Let’s be real for a second. Mewtwo isn't just another entry in your Pokédex. It's the white whale. Since the game launched back in 2016, this genetically engineered powerhouse has remained the absolute gold standard for attackers, but the way you actually go about how to get a mewtwo on pokemon go has changed a dozen times over. If you’re looking to just stumble across one in the wild while grabbing a coffee, I’ve got bad news. It's never going to happen. Mewtwo is a locked-down, event-only asset that Niantic dangles like a carrot to keep us all playing.
You can't just throw an Incense and hope for the best.
Honestly, the frustration is peak Pokémon Go. You see people in Master League flexing their Psystrike Mewtwo and you wonder where you were when the invites went out. The truth is that getting one requires a mix of timing, patience, and usually a group of local players or a remote raid app. Because Mewtwo is a Tier 5 Legendary, it only appears in Five-Star Raids during specific windows of time. If there isn't an active event featuring the Genetic Pokémon, your options basically boil down to "wait" or "trade."
The Most Common Way: Five-Star Raids
Raiding is the bread and butter of the experience. When Niantic announces a Kanto event or a specific Legendary rotation, Mewtwo takes over the gyms. You'll see those massive, purple eggs pulsating atop Gyms. You can’t solo this. Even with a level 50 team of Tyranitars and Chandelures, you're going to need at least three to five other trainers who actually know what they’re doing.
Wait for the egg to hatch.
📖 Related: The Problem With Roblox Bypassed Audios 2025: Why They Still Won't Go Away
Once it's live, you jump in. The fight is intense because Mewtwo has a massive attack stat. You’re looking for Shadow Ball or Psystrike as the moveset, though you’ll likely catch it with something less impressive and have to use an Elite Charged TM later. If you win, you get those Premier Balls. This is where the anxiety spikes. Mewtwo has a notoriously low base catch rate—around 2%. You have to hit those Golden Razz Berries and land Excellent Curveballs. If you don't, it flees. And yeah, it hurts every time.
Shadow Mewtwo and the Team GO Rocket Grind
There’s a version of Mewtwo that’s even scarier: Shadow Mewtwo. For a lot of hardcore players, this is the only one that matters because of the 20% attack bonus. To get this, you usually have to deal with Giovanni. He’s the big boss of Team GO Rocket. You can’t just find him whenever you want; you need a Super Rocket Radar.
These radars are typically rewards from Special Research stories. You’ll see them pop up during "Team GO Rocket Takeover" events. You fight the three leaders—Sierrra, Cliff, and Arlo—and then you track down Giovanni in a balloon or at a PokéStop. Beating him isn’t a walk in the park. His lineup changes, but he always leads with Persian. If you manage to take down his Mewtwo, you get a chance to catch it. It’ll have low IVs most likely, and it’ll be frustrated, but a 0-star Shadow Mewtwo still out-damages a 100% IV regular Mewtwo in raids. That’s just the math of the game.
Purifying: The Great Debate
Should you purify it? Most veterans will scream "no" at you. Purifying adds +2 to every IV stat and jumps the Pokémon to level 25, but you lose that raw power bonus. Unless you absolutely need a 100% IV (a "Hundo") for your collection’s aesthetic, keep it Shadow. The purple flames look cooler anyway.
👉 See also: All Might Crystals Echoes of Wisdom: Why This Quest Item Is Driving Zelda Fans Wild
Can You Trade for a Mewtwo?
Yes, but it's expensive. If you have a friend who has a spare, you can trade for it. But there are massive caveats. First, it’s a Special Trade. You can only do one of these per day. Second, if you don't already have Mewtwo in your Pokédex, the Stardust cost is astronomical. We’re talking 1,000,000 Stardust if you’re only "Good Friends." Even at "Best Friend" status, an unregistered Legendary trade costs 40,000 Stardust.
Also, the IVs reroll. You could trade a great Pokémon and receive a 1-star Mewtwo in return. It’s a gamble. The only way to guarantee a good one is to wait for a Lucky Trade, which happens randomly when interacting with Best Friends. Lucky Pokémon have a floor of 12/12/12 for their stats, making it the safest way to ensure your how to get a mewtwo on pokemon go journey doesn't end in disappointment.
Armouring Up: The Rarest Variant
You might see people with an Armored Mewtwo in gyms. This isn't just a skin; it has different stats (higher defense, lower attack). This version was a promotional tie-in for the Mewtwo Strikes Back: Evolution movie. It hasn't been in raids for years. At this point, the only way to get one is through a trade with someone who played in 2019 or 2020. It's one of the rarest pulls in the game. If you find someone willing to part with one, expect to give up something equally legendary.
Preparing Your Team for the Return
Since you can't get Mewtwo every day, you need to be ready for when the announcement hits the "Today" view in your app. Mewtwo is a Psychic-type. That means it's weak to Bug, Ghost, and Dark.
✨ Don't miss: The Combat Hatchet Helldivers 2 Dilemma: Is It Actually Better Than the G-50?
Don't use Aggron. Seriously, the game suggests it because it lives a long time, but it does zero damage. Use these instead:
- Hydreigon: With Brutal Swing, it’s a monster.
- Darkrai: Snarl and Dark Pulse will melt Mewtwo's health bar.
- Gholdengo: If you’ve suffered through collecting 999 coins, use it. Its typing resists almost everything Mewtwo throws.
- Origin Forme Giratina: Shadow Force is slow but hits like a truck.
Keep an eye on the official Pokémon Go blog or community sites like Leek Duck. They track the raid rotations. Mewtwo usually shows up during big summer events like GO Fest or anniversary celebrations. When it does, people go nuts. Remote Raid passes will be your best friend if you live in a rural area. Apps like PokeGenie or Go Friend let you queue up to join raids hosted by people in Tokyo or New York, which is basically the only way many of us get our Legendaries these days.
Actionable Steps for Your Hunt
- Hoard your Stardust: You'll need at least 100,000 to 200,000 to power up a Mewtwo once you get it, plus the trade costs if you go that route.
- Save an Elite Charged TM: You want the move Psystrike. It is Mewtwo’s signature move and vastly superior to Psychic or Thunderbolt.
- Check your Special Research: Look for any unfinished tasks involving Team GO Rocket. You might already have a Super Rocket Radar waiting for you.
- Build a Dark-type team now: Don't wait until the raid starts to realize your highest CP Pokémon is a Slaking.
- Connect with a local Discord or Campfire group: Coordinating in person saves you the "Remote Raid Pass" tax, which Niantic keeps hiking up.
The hunt for Mewtwo is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s designed to be the ultimate prize. Keep your eyes on the event calendars and keep your Pokéballs ready. When that purple silhouette finally appears on your "Nearby" radar, you'll be glad you prepped.