How to Get Mewtwo in Pokemon GO (Detailed Guide)

As one of the most powerful Legendary Pokémon in Pokémon GO, Mewtwo is highly coveted by trainers seeking to strengthen their battle teams. But with Mewtwo only appearing intermittently in Raids or as a Shadow Pokémon, actually catching this Psychic-type can be a challenge. This guide covers all the possible methods to tell you how to get Mewtwo in Pokemon GO.

The Detailed Guide on How to Get Mewtwo in Pokemon GO

The primary way to obtain Mewtwo is by defeating it in 5-star Raid battles when it is featured as the Raid Boss. As a Psychic-type, Mewtwo is vulnerable to Bug, Ghost and Dark attacks, so bringing top counters from those types is recommended.

However, with Mewtwo's combat prowess, at least 3-5 high-level trainers are advised when attempting its Raid. After winning, players get Premier Balls based on damage dealt and Gym control to try catching Mewtwo. Using Golden Razz Berries and curveball throws increase effectiveness.

Unfortunately, Mewtwo is not appearing in any Raid battles at the moment. But not to worry - we'll be sure to let you know as soon as the Legendary Psychic-type returns to 5-star Raids. It's only a matter of time before trainers get another shot at catching the powerhouse marvel Mewtwo.

How to Catch Shiny Mewtwo in Pokemon GO

Lucky trainers might encounter a Shiny Mewtwo with a green tail and body markings in Raid battles. As with all Raid Shinies, catching it is guaranteed with no risk of it running away. Using Silver Pinap Berries instead of Razz Berries is recommended to gain extra Mewtwo Candy.

Shiny Mewtwo rates are estimated at around 1 in 20, so repeated Raids will eventually produce one for persistent hunters. Getting a perfect IV Shiny Mewtwo is the pinnacle achievement.

How to Get Shadow Mewtwo in Pokemon GO

The Shadow variant of Mewtwo can only be obtained by defeating Team Go Rocket boss Giovanni. After completing a Special Research to get the Super Rocket Radar to locate Giovanni, his lineup is battled until Mewtwo appears.

Here are the step-by-step tasks needed to get the Super Rocket Radar and unlock the Giovanni battle in Pokémon GO:

• Step 1: Defeat 6 Team Go Rocket Grunts
• Step 2: Catch 4 Shadow Pokémon
• Step 3: Purify 2 Shadow Pokémon - Reward: Rocket Radar to locate Team Go Rocket Leaders
• Step 4: Defeat the 3 Leaders (Arlo, Cliff, and Sierra) - Reward: Super Rocket Radar to find Giovanni
• Step 5: Track down Giovanni with Super Rocket Radar
• Step 6: Battle and defeat Giovanni

With Giovanni defeated, Shadow Mewtwo will appear for players to catch using Premier Balls and berries. Utilizing strong Fighting, Bug, and Fairy-type counters against his team enables victory against this formidable opponent.

Trading For Mewtwo

Trading with friends is another option to obtain Mewtwo, although the Legendary trade costs are quite steep. The stardust prices will vary based on friendship level and if Mewtwo is already registered to the receiving player's Pokédex or is a new entry.

This stardust chart covers the trade costs:

As shown, the highest friendship levels of Ultra and Best Friends reduce the stardust prices considerably compared to Good or Great Friends. Having Mewtwo already registered also lowers costs. But for new player dex entries, even Best Friends will need 40,000 stardust for a Mewtwo trade.

Using The Best Mewtwo Moveset in Pokemon GO

Mewtwo's ideal attacking moveset uses Psycho Cut for fast move damage, paired with the devastating charged attack Psystrike. This exploits STAB damage from Mewtwo's Psychic typing for maximum offense.

With Mewtwo's all-around stats, other strong options include Thunderbolt, Ice Beam, or Flamethrower for coverage. Bulkier builds may use Confusion as a fast move instead, while Psystrike remains essential.