Mewtwo

[UPDATED 9/18/2019 for Gen 5 and Psystrike re-balance] 

Mewtwo is one of the most iconic and formidable Pokemon from Gen 1, boasting fantastic stats and moves. It was created as a hyper-offensive clone of Mew to be used by Team Rocket as a weapon. That-didn’t go as planned. It is perhaps best remembered for it’s role in Pokémon: The First Movie where it duked it out with it’s progenitor.

In Pokemon Go, Mewtwo stands out as the top choice as a Psychic-Type, as well as a capable option as a Fighting, Electric and Ice-Type. It’s got plenty of use in Raids as well as Gym offense!

Mewtwo is weak to  Bug-Type, Dark-Type, and Ghost-Type damage. 

Generally speaking, the best counters for it are Giratina-Origin, Chandelure and (legacy)Gengar/Mewtwo..

Mewtwo is a very difficult pokemon to beat. As a Tier 6 it can no longer be completed with 2-Players. 

Mewtwo can be beaten by 3 players in optimal weather, with max friendship and perfect level 40 counters or by 8 unfriended players using level 20 counters from this guide. When caught, Mewtwo will be between 2294 and 2387 cp without a weather boost. In Windy weather, Mewtwo will be between 2868 and 2984 when caught.

Release History:  

• Sep 16 2019 ➡️ Sep 23th 2019
• Sept 20 2018 ➡️ Ocr 23, 2018
• Sept 2017 ➡️ Sept 19 2018[EX]

Event Info

Time for the third week of  Global Challenge Rewards!

Week 3: A Unova Unveiling

All your research has paid off! Professor Willow has informed us that some Pokémon originally discovered in the Unova region are now appearing in the world of Pokémon GO!

Date + Time
September 16, 2019, at 1 p.m. to September 23, 2019, at 1 p.m. PDT

Features

• Mewtwo with the special move Psystrike will be available to challenge in five-star raids. If you’re lucky, you might encounter a Shiny Mewtwo!
• Need a good team to take on Mewtwo? Other Pokémon appearing in raids will help you build a good team to challenge the Genetic Pokémon.
• The Gear Pokémon Klink, originally discovered in Unova, will also appear in raids. You might even encounter a Shiny Klink!
• You may also find Shiny Patrat and Shiny Lillipup!

Bonuses

• 2× Incubator effectiveness
• Regional Pokémon Farfetch’d, Kangaskhan, Mr. Mime, and Tauros will hatch from 7 km Eggs. If you’re lucky, you might hatch Shiny ones! These Pokémon will remain available from Eggs until the end of week 3

Mewtwo in the Meta [UPDATED 9/18/19]

Raid Meta –Confusion / Psystrike

Mewtwo is the undisputed best Pure Psychic-Type champion with Psychic. During it’s September 16-23 release it given the exclusive move of Psystrike which made it even more powerful as the king of Psychic. Psystrike has strictly superior damage output in all situations than Psychic. Psychic is also a single bar charge move, while Psystrike is two bars. This means Psystrike  more consistent in damage on top of having superior damage potential.

Either way, Mewtwo is far and above the best Psychic-Type pokemon at the moment. There are arguments Espeon and Alakazam are cheaper alternatives with Lugia as the king of tanky Psychic-Type damage..but Mewtwo is holistically the strongest option. Now, more than ever.

RANK	Pokemon	Moveset	DPS%	TDO%
100%	Mewtwo (Legacy)	Confusion /Psystrike	100%	100%	1.72	0.56	0.55	1.90	0.67
72%	Azelf	Confusion /Future Sight	78%	56%	2.28	0.77	0.97	2.64	0.87
71%	Espeon	Confusion /Future Sight	75%	56%	2.36	0.78	0.91	2.67	0.88
69%	Gallade (Legacy)	Confusion /Synchronoise	71%	60%	2.44	0.79	0.82	2.78	0.94
69%	Gardevoir (Legacy)	Confusion /Synchronoise	71%	60%	2.43	0.81	0.82	2.83	0.94
69%	Alakazam	Confusion /Future Sight	77%	50%	2.45	0.82	0.98	2.75	0.89
67%	Latios	Zen Headbutt /Psychic	66%	68%	2.62	0.84	0.89	2.72	0.99
65%	Metagross	Zen Headbutt /Psychic	63%	70%	2.70	0.90	0.87	2.75	1.05
64%	Lugia	Extrasensory /Sky Attack	55%	99%	2.68	0.86	1.12	2.73	1.06
63%	Mesprit	Confusion /Future Sight	62%	64%	2.69	0.87	0.93	3.00	1.06
62%	Exeggutor (Legacy)	Confusion /Psychic	63%	53%	2.73	0.92	0.96	2.93	1.11
59%	Jirachi	Confusion /Psychic	57%	68%	3.01	0.99	0.96	2.98	1.15
59%	Latias	Zen Headbutt /Psychic	57%	67%	2.96	0.97	1.02	3.04	1.17
58%	Ho-Oh	Extrasensory /Brave Bird	52%	68%	3.00	1.00	1.18	2.98	1.16
56%	Armored Mewtwo	Confusion /Future Sight	54%	80%	3.07	1.01	1.00	3.28	1.20
56%	Deoxys (Normal Forme)	Zen Headbutt /Psycho Boost	74%	33%	2.97	0.99	1.20	3.28	1.13
55%	Jynx	Confusion /Psyshock	64%	42%	3.09	1.05	1.14	3.34	1.19
54%	Regigigas	Zen Headbutt /Avalanche	54%	63%	4.14	1.11	1.01	2.52	1.26
52%	Deoxys (Attack Forme)	Zen Headbutt /Psycho Boost	93%	19%	3.36	1.23	1.18	3.39	1.25
51%	Mew	Pound /Psyshock	52%	62%	3.39	1.08	1.25	3.46	1.33
51%	Gengar (Legacy)	Shadow Claw /Psychic	50%	31%	3.47	1.22	1.00	3.47	1.36
51%	Celebi	Confusion /Dazzling Gleam	44%	53%	2.95	0.96	1.38	4.25	1.14
49%	Cresselia	Confusion /Future Sight	46%	77%	3.58	1.17	1.16	3.68	1.42
49%	Uxie	Confusion /Future Sight	47%	58%	3.62	1.18	1.22	3.71	1.39
48%	Xatu	Air Slash /Future Sight	48%	31%	3.45	1.13	1.71	3.54	1.37
48%	Honchkrow	Peck /Psychic	50%	32%	3.73	1.20	1.46	3.48	1.36
48%	Slowbro	Confusion /Psychic	49%	48%	3.49	1.11	1.19	4.16	1.34
48%	Slowking	Confusion /Psychic	49%	48%	3.49	1.11	1.19	4.16	1.34
47%	Chimecho	Extrasensory /Psyshock	51%	41%	3.50	1.22	1.35	4.02	1.37
47%	Mr. Mime	Confusion /Psychic	51%	33%	3.41	1.18	1.50	4.07	1.36
47%	Bronzong	Confusion /Psyshock	47%	43%	3.80	1.24	1.26	3.80	1.47
46%	Kadabra	Confusion /Dazzling Gleam	48%	19%	3.40	1.08	1.54	4.57	1.27
45%	Grumpig	Extrasensory /Psychic	46%	42%	3.72	1.29	1.33	4.09	1.46
45%	Lunatone	Confusion /Psychic	49%	40%	3.96	1.29	1.29	4.10	1.37
45%	Solrock	Confusion /Psychic	49%	40%	3.96	1.29	1.29	4.10	1.37
45%	Magmortar	Fire Spin /Psychic	48%	39%	5.06	1.28	1.29	2.97	1.43
45%	Rampardos	Zen Headbutt /Outrage	55%	35%	4.05	1.40	1.21	3.94	1.48
45%	Hypno	Confusion /Future Sight	44%	43%	3.90	1.26	1.34	4.15	1.47
44%	Noctowl	Extrasensory /Sky Attack	41%	38%	3.88	1.31	1.60	3.86	1.49
44%	Deoxys (Speed Forme)	Zen Headbutt /Psycho Boost	50%	39%	3.65	1.28	1.58	4.28	1.41
44%	Girafarig	Confusion /Psychic	49%	30%	3.96	1.32	1.23	4.21	1.52
44%	Gorebyss	Confusion /Psychic	47%	32%	3.92	1.31	1.30	4.34	1.53
41%	Venomoth	Confusion /Psychic	41%	27%	4.23	1.45	1.44	4.29	1.68
40%	Golduck	Confusion /Psychic	43%	35%	4.19	1.40	1.39	4.84	1.55
39%	Snorlax	Zen Headbutt /Hyper Beam	40%	57%	4.41	1.48	1.86	4.37	1.69
38%	Alolan Raichu	Spark /Psychic	43%	27%	3.63	1.42	1.73	5.66	1.67
32%	Deoxys (Defense Forme)	Zen Headbutt /Psycho Boost	32%	38%	5.46	1.77	1.86	5.58	2.01
28%	Blissey	Zen Headbutt /Dazzling Gleam	27%	56%	4.77	1.51	2.62	8.45	1.91

Raid Meta –Psycho Cut/Ice Beam

Ice Mewtwo is a weird one. Prior to Gen 4, Mewtwo stood as the best Ice-Type just because no other Ice-Type had the statline to compete. Ice-Types previously had only found relevance when facing a double weakness, such a Rayquaza, but were unable to compete against other Pokemon outside of that.  As of now though, Mewtwo slips behind the likes of Mamoswine, Weavile and Glaceon. If an Ice-Type weak Raid Boss [Dragon, Grass, Flying, Ground-Types] is hitting Ice-Types for weakness [Fighting, Fire, Rock, Steel-Type damage] Mewtwo can easily become the #1 option.

Ice-Type Raid Attackers

RANK	Pokemon	Moveset	DPS%	TDO%
97%	Mamoswine	Powder Snow /Avalanche	100%	94%	2.41	0.93	2.28	2.81	1.56
91%	Mewtwo	Psycho Cut /Ice Beam	88%	90%	2.78	0.99	2.54	2.51	1.77
90%	Glaceon	Frost Breath /Avalanche	94%	83%	2.83	1.00	2.53	2.73	1.65
87%	Weavile	Ice Shard /Avalanche	96%	75%	2.89	1.03	2.59	2.88	1.71
86%	Regigigas	Zen Headbutt /Avalanche	82%	98%	3.01	1.02	2.75	2.52	1.91
80%	Jynx	Frost Breath /Avalanche	90%	60%	3.10	1.11	2.74	3.17	1.99
73%	Porygon-Z	Hidden Power Ice /Blizzard	78%	62%	3.36	1.21	2.95	3.52	2.10
73%	Articuno	Frost Breath /Blizzard	71%	90%	3.60	1.16	3.21	3.16	2.10
72%	Piloswine	Powder Snow /Avalanche	75%	63%	3.25	1.29	3.11	3.73	2.10
71%	Regice	Frost Breath /Blizzard	66%	100%	3.64	1.25	3.17	3.49	2.11
70%	Cloyster	Frost Breath /Avalanche	74%	69%	3.78	1.22	3.09	3.66	2.12
69%	Mew	Frost Breath /Blizzard	65%	80%	3.72	1.26	3.42	3.51	2.16
68%	Walrein	Frost Breath /Blizzard	69%	77%	3.77	1.24	3.13	3.90	2.21
66%	Lapras (Legacy)	Frost Breath /Ice Beam	64%	80%	3.94	1.27	3.41	3.85	2.25
65%	Alolan Sandslash	Powder Snow /Blizzard	63%	58%	3.96	1.50	3.46	3.59	2.26
65%	Kyogre	Waterfall /Blizzard	70%	85%	3.46	0.90	3.05	4.41	3.05
64%	Sneasel	Ice Shard /Avalanche	76%	45%	3.93	1.35	3.39	3.70	2.68
64%	Glalie	Frost Breath /Avalanche	68%	56%	3.97	1.43	3.50	3.84	2.35
63%	Mesprit	Extrasensory /Blizzard	60%	64%	4.08	1.41	3.55	3.30	2.88
63%	Froslass	Powder Snow /Avalanche	70%	49%	3.98	1.42	3.55	3.89	2.57
61%	Alolan Ninetales	Powder Snow /Ice Beam	62%	56%	4.10	1.49	3.67	4.05	2.41
61%	Abomasnow	Powder Snow /Blizzard	64%	56%	4.04	1.46	3.71	3.85	2.67
61%	Empoleon	Metal Claw /Blizzard	61%	59%	5.02	1.45	2.90	3.84	2.72
54%	Slowbro	Confusion /Ice Beam	53%	55%	4.84	1.54	4.12	4.19	3.03
54%	Feraligatr	Bite /Ice Beam	57%	56%	4.56	1.51	4.24	4.59	2.85
53%	Golduck	Confusion /Ice Beam	55%	45%	5.01	1.64	4.14	4.29	3.19
52%	Slowking	Confusion /Blizzard	51%	52%	5.02	1.60	4.21	4.13	3.51
52%	Dewgong	Frost Breath /Blizzard	54%	52%	4.89	1.62	4.03	5.21	2.83
52%	Suicune	Snarl /Ice Beam	51%	70%	4.83	1.57	4.58	4.75	2.89
50%	Tentacruel	Poison Jab /Blizzard	50%	52%	5.22	2.06	3.54	4.57	3.76
49%	Ludicolo	Bubble /Ice Beam	52%	46%	4.92	1.45	4.45	5.50	3.41
49%	Wigglytuff	Pound /Ice Beam	53%	39%	5.11	1.87	4.50	5.13	3.12
48%	Miltank	Tackle /Ice Beam	47%	52%	5.07	1.81	4.71	4.93	3.39
48%	Huntail	Bite /Ice Beam	55%	39%	5.21	1.69	5.06	4.83	3.21
48%	Seaking (Legacy)	Poison Jab /Ice Beam	52%	39%	5.50	1.93	3.89	5.41	3.40
48%	Milotic	Dragon Tail /Blizzard	55%	67%	4.95	1.57	6.06	4.88	2.84
47%	Kingdra	Dragon Breath /Blizzard	58%	54%	4.66	1.74	5.87	4.63	3.42
47%	Castform (Snow)	Powder Snow /Ice Beam	52%	28%	5.21	1.87	4.72	5.20	3.39
47%	Qwilfish	Poison Sting /Ice Beam	55%	34%	5.69	1.97	4.09	5.26	3.48
47%	Wailord	Zen Headbutt /Blizzard	50%	42%	5.54	1.84	4.65	4.83	3.63
47%	Kecleon	Lick /Ice Beam	48%	38%	5.23	1.92	4.61	5.31	3.50

Raid Meta –Psycho Cut/[[Other Movesets]]

Mewtwo has viability with Thunderbolt, Flamethrower and Focus Blast in their respective Types of damage. But as a raid attacker is suboptimal, and this is not suggested. Fire-Types especially have a huge amount of alternative options with higher damage. Focus Blast Mewtwo also does atrocious against Dark-Types. 

Gym Meta –Psycho Cut/Focus Blast

Focus Blast Mewtwo is one of the absolute best Gym Attackers in the game. It can take down a maxed out Blissey without dodging, and is notably fantastic for not being weak to any of Blissey’s movesets. Confusion/Dazzling Gleam is a bane for Fighting-Types, but Mewtwo can just shrug it off.

Raid Advice

Movesets

• Flamethrower (2 Bar) – Resisted by Giratina-Origin
  •  Bug-Type Pokemon have 💥Weakness

• Ice Beam (2 Bar) – Hardest Moveset, purely due to hitting the #1 counter (Giratina Origin Forme) Super Effectively. 

• Thunderbolt (2 Bar) – Next hardest because most of it’s counters don’t resist it at least. Resisted by Giratina-Origin though.

• Psychic (1 Bar) Dark Types surge against this moveset, but still fall behind Giratina.
  • Dark-Type Pokemon have 🛡️🛡️Resistance

• Focus Blast (1 Bar) – Gengar surges against this moveset, argubly the easiest moveset.
  • Ghost-Type Pokemon have 🛡️🛡️Resistance
  • Dark-Type Pokemon have 💥Weakness

NOTE:  [Sept 2019 Event] 
Raid Bosses do not usually use temporary movesets during combat, despite being available upon capture. It is unlikely you will fight a Mewtwo that has Psystrike.

 Top Raid Counters [UPDATED 9/18/19]

Giratina Origin

Best Moveset:Shadow Claw /Shadow Ball

Alternate Fast Move:Dragon Tail

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• 🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• 📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
• 🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  Giratina-Origin was released April 2019. While it is legendary, it is the best Ghost-Type around and an Okay Dragon-Type, so a worthwhile investment! NOTE: Giratina-Altered form is nowhere as good. With Level 35 Giratina Origin, you need 3 players.

2xResists: Fighting
Resists: Fire, Electric
Weak: Ice

 Chandelure [NEW]

Best Moveset:Hex /Shadow Ball

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

• 🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

• 📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐☆☆☆

• 🌐 Accessibility: ⭐☆☆☆☆

  Chandelure is incredibly hard to get right now. It was released September 17th, and you can only get Litwik from 10k eggs! Maybe there will be an event during October. It is the new highest DPS Ghost AND Fire-Type, so here’s hoping.

–Best Matchup : Psycho Cut / Focus Blast

–Worst Matchup: Psycho Cut / Psychic

–Type Interactions:

2xResists: Fighting
Resists: Fire, Ice

Gengar

Best Moveset:Shadow Claw /Shadow Ball

Alternate Fast Move:Sucker Punch

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• 🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
• 📉 Consistency: ⭐☆☆☆☆
• 🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐☆☆☆

Shadow Claw is legacy, but if you were lucky enough to play during Gengar Raid Day, Lick is just as good. Hex is a bit of a drop, but still usable. Gengar isn’t too difficult to acquire with Gastlys nesting and being a common night spawn, as well as being featured in annual Halloween events. Gastly are in 2k Eggs and can be shiny. Gengar is still great without the legacy move, but much less likely to be optimal. With Level 35 Gengar, you need 3 players.

3xResists: Fighting
Weak: Psychic

Mewtwo

Best Moveset:Psycho Cut /Shadow Ball

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• 🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
• 📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
• 🌐 Accessibility: ⭐☆☆☆☆

(legacy)Mewtwo is pretty inaccessible. Shadow Ball is locked to Mewtwos that were caught during its time in EX Raids, and it lost that moveset upon wider release. Trading for one is probably the most likely way you’d be able to get one of these, and you can use the candy you got from catching Armored Mewtwo to power it up. Losing it’s moveset used to be more unfortunate, but there are quite a lot of alternative Ghost-Type options at this point so don’t sweat it too much. Giratina Origin Forme is usually superior. With Level 35 Mewtwo, you need 3 players.

Resists: Psychic, Fighting

Hydreigon [NEW]

Best Moveset: Bite/Dark Pulse

Alternate Fast Move:DragonTail

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
• 🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ 
• 📉 Consistency: ⭐☆☆☆☆ 
• 🌐 Accessibility: ⭐☆☆☆☆ 

Hydreigon is incredibly difficult to get, being Pseudo-legendary rarity, and released only September 17th. Someday it will get a community day, but until then just hope to be lucky out hunting and hatching 10k eggs. 

Tyranitar

Best Moveset:Bite /Crunch

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
• 🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
• 📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
• 🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Accessibility will be a bit tough if you are only starting now as Larvitars do not nest and are rare. They are also in 10k eggs. Tier 4 Tyranitar Raids were a staple for quite a while, however. Larvitar can be found in ‘Make 3 Excellent Throws in a Row’ Quests. The family was last in raid bosses during Water Festival in Sept 2019. Larvitar community day (the only time you could get Smack Down) was June 2018. It isn’t the highest raw DPS Dark-Type anymore, but it has a ton of bulk on top of near optimal DPS. Weavile and Honchkrow trade with it depending on the matchup. With Level 35 Tyranitar, you need 3 players.

2xResists: Psychic
Resists: Fire
2xWeak: Fighting

Weavile

Best Moveset:Feint Attack /Foul Play

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
• 🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
• 📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
• 🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐☆☆☆

Weavile evolves from Sneasel, which is an uncommon Pokemon (that does still nest), and is an occasional 2 star raid boss. They hatch from 5k Eggs. It requires a Sinnoh Stone to evolve, which can be acquired (at random) from daily trainer battles. Sneasel has been featured in Winter Time events and Dark Events. Weavile has been a reward from “Catch 5 Poochyena or Houndour” quests. Sneasel can also spawn from Glacial Lure Modules. Weavile is generally the top Dark-Type in terms of raw attack power. While it looks frail, it can honestly tank a lot more than you’d expect-especially if we’re talking Psychic-Type damage. It also tops the charts as a Ice-Type attacker so is definitely worth acquiring. With Level 35 Weavile, you need 3 players.

2xResists: Psychic
Resists: Ice
Weak: Fire
2xWeak: Fighting 

Absol

Best Moveset:Snarl /Dark Pulse

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
• 🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
• 📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
• 🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

Absol is a Raid (and very rarely, Field Research) exclusive Pokemon. That means you can only get its candy from raiding, or walking it as a 5k buddy. Rare candy is an option too but a bit inefficient. It has been spawning in the wild, and in 10k Eggs, during Shiny Mewtwo Week starting September 9th 2019. The family was last in raid bosses during Sept 2019 (Tier 4).

Absol is a B list Dark Type, with similar DPS to Tyranitar, while having far less Bulk. It’s not optimal, but it’s quite a popular pokemon, and has a good attack stat. With Level 35 Absol, you need 3 players.

 2xResists: Psychic

Weak: Fighting

Weather Counters [UPDATED 9/18/19]

Here is a list of Pokemon that can perform similar or better than the typical #1 option (in this case, Giratina Origin Forme) with weather bonuses:

Pokemon		Weather		Fast Move		Charge Move		Estimator @ L35
	Giratina Origin Form		FOG		Shadow_Claw		Shadow Ball	2.905743
	Chandelure[NEW]		FOG		Hex		Shadow Ball	2.916969
	(Legacy) Gengar		FOG		Shadow_Claw		Shadow Ball	3.2039557
	(Legacy) Mewtwo		FOG		Psycho_Cut		Shadow Ball	3.2785401
	Hydreigon[NEW]		FOG		Bite		Dark Pulse	3.2843268
	Giratina Origin Form		NO_WEATHER		Shadow_Claw		Shadow Ball	3.468982
	Tyranitar		FOG		Bite		Crunch	3.4714544
	Chandelure		NO_WEATHER		Hex		Shadow Ball	3.515202
	Weavile		FOG		Feint_Attack		Foul Play	3.52975

Alternate Raid Counters

Houndoom

Best Moveset:Snarl /Foul Play

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

• 🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

• 📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐☆☆☆

• 🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

  Houndoom ha the benefits of being a Dark-type that doesn’t involve a ton of extra work to evolve and find as a high level. You can find Houndour weather boosted in the common Sunny weather! It’s also a relatively common research reward as well. Houndour hatch from 5k Eggs. With Level 35 Houndoom, you need 3 players.

  2xResists: Psychic
  Resists: Fire, Ice
  Weak: Fighting

Pinsir

Best Moveset:Bug Bite /X-Scissor

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

• 🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐☆☆☆

• 📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

• 🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

  Pinsir is one of the most accessible pokemon, that is nonetheless top tier in it’s typing. You don’t need to evolve them, they can be found at high levels in the wild, they nest- they got a lot going for them. The Legacy Moveset while often a smidge better isn’t something to stress over. Notably they do not currently hatch from eggs. With Level 35 Pinsir, you need 3 players.

  Resists: Fighting
  Weak: Fire

Raikou

Best Moveset:Thunder Shock /Shadow Ball

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

• 🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

• 📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

• 🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

  Raikou was available during it’s Raid Day, so it’s actually very likely you are holding onto one right now. That said, it is a legendary pokemon, which are expensive to get candy for. It’s a top tier Electric-Type, and a decent Ghost-Type! With Level 35 Raikou, you need 3 players.

  Resists: Electric

Banette

Best Moveset:Shadow Claw /Shadow Ball

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

• 🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐☆☆☆

• 📉 Consistency: ⭐☆☆☆☆

• 🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  Shuppets are uncommon but not too hard to find- and they nest, so getting some hopefully wouldn’t be too outlandish. They aren’t boosted in a common weather like Gastlys though. It’s an ok Ghost-Type but almost always inferior to Gengar. You can also find them in 5k eggs. With Level 35 Banette, you need 4 players.

  2xResists: Fighting

Mismagius

Best Moveset:Sucker Punch /Shadow Ball

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

• 🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐☆☆☆

• 📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

• 🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

  Mismagius is pretty expensive to acquire. Misdreavus are uncommon, and you need a Sinnoh Stone to evolve one. You can get it from Trainer Battles, but most of Mismagius use cases are covered by Honchkrow and Weavile. Misdreavus can be found in 2k Eggs and does nest. With Level 35 Mismagius, you need 4 players.

  2xResists: Fighting

Yanmega

Best Moveset:Bug Bite /Bug Buzz

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

• 🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐☆☆☆

• 📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

• 🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

  Yanmega is a Sinnoh Stone Evolution of an uncommon Pokemon, so not the easiest thing to get your hands on from scratch. They hatch from 5k eggs and do nest. With Level 35 Yanmega, you need 4 players.

  2xResists: Fighting
  Weak: Fire, Ice, Electric

Scyther

Best Moveset:Fury Cutter /X-Scissor

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐☆☆☆

• 🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐☆☆☆

• 📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

• 🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

  Scyther are a nesting species, and have been featured as a relatively easy Tier 3 Raid boss a couple times. They also got boosted Spawns during the Bug Out event and are in 5k eggs. With Level 35 Scyther, you need 4 players.

  2xResists: Fighting
  Weak: Fire, Ice, Electric

Drifblim

Best Moveset:Hex /Shadow Ball

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐☆☆☆

• 🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐☆☆☆

• 📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

• 🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐☆☆☆

  Drifblim are pretty hard to get outside of the Halloween Event. Drifloon spawn very rarely by default, but really they are effectively limited to Windy weather. This weather is rare for most players making this not the most reliable way to get a floom to evolve. They have rarely been both in Tier 1 raids and “trade a Pokemon” Field Research. They are in 5k eggs. With Level 35 Drifblim, you need 4 players.

  3xResists: Fighting
  Weak: Ice, Electric

Sharpedo

Best Moveset:Bite /Crunch

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

• 🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐☆☆☆☆

• 📉 Consistency: ⭐☆☆☆☆

• 🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

  Carvanha was available in the Quest “Water Festival: Defeat a Team GO Rocket Grunt” in Sept 2019. It also had boosted spawns during Water Festival 2019. The family was last in raid bosses during Water Festival in Sept 2019. They are in 5k Eggs. With Level 35 Sharpedo, you need 4 players.

  2xResists: Psychic
  Resists: Fire, Ice
  Weak: Electric, Fighting

Alakazam

Best Moveset:Psycho Cut /Shadow Ball

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐☆☆☆

• 🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐☆☆☆

• 📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

• 🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐☆☆☆

  Abra nest, are a common 2k egg hatch, and is boosted a ton during windy weather. Alakazam has a long history in raid bosses as a 3 star. With Level 35 Alakazam, you need 4 players.

  Resists: Psychic, Fighting

Muk – Alola

Best Moveset:Snarl /Dark Pulse

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐☆☆☆

• 🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

• 📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

• 🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

  Alolan Grimer can only be acquired from 7k Alolan Eggs. You can get them if you open a Gift when you have an available Egg Slot, but it is not guaranteed. While at first rare hatch, now it is in the most common category of 7k hatches. Its candy is the same as normal Grimer. Alolan Grimer came to eggs in June 2018. With Level 35 Muk – Alola, you need 4 players.

  Resists: Psychic

Metagross

Best Moveset:Bullet Punch /Meteor Mash

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐☆☆☆☆

• 🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

• 📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

• 🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐☆☆☆

  (legacy)Metagross is a rare pseudo-legendary and doesn’t nest. Beldum can be found in 10k eggs, however. It was made very common and given the legacy move Meteor Mash during its community day in October 2018. With Level 35 Metagross, you need 4 players.

  2xResists: Psychic
  Resists: Ice
  Weak: Fire
  Cancelled: Fighting

Gardevoir

Best Moveset:Charge Beam /Shadow Ball

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐☆☆☆☆

• 🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

• 📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐☆☆☆

• 🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

  Ralts nest, and were featured in Aug-2019’s community day. They are a decently accessible spawn in cloudy weather and also hatch from 10k eggs. In addition Kirlia is no stranger to 2 star raids.They do not however nest. With Level 35 Gardevoir, you need 4 players.

  2xResists: Fighting
  Resists: Psychic

Feraligatr

Best Moveset:Bite /Hydro Cannon

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐☆☆☆☆

• 🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

• 📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

• 🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

  (legacy) Hydro Cannon Feraligatr is legacy, and can’t currently be caught/TM’d. Non-Legacy Totodiles got boosted spawns during Water Festival 2019. They are also in 2k eggs and do nest. With Level 35 Feraligatr, you need 4 players.

  Resists: Fire, Ice
  Weak: Electric

Scizor

Best Moveset:Fury Cutter /X-Scissor

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
• 🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐☆☆☆☆
• 📉 Consistency: ⭐☆☆☆☆
• 🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Scyther and Scizor have been featured a couple of times reducing the difficulty to acquire one. You need a Metal Coat to evolve Scyther into Scizor, which can be acquired either: VERY rarely from spinning a pokestop, in a pool of other evolution items on your 7-day streak spinning Pokestop (guaranteed to get at least one item), or from the Celebi Special Research 4/8 rewards. Scyther nest and are a 5k hatch. With Level 35 Scizor, you need 4 players.

Resists: Psychic, Ice
2xWeak: Fire
Cancelled: Fighting

Mew

Best Moveset:Shadow Claw /Dark Pulse

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐☆☆☆☆

• 🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

• 📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

• 🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

  Available from completing the “A Mythical Discovery” Special Research. Which might not be that easy if you are just starting the game. Requiring earning 7 candies walking your buddy, hatching 3 eggs, battling in 12 raids, being level 25, having the Gold Kanto Medal, Catching a Ditto, Evolving a Magikarp, among other trials. On the other hand, its something very accessible to anyone regardless of where you live and it’s likely many have acquired their Mew. Even so, after you get it you need to get the right moveset on it, which is a massive ordeal in itself and could take significantly more than your entire stockpile of TMs to get. No 20 TMs of each type is not nearly enough to have a high chance of this moveset. With Level 35 Mew, you need 4 players.

  Resists: Psychic, Fighting

Palkia

Best Moveset:Dragon Breath /Draco Meteor

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐☆☆☆☆

• 🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

• 📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

• 🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

  Palkia was a Raid Boss last during February 2019. It isn’t the best at anything, but has useful resistances that come with water. With Level 35 Palkia, you need 4 players.

  2xResists: Fire
  Cancelled: Ice, Electric

Spiritomb

Best Moveset:Sucker Punch /Shadow Ball

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐☆☆☆☆

• 🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐☆☆☆

• 📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

• 🌐 Accessibility: ⭐☆☆☆☆

  Spiritomb was only available Halloween 2018 as a special research reward. It is likely it will return annually, but that has yet to be confirmed. While everyone only has at most 1, it CAN be traded. With Level 35 Spiritomb, you need 4 players.

  2xResists: Psychic
  Resists: Fighting

Arcanine

Best Moveset:Bite /Crunch

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐☆☆☆☆

• 🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐☆☆☆

• 📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

• 🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

  (legacy) Dark-Type Arcanine is not that useful, but can pull it’s weight. Growlithe are a 5k Egg hatch and do nest. Bite is sadly legacy. With Level 35 Arcanine, you need 4 players.

  Resists: Fire, Ice

Honchkrow

Best Moveset:Snarl /Dark Pulse

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐☆☆☆

• 🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐☆☆☆☆

• 📉 Consistency: ⭐☆☆☆☆

• 🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

  Murkrow are very common (although less so than they used to be), but are only weather boosted in Windy and Foggy-which are generally rare. Honchkrow also requires a Sinnoh Stone to evolve, which can be acquired randomly from your first Trainer Battle each day. You can also get a Murkrow from the Special Research “A Troubling Situation” part 1/4. They don’t nest and do not hatch from Eggs. With Level 35 Honchkrow, you need 4 players.

  2xResists: Psychic
  Weak: Ice, Electric
  Cancelled: Fighting

Gyarados

Best Moveset:Bite /Crunch

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐☆☆☆☆

• 🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐☆☆☆

• 📉 Consistency: ⭐☆☆☆☆

• 🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

  Magikarp can spawn from Glacial Lure Modules, and Catch 10 Pokemon quests. It is also currently a Tier 1 Raid Boss as of writing. Gyarados has been available for years now, but has a hefty 400 candy cost to evolve. Magikarp got boosted spawns during Water Festival 2019. They hatch from 2k eggs and do nest. With Level 35 Gyarados, you need 4 players.

  Resists: Fire, Fighting
  2xWeak: Electric
  Cancelled: Ice

Lucario

Best Moveset:Bullet Punch /Shadow Ball

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐☆☆☆☆

• 🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐☆☆☆☆

• 📉 Consistency: ⭐☆☆☆☆

• 🌐 Accessibility: ⭐☆☆☆☆

  Riolu is an egg exclusive pokemon sadly, one of the absolute rarest and highly desired ones in fact. It was added October 2018th. It isn’t easy to power up and has a walking distance of 10k. There are increased chances of finding one in a 7k Alolan egg instead of normal 10ks. You also have better chances if you get difficult Adventure Sync eggs. if you collect your weekly adventure sync reward and have earned the 50k distance, AND have an available egg slot, you will get an egg with a skewed hatch pool. With Level 35 Lucario, you need 4 players.

  Resists: Ice
  Weak: Fire, Fighting
  Cancelled: Psychic

Moltres

Best Moveset:Wing Attack /Sky Attack

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐☆☆☆☆

• 🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐☆☆☆

• 📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

• 🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

  (Legacy) Moltres with Sky Attack is one of the best neutral DPS attackers in the game. It was only available during it’s raid day in Sept 2018. With Level 35 Moltres, you need 4 players. 

  Resists: Fire, Fighting
  Weak: Electric
  Cancelled: Ice

Skuntank

Best Moveset:Bite /Crunch

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐☆☆☆☆

• 🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐☆☆☆

• 📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

• 🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

  Skuntank is a pretty common spawn and not too difficult to evolve. It does not nest or hatch from eggs, but is boosted in Cloudy Weather. With Level 35 Skuntank, you need 4 players.

  Resists: Psychic
  Cancelled: Fighting

Closing Thoughts

Mewtwo is an incredibly powerful Pokemon, and Niantic has blessed it with an incredibly diverse movepool. It can use its huge base stats to make use of any of them! But with its current moves, it excels best as a pure Psychic-Type or an offbrand Ice-Type attacker. Outside of Raids it is one of the absolute best Gym Attackers around!

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