If you know anything about Pokémon breeding, it’s that Ditto is the most versatile Pokémon in the game, able to breed with any Pokémon that can have an Egg in the first place. Ditto is how Pokémon like Beldum are able to even breed at all.

As a result, Ditto is by far the most efficient way to lock in nature and IVs without needing to capture a ton of unique parents of unique natures. Just have a box of Ditto of every nature!

However, capturing all those Ditto is its own issue entirely. Finding Ditto in Mount Hokulani is definitely a test of patience, catching one can be a struggle if it transforms into the wrong thing, and S.O.S. chaining seems impossible since a Ditto only has 5 PP for a move when it uses Transform.

Given that you have a higher chance of perfect IVs when the chain is longer, it will take some dancing around to prepare the right team for Ditto chaining. Here are the steps you’ll want to follow for the simplest way to farm up some Ditto.

Step 1 - Preparation¶

Obviously the biggest flaw in the S.O.S. plan is that when Ditto uses Transform, each of its moves only has 5 PP. So, let’s do some preparation to fix that. All the Pokemon mentioned in this section are easily obtainable in-game, so don’t worry about having to do trades or use Pokemon Bank.

Catch a Munchlax or breed one from Snorlax using the Lax Incense item. Munchlax is found in Route 1 (consult our Pokédex!) and then take it to the Move Tutor in Mount Lanakila’s Pokemon Center. Relearn Recycle.

Next, travel to the Move Deleter in Hau’oli City’s Pokemon Center and delete all its other three moves. Now, you have a Munchlax who only knows Recycle. The level of the Munchlax does not matter.

Catch a Hypno from Poni Plains. They are easy to find and capture (just bring someone with False Swipe and use Ultra Balls or something). Use the Move Reminder to teach it Switcheroo if it doesn’t already come knowing the move. Then, have Hypno hold a Leppa Berry. These are found freely in Berry Trees and then can be cultivated in Poké Pelago.

After this, make sure you have plenty of Poké Balls. Timer Balls are the best for when the S.O.S. streak gets really long. Also make sure you bring a powerful Pokemon who knows False Swipe, such as Decidueye or Garchomp. This strong Pokemon will be the one responsible for handling actual combat after setup is complete.

Do you have it all? You are ready to S.O.S. some Ditto!

Step 2 - Battle Setup For Infinite PP¶

Run around in the grass at Mount Hokulani until you cross paths with Ditto. Once you have your Ditto, you are ready to begin. If your Munchlax wasn’t already the lead, switch in Munchlax so that Ditto will transform into Munchlax. Now, Ditto is a Munchlax who only knows Recycle. This is key!

Once Ditto is a Munchlax, switch immediately to your Hypno who knows Switcheroo and has a Leppa Berry. See what we’re creating? Use Switcheroo and you will give Ditto the Leppa Berry.

Ditto now only knows Recycle and is holding a Leppa Berry. This means Ditto has access to infinite numbers of Leppa Berries, and cannot do a thing back to you. Additionally, Munchlax has a fairly high capture rate. Use your Adrenaline Orb for a boost, and then continue to S.O.S. chain like normal.

Use an Adrenaline Orb to waste turns (it will not consume the item and will instead fail) if help doesn’t arrive and chain until you are satisfied. Make sure the base Ditto is False Swiped down to 1 HP to maximize chances of help calling.

As you S.O.S. chain, take care to not kill your base Ditto, as it is the only one who has infinite Leppa Berries!