How to Catch a Ditto in Pokémon GO

Wanna be really creeped out? Ditto’s signature ability to transform results from its constantly shifting DNA. Whenever it transforms into something, it copies it entirely, right down to the genetic level. So if a Ditto were to mimic you, a blood test wouldn’t even differentiate it from you. That’s kind of a scary thought, huh? While you’re mulling that one ever, here’s how to catch a Ditto in Pokémon GO.

Dittos can be very tricky to catch because they don’t roam around in the wild. Or, well, perhaps it would be more accurate to say that they don’t roam around as themselves. Dittos are always disguised in the wild, and there’s no way to differentiate them from the Pokémon they’re disguised as at a glance. Nope, not even their signature faces. As such, the only way to catch a Ditto is to stumble upon one by chance. When catching a Pokémon, there’s a chance you’ll receive an additional message that the Pokémon was a Ditto in disguise.

How to Catch a Ditto in Pokémon GO

While you can’t force a Ditto to appear in the wild, there are ways to sniff them out more efficiently. For one thing, Dittos will only disguise themselves as one of the following Pokémon:

• Paras
• Hoothoot
• Spinarak
• Hoppip
• Remoraid
• Whismur
• Gulpin
• Nummel
• Bidoof
• Foongus
• Purrloin

If you’re on the hunt for a Ditto, these are the Pokémon you want to prioritize catching. Secondly, unlike most wild Pokémon, Ditto spawns are universal. That means whenever a player encounters a Ditto somewhere, more Dittos are guaranteed to show up for other players in the immediate vicinity. If a friend happens to catch a Ditto nearby, make sure they let you know so you can go looking for yourself. There are also online communities of “Ditto hunters” that keep tabs on Ditto spawns, so look on social sites like Reddit or Discord for the latest updates. Lures and incense will also attract them just like other Pokémon, so if you’re actively pursuing a Ditto, they’ll make it a little easier to suss out.