ditto

[OVERVIEW]
Ditto has a very unique ability which allows it to copy any Pokemon, stat boosts and all. Ditto is very capable of turning games around by preventing opponents from winning with most setup sweepers. Ditto also works great with the move Swagger, copying +2 physical attackers. Ditto copies all the boosts from Swagger but none of the status the opposing Pokemon may have, so it acquires all the benefits with no downsides. This makes running Swagger much less risky and a legitimate strategy. However, Ditto isn't always good against certain teams, defensive teams in particular don't have many Pokemon that Ditto will benefit from copying. It also needs to paralyze the opposing Pokemon if not running Choice Scarf to avoid speed ties, so it's not always reliable against Ground-types such as Garchomp and Mamoswine.

-unique ability
-very capable of turning games around
-can abuse swagger'd mons, makes running swagger less risky
-prevents opponent from winning with most set up sweepers
-but not always good vs certain teams, especially stall
-if not running scarf needs to para mons to avoid speed ties, not always reliable vs ground types like garchomp, lando-t

[SET]
name: Mirror
move 1: Transform
move 2:
move 3:
move 4:
item: Focus Sash / Choice Scarf
ability: Imposter
nature: Relaxed
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpDef

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Transform is the only move Ditto has. Normally Ditto will copy the opponents moveset so Ditto's lack of a movepool doesn't hinder it much. The only use Transform will have is preventing instant Struggle if Imposter fails.

-transform, only move ditto has
-prevents instant struggle at least

Set Details
========
Imposter gives Ditto the effect of its signature move Transform but instantly. Maximum HP investment is used because it's the only stat Ditto doesn't copy. The other EVs are for very rare situations and often won't matter because Ditto will usually copy the opponent's stats. Maximum Defense investment is used with a Relaxed nature to win Struggle wars against opposing Ditto. 0 Speed IVs are used for Hidden Power Ice, it's generally the most useful Hidden Power because it has many common targets such as Garchomp and Mega Salamence. The lower speed IV also helps to win a Struggle war against other Dittos. Focus Sash is used because it allows more flexibility and ideally the opponents you copy will be paralyzed so you won't have to rely on a Speed tie. However, if you do need to rely on a Speed tie, Focus Sash ensures Ditto will survive one hit. Choice Scarf can be used if you always want to outspeed what Ditto copies, but you are locked into one move which can sometimes make Ditto easier to play around.

-imposter, great ability, limber is bad
-max HP because its the only stat ditto doesnt copy
-other EVs are for very very rare situations
-max def relaxed nature to beat opposing dittos in struggle war if that ever comes up, 99% of the time the def EVs wont matter though
-0 speed IVs for HP ice - hp ice is most useful HP as it has many common targets such as garchomp and mega mence
-lower speed IV helps win opposing ditto struggle war, otherwise just copies opponents speed stat
-focus sash because it allows more flexibility, ideally opponents you copy will be para'd so you wont have to rely on speed ties anyway
-scarf can be used if you want to always outspeed, but you are locked into one move so slightly easier to beat sometimes

Usage Tips
========
Ditto should come in on physical attackers that have been hit with Swagger and attempt to sweep the opponent or heavily weaken their team. Ideally you want to paralyze the Pokemon you use Swagger on before Ditto comes in so it can avoid Speed ties. Ditto can also be used to revenge kill setup sweepers such as Garchomp and Mega Salamence, Focus Sash will let it live any hit if necessary and can take out the opposing threat. If running Choice Scarf it becomes much more effective as a revenge killer, always outspeeding opposing setup sweepers. Ditto will likely dissuade your opponents from bringing their setup sweepers, you can use this to your advantage when deciding what 3 Pokemon you bring. Ditto shouldn't be brought against very defensive teams because it often won't be useful. Ditto is best used against offensive teams with threatening physical attackers that Ditto can benefit from copying.

-bring in on swagger'd physical mons and attempt to sweep oppononent or heavily weaken the team
-use para on swagger'd stuff to gain advantage, no speed ties
-can be used revenge kill setup sweepers like garchomp, mega salamence, focus sash will let it live most hits if you lose speed tie, if using scarf it will ensure you outspeed
-dont bring vs very defensive teams, often wont be useful. ditto is best used against very offensive teams with threatening physical attackers
-ditto will likely dissuade your opponent from bringing set up sweepers, you can use this to your advantage when choosing your 3 pokemon

Team Options
========
Ditto should always be used with Prankster teammates carrying Swagger as it is most useful when copying boosted physical Pokemon. Thundurus is arguably the best user of Swagger and is an all around good Pokemon. Outside of just Swagger, Thundurus can use it's Electric- and Ice-type coverage to take care of many threats such as Talonflame and Mega Salamence. Klefki is another reliable user of Swagger, it is much more dedicated to the Swagger strategy, utilizing Substitute and Foul Play and has a great typing to work with. Ditto is great with Liepard not only because it has Prankster Swagger but also because it works well with the common Spore Assist strategy. Because Assist can't use Transform it allows Liepard to reliably get Spore from Assist. Serperior can paralyze Ground-types such as Garchomp and Landorus-T so Ditto doesn't have to rely on speed ties when copying them. Clefable can be used as another backup to deal with Pokemon hit by Swagger thanks to Unaware ignoring any boosts. If Ditto is running Focus Sash, Clefable is a more reliable answer to Pokemon that haven't been paralyzed. Mega Gengar can be a useful teammate, able to trap Pokemon that Ditto won't want to copy such as Cresselia. Mega Kangaskhan can be used as a finisher after Ditto weakens opposing teams after copying a boosted Pokemon. It is also a very reliable Pokemon you can use in matchups where you don't want to bring Ditto. Porygon2 and Cresselia can also spread paralysis reliably thanks to their bulk, they can also deal with Ground-types such as Garchomp and Landorus-T who are riskier for Ditto to copy. However, they don't synergize as well with Ditto as other paralysis spreaders because they often can't fit Swagger onto a moveset like Thundurus and Klefki can.

-swagger - ditto becomes most useful by copying boosted physical threats
-thundurus - best user of swagger, all around good pokemon, outside of just swagger it can use electric/ice coverage to take care of a lot of threats such as talonflame, mega mence
-klefki - another great user of swagger, much more dedicated to the swagger strategy and has great typing to work with
-liepard - ditto is great with liepard not only to copy swagger'd mons, but transform also isnt used with assit so ditto is a valuable slot for the spore assist strategy
-serperior - can para ground types such as garchomp, lando-t so ditto doesnt have to rely on speed ties when copying them
-clefable - another backup to deal with swagger'd stuff thanks to unaware, more reliable way to deal with a +2 garchomp if running sash on ditto
-mega gengar - trap stuff you dont want to copy with ditto such as defensive pokemon like cresselia
-kangaskhan - can finish up with kanga after hammering away with +2 ditto, also a generally reliable mon for matchups where you dont want to bring ditto
-porygon2 and cresselia can also spread paralysis reliably thanks to their bulk, they can also deal with ground types like garchomp and lando-t who are riskier for ditto to copy, but they don't synergize as well with ditto because they often can't fit swagger onto a moveset

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Lum Berry helps avoid status like Thunder Wave which would heavily cripple Ditto after copying a setup sweeper. If you want more damage Life Orb could be used, it's especially nice when Ditto may be forced to copy a special attacker. However, both of these items rely on paralyzing whatever Ditto copies to avoid speed ties, and unlike Sash have nothing to fall back on if Ditto loses the tie. If still want flexibility and really want Focus Sash on a different teammate, you can gamble with Quick Claw. But it is very inconsistent and usually not recommended. Other Hidden Powers may be useful such as Fire and Ground, these can be decided based on your team if you feel you may need one of these coverage options in some scenarios. Though Metal Powder and Quick Powder may look tempting when you read their descriptions, they should never be used because they only work when Ditto isn't transformed, which you never want to happen anyway.

-lum berry - helps avoid status like twave after copying a set up sweeper
-life orb - even more damage after copying something, nice when ditto may be forced to copy a special attacker
-but these both rely on paralyzing whatever ditto copies to avoid speed ties, and dont have sash to fall back on if ditto loses the tie
-quick claw - if you still want flexibility and really want sash on a different teammate you could try out quick claw but it is very inconsistent and usually not recommended
-other hidden powers may be useful such as fire or ground, can be decided based on your team if you feel you may need one of these coverage options

-though metal powder and quick powder may look tempting when you read their descriptions, they should never be used because they only work when ditto isn't transformed, which you never want to happen anyway

Checks and Counters
===================
**Substitute**: Substitute is Ditto's worst nightmare as it blocks Imposter. Setup sweepers utilizing Substitute, such as Mega Salamence, can be a big problem if not dealt with by Ditto's teammates.

**Defensive Pokemon**: Defensive Pokemon such as Porygon2, Cresselia, and Slowbro often won't be useful to copy and with recovery they can easily stall out Ditto's low PP moves.

**Thundurus**: Depending on what Ditto copies, Thundurus can Thunder Wave it to stop a potential sweep and make Ditto easier to revenge kill.