Pokémon Go Ditto disguises for May 2023

Ditto and Meltan play together in a forest environment. There are two of each Pokémon.
(Image credit: Niantic)

Pokémon Go Ditto disguises vary every few months or so, making it quite hard to track down this Pokémon at times. You see, to catch Ditto in Pokémon Go, you will need to know which Pokémon it can be hiding as.

The shapeshifting pocket monster has been a staple of the franchise since it was introduced as part of the original 150 Pokémon, and Ditto’s legacy persists in AR mobile gaming frontrunner Pokémon Go. This time around, Ditto can be a really useful Pokémon to have. If you can catch one first, that is.

Here's all of Ditto's disguises in Pokémon Go for May 2023. This page is updated regularly, so that you can go after the right Pokémon in the hopes of getting your very own Ditto. Also, you'll find some tips in catching Ditto below, as well as how to catch a Shiny Ditto as well.

How to catch Ditto in Pokémon Go

Let's take a look at how to catch Ditto in Pokémon Go. You'll find a list of Ditto disguises below, as well as some general tips on tracking down the shapeshifting Pokémon.

Pokémon Go Ditto disguises for May 2023

A crowd of ditto on a beach in Pokemon Go

(Image credit: Niantic)

Here are the Pokémon Go Ditto disguises for May 2023:

  • Corphish
  • Diglett
  • Grimer
  • Litleo
  • Roggenrola
  • Snubbull
  • Starly
  • Tympole

How do you know one of these Pokémon is a Ditto? After you catch one, instead of saying “Catch” the word “Oh?” will pop up above the Pokémon's head, and Ditto will reveal itself. 

This won’t happen until after the Pokémon is caught, however, so make sure you actually catch the Pokémon and don’t give up early. 

Tips on catching Ditto in Pokémon Go

Three Ditto in Pokemon Go

(Image credit: Namco)

Now you know which Pokémon to target, how can you improve your chances of nabbing a Ditto? You need to increase the rate of Pokémon you encounter and catch, hoping that at least one of those will be the blobby chap of your dreams.

The easiest way of doing that is to take advantage of lures and incense. Dittos are attracted to the same lures and incense as the Pokémon they’re pretending to be, allowing you to drop one of the traps and wait for the ‘mons to come to you. See a creature that appears in the list above? Jump on it and hope it's actually a Ditto.

If you are going to use lures and incense, we would recommend doing so only for a bit and using up one of your Lucky Eggs to increase the amount of Pokémon nearby and the amount of XP you get per catch – it’s a great way to power level. With that in mind, however, sometimes there are special events in Pokémon Go that will increase Incense time from 60 minutes to three hours, so you could be much more efficient if you wait until an event is happening.

It’s also worth remembering that disguised Ditto locations are universal. If another player captures a Ditto from a specific spot, you can head there and do the same. Ask your friends if they’ve seen a Ditto recently, or check out online Pokémon Go groups local to you in case anyone can give you useful neighborhood tip-offs.

How to catch Shiny Ditto in Pokémon Go

That's right, Ditto can indeed be Shiny in Pokémon Go. The main problem is that, well, it's usually disguised as another Pokémon. To get a Shiny Ditto you will need to go after the Pokémon from the current disguises list, until you find one. 

There is a very small chance of getting one, like with most Shiny Pokemon, and it's worth noting that other Shiny Pokémon cannot be a Shiny Ditto. If you catch a Shiny Pokémon from the disguises list above, it will not turn into a Shiny Ditto, or indeed a Ditto at all. Keep going after Pokémon like Starly and Grimer, and you will eventually get yourself a Shiny Ditto. You'll just need to get lucky.

Callum Bains
Gaming News Writer

Callum is TechRadar Gaming’s News Writer. You’ll find him whipping up stories about all the latest happenings in the gaming world, as well as penning the odd feature and review. Before coming to TechRadar, he wrote freelance for various sites, including Clash, The Telegraph, and Gamesindustry.biz, and worked as a Staff Writer at Wargamer. Strategy games and RPGs are his bread and butter, but he’ll eat anything that spins a captivating narrative. He also loves tabletop games, and will happily chew your ear off about TTRPGs and board games. 

With contributions from