Pokemon Go April Fools 2022 Event start Time and how to catch a shiny Ditto

pokemon Go april fools event
(Image credit: Niantic)

This year's Poekemon April Fools event, called April Fools’ 2-Oh?-22 will let trainers can be tricked by catching Pokemon Go Ditto. There’s only one other Pokemon that can do what Ditto does - that would be the Mythical Pokemon, Mew - but Ditto is iconic largely because of its availability and its appearance in the Pokemon anime.

In an early-season episode of the anime, a particular trainer’s Ditto was unable to change its face when it transformed. This led to a lot of memes that even The Pokemon Company has capitalized on with merchandise showing Ditto-transformed Pokemon. What does that have to do with this year’s April Fool’s event? Well, there are some in-game goodies that are based on this particular Ditto and the event itself gives Pokemon Go trainers more opportunities to catch their own Ditto.

We’ve compiled this guide to give trainers all the information they need for the April Fool’s event including when it starts and ends, as well as the special research tasks players can complete.

 Pokemon Go April Fool’s 2022 Event Start Time 

The 2022 Pokemon Go April Fool’s event begins at midnight local time on April 1 and ends April 1 at 11:59 p.m. local time. It’s an event that has a limited window, so trainers will want to get out there and explore all aspects of the April Fool’s celebration.

When trainers boot up the game, there will be a new story featuring Professor Willow. The story features the professor being transformed into a Ditto. 

Pokemon Go April Fool’s 2022 Event Research Tasks 

pokemon Go april fools event

(Image credit: Niantic)

There is just one event-exclusive Field Research Tasks trainers can obtain and complete during the event. 

By catching three transformed Pokemon, trainers will earn an encounter with Ditto. 

As for Special Research, there are three pages of tasks that trainers can complete to earn Ditto Candy and much more. Here’s the entire list of tasks and rewards trainers can complete.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Special Research 1
TaskReward
Catch 10 PokemonPoke Ball (x25)
Catch 5 Normal-type PokemonPotion (x5)
Make 5 Nice ThrowsNanab Berry (x5)
  • Completion Reward - Stardust (x1000), Ditto Candy (x15), Razz Berry (x5)
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Special Research 2
TaskReward
Catch 10 PokemonGreat Ball (x15)
Catch 3 of the Transform PokemonSuper Potion (x5)
Transfer 10 PokemonPinap Berry (x5)
  • Completion Reward - 1500xp, Ditto Candy (x15), Silver Pinap Berry (x1)
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Special Research 3
TaskReward
Claim RewardUltra Ball (x10)
Claim RewardHyper Potion (x5)
Claim Reward3500xp
  • Completion Reward - Stardust (x3000), Ditto Candy (x15), Ditto encounter

 How to catch Ditto in Pokemon Go, or a shiny

Ditto in Pokemon Go could be a difficult Pokemon to find, let alone capture. It doesn't appear as itself in the overworld, so trainers often have to catch Pokemon randomly in hopes to find it.

If a trainer catches a transformed Ditto, they will see a different screen on their phones where the Pokemon reverts back to Ditto. However, there are only a handful of Pokemon that have a chance to be a transformed Ditto. Here’s the full list of Pokemon.

  • Ekans
  • Gastly
  • Natu
  • Surskit
  • Finneon
  • Dwebble
  • Swirlix

Ditto’s Shiny is also available in Pokemon Go so there is a chance the Pokemon you catch can be a Shiny transformed Ditto, but the chances are low. 

In-Game Bonus 

There aren’t any playing bonuses during the April Fool’s event. However, trainers can obtain special stickers during the 24-hour event.

Of course, these stickers are based on Ditto and there are six to collect by opening gifts from friends and by spinning Poke Stops. We recommend checking these stickers out, especially the Pokemon Go Team Ditto stickers. These three stickers show Ditto transformed into Moltres, Articuno and Zapdos in the position of Team Valor, Instinct and Mystic’s logos. 

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Phillip Martinez

I'm currently a GamesRadar guide contributor with a specialty in everything Pokemon GO. If you've wanted to know the best way to take down a Rayquaza, there's a good chance you read one of my guides. I previously have written for IBT Media, Newsweek and Screen Rant. I'm a huge fighting game fan and everything Pokemon, but I've grown to love RPGs.