Niantic will bring legendary Pokémon Mewtwo to Pokémon Go players worldwide, introducing a Pokémon promised long before the game first launched.
The Pokémon will be available as part of limited-time Exclusive Raid Battles, which trainers must receive an invitation to take part in. To get one of those invites, they “must have successfully completed a raid recently, by defeating the Raid Boss, at the Gym where the Exclusive Raid Battle will be taking place,” according to Niantic’s blog.
The developer first dropped the Pokémon during Yokohama’s Pokémon Go Stadium event, players had the chance to participate in the world’s first legendary Mewtwo Raid Battle. Not only was this Pokémon exclusive to trainers at the free outdoor event, but it also came with a 100 percent catch rate — meaning everyone there could go home with Mewtwo, as long as they defeated it in battle.
Some English-speaking players on the scene, like YouTuber Nick Oyzon of the Trainer Tips channel, shared screens from the first fight against Mewtwo, with others following up on its stats and movesets.
IT'S MEWTWO! First Mewtwo raid happening in Yokohama Stadium#PokemonGO pic.twitter.com/d3TVwnBf4D
— Nick // Trainer Tips (@trnrtips) August 14, 2017
The release of Mewtwo is a huge deal for Pokémon Go players. After all, the Pokémon was the first legendary hinted at for Pokémon Go, back when Niantic revealed the project in fall 2015.
Pokémon Go Stadium seems to have gone much better than Pokémon Go Fest did last month, an event that had a similar surprise legendary Pokémon incentive. Players missed the chance to work together and catch the rare Lugia, however, due to widespread connectivity issues.
In addition to Lugia and Mewtwo, the three legendary birds — Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres — have been added to Pokémon Go. After a limited window to catch them, all three are now roaming around the game until Aug. 31.