Imposter (Japanese: かわりもの Changer) is an Ability introduced in Generation V. It is the signature Hidden Ability of Ditto.

Imposter かわりもの
Changer
Flavor text
Generation V
It transforms itself into the Pokémon it is facing.
Generation VI
The Pokémon transforms itself into the Pokémon it's facing.
Generation VII
The Pokémon transforms itself into the Pokémon it's facing.
Generation VIII
The Pokémon transforms itself into the Pokémon it's facing.
Generation IX
The Pokémon transforms itself into the Pokémon it's facing.
Champions
The Pokémon transforms into the Pokémon in front of it. It also copies all of that Pokémon's stats apart from its HP.

Effect

In battle

Main article: Transform (move) → Effect

As soon as the user comes into battle, it transforms into its opponent. Broadly, the target's appearance, including its form, gender, and Shiny status or lack thereof, as well as its types, Ability, moves, stats, and cry are copied; the user retains its own HP, level, nickname, and held item. The user still retains its original appearance and information in the party and summary screens, and its original sprite in the battle menu and the list of moves. The user remains transformed until it switches out, faints, or the battle ends.

Imposter will not activate if the opponent is transformed, is disguised with Illusion, is behind a substitute, or is a Starmobile. Imposter only activates when the Pokémon with the Ability is sent out; it does not activate if gained while already on the field, and if it fails to activate when a Pokémon is sent out, it will not activate again until the Pokémon is sent out again. If a Pokémon with Imposter Terastallizes into the Stellar type, Imposter will no longer activate. Imposter cannot be ignored.

In Double Battles, Triple Battles, and Battle Royals, Imposter transforms into the opponent in the position directly opposite it. In Horde Encounters, Imposter transforms into the opponent in the rightmost position. In an SOS Battle, Imposter will copy the opponent in the leftmost position. In all cases, if there is no opponent in that position, the Pokémon will not transform. If the raid boss in a Max Raid Battle or Tera Raid Battle has Imposter, it will transform into the host's Pokémon; however, in a Max Raid Battle, the raid boss's Imposter will fail to activate if the host is using Zacian, Zamazenta, or Eternatus.

Role Play fails if the target has the Ability Imposter. Entrainment fails if the user has the Ability Imposter. Imposter cannot be copied by Trace, Power of Alchemy, or Receiver.

Outside of battle

Imposter has no effect outside of battle.

Pokémon with Imposter

# Pokémon Types First Ability Second Ability Hidden Ability
0132 Ditto Ditto
Normal Normal Limber None Imposter
Please note that Abilities marked with a superscript are only available in the stated generation or later.
  • For Generation III and IV games, ignore Hidden Abilities.

In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 變身者 Binsānjé
Mandarin 變身者 / 变身者 Biànshēnzhě
French Imposteur
German Doppelgänger
Italian Sosia
Korean 괴짜 Goejja
Spanish Impostor
This article is part of Project Moves and Abilities, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on two related aspects of the Pokémon games.