What Happens When You Leave Two Dittos in the Daycare?
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The short and direct answer is: absolutely nothing. If you place two Dittos in the Pokémon Daycare, you will not receive an egg. This is a fundamental rule in the Pokémon breeding mechanics, and it holds true across almost all mainline Pokémon games and even in most of their spin-offs. While Ditto is renowned for its unique ability to breed with almost any other Pokémon, it has a significant exception—it cannot breed with itself.
This characteristic stems from the fact that Ditto belongs to a unique egg group of its own, the aptly named “Ditto Egg Group“. Pokémon within the same egg group cannot breed together. This limitation exists despite Ditto’s nature as a flexible, shape-shifting Pokémon, capable of mimicking nearly all other creatures. The only way to acquire more Dittos is through catching them in the wild, trading with other players, or obtaining them via special events.
This peculiarity of Ditto’s breeding capabilities is a design choice that ensures a certain level of balance in the games. It prevents players from easily mass-producing Dittos, which, given their breeding utility, would otherwise become overly common.
Why Can’t Ditto Breed With Another Ditto?
The Ditto Egg Group
The core reason behind Ditto’s inability to breed with another Ditto lies in the egg group system. Every Pokémon belongs to one or two egg groups, which determine which Pokémon can breed together. Ditto, however, is a special case, as it belongs solely to the “Ditto Egg Group“. As a strict rule, Pokémon within the same egg group cannot produce eggs together. This means that while Ditto can breed with Pokémon from practically all other egg groups (excluding Undiscovered), it’s blocked from breeding with its own kind.
Game Balance Considerations
Beyond the technicalities of the egg group system, this mechanic is likely implemented for game balance. If Dittos could breed with each other, they would quickly become too abundant, negating their value in the breeding ecosystem. Their ability to breed with almost any other breedable Pokémon makes them highly valuable. Allowing for Ditto to breed with other Dittos would devalue the Pokemon, and greatly change the balance of breeding.
Lore and Design Choice
While not explicitly stated in the Pokémon lore, Ditto’s inability to reproduce with itself might also reflect its unique nature. Being a shapeshifting Pokémon, perhaps it is unable to reproduce by traditional means, and needs a partner from another species to allow the breeding process to occur. The game developers might have deliberately made Ditto an outlier to emphasize its special role as a universal breeder rather than a Pokémon capable of traditional reproduction.
How to Obtain a Ditto
Given that breeding is off the table, here are the primary methods for acquiring a Ditto:
- Catching in the Wild: Dittos can be found in various locations across different Pokémon games. The specific areas vary by game, so players need to consult game guides or resources to determine where to find them.
- Trading: Trading with other players is another effective way to acquire a Ditto. Online communities and trading forums can help you connect with players willing to trade.
- Special Events: Sometimes, game developers release special events that feature Dittos, allowing players to acquire them through specific in-game activities. Keep an eye out for announcements regarding these events.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can You Breed Two Dittos in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet?
No, you cannot breed two Dittos in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. The rule of the Ditto Egg Group preventing breeding with another Ditto still applies in these games.
2. Can Ditto Breed With Legendaries or Mythicals?
Generally, no. Legendary and mythical Pokémon belong to the “Undiscovered Egg Group“, which cannot breed with any Pokémon, including Ditto. There are exceptions, like Phione and Manaphy, but most cannot breed at all.
3. Can Ditto Breed With Baby Pokémon?
No. Baby Pokémon like Riolu cannot breed with anything, even Ditto. You need to evolve the Baby Pokémon into its next evolution, in this case Riolu into Lucario, before you can breed with a Ditto.
4. What Happens if You Breed Ditto With Another Pokémon?
If you breed Ditto with another compatible Pokémon, you will receive an egg of the other Pokémon’s species. The resulting egg will have the same species as the non-Ditto parent.
5. Can You Breed Paradox Pokémon with Ditto?
No. Paradox Pokémon cannot be bred at all, even with Ditto. They are in a special category that prevents them from producing eggs.
6. Can You Breed Type: Null With Ditto?
No. Type: Null belongs to the Undiscovered Egg Group, and therefore it cannot breed with Ditto or any other Pokemon.
7. Can You Breed Cosmog With Ditto?
No. Cosmog and its evolution Cosmoem cannot breed with any Pokemon, including Ditto.
8. Is Breeding with Ditto Always Good?
Breeding with Ditto is generally beneficial for its ease and flexibility. However, you can’t inherit egg moves from Ditto (unless the non-Ditto parent is male and knows the moves), which is a notable limitation.
9. How Can I Get a Perfect IV Ditto?
The best way to get a Ditto with perfect IVs is through six-star Tera Raid battles. These raids offer a chance at a Ditto with multiple perfect IVs.
10. Why is a 6 IV Ditto Important?
A 6 IV Ditto is invaluable for breeding because it speeds up the process of obtaining Pokémon with high IVs. It gives you a parent with perfect stats to work with, making it easier to breed Pokémon with close to or perfect stats.
11. Can Ditto Transform Into Mewtwo?
Yes. Ditto can transform into any Pokémon it battles, including Mewtwo. However, this transformation does not impact breeding.
12. Can you breed a Deoxys with Ditto?
Yes, Deoxys can be bred with Ditto to produce more Deoxys Eggs. If you get the Deoxys Egg from the daycare it will count for your shiny chain.
13. Can You Breed Rotom or Magnemite With Ditto?
Yes. Pokémon with no gender, such as Rotom and Magnemite, can only breed with Ditto.
14. Why Can’t I Breed a Shiny Pokémon With Ditto?
Shiny Pokémon status is not affected by breeding with a Ditto. The chance of getting a shiny Pokemon is increased by breeding with a pokemon from another region, called the Masuda method.
15. Is Gimmighoul Breedable with Ditto?
No. Gimmighoul, as a genderless pokemon, cannot breed with anything, including Ditto.