[OVERVIEW]
Ditto sets itself apart from other revenge killers by using Imposter, which makes especially flexible Choice Scarf user for picking off setup sweepers like Oricorio-F, Beartic, and Hisuian Sneasel. Ditto's breadth for deterring setup sweepers is tough for other revenge killers with more specific matchups to replicate. For example: Basculin is excellent at finishing off Oricorio-F and Minior, but it can struggle against Beartic in snow as well as Virizion. Ditto's ability to threaten to reverse sweep can even make it a great wincon in its own right. However, Imposter is thwarted by Substitute, and setup sweepers like Mesprit, Mismagius, Minior, and Orthworm commonly fit the move on their setup variants. Some setup sweepers, such as Jolteon and Snorlax, can even utilize their defensive boosts and higher HP stats to keep setting up in front of Ditto and wear it down with their attacks. Despite Ditto being generally useful as a revenge killer, it's often overshadowed by more independently powerful and versatile fast attackers like Jolteon, Hisuian Sneasel, and Choice Scarf Passimian.
[SET]
Revenge Killer (Ditto) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Imposter
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Transform
[SET COMMENTS]
Ditto's sole access to Imposter puts it in a class of its own as an adaptable Choice Scarf revenge killer against a wide berth of setup sweepers in ZU, boasting a non-exhaustive list that includes threats like Oricorio-F, Beartic, Minior, Lycanroc, Hisuian Sneasel, Mismagius, Sandslash, Farigiraf, Charizard, and more. The EV spread is for the rare occurence where Ditto is in a mirror matchup, pushing it to activate the opposing Ditto's Imposter first to proceed to PP stall. The Steel Tera type gives Ditto a good blanket defensive typing and helpful resistances against setup sweepers like Oricorio-P, Mesprit, and Farigiraf. The Rock resistance of Tera Steel is handy for dampening damage from Stealth Rock, Lycanroc's Accelerock, and Minior's Stone Edge.
Bulkier teams appreciate Ditto's flexibility for blanket checking and deterring volatile setup sweepers like Charizard, Beartic, and Mismagius. As Ditto can reverse sweep with stolen stat boosts, it acts as a unique wincon option for stall teams, which can often be so passive as to enable many sweepers to get set up. These more defensive teams, including balance teams, can also have bulky teammates like Lanturn and Poliwrath waiting in the wings to pivot in for Ditto once it's locked itself into one of its moves. As Ditto is so dependent on its item to function in its role, it relies heavily on Pokemon that can't have their items removed, namely Dipplin and Muk. Knock Off absorbers like Weezing can similarly cover this flaw for Ditto. Since Ditto won't be dealing with Substitute setup sweepers like Mesprit and Mismagius, it appreciates being able to fall back on Haze users and phazers like Weezing and Articuno as well as Prankster Encore users like Sableye and Whimsicott.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Ditto's Tera type is the only flexible thing about it. Tera Fairy is an option over Tera Steel for a different defensive profile. A Fighting resistance is handy against Hitmontop's Mach Punch, Beartic's Close Combat, and Regirock's Body Press, and a Dragon immunity can help Ditto switch into and phaze Dipplin more easily. Tera Ghost is another alternative, one that pushes the Fighting resistance from Tera Fairy even further into an immunity, and it greatly improves Ditto's matchup against Curse Snorlax.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Substitute Users**: Mesprit, Mismagius, and other Substitute users can deny Ditto's ability to copy them using Imposter, although they must set up with Substitute before Ditto copies them.
**Item Removal**: If Ditto loses its Choice Scarf to Knock Off or Trick, it loses most of its reliability as a revenge killer and utility option for deterring setup.
**Residual Damage and Status**: Relying on Choice Scarf means that Ditto will get worn down by repeatedly taking entry hazard damage, as it will hardly have easy opportunities to heal even if it copies recovery moves. Status also sticks around on Ditto, and paralysis nullifies most of Ditto's potential as a Choice Scarf revenge killer.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/missangelic.452572/
Quality checked by:
Grammar checked by:
Ditto sets itself apart from other revenge killers by using Imposter, which makes especially flexible Choice Scarf user for picking off setup sweepers like Oricorio-F, Beartic, and Hisuian Sneasel. Ditto's breadth for deterring setup sweepers is tough for other revenge killers with more specific matchups to replicate. For example: Basculin is excellent at finishing off Oricorio-F and Minior, but it can struggle against Beartic in snow as well as Virizion. Ditto's ability to threaten to reverse sweep can even make it a great wincon in its own right. However, Imposter is thwarted by Substitute, and setup sweepers like Mesprit, Mismagius, Minior, and Orthworm commonly fit the move on their setup variants. Some setup sweepers, such as Jolteon and Snorlax, can even utilize their defensive boosts and higher HP stats to keep setting up in front of Ditto and wear it down with their attacks. Despite Ditto being generally useful as a revenge killer, it's often overshadowed by more independently powerful and versatile fast attackers like Jolteon, Hisuian Sneasel, and Choice Scarf Passimian.
[SET]
Revenge Killer (Ditto) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Imposter
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Transform
[SET COMMENTS]
Ditto's sole access to Imposter puts it in a class of its own as an adaptable Choice Scarf revenge killer against a wide berth of setup sweepers in ZU, boasting a non-exhaustive list that includes threats like Oricorio-F, Beartic, Minior, Lycanroc, Hisuian Sneasel, Mismagius, Sandslash, Farigiraf, Charizard, and more. The EV spread is for the rare occurence where Ditto is in a mirror matchup, pushing it to activate the opposing Ditto's Imposter first to proceed to PP stall. The Steel Tera type gives Ditto a good blanket defensive typing and helpful resistances against setup sweepers like Oricorio-P, Mesprit, and Farigiraf. The Rock resistance of Tera Steel is handy for dampening damage from Stealth Rock, Lycanroc's Accelerock, and Minior's Stone Edge.
Bulkier teams appreciate Ditto's flexibility for blanket checking and deterring volatile setup sweepers like Charizard, Beartic, and Mismagius. As Ditto can reverse sweep with stolen stat boosts, it acts as a unique wincon option for stall teams, which can often be so passive as to enable many sweepers to get set up. These more defensive teams, including balance teams, can also have bulky teammates like Lanturn and Poliwrath waiting in the wings to pivot in for Ditto once it's locked itself into one of its moves. As Ditto is so dependent on its item to function in its role, it relies heavily on Pokemon that can't have their items removed, namely Dipplin and Muk. Knock Off absorbers like Weezing can similarly cover this flaw for Ditto. Since Ditto won't be dealing with Substitute setup sweepers like Mesprit and Mismagius, it appreciates being able to fall back on Haze users and phazers like Weezing and Articuno as well as Prankster Encore users like Sableye and Whimsicott.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Ditto's Tera type is the only flexible thing about it. Tera Fairy is an option over Tera Steel for a different defensive profile. A Fighting resistance is handy against Hitmontop's Mach Punch, Beartic's Close Combat, and Regirock's Body Press, and a Dragon immunity can help Ditto switch into and phaze Dipplin more easily. Tera Ghost is another alternative, one that pushes the Fighting resistance from Tera Fairy even further into an immunity, and it greatly improves Ditto's matchup against Curse Snorlax.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Substitute Users**: Mesprit, Mismagius, and other Substitute users can deny Ditto's ability to copy them using Imposter, although they must set up with Substitute before Ditto copies them.
**Item Removal**: If Ditto loses its Choice Scarf to Knock Off or Trick, it loses most of its reliability as a revenge killer and utility option for deterring setup.
**Residual Damage and Status**: Relying on Choice Scarf means that Ditto will get worn down by repeatedly taking entry hazard damage, as it will hardly have easy opportunities to heal even if it copies recovery moves. Status also sticks around on Ditto, and paralysis nullifies most of Ditto's potential as a Choice Scarf revenge killer.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/missangelic.452572/
Quality checked by:
Grammar checked by: