Mewtwo, the legendary Psychic-type Pokemon from Kanto, is one of the most powerful and sought-after Pokemon in Pokemon GO. This comprehensive guide covers all methods to catch Mewtwo in 2025.
Quick Answer: Mewtwo is primarily available through five-star Legendary Raids when featured in rotation. You'll need to team up with other trainers and use strong Bug, Ghost, or Dark-type counters to defeat it.
Method 1: Five-Star Legendary Raids (Primary Method)
The main way to obtain Mewtwo is through five-star Raid Battles when Niantic features it in the rotation. Keep in mind that Mewtwo is not always available—it returns during special events and raid rotations.
Raid Battle Steps
- Find a Mewtwo Raid
- Check in-game notifications for Mewtwo raid announcements
- Follow Pokemon GO social media for schedule updates
- Look for five-star raids at nearby gyms
- Get Raid Passes
- Free Daily Raid Pass (one per day from gyms)
- Premium Raid Pass (available in the Shop)
- Remote Raid Pass (join raids from anywhere)
- Assemble Your Team
- You'll need 3-5 high-level trainers minimum
- Use Remote Raid Pass to invite friends globally
- Coordinate timing with your raid group
- Defeat Mewtwo
- Use Bug, Ghost, and Dark-type Pokemon counters
- Dodge charged attacks when possible
- Revive and rejoin if your team faints
Best Counters Against Mewtwo
Since Mewtwo is a Psychic-type, it's weak to Bug, Ghost, and Dark-type moves. Here are the best Pokemon to use:
- Mega Gengar - Shadow Claw + Shadow Ball
- Mega Houndoom - Snarl + Foul Play
- Darkrai - Snarl + Shadow Ball
- Hydreigon - Bite + Brutal Swing
- Chandelure - Hex + Shadow Ball
- Tyranitar - Bite + Crunch
- Giratina (Origin) - Shadow Claw + Shadow Ball
Important: Mewtwo's catch rate is extremely low (2% base catch rate). Be prepared to use Golden Razz Berries and make excellent throws!
Method 2: Shadow Mewtwo (Team GO Rocket)
Occasionally, Shadow Mewtwo becomes available through special Team GO Rocket events. This is one of the rarest forms of Mewtwo.
Shadow Mewtwo Steps
- Complete the Special Research quest that features Giovanni
- Defeat all three Team GO Rocket Leaders (Cliff, Sierra, Arlo)
- Obtain a Super Rocket Radar from completing the research
- Use the Super Rocket Radar to find and battle Giovanni
- Defeat Giovanni's team to encounter Shadow Mewtwo
- Catch Shadow Mewtwo (guaranteed catch with unlimited Premier Balls)
Pro Tip: Shadow Mewtwo is even more powerful than regular Mewtwo due to its 20% attack boost, making it one of the strongest Pokemon in the entire game!
Method 3: Special Events (GO Fest & Seasonal Events)
Mewtwo sometimes appears during major Pokemon GO events:
- Pokemon GO Fest - Annual summer event with exclusive raids
- Anniversary Events - Celebrating Pokemon GO milestones
- Kanto Tour - Regional celebration events
- Raid Days - Special three-hour windows with increased spawns
How to Maximize Your Catch Rate
After defeating Mewtwo in a raid, you'll have a limited number of Premier Balls to catch it. Follow these tips:
Catching Tips
- Use Golden Razz Berries - Increases catch rate by 2.5x
- Aim for Excellent Throws - Wait for the circle to be smallest
- Throw Curveballs - Additional 1.7x catch rate multiplier
- Watch Attack Animations - Throw just after Mewtwo finishes attacking
- Set the Circle - Hold the ball until the target circle is small, release, wait for attack, then throw
- Earn Team Contribution Bonus - Deal more damage for extra Premier Balls
- Raid with Friends - Friendship bonus grants additional balls
Method 4: Trading
If you're unable to catch Mewtwo yourself, trading is an alternative option:
- Find a friend who has a spare Mewtwo
- Be aware that legendary trades cost significant Stardust (20,000 for Good Friends, up to 1,000,000 for non-registered)
- Best Friends reduce the cost to 20,000 Stardust
- You can only make one special trade per day
- IVs will reroll upon trading
2025 Availability: Based on historical patterns, Mewtwo is expected to return in mid-to-late 2025 during seasonal events or Pokemon GO Fest. Check the in-game news regularly!
About Mewtwo
Mewtwo is a legendary Psychic-type Pokemon with exceptional stats and versatility:
- Type: Psychic
- Max CP: 4,724 (one of the highest in the game)
- Best Moveset: Psycho Cut (Fast), Psystrike (Charged)
- Usage: Elite tier in Master League PvP and raids
- Weaknesses: Bug, Ghost, and Dark-type moves
- Strengths: Strong against Fighting and Poison-types
Mewtwo Forms and Variants
Several special versions of Mewtwo have appeared in Pokemon GO:
- Regular Mewtwo - The standard legendary form
- Shadow Mewtwo - Rescued from Team GO Rocket (most powerful)
- Armored Mewtwo - Limited-time variant from the Mewtwo Strikes Back movie
- Shiny Mewtwo - Rare green-tailed variant (approximately 1/20 odds in raids)
Note: Each variant may have different availability windows. Shadow and Armored forms are particularly rare and only available during specific events.