Pokémon is so ingrained in global culture that most young people are familiar with the names of the most popular Pokémon. Whether we’re talking about Bulbasaur, Charizard, or Pikachu, these Pokémon have shaped entire generations. Unfortunately, many cool Pokémon have never received the same level of love, with one of them being Mew.
Mew is a legendary cat-like Pokémon that has been around for a long time. A polarizing character in its own regard, Mew was always shrouded in a veil of mystery. Over the years, gamers have created numerous myths about Mew, contributing to its notoriety.
In this article, we’ll explain how you can catch this incredible Pokémon. As with many other rares, catching Mew has nothing to do with luck or timing. Instead, you must follow a series of unique steps, demonstrating your expertise as a trainer.
“A Mythical Discovery” Special Research
The only way to get Mew is through a unique narrative-driven questline called “A Mythical Discovery.” This multi-phase quest is personally assigned to you by Professor Willow, who guides you through a series of tasks designed to prove your worthiness of the feline companion.
This Special Research is available to all trainers who reach Level 5, and you can finish it at your own pace. Although there’s no time limit, the quest line involves several phases that require patience, strategy, and a bit of know-how. Think of it less as a sprint and more as a pilgrimage that every serious trainer must undertake.
8 Phases for Catching Mew
The quest is broken down into eight distinct stages. Each stage requires you to finish three tasks, and completing them unlocks rewards and the next chapter of your adventure.
Stages 1-3
The initial stages are designed to get you acquainted with the fundamentals of the game. They are your orientation, ensuring you have the basic skills down before the real tests begin.
Stage 1: Spin 5 PokéStops, Catch 10 Pokémon, Transfer 5 Pokémon. Simple enough. This is about getting you out and interacting with the world.
Stage 2: Earn 2 Candies walking your buddy, Make 10 Great Throws, Hatch 3 Eggs. The Great Throws will demand a bit of focus, but this is standard practice for any aspiring master.
Stage 3: Reach Level 15, Battle in a Gym 2 times, Battle in 2 Raids. Here, the quest nudges you toward the game’s more competitive elements.
These early tasks are straightforward, but they build the foundation for what’s to come. Complete them, collect your rewards (including valuable Incubators and Lure Modules), and prepare for the next phase.
Stages 4-6
This is where the quest separates the casual players from the truly dedicated trainers. The following 3 phases can be pretty difficult to complete and have since become notorious in the Pokémon GO community.
Stage 4: Earn the Kanto Silver Medal, Evolve 20 Pokémon, Earn 5 Candies walking with your buddy. Earning the Kanto Silver Medal requires you to register 50 different Pokémon from the Kanto region in your Pokédex.
Stage 5: The Ditto Dilemma. Catching this shapeshifting Pokémon can cause a lot of headaches. Ditto hides in plain sight, disguised as common Pokémon. Start by catching the Pokémon that Ditto is known to disguise itself as (this list changes, so a quick search for the current Ditto disguises is always a good way to start the task).
Stage 6: The Magikarp Marathon. The next phase requires that you evolve Magikarp. This requires a staggering 400 Magikarp candies. The best way to go about things is to make Magikarp your buddy, use Pinap Berries on every one you see, and look for water biomes or nests. This is a long-haul objective, the true mark of a patient trainer.
Stages 7-8
After finishing the first 6 stages, you’re almost at your goal. Here are the last two things you must do to acquire Mew:
Stage 7: Catch 50 Pokémon using a Berry, make 1 Excellent Curveball Throw, and Earn the Kanto Gold Medal. That Gold Medal means registering 100 Kanto Pokémon in your Pokédex, and the Excellent Curveball will test your precision one last time.
Stage 8: After a final check-in with Professor Willow, the long-awaited moment arrives. You’ll enter a special encounter where you finally find Mew. The good news is that it won’t flee, so you won’t have to repeat the entire quest line. Use AR mode for an unforgettable photo op with the mythical creature you worked so hard to find.
Mew vs. Mewtwo
A common point of confusion for trainers is the difference between Mew and its powerful clone, Mewtwo. While both are Psychic-type legends from the Kanto region, their roles in Pokémon GO and how you acquire them are worlds apart. Understanding this difference is key to managing your expectations and your strategy.
Feature | Mew (The Progenitor) | Mewtwo (The Powerhouse) |
|---|---|---|
Classification | Mythical Pokémon | Legendary Pokémon |
Acquisition | “A Mythical Discovery” Special Research | Exclusive 5-Star Raids, EX Raids (historical) |
Pokédex No. | #151 | #150 |
Primary Role | A trophy of dedication; a versatile novelty. | A top-tier Psychic-type attacker for raids and PvP. |
Availability | Always available via the quest. | Appears in raids during specific, limited-time events. |
Catch Method | Guaranteed catch at the end of the quest. | Challenging raid battle with a limited chance to capture. |
In short, getting Mew can be a long, arduous journey that might take you several days. Getting Mewtwo is more about power and timing, requiring a team of strong trainers to take it down in a raid battle.
How to Get Shiny Mew
If regular Mew is a badge of honor, Shiny Mew is the holy grail. This stunning, pale-blue variant is one of the rarest Pokémon in the entire game. Unlike the standard Mew, Shiny Mew was not available through “A Mythical Discovery.”
Instead, it was the ultimate reward for completing the “All-in-One #151” Masterwork Research, a challenging, long-term questline accessible only to trainers who purchased a ticket for the Pokémon GO Tour: Kanto event back in 2021. This exclusivity makes Shiny Mew a true status symbol and a testament to the trainer who was present during a pivotal moment in the game’s history.
Is the Mythical Discovery Grind Worth It?
Catching Mew is one of the most significant achievements for Pokémon GO trainers. The great thing about this feline is that you don’t have to roam around to find it. The entire process is streamlined through a chain of quests.
Its unique ability to learn almost any attack makes it a fun and unpredictable choice for specific battles, but its real value lies in its symbolic significance. Capturing Mew signifies your commitment to the game and your completion of a foundational piece of its story.
However, the journey takes some time. The grind to reach level 25, the hunt for Ditto, and the marathon to evolve a Magikarp will take a while. For trainers who want to jump straight into the action with a roster full of legends or who prefer to bypass the grind, there are other ways to go about things.
Buying a stacked Pokémon GO Account from igitems is one way to bypass this grind, giving you access to Mew and many other legendary Pokémon. Instead of spending weeks hunting down these beasts, you can grab them after making a single purchase through our online marketplace.
Your Mythical Pokémon Awaits
The “A Mythical Discovery” quest is a beautifully designed adventure that every Pokémon GO player should experience. It’s a journey of patience, skill, and discovery that culminates in one of the most satisfying moments the game has to offer.
So stock up on Poké Balls, get your walking shoes on, and begin your quest. What part of the “A Mythical Discovery” quest did you find the most challenging? Let us know!
