Right after the September Community Day, something strange happened: Almost every Pokémon in the wild turned into a strange, nut-headed, liquid-metal-bodied new Pokémon no one had ever seen before. It's shadow was on every Radar. It flooded every PokeStop. The internet dubbed it "Nutto" but, when you caught it, it transformed into Ditto.
Turns out, it's a brand new Mythical Pokémon named Meltan, and it's being used to bring Pokémon Go gamers to the upcoming Pokémon Let's Go games on Nintendo.
Here's what we know so far!
November 14, 2018: Let's Go: Meltan quest now live!
Pokémon Go has unleashed a Meltan quest, in cross-promotion with the new Pokémon Let's Go game for Nintendo.
Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! are out now for Nintendo Switch, and there's plenty to learn about the mysterious Mythical Pokémon Meltan! Professor Willow needs your help tracking down this Steel-type Pokémon with some new Special Research—are you up for the task? You can get started right now!
What's the Meltan Quest and how do you finish it fast?
1. Spin 5 Pokéstops or Gyms, Catch 10 Pokémon, Transfer 5 Pokémon
This one is easy, Just go out, catch while you spin, and transfer the worst of what you catch.
Reward: 1000 Star Dust, 10x Poké Balls, 1x Incubator
2. Earn 2 Candies walking with your buddy, make 10 Great Throws, Hatch 3 Eggs
Pick a buddy that only takes 1KM to walk, like Pikachu or Magikarp. Incubate 2KM Eggs if you have them. Then start walking. For the Great Throws, Legendary Raids work well because the target is big and the Pokémon jump out a lot, giving you quite a few chances.
3. Catch a Ditto, Win 2 Gym battles, Battle in 2 raids
Your best shot at a Ditto, at least while the Let's Go cross-promotion is going on, is with the Research Task "Make an Excellent Throw". If you have a local raid group on Discord, Messenger, or WhatsApp, crowdsource the daily location, get the task, and then find a Pokémon with a big target to make the throw.
Otherwise, you'll have to try catching all the Ditto potentials until you find one.
Gym battles are easy. Just find a gym of a different color with at least 2 defenders in it and battle two Pokémon. No need to clear the gym or visit multiple gyms. Just battle twice.
For the raids, you can either do them all proper or, if you can only find high-level raids and don't have enough people to beat them, just feed the passes and then jump back out. All it wants is your pass. You don't have to actually battle or win.
4. Catch 5 Steel-type Pokémon, Catch 5 Electric-type Pokémon, Earn 5 Candies walking with your buddy.
Magnemites are both Steel and Electric, so they're the most efficient Pokémon to catch. (They're also recently Shiny, so, bonus.) Otherwise, the electrics are easy but you may have to take advantage of the current Raid bosses to get them all.
Walking here is the same as before. Pick a 1KM buddy and get to it.
Um, what is Meltan?
That's the question everyone is asking. For the last few days, no one knew for sure. Some thought it was a glitch. Others, the first tease of Gen 9 (?!). Others, a weird cross-promotion with Nintendo to bring Pokémon Go players to Pokémon Let's Go on Nintendo.
The last one seems to have been the most accurate. Here's what Pokémon Go has finally revealed:
A mysterious Pokémon suddenly began appearing all over the world in recent days. Have you spotted it yet?Ditto all over the world have been transforming into this Pokémon, which has now been identified as the Mythical Pokémon Meltan!It seems that Professor Willow has already contacted Professor Oak in the Kanto region, and the two have been cooperating in their investigation of Meltan! Please check the Pokémon YouTube channel for more on their efforts!Sightings of Ditto that have transformed into Meltan are still being reported. If you haven't encountered one, it's time to get out there and GO!
And here's what the Pokémon Company has revealed:
A new species of Pokémon—one that nobody has ever seen before—has been discovered! This Pokémon is called Meltan, and as of now, it is quite the enigma.
- Name: Meltan
- Category: Hex Nut Pokémon
- Type: Steel
- Height: 0'08"
- Weight: 17.6 lbs.
Most of Meltan's body is made from liquid metal, and its shape is very fluid. It can use its liquid arms and legs to corrode metal and absorb it into its own body.
Meltan generates electricity using the metal it absorbs from outside sources. It uses this electricity as an energy source and also as an attack that can be fired from its eye.
Clearly a curious Pokémon, Meltan is very expressive and shows an interest in all kinds of things.
Many reports have come in about sightings of Ditto in Pokémon GO that have transformed into Meltan. The number of sightings has significantly decreased over the past few days, but it appears these "Meltan" are still appearing in various areas.
Research is being conducted on these appearances of Meltan, but we have learned that Pokémon GO is somehow key to meeting this curious new Pokémon in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! We'll be sure to provide updates as we discover more!
Can you still catch Molten in Pokémon Go?
Yes and no. While the flood of Meltan immediately following Community Day only lasted for about half and hour, you can still encounter the odd one out in the wild.
When it comes to catching, though, all Meltan immediately revert to Ditto, so you can't add any to your collection or PokeDex. At least for now.
So, what do we do right now?
If you see Meltan out and about, catch it. It's a great way for anyone who hasn't completed the Ditto requirement of the Mew quest to finally get it out the way, and it's a fine way to find a good Ditto if you haven't gotten one yet.
Other than that, there's not much else we can do for now but wait for more information, likely when Pokémon Let's Go hits stores next month.
Any Pokémon Go Meltan questions?
If you have
Pokemon Go
○ Pokémon Pokédex
○ Pokémon Go Events
○ Pokémon Go Alolan Forms
○ Pokémon Go Shiny Forms
○ Pokémon Go Legendaries
○ Pokémon Go Best Cheats
○ Pokémon Go Tips and Tricks
○ Pokémon Go Best Movesets
○ How to find and catch Ditto
○ How to find and catch Unown
iMore Newsletter
Get the best of iMore in your inbox, every day!
Rene Ritchie
Contributor
Rene Ritchie is one of the most respected Apple analysts in the business, reaching a combined audience of over 40 million readers a month. His YouTube channel, Vector, has over 90 thousand subscribers and 14 million views and his podcasts, including Debug, have been downloaded over 20 million times. He also regularly co-hosts MacBreak Weekly for the TWiT network and co-hosted CES Live! and Talk Mobile. Based in Montreal, Rene is a former director of product marketing, web developer, and graphic designer. He's authored several books and appeared on numerous television and radio segments to discuss Apple and the technology industry. When not working, he likes to cook, grapple, and spend time with his friends and family.
2 Comments
Title shows you're not trying. "Pokémon Go Meltan: The nutty new mythical transforming into Ditto" no. Meltan doesn't transform into Ditto, Ditto transforms into Meltan.
Dude. This is like when you guys insisted on calling it "Fighter Type". Meltan DOES NOT TURN IN TO DITTO, at least from what we know so far. DITTO BECOMES MELTAN."Pokémon Go Meltan: The nutty new mythical transforming into Ditto" it doesn't TRANSFORM INTO DITTO, what you can catch at the moment is a Ditto pretending to be Meltan.
FAQs
How to get Meltan fast? ›
Meltan is a steel-type mythical Pokemon that can only be caught in Pokemon Go. There are two ways to encounter Meltan: by completing the "Let's Go, Meltan" Special Research task line, or by opening a special item called the Mystery Box.
What is the fastest way to get Melmetal? ›Catching Melmetal is pretty simple: the only way you can get it is to evolve a Meltan. It costs a whopping 400 Candy, so you're going to need to repeat the process quite a few times!
Is there any other way to evolve Meltan? ›All you have to do is open up your items menu, tap the rare candy, and then chose your Meltan - and boom, all the rare candies you transfer will become Meltan candies immediately. You can transfer more than one at once, too, so don't worry about transferring each one as you get them.
How to get 400 Meltan candies fast? ›Evolving Meltan into Melmetal
To evolve it, you will need 400 Meltan Candies. Just as with the Candies you collect for other Pokémon, you'll be able to get Meltan Candies by doing things like catching Meltan, sending it to Professor Willow, or having Meltan travel around with you as your Buddy Pokémon.
Special Research – which only rewards a single Meltan – or activate a Mystery Box for multiple encounters. While getting a Meltan is difficult enough, it's actually its evolved form, Melmetal, that earns its spot on our list of rarest Pokemon because you'll need a ridiculous 400 Candy to evolve it.
How do I get Melmetal for free? ›Get a special Melmetal in Pokémon HOME
If you send a Pokémon to Pokémon HOME from Pokémon GO, you'll receive the Mythical Pokémon Melmetal as a Mystery Gift in Pokémon HOME.
Pokemon Go introduced XL Candy at the end of 2020.
XL Candy is different from regular Candy in that it is able to level up your Pokemon past Level 40. XL Candy is much rarer to receive.
For 30 minutes (or more during bonuses), you will have the ability to find the Mythical Pokémon Meltan and catch it. It spawns on average of one Meltan every 1.5 minutes.
Is Meltan mythical or legendary? ›Meltan, a Mythical Pokémon recently discovered in the world of Pokémon GO, evolves into Melmetal, making Meltan the first Mythical Pokémon known to be able to evolve. Melmetal was worshiped in ancient times as a Pokémon with the power to create metal.
Should I power up Meltan before evolving? ›Should you evolve first or power up first? Evolve first, power up second. It's tempting to power up first, because instant gratification is instant, but it'll cost you less Stardust in the long run to evolve and the strategically power up only your best or favorite Pokémon.
Does Ditto evolve into Meltan? ›
Ditto all over the world have been transforming into this Pokémon, which has now been identified as the Mythical Pokémon Meltan!
How many times can you use the mystery box for Meltan? ›The Mystery Box Holds the Key to Catching Meltan
However, the first time you send a Pokémon, you'll also be able to get a very special item: a Mystery Box! The Mystery Box closes itself after it's used once.
There's a one in 4,096 chance, or 0.0244% portability, of finding perfect IVs from a wild catch.
Can you get 2 Meltan boxes? ›Farming Mystery Boxes for Meltan in Pokémon GO
Keep in mind that only one Mystery Box can be obtained every three days.
Normally its head is a yellowish color, but a Shiny Meltan is more orange. Pokémon GO is available now on Android and iOS.
What level does Meltan evolve? ›In Pokémon GO, it evolves into Melmetal by using 400 Meltan Candy. It cannot be evolved in other games. Its appearance was first teased during the September Pokémon GO Community Day on September 22, 2018, and it was officially revealed on September 25, 2018.
How hard is it to evolve Meltan? ›Meltan is one of a small group of creatures in Pokémon GO that require a whopping 400 candies to evolve, which presents a problem for those without Pokémon Let's Go.
What CP is 100 Meltan? ›Meltan stats
It has a max CP of 1207, with the following stats in Pokémon GO: 118 ATK, 99 DEF and 130 STA. Meltan's best moves in Pokémon GO are Thunder Shock and Thunderbolt (6.11 DPS). Meltan is vulnerable to Fighting, Fire and Ground type moves.
At the time of writing, Salandit and Salazzle are two of the rarest Pokémon in the game. If you want to add their entries to your Pokédex, your quest begins by hatching a Salandit from a 12km egg - the only way to currently obtain one.
Is there a free Pokémon Bank? ›On March 27, 2023, Pokémon Bank's paid passes will no longer be offered for purchase, at which time Pokémon Bank and Poké Transporter will no longer be available to download. On the same day, Trainers will be able to start using Pokémon Bank at no cost.
How much is a Melmetal worth? ›
Product information. Lowest price for Pokémon TCG Battle Deck V Melmetal V Trading Card is $15.
Why do some Pokemon need 400 candies? ›Why do some Pokémon take 400 Candy? Being a part of two stage Pokémon family, Magikarp, Wailmer, Swablu, Noibat, Stufful, Wimpod and Meltan need 400 candies each to evolve into Gyarados, Wailord, Altaria, Noivern, Bewear, Golisopod and Melmetal respectively.
How many candies to level 100? ›Conclusion: It takes 34 XL Candy to give a Pokémon 1,000,000 experience points. If it belongs to the "Med-Fast" group (like most Pokémon), then it will reach Level 100 after 34 XL Candy. In order not to waste a single Candy, the most efficient combination would be to use 33 XL Candy and one L Candy.
Are XXL Pokémon rare? ›Now that all Pokémon can be XXS and XXL, you should be able to make more progress on these, as so far these new sized Pokémon have been incredibly rare.
What does Smart candy do? ›...
Using Candy for Better Stats.
| Candy Type | Pokemon |
|---|---|
| Smart Candy Increase a Pokemon's Special Attack stat by 1 | Magnemite, Oddish |
| Courage Candy Increase a Pokemon's Special Defense stat by 1 | Drowzee, Tentacool |
| Quick Candy Increase a Pokemon's Speed stat by 1 | Raticate, Diglett, Staryu |
Usually, Shiny Pokemon have a 1/512 chance to appear. However, Meltan is a special case that has a 1/125 chance to appear shiny, but only during special times announced by Niantic. That's right, Meltan's Shiny form is a timed exclusive, and there aren't any set times annually that he is released.
Does the Meltan box expire? ›In Pokémon GO
The Meltan will stop appearing after the box's timer has expired. The Mystery Box will then remain shut on a three-day countdown timer. Once the countdown reaches zero, the player can unlock the box again by transferring Pokémon from GO to Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu!, Let's Go, Eevee!
On the other hand, certain Pokémon like Mew, Celebi, and Meltan are programmed to never run away.
Did Ash Meltan evolve? ›In Final Rivals!, Meltan met up with its fellow Meltan at the Manalo Stadium docks. The wild Meltan subsequently fused with Ash's Meltan, resulting in it evolving into Melmetal and learning Double Iron Bash.
Is type null a legendary? ›Type: Null (Japanese: タイプ：ヌル Type: Null) is a Normal-type Legendary Pokémon introduced in Generation VII. It evolves into Silvally when leveled up with high friendship.
What Pokémon is number 808? ›
Meltan - #808 - Serebii.net Pokédex.
When should I use my Meltan box? ›That's all there is to it in order to receive the Mystery Box. Open it in your bag to cause Meltans to spawn frequently for 30 minutes, but to then use the Mystery Box again, you have to wait seven days and repeat the process of transferring a Pokemon.
Is it better to purify or evolve first? ›Purifying gives the Pokémon a significant increase in Combat Power and it will cost less candies to evolve. Make sure you Purify a Pokémon BEFORE you evolve it so you can use less candies.
Is it cheaper to power up before evolving? ›Additional Information About Pokémon Evolution
Power Up costs don't change when you evolve a Pokémon: as stated in the summary, percentage trained stays the same; it will cost you the same amount of Stardust and Candy to fully Power Up your Charmander before or after evolving it into Charmeleon and Charizard.
Ditto is a Normal Type Pokémon and has no evolutions. Its Pokedex entry reads: "Ditto rearranges its cell structure to transform itself into other shapes. However, if it tries to transform itself into something by relying on its memory, this Pokémon manages to get details wrong."
How does Eevee evolve into Meltan? ›Evolving Meltan into Melmetal
To evolve it, you will need 400 Meltan Candies. Just as with the Candies you collect for other Pokémon, you'll be able to get Meltan Candies by doing things like catching Meltan, sending it to Professor Willow, or having Meltan travel around with you as your Buddy Pokémon.
In its natural state, Ditto is a light-purple or pink blob-like Pokémon with vestigial facial features.
Can Meltan be shiny in Pokémon GO? ›Unlike most other shiny variants in the game, shiny Meltan is not always available to encounter, so it is important to catch one while you have the opportunity. There is no guarantee that you will encounter a shiny Meltan, even during the Pokemon GO crossover events.
Is Mystery Box always Meltan? ›In Pokemon GO, the Mystery Box is a special item that will force the mythical Pokemon Meltan to show up around your area. Back then, you could only get a Mystery Box if you have a Nintendo Switch with Pokemon: Let's Go Pikachu or Eevee.
Can Meltan be shiny right now? ›The only time you can catch a Shiny Meltan is during special events.
What Mega is best for Meltan? ›
The best Pokemon Go Meltan counters are Mega Blaziken, Mega Charizard Y, Primal Groudon, Reshiram, Mega Charizard X & Shadow Mamoswine. Login to see your custom results!
How do you get a lot of Meltan? ›Meltan is a steel-type mythical Pokemon that can only be caught in Pokemon Go. There are two ways to encounter Meltan: by completing the "Let's Go, Meltan" Special Research task line, or by opening a special item called the Mystery Box.
Can you lucky trade Meltan? ›While most Legendary Pokemon can be traded, Mythical Pokemon cannot be traded. The only exception to this rule is Meltan and Melmetal. With this in mind, all current Pokemon that cannot be traded are: Mew.
Is the Meltan box shiny locked? ›Finding one requires players to use a Mystery Box, which can only be obtained if players transfer Pokémon to their Switch using Pokémon HOME or Pokémon Let's GO. Meltan is also special because it is the only Pokémon that is semi-Shiny locked.
How long is shiny Meltan available? ›Trainers will be able to capture Shiny Meltan in Pokémon Go during the Pokémon TCG Crossover Event. This will take place from Thursday, June 16, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. to Thursday, June 30, 2022, at 8:00 p.m. local time and will provide players with challenges related to the Pokémon Trading Card game.
How long does it take for Meltan to spawn? ›Mystery Box - Opening
It spawns on average of one Meltan every 1.5 minutes. When the time runs out, Meltan will stop appearing in the wild.
Usually, Shiny Pokemon have a 1/512 chance to appear. However, Meltan is a special case that has a 1/125 chance to appear shiny, but only during special times announced by Niantic.
How many times can you open Meltan mystery box? ›The Mystery Box Holds the Key to Catching Meltan
However, the first time you send a Pokémon, you'll also be able to get a very special item: a Mystery Box! The Mystery Box closes itself after it's used once.
Ash's Meltan and Gengar share a common trait with one another, having a different color scheme compared to that of other members of their species, but are not shiny.
What are the odds of Shiny Meltan? ›| Event Period | Meltan Seen | Rate (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|
| Event Transition | 1,109 | 1 in 92.4 (53.1-161.3) |
| Valentine's Event | 2,928 | 1 in 62.3 (47.0-82.7) |
| Community Day | 57 | 1 in 28.5 (8.4-103.4) |
| Total | 7,850 | 1 in 61.3 (51.7-72.8) |
What CP is a 100% Meltan? ›
Meltan stats
It has a max CP of 1207, with the following stats in Pokémon GO: 118 ATK, 99 DEF and 130 STA. Meltan's best moves in Pokémon GO are Thunder Shock and Thunderbolt (6.11 DPS). Meltan is vulnerable to Fighting, Fire and Ground type moves.
Evolving Meltan into Melmetal
To evolve it, you will need 400 Meltan Candies.
The Mystery Box is a special item in Pokémon GO that temporarily causes the Mythical Pokémon Meltan to appear in the wild.
Can you get Shiny Meltan anytime? ›The only time you can actually catch a Shiny Meltan is when a special event is ongoing in the game. Shiny Meltan began to appear in the game when Pokemon GO was celebrating its 5th anniversary. Meltan only appears for the players that have access to the Mystery Box item.
Can I trade Meltan in Pokémon GO? ›Pokemon That Cannot Be Traded
While most Legendary Pokemon can be traded, Mythical Pokemon cannot be traded. The only exception to this rule is Meltan and Melmetal. With this in mind, all current Pokemon that cannot be traded are: Mew.
Mystery Boxes in Pokémon GO functioned similarly to Incense, attracting Meltan to a Trainer's location for 60 minutes, allowing players to catch this Mythical Pokémon for a limited time. In the past, Mystery Boxes were obtained by transferring Pokémon from Pokémon GO to one of the Switch's Let's Go games.