List of Transform glitches

These are glitches involving the move Transform.

List of glitches

Generation I

Main article: List of glitches (Generation I)

--

Main article: -- (move)

In Generation I, if a Pokémon transforms into another Pokémon that knows more moves and, while transformed, switches around the copied moves with the SELECT button, after the battle the Ditto will not have Transform and will instead have the glitch move --. This can also be done with other Pokémon by having them use Mimic on Transform, or use Transform directly, such as Mew.

By Wooggle

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Ditto glitch

Main article: Mew glitch

The primary method of the Mew glitch involves having a wild Ditto transform into the player's Pokémon, as this copies the Special stat, which is used to modify the species of Pokémon encountered.

Color loss glitch

In Generation I only, a transformed Pokémon will lose its color and become gray if any of these happen:

• If the transformed Pokémon uses Transform again.
• If the other Pokémon successfully uses any move on the transformed Pokémon.
• If the opposing Pokémon is transformed and the player throws a Poké Ball on it. (including a failed Poké Ball thrown in a battle against a Trainer)
• If the player opens the party screen and returns to battle.

Level up glitch

Only in Generation I, if a transformed Pokémon levels up and learns a new move, it will use its original moveset (unaffected by Transform) from this point onwards in the current battle. Additionally, any PP lost from this point onwards in the current battle will not affect the Pokémon's actual PP as shown in the summary, which will effectively be restored once the transformed Pokémon switches out, faints, or the battle ends. For instance, if a Mew transformed into Pikachu reaches the level 20 and learns Mega Punch, then it will have Mew's moveset (including Mega Punch) from this point onwards in the current battle, not Pikachu's moveset (even though Mew remains transformed into Pikachu). If that Mew had 29 PP remaining for Pound when it transformed, then it will still lose PP as usual for each use of Pound, if any (decreasing to 28 PP, then 27 PP, and so on), but once the current battle ends, Mew will still be shown to have 29 PP for Pound, just like it had before transforming.

Transform + Mirror Move/Metronome PP error

If Mirror Move or Metronome is used by a Transformed Pokémon, the move of the same slot in that Pokémon's actual moveset will have its PP increased by 1. This occurs even if there is no move in that slot, which can prevent the use of Struggle or cause a softlock when targeted by Disable. PP of slots without moves will not be reset to 0 when healing at a Pokémon Center; the glitch can only be repaired by repeating it 256 times, at which point the PP count will overflow to 0.

By Crystal_

Generations I and II

Transform assumption glitch

In Generations I and II, any Pokémon that uses Transform is regarded as a Ditto in its new form, and its only move will be Transform.

If a transformed wild Pokémon is caught in a Generation I game (and becomes a Ditto), then Ditto's catch rate will be saved as well, so this Ditto will be holding a Metal Powder if transferred to a Generation II game (regardless of the original or transformed species). However, if a transformed wild Pokémon is caught in a Generation II game, this wild Pokémon's held item (if any) remains unaffected by this glitch.

This means that if the player catches a Mew or a glitch Pokémon which has used the move Transform, or a Pokémon which has used Transform via Mirror Move, instead they will obtain a Ditto. Mew turning into Ditto was not an issue in these games because a wild Mew could not be legitimately encountered prior to Generation III. However, the Clefairy, Pidgey, and Fearow lines, which could be found in the wild, could use Transform via Metronome and Mirror Move, and would turn into Ditto on capture. This system was fixed in Generation III.

By v0id19

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By pokemontutorialTV

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Ditto DV manipulation

If a wild Pokémon transforms again while it is already transformed, when it is caught it will have the DVs of the penultimate Pokémon it transformed into. The caught Pokémon will always be Ditto due to the Ditto assumption glitch.

For instance, if the player already has any Pokémon with Transform (Ditto, Mew or certain glitch Pokémon) that has perfect DVs (15 for Attack, Defense, Speed, and Special), then this glitch can be used to catch any number of wild Ditto perfect DVs as well. This is accomplished by waiting for a wild Ditto to use Transform twice against the player's Pokémon, and then catching this wild Ditto.

As another example, if the player has any Pokémon with Mimic in Generation I, then it is also possible to catch a wild Ditto with the player Pokémon's DVs. This is accomplished if the player's Pokémon uses Mimic and copies Ditto's Transform, and then the wild Ditto uses Transform twice (by first using its original Transform move, and then using Transform that was copied by the player with Mimic).

Shiny Ditto DV manipulation

Due to Shininess being determined by DVs in Generation II, if a non-Shiny wild Pokémon transforms into a Shiny Pokémon and then uses Transform again, it will become a Shiny Pokémon. Conversely, if a Shiny wild Pokémon transforms into a non-Shiny Pokémon and then uses Transform again, it will become a non-Shiny Pokémon. This way, a wild Pokémon can even switch between Shiny and non-Shiny versions multiple times in the same battle. This does not work on a Pokémon owned by a Trainer (either the player or a non-player character).

This allows the player to make a wild Ditto Shiny by having it use Transform while already transformed. This is possible by using a Shiny Pokémon that knows Transform (Mew, certain glitch Pokémon, or another Ditto) in battle against a wild Ditto, and then waiting for the wild Ditto to use Transform twice (by first using its original Transform move, and then using the Transform that was copied from the player's Pokémon). In Generation II games, after the wild Pokémon transformed twice in the current battle, it still appears with its original color palette at first. However, if the player opens the list of Pokémon or the Pack and then returns to battle, or simply catches that wild Pokémon, the color palette will be updated. At this point, a Ditto that was originally non-Shiny (purple) will appear with its Shiny (blue) color palette.

Alternatively, the player may transfer a Shiny Pokémon with Mimic from a Generation II to a Generation I game (even though this Pokémon won't appear as Shiny in the Generation I game, it still will have the correct DVs of a Shiny Pokémon). In Generation I (but not in Generation II), Mimic is able to copy Transform, and it can even copy moves that haven't been used yet (because the player chooses the move from a list). If the player uses that Shiny Pokémon with Mimic in battle against a wild Ditto in Generation I, the player's Pokémon can use Mimic to copy the wild Ditto's Transform, and then the wild Ditto can use Transform twice (by first using its original Transform move, and then using Transform that was copied by the player with Mimic). As a result, the wild Ditto will have the same DVs as the player's Shiny Pokémon, and therefore will be a Shiny Ditto; its Shiny appearance will be shown if it's caught and transferred to a Generation II game.

It's not possible to catch a Shiny version of any other Pokémon species using this method, due to the additional glitch in both Generations I and II that causes any transformed wild Pokémon to be a Ditto when caught.

By v0id19

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Generation II

Main article: List of glitches (Generation II)

Shared DV glitch

In Generation II only, this glitch can be used to change the DVs of any Pokémon used by the NPC, provided both the NPC and the player have the required moves (or use these moves as a result of Metronome).

If a NPC's Pokémon uses Transform twice and the player forces the NPC to switch Pokémon with Roar or Whirlwind, this glitch is activated. The DVs copied from the player's Pokémon at the penultimate use of the NPC's Transform are used by the next Pokémon sent by the NPC.

If the NPC copies the DVs of a Shiny Pokémon owned by the player by using this glitch, the next Pokémon sent by the NPC as a result of Roar or Whirlwind will be Shiny as well. That Shiny Pokémon will display the sparkle animation when entering battle, but it will appear with the non-Shiny color palette at first. Once the player opens the party or Pack, that NPC's Pokémon will appear with the Shiny color palette.

This glitch can only be used to change the DVs of the NPC's Pokémon's, not the DVs of the player's Pokémon. If this glitch is attempted the other way around (the player's Pokémon uses Transform twice, and the NPC's Pokémon uses Roar or Whirlwind to force the player to change Pokémon), no DVs will change as a result.

By Daniel CM

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Sketch glitch

In Generation II, if a Pokémon uses Sketch while transformed, it will permanently learn the Sketched move, normally replacing Transform. A move can then be passed down as an Egg Move through breeding with a female Pokémon if the transforming Pokémon is Ditto or male.

This was commonly exploited with Ditto by using a Trainer House Trainer who has a Smeargle acquired using Mystery Gift. The most popular method was to face this Trainer in the Trainer House and have the user's Pokémon Transform into a Smeargle with at least one move other than Sketch. The user's Pokémon could then copy the other move via Sketch or if necessary defeat the Smeargle and Sketch another attack.

Alternatively, a Pokémon with Metronome has a slim chance of using Transform, giving it the chance to copy a move via Sketch which replaces Metronome with this move at the end of the battle. This includes several Pokémon who learn Metronome from TM35 in Generation I (Mewtwo, Gengar, Golem, etc.) who can be traded to a Generation II game and permanently learn new moves by using this glitch.

Additionally, glitches with the potential of changing the species of another Pokémon such as the Pokémon merge glitch can also be used as part of extensions of the Sketch glitch in order to teach Pokémon Transform or Metronome to exploit the Sketch glitch.

By ChickasaurusGL

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Shiny Transform switch

If a transformed Pokémon defeats a Trainer's Pokémon and the player switches it out to a Shiny Pokémon when prompted to, the transformed Pokémon will have a Shiny palette while being switched. This does not happen if player switches Pokémon normally.

By BrightcynderPhase2

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Mirror Move failure

In Generation II only, Mirror Move always fails when used by a transformed Pokémon.

Generation III

Level up stat glitch

	This glitch is in need of research. Reason: It is currently unknown what other games this glitch is present in, if any. You can discuss this on the talk page.

In Pokémon Emerald, if a transformed Pokémon levels up during battle, it will utilize its normal, non-transformed stats for the remainder of the fight.

Generation IV

Main article: List of glitches (Generation IV)

Transform held item glitch

In Japanese versions of Diamond and Pearl, if a Pokémon holding an item uses Transform and has its item stolen, as long as it does not faint before the end of the battle, both the transforming Pokémon and the thief will retain the item after the battle.

Mimic glitch

Main article: Mimic glitch

In Japanese versions of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, if a Pokémon uses Transform via Mimic then faints, it will keep the moves it learned via Transform.

Rage glitch

Main article: Rage glitch

In Generation IV, if a transformed Pokémon uses Rage and causes the message "Rage is building" to appear, then defeats or captures the opponent, the Pokémon will permanently learn the moves it knew while transformed.

Glitches in the Pokémon games Multiple generations Transform glitches • Glitch Trainers • Cloning glitches • Error messages • Arbitrary code execution Generation I Glitches • Battle glitches • Overworld glitches -- • 0 ERROR • Broken hidden items • Cable Club escape glitch • Dual-type damage misinformation Experience underflow glitch • Fight Safari Zone Pokémon trick • Glitch City • Item duplication glitch • Item underflow Mew glitch • Old man glitch • Pewter Gym skip glitch • Pokémon merge glitch • Rhydon glitch • Rival twins glitch Select glitches (dokokashira door glitch, second type glitch) • Super Glitch Time Capsule exploit • Walking through walls • ZZAZZ glitch Generation II Glitches • Battle glitches Bug-Catching Contest glitch • Celebi Egg glitch • Coin Case glitches • Experience underflow glitch Glitch dimension • Glitch Egg • Teru-sama • Time Capsule exploit • Trainer House glitches • GS Ball mail glitch Generation III Glitches • Battle glitches • Overworld glitches Berry glitch • Dive glitch • Pomeg glitch • Glitzer Popping Generation IV Glitches • Battle glitches • Overworld glitches Acid rain • GTS glitches • Pomeg glitch • Rage glitch Surf glitch • Tweaking • Pal Park Retire glitch Generation V Glitches • Battle glitches • Overworld glitches Charge Beam additional effect chance glitch • Charge move replacement glitch • Choice item lock glitch Frozen Zoroark glitch • Sky Drop glitch Generation VI Glitches • Battle glitches • Overworld glitches Charge Beam additional effect chance glitch • Charge move replacement glitch • Choice item lock glitch Lumiose City save glitch • Symbiosis Eject Button glitch • Toxic sure-hit glitch Generation VII Glitches • Battle glitches • Overworld glitches Charge Beam additional effect chance glitch • Charge move replacement glitch • Choice item lock glitch Toxic sure-hit glitch • Rollout storage glitch Generation VIII Glitches Charge Beam additional effect chance glitch • Charge move replacement glitch • Choice item lock glitch Toxic sure-hit glitch • Rollout storage glitch • Party item offset glitch Generation IX Glitches Glitch effects Game freeze • Glitch battle • Glitch song Gen I only: Glitch screen • TMTRAINER effect • Inverted sprite Gen II only: Glitch dimension Lists Glitches (GO • Mystery Dungeon • TCG GB • Spin-off) Glitch Pokémon (Gen I • Gen II • Gen III • Gen IV • Gen V • Gen VI • Gen VII • Gen VIII) Glitch moves (Gen I) • Glitch types (Gen I • Gen II)

This glitch Pokémon article is part of Project GlitchDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on glitches in the Pokémon games.