon
Ability
Limber
Exp. at Lv. 100
1,000,000
Regional Pokédex numbers
Kanto
#132
Johto
#092
Hoenn
#287
Regional Browser numbers
Oblivia
R-291
Height
1'00"
Imperial
0.3 m
Metric
Weight
8.8 lbs.
Imperial
4.0 kg
Metric
Dex color
Purple
Catch rate
35 (4.6%)
Body style
Body01.png BodyUnknown.png
Blue-Striped
Footprint
 F132.png   F487O.png
Blue-Striped
Gender ratio
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*

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 free-form shape blob with vestigial facial features. It also appears to have two vestigial, hand-less 'arms' protruding from its body. 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

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. They have been documented living in Kanto, Johto, Hoenn and Sinnoh.

Diet

Main article: Pokémon food

In the anime

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.

Shiny Ditto

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.

Two Ditto appear in DP173, belonging to Makina. One of them is normal and the other is shiny.

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.

There is a picture of Ditto on the "Coffee & Tea" sign at one of last parts in the episode in The Misty Mermaid.

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

In The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga

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.

In the Magical Pokémon Journey manga

A group of Ditto appear in the fourth bonus chapter of the Magical Pokémon Journey manga. The Ditto use Transform to mimicPikachu and cause mischief.

In the Pokémon Adventures 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.

In the Pokémon Zensho manga

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
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
Platinum
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 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, Cerulean Cave, Safari Zone
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 Ranger:
Guardian Signs
Air Fortress
Talga's House
Pokémon Rumble Silent Forest
Windy Prairie‎
Rocky Cave
Fiery Furnace
Bright Beach
Eternal Tower

Held items

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

Stats

Base stats

Stat Range
At Lv. 50 At Lv. 100
48
108 - 155 206 - 300
48
47 - 110 90 - 214
48
47 - 110 90 - 214
48
47 - 110 90 - 214
48
47 - 110 90 - 214
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.

Pokéathlon 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
Fighting
Flying
Poison
Ground
Rock
Bug
Ghost
Steel
Fire
Water
Grass
Electric
Psychic
Ice
Dragon
Dark
None
Weak to:
Normal
Fighting
Flying
Poison
Ground
Rock
Bug
Ghost
Steel
Fire
Water
Grass
Electric
Psychic
Ice
Dragon
Dark
None
Immune to:
Normal
Fighting
Flying
Poison
Ground
Rock
Bug
Ghost
Steel
Fire
Water
Grass
Electric
Psychic
Ice
Dragon
Dark
None
Resistant to:
Normal
Fighting
Flying
Poison
Ground
Rock
Bug
Ghost
Steel
Fire
Water
Grass
Electric
Psychic
Ice
Dragon
Dark
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

Side game data

Pokémon Pinball
 Pin132.png Pinani132.png 
Acquisition: Catch
Pokémon Pinball RS
 N/A 
Not available
Pokémon Trozei!
 Trozeiani132.png 
Rarity: Common
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon
Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team
File:MDP RT 132.png Body size: 1
Recruit rate: 6.8%
Friend Area: Decrepit Lab
Phrases
51%-100% HP Who should I copy next?
26%-50% HP I have only half my HP left...
1%-25% HP I'm out of it... I don't have the power to transform...
Level up Yes! My level's up!
Partner phrases
51%-100% HP <name>, my HP is between 51% and 100%.
26%-50% HP <name>, my HP is between 26% and 50%.
1%-25% HP <name>, my HP is between 1% and 25%.
Level up Yes! My level's up!
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon
Explorers of Time, Explorers of Darkness
,
and Explorers of Sky
MDP E 132.png Body size: 1
Recruit rate: 8.2%
IQ group: A
Pokémon Ranger
Group:  Normal  Poké Assist: None Field move: None
Loops: 0 Min. exp.: 0 Max. exp.: 0
Browser entry  
This Pokémon does not have a browser entry.
Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia
Group:  Normal  Poké Assist: None Field move: None
Browser entry  
This Pokémon does not have a browser entry.
Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs
Group: Poké Assist: Field move:
 Normal  Normal Assist.png
( Normal )
Past
Electric Assist.png
( Normal )
None Past
Electrify 1 field move.png
(Electrify ×1)
Browser entry  
This Pokémon does not have a browser entry.
N/A Not
Available
Defense
Speed
N/A Not
Available
Defense
Speed
N/A Not
Available
Defense
Speed
N/A Not
Available
Defense
Speed
N/A Not
Available
Defense
Speed
N/A Not
Available
Defense
Speed
PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure
None.png PokéPark Pad entry:
This Pokémon has no PokéPark Pad entry.
PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond
None.png Strong: {{{Park2strong}}} Weak: {{{Park2weak}}}
PokéPark Pad entry:
This Pokémon has no PokéPark Pad entry.
None.png HP: Move: {{{ConquestMove}}}
Attack: Ability 1: {{{ConquestAbility1}}}
Defense: Ability 2: {{{ConquestAbility2}}}
Speed: Ability 3: {{{ConquestAbility3}}}
Does not evolve.
Range: 0 Perfect Links: {{{ConquestLink}}}

Evolution

Ditto
Does not evolve
Ditto
 Normal 


Sprites

Gen Game
I Red Blue Yellow Red (Ja) Green Back
Spr 1b 132.png Spr 1y 132.png Spr 1g 132.png Spr b g1 132.png
II Gold Silver Crystal   Back
Spr 2g 132.png Spr 2s 132.png Spr 2c 132.png Spr b 2g 132.png
Spr 2g 132 s.png Spr 2s 132 s.png Spr 2c 132 s.png Spr b 2g 132 s.png
III Ruby Sapphire Emerald FireRed LeafGreen Back
Spr 3r 132.png Spr 3e 132.png Spr 3f 132.png Spr b 3r 132.png
Spr 3r 132 s.png Spr 3e 132 s.png Spr 3f 132 s.png Spr b 3r 132 s.png
IV Diamond Pearl Platinum HeartGold SoulSilver Back
Spr 4d 132.png Spr 4p 132.png Spr 4h 132.png Spr b 4d 132.png
Spr 4d 132 s.png Spr 4p 132 s.png Spr 4h 132 s.png Spr b 4d 132 s.png
V Black White Black 2 White 2 Back
Spr 5b 132.png Spr 5b2 132.png Spr b 5b 132.png
Spr 5b 132 s.png Spr 5b2 132 s.png Spr b 5b 132 s.png
Ditto 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 and its Generation IV remakes).
  • In Pokémon Snap, Ditto takes the form of Bulbasaur towards the beginning 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 cannot be legitimately encountered. 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.
  • In Pokémon Rumble, since Transform was not programmed into the game, Ditto can only know Struggle. Since PP does not exist in Rumble, this makes Ditto the only Pokémon in Rumble that can use Struggle.
  • Contradictory to the Silver Pokédex entry, if an opponent uses Tickle on a transformed Ditto, it will not actually revert back into its original form.
  • Ditto is the most common Pokémon in Pokémon Trozei, appearing in every area.
    • This is due to it's ability to transform, enabling the player a way to advance further if no links are available before Ditto appear.
  • Ditto shares its cry with Poliwag.
  • Prior to Gen IV games, a shiny Ditto that uses Transform will transform into a shiny version of the copied Pokémon. For some reason, this does not happen in Gen IV games.

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

In Generation I 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 Wynaut and Wobbuffet in later generations who, although they too have no directly damaging moves, will eventually run out of PP and thus be able to use Struggle. This is likely why few Trainers have Ditto in the Generation I games.

This bug is not present in any other games because of a change in Transform mechanics: from Generation II onwards, it is not possible to Transform into a Pokémon that is the Transformation of another Pokémon.

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 or a rubber ball.

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

Related articles

External links

Notes


Lapras #131: Lapras
Pokémon
#133: Eevee Eevee
Project Pokédex logo.png 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.