Key Takeaways
- Mew is only available through "A Mythical Discovery" Special Research — an 8-stage permanent quest available since March 30, 2018
- Requires Level 15+, catching Ditto, Gold Kanto Medal, and Magikarp evolution
- Mew encounter is guaranteed catch (100% catch rate, unlimited balls, cannot flee)
- Shiny Mew is only available through paid events (GO Tour Kanto, GO Fest)
- Cannot be traded — every trainer must complete the quest individually
- Takes 2-4 weeks of active play to complete
Bottom Line: Mew's permanent story-lock prevents mass distribution, making it one of the rarest and most exclusive Pokemon in the game.
Why Mew Is Story-Gated
The Only Way to Get Mew
Mew is exclusively available through A Mythical Discovery:
No raids • No wild encounters • No trades • No events
ONLY: Complete the 8-stage Special Research quest
This quest has been permanent since March 30, 2018 — it's always available, but only for trainers Level 15+.
Why No Shortcuts?
Niantic made Mew story-exclusive for several reasons:
- Mythical Status: Mew is a Mythical Pokemon, a tier above Legendary. In the main-series games, Mythicals are event-only.
- Scarcity Marketing: If Mew were available in raids or events, everyone would have one. Story-locking makes it exclusive.
- Player Investment: The 8-stage quest requires time, effort, and skill (Great Throws, Ditto hunting, Kanto Medal). Players who complete it are invested.
- No Trading: Mew cannot be traded, so each account must complete the quest independently.
Mew is a badge of dedication — you can't buy it, borrow it, or inherit it.
The 8-Stage Quest
Stage Overview
| Stage | Key Tasks | Estimated Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1/8 | Spin 5 PokeStops, Catch 10 Pokemon, Transfer 5 Pokemon | 1–2 hours |
| 2/8 | Buddy candy (2), 10 Great Throws, Hatch 3 Eggs | 1–3 days (Egg walking) |
| 3/8 | Reach Level 15, Battle in Gyms (2), Battle in Raids (2) | 1–7 days (leveling) |
| 4/8 | Silver Kanto Medal, Evolve 20 Pokemon, Buddy candy (2) | 1–4 days |
| 5/8 | Catch a Ditto, 20 Great Throws, 10 Ghost-type | 2–14 days (Ditto hunt) |
| 6/8 | Reach Level 25, Battle in 10 Raids, Evolve Magikarp | 1–2 weeks |
| 7/8 | Gold Kanto Medal (100 species), 50 Berry catches, Excellent Curveball | 2–4 weeks |
| 8/8 | Catch Mew (guaranteed encounter) | Instant |
Total time: 2–4 weeks for active players. The hardest tasks are Ditto hunting and Gold Kanto Medal.
Stage 5: The Ditto Challenge
Catching Ditto is the hardest stage — it disguises as other Pokemon, and its spawn rate is low.
Current Ditto disguises (2025):
- Gastly (most common)
- Rattata
- Pidgey
- Zubat
- Drowsing
- Sentret
- Hoothoot
- Ledyba
- Spinarak
- Sentret
Pro Tip: Visit high-Pokemon-density areas (parking lots, downtown cores) during event hours — Ditto spawn rates increase during Community Days.
Stage 7: The Gold Kanto Medal
The Gold Kanto Medal requires registering 100 Kanto Pokemon to your PokeDex.
This is the longest task — you need to catch or trade for 100 different Kanto species. With Gen 9 Pokemon dominating spawns, Kanto Pokemon are increasingly rare.
| Strategy | Effectiveness |
|---|---|
| Event tickets (Kanto Tour-style) | Instant — events spawn Kanto Pokemon |
| Trading | Most efficient — trade for missing Kanto species |
| Evolution | Evolve low-stage Pokemon (Pidgey → Pidgeotto, Rattata → Raticate) |
| Raids | Kanto raids (Kabutops, Omastar, etc.) |
Most players spend 2–4 weeks just on the Gold Kanto Medal.
Stage 6: The Magikarp Grind
Evolving Magikarp requires 400 candy — the same cost as Pidgey, but Magikarp candy is rarer (found in the wild, hatched from 2km eggs, or transferred from raids).
| Candy Source | Candy per Unit |
|---|---|
| Catch in wild | 3 |
| Transfer | 1 |
| Hatch from 2km egg | 16 + 16 bonus (with Pinap) |
| Raid reward | 50 (Magikarp raids) |
400 candy / 3 per catch = 134 catches minimum. Use Pinap Berries to double candy from catches.
The Mew Encounter
After completing Stage 7, you face Mew in Stage 8:
Special Encounter Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Catch Rate | 100% (guaranteed) |
| Poke Balls | Unlimited (infinite supply) |
| Flee Chance | 0% (cannot flee) |
| Stats | Predetermined (usually 10/10/10 IV minimum) |
| Level | Trainer level (usually Level 15) |
| AR Photos | Available — perfect for screenshots |
The Mew encounter is a celebration — take your time and enjoy it.
Mew's Stats
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Psychic |
| Max CP | 3,265 (Level 50) |
| Best Fast Move | Shadow Claw |
| Best Charged Move | Psychic |
| Unique Trait | Can learn almost any move via TMs |
| Usage | Great League, Ultra League, and raids |
Weaknesses
| Damage Type | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| Bug | 2x |
| Ghost | 2x |
| Dark | 2x |
Mew's Psychic typing makes it vulnerable to Bug, Ghost, and Dark-types — common in PvP. It's situational in competitive play.
Shiny Mew Availability
Standard Quest: Non-Shiny Only
The Mew from A Mythical Discovery is always non-shiny. There's no way to get a shiny Mew from this quest.
Paid Event: Shiny Mew
| Event | Date | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Pokemon GO Tour: Kanto | February 2021 | $11.99 ticket + quest completion |
| GO Fest 2022 | Summer 2022 | Ticketed special research |
Shiny Mew is one of the rarest encounters in Pokemon GO — fewer than 100,000 exist worldwide.
Why No Free Shiny Mew?
Shiny Mew would devalue the standard quest — if players could get shiny Mew for free, the paid event model would collapse. By gating shiny Mew behind ticketed events, Niantic:
- Drives event ticket sales ($12–$25 per ticket)
- Creates exclusivity (only ticket holders get shiny)
- Maintains scarcity (fewer than 0.001% of trainers have shiny Mew)
Bottom Line: Mew's permanent story-lock makes it exclusive but accessible. The 8-stage quest is a time investment test — if you're willing to hunt Ditto and register 100 Kanto Pokemon, Mew is yours.
FAQ
Can I trade Mew to another account?
No — Mew is a Mythical Pokemon and cannot be traded. Every account must complete A Mythical Discovery independently.
How long does it take to get Mew?
2–4 weeks of active play. The longest tasks are Ditto hunting (Stage 5) and Gold Kanto Medal (Stage 7).
Can I use Lucky Eggs?
Yes — use Lucky Eggs during:
- Stage 1: Catching 10 Pokemon (1,000 XP per catch with Lucky Egg)
- Stage 4: Evolving 20 Pokemon (1,000 XP per evolve)
- Stage 5: Catching Ditto (2,000 XP with Excellent Throw)
Is Mew good in PvP?
Mew is versatile — it can learn almost any move. However, its low Defense (145 at Level 50) and Psychic typing weaknesses make it situational in Great League and Ultra League.
Will Mew ever be available in raids?
Very unlikely — Mew is Mythical and Niantic has never offered it in raids. The only paths are Special Research (story quest) and paid events (shiny variant).