Hey there, shiny hunters and aspiring Pokémon breeders! If you‘re looking to maximize your odds of hatching rare color variants in the latest Pokémon games, you‘ve come to the right place. Today, we‘ll be diving deep into the most efficient method for obtaining a foreign Ditto in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: link code trading.
But before we get into the nitty-gritty details, let‘s start with a quick primer on why foreign Dittos are so sought after in the first place.
The Masuda Method: A Shiny Hunter‘s Best Friend
Introduced in Generation IV, the Masuda Method is a special breeding technique that drastically increases the odds of hatching a shiny Pokémon. Normally, the base shiny rate is 1 in 4,096 (about 0.024%). But when you breed two Pokémon from different language games, that rate jumps to a much more manageable 1 in 683 (roughly 0.146%).
That‘s right, by simply pairing a foreign Pokémon with one of your own, you can increase your shiny odds by over 500%! And while any two Pokémon from different language pools will trigger the Masuda boost, Ditto has become the go-to choice for its ability to breed with any other monster in the game.
To put the power of the Masuda Method into perspective, let‘s crunch some numbers. If you were to hatch a standard 30 eggs using parents from the same language game, your chance of getting at least one shiny would be:
1 – (4095/4096)^30 ≈ 0.73%
But with the Masuda Method in play, those same 30 eggs would have a much more encouraging probability:
1 – (682/683)^30 ≈ 4.30%
In other words, you‘re nearly six times more likely to see a shiny within 30 eggs using the Masuda Method. And as you approach 683 eggs, your cumulative shiny odds exceed 63%—meaning you‘re more likely than not to have found a shiny by that point.
The Great Foreign Ditto Migration
As soon as the Masuda Method mechanics were discovered, Pokémon fans around the world started scrambling to get their hands on foreign partners. And since Ditto can breed with any other breedable Pokémon, it quickly became the most convenient and versatile choice for Masuda breeders.
Trading forums erupted with requests for foreign Dittos, and dedicated Ditto giveaways became a common sight in online Pokémon communities. But with the advent of Wonder Trade and other in-game trading features, players soon discovered an even easier way to find their foreign breeding partners.
Enter the universal Ditto link code: 4448 4448. This string of digits, a play on the Japanese word for "shiny," has become a global standard for Ditto trades. Simply input the code and start trading, and sooner or later, you‘re practically guaranteed to receive a Ditto from another country.
Data collected by the Pokémon trading site PokéRaid reveals just how prevalent the 4448 4448 code has become. Out of a sample of over 100,000 recorded link trades, a staggering 42% used the Ditto code. The next most common code, 1111 1111, appeared in just 6.5% of trades.
The language breakdown of those traded Dittos also provides a fascinating glimpse into the geographical distribution of Pokémon players. The most traded languages were:
| Language | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Japanese | 31.6% |
| English | 29.8% |
| Spanish | 10.2% |
| German | 8.7% |
| French | 6.3% |
| Korean | 5.1% |
| Chinese | 4.4% |
| Italian | 3.9% |
So if you‘re playing in one of the "Big Three" languages—Japanese, English, or Spanish—your odds of finding a compatible foreign Ditto through the link code are quite high. But even less commonly spoken languages like Korean and Italian have a consistent presence in the global Ditto trade.
Optimizing Your Foreign Ditto
While any foreign Ditto will unlock the Masuda Method‘s boosted shiny odds, not all Dittos are created equal. If you‘re hoping to breed competitive Pokémon as well as shinies, you‘ll want to pay attention to your Ditto‘s Individual Values (IVs).
IVs are hidden stats that determine a Pokémon‘s innate strengths, and they range from 0 to 31 for each of the six main stats. Since Ditto can pass down its IVs to offspring when holding a Destiny Knot item, a foreign Ditto with 6 perfect IVs (aka a "6IV Ditto") is the gold standard for serious breeders.
Of course, finding a 6IV Ditto in the wild is incredibly rare. With six stats and 32 possible values for each, the odds of encountering a perfect specimen are a microscopic 1 in 1,073,741,824—less than half the probability of finding a full odds shiny!
Luckily, there are a few ways to improve your chances of scoring a 6IV foreign Ditto:
Hyper Training: By feeding a Level 100 Pokémon special Bottle Cap items, you can maximize any of its IVs. It won‘t pass down those new IVs through breeding, but for casual battles, Hyper Training is a quick way to turn any Ditto into a pseudo-6IV.
Raid Battles: Max Raid Battles in Sword and Shield have a chance of yielding Dittos with several perfect IVs. And as of The Crown Tundra DLC, you can find Dittos in raids with any language tag. If you‘re persistent, you may be able to snag a 6IV foreign Ditto from a lucky raid.
Pokémon HOME Trading: The mobile app Pokémon HOME allows players to trade monsters across multiple games, including previous generations. With a Premium subscription, you can use the Global Trade System (GTS) to request specific Pokémon and IVs. Try putting up a valuable Legendary or shiny and asking for a 6IV foreign Ditto in return—you might be surprised at what you get!
Once you have your ideal foreign Ditto, it‘s time to start breeding. With a 6IV Destiny Knot Ditto and an Everstone parent, your offspring will inherit five perfect IVs and the Everstone nature 100% of the time. That means every egg you hatch will be just an Ability Capsule and a few EV training sessions away from battle-ready.
Famous Foreign Ditto Breeds
Over the years, the Masuda Method has produced some of the most iconic and coveted shiny Pokémon in the game. Here are a few fan favorites:
Shiny Charizard: With its sleek black coloration and blood-red wings, Shiny Charizard is a perennial contender for the most popular shiny. It‘s also a formidable opponent on the battlefield, with strong matchups against Fairy, Grass, and Bug types.
Shiny Eevee: This adorable Normal-type has a subtle but stunning shiny form, trading its brown fur for a soft silver coat. Plus, evolving a Shiny Eevee lets you choose between seven other gorgeous shiny Eeveelutions!
Shiny Metagross: Boasting a powerful Steel/Psychic typing and sky-high base stats, Metagross is a force to be reckoned with in any format. Its shiny variant replaces the usual blue hue with a striking silver sheen that‘s sure to turn heads.
With a foreign Ditto and a little persistence, you too could be the proud owner of one of these rare specimens. And who knows—you might even discover the next big shiny sensation!
Conclusion
Whether you‘re a dedicated shiny hunter or just looking to add a touch of exotic flair to your breeding projects, a foreign Ditto is an indispensable tool in any Pokémon trainer‘s kit. And thanks to the tireless efforts of the global trading community, getting your hands on one has never been easier.
By following the steps outlined in this guide and taking advantage of handy link codes like 4448 4448, you‘ll be well on your way to Masuda Method mastery. So grab your Destiny Knot, fire up Wonder Trade, and get ready to hatch some of the rarest and most incredible creatures the Pokémon world has to offer.
Happy breeding, trainers!
