[OVERVIEW]
Ditto uses its ability Imposter in tandem with Choice Scarf to be a check to multiple relevant setup sweepers such as Combusken, Swanna, Crustle, Pinsir, and Leafeon, which cannot set up in fear that Ditto will reverse sweep them. Ditto works great as a reliable revenge killer for bulkier teams, as many attackers carry super effective coverage against themselves. It finds opportunities to switch in due to the opposing Pokemon's immunities and resistances; for example, it can switch in on Volt Switch from Electivire, Flare Blitz from Flash Fire Rapidash, and Stone Edge from Golem while threatening them back thanks to stronger coverage in Earthquake and High Horsepower. Ditto can take advantage of more than just setup sweepers, and when transformed into the right Pokemon, it can also set Stealth Rock when copying Bronzor, remove entry hazards when copying Defog Silvally formes, and remove items with Knock Off when copying Mareanie. Regardless, Ditto fails to check setup sweepers that have different workarounds to the limitations of Imposter, Choice Scarf, and Ditto's low HP stat. Defensive sweepers like Curse Muk and Bulk Up Komala can outstall Ditto's moves' 5 PP, while offensive sweepers like Raichu and Bouffalant are immune to Imposter altogether if they are behind a Substitute. Ditto also fails to put in work against defensive cores including Pokemon like Bronzor, Altaria, Pyukumuku, and Lickilicky, which can easily outstall and recover on it. This makes Ditto unreliable and hard to fit on teams, as its use is completely dependent on what the opponent brings, and it can be played around due to the opponent knowing exactly what the Transformed Ditto is capable of.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Transform
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Imposter
nature: Relaxed
evs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def / 0 Spe
ivs: 30 HP / 30 Atk / 30 Def / 30 SpD / 2 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Transform is Ditto's one and only move, and even then it sees almost no use due to Imposter usually triggering before Ditto can use it.
Set Details
========
Choice Scarf guarantees that Ditto will outspeed setup sweepers once Transformed or will at least Speed tie other with Choice Scarf users. The IVs enable Ditto to use Hidden Power Ground when against Hidden Power users like Raichu, Simisear, and special Combusken. The minimal Speed and maximum Defense investment is meant for the unlikely scenario where two Ditto are left to Struggle against each other, as this investment would minimize Struggle damage and recoil.
Usage Tips
========
Ditto can be utilized early as a scout and revenge killer. Bring it in safely to force out a weakened Golem, Electivire, or Toucannon, which has the additional benefit of knowing for certain what coverage these attackers are running. Given that many attackers have immunities or resistances to their STAB attacks in the case of Electivire, Rapidash, Raichu, and Leafeon, Ditto may switch in on them on the correct prediction. However, with Ditto's low HP, wrong predication may ruin Ditto's chances of revenge killing later. Despite the Choice lock, Ditto may find itself using status moves like Stealth Rock, Defog, and Toxic in the appropriate situations, and it is not as afraid of being setup fodder, as it likely can switch out and reverse sweep. When up against bulkier playstyles, Ditto can still find use in being a switch-in to status spreaders like Altaria, Muk, and Bronzor. Ditto can also take advantage of these Pokemon and other recovery users to keep itself healthy by using their Roost and Rest, as well as copy Knock Off from users like Mareanie and Komala to remove their valuable Eviolite or Leftovers. Ditto may also want to switch into Knock Off in these cases if it would rather have more moves and PP with its Choice Scarf gone against bulkier builds. Setup sweepers can have coverage that deters Ditto, with examples like Roost Swanna, Protect Combusken, and Sucker Punch Pawniard all giving Ditto a hard time if it locks into the wrong attack or is too low on HP.
Team Options
========
Ditto works best on balance and bulkier playstyles that appreciate its ability to provide a blanket check to setup sweepers that threaten their defensive cores. Bronzor, Altaria, Muk, and Mareanie enjoy that they can rely on Ditto to revenge kill setup sweepers like Crustle, Pinsir, and Z-Mirror Move Swanna. Water- and Flying-type Pokemon like Silvally-Water, Toucannon, and Swanna appreciate Ditto as a deterrent against Choice Scarf Electivire locking itself into Volt Switch. Ditto cannot revenge kill some wallbreakers like Marowak and Exeggutor reliably, so it can help to have additional offensive pressure from Leafeon, Silvally-Dark, and Rapidash. As Ditto struggles with defensive sweepers and Substitute users, phazers such as Mareanie, Poliwrath, and Avalugg can help check the setup sweepers Ditto fails to check on its own. Stallbreakers such as Simisear, Simisage, Bouflant, and Vigoroth are good support to have when a Ditto team faces stall. Knock Off support from the likes of Mareanie, Sandslash, and Komala can help with the stall matchup as well and can even remove the opposing Choice Scarf from Silvally and Rapidash so that Ditto is guaranteed to outspeed them.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
An IV spread of 30 Def / 30 SpA / 2 Spe would be an optimized spread for Hidden Power Fire. This coverage hits potential Hidden Power users like Simisage and Servine for super effective damage, and it can also catch Steel-type Pokemon off guard that are expecting a Grass-type attack like Bronzor.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Substitute**: Imposter fails when facing a Substitute, so setup sweepers that run Substitute like Bouffalant, Raichu, and Swoobat cannot be revenge killed by Ditto.
**Defensive Setup Sweepers**: Bulk Up Komala, Curse Muk, Quiver Dance Bellosom, and Bulk Up Vigoroth all boost their defensive stats alongside their offensive ones, which coupled with recovery options means that Ditto cannot revenge kill these sweepers unless they are severely weakened.
**Priority Sweepers**: Ditto does not like being locked into priority when revenge killing, as Sucker Punch Kecleon, Pawniard, and Cacturne can potentially play around it. Ditto additionally fails to revenge kill Quick Attack Bibarel while it KOes it back, and weaker priority users like Aqua Jet Swanna can make Ditto victim to being revenge killed itself.
**Walls**: Given its low PP and lack of variability from being Choice-locked, most walls can easily outstall Ditto. Some walls like Gourgeist-XL, Dusclops, Mareanie, and Komala have to watch out for their own status moves and Knock Off being used against them, but they can still beat Ditto on their own.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Ho3nConfirm3d, 231074]]
- Quality checked by: [[5gen, 296755], [Aaronboyer, 239545]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [estronic, 240732]]
Ditto uses its ability Imposter in tandem with Choice Scarf to be a check to multiple relevant setup sweepers such as Combusken, Swanna, Crustle, Pinsir, and Leafeon, which cannot set up in fear that Ditto will reverse sweep them. Ditto works great as a reliable revenge killer for bulkier teams, as many attackers carry super effective coverage against themselves. It finds opportunities to switch in due to the opposing Pokemon's immunities and resistances; for example, it can switch in on Volt Switch from Electivire, Flare Blitz from Flash Fire Rapidash, and Stone Edge from Golem while threatening them back thanks to stronger coverage in Earthquake and High Horsepower. Ditto can take advantage of more than just setup sweepers, and when transformed into the right Pokemon, it can also set Stealth Rock when copying Bronzor, remove entry hazards when copying Defog Silvally formes, and remove items with Knock Off when copying Mareanie. Regardless, Ditto fails to check setup sweepers that have different workarounds to the limitations of Imposter, Choice Scarf, and Ditto's low HP stat. Defensive sweepers like Curse Muk and Bulk Up Komala can outstall Ditto's moves' 5 PP, while offensive sweepers like Raichu and Bouffalant are immune to Imposter altogether if they are behind a Substitute. Ditto also fails to put in work against defensive cores including Pokemon like Bronzor, Altaria, Pyukumuku, and Lickilicky, which can easily outstall and recover on it. This makes Ditto unreliable and hard to fit on teams, as its use is completely dependent on what the opponent brings, and it can be played around due to the opponent knowing exactly what the Transformed Ditto is capable of.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Transform
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Imposter
nature: Relaxed
evs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def / 0 Spe
ivs: 30 HP / 30 Atk / 30 Def / 30 SpD / 2 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Transform is Ditto's one and only move, and even then it sees almost no use due to Imposter usually triggering before Ditto can use it.
Set Details
========
Choice Scarf guarantees that Ditto will outspeed setup sweepers once Transformed or will at least Speed tie other with Choice Scarf users. The IVs enable Ditto to use Hidden Power Ground when against Hidden Power users like Raichu, Simisear, and special Combusken. The minimal Speed and maximum Defense investment is meant for the unlikely scenario where two Ditto are left to Struggle against each other, as this investment would minimize Struggle damage and recoil.
Usage Tips
========
Ditto can be utilized early as a scout and revenge killer. Bring it in safely to force out a weakened Golem, Electivire, or Toucannon, which has the additional benefit of knowing for certain what coverage these attackers are running. Given that many attackers have immunities or resistances to their STAB attacks in the case of Electivire, Rapidash, Raichu, and Leafeon, Ditto may switch in on them on the correct prediction. However, with Ditto's low HP, wrong predication may ruin Ditto's chances of revenge killing later. Despite the Choice lock, Ditto may find itself using status moves like Stealth Rock, Defog, and Toxic in the appropriate situations, and it is not as afraid of being setup fodder, as it likely can switch out and reverse sweep. When up against bulkier playstyles, Ditto can still find use in being a switch-in to status spreaders like Altaria, Muk, and Bronzor. Ditto can also take advantage of these Pokemon and other recovery users to keep itself healthy by using their Roost and Rest, as well as copy Knock Off from users like Mareanie and Komala to remove their valuable Eviolite or Leftovers. Ditto may also want to switch into Knock Off in these cases if it would rather have more moves and PP with its Choice Scarf gone against bulkier builds. Setup sweepers can have coverage that deters Ditto, with examples like Roost Swanna, Protect Combusken, and Sucker Punch Pawniard all giving Ditto a hard time if it locks into the wrong attack or is too low on HP.
Team Options
========
Ditto works best on balance and bulkier playstyles that appreciate its ability to provide a blanket check to setup sweepers that threaten their defensive cores. Bronzor, Altaria, Muk, and Mareanie enjoy that they can rely on Ditto to revenge kill setup sweepers like Crustle, Pinsir, and Z-Mirror Move Swanna. Water- and Flying-type Pokemon like Silvally-Water, Toucannon, and Swanna appreciate Ditto as a deterrent against Choice Scarf Electivire locking itself into Volt Switch. Ditto cannot revenge kill some wallbreakers like Marowak and Exeggutor reliably, so it can help to have additional offensive pressure from Leafeon, Silvally-Dark, and Rapidash. As Ditto struggles with defensive sweepers and Substitute users, phazers such as Mareanie, Poliwrath, and Avalugg can help check the setup sweepers Ditto fails to check on its own. Stallbreakers such as Simisear, Simisage, Bouflant, and Vigoroth are good support to have when a Ditto team faces stall. Knock Off support from the likes of Mareanie, Sandslash, and Komala can help with the stall matchup as well and can even remove the opposing Choice Scarf from Silvally and Rapidash so that Ditto is guaranteed to outspeed them.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
An IV spread of 30 Def / 30 SpA / 2 Spe would be an optimized spread for Hidden Power Fire. This coverage hits potential Hidden Power users like Simisage and Servine for super effective damage, and it can also catch Steel-type Pokemon off guard that are expecting a Grass-type attack like Bronzor.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Substitute**: Imposter fails when facing a Substitute, so setup sweepers that run Substitute like Bouffalant, Raichu, and Swoobat cannot be revenge killed by Ditto.
**Defensive Setup Sweepers**: Bulk Up Komala, Curse Muk, Quiver Dance Bellosom, and Bulk Up Vigoroth all boost their defensive stats alongside their offensive ones, which coupled with recovery options means that Ditto cannot revenge kill these sweepers unless they are severely weakened.
**Priority Sweepers**: Ditto does not like being locked into priority when revenge killing, as Sucker Punch Kecleon, Pawniard, and Cacturne can potentially play around it. Ditto additionally fails to revenge kill Quick Attack Bibarel while it KOes it back, and weaker priority users like Aqua Jet Swanna can make Ditto victim to being revenge killed itself.
**Walls**: Given its low PP and lack of variability from being Choice-locked, most walls can easily outstall Ditto. Some walls like Gourgeist-XL, Dusclops, Mareanie, and Komala have to watch out for their own status moves and Knock Off being used against them, but they can still beat Ditto on their own.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Ho3nConfirm3d, 231074]]
- Quality checked by: [[5gen, 296755], [Aaronboyer, 239545]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [estronic, 240732]]
Last edited:
