Pokémon Go: Ditto in Hats & 10x XP Event – Pokopia Celebration!
A Hatful of Ditto: Pokémon Go Celebrates *Pokémon Pokopia*
Pokémon Go trainers, get ready to tip your hat – literally. Niantic is rolling out a celebration event for the newly released Pokémon Pokopia, running from March 10th through March 16th, 2026. The event introduces costumed versions of Ditto, doubles XP gains from PokéStop spins and offers a significant XP boost for your first daily spin. But the real draw for many will be the altered Ditto disguises, making the elusive Pokémon even more of a hunt.
The *Pokémon Pokopia* event isn’t just about aesthetics. Niantic is significantly increasing the rewards for engaging with the game’s core mechanics. Players will receive double XP for spinning PokéStops and a whopping 10x XP for their very first spin of the day. Here’s a boon for dedicated players looking to level up quickly, and a welcome incentive for those returning to the game after a break.
Ditto’s Disguise Game Gets a Refresh
Ditto, notorious for its ability to transform into other Pokémon, is getting a disguise update specifically for this event. According to Eurogamer, Ditto will be able to disguise itself as a wide range of Pokémon currently experiencing boosted spawn rates. This means trainers will need to be extra vigilant when encountering common Pokémon, as any one of them could be a Ditto in disguise. The event also introduces shiny versions of the costumed Ditto – a white hat with yellow details and a white cap with blue details – adding another layer of excitement to the hunt.
Catching Ditto isn’t a straightforward process. Unlike other Pokémon, Ditto doesn’t appear in the wild. Instead, it transforms into another Pokémon and only reveals its true form upon being caught. The chances of encountering a Ditto disguised as another Pokémon are reportedly slim, making persistence key. As noted by a Facebook group dedicated to Pokémon Go (Phantom Nerds Pokémon Go), paying attention to the difficulty of catching a normally easy-to-catch Pokémon like Bidoof can be a clue that you’ve stumbled upon a Ditto.
Event Perks: Timed Research and Collection Challenges
Beyond the boosted spawns and Ditto disguises, the *Pokémon Pokopia* event features Timed Research and Collection Challenges. The Timed Research offers a series of tasks, including catching Pokémon, exploring distances, spinning PokéStops, and sending gifts to friends. Completing these tasks unlocks rewards like Ditto Candy, Pikachu encounters, Stardust, and 10,000 XP and Pokopia-themed stickers.
The Collection Challenges task players with catching specific Pokémon. ‘Pokémon Pokopia Collection Challenge 1’ requires catching a Pikachu, Combee, Scyther, and Zorua, rewarding players with a Ditto (cap) encounter. ‘Pokémon Pokopia Collection Challenge 2’ asks for a Marill, Goomy, Hitmonchan, and Sudowoodo, offering a Ditto (hat) encounter as a reward. These challenges provide focused objectives for trainers looking to add to their Ditto collection.
Field Research Opportunities
Spinning PokéStops during the event may also yield Field Research tasks. These tasks range from catching a certain number of Pokémon to exploring a specific distance, and can reward encounters with Pokémon like Hitmonchan, Sudowoodo, Pikachu, Marill, and even Ditto itself. Completing the “Catch a Ditto” task directly offers a Rare Candy, a valuable resource for powering up your Pokémon.
Boosted Spawns: Who to Gaze Out For
The event will spot increased spawn rates for several Pokémon, including Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Pikachu, Sudowoodo, and Zorua. Hitmonchan, Scyther, Marill, Combee, and Goomy are expected to appear more frequently, based on their inclusion in the Collection Challenges and Field Research rewards. Notably, Sudowoodo has an “increased chance” of appearing as a shiny during the event, offering collectors a rare opportunity.
Raid Battles and Shiny Potential
Three-star raids during the event will feature Pokémon with an increased chance of appearing in their shiny forms. Although the specific Pokémon available in raids weren’t detailed beyond this, the potential for encountering a shiny raid boss adds another layer of excitement for dedicated raiders.
The *Pokémon Pokopia* Celebration event offers a compelling mix of boosted rewards, unique encounters, and challenging tasks for Pokémon Go trainers. The focus on Ditto, with its recent costumes and altered disguises, is sure to draw players back into the game, while the increased XP gains and Collection Challenges provide ample opportunities for progression and collection. With the event running through March 16th, trainers have a week to take advantage of these perks and add some *Pokopia*-themed Pokémon to their roster.