You've seen it. That elusive, sparkling psychic cat sitting at the very end of your card dex, staring at you with those big blue eyes while mocking your empty slot. Everyone playing Pokémon TCG Pocket right now is chasing the same dragon—or rather, the same Mythical. The secret Mew card TCG Pocket players are obsessing over isn't something you can just pull from a random pack of Genetic Apex. You won't find it by dumping thousands of Poke Gold into Charizard packs and hoping for the best.
It’s hidden.
Honestly, the way DeNA and Creatures Inc. handled this is kind of brilliant and kind of evil. It’s a "Secret Mission" reward. That means the game doesn't explicitly tell you how to get it until you're basically already there. It’s a callback to the old-school days of Mew being under a truck in Vermilion City, except this time, the truck is a massive collection requirement that will probably take you weeks, if not months, to finish.
What is the Secret Mew Card Anyway?
We’re talking about the Mew (Full Art Illustration Rare). It’s card number 226/226 in the Genetic Apex set. It is arguably the crown jewel of the initial launch. While the immersive Charizard or Mewtwo cards are flashy, this Mew represents a "completionist" status that you just can't buy directly.
The card itself isn't just for show. In-game, it’s a Basic Psychic Pokémon with 60 HP. Its "Psypunch" attack does 20 damage for one Psychic energy. It’s not going to break the meta like a Mewtwo ex/Gardevoir deck, but that’s not why people want it. They want it because it’s the ultimate trophy. It proves you've "finished" the first set.
The Brutal Reality of the Secret Mission
To unlock the secret Mew card TCG Pocket mission, you have to complete the "Genetic Apex Kanto Pokedex."
Think about that for a second.
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You need to collect one of every single Pokémon originally discovered in the Kanto region that is included in the Genetic Apex set. This isn't just the 151. It’s the specific versions found within this digital set. You don't need the Trainer cards, and you don't need the special "Full Art" or "Immersive" versions of every card to trigger the mission, but you do need at least one copy of every Pokémon species from Bulbasaur to Dragonite.
Wait. There's a catch.
You don't just need the commons. You need the Rare Holos. You need the ex cards. If you’re missing a Zapdos ex or an Articuno ex, Mew stays locked. It’s a literal gauntlet of RNG. You’ll find yourself with ten copies of Caterpie but struggling to find a single Pinsir. It’s frustrating. It’s expensive if you’re impatient.
The Checklist You Actually Need
You basically need to fill slots 1 through 150 in the Kanto section of your dex. Since Mew is 151, the game grants it to you as the "final" piece. Here is the breakdown of the most difficult hurdles you'll face:
- The Three Birds: Articuno ex, Zapdos ex, and Moltres ex. These are the gatekeepers. Since they are spread across different pack types (Charizard, Pikachu, and Mewtwo), you are forced to pull from all three pools. You can't just stick to one pack and hope to complete the dex.
- The Rare Stage 2s: Gengar, Machamp, and Alakazam. These aren't ex cards, but their pull rates are lower than you'd think.
- The Fossil Pokémon: Omanyte and Kabuto can be surprisingly annoying to find when you're specifically looking for them.
Is it Possible for F2P Players?
Yes. But you need discipline.
If you are a Free-to-Play player, your biggest asset is Pack Points. Every time you open a pack, you get 10 points. A regular ex card costs 500 points. If you are missing one specific card to finish your Kanto dex and unlock the secret Mew card TCG Pocket reward, do not gamble. Save those points.
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Don't spend points on flashy "Full Art" cards. Use them as a safety net for the one card that refuses to drop. Honestly, using 500 points on a missing Moltres ex is a much better investment than chasing a gold card if your goal is that Mew.
Wonder Picks are your other best friend. Keep an eye on your friends' pulls. If a friend hits a card you're missing for the Kanto dex, burn your Wonder Stamina. It’s a 1-in-5 shot, which is significantly better odds than the fraction of a percent you get in a fresh pack.
Why People Get This Wrong
Most people think you need a "Master Set." You don't.
I've seen players on Reddit panicking because they don't have the "Crown Rare" Pikachu. Relax. You only need the base version. If you have a standard, non-holo version of a Pokémon, it counts toward the Mew mission. The game does not care if the card is shiny; it only cares that the Pokédex entry is filled.
This is a huge relief. It means you don't need to spend thousands of dollars. You just need to be persistent with your daily free packs.
Managing Your Resources
If you're serious about this, stop opening packs randomly. Focus on the pack that has the highest concentration of cards you're missing.
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- Pikachu Packs are heavy on Lightning and Water.
- Charizard Packs lean toward Fire and Fighting.
- Mewtwo Packs are the go-to for Psychic and Darkness.
If you have all the Fire types but no Psychic types, stop pulling Charizard. It sounds simple, but the "Gambler's Fallacy" is real in TCG Pocket. You think, "Surely the next pack will have it." It won't. Check your percentages in the "Offering Rate" menu. The numbers don't lie.
The Hidden Power of Mew in Gameplay
So, you got it. Now what?
The secret Mew card TCG Pocket reward is actually quite good in a Psychic-focused deck. Because it only requires one energy to attack, it’s a great "opener" while you're building up a Gardevoir on your bench.
Its HP is low, though. 60 HP is a one-shot for a lot of boosted attacks. You have to play it carefully. It’s mostly a psychological flex. When your opponent sees that Full Art Mew hit the active spot, they know they're playing against someone who has put in the work (or the money).
Expert Tips for Speeding Up the Process
- Empty Your Friend List: Only follow people who are actively pulling packs. This refreshes your Wonder Pick selection more often.
- Daily Missions: Never miss them. The "Shop Tickets" can be traded for "Pack Hourglasses." Every 12 hourglasses is a free pack. It adds up fast.
- The Step-Up Battles: Complete all the solo battles. They give you a decent chunk of resources and tickets that help you cycle through packs faster.
- Don't Craft Until the End: This is the most important rule. Do not use your Pack Points to craft a card until you are only missing a few cards for the entire Kanto dex. There is nothing worse than crafting a Dragonite for 400 points and then pulling it in your free pack the next morning.
The grind for the secret Mew card TCG Pocket is essentially the "endgame" for the Genetic Apex era. Once you have it, you've essentially conquered the first chapter of the game. It’s a badge of honor.
What to Do Next
Start by opening your Collection tab. Filter by "Genetic Apex" and "Kanto." Count how many silhouettes you see. If you're under 10 missing cards, start targeting those specific gaps through Wonder Picks. If you're missing more than 30, keep rotating your pack choices daily to even out your collection.
Check your Pack Points. If you have over 1,000 points, you're sitting on two guaranteed ex cards of your choice. That might be enough to bridge the gap today. Go through your missions and ensure the "Kanto Pokedex" mission is actually visible—it usually triggers once you're close, giving you a clear list of what's left. Once that final card drops, head to the Missions menu, claim your prize, and watch that Mew animation play. It’s worth the wait.
The best approach now is to audit your current binder. Identify the specific "Rare 1" and "Rare 2" (diamond and star icons) cards you're missing. Focus your Wonder Pick refreshes exclusively on those. Stop spending your Poke Gold on cosmetic items like playmats or sleeves until you've secured the Kanto 150. Every piece of gold should go toward Pack Hourglasses until Mew is in your collection.