How Often Do Dittos Spawn in Pokemon Go? Your Ultimate Guide
The short answer is: It’s complicated! Ditto’s spawn rate is variable and heavily reliant on the Pokemon it can disguise itself as. While some sources suggest a base encounter rate of around 3% within the pool of potential Ditto disguises, this doesn’t translate to a 3% chance every time you tap on a potential Pokemon. It means that among the currently disguisable Pokemon, there’s a small chance that any given one is actually a Ditto. Furthermore, Ditto’s disguises change periodically, further obfuscating its true spawn rate. Also, there are times when Ditto Spawns increase, or are boosted during certain events. It’s best to keep up to date with current Pokemon Go News.
Understanding Ditto’s Elusive Nature
Ditto, the Transform Pokémon, is infamous for its ability to disguise itself as other, more common creatures in Pokémon Go. This makes finding it a game of patience, persistence, and a little bit of luck. Unlike shiny Pokémon, which have individual odds and aren’t shared, if one player finds a Ditto disguised as a specific Pokémon at a specific location, other players can catch that same Ditto if they reach that location while it’s still there. This makes community reporting invaluable.
To truly understand Ditto’s spawn rate, you need to consider several factors:
- The Disguise Pool: Ditto only disguises itself as a select group of Pokémon, which changes periodically. Niantic announces these disguises sporadically. Staying updated on the current disguise list is crucial. If you’re not catching the current disguise pool, you have zero chance of finding Ditto!
- Individual Spawn Rates: Each Pokémon in the disguise pool has its own spawn rate. Common Pokémon will, naturally, appear more frequently, giving you more “rolls of the dice” to potentially encounter a Ditto.
- Event Boosts: Niantic occasionally holds events that increase the spawn rates of specific Pokémon, including Ditto. These events are the best times to actively hunt for Ditto.
Maximizing Your Ditto Hunting Strategy
Because there is no “trick” to guarantee a Ditto spawn, the best strategy involves maximizing your encounters with the current list of disguises. Here’s how:
- Stay Informed: Keep a close eye on Pokémon Go news sources and community forums to learn the current Ditto disguise list.
- Target the Disguises: Focus your efforts on catching every Pokémon on the current disguise list.
- Utilize Lure Modules and Incense: These items increase Pokémon spawns around you, boosting your chances of encountering a Ditto disguise. Attach Lure Modules to Pokestops or deploy Incense when walking around to increase spawns and find Ditto.
- Play During Events: Keep an eye on when there are boosted Ditto spawns.
- Tap Everything: Even if the Pokemon looks like a common Pokemon you might not otherwise catch, do not skip the encounter! You never know if it will be a ditto until you catch it!
Ditto’s Role in Pokémon Go
Beyond simply completing your Pokedex, Ditto often plays a crucial role in Special Research tasks. These tasks often require players to catch a Ditto to progress. The relative rarity of Ditto makes these tasks challenging, but also more rewarding when completed.
The Future of Ditto Spawns
Niantic has a history of changing how Ditto spawns and incorporates it into events. It is possible that future updates could introduce new mechanics, such as new disguises, increased shiny rates during specific events, or even a new method of encounter. It’s also conceivable that Niantic could introduce Ditto raids or other special encounters.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ditto in Pokémon Go
1. What Pokémon can Ditto disguise itself as?
The Pokémon that Ditto can disguise itself as changes periodically. Check community resources and Pokémon Go news sites for the most up-to-date list. As of late 2023, it’s a different set of Pokemon than in early 2023.
2. Is there a guaranteed way to catch a Ditto?
Unfortunately, no. There is no known method to guarantee a Ditto spawn in the wild. However, past events have offered guaranteed Ditto encounters through Research Breakthroughs or Special Research tasks.
3. Can I increase my chances of finding a Shiny Ditto?
There is no known way to directly increase your chances of finding a Shiny Ditto. Shiny Ditto is rare. Catch as many of the disguises as possible is the way to find it.
4. Does weather affect Ditto spawns?
Weather does not directly affect Ditto spawns. However, weather does impact the spawn rates of specific Pokémon types, which could indirectly influence your chances if the current Ditto disguises are affected by the weather.
5. How can I tell if a Pokémon is a Ditto before catching it?
There’s no way to definitively tell if a Pokémon is a Ditto before catching it. Some players suggest that Pokémon that are typically easy to catch but give you more trouble might be Ditto, but this is not a reliable indicator.
6. Do Lure Modules and Incense increase Ditto spawns?
Lure Modules and Incense increase the overall spawn rate of Pokémon around you. This indirectly increases your chances of encountering a Ditto disguise.
7. Does trading a Ditto count towards Research tasks?
No. Only catching a Ditto in the wild counts towards Research tasks that require you to catch one. Trading for a Ditto will not fulfill these requirements.
8. Are some locations better for finding Ditto than others?
There’s no definitive evidence that specific locations are better for finding Ditto. However, areas with a high density of PokéStops and Gyms are generally better due to the increased spawn rates.
9. What is Ditto’s catch rate?
Ditto’s base catch rate is 35. However, this catch rate is disguised by the Pokemon it is imitating.
10. Can Ditto be used in battles?
Ditto can be used in Gyms, Raid Battles, and against Team GO Rocket. When Ditto enters battle it copies the opposing Pokemon’s form, stats and movesets. But it is banned in Trainer Battles (PvP), including training battles with Team Leaders.
11. Is Ditto banned in raids?
No, Ditto is not banned in raids. In fact, Ditto can be a useful Pokemon in raids due to its transform ability.
12. Are there specific times of day when Ditto is more likely to spawn?
There’s no evidence to suggest that Ditto spawns are affected by the time of day.
13. How rare is Zorua compared to Ditto?
Both Zorua and Ditto are considered rare in Pokémon Go. Zorua’s spawn mechanic, disguising itself as your Buddy Pokémon, makes it challenging to find. Like Ditto, it is quite rare and there is not a specific rate published.
14. How do I get Mew in Pokémon Go?
Mew is obtained by completing the Special Research “A Mythical Discovery”. The Special Research contains multiple steps to complete.
15. What is the Games Learning Society?
The Games Learning Society, as found at GamesLearningSociety.org, is a professional organization that fosters research and innovation in the field of game-based learning. Their website is https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.