Transform copies the opponent's moves and stats, but Ditto's 48 HP means it goes down fast. F-Tier in Yellow and more novelty than competitor.
288HP48Attack48Defense48Speed48Sp.Def48Sp.Atk48
Weak to
Physical
Balanced
48Speed · Slow

Is Ditto Good in Yellow Playthrough?

Transforms into the opponent and copies everything except HP, which stays low. There's no breeding in Gen 1, so Ditto has no secondary use. A novelty that won't earn a permanent team spot.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadBBBBBBBBBBBBBBrockGym 1MistyGym 2SurgeGym 3ErikaGym 4KogaGym 5SabrinaGym 6DittoCatchableBlaineGym 7GiovanniGym 8LoreleiE4BrunoE4AgathaE4LanceE4BlueChamp*
Brock
Gym 1
Bad

Brock's Pokemon outpace and outclass Ditto here.

Avoid
Geodude
Lv 10
RockGround
Rock Head
Tackle
Avoid
Onix
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleScreechBindBide
Misty
Gym 2
Bad

Misty's Pokemon outpace and outclass Ditto here.

Avoid
Staryu
Lv 18
Water
Illuminate
TackleWater Gun
Avoid
Starmie
Lv 21
WaterPsychic
Illuminate
TackleWater GunHardenBubble Beam
Lt. Surge
Gym 3
Bad

Lt. Surge's Pokemon outpace and outclass Ditto here.

Avoid
Raichu
Lv 28
Electric
Static
ThunderboltMega PunchMega KickGrowl
Erika
Gym 4
Bad

Erika's Pokemon outpace and outclass Ditto here.

Avoid
Tangela
Lv 30
Grass
Chlorophyll
ConstrictBindMega DrainVine Whip
Avoid
Weepinbell
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Razor LeafSleep PowderStun SporeAcid
Avoid
Gloom
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Petal DanceStun SporeSleep PowderAcid
Koga
Gym 5
Bad

Koga's Pokemon outpace and outclass Ditto here.

Avoid
Venonat
Lv 44
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicTackleSleep PowderPsychic
Avoid
Venonat
Lv 46
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicPsybeamSupersonicPsychic
Avoid
Venonat
Lv 48
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicDouble EdgeSleep PowderPsychic
Avoid
Venomoth
Lv 50
BugPoison
Shield Dust
Leech LifeDouble TeamPsychicToxic
Sabrina
Gym 6
Bad

Sabrina's Pokemon outpace and outclass Ditto here.

Avoid
Abra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
Flash
Avoid
Kadabra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
KinesisRecoverPsychicPsywave
Avoid
Alakazam
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
PsywaveRecoverPsychicReflect
Blaine
Gym 7
Bad

Blaine's Pokemon outpace and outclass Ditto here.

Avoid
Ninetales
Lv 48
Fire
Flash Fire
FlamethrowerTail WhipQuick AttackConfuse Ray
Avoid
Rapidash
Lv 50
Fire
Run Away
StompGrowlFire SpinTake Down
Avoid
Arcanine
Lv 54
Fire
Intimidate
FlamethrowerFire BlastReflectTake Down
Giovanni
Gym 8
Bad

Giovanni's Pokemon outpace and outclass Ditto here.

Avoid
Dugtrio
Lv 50
Ground
Sand Veil
DigSand AttackFissureEarthquake
Avoid
Persian
Lv 53
Normal
Limber
ScreechDouble TeamFury SwipesSlash
Avoid
Nidoqueen
Lv 53
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeTail WhipThunderDouble Kick
Avoid
Nidoking
Lv 55
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeLeerThunderDouble Kick
Avoid
Rhydon
Lv 55
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Rock SlideFury AttackHorn DrillEarthquake
Lorelei
Elite Four
Bad

Lorelei's Pokemon outpace and outclass Ditto here.

Avoid
Dewgong
Lv 54
WaterIce
Thick Fat
Bubble BeamAurora BeamRestTake Down
Avoid
Cloyster
Lv 53
WaterIce
Shell Armor
SupersonicClampIce BeamSpike Cannon
Avoid
Slowbro
Lv 54
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
PsychicSurfWithdrawAmnesia
Avoid
Jynx
Lv 56
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapIce PunchLovely KissThrash
Avoid
Lapras
Lv 56
WaterIce
Water Absorb
Body SlamConfuse RayBlizzardHydro Pump
Bruno
Elite Four
Bad

Bruno's Pokemon outpace and outclass Ditto here.

Avoid
Onix
Lv 53
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock SlideScreechSlamDig
Avoid
Hitmonchan
Lv 55
Fighting
Keen Eye
Ice PunchThunder PunchFire PunchDouble Team
Avoid
Hitmonlee
Lv 55
Fighting
Limber
Double KickMega KickHigh Jump KickDouble Team
Avoid
Onix
Lv 56
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock SlideScreechSlamEarthquake
Avoid
Machamp
Lv 58
Fighting
Guts
LeerKarate ChopStrengthSubmission
Agatha
Elite Four
Bad

Agatha's Pokemon outpace and outclass Ditto here.

Avoid
Gengar
Lv 56
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RaySubstituteLickMega Drain
Avoid
Golbat
Lv 56
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
SupersonicToxicWing AttackLeech Life
Avoid
Haunter
Lv 55
GhostPoison
Levitate
Confuse RayLickHypnosisDream Eater
Avoid
Arbok
Lv 58
Poison
Intimidate
WrapGlareScreechAcid
Avoid
Gengar
Lv 60
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayPsychicHypnosisDream Eater
Lance
Elite Four
Bad

Lance's Pokemon outpace and outclass Ditto here.

Avoid
Gyarados
Lv 58
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
Avoid
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Thunder WaveSlamThunderboltHyper Beam
Avoid
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Bubble BeamWrapIce BeamHyper Beam
Avoid
Aerodactyl
Lv 60
RockFlying
Rock Head
Wing AttackSwiftFlyHyper Beam
Avoid
Dragonite
Lv 62
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
BlizzardFire BlastThunderHyper Beam
Blue
Champion
Bad

Blue's Pokemon outpace and outclass Ditto here.

Avoid
Sandslash
Lv 61
Ground
Sand Veil
SlashPoison StingEarthquakeFury Swipes
Avoid
Alakazam
Lv 59
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsychicKinesis
Avoid
Exeggutor
Lv 61
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
BarrageHypnosisStompLeech Seed
Avoid
Magneton
Lv 61
Electric
Magnet Pull
ThunderboltThunder WaveSwiftScreech
Avoid
Cloyster
Lv 63
WaterIce
Shell Armor
Ice BeamClampAurora BeamSpike Cannon
Avoid
Flareon
Lv 65
Fire
Flash Fire
Fire SpinReflectQuick AttackFlamethrower

Catchable

Available after Badge 6
Type
Normal
Tier
F

Catch Ditto in the Pokémon Mansion (walking, Lv 12-24, uncommon).

View Ditto locations

Yellow Ditto Locations

Ditto haunts the postgame cave at rare odds in the 50s and 60s, with an easier batch down in the old mansion. The two spots sit at opposite ends of the difficulty curve, so pick by your team.

2 locations to catch Ditto

Encountered via tall grass encounters

Badge 6
Badge 7
Badge 8
Post-Game

Best Locations to Catch Ditto in Yellow

Walking encounters at Lv. 12-65 across 4 spots for Ditto. Sorted by progression so you can see what's reachable at your current point in the game.

Ditto Weakness

Ditto is weak to Fighting. On the flip side, it's immune to Ghost-type moves entirely. Only 1 weakness makes it relatively easy to build around defensively.

Ditto Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Fighting
0x (Immune)Ghost
Gen I Type Chart
  • Only 15 types exist — Dark, Steel, and Fairy are absent
  • Ghost has no effect on Psychic (a known bug, fixed in Gen II)
  • Special stat governs both offense and defense — no Sp.Atk / Sp.Def split

What is Ditto Weak Against

Good
1Weak
0Resist
1Immune
Score+1
4xCritical
None
2xWeak
½xResist
None
¼xResist
None
0xImmune

What is Ditto Strong Against

0Strong
1Resisted
1Immune
Score-2
2xStrong
None
½xResisted
0xImmune

Best Pokemon Against Ditto

Hitmonlee
Hitmonlee
Fighting
B
Machoke
Machoke
Fighting
C
Primeape
Primeape
Fighting
C

Ditto Evolutions

Ditto is an unusual case. This Normal type doesn't evolve and can't breed despite having 288 total stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

No Evolution
Ditto
#132Ditto
Does not evolve
Breeding not available · Introduced in Gen 2

Y Ditto Best Moveset

One move, one plan: MoveTransform into whatever the opponent has, then fight with their stats and movepool. Surviving the switch-in at 48 base everything is the hard part. Entirely matchup-dependent, and the matchup starts bad.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Ditto
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • TransformUtility

Moves List

Ditto's options are limited here. You've got Normal STAB for STAB damage, but there isn't much beyond Normal hitting power. TMs help fill gaps, though the kit stays tight.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Transform
S——10Normal

TM Moves

Ditto can't learn any TM moves

Tutor Moves

Ditto can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Below
HP48
D
Attack48
D
Defense48
D
Sp. Atk48
D
Sp. Def48
D
Speed48
D
Total288
Details
Catch Rate
Difficult35 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height0.3 m
Weight4.0 kg
Base XP101
EV Yield
HP+1AtkDefSpASpDSpe
HP training source
Pokedex Entry

When it spots an enemy, its body transfigures into an almost perfect copy of its opponent.

Pokemon Yellow

Ditto Yellow Guide

  • Honestly, in Yellow Ditto is a tough sell. It rates just F-Tier, and stronger Normal options exist. Fun pick, not a practical one.

  • In Yellow, Ditto plays as a balanced. Not the fastest, so pick your spots carefully.

Game Availability

Ditto has been part of the series since Red & Blue, appearing in 20 titles across all 9 generations. As a Gen 1 original, it's one of the most consistently available Pokemon in the franchise.

Explore

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