This article is part of a directory: Pokemon GO: Full Game Guide | Tips, Tricks, and Events
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Catching any legendary Pokemon in Pokemon GO is no easy task, but Mewtwo puts up an even greater challenge than his counterparts. This isn't because of his catch rate, which is actually higher than the legendary birds and Tyranitar, but because his attack animation is designed to trick players into wasting premier balls.

Like all other Pokemon in Pokemon GO, Mewtwo has an attack animation that is used to knock away Pokeballs. However, unlike other Pokemon in the game, Mewtwo's attack doesn't end when the animation itself ends. Mewtwo's attack animation consists of him waving his hand at the player, but since he is a psychic-type Pokemon (or because of some blatant trickery on the part of Niantic), premier balls will still bounce right off him for a couple of seconds after he's done waving his hand.

Don't Waste Premiere Balls

There is one way to make sure that Mewtwo's attack is truly done and Pokemon GO players can have a fair chance of capturing him instead of wasting premier balls. The trick to it is to keep holding down on the premier ball and watch the radius enclose around Mewtwo before tossing it. This radius disappears when a Pokemon is doing their attack animation since they can't be captured while doing it. So when the radius reappears around Mewtwo, that is the time players can safely throw their premier balls at him without having to worry about wasting them.

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How to Initiate Battle with Mewtwo

Before players can even worry about wasting premier balls on Mewtwo, however, they have to defeat him in battle first. To initiate the battle against Mewtwo, players have to receive an invite to an EX Raid Battle, which is done by recently completing a raid in that particular location. Afterwards, players will need to assemble a group of like-minded Pokemon trainers to confront and defeat Mewtwo.

For a more detailed strategy on how to do this, please refer to our guide on how to defeat Mewtwo. However, the basic gist of it is pummeling him with powerful Pokemon that he's weak against. The best Pokemon to take into this battle are Tyranitar, Gyrados, Houndoom, Pinsir, Heracross, Scizor, Gengar, and Umbreon. Assemble a team of highly-leveled versions of those Pokemon, and if other players participating in the raid have similar Pokemon, Mewtwo should be defeated with enough perseverance.

Increase Your Odds

Once Mewtwo has been bested, players will be allotted a certain number of premier balls to try to catch him based on their performance in the preceding battle. To increase one's odds of actually catching Mewtwo, be sure to give him golden razz berries and try to hit him with curveballs if possible.

With these tips in mind, catching Mewtwo in Pokemon GO should be much easier for those that are able to put together a raid group competent enough to take him down. In the meantime, this trick should also apply to other Pokemon encountered in the game, so players will want to keep it in mind when they're on their Pokemon GO adventures.

Pokemon GO is available now for iOS and Android mobile devices.