ditto-pokemon-go.jpg

Updated with more Pokémon forms Ditto can take, how Transform works, how to counter Ditto in a gym, and reliable catching methods.

Ditto is an absolute nightmare for collectors in Pokémon GO. It's a very tricky monster to catch because it hides in plain sight, pretending to be another Pokémon entirely, and only revealing its true form when caught.

But before you discard your mobile entirely, we do have some good news for you: Ditto only takes the form of certain Pokémon. That at least narrows down the hunt a little bit.

Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube764k
Watch on YouTube

In this guide, we're going to list all of the Pokémon that Ditto has taken the forms of so far, and will try and update it if it ever changes. We would love to give you more tips on how to catch it, but given how elusive the guy is in the first place, there's not much else we can do to help. Sorry!

Which Pokémon Can Be Ditto?

Pokémon Spawn Locations
Gastly
  • Residential Areas
  • Marches
  • Lakes
  • Industrial Areas
Gulpin
  • Marches
  • Lakes
  • Industrial Areas
Hoothoot Residential Areas
Magikarp
  • Lake
  • Beach
  • River
  • Riverbank
  • Stream
  • Reservoir
Mankey
  • Gyms
  • Sport Centers
  • Stadiums
Pidgey Residential Areas
Rattata
  • Universities
  • Parking Lots
Remoraid
  • Harbors
  • Lake
  • Ocean
  • River
  • Wetland
  • Reservoir
Sentret
  • Residential Areas
  • Universities
Taillow
  • Residential Areas
  • College Campuses
Whismur
  • College Campuses
  • Parking Lots
Yanma
  • Forest
  • Woodland
  • Meadow
  • Nature Reserve
Zigzagoon Parking Lots
Zubat Wetlands

Which Moves Can Ditto Learn?

Ditto only has two moves: Transform and Struggle.

How Does Transform Work?

Transform allows Ditto to change into its opponent Pokémon, complete with its moves list and CP. However, its HP, base stamina, level, and IVs remain unchanged.

Are There Any More Reliable Methods Of Catching Ditto?

You could try joining Pokémon GO Facebook groups for your area, and keeping an eye on them to see if any members report finding a Ditto. If they share which Pokémon they caught that turned into a Ditto, that can really help as that narrows down the type of Pokémon you should prioritise catching. The types of Pokémon nearby that could be Ditto is the same for everybody.

How To Beat Ditto In A Gym

Ditto will transform into the first Pokémon it faces in battle, so you can chuck in a Pokémon and then switch to another that can take advantage of an elemental weakness. Like, say Charmander versus Squirtle.

Another option is to pick a Pokémon with high HP and stamina, but weak general stats like Chansey. The reason for this is that Ditto keeps his base HP when transforming, so you'll face an incredibly weak Chansey.

This article is part of our Pokémon GO walkthrough and guide series. We have articles that take you through the basics, covering How To Catch Pokémon: Throwing Tips, Poké Balls, & Capture Rates, How To Redeem Pokémon GO Promo Codes, How To Check A Pokémon's IVs Using An IV Calculator, How Trading Works, How To Track Pokémon Using Maps And Trackers, What Star Pieces And Stardust Do And How To Get Them, How Player Vs. Player Trainer Battles Work, and How To Complete Field Research And Research Breakthroughs And All Rewards.

We cover regular weekly and monthly Pokémon GO events, such as Spotlight Hour Times And Bonus Hour Times, and Community Days. We also have charts, including a Type Chart With Effectiveness And Weakness For All Types, an Egg Chart Explaining 2km, 5km, 7km, & 10km Eggs, and a Buddy Chart Explaining How To Earn Candy.

Elsewhere we cover Friend Code And Sharing Them For Easy XP and Which Pokémon GO 'Auto Catch' Companion Device Is The Best, plus more advanced tactics and info such as All Fast Moves And Charge Moves, How To Get TMs, And How It All Works, Shiny Pokémon And How To Catch Them, Glacial Lures, Magnetic Lures, Mossy Lures in Pokémon GO (And Their Exclusive Evolutions), How To Get Lots Of Candy Fast, How Lucky Pokémon Work & How To Catch Them, How To Catch All 27 Regional Pokémon, the Best Attackers And Best Defenders, All Raid Bosses And Best Counters Listed By Tier, What EX Raids Are And How To Get EX Raid Passes, What A Super Incubators Does And How To Get One, and How Get Mega Energy.

Pocket Monster-wise, we have specific guides for How To Get Pangoro, Sylveon, Glaceon, Aromatisse, Slurpuff, Sirfetch’d, Galarian Cofagrigus And More, How To Get Sylveon, Leafeon, Glaceon, Umbreon, Espeon, Vaporeon, Jolteon And Flareon, How To Evolve Wurmple Into Silcoon Or Cascoon, How To Get Tyrogue, Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan And Hitmontop, How To Use The Weather To Get Each Castform Form, How To Catch And Evolve Into Galarian Slowbro, How To Catch Smeargle, How To Find And Evolve Burmy, How To Catch Spinda, Where To Find Unown, How To Catch Ditto, and The Rarest Pokémon Including Wild, Shiny, Mythical And Regional Catches.

We also cover timed research and special events, including Mew's 'A Mythical Discovery', Jirachi's 'A Thousand-Year Slumber', Celebi's 'A Ripple In Time', and Regigigas' 'A Colossal Discovery'. Other (past) event guides include Twitch Codes List - Pokémon World Championship 2022, How To Battle A Challenger (World Championships 2022), How To Battle Fashion Challengers, 'A Spooky Message' Spiritomb Quest, Kanto Event FAQ, and the Summer Tour 2018 Chicago GO Fest And Dortmund And Yokosuka Safari Zones.

Finally, there's our WIP Pokémon GO Pokédex, which currently goes up to 400 Pokémon: #1-50 | #51-100 | #101-150 | #151-200 | #201-250 | #251-300 | #301-350 | #351-400.