Mewtwo Legendary Pokémon Stats and Strategy

Complete guide to Mewtwo, the most powerful Legendary Pokémon. Learn about Mewtwo stats, moves, best builds, shiny form, lore, and how to catch it in every generation.

Mewtwo is one of the most iconic and powerful Legendary Pokémon in the franchise. Created through genetic manipulation of Mew's DNA, Mewtwo has been a fan favorite since its debut in Generation 1. This complete guide covers everything you need to know about Mewtwo, from its base stats and best moves to its lore and how to catch it in every Pokémon game.

Mewtwo Lore and History

Mewtwo was created by scientists who manipulated Mew's DNA through gene splicing. The experiment was led by Dr. Fuji in the Pokémon Mansion on Cinnabar Island. Mewtwo was designed to be the ultimate Pokémon, possessing incredible psychic power. However, Mewtwo's power was too great for the scientists to control, and it destroyed the laboratory and escaped.

In the Pokémon anime, Mewtwo's story was expanded in the first Pokémon movie, "Mewtwo Strikes Back." In this film, Mewtwo was shown to be a tragic character, struggling with its identity and purpose. It was cloned by Team Rocket leader Giovanni, who sought to use Mewtwo as a weapon. Mewtwo eventually broke free and created its own army of cloned Pokémon.

Mewtwo's design was inspired by the concept of a genetically engineered super-weapon. Its sleek, humanoid body and piercing eyes convey both intelligence and danger. The tube on the back of its neck is a remnant of the cloning process, serving as a constant reminder of its artificial origins.

Base Stats and Typing

Mewtwo is a pure Psychic-type Pokémon with base stats that make it one of the most powerful Pokémon in the game. Its total base stat of 680 puts it among the highest of all non-Mega Pokémon.

• HP: 106
• Attack: 110
• Defense: 90
• Special Attack: 154
• Special Defense: 90
• Speed: 130
• Total: 680

Mewtwo's Special Attack of 154 is one of the highest in the game, making it an incredible special attacker. Its Speed of 130 allows it to outspeed most Pokémon, including many other Legendaries. While its defensive stats are moderate, its high HP and Speed more than compensate.

Best Moves and Movesets

Mewtwo has access to an incredibly diverse movepool, allowing it to fill multiple roles on a team. Here are the best movesets for different strategies:

Special Attacker Set

• Psychic or Psystrike (STAB, Psystrike uses Defense for damage)
• Aura Sphere (Fighting coverage, never misses)
• Ice Beam or Thunderbolt (coverage)
• Calm Mind or Recover (setup or recovery)

Physical Attacker Set (Mega Mewtwo X)

• Zen Headbutt (STAB)
• Brick Break or Low Kick (Fighting STAB)
• Earthquake (Ground coverage)
• Stone Edge or Poison Jab (coverage)

Support Set

• Thunder Wave (paralysis)
• Taunt (prevent status moves)
• Recover (healing)
• Psychic or Psystrike (STAB damage)

Competitive Strategy

In competitive Pokémon, Mewtwo is classified as an Uber-tier Pokémon, meaning it is too powerful for standard play. Its incredible stats and diverse movepool make it a threat in any battle. Mewtwo excels as a special attacker with Calm Mind boosts, but it can also serve as a physical attacker with Mega Mewtwo X.

The key to using Mewtwo effectively is to leverage its Speed. At 130 base Speed, Mewtwo outspeeds most of the metagame. Use this advantage to strike first and take out threats before they can act. Pair Mewtwo with Pokémon that can handle Dark and Ghost types, which are Mewtwo's main weaknesses.

How to Catch Mewtwo

Mewtwo is available as a stationary encounter in several Pokémon games:

Generation 1 (Red, Blue, Yellow)

Mewtwo can be found in the Cerulean Cave after becoming the Champion. The cave is accessible after obtaining all eight badges and defeating the Elite Four. Mewtwo is at level 70 in these games.

Generation 3 (FireRed, LeafGreen)

Same as Generation 1 — Cerulean Cave after becoming Champion. Mewtwo is at level 70.

Generation 7 (Let's Go Pikachu, Let's Go Eevee)

Mewtwo appears in the Cerulean Cave after defeating the Elite Four. It is at level 70. After catching it, you can rematch it for a chance at a better nature or IVs.

Generation 8 (Sword and Shield)

Mewtwo was available as a Max Raid Battle during a limited-time event. It is no longer available through normal gameplay in these games.

Shiny Mewtwo

Shiny Mewtwo has a striking color change from light purple to a pale green. The shiny form is highly sought after by collectors and is considered one of the most valuable shinies in the game. In Generation 1, shiny Mewtwo has a slightly different shade due to the Game Boy's limited color palette.

To hunt for a shiny Mewtwo, you can soft reset in front of it in Cerulean Cave. The base shiny rate is 1 in 4,096, so be prepared for a long hunt. Using the Shiny Charm can increase the odds to 1 in 1,365.

Mega Mewtwo X and Y

Mewtwo is unique among Pokémon in that it has two different Mega Evolutions, each with distinct stats and playstyles:

Mega Mewtwo X (Fighting/Psychic)

• Attack: 190 (one of the highest in the game)
• Total: 780

Mega Mewtwo X becomes a physical attacker with incredible Attack. Its Fighting/Psychic typing gives it excellent offensive coverage.

Mega Mewtwo Y (Psychic)

• Special Attack: 194 (the highest Special Attack in the game)
• Speed: 140
• Total: 780

Mega Mewtwo Y is the ultimate special attacker, with the highest Special Attack of any Pokémon. Its Speed of 140 makes it nearly impossible to outspeed.

Use our random Pokémon generator to discover new Pokémon to pair with Mewtwo, and check our type chart to plan your battles. For more Legendary Pokémon guides, visit our blog.