How To Get Shadow Mewtwo And Its Shiny Form in Pokemon Go (2024)

The Legendary Psychic-type Pokemon, Mewtwo, has captivated trainers since its debut in Pokemon Red and Blue. In Pokemon GO, encountering a Shadow Mewtwo adds an extra layer of intrigue and challenge.

This powerful Pokemon, corrupted by Team Rocket, boasts a sinister appearance and even more formidable stats. But how do you snag this elusive shadow creature, and what if you crave the even rarer Shiny Shadow Mewtwo?

This guide will equip you with the knowledge and strategies to confront Shadow Mewtwo and potentially add its shiny form to your collection.

How to Encounter Shadow Mewtwo

There are currently two ways to encounter Shadow Mewtwo in Pokemon GO:

• Five-Star Shadow Raids: Shadow Mewtwo periodically appears as the Raid Boss in Five-Star Shadow Raids. These challenging encounters require teamwork from multiple trainers to defeat the Shadow Pokemon. Keep an eye out for announcements from Niantic or within the Pokemon GO app itself to stay informed about upcoming Shadow Mewtwo raid events.
• Team Rocket Leader Giovanni: While less frequent than raid appearances, Shadow Mewtwo can also be a reward for defeating Team Rocket Leader Giovanni. However, encountering Giovanni requires completing specific research tasks. These tasks are typically cryptic and may involve defeating a number of Team Rocket Grunts or defeating a certain number of Shadow Pokemon.

Currently, Shadow Pokemon cannot be traded with other players. This means encountering and catching Shadow Mewtwo yourself is the only way to add it to your collection.

Important Note: As of today, March 30, 2024, a special event called “World of Wonders: Taken Over” is ongoing, featuring Shadow Mewtwo in Five-Star Shadow Raids from March 30th to March 31st, 6 AM to 10 PM local time. Don’t miss this limited-time opportunity!

Building a Team to Battle Shadow Mewtwo

Shadow Mewtwo is a powerhouse, boasting immense Attack and Special Attack stats. To emerge victorious, you’ll need a well-constructed team that can exploit its weaknesses. Here are some of the top counters for Shadow Mewtwo:

• Dark-type Pokemon: Tyranitar, Mega Houndoom, Darkrai, and Weavile are all excellent choices thanks to their resistance to Psychic-type attacks and their own powerful Dark-type moves.
• Bug-type Pokemon: Mega Beedrill, Scizor, and Heracross can leverage their resistance to Fighting-type attacks (which Shadow Mewtwo can utilize) and deal super effective damage with their Bug-type moves.
• Ghost-type Pokemon: Giratina (Origin Forme), Gengar, and Mewtwo (Armored Mewtwo preferred) can all resist Shadow Mewtwo’s Psychic-type attacks while dealing super effective damage with their Ghost-type moves.

Additional Tips:

• Prioritize Pokemon with high Defense and Stamina to withstand Shadow Mewtwo’s powerful attacks.
• Power up your chosen Pokemon as much as possible before the encounter. Focus on maximizing their Combat Power (CP) and unlocking their best-charged attacks.
• Utilize Potions and Revives to keep your team healthy throughout the battle.
• Consider using Golden Razz Berries during the catch phase to increase your odds of capturing Shadow Mewtwo.

How to Obtain Shiny Shadow Mewtwo

The allure of Shiny Shadow Mewtwo is undeniable. This rare variant boasts a sleek, green coloration that sets it apart from the standard Shadow Mewtwo. Here’s what you need to know about encountering a Shiny Shadow Mewtwo:

• Shiny Rate: There is no official confirmation from Niantic regarding the specific shiny rate for Shadow Mewtwo. However, based on player data and community research, it’s likely to be around 1 in 500 encounters, similar to other shiny Legendary Pokemon.
• Persistence is Key: The key to obtaining a Shiny Shadow Mewtwo is persistence. Participate in as many Shadow Mewtwo raid battles as possible, or diligently complete research tasks to encounter Giovanni. The more encounters you have, the higher your chances of stumbling upon the coveted Shiny form.
• Shiny Confirmation: You won’t know if a Shadow Mewtwo is Shiny until the encounter screen after defeating it. If it’s not Shiny, don’t fret! You can still capture the regular Shadow Mewtwo and continue your hunt.

Bonus Tip: While there’s no guaranteed method to increase your Shiny odds, some players suggest restarting the encounter after defeating Shadow Mewtwo if it’s not Shiny. This might be a psychological tactic, but it can’t hurt to try!

Beyond the Catch: Purifying Shadow Mewtwo (Optional)

After capturing Shadow Mewtwo, you have a choice to make. You can keep it in its Shadow form, or you can purify it. Purifying a Shadow Pokemon increases its stats significantly and removes the “frustration” charged move, allowing you to unlock a more powerful move through Charge TMs. However, purification also changes Shadow Mewtwo’s appearance back to its standard form, eliminating the unique black and red coloration.

The decision to purify or not purify Shadow Mewtwo boils down to your personal preference and playing style:

• For Raw Power: Shadow Mewtwo boasts a 20% Attack boost in its Shadow form. This makes it a powerhouse in raids and Gym battles, especially if you utilize its charged move “Shadow Ball.” However, the “frustration” charged move it comes with, “Return,” is significantly weaker.
• For Versatility: Purifying Shadow Mewtwo removes “frustration” and allows you to use a Charge TM to unlock a more powerful move like “Psystrike” or “Focus Blast.” This provides greater versatility and makes the purified Mewtwo a strong contender in both offensive and defensive situations. Additionally, purified Mewtwo retains its impressive stats with a slight increase in Defense and Stamina.
• Aesthetics: If the menacing black and red coloration of Shadow Mewtwo appeals to you, then keeping it unpurified is the way to go. However, if you prefer the classic blue and white Mewtwo look, then purification is the answer.

Ultimately, the choice is yours! Weigh the pros and cons based on your needs and enjoy the power of this exceptional Pokemon.

Advanced Techniques for Shadow Mewtwo Raids

While this guide has covered the essentials of encountering and capturing Shadow Mewtwo, there’s more to the story. Here’s a deep dive into advanced techniques that can elevate your success in Shadow Mewtwo raid battles:

Optimizing Your Team Composition:

• Weather Boosts: Pay attention to the current weather conditions in-game. Shadow Mewtwo is vulnerable to Bug-type attacks. If the weather is boosted for Bug-type moves (indicated by an icon next to the CP display), prioritize Pokemon like Mega Beedrill or Scyzor who benefit from the weather boost and deal even more damage to Shadow Mewtwo.
• Double Resistance: Consider incorporating Pokemon with resistances to both Psychic and Fighting-type attacks (which Shadow Mewtwo can utilize). Options like Metagross (Steel/Psychic) or Tyranitar (Rock/Dark) can weather Shadow Mewtwo’s blows while dealing super effective damage with their own moves.
• Focus on Charged Moves: While strong Fast Attacks are important, prioritize Pokemon with powerful Charged Moves that deal super effective damage. Moves like “Focus Blast” (Fighting-type), “Shadow Ball” (Ghost-type), or “X-Scissor” (Bug-type) can significantly chunk Shadow Mewtwo’s health bar.

Maximizing Your Catch Potential:

• Golden Razz Berry Efficiency: Golden Razz Berries are the most effective berries to use when trying to catch Shadow Mewtwo. However, they are also the rarest. Utilize them during the first few throws of the encounter when the catch circle is smaller for the best chance of success.
• Curveball Throws: Mastering Curveball throws is crucial for increasing your catch rate. Curveballs offer a higher catch bonus compared to straight throws. Practice throwing Curveballs consistently to land them within the shrinking catch circle.
• Timing Your Throws: Focus on throwing your Pokeball when the catch circle is at its smallest size. This significantly increases your odds of capturing Shadow Mewtwo. Utilize visual cues like the Pokemon’s attack animation to predict the ideal throwing window.

Team Coordination During Raids:

• Focus Fire: When participating in raids with other trainers, communicate and coordinate your attacks. Focus on firing off charged moves simultaneously to maximize damage output and quickly deplete Shadow Mewtwo’s health bar before it can unleash its powerful attacks.
• Revive and Heal Support: Designate one or two trainers in your raid group to focus on reviving and healing fainted Pokemon. This ensures a constant stream of attackers against Shadow Mewtwo and minimizes downtime during the battle.
• Purified Gems Usage: During Shadow Raid encounters, trainers can utilize Purified Gems to temporarily weaken Shadow Mewtwo and negate its stat boosts. Coordinate with your team to use these strategically, especially if Shadow Mewtwo enters its “enraged” state, making it more difficult to defeat.

By incorporating these advanced strategies, you can significantly improve your chances of defeating Shadow Mewtwo and potentially adding this elusive Pokemon, or even its coveted Shiny form, to your collection. Remember, persistence and a well-prepared team are key to conquering this formidable Shadow Legend!

Also Read This: HOW TO EVOLVE INKAY INTO MALAMAR IN POKÉMON GO

Conclusion

Shadow Mewtwo presents a thrilling challenge for Pokemon GO trainers. Its immense power and elusive nature make it a coveted addition to any collection. By understanding encounter methods, building a strong counter team, and persisting in your search, you can increase your chances of capturing this formidable Shadow Pokemon. Whether you choose to keep it shadowy or embrace its purified form, Shadow Mewtwo is sure to become a valuable asset in your Pokemon GO journey.

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