Mewtwo (; Japanese: , Hepburn: ) is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon media franchise. It was first introduced in the video games Pokémon Red and Blue, and later appeared in subsequent sequels and spin-off titles. In the video games, the player can fight and capture Mewtwo in order to subsequently pit it against other Pokémon. Often referred to as "the world's strongest Pokémon" in various media, it was the strongest in the original games in terms of base statistic distribution. Being genetically engineered by humans, it is known as the "Genetic Pokémon".
One of the most recognizable characters of the franchise, it has appeared in various media, being a central character in the films Pokémon: The First Movie, Pokémon: Mewtwo Returns, Pokémon the Movie: Genesect and the Legend Awakened, Detective Pikachu, as well as the musical Pokémon Live!. Additionally, Mewtwo has featured in other game franchises, such as Super Smash Bros. series.
Conception and design Mewtwo is a species of fictional creatures called Pokémon created for the Pokémon media franchise. Developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo, the Japanese franchise began in 1996 with the video games Pokémon Red and Green for the Game Boy, which were later released in North America as Pokémon Red and Blue in 1998. In these games and their sequels, the player assumes the role of a Trainer whose goal is to capture and use the creatures' special abilities to combat other Pokémon. Each Pokémon has one or two elemental types, which define its advantages and disadvantages when battling other Pokémon. A major goal in each game is to complete the Pokédex, a comprehensive Pokémon encyclopedia, by capturing, evolving, and trading with other Trainers to obtain individuals from all Pokémon species.
Introduced in Red and Blue, Mewtwo was conceived and designed by design lead Ken Sugimori, and was one of the earliest designs created, preceding that of series mascot Pikachu. Standing tall, it appears as a bipedal feline. Mewtwo has a light gray physique with a pronounced tail and abdomen, large thighs, purple irises, bulbous fingertips, pronounced collarbone, crest-like pinnae, and a tube-like mass of flesh that connects from behind its head to the center of its upper back. Sugimori intended for the details in its shape as well as the look in its eyes to give off "an unsettling aura". According to Pokémon Company president Tsunekazu Ishihara, Mewtwo was expected to be popular with North American audiences, citing their preference for strong, powerful characters.
Created as a genetically modified clone of another Pokémon, the ancient Mew, Mewtwo directly precedes Mew in the game's numerical Pokémon index due to programmer Shigeki Morimoto's last-minute creation and inclusion of Mew into the game prior to release. Until the first Pokémon movie was released in the United States, Mewtwo was rarely referred to as a "clone" in Japanese sources. Kubo Masakazu, executive producer of Mewtwo Strikes Back, explained that they "intentionally avoid using the term 'kuron' [clone]… because the word has a frightening feel".Masakazu, Kubo (April 2000). "Pokemon' wa naze Beikoku de Seiko shita ka". Ronza
In the original games, Mewtwo is intended to be "the strongest Pokémon ever." Due to genetic engineering being applied to a sample of Mew's DNA in order to fully create Mewtwo's genome, Mewtwo is an extremely powerful psychic, with its abilities surpassing Mew's due to intentional alterations to the genetic source material. As such, it can use telekinesis for flight, to shield itself and to powerfully throw opponents aside. In addition, it is among the very few Pokémon capable of human speech, doing so via telepathy. Mewtwo: "私は自分自身のルールを決めている。" / Misty: "その声！" / Brock: "テレパシー！" Otherwise, it conserves its energy until needed, such as against powerful opponents. In addition to its psychic abilities, Mewtwo can also regenerate, which allows it to quickly recover from near-fatal injuries.Computer: "Mewtwo's life responses have diminished." / Doctor Fuji: "What have you done?!" / Researcher: "Please wait! Mewtwo is..." / Doctor Fuji: "What?" / Computer: "Mewtwo's life responses are back. Mewtwo is regenerating itself now." Nintendo (1999-09-13). Sound Picture Box: Mewtwo's Origin: Myutsuu No Tanjou: Pocket-Monster Radio Drama (in Japanese). Catalog# ZMCP-596. For the sixth and seventh generations of the Pokemon video game series, Mewtwo has two Mega Evolved forms, Mega Mewtwo X and Mega Mewtwo Y. These can be activated if the player gives Mewtwo either the Mewtwonite X or the Mewtwonite Y.
Appearances
In video games
In Pokémon Red and Blue, the player learns of Mewtwo's existence by reading research notes left in the ruined Pokémon Mansion on Cinnabar Island. The notes say that a scientist discovered a new Pokémon in a Guyana jungle, that they named it Mew, and that it later gave birth to a creature they called Mewtwo; the game's Pokédex entry states that Mewtwo was "created by a scientist after years of horrific gene splicing and DNA engineering experiments". Mewtwo proved too mighty to control, destroying the laboratory and escaping. The player is later given an opportunity to capture Mewtwo in the Cerulean Cave, which is accessible only after defeating the game's final bosses, the Elite Four and Blue; in the remakes Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen this prerequisite was expanded, requiring the player to explore more thoroughly and record information on sixty Pokémon species before access to the cave would be granted. Mewtwo can be caught in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver in the same location as before after defeating all of the gym leaders in Kanto. The character was also the focus of a promotion and downloadable content giveaway for Pokémon Black and White, debuting with its signature move "Psystrike" that can also be learned by leveling up. Mewtwo also reappears in Pokémon X and Y after completing the main story, and is one of the handful of Pokémon capable of using the new Mega Evolution mechanic, as it can transform into either Mega Mewtwo X or Mega Mewtwo Y. Mewtwo reappears in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, another remake of Red and Blue, again in Cerulean Cave and is capable of Mega Evolution. Mewtwo is also obtainable alongside other past Legendary Pokémon in Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Pokémon Sword and Shield: The Crown Tundra, and Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.
In addition to being transferable to almost every mainline Pokémon game, Mewtwo has also made appearances in multiple spin-offs. In Pokémon Stadium and Pokémon Pinball, Mewtwo appears as a final boss after all competitions have been completed. In Pokémon Puzzle League, Mewtwo, voiced by Philip Bartlett, serves not only as the final opponent, but also as the main antagonist responsible for the game's events. Mewtwo appears in the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series, featuring Mewtwo as an unlockable player character that must be defeated before it may be used in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team and Red Rescue Team. Mewtwo has been a playable character in multiple entries of the Super Smash Bros. series. Mewtwo was originally meant to appear in the original Super Smash Bros., but was cut due to time constraints. Mewtwo made its debut in the series in Super Smash Bros. Melee voiced by Masachika Ichimura who reprises his role in Pokémon: The First Movie. After simply appearing as a trophy Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Mewtwo returned to the series as a DLC character in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U on April 28, 2015, though it was made available to Club Nintendo members who registered both versions on April 15, 2015. In 3DS and Wii U, its Final Smash involves it Mega Evolving into Mega Mewtwo Y and using Psystrike, its signature move in the Pokémon games. Mewtwo also returned as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for the Nintendo Switch, where it is once again an unlockable character. In both 3DS/Wii U and Ultimate, Keiji Fujiwara voices Mewtwo in all languages. A new form of Mewtwo, Shadow Mewtwo, appears as a boss character in Pokkén Tournament and has a special attack that involves it Mega Evolving into Mega Mewtwo X. Shadow Mewtwo can also be unlocked as a playable character. In addition, its normal form appears as a playable character. In augmented reality mobile game Pokémon Go, Mewtwo is able to be battled and caught in event Raids available on select dates and times, including a different variation of Mewtwo wearing its armor from Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back - Evolution that was made available for a limited time in Tier 5 Raids in July 2019. In the Detective Pikachu game and its sequel Detective Pikachu Returns, Mewtwo is a major character of the plot with it being a key to the mystery behind the disappearance of the main character's father, Harry Goodman. Mewtwo also appears as a usable Pokémon in Pokémon Masters as the partner of Giovanni, who first became playable in the first Legendary Event, "Lurking Shadow". During the first part of the Villain Arc story with Team Rocket, "Looming Shadow of Kanto", the player could obtain Giovanni Legendary Spirit to raise the rarity of Giovanni to 6-Star EX if the player also used all 20 Power-Ups for Giovanni, which gives it a power boost and makes his Sync Move target all opponents instead of one, and then in the second part of the arc, "Spreading Shadow", the player could obtain Mewtwo Crystals to allow Giovanni's Mewtwo to evolve into Mega Mewtwo Y, which makes it even stronger and replaces the move Confusion with Psystrike until the end of the battle. In July 2023, Mewtwo was added as a playable character to Pokémon Unite.
In anime and related media Mewtwo appears in the episode 63 of the animated series (episode 61 in the English dub) titled "The Battle of the Badge" wherein Giovanni sends in Mewtwo during his gym battle at Viridian Gym with Gary Oak. Mewtwo easily defeats all of Gary's Pokémon and is afterwards taken by Giovanni on a secret mission. In the following episode, "It's Mr. Mime Time!", Mewtwo appears briefly while Giovanni is on a video call with Team Rocket. In both episodes, Mewtwo is covered in various pieces of advanced armor and machinery which obscure its features.
Mewtwo is featured as the titular main antagonist in the 1998 film Pokémon: The First Movie. Unlike in the games, it is shown to be the creation of the criminal organization Team Rocket, and is referred to as an enhanced clone instead of a genetically modified mammal. After Mewtwo destroys the laboratory where it was born, Team Rocket's leader, Giovanni, convinces Mewtwo he can help it control its powers, instead using Mewtwo as a weapon. After escaping Giovanni, Mewtwo questions the reason for its existence and declares revenge on its creators. To this end, it lures several Pokémon trainers, among them is the anime series's main protagonist Ash Ketchum, to its island in order to clone their Pokémon. Once it does so, Mewtwo forces the originals to battle their clones in an effort to determine which set is superior, while Mewtwo faces its own genetic relative, Mew. Ash sacrifices himself to stop the brutal fighting, though he is later revived from tears shed by both the originals and clones because of his death.