[OVERVIEW]
Mewtwo is one of the fastest Pokemon in the Ubers metagame, with a practically unmatched base 130 Speed. It also possesses a Special Attack stat that even surpasses Kyogre, a movepool that covers almost every scenario, and the bulk to back it all up. Mewtwo's movepool is vast enough that it leaves the opponent always guessing what moveset it's running, with even physical sets also being an option. However, its Psychic typing leaves it susceptible to some of the metagame's biggest threats in Snorlax and Deoxys-A, which check it defensively and offensively, respectively. Moreover, Mewtwo often struggles to fit everything it wants in just four moves. While its potential is practically limitless, its sets are usually telegraphed based on just the item revealed. However, mind games can still be played with the opponent up until the final move is revealed.
[SET]
name: Boom Lead
move 1: Ice Beam
move 2: Thunder / Thunderbolt
move 3: Self-Destruct
move 4: Calm Mind / Fire Blast
item: Lum Berry
ability: Pressure
nature: Mild
evs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
This set is designed to beat all of the common leads while also having staying power if you decide to keep it around for later use. Ice Beam and Thunder threaten Groudon and Kyogre, allowing your respective weather setter to set themselves up nicely while also paving the way for Mewtwo's teammates to sweep. Ice Beam also 2HKOes the common Latios lead, while Mewtwo isn't threatened by any move it runs, thus forcing it out early. It similarly pressures Latias leads, which are KOed by the combination of Ice Beam and Selfdestruct. Thunderbolt is an option over Thunder if you are scared of the low accuracy that Thunder has outside of rain. It also provides a consistent way to damage Ho-Oh in sun, a common switch-in, but it comes with the downside of worsening the Kyogre matchup. Selfdestruct allows Mewtwo to trade itself for one of the opponent's valuable team members, giving control of the game's momentum at any given time. This can be used to remove a foe like Blissey, which cannot survive the combination of a special attack followed up by Selfdestruct, or offensive Ho-Oh, or it can be used to severely chip a defensive wall that is problematic for the rest of your team. Due to the turn ending once Mewtwo uses Selfdestruct, the opponent cannot recover HP afterwards. Calm Mind allows Mewtwo to set up in front of the aforementioned Latios and Latias. Importantly, this allows Mewtwo to OHKO Kyogre and Groudon with Thunder and Ice Beam, respectively, and avoid the OHKO from any of their offensive moves. Mewtwo has to be wary of Hydro Pump variants of Kyogre, however, as it cannot survive a hit without a Calm Mind boost, but it also can't set up consistently in front of Kyogre because Surf variants can 2HKO regardless. Some Snorlax sets can be 3HKOed by +1 Thunder while Mewtwo avoids the 2HKO from Body Slam. Fire Blast can deal with the Steel-types that might want to try and switch in to take Selfdestruct, such as Jirachi and Metagross, as well as lead Heracross, which otherwise threatens Mewtwo into switching out or trading itself. Attack investment isn't necessary, seeing how Mewtwo's Attack stat is just large enough to get the KOs it is after with some prior chip. A Mild nature optimizes Mewtwo's lead matchup, avoiding the OHKO from physical attacks such as Groudon's Earthquake and Snorlax's Body Slam and special attacks such as from Latios and Latias. Lum Berry allows Mewtwo to act as a pseudo-status absorber, ignoring potential Thunder Waves from Kyogre and Groudon, as well as the secondary effects of Ice Beam, Thunder, and Body Slam. Mewtwo's base 130 Speed allows it to outspeed positive-natured base 110 Pokemon such as Lugia, Latios, and Latias with a neutral nature. A spread running 220 Speed EVs and 36 HP EVs lets Mewtwo take hits just a slight bit better while still outspeeding the same targets, but it comes at the cost of always losing the mirror matchup.
Team Options
========
Mewtwo can fit on pretty much every team and playstyle, but it's preferable on offense for its ability to effectively remove any threat with Selfdestruct or even act as a wallbreaker utilizing Calm Mind. Kyogre allows Mewtwo to hit perfectly accurate Thunders and appreciates Mewtwo weakening its checks in Latios, Latias, and Blissey. Similarly, Mewtwo enjoys Kyogre dealing with the Steel-types that it cannot always beat and Kyogre's ability to sponge hits from its checks such as Ho-Oh and Deoxys-A. Groudon can cover most of what Mewtwo cannot, being an effective check to Snorlax and Deoxys-A that also enjoys the Eon twins being either weakened or removed entirely. Offensive Groudon sets such as the SubSalac set can sweep the opposing team with more ease if its checks like Lugia and Ho-Oh have been damaged enough. Physical wallbreakers such as Choice Band Heracross and Metagross pair up well with Mewtwo, with Mewtwo exposing their checks' usually low Special Defense sets or trading its health with their own. Snorlax similarly enjoys Mewtwo being able to check Latios and Latias so that it can function more as a mid-game breaker rather than a wall. Deoxys-A shares a lot of checks with Mewtwo and can thus overwhelm with its strong physical moves once they've been weakened enough.
[SET]
name: Substitute + Bulk Up
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Bulk Up
move 3: Focus Punch / Earthquake
move 4: Shadow Ball
item: Leftovers
ability: Pressure
nature: Jolly
evs: 204 HP / 208 Atk / 96 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
This set aims to lure in common switch-ins to the standard Mewtwo set and blow them back with a physical move. Substitute in tandem with 204 HP EVs allows Mewtwo to create Substitutes that can withstand a Seismic Toss from Blissey and Dusclops and lets Mewtwo fish for misses from inaccurate moves such as Heracross's Megahorn and Thunder outside of rain. Bulk Up allows Mewtwo to beat common physical walls such as Forretress and boost alongside Snorlax. Shadow Ball hits Latios and Latias for super effective damage and is Mewtwo's best move to spam, as it hits most of the metagame for at least neutral damage. Focus Punch pairs well with Substitute and has perfect coverage with Shadow Ball. Earthquake is an option to hit Steel-types such as Metagross and Jirachi harder than Focus Punch while also not requiring a Substitute or correct prediction to function, serving as a strong midground. 96 Speed EVs with a Jolly nature allow Mewtwo to hit 352 Speed, which is just enough to outpace maximum Speed Latios, Latias, and Lugia.
Team Options
========
Strong Normal-type attackers such as Snorlax and Slaking form a good pair with this Mewtwo set, as there is good offensive overlap. Mewtwo shares checks with them, so they all benefit from Steel-types such as Forretress being gradually chipped from their strong physical attacks. Mewtwo also significantly damages common answers to these Normal-types like Deoxys-D and Lugia. Kyogre pairs quite well, being able to switch into the physical attacks thrown Mewtwo's way while also dealing with the walls Mewtwo struggles to break such as Ho-Oh. Mewtwo can chip Latios, Latias, and Blissey in return, all of which are roadblocks for Kyogre. Groudon is a fantastic partner regardless of its set, with the defensive set being able to take on the physical attackers that Mewtwo can't switch into such as Deoxys-A and Ho-Oh, while the SubSalac set uses the Steel-types that Mewtwo invites in as setup opportunities. In return, Mewtwo removes opposing Psychic-types that often stop Groudon in its tracks such as the Eon twins, opposing Mewtwo, and Lugia. Magneton can remove the Steel-types that Mewtwo sometimes struggles to deal with such as Forretress and also spread paralysis with Thunder Wave so Mewtwo can set up Substitute more freely. Spikes from Deoxys-D, Skarmory, and Forretress is much appreciated, as Mewtwo forces multiple switches upon its set reveal. It also turns various 3HKOs into 2HKOs, such as Metagross switching into an Earthquake.
[SET]
name: Substitute + Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Thunder / Thunderbolt
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Substitute
item: Leftovers
ability: Pressure
nature: Modest
EVs: 204 HP / 84 SpA / 220 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
This set aims to utilize Mewtwo's demonstrably large Special Attack and good bulk to act as either a mid-game breaker or even a late-game setup sweeper. Thunder and Ice Beam have perfect coverage, only being mutually resisted by Magneton, which easily gets overwhelmed by this set. Thunderbolt is a safer option to deal with sun teams better, but the drop-off in power is immediately noticeable, with Ho-Oh and Forretress both avoiding the 2HKO from it. The HP EVs allow Mewtwo to create Substitutes that can withstand a Seismic Toss from Blissey and Night Shade from Deoxys-D. Substitute is utilized to avoid status moves and also scout for the foe's set, avoiding unfavorable trades such as Explosion from Metagross and Selfdestruct from Snorlax. 220 Speed EVs let Mewtwo outspeed positive-natured base 110 Pokemon such as Latios, Latias, and Lugia.
Team Options
========
Groudon is a good partner, as it provides sun support for Mewtwo so that it can't get frozen by Ice Beam. In return, Mewtwo can deal with Kyogre, Latios, and Latias, all of which are common switch-ins for Groudon. Moreover, Groudon can spread status with either Thunder Wave or Toxic and scare out common Mewtwo checks such as Steel-types and Snorlax. Physical variants of Deoxys-A can pick off weakened foes with its strong attacks or chip the opponent's Steel-types so that Mewtwo can more easily sweep in the later parts of the game. Ho-Oh is also a fantastic partner, being able to burn physical attackers with Sacred Fire, hinder them with Toxic, or deal a great deal of damage with Hidden Power Flying and Shadow Ball. Meanwhile, Mewtwo can stand up to physical walls that Ho-Oh is unable to immediately break, such as Groudon and Lugia. Mewtwo doesn't want to immediately take on the various Steel-types, so Forretress and Skarmory both chipping them gradually with Spikes support and also being a switch-in to their strong physical attacks makes them ideal partners for Mewtwo. Latios is a fantastic partner for this Mewtwo set because they both pressure Snorlax with their special attacks, making Snorlax struggle to cover both of them.
[SET]
name: StallTwo
move 1: Taunt
move 2: Recover
move 3: Toxic
move 4: Flamethrower / Thunder
item: Leftovers
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
EVs: 252 HP / 160 SpD / 96 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
This set attempts to act as a stallbreaker, a job Mewtwo can fulfill rather well thanks to its great Speed tier and large support moveset. Taunt shuts down opposing walls in tandem with Pressure, easily PP stalling them. It also lets Mewtwo beat Pokemon that don't run any attacking moves, such as Lugia. Toxic can put bulky walls and powerful attackers on a timer alike. Flamethrower lets Mewtwo hit the Steel-types that Toxic doesn't affect while also dealing decent neutral damage if rain isn't up. Thunder can be used if you're opting to run rain, hitting Steel-types for a decent amount of damage, as well as Ho-Oh, which otherwise is unfazed by the rest of your set. The EVs provided allow Mewtwo to outrun positive-natured Latios, Latias, and Lugia while maximizing Mewtwo's special bulk. This allows Mewtwo to inflict them with Toxic effectively and use Taunt on them to stop them from recovering their HP or curing their status affliction with Refresh.
Team Options
========
Mewtwo is susceptible to getting functionally removed from the game if it gets frozen, so Groudon pairs nicely by setting sun, which also boosts up Mewtwo's damage output with Flamethrower. In return, Mewtwo can deal with the special attackers that wish to take advantage of Groudon. Cleric support in case Mewtwo gets statused is very beneficial, so Blissey and Celebi can both provide that while checking various breakers that Mewtwo cannot such as Calm Mind Kyogre and Curse Snorlax, respectively. Physically defensive Spikes setters such as Deoxys-D, Skarmory, and Forretress form a good pair with Mewtwo, as Mewtwo can take on the special attacks thrown their way while forcing switches while they take on the breakers Mewtwo invites in such as Snorlax. Ho-Oh fits on teams that feature this Mewtwo set quite well, being able to take on opposing Ho-Oh, which is a major threat to Mewtwo, while Mewtwo can take on the physical walls that Ho-Oh struggles with such as Deoxys-D and Blissey if not running Hidden Power Flying. Kyogre can take on Groudon and Ho-Oh, both of which can deal with Mewtwo to some extent, and give it a perfectly accurate Thunder.
[SET]
name: Calm Mind MonoAttacker
move 1: Recover
move 2: Taunt
move 3: Calm Mind
move 4: Ice Beam / Psychic
item: Leftovers
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
EVs: 252 HP / 160 Def / 96 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
This set aims to take over the game once the foes that threaten to OHKO Mewtwo are gone. Taunt, while lasting only for two turns, allows Mewtwo to beat phazers and opposing setup sweepers alike. This combination of moves allows Mewtwo to take on Blissey and defensive Lugia regardless of their sets. Ice Beam hits the greatest array of physical attackers for at least neutral damage, with notable exceptions being Steel-types and Thick Fat Snorlax. Psychic deals more damage to Ho-Oh and Snorlax but comes at the cost of dealing significantly less damage to the many Psychic-types of the metagame such as Latios, Latias, and Lugia while still being resisted by Steel-types, most of which are physical attackers and can thus break through Mewtwo. The given EV spread with a Timid nature always makes it faster than Latios, Latias, and Lugia while giving it as much physical bulk as possible to better take on physical attackers such as Groudon and Snorlax and survive a hit from Choice Band Deoxys-A.
Team Options
========
Groudon sets sun so that Mewtwo cannot be frozen and is thus less vulnerable to RNG while also scaring away Steel-types. In return, Mewtwo can deal with problematic physical walls such as Deoxys-D, Celebi, and Lugia, which can all be cumbersome for Groudon to bypass. Spikes makes Mewtwo's job of sweeping much easier by providing some nice passive damage. As a result, Deoxys-D, Skarmory, and Forretress can all make for great partners while also dealing with the Steel-types that otherwise make Mewtwo's job rather difficult. Mewtwo struggles to break past Steel-types, so teammates that can answer to their attacks such as Kyogre and Ho-Oh pair well with it. In return, Mewtwo can take on their checks such as Blissey and the Eon twins. Choice Band Deoxys-A can revenge kill Mewtwo if Mewtwo has taken any chip, so Pokemon that can remove Deoxys-A are appreciated. Pursuit users such as Metagross, Umbreon, and your own Deoxys-A force Deoxys-A out and remove it quite effectively. As this set is usually fit for bulkier teams, cleric support from the likes of Blissey or Celebi is appreciated. They can take Kyogre and Snorlax on, respectively, both of which stop Mewtwo short from sweeping.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A mixed set similar to the Bulk Up set carrying Ice Beam or Thunder instead will have a better matchup versus Lugia and Ho-Oh, but it both sacrifices bulk and worsens your matchup against Snorlax. Choice Band Mewtwo can be a powerful breaker that overwhelms its checks alongside other strong physical attackers, but it can only realistically fit on teams that aim to blow up on their competition, something that regular Mewtwo can already do while simultaneously breaking physical walls with its strong special attacks. Taunt is an option on the lead set to be able to take on Deoxys-D leads, but the utility Calm Mind provides is way more valuable in most cases, especially since Taunt only lasts for two turns in ADV. Hidden Power Rock on more physically inclined sets lets Mewtwo defeat Ho-Oh without relying on Thunder's low accuracy and weather, but it is extremely situational, as it only hits one specific threat that can be dealt with through Mewtwo's teammates.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Snorlax**: Snorlax is a great answer to Mewtwo sets not running Focus Punch, being able to take on the combination of any special attack followed up by Selfdestruct while threatening to 2HKO with either Shadow Ball or Return. Snorlax can also use Protect on a predicted Selfdestruct to save its HP. However, if it's more offensive rather than bulky, it has to be wary of Thunder's damage output and chance to paralyze.
**Deoxys-D**: Deoxys-D can stop Mewtwo from setting up with Taunt, slowly chip it with Night Shade, remove its item with Knock Off, and inflict it with status, but it has to be wary of sets running Shadow Ball.
**Dusclops**: Dusclops can switch in on Mewtwo's Selfdestruct while also having enough bulk to take on its special attacks and retaliate with Shadow Ball or keep its HP high with Pain Split. It has to be wary of sets running Taunt, though, as they tend to shut it down completely.
**Ho-Oh**: Ho-Oh is usually seen on sun teams and can rely on Thunder's low accuracy and its natural bulk to be able to take on any of Mewtwo's other moves while threatening it out with a strong physical attack. If Thunder does land, however, Ho-Oh will take a lot of damage, so it has to be extremely careful.
**Revenge Killers**: Weather sweepers like Exeggutor, Victreebel, and Omastar, Jolly Aerodactyl, and priority users in Rayquaza and Deoxys-A can all attack before Mewtwo and pick it off with their strong attacks if it's been sufficiently weakened. Deoxys-A in particular can always outspeed and threaten to OHKO Mewtwo with Shadow Ball. None of them can safely switch in, though, as they can be OHKOed by Mewtwo's attacks.
**Heracross**: Heracross can OHKO Mewtwo with Megahorn and either force it to switch out or use Selfdestruct, but it has to scout for the rare Fire Blast, which can easily OHKO it.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Lasen, 273339]]
- Quality checked by: [[Exiline, 246168], [SuperEpicAmpharos, 306959]]
- Grammar checked by: [[lotiasite, 302985], [Estronic, 240732]]
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