How to catch Ditto in Pokémon Go

Don't be deceived by this pink blob.

Ditto in the Pokémon anime.
Image via The Pokémon Company

With so many Pokémon Go players looking to complete their Pokédex, it can be troublesome to track down specific Pokémon as some can only be encountered under unique circumstances. A great example of this is Ditto, the transforming Pokémon.

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In the franchise, the pink blob Pokémon is infamously known to transform into other ‘mon, fooling trainers like Ash Ketchum time and time again. This integral part of Ditto makes it harder to find than the average Pokémon in Pokémon Go. Here’s everything you need to know to find this sneaky pink blob in the mobile game.

How to find Ditto in Pokémon Go

Ditto in Pokémon Go.
What a happy little fella. Image via Niantic

The quickest way to find Ditto in Pokémon Go is by tracking down its monthly disguises. Every month, Ditto selects a disguise from a pool of available Pokémon, and if you specifically try capturing those, you can maximize your chances of getting Ditto.

Be sure to catch those specific Pokémon whenever you see them because you won’t know if they’re actually Ditto until after they’re captured. If you’re lucky, the captured Pokémon will reveal its true form as a Ditto. If not, you’ll have to try again.

Pokémon Go Ditto disguises list for March 2024

From time to time, Niantic will choose a specific lineup of Pokémon that Ditto will masquerade as. Whenever you’re out hunting Ditto, you’ll want to be aware of which Pokémon Ditto might be disguised as at the time.

As of March 2024, Ditto can appear as one of the following Pokémon:

  1. Oddish
  2. Koffing
  3. Rhyhorn
  4. Goldeen
  5. Spinarak
  6. Numel
  7. Bidoof
  8. Gothita
  9. Solosis
  10. Bergmite
  11. Stufful

Can Ditto be shiny in Pokémon Go?

Dittos in Pokémon Go
There’s a twist. Image via Niantic

Yes, in rarer situations, the captured Pokémon might turn out to be a Shiny Ditto. Interestingly, this can only be the case if the disguise is not Shiny. In other words, finding a non-Shiny Ditto disguise may result in a real Shiny Ditto.

Shiny or not, finding Ditto will come down to luck. As long as you’re aware of which Pokémon Ditto might be disguised as, you should run into one eventually.

How to increase your chances for a Ditto encounter

If you’re set on finally catching that regular or shiny Ditto, you might be curious about how you can boost your chances for an encounter with the shapeshifter Pokémon.

  1. Use Lures and Incences.
  2. Utilize the nearby list to hunt down known Ditto disguises.
  3. Keep up with your local communities since Ditto spawns are set. If someone finds a Ditto, others can also catch the Pokémon at the same spot.

Can you hatch Ditto from eggs in Pokémon Go?

Ditto in Pokémon Go.
It doesn’t come from an egg. Image via Niantic

No, you can’t hatch Ditto from eggs in Pokémon Go. Catching a disguised Ditto is the only way of adding the Pokémon to your Pokédex.

What happens when you Ditto in a gym battle in Pokémon Go?

When Ditto is in a Pokémon Go gym battle, it’ll transform into the first Pokémon it sees in your opponent’s lineup. However, Ditto will keep its low stats, so it won’t be receiving any buffs in terms of its power level.

Author
Image of Karli Iwamasa
Karli Iwamasa
Karli is a freelance writer and editor for Dot Esports based in the Bay Area. She mostly writes about Pokémon with a focus on competitive VGC but also enjoys VALORANT.
Author
Image of Gökhan Çakır
Gökhan Çakır
Gökhan is a Staff Writer and Fortnite Lead at Dot Esports. Gökhan graduated as an industrial engineer in 2020 and has since been with Dot Esports. As a natural-born gamer, he honed his skills to a professional level in Dota 2. Upon giving up on the Aegis of Champions in 2019, Gökhan started his writing career, covering all things gaming, while his heart remains a lifetime defender of the Ancients.