Catch Mewtwo in Pokemon GO: Best Methods & Pro Tips Revealed

For Pokemon GO trainers, few creatures generate as much excitement as Mewtwo. This legendary Psychic-type Pokemon has been a fan favorite since its debut, and catching one remains a major goal for many players. With its incredible stats, multiple forms, and devastating moveset, Mewtwo continues to be one of the most powerful and sought-after Pokemon in the game.

Many trainers keep asking when is Mewtwo coming back to Pokemon GO, especially those who missed previous opportunities. The good news is that Niantic regularly brings back this legendary creature through various events and raid rotations. Whether you’re looking for the standard version, Shadow Mewtwo, or the rare Shiny variant, there are several ways to add this powerhouse to your collection.

Table of Contents

Understanding Mewtwo’s History in Pokemon GO
Current Methods to Obtain Mewtwo in Pokemon GO
When Will Mewtwo Return to Pokemon GO Raids?
Effective Strategies for Catching Mewtwo
Mewtwo’s Battle Capabilities and Counters
Understanding Mewtwo’s Different Forms
Advanced Catching Techniques
Powering Up and Using Mewtwo
Frequently Asked Questions About Mewtwo

Understanding Mewtwo’s History in Pokemon GO

Mewtwo first appeared in Pokemon GO as an EX Raid boss, requiring special invitations to battle. Since then, its availability has expanded to include regular five-star raids, special research tasks, and encounters with Team GO Rocket leader Giovanni. The Pokemon GO Mewtwo has gone through several iterations, each with unique characteristics and battle capabilities.

The ongoing question of when will Mewtwo return to Pokemon GO reflects its status as one of the game’s most popular legendary Pokemon. Trainers eagerly await announcements about Mewtwo raids, knowing that catching this powerful creature can significantly boost their battling capabilities in both raids and player-versus-player combat.

Current Methods to Obtain Mewtwo in Pokemon GO

As we move through 2025, several methods remain available for trainers seeking to add Mewtwo to their collections. While the specific availability changes with events and seasons, these approaches have consistently provided opportunities to encounter this legendary Pokemon.

Participate in Mewtwo Raid Battles

The most consistent way to encounter Mewtwo is through five-star legendary raids. When Mewtwo appears in raid rotations, trainers can team up to battle and potentially catch this powerful Pokemon. These raids typically require multiple trainers working together with strong counters to defeat Mewtwo before the time limit expires.

You’ll need either a regular Raid Pass or a Remote Raid Pass to participate in these battles. Keeping an eye on the official Pokemon GO event announcements will help you know when Mewtwo raids are active in your area. The question of when will Mewtwo raids come back 2024 was common last year, and similar patterns are expected for 2025.

Complete Special Research Tasks

During certain events, such as GO Fest or Psychic-type themed events, Mewtwo may appear as a reward for completing special research tasks. These research lines often require completing multiple steps with various objectives, but they guarantee a Mewtwo encounter upon completion.

Some research tasks are available to all players, while others require purchasing a ticket for special events. These guaranteed encounters are valuable opportunities, especially for trainers who prefer to play solo or have difficulty organizing raid groups.

Defeat Giovanni for Shadow Mewtwo

Team GO Rocket leader Giovanni occasionally has Shadow Mewtwo as his final Pokemon. To reach Giovanni, you’ll need to complete special research tasks that involve defeating Team GO Rocket grunts, leaders, and eventually Giovanni himself.

Shadow Mewtwo is particularly powerful due to the shadow bonus that increases its attack power, though it also takes more damage when attacked. This makes Shadow Mewtwo one of the strongest attackers in the game, though many trainers debate whether to keep it as a Shadow Pokemon or purify it.

Reach High Ranks in GO Battle League

Although less common, Mewtwo can sometimes appear as a reward encounter in the GO Battle League, particularly during seasons with psychic-type themes or legendary Pokemon rewards. Typically, you’ll need to reach at least rank 20 to have a chance at encountering legendary Pokemon in the reward pool.

The probability of encountering Mewtwo this way is relatively low compared to other methods, but it provides an additional opportunity for trainers who enjoy PvP battles and have developed strong battling skills.

Trade with Other Trainers

If you’ve missed Mewtwo events or have friends with extra Mewtwo, trading is always an option. Mewtwo is classified as a special trade, which means it can only be performed once per day and costs more Stardust than regular trades.

The Stardust cost decreases significantly if you’ve reached higher friendship levels with the trading partner. Lucky trades can also result in a Lucky Mewtwo with reduced Stardust costs for powering up, making this an attractive option for many trainers.

Use Location Spoofing Tools

For trainers who can’t access Mewtwo raids in their local area, tools like iMyFone AnyTo provide alternative methods to participate in raids worldwide. This approach allows you to change your virtual location to areas where Mewtwo raids are active, ensuring you don’t miss out due to geographical limitations.

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When Will Mewtwo Return to Pokemon GO Raids?

The question of when is Mewtwo coming back to Pokemon GO is one that trainers frequently ask. While Niantic doesn’t announce raid schedules too far in advance, we can make educated predictions based on historical patterns and event cycles.

Mewtwo typically returns to raids during major events like GO Fest, anniversary celebrations, or psychic-type themed events. These often occur during the summer months or around October, coinciding with the game’s anniversary and Halloween events. The timing of when Mewtwo will return to Pokemon GO often aligns with these seasonal patterns.

Based on previous years, we can expect Mewtwo to appear in raids multiple times throughout 2025. The specific timing will depend on Niantic’s event schedule, but trainers should watch for announcements about legendary raid rotations and special events featuring psychic-type Pokemon.

Effective Strategies for Catching Mewtwo

Catching Mewtwo after defeating it in raids requires skill and preparation. The base catch rate for legendary Pokemon is relatively low, but several strategies can significantly improve your chances of success.

Use Golden Razz Berries

Golden Razz Berries provide the highest catch rate bonus of any berry in Pokemon GO. Using one before each throw dramatically increases your likelihood of catching Mewtwo. If you have a limited supply, use them strategically when you have fewer Premier Balls remaining or when you’ve achieved excellent throws.

Master Curveball Throws

Curveball throws provide a catch bonus that stacks with other bonuses. More importantly, aiming for smaller target circles (especially excellent throws) further increases your catch probability. Practice your curveball technique to consistently hit smaller target circles.

Time Your Throws with Attack Animations

Mewtwo, like many legendary Pokemon, has attack animations that can knock away your Poké Balls if you throw during them. Watch for these animations and time your throws to land just after an animation completes, when the target circle reappears but before Mewtwo can attack again.

Maximize Your Premier Balls

The number of Premier Balls you receive after a raid depends on several factors: your personal damage contribution, your team’s contribution if you’re in a gym controlled by your team, and friendship bonuses if you raided with friends. To maximize your balls, raid with friends, deal significant damage, and try to battle in gyms controlled by your team.

Consider Weather Boosts

Mewtwo’s psychic-type moves are boosted in windy weather, which also means weather-boosted Mewtwo will be caught at a higher level (up to level 25 instead of 20). While this makes Mewtwo slightly harder to catch, the higher starting CP can be worth the additional challenge.

Use Pinap Berries Strategically

If you’re confident in your catching ability or already have multiple Mewtwo, consider using Pinap Berries to double the candy you receive upon successful capture. This is especially valuable for accumulating candy to power up your Mewtwo or teach it additional moves.

Mewtwo’s Battle Capabilities and Counters

Understanding Mewtwo’s strengths and weaknesses is crucial both for using it effectively in battles and for defeating it in raids. As one of the most versatile Pokemon in the game, Mewtwo can fill multiple roles depending on its moveset and form.

Best Movesets for Mewtwo

Mewtwo’s effectiveness heavily depends on its moveset. The fast move Psycho Cut generates energy quickly, allowing you to use charged moves more frequently. For charged moves, Psystrike is Mewtwo’s signature psychic-type move and one of the strongest in the game.

Shadow Ball provides valuable ghost-type coverage against other psychic-types, while Ice Beam, Thunderbolt, and Focus Blast offer coverage against specific types. The ideal moveset depends on whether you’re using Mewtwo for raids, gym battles, or PvP combat.

Mewtwo’s Type Weaknesses

As a pure psychic-type Pokemon, Mewtwo is weak to bug-type, dark-type, and ghost-type moves. This makes Pokemon like Tyranitar, Hydreigon, Giratina, and Chandelure effective counters in raid battles.

Trainers building teams to counter Mewtwo should focus on these types while avoiding fighting-type and poison-type Pokemon, which take super-effective damage from Mewtwo’s psychic-type moves.

Top Counters for Mewtwo Raids

When preparing for Mewtwo raids, consider these effective counters:

Tyranitar with Bite and Crunch
Hydreigon with Bite and Brutal Swing
Giratina (Origin Forme) with Shadow Claw and Shadow Ball
Chandelure with Hex and Shadow Ball
Darkrai with Snarl and Shadow Ball
Weavile with Snarl and Foul Play

Mega-evolved Pokemon like Mega Gengar, Mega Houndoom, or Mega Tyranitar can significantly increase your raid group’s damage output if available.

Understanding Mewtwo’s Different Forms

Mewtwo has appeared in several different forms throughout Pokemon GO’s history, each with unique characteristics and availability patterns. Understanding these different forms helps trainers know what to look for during various events.

Standard Mewtwo

The regular Mewtwo is what most trainers encounter in five-star raids. It has high attack stats and versatile move options, making it effective in both PvE and PvP contexts. The standard form is typically available during Mewtwo raid rotations.

Shadow Mewtwo

Shadow Mewtwo features a dark aura and red eyes, dealing increased damage thanks to the shadow bonus but also taking more damage when attacked. This form is typically available only through defeating Team GO Rocket leader Giovanni during specific research periods.

Shiny Mewtwo

Shiny Mewtwo has a green-tipped tail instead of purple, making it a highly sought-after variant. Shiny Mewtwo is typically only available during specific raid events when Niantic announces shiny eligibility. The shiny rate for legendary raids is approximately 1 in 20.

Armored Mewtwo

Armored Mewtwo features protective plating and has different stat distribution compared to regular Mewtwo, with higher defense but lower attack. This form was available during special events and may return during future collaborations or anniversary events.

Future Mega Evolutions

While not yet available in Pokemon GO, Mega Mewtwo X and Mega Mewtwo Y are anticipated future additions. Mega Mewtwo X becomes a psychic/fighting-type, while Mega Mewtwo Y remains pure psychic-type with even higher special attack stats.

Advanced Catching Techniques

For trainers struggling to catch Mewtwo despite using the basic strategies, several advanced techniques can further improve your success rate.

Set the Circle Technique

This technique involves holding a Poké Ball until the target circle reaches your desired size (preferably excellent), then releasing without throwing. Wait for Mewtwo to attack, then throw your curveball during the attack animation so it lands just as the circle reappears at your preset size.

Understanding Catch Probability

Each throw has an independent catch probability based on multiple factors: base catch rate, berry modifiers, throw accuracy, curveball bonus, medal bonuses, and whether the Pokemon is weather-boosted. Understanding how these factors interact helps you make informed decisions about which berries to use and how aggressively to aim for smaller target circles.

Group Raiding Strategies

When raiding with others, communication and coordination can help ensure everyone maximizes their Premier Balls. Consider creating a raid group with friends to guarantee friendship bonuses, and coordinate team composition to ensure you’re dealing optimal damage for additional Premier Balls.

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Powering Up and Using Mewtwo

Once you’ve caught Mewtwo, properly investing resources and using it effectively becomes the next challenge. Mewtwo requires significant Stardust and Candy to reach its full potential, so strategic investment is important.

Stardust and Candy Investment

Powering up Mewtwo to level 40 requires 248 Candy and 225,000 Stardust, with additional costs for leveling up beyond 40 using XL Candy. Because of these substantial costs, many trainers focus on powering up Mewtwo with ideal IVs or special movesets like Psystrike or Shadow Ball.

Teaching Second Moves

Mewtwo can learn a second charged move for 100 Candy and 100,000 Stardust (120 Candy and 120,000 Stardust for Shadow Mewtwo). This investment allows for greater versatility in both PvE and PvP contexts, though the high cost means it’s typically only worthwhile for your best Mewtwo.

Ideal IV Spreads

For raiding and master league PvP, Mewtwo generally benefits from perfect or near-perfect IVs, with particular emphasis on attack stats. For other PvP leagues where Mewtwo is eligible, specific IV spreads that maximize stat product while staying under CP limits may be preferable.

Team Composition

Mewtwo works well in teams that can cover its weaknesses to bug, dark, and ghost-type attacks. Pairing it with Pokemon like Togekiss, Metagross, or Melmetal can create balanced teams that handle Mewtwo’s common counters effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mewtwo

How often does Mewtwo appear in Pokemon GO?

Mewtwo typically returns to Pokemon GO several times per year, often during major events or as part of legendary raid rotations. The frequency varies based on Niantic’s event schedule, but trainers can usually expect opportunities to catch Mewtwo every few months.

Is Mewtwo still relevant in the current meta?

Despite the introduction of many new legendary and mythical Pokemon, Mewtwo remains one of the top psychic-type attackers in the game, especially with its exclusive moves Psystrike and Shadow Ball. Shadow Mewtwo in particular boasts some of the highest damage output in Pokemon GO.