[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 8
**Price Range**: 3-4 points
**Overview**: Ditto’s viability in a matchup completely depends on the opponent’s Pokemon and movesets, making it odd and unique. It can scout opposing Pokemon by transforming into them while also functioning as a nearly catch-all revenge killer that can even revenge kill boosted opposing Pokemon. Its presence in a matchup also makes setup-reliant Pokemon think twice. However, Ditto’s lack of reliability due to being able to specifically prepare for it in a draft setting, dearth of defensive utility, and relative lack of value compared to other low tiers leave much to be desired.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Revenge Killer**: Using a Choice Scarf, Ditto is able to scout the opposing Pokemon and then outspeed and revenge kill it, even if it has a Speed boost, keeping otherwise dangerous setup sweepers in check.
Common Items
========
**Choice Scarf**: Choice Scarf allows Ditto to outspeed non-Choice Scarf opposing Pokemon, letting it move first and revenge kill them. This is far and away its best and most consistent item.
Niche Items
========
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Heavy-Duty Boots allows Ditto to function better as a scout and pivot when facing bulkier teams, as it becomes immune to entry hazard damage and can switch in and out repeatedly.
Tera
========
It is not recommended to make Ditto a Tera Captain due to its inconsistent nature. If one does choose Ditto as a Tera Captain, generally good defensive Tera types such as Tera Fairy, Steel, and Water could help in a pinch. Specific Tera types that allow it to handily win a 1v1 can also be used, such as Tera Poison for Iron Valiant or coverage types to counter anticipated foes with advantageous Tera Blast coverage. Do NOT use Tera Stellar on Ditto, as it makes Imposter and Transform fail.
Draft Strategy
========
Ditto is very flexible due to its unique profile, and it can therefore theoretically fit on any team. However, it must be noted that outside of scouting and revenge killing, it offers little to no utility nor defensive integrity to a team, making it hard to fit. Ditto is a complementary piece to an otherwise complete team, so it is recommended for teams to pack as much utility and defensive integrity in as little team slots as possible before considering it.
Intricacies of the Imposter
========
Ditto’s Imposter is a mechanically complex ability and has a lot of niche interactions. The most noteworthy interactions are written below. Knowledge of such interactions and using the appropriate optimizations would make the most value out of one’s Ditto.
**Ditto Mirror**: In a Ditto mirror match, maximum bulk and minimum Speed allow Ditto to force opposing Ditto to trigger Imposter first and run out of PP quicker. It is therefore recommended to run max Defense, a Relaxed nature, and 0 Speed IVs.
**Future Sight**: If Ditto uses Future Sight while transformed and is not on the field when the Future Sight hits the foe, its base Special Attack stat is used for damage calculation. Therefore, in matchups where Future Sight is a possibility, such as against Galarian Slowking, it is recommended to max out Ditto’s Special Attack.
**Terastallization**: A Terastallized Ditto maintains the regular properties of a Terastallized Pokemon. If it copies a Terastallized Pokemon, its Tera type and therefore Tera Blast typing are not copied. A Terastallized Ditto’s typing does not change to its transformed target, and it instead keeps its Tera type. If it Terastallizes into the Stellar-type, Imposter and Transform will both fail.
**Tera Type-locked Pokemon**: Ditto cannot Terastallize against the base formes of Ogerpon and Terapagos regardless of Tera type. It also cannot transform into the Terastallized Ogerpon formes and Terapagos-S. Therefore, it is not recommended to use Ditto as a countermeasure to these Pokemon.
Checks and Counters
========
**Imposter Counters**: A Ditto without Imposter is merely fodder. It notably cannot transform into terastallized formes of Ogerpon, making it unable to revenge kill them. Abilities that disable Imposter, such as Neutralizing Gas, render it completely useless. Abilities that it cannot copy the effects of, most notably the Speed boost from Unburden, Protosynthesis, and Quark Drive, may also prove problematic. When able to specifically prepare for Ditto, opponents can limit its effectiveness in several ways. The most common way of doing so is Substitute, which blocks Imposter. Other methods such as using moves that are completely walled by another teammate, or using Terastallization; either using Tera Blast, which Ditto cannot copy, as the Pokemon’s main damage output, or using Tera to improve the defensive matchup or outright wall it; are all valid strategies to prevent it from revenge killing foes.
**Defense Boosting**: Defense boosting makes Ditto unable to break through the setup Pokemon it is tasked to revenge kill in the limited 5 PP that it has after transforming. Pokemon such as Bulk Up Palafin, Bulk Up Annihilape, and Calm Mind Terapagos cannot be easily revenge killed by Ditto.
**Entry Hazards**: As Ditto usually does not carry Heavy-Duty Boots and likes to switch in and out to reset its Imposter, entry hazards dig into its longevity and limits its ability to scout and revenge kill opposing Pokemon.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ryan-ditto.601382/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/abriel.473082/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nyx.564960/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
**Draft Order**: Round 8
**Price Range**: 3-4 points
**Overview**: Ditto’s viability in a matchup completely depends on the opponent’s Pokemon and movesets, making it odd and unique. It can scout opposing Pokemon by transforming into them while also functioning as a nearly catch-all revenge killer that can even revenge kill boosted opposing Pokemon. Its presence in a matchup also makes setup-reliant Pokemon think twice. However, Ditto’s lack of reliability due to being able to specifically prepare for it in a draft setting, dearth of defensive utility, and relative lack of value compared to other low tiers leave much to be desired.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Revenge Killer**: Using a Choice Scarf, Ditto is able to scout the opposing Pokemon and then outspeed and revenge kill it, even if it has a Speed boost, keeping otherwise dangerous setup sweepers in check.
Common Items
========
**Choice Scarf**: Choice Scarf allows Ditto to outspeed non-Choice Scarf opposing Pokemon, letting it move first and revenge kill them. This is far and away its best and most consistent item.
Niche Items
========
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Heavy-Duty Boots allows Ditto to function better as a scout and pivot when facing bulkier teams, as it becomes immune to entry hazard damage and can switch in and out repeatedly.
Tera
========
It is not recommended to make Ditto a Tera Captain due to its inconsistent nature. If one does choose Ditto as a Tera Captain, generally good defensive Tera types such as Tera Fairy, Steel, and Water could help in a pinch. Specific Tera types that allow it to handily win a 1v1 can also be used, such as Tera Poison for Iron Valiant or coverage types to counter anticipated foes with advantageous Tera Blast coverage. Do NOT use Tera Stellar on Ditto, as it makes Imposter and Transform fail.
Draft Strategy
========
Ditto is very flexible due to its unique profile, and it can therefore theoretically fit on any team. However, it must be noted that outside of scouting and revenge killing, it offers little to no utility nor defensive integrity to a team, making it hard to fit. Ditto is a complementary piece to an otherwise complete team, so it is recommended for teams to pack as much utility and defensive integrity in as little team slots as possible before considering it.
Intricacies of the Imposter
========
Ditto’s Imposter is a mechanically complex ability and has a lot of niche interactions. The most noteworthy interactions are written below. Knowledge of such interactions and using the appropriate optimizations would make the most value out of one’s Ditto.
**Ditto Mirror**: In a Ditto mirror match, maximum bulk and minimum Speed allow Ditto to force opposing Ditto to trigger Imposter first and run out of PP quicker. It is therefore recommended to run max Defense, a Relaxed nature, and 0 Speed IVs.
**Future Sight**: If Ditto uses Future Sight while transformed and is not on the field when the Future Sight hits the foe, its base Special Attack stat is used for damage calculation. Therefore, in matchups where Future Sight is a possibility, such as against Galarian Slowking, it is recommended to max out Ditto’s Special Attack.
**Terastallization**: A Terastallized Ditto maintains the regular properties of a Terastallized Pokemon. If it copies a Terastallized Pokemon, its Tera type and therefore Tera Blast typing are not copied. A Terastallized Ditto’s typing does not change to its transformed target, and it instead keeps its Tera type. If it Terastallizes into the Stellar-type, Imposter and Transform will both fail.
**Tera Type-locked Pokemon**: Ditto cannot Terastallize against the base formes of Ogerpon and Terapagos regardless of Tera type. It also cannot transform into the Terastallized Ogerpon formes and Terapagos-S. Therefore, it is not recommended to use Ditto as a countermeasure to these Pokemon.
Checks and Counters
========
**Imposter Counters**: A Ditto without Imposter is merely fodder. It notably cannot transform into terastallized formes of Ogerpon, making it unable to revenge kill them. Abilities that disable Imposter, such as Neutralizing Gas, render it completely useless. Abilities that it cannot copy the effects of, most notably the Speed boost from Unburden, Protosynthesis, and Quark Drive, may also prove problematic. When able to specifically prepare for Ditto, opponents can limit its effectiveness in several ways. The most common way of doing so is Substitute, which blocks Imposter. Other methods such as using moves that are completely walled by another teammate, or using Terastallization; either using Tera Blast, which Ditto cannot copy, as the Pokemon’s main damage output, or using Tera to improve the defensive matchup or outright wall it; are all valid strategies to prevent it from revenge killing foes.
**Defense Boosting**: Defense boosting makes Ditto unable to break through the setup Pokemon it is tasked to revenge kill in the limited 5 PP that it has after transforming. Pokemon such as Bulk Up Palafin, Bulk Up Annihilape, and Calm Mind Terapagos cannot be easily revenge killed by Ditto.
**Entry Hazards**: As Ditto usually does not carry Heavy-Duty Boots and likes to switch in and out to reset its Imposter, entry hazards dig into its longevity and limits its ability to scout and revenge kill opposing Pokemon.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ryan-ditto.601382/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/abriel.473082/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nyx.564960/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
Last edited:
