Niantic keeps concocting pleasant surprises for the legions of pokémon fans around the globe. It's latest Ditto reveal, in itself, is already big news, but there is also a possibility that it may be setting the stage for something even bigger for pokémon trainers.

Niantic has officially announced the arrival of Ditto in the "Pokémon GO" world. This shapeshifter, although non-legendary, can hold its own against others by making itself an identical copy of the opponent it is pitted against, mimicking even the moveset of the enemy.

In "Pokémon GO," Ditto disguises itself as any other critter in the wild, like the usual Pidgey or Rattata. Once caught, this is the only time it reveals its true identity, becoming an unexpected discovery for the player.

This is a long-awaited arrival for avid players of the game. According to Forbes, the thought of knowing a previously unobtainable Pokémon is already roaming around in disguise creates a big buzz. This brings out the completionist side of every player, even of those who have captured every available pokémon prior its release.

Ditto's arrival can also mean a trickier gym battle. It becomes an exact copy of the first pokémon a challenger throws. When a trainer calls a Snorlax, Ditto immediately transforms into one, making it a viable defense. It could also be a double-edged sword, especially in a scenario where two or more players challenge a gym. For example, if two challengers call on Dragonite and Lapras to do battle with Ditto, and the shapeshifter takes Dragonite's form, this is very bad news, considering dragon-type moves deal twice the damage, while ice-type moves deal four times the hurt.

More importantly, Ditto could be preparing the game for the rumored release of generation 2 pokémon, which includes baby Pokémon such as Cleffa, Igglybuff, Pichu, and Togepi. A Starbucks employee may have leaked the release date, which is allegedly Dec. 7, Otakukart has learned. If this is true, hardcore pokémon players know that Ditto is indispensable in breeding, thus increasing its importance.

Niantic has not confirmed whether the leaked date is true, but it wouldn't hurt to capture the elusive Ditto just to be prepared.