Unlocking Hidden Abilities: Your Comprehensive Guide to Breeding with Ditto

Yes, you absolutely can get Hidden Abilities by breeding with Ditto! However, the process involves certain nuances and probabilities. Ditto acts as a universal breeding partner, meaning it can breed with almost any Pokémon capable of breeding, regardless of its gender. Understanding the mechanics behind Hidden Ability inheritance when using Ditto is crucial for any serious Pokémon breeder. Let’s delve deeper into the specifics of how this works, probabilities, and frequently asked questions!

The Mechanics of Hidden Ability Inheritance with Ditto

Ditto: The Universal Key to Breeding

Ditto’s unique ability to transform and breed with nearly any Pokémon (excluding those in the Undiscovered Egg Group, which comprises Legendary and Mythical Pokémon, as well as baby Pokémon) makes it an indispensable tool for breeders. It essentially takes the place of either a male or female Pokémon, allowing for breeding combinations that would otherwise be impossible.

Hidden Ability Inheritance

The primary method of obtaining a Hidden Ability Pokémon through breeding involves a female Pokémon with the Hidden Ability. In this scenario, there’s a 60% chance that the offspring will inherit the Hidden Ability. This rate applies to breeding with another Pokémon of the same species or evolutionary line.

However, the rules change slightly when breeding with Ditto:

• Ditto without a Hidden Ability: If you breed a Pokémon with a Hidden Ability (male or female) with a Ditto without a Hidden Ability, the 60% chance of passing down the Hidden Ability still applies.

• Ditto with a Hidden Ability (Imposter): This is where it gets interesting! If Ditto itself has the Hidden Ability (Imposter), it essentially acts as the Pokémon with the Hidden Ability for the purpose of inheritance. This means, breeding it with any breedable pokemon still results in the 60% rate of the Hidden Ability being inherited.

Important Considerations

• The Destiny Knot item, which guarantees that 5 IVs (Individual Values) are passed down from the parents to the offspring, does not affect the inheritance of Hidden Abilities.

• The Everstone item, when held by a Pokémon, ensures that the offspring inherits the parent’s Nature. This item also has no effect on the inheritance of Hidden Abilities.

• If neither parent has a Hidden Ability, the offspring cannot have a Hidden Ability. It will only possess a standard ability.

Finding and Catching a Ditto with Imposter

Catching a Ditto with its Hidden Ability (Imposter) can be challenging, as Ditto disguises itself as other Pokémon in the wild. The most effective method for finding one is to encounter as many wild Pokémon as possible in areas where Ditto spawns. Check online resources and community discussions for the common Pokémon Ditto disguises itself as in your specific game. Keep in mind that the higher the encounter rate you can achieve, the better your chances of finding a Hidden Ability Ditto.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can a male Pokémon pass down its Hidden Ability with Ditto?

Yes! When breeding with a Ditto, a male Pokémon can pass down its Hidden Ability. The 60% chance of inheritance applies, just as it would if a female Pokémon with the Hidden Ability was breeding.

2. What is the chance of breeding a Hidden Ability Pokémon?

If one parent (female or any Pokémon bred with Ditto) has a Hidden Ability, there is a 60% chance that the offspring will inherit that Hidden Ability.

3. What happens if I breed a male Pokémon with a female Ditto?

Because Ditto lacks gender and possesses a volatile genetic structure, breeding a male Pokémon with a Ditto will result in an egg that hatches into the male Pokémon’s species. The inheritance of Hidden Abilities will follow the standard rules, where the Hidden Ability has a 60% chance to be passed down.

4. What is the best way to get a Ditto with the Imposter ability?

The best way is to find Ditto in areas where it spawns and hope it has Imposter (it’s Hidden Ability). Also, you can check forums and online communities for Ditto trade offers. Remember that Ditto disguises itself in the wild.

5. What Pokémon cannot breed with Ditto?

Ditto can breed with almost any Pokémon, except for those in the No Eggs Discovered group. This group includes baby Pokémon (like Pichu or Riolu), most Legendary and Mythical Pokémon, and certain special form Pokémon.

6. Can I breed a Legendary Pokémon with Ditto to get another Legendary?

No. Legendary Pokémon are in the No Eggs Discovered group and cannot breed, even with Ditto. The only exception is Manaphy, which can breed with Ditto to produce Phione, but Phione will never evolve into Manaphy.

7. Does the Destiny Knot affect Hidden Ability inheritance?

No, the Destiny Knot only guarantees that five IVs are passed down from the parents to the offspring. It does not affect the chance of inheriting a Hidden Ability.

8. Can a shiny Ditto pass down its shiny status?

The probability of offspring being shiny is independent of the parents being shiny. The odds of getting a shiny Pokémon are affected by factors like the Shiny Charm and the Masuda method (breeding Pokémon from different language regions). A shiny Ditto does not guarantee a shiny offspring.

9. How do I increase my chances of finding a Ditto?

The most reliable way to increase your chances of finding a Ditto is to encounter as many wild Pokémon as possible in areas where Ditto spawns. Look up Ditto locations for the specific game you are playing and actively seek out encounters in those areas.

10. Is Imposter Ditto better than a Ditto with Limber?

Yes, Imposter is generally considered better than Limber. Imposter automatically transforms Ditto into the opponent as soon as it enters the battle, saving a turn compared to using the Transform move manually. Limber prevents paralysis but is less strategically useful overall.

11. What is the Ditto trade code?

The commonly used link code for Ditto trades is 4448 4448. This code is often used to find foreign Ditto for the Masuda method of shiny hunting. Be cautious and verify what you are trading for to avoid scams.

12. Can I get a Hidden Ability if neither parent has it?

No. If neither parent possesses a Hidden Ability, the offspring will only inherit a standard ability. The Hidden Ability must be present in at least one parent (female or either parent if breeding with Ditto) for it to be passed down.

13. Does the Everstone affect Hidden Ability inheritance?

No, the Everstone only guarantees that the offspring inherits the parent’s Nature. It does not affect the chance of inheriting a Hidden Ability.

14. Are some Pokémon easier to get with Hidden Abilities than others?

Yes, some Pokémon have Hidden Abilities that are more easily obtainable through methods other than breeding, such as Max Raid Battles in games like Pokémon Sword and Shield. Checking resources for your specific game will provide information about the easiest ways to obtain specific Hidden Abilities.

15. What are the most important things to remember when breeding for Hidden Abilities with Ditto?

The key takeaways are that Ditto acts as a substitute parent, and the parent with the Hidden Ability has a 60% chance of passing it down. Understanding this, along with knowing Ditto spawn locations and utilizing the correct items (Destiny Knot for IVs and Everstone for Nature), will significantly improve your breeding success. It also helps to engage with communities such as Games Learning Society to understand the intricacies of the games we love and play. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org today!

Breeding for Hidden Abilities can be a rewarding, if sometimes tedious, process. Understanding the mechanics and probabilities involved with Ditto breeding will put you on the path to assembling the perfect team!