What Happens When You Breed a Ditto with a Male Pokémon?
The world of Pokémon breeding can be a bit complex, especially when the versatile Pokémon, Ditto, is involved. So, what exactly happens when you pair a Ditto with a male Pokémon? The simple answer is: you will get an egg that hatches into the non-Ditto Pokémon’s base form, inheriting the species of the male parent. The gender of the male does not matter when breeding with Ditto.
Unlike most Pokémon pairings, where gender is crucial for producing an egg, Ditto bypasses these traditional restrictions. Its unique shapeshifting ability allows it to transform and mimic the genetic makeup of almost any Pokémon it encounters. This means that regardless of whether you’re using a male or female Pokémon, the resulting egg will always contain the base form of the non-Ditto partner. For example, if you breed a male Charizard with a Ditto, you will obtain an egg that hatches into a Charmander.
It’s crucial to understand that while Ditto takes the form of its partner, it doesn’t mean it becomes the same gender, or species. It simply acts as the opposite gender of the partner Pokémon in the daycare. This makes Ditto a crucial Pokémon for breeding, especially for Pokémon with specific gender ratios or for those that are primarily male.
Ditto’s Unique Breeding Role
Breaking Gender Barriers
One of the most significant aspects of Ditto’s breeding capabilities is its ability to ignore typical gender-based limitations. Normally, you’d need a male and a female of the same species or within the same Egg Group to produce an egg. However, with Ditto, you can pair it with any breedable Pokémon, regardless of gender. This is particularly helpful for breeding Pokémon like Turtwig or Eevee, which have a low female-to-male gender ratio, and Pokémon which are exclusively male.
The Offspring’s Species
When breeding a Pokémon with Ditto, the resulting egg will always hatch into the species of the non-Ditto parent. This means you will never hatch a Ditto by breeding one. This makes Ditto essential for getting specific Pokémon eggs, especially for Pokémon like starters that usually need to be bred from their first evolution, or Pokémon with hard-to-find female counterparts.
No Influence on Gender Chance
It’s essential to note that even though Ditto plays the role of the opposite gender in breeding, it doesn’t change the chance of a specific gender of the resulting egg. The gender distribution of the hatched Pokémon will remain the same as if it was caught in the wild. For most Pokémon, this means an approximately 50/50 male/female chance. However, for some Pokémon, such as Combee, which has a very high chance of being male, the chance for a female will remain the same despite breeding with Ditto.
IVs and Natures
While Ditto doesn’t affect the gender ratio or the species of the offspring, it can still influence the individual values (IVs) and nature of the egg. When holding a Destiny Knot, Ditto will pass down IVs from its stats to the baby Pokémon. If Ditto holds an Everstone, the baby Pokemon will have the same nature as the Ditto. These mechanics make Ditto highly sought after for competitive breeding.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can two Dittos breed with each other?
No, two Dittos cannot breed with each other. Dittos belong to the “Ditto” Egg Group, and members of the same Egg Group cannot breed with each other. The only way to acquire a Ditto is by catching it in the wild, trading with another player, or through special events.
2. What happens if I put two Dittos in the daycare?
If you place two Dittos in the daycare, you will not get any eggs. Dittos will only produce eggs with other Pokémon from different egg groups. They cannot breed with each other.
3. Can I breed a male starter Pokemon with Ditto?
Yes, you can breed a male starter Pokémon with a Ditto. Ditto is essential for breeding starter Pokémon, especially if you have a male one, as it allows you to obtain eggs with the basic form of the starter.
4. Does the gender of the Pokémon I breed with Ditto matter?
No, the gender of the Pokémon you breed with Ditto does not matter. Whether you pair it with a male or female Pokémon, the resulting egg will always hatch into the species of the non-Ditto parent. This is Ditto’s unique and defining trait for breeding.
5. Will a Pokemon bred with a Ditto always be the same gender?
No, breeding with a Ditto doesn’t guarantee a specific gender. The chances of the offspring being male or female will be the same as when catching that specific Pokemon in the wild.
6. Can a Ditto and a male Pokémon breed?
Yes, a Ditto and a male Pokémon can absolutely breed. This is a fundamental aspect of Ditto’s role in Pokémon breeding.
7. Can you influence the gender of a Pokémon when breeding with Ditto?
No, you cannot directly influence the gender of the Pokémon hatched from an egg. The gender ratio is determined by the species and not the breeding method. It’s determined by chance, just like in the wild.
8. Can I breed a male Pokémon without using Ditto?
Yes, you can breed a male Pokémon without using Ditto, but you must pair it with a female Pokémon of the same species, or in the same Egg Group. Ditto is useful when you do not have access to the opposite gender, or to Pokemon with rare female counterparts.
9. Can Ditto breed with any egg group?
Yes, Ditto can breed with almost any egg group, with the exceptions being the “No Eggs Discovered” group and the “Ditto” group itself. This makes Ditto incredibly valuable for breeding.
10. Can you breed legendary Pokémon with Ditto?
No, you cannot breed most Legendary Pokémon with Ditto or any other Pokémon. They typically belong to the “No Eggs Discovered” group. The only exception is Manaphy who can breed with Ditto to produce Phione.
11. Can Ditto breed with genderless Pokemon?
Yes, Ditto can breed with genderless Pokémon. This is another crucial function of Ditto in breeding because genderless Pokemon can only breed with Ditto.
12. Can you breed Charizard with Ditto in Pokémon Violet?
Yes, you can breed Charizard with Ditto in Pokémon Violet. This will give you a Charmander egg. This is especially helpful if you have a male Charizard.
13. Can Greninja breed with Ditto in Pokémon Violet?
Yes, Greninja can breed with Ditto in Pokémon Violet. This is the way players can obtain Froakie and Frogadier from Greninja in Pokémon Violet.
14. Should I keep all the Dittos I catch?
Yes, you should keep all the Dittos you catch, especially if you intend to breed competitively. Having multiple Dittos with different IVs and natures can be highly beneficial, allowing you to pass down desirable traits to offspring.
15. Can you breed a Shiny Pokémon using Ditto?
Yes, Ditto can be used in the breeding process to obtain Shiny Pokémon. The chances of a shiny being born are the same when using Ditto as without it, so it doesn’t increase your shiny odds. However, a Ditto from a different language region may increase your chances of a shiny, a method known as the Masuda method.
In conclusion, Ditto is a cornerstone of Pokémon breeding mechanics. Its ability to breed with almost any Pokémon, bypassing gender limitations, makes it an invaluable asset for trainers looking to create their perfect team. By understanding how Ditto functions in the breeding process, you can greatly improve your breeding efficiency and reach your breeding goals.