This is a strategy guide for using Ditto in competitive play for the games Pokemon Sword and Shield. Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, and Held Items to use with Ditto, as well as its strengths and weak points.

Ditto - Related Guides
Evolution and Learnset	Build for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Ditto

Types and Abilities

Pokemon	Type 1	Type 2
Ditto
Abilities
Limber	The Pokemon is protected from paralysis.
Imposter (Hidden)	It transforms itself into the Pokemon it is facing.

Ditto Weaknesses and Resistances

	Type
Takes 4x damage	-
Takes 2x damage
Takes 0.5x damage	-
Takes 1/4x damage	-
Takes 0x damage

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

Best Nature for Ditto

Singles Movesets for Ditto

Imposter Moveset & Best Build

These values are from base stats with 0 Speed IVs, excluding external factors.

Ditto is a versatile Pokemon that is used as a clutch teammate, allowing you to copy an opposing sweeper and potentially turn the tide of the battle in your favor. As a result, it enjoys widespread usage in both offensive and defensive-oriented teams.

About Ditto's Moves

Transform is Ditto's only move, and is only available to use when facing against an opposing Ditto. Otherwise, Ditto will copy the opposing Pokemon's moves.

About Ditto's EV Spread

Ditto copies all of the Pokemon's base stats, EV spread, and IVs except HP, which is why Ditto needs full investment in HP.

The remaining 4 ATK and 252 Def EVs with a Relaxed Nature ensure that Ditto loses the speed tie with an opposing Ditto.

This ensures that the opposing Ditto is forced to transform into Ditto and will only get 5 PP for Transform, which ultimately results in the opposing Ditto getting knocked out by Struggle before your Ditto.

About Ditto's Ability

Imposter is Ditto's best Ability and immediately transforms it into the opposing Pokemon as soon as it switches in.

Note: Imposter cannot copy a Pokemon that's behind a Substitute or if it's disguised with its Illusion Ability.

About Ditto's Held Item

A Choice Scarf is integral to Ditto's role as a clutch teammate, allowing it to outspeed the copied Pokemon and potentially knock it out before it can move.

Other Viable Moves

Ditto cannot learn any other moves by leveling up, through breeding or tutoring, or by TM or TR.

How to Use Ditto Effectively

The Metagame's Best Revenge Killer

Ditto is arguably one of the best revenge killers in the current metagame due to its ability to instantly copy an opposing Pokemon and turn the tables on the opposing team.

As a result, it's often used in balanced and defensive teams as a way to copy an opposing team's main attacker.

Copy a Powerful Attacker

Ditto is best used when copying a powerful attacker from an opposing team. With Series 8 now allowing the use of Legendary Pokemon, it's best to copy powerful setup sweepers such as Zacian, Xerneas, and Mewtwo.

How to Build a Team with Ditto

Due to how simple it is to use and its important role of turning the tables against the opposing Pokemon, Ditto can fit into any team - from Hyper Offense teams in need of a revenge killer or defensive teams that need a deterrent against setup sweepers.

Use it as an Anti-Legendary Revenge Killer

With Series 8 now allowing Legendary Pokemon in Ranked Battle, there's a greater need to safeguard teams with a Pokemon that can go toe-to-toe with these powerful Pokemon.

Ditto's Imposter Ability makes it the best anti-Legendary revenge killer, copying a Legendary Pokemon and turning the tables against the opposing team.

Example Defensive Team

Lead	Defensive Pivot	Revenge Killer
Grimmsnarl	Quagsire	Ditto

This balanced team relies on Ditto to turn the tables on the opposing team by copying a rampaging Legendary - preferably after it's set up.

Grimmsnarl is this team's lead, setting up Prankster-boosted Reflect and Light Screen to soften incoming blows.

Quagsire is this team's physically defensive pivot, and with its Unaware Ability, can switch into an opposing setup sweeper without getting knocked out by boosted attacks.

Ditto should come in when the opposing Pokemon is setting up with its boosting moves, preferably while Quagsire is recovering and phasing with Yawn, so that it can copy its boost, and eventually outspeed and knock it out afterwards.
How to Build a Defensive Team

Counters for Ditto

Weakness

Use a Substitute to Nullify Imposter

Ditto's Imposter Ability fails when the opposing Pokemon is behind a Substitute. As a result, setup sweepers that can spare a move slot with Substitute have nothing to fear from Ditto.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Mimikyu	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Can set up Swords Dance behind a Substitute ・Its Disguise Ability protects it from attacks after its Substitute gets destroyed ・Ditto cannot use Disguise when copied with Imposter Moveset & Best Build for Mimikyu
Celesteela	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Can use Ditto to set up with Substitute and Leech Seed ・Its Beast Boost Ability makes it stronger or faster as it knocks out more Pokemon Moveset & Best Build for Celesteela
Suicune	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Can set up with Substitute and Calm Mind ・Can remove status with Rest Moveset & Best Build for Suicune

Check it with Defensive Pokemon

Ditto's effectiveness revolves around copying a powerful attacker with its Imposter Ability, but this strategy fails when it manages to copy a defensive Pokemon instead.

Since Ditto doesn't copy a Pokemon's HP stat and is restricted to using a Choice Scarf, you can effectively stop it from messing up your team's momentum if you anticipate and switch into a Defensive Pokemon just as the opposing Ditto is about to switch in!

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Quagsire	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Ignores any stat boosts Ditto gains with its Unaware Ability ・Boasts great defenses and reliable recovery in Recover Moveset & Best Build for Quagsire
Porygon2	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Boasts increased Defense and Special Defense with Eviolite ・Boasts reliable recovery in Recover Moveset & Best Build for Porygon2

Switch in Setup Sweepers

Since Ditto relies on Choice Scarf, it struggles against setup sweepers even if it manages to copy their immediate stats. These Pokemon are usually bulky and can simply set up with their moves to boost their offense or defenses even further while Ditto is locked into a weaker attacking move.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Eternatus	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Defensive variants can outstall Ditto with Cosmic Power + Recover ・Even if copied with Imposter, Ditto has an advantage due to the steep difference in PP Moveset & Best Build for Eternatus
Kyogre	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Since Ditto can't copy a Pokemon's HP stat, Kyogre can easily KO it with Max Lightning ・Kyogre can outpace Ditto's copied offense and bulk by boosting with Calm Mind Moveset & Best Build for Kyogre
Dragapult	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Can outpace Ditto's copied Attack and Speed by using Dragon Dance ・Can cripple Ditto with Will-O-Wisp Moveset & Best Build for Dragapult

Outspeed it with Support Moves

Although Ditto usually attacks first due to its Choice Scarf, you can oustpeed it by using a support move that boosts your team's speed. Using this strategy leaves opposing Ditto in a difficult situation and will often result in it switching out!

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Whimsicott	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Can outspeed Ditto by using Prankster-boosted Tailwind ・Can shut down Ditto if it's locked to another move with Prankster-boosted Taunt Moveset & Best Build for Whimsicott
Hatterene	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Can outspeed opposing Ditto by using Trick Room Moveset & Best Build for Hatterene

Related Links

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

Competitive Guides for Pokemon Sword and Shield

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Tier List		Best Builds		Series 10 List of Contenders
Doubles Tier List		Team Building		Rental Teams

Best Builds for Returning Pokemon

Movesets & Best Builds for Returning Pokemon
Mimikyu	Wash Rotom	Gyarados
Ferrothorn	Aegislash	Excadrill
Tyranitar	Hydreigon	Heat Rotom
Arcanine	Mamoswine	Toxapex
Togekiss	Cloyster	Durant
Snorlax	Charizard	Sylveon
Lucario	Hippowdon	Umbreon
Conkeldurr	Quagsire	Gastrodon
Lapras	Whimsicott	Rhyperior
Goodra	Haxorus	Glaceon
Mow Rotom	Type: Null	Gengar
Milotic	Gardevoir	Flygon
Chandelure	Lanturn	Torkoal
Bisharp	Seismitoad	Silvally
Butterfree	Primarina	Incineroar
Blastoise	Decidueye	Venusaur
Darmanitan	Alolan Ninetales	Gothitelle
Crawdaunt	Clefable	Reuniclus
Kommo-o	Terrakion	Cobalion
Virizion	Noivern	Fan Rotom
Toxicroak	Pelipper	Jellicent
Celebi	Clefairy	Hitmontop
Diggersby	Ditto	Raichu
Hawlucha	Shiftry	Tsareena
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