Ditto, the Transform Pokemon, is one of the trickiest Pokemon to catch in Pokemon GO because it disguises itself as other Pokemon. This guide reveals all current Ditto disguises and the best strategies to find it in 2025.
Quick Answer: Ditto disguises itself as common Pokemon. Catch every potential disguise you encounter—when caught, Ditto will reveal itself with an "Oh?" message. It cannot be found by looking at the map!
How Ditto Disguises Work
Ditto never appears as itself on the overworld map. Instead, it transforms into other Pokemon to hide in plain sight:
- Ditto appears on the map as one of its current disguise Pokemon
- You cannot tell it's Ditto until you catch it
- After catching, an "Oh?" message appears if it's Ditto
- The Pokemon then transforms into Ditto
- All players who catch the same spawn will get either all Ditto or all the regular Pokemon (not random per player)
Important: There's no way to identify Ditto before catching it. You must catch the disguised Pokemon to discover if it's actually Ditto!
Current Ditto Disguises (November 2025)
As of November 2025, Ditto can disguise itself as the following 12 Pokemon:
Complete Disguise List
- Sentret (Normal-type)
- Buneary (Normal-type)
- Teddiursa (Normal-type)
- Whismur (Normal-type)
- Slakoth (Normal-type)
- Mankey (Fighting-type)
- Seedot (Grass-type)
- Growlithe (Fire-type)
- Voltorb (Electric-type)
- Magnemite (Electric/Steel-type)
- Duskull (Ghost-type)
- Surskit (Bug/Water-type)
Note: Ditto's disguise list changes when new seasons launch or during special events. The current rotation has been active since September 2025's "Completely Normal" event.
Best Strategies to Catch Ditto
Since you can't see Ditto on the map, you need to catch as many potential disguises as possible. Here are the most effective strategies:
Strategy 1: Use Incense and Lures
Increase your spawn encounters to maximize chances:
- Activate Incense to spawn Pokemon near you for 30-60 minutes
- Place Lure Modules on PokeStops (increases spawns for 30 minutes)
- Use Daily Adventure Incense (15 minutes of increased spawns)
- Walk through areas with multiple PokeStops
- Combine Incense + Lures for maximum spawn rate
Strategy 2: Hunt in Partly Cloudy Weather
Weather boosts increase Ditto's spawn rate:
- Ditto spawns more frequently during Partly Cloudy weather
- Many of its disguises (Normal-types) are also boosted in this weather
- Check your in-game weather indicator
- Visit PokeStops with Partly Cloudy weather active
Strategy 3: Catch Everything
The most important rule for finding Ditto:
- Catch every Pokemon on the current disguise list
- Don't skip common spawns—Ditto hides as common Pokemon
- Focus on areas with high spawn density
- Urban areas and shopping centers usually have more spawns
Strategy 4: Wait for Ditto Events
Special events dramatically increase Ditto encounters:
- Completely Normal Event: Annual event with boosted Ditto spawns
- Ditto-Themed Research: Special quests featuring Ditto
- April Fools: Historically features Ditto prominently
- Transform Week: Special events with increased Ditto rates
Pro Tip: Join local Pokemon GO Discord or Facebook groups. Other players often share Ditto spawns, and everyone who catches that spawn will also get Ditto!
What Happens When You Catch Ditto
The Ditto reveal sequence is unique and exciting:
Reveal Sequence
- You catch what appears to be a normal disguise Pokemon
- The screen shows "Oh?" instead of "Gotcha!"
- The Pokemon transforms into Ditto with an animation
- Ditto's stats replace the disguise's stats
- You earn Ditto candy instead of the disguise's candy
Shiny Ditto - How to Find It
Shiny Ditto is available in Pokemon GO, but catching one requires incredible luck and persistence.
Shiny Ditto Facts
- Shiny Rate: Approximately 1 in 64 Ditto encounters (higher than normal shinies)
- Blue Color: Shiny Ditto is blue instead of purple
- Available Year-Round: No special event required
- Cannot Be Shiny Disguises: If you encounter a shiny disguise Pokemon, it will NEVER be Ditto
- Rare but Possible: Keep catching Ditto disguises!
Shiny Safety: Don't worry about losing a shiny! If you encounter a shiny version of any disguise Pokemon, it's guaranteed to NOT be a Ditto. You'll keep your shiny!
Why You Need Ditto
Ditto is required for several important tasks in Pokemon GO:
Ditto Requirements
- "A Mythical Discovery" Special Research: Required in Stage 5/8 to catch Mew
- "Let's GO, Meltan" Research: Catch a Ditto task
- Field Research Tasks: Occasionally appears in monthly research
- Collection Challenges: Sometimes included in event collections
- Pokedex Completion: Required for Kanto medal and overall completion
Ditto in Battles
Ditto has unique mechanics in gym and raid battles:
- Transform Ability: Ditto immediately transforms into the first opponent
- Copies Stats: Takes on the opponent's moves, stats, and type
- Keeps CP: Ditto retains its own CP level
- Limited Use: Generally not recommended for serious battles
- Fun Factor: Great for casual gym battles and experimentation
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don't fall into these common traps when hunting for Ditto:
What NOT to Do
- Don't skip common Pokemon: Ditto disguises as common spawns, not rare ones
- Don't chase shiny disguises: Shiny disguise Pokemon are never Ditto
- Don't use outdated lists: Disguises change regularly; use current November 2025 list
- Don't give up quickly: Finding Ditto can take time and many catches
- Don't ignore weather: Partly Cloudy weather significantly helps
- Don't hunt alone: Coordinate with friends to share Ditto spawns
How to Tell If It Might Be Ditto (Before Catching)
Unfortunately, there are NO visual indicators before catching. However, you can optimize your chances:
- Focus on the 12 current disguises only (ignore other Pokemon)
- Low CP disguises are NOT more likely to be Ditto
- IV doesn't indicate Ditto (you can't check IV until after catching)
- Every disguise spawn has equal Ditto chance regardless of trainer level
Myth Busted: Many players believe low-CP spawns are more likely Ditto. This is FALSE—Ditto has equal chance at any CP level!
Ditto Spawn Rate
Understanding spawn rates helps set realistic expectations:
- Normal Conditions: Approximately 3-5% of disguise encounters are Ditto
- During Events: Can increase to 10-20% or higher
- Weather Boost: Partly Cloudy increases spawn rate
- Lures and Incense: Don't increase Ditto rate, but do increase encounters
- Average Time: Most players catch Ditto within 50-100 disguise attempts
Regional Differences
Ditto spawns worldwide with no regional restrictions:
- Available in all countries and regions
- Same disguise list globally
- No time-of-day restrictions
- Spawns in all biomes equally
Final Tip: Patience is key! Every trainer eventually catches Ditto by consistently catching its disguises. Don't get discouraged—your Ditto is out there waiting!
Quick Reference Checklist
Ditto Hunting Checklist
- ☐ Memorize the 12 current disguises
- ☐ Use Incense or place Lures at PokeStops
- ☐ Hunt during Partly Cloudy weather when possible
- ☐ Catch every disguise Pokemon you see
- ☐ Join local raid groups to get Ditto callouts
- ☐ Check for Ditto-themed events
- ☐ Don't catch shiny disguises (they're never Ditto)
- ☐ Be patient and persistent!