Mewtwo, the genetically engineered Pokémon, is arguably one of the most sought-after and challenging catches in the Pokémon world. In Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, capturing this elusive creature requires careful planning, patience, and a well-prepared team. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step, from fulfilling the prerequisites to the final, triumphant capture.
Prerequisites: Preparing for the Mewtwo Encounter
Before even thinking about Mewtwo, you need to complete several crucial steps. Rushing into Cerulean Cave unprepared is a recipe for disaster.
1. Defeat the Elite Four and Become the Champion
This is the most significant hurdle. You cannot access Cerulean Cave, Mewtwo’s lair, until you’ve proven yourself as the Pokémon League Champion. This involves defeating all four members of the Elite Four – Lorelei (Ice/Water), Bruno (Fighting), Agatha (Ghost/Poison), and Lance (Dragon) – and then overcoming your rival, who now holds the Champion title. Your team should be around levels 50-60 to stand a reasonable chance. Focus on type matchups and strategic use of items.
2. Complete the Sevii Islands Quest
After defeating the Elite Four, you need to undertake a side quest involving the Sevii Islands. This quest unlocks the National Pokédex and allows Pokémon from later generations to appear in the game. Here’s a breakdown:
- Talk to Bill at the Celadon City Pokémon Center: After defeating the Elite Four, head to Celadon City and speak with Bill at the Pokémon Center. He’ll ask for your help.
- Travel to One Island: Bill will transport you to One Island. Your objective is to help him and his friend, Celio.
- Help Celio with the Ruby and Sapphire: Celio needs the Ruby and Sapphire to power his machine, which will allow him to connect to other regions. You’ll need to find these gems.
- Find the Ruby on Mt. Ember: Head to Mt. Ember on One Island. Navigate through the cave system, battling Team Rocket grunts along the way. At the end of the cave, you’ll find the Ruby.
- Retrieve the Sapphire from Dotted Hole: After giving the Ruby to Celio, he’ll ask you to find the Sapphire on Five Island. The Sapphire is located in the Dotted Hole, a maze-like cave. You’ll need to use the HM Cut to navigate the initial areas. Prepare for a challenging puzzle inside! The Sapphire is guarded by a Scientist. Defeat him to claim the Sapphire.
- Give the Sapphire to Celio: Return to Celio on One Island and give him the Sapphire. He’ll complete his machine, and your Pokédex will be upgraded to the National Pokédex.
3. Assemble a Suitable Team
Mewtwo is a Psychic-type Pokémon, making it weak to Bug, Ghost, and Dark-type moves. However, Mewtwo’s high Special Attack and access to powerful moves like Psychic, Thunderbolt, Ice Beam, and Recover make it a formidable opponent. Here are some recommended Pokémon for your team:
- Gengar (Ghost/Poison): Gengar’s high Special Attack and Speed, coupled with access to moves like Shadow Ball (Ghost) and Hypnosis, make it a valuable asset. Its Poison typing unfortunately makes it weak to Mewtwo’s Psychic, so be careful.
- Scizor (Bug/Steel): Scizor’s strong Attack stat and Bug-type moves like X-Scissor can deal significant damage to Mewtwo. Its Steel typing provides decent defense.
- Heracross (Bug/Fighting): Similar to Scizor, Heracross boasts high Attack and Bug-type moves. Its Fighting typing adds another layer of offensive capability.
- Tyranitar (Rock/Dark): Tyranitar’s Dark typing makes it immune to Psychic-type moves, and it can learn powerful Dark-type moves like Bite and Crunch. However, its low Speed can be a disadvantage.
- Snorlax (Normal): Snorlax is a great tank and can absorb a lot of damage. It can be used to inflict status conditions like paralysis or sleep. While not a direct counter, its high HP and decent Special Defense make it a resilient choice.
- A Pokémon with False Swipe: A Pokémon that knows False Swipe is invaluable for weakening Mewtwo without knocking it out. Scyther and Scizor are excellent choices, as they can also deal super effective damage.
Ensure your Pokémon are at least level 60, ideally closer to level 70, to increase your chances of survival and success.
4. Stock Up on Essential Items
Having the right items is crucial for a successful Mewtwo capture. Here’s a list of essential items:
- Ultra Balls: The most important item! Bring as many as you can afford. At least 50-100 is recommended.
- Master Ball: If you haven’t used it yet, save it for Mewtwo. It guarantees a catch.
- Potions/Super Potions/Hyper Potions/Max Potions: To heal your Pokémon during the battle. Carry a generous supply.
- Full Restores: Cures all status conditions and fully restores HP. Very useful against Mewtwo’s unpredictable moves.
- Revives/Max Revives: To revive fainted Pokémon. Essential for recovering from unexpected KOs.
- Status Healing Items (Antidotes, Paralyze Heals, Awakening, Ice Heals): To cure status conditions inflicted by Mewtwo.
- Escape Rope: For quickly exiting Cerulean Cave if you need to restock or strategize.
- Repels/Super Repels/Max Repels: To avoid encounters with other Pokémon in Cerulean Cave, allowing you to focus on Mewtwo.
Navigating Cerulean Cave: Reaching Mewtwo’s Lair
Cerulean Cave is located west of Cerulean City. It’s a multi-layered dungeon filled with powerful Pokémon. Use Repels to minimize encounters and conserve your resources. The cave requires you to use Surf and Waterfall, so make sure to have Pokémon that know these moves. The layout is somewhat complex, so follow these instructions carefully:
Floor 1
- Enter the Cave: Head west from Cerulean City and enter Cerulean Cave.
- First Area: You’ll immediately encounter a large open area. Use Repels to avoid wild encounters. Pokémon here are generally around level 50-60.
- Ladder Location: Head north and then slightly east to find the first ladder leading down.
Floor B1
- Descending: Take the ladder down to the first basement level (B1).
- Surf and Waterfall: You’ll need to use Surf to navigate the water. Head north and then west until you reach a waterfall. Use Waterfall to ascend it.
- Ladder to B2: After ascending the waterfall, continue north and slightly east. You will find the ladder that leads to the B2 floor.
Floor B2
- Final Descent: This is the final floor before Mewtwo. Be prepared.
- Maze-like Area: This area consists of a maze of rocks and water. Head east, then south, then west, navigating around the rocks. Use Repels to prevent wild encounters.
- Mewtwo’s Platform: Eventually, you’ll reach a small platform in the center of the cave. Mewtwo awaits you there, floating in the air.
The Mewtwo Battle: Strategy and Tactics
Mewtwo is level 70 and possesses extremely high stats. This is a challenging battle, so be prepared for a potentially long and arduous encounter. Here’s a breakdown of Mewtwo’s potential moveset and how to counter it:
Mewtwo’s Potential Moveset
- Psychic: Mewtwo’s primary STAB (Same-Type Attack Bonus) move. Deals significant damage to Pokémon weak to Psychic.
- Recover: Allows Mewtwo to heal a large portion of its HP, prolonging the battle.
- Swift: A Normal-type move that never misses. Provides coverage against Pokémon that might otherwise resist Psychic.
- Thunderbolt/Ice Beam: Coverage moves that target specific weaknesses. Thunderbolt hits Water and Flying types, while Ice Beam hits Grass, Ground, Flying and Dragon types.
Battle Strategy
- Lead with a Pokémon Resistant to Psychic: If you have Tyranitar, lead with it. Its Dark-type immunity will prevent Psychic from dealing any damage.
- Inflict Status Conditions: Status conditions like Sleep and Paralysis can significantly increase your chances of catching Mewtwo. Gengar can use Hypnosis to put Mewtwo to sleep, but be aware of its low accuracy. Thunder Wave from a more durable Pokemon will Paralyze Mewtwo.
- Use False Swipe: Once you’ve inflicted a status condition, switch to a Pokémon with False Swipe. Use False Swipe to bring Mewtwo’s HP down to 1. This maximizes your chances of a successful capture without risking a KO. Scizor is an excellent choice for this role, as it can also deal super effective damage with Bug-type moves.
- Heal Strategically: Monitor your Pokémon’s HP closely and heal when necessary. Don’t let your Pokémon faint, as this wastes valuable turns. Use Full Restores to cure status conditions.
- Be Patient and Persistent: Catching Mewtwo can take many attempts. Don’t get discouraged if you fail multiple times. Keep trying, and eventually, you’ll succeed.
Detailed Battle Walkthrough
Here’s a more detailed walkthrough of a possible battle scenario:
- Turn 1: Send out your lead Pokémon. If you have Tyranitar, use it to avoid Psychic damage. Otherwise, lead with a Pokémon that can inflict a status condition, such as Gengar with Hypnosis.
- Turn 2-5 (or more): If you’re using Hypnosis, keep using it until Mewtwo falls asleep. Be prepared to use healing items if your Pokémon takes damage. If you have paralyzed Mewtwo, switch to your False Swipe user.
- False Swipe: Use False Swipe repeatedly until Mewtwo’s HP is down to 1. Be careful not to accidentally knock it out!
- Ultra Ball Spam: Once Mewtwo’s HP is at 1 and it’s under a status condition, start throwing Ultra Balls. Be patient, as it may take many throws before you finally catch it.
- Alternative: If you’re running out of Ultra Balls or getting frustrated, and you still have your Master Ball, now is the time to use it. It guarantees a catch, saving you from further frustration.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Even with meticulous preparation, you might encounter some issues during the Mewtwo encounter. Here are some common problems and how to address them:
- Mewtwo Keeps Using Recover: Mewtwo’s Recover move can be frustrating, as it heals a significant amount of HP. The key is to inflict a status condition like Sleep or Paralysis. This will give you more time to throw Poké Balls while Mewtwo is incapacitated.
- My Pokémon Keeps Fainting: Mewtwo’s high Special Attack can quickly knock out your Pokémon. Ensure your Pokémon are at a high level (at least 60-70) and have good Special Defense. Use healing items strategically to keep your Pokémon alive.
- I’m Running Out of Poké Balls: This is why it’s so important to stock up on Ultra Balls before entering Cerulean Cave. If you run out of Poké Balls mid-battle, you’ll have to escape and restock. Consider using a Master Ball if you’re running low on resources and don’t want to risk losing Mewtwo.
- Mewtwo is Waking Up Too Quickly: Sleep only lasts for a few turns, so you need to act quickly once Mewtwo falls asleep. Switch to your False Swipe user immediately and get Mewtwo’s HP down to 1 as soon as possible.
- I Accidentally Knocked Out Mewtwo: This is a frustrating situation, but it’s not the end of the world. Simply defeat the Elite Four again, and Mewtwo will reappear in Cerulean Cave.
Alternative Strategies
While the strategy outlined above is generally considered the most reliable, here are some alternative approaches you can try:
- The Mean Look Strategy: A Pokémon with Mean Look can prevent Mewtwo from fleeing the battle. This can be useful if you’re worried about Mewtwo running away before you have a chance to weaken it. Golbat learns Mean Look at level 42 and can be found in caves.
- The Explosion/Self-Destruct Strategy: This is a risky but potentially effective strategy. Use a Pokémon with Explosion or Self-Destruct to deal massive damage to Mewtwo, bringing its HP down to a very low level. However, this will also cause your Pokémon to faint. This strategy is best used as a last resort if you’re struggling to weaken Mewtwo using other methods.
- The Status-Only Strategy: Focus solely on inflicting status conditions like Sleep, Paralysis, or Freeze. While Mewtwo is incapacitated, throw Poké Balls repeatedly. This strategy relies heavily on luck and can be time-consuming.
Post-Capture: What to Do With Mewtwo
Congratulations! You’ve finally caught Mewtwo. Now what? Mewtwo is an incredibly powerful Pokémon with excellent stats, making it a valuable addition to your team. Here are some ways to utilize Mewtwo:
- Competitive Battling: Mewtwo is a formidable opponent in competitive battles. Its high Special Attack and Speed, coupled with its diverse movepool, make it a versatile threat. However, be aware that Mewtwo is often banned in many competitive formats due to its overwhelming power.
- In-Game Battles: Mewtwo can easily sweep through most of the remaining in-game battles. Use it to defeat challenging trainers or rebattle the Elite Four.
- Training: Mewtwo benefits from careful training. Its Special Attack and Speed are its strongest stats, so focus on training these stats. Consider using vitamins like Calcium and Zinc to boost its stats further.
- Breeding: Unfortunately, Mewtwo cannot breed, as it is a Legendary Pokémon.
Conclusion
Catching Mewtwo in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen is a challenging but rewarding experience. It requires careful preparation, a well-trained team, and a healthy dose of patience. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you’ll significantly increase your chances of successfully capturing this legendary Pokémon. Good luck, and happy catching!