From: Brian Brokaw To: Subject: Re: Ditto's "Transform" Date: Tuesday, October 19, 1999 12:35 AM > Hi! I have a few questions concerning Ditto's Pokemon Power: Transform. You and EVERYBODY else that emails me... ugh. > 1. Does Dito's user have the option of not transforming or does the power depend >on the defending Pokemon? For example, Ditto transforms into a Blastoise; Blastoise >retreats and Gyarados comes into play. Does Ditto automatically transform into Gyarados >or can it stay as Blastoise? Ditto's Power states that "if Ditto is your active Pokemon, >TREAT it as the defending Pokemon..." keyword here is TREAT. Ditto is a continuous Pokemon Power. It is always "on". (Unless Ditto is benched, Confused, Paralyzed, Asleep). It is ALWAYS checking its target to see if it needs to Transform again... If your opponent switches Pokemon, Ditto will switch instantaneously. > 2. Ditto's Power also states "including type, HIT POINTS, weakness..." My question here >is the HIT POINTS: Does it take on the total hit points or the remaining hit points of the defending >Pokemon? For example, Ditto has 30 dmg on it and transforms into a Chansey with 40 dmg on it. >Does Ditto take 120 hit points w/ no dmg on it (meaning removing the 30 dmg on Ditto) or does >it take 80 dmg (removing the 30 dmg on Ditto)? Neither. Damage is NOT hit points. It has nothing to do with hit points. If I had an Exeggutor with 40 energy cards on him and I flipped 40 HEADS when using his Big Eggsplosion attack against a Gyarados (that is weak to Grass), that Gyarados will be a Pokemon with 100 HP and 1,600 damage! Yes, it would be knocked-out after the damage is applied, but its Hit Points are still 100. Ditto does NOT copy damage, Ditto only copies hit points. So, in your example: If your Ditto has 30 damage on it, and your opponent has a Chansey active, your Ditto will be a Chansey (with 120 HP) and 30 damage on it. Your Ditto had to keep its own damage, but takes on the HP of the opponent. Brian Brokaw