Mewtwo - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

This is a strategy guide for using Mewtwo in competitive play for the games Pokemon Sword and Shield. Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, and Held Items to use with Mewtwo, as well as its strengths and weak points.

Mewtwo - Related Guides
Evolution and Learnset	Build for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Mewtwo

Types and Abilities

Pokemon	Type 1	Type 2
Mewtwo
Abilities
Pressure	The Pokemon raises the foe's PP usage.
Unnerve (Hidden)	Makes the foe nervous and unable to eat Berries.

Mewtwo Weaknesses and Resistances

	Type
Takes 4x damage	-
Takes 2x damage
Takes 0.5x damage
Takes 1/4x damage	-
Takes 0x damage	-

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

Best Nature for Mewtwo

Single Movesets for Mewtwo

Life Orb Attacker Moveset & Best Build

This set takes advantage of Mewtwo's high base Sp. Atk and Speed to deal large amounts of damage, faster than most other Pokemon. For the few Pokemon who may outspeed, Mewtwo can tap into Max Airstream to raise its Speed more. As such, Mewtwo serves well as an offensive Pokemon who can take out enemy sweepers.

About Mewtwo's Moves

Psystrike serves as Mewtwo's primary STAB move. It has the added benefit of attacking the opponent's defensive stats but is calculated with Mewtwo's high Special Attack.

Ice Beam is a strong coverage move that helps it deal with the many Dragon-types in the metagame, and has an added chance to freeze the opponent.

As mentioned above, Hurricane is here to give Mewtwo access to Max Airstream to increase its speed when up against faster threats. Try to preemptively set this up if you know the enemy might bring in someone faster.

Recover is a wonderful choice for this set as it helps you get back the health you steadily lose from Life Orb Damage.

About Mewtwo's EV Spread

We're using a standard Special Attacking set for this build which maximizes Special Attack and Speed. The last 4 EVs can go into the defensive stat of your choice.

About Mewtwo's Ability

Pressure will be our ability of choice which can be useful against enemies who have stronger attacks with lower PP.

About Mewtwo's Held Item

Life Orb gives Mewtwo's attacks a bit more punch at the expense of some HP. Thankfully, Recover can help mitigate this drawback.

Other Viable Moves

Choice Specs Moveset & Best Build

Choice Specs bring Mewtwo's damage to a higher level. Mewtwo's access to a plethora of moves make it an unpredictable threat. It also becomes strong enough to deal with Multiscale Dragonite and Bulky Hippowdon.

About Mewtwo's Moves

Psystrike serves as Mewtwo's primary STAB move. It has the added benefit of attacking the opponent's defensive stats but is calculated with Mewtwo's high Special Attack.

Ice Beam is a strong coverage move that helps it deal with the many Dragon-types in the metagame, and has an added chance to freeze the opponent.

Meanwhile Flamethrower helps it deal with Steel and Ice types and also has the added chance to burn the opponent.

Hurricane is here to give Mewtwo access to Max Airstream to increase its speed when up against faster threats. Try to preemptively set this up if you know the enemy might bring in someone faster.

About Mewtwo's EV Spread

We're using a standard Special Attacking set for this build which maximizes Special Attack and Speed. The last 4 EVs can go into the defensive stat of your choice.

About Mewtwo's Ability

Pressure will be our ability of choice which can be useful against enemies who have stronger attacks with lower PP.

About Mewtwo's Held Item

This build differentiates itself from the previous one by being able to offer more damage at the cost of freedom for move selection. Thankfully, Mewtwo is strong enough that even neutral hits will deal significant damage to the enemy.

Other Viable Moves

How to Use Mewtwo Effectively

A Fast Special Attacker

Mewtwo's 157 Sp.Atk and 130 Spd allows it to take over most Pokemon with ease. Coupled with Life Orb to boost the attacks even more, and Recover for reliable health regeneration, Mewtwo can consistently deal damage while staying healthy.

Take Advantage of its Vast Movepool

Mewtwo's wide selection of moves help keep it unpredicatable. This also makes Mewtwo a versatile member for most teams since it can use moves that the team might need coverage in.

How to Build a Team with Mewtwo

Special Attacker for an Offensive Team

Example Offensive Team

Special Attacker	Physical Attacker	Pivot / Utility
Mewtwo	Cinderace	Wash Rotom

Cinderace, like Mewtwo, benefits from a lot of versatility. Libero allows Cinderace to be safe defensively, while also dealing STAB-damage for each of its attacking moves. It can deal with Steel-type threats such as Zacian thanks to Pyro Ball, Dark-type threats such as Tyranitar thanks to High Jump Kick, and Ghost-type threats thanks to Sucker Punch.

Rotom offers great utility for this team while also sporting a useful Ground-immunity. Wash Rotom can handle the Fire, Water, Ground, and Rock-type Pokemon that the other two might not have coverage for, while also being able to deal chip-damage through Volt Switch before transitioning into a favorable match-up.

With two powerful sweepers on the team, this team should focus on getting favorable matchups to deal super effective damage. Mewtwo's wide coverage helps a lot with this. Feel free to Dynamax either of the sweepers based on what the battle needs.

How to Build an Offensive Team

Counters for Mewtwo

Weakness

Push through with High-Power Pokemon.

Mewtwo isn't that strong defensively. Try to use Pokemon who can outspeed and threaten Mewtwo with strong attacks of their own.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Zacian	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Outspeeds Mewtwo. ・Gets a free attack boost upon switch-in. ・Can also handle Dynamaxed Mewtwo thanks to Behemoth Blade. Moveset & Best Build for Zacian
Calyrex (Shadow Rider)	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Outspeeds Mewtwo ・Deals super-effective damage with Ghost-type STAB. Moveset & Best Build for Calyrex
Yveltal	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Deals super-effective damage with Dark-type STAB. ・Is immune to Mewtwo's STAB moves. Moveset & Best Build for Yveltal
Mimikyu	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Deals super-effective damage with Ghost-type STAB. Notably, Max Phantasm after a Swords Dance can deal significant damage against Mewtwo. ・Has to be careful of Mewtwo's own Ghost-type moves. Moveset & Best Build for Mimikyu
Tyranitar	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Has an immunity to Mewtwo's STAB moves. ・Increased Special Defense in Sandstorm. ・Has to be careful of Mewtwo's Fighting-type moves. Moveset & Best Build for Tyranitar

Related Links

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

Competitive Guides for Pokemon Sword and Shield

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Tier List		Best Builds		Series 10 List of Contenders
Doubles Tier List		Team Building		Rental Teams

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Tapu Koko	Tapu Lele	Tapu Bulu
Tapu Fini	Regieleki	Regidrago
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Cresselia	Glastrier	Spectrier
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Salamence	Garchomp	Metagross
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Pheromosa	Buzzwole	Celesteela
Kartana	Stakataka	Blaziken
Kyogre	Yveltal	Xerneas
Necrozma (Dusk Mane)	Calyrex (Shadow Rider)	Mewtwo
Calyrex (Ice Rider)	Dialga	Lugia
Black Kyurem	Zekrom	Ho-Oh
Rayquaza	Zygarde	Reshiram
White Kyurem	Groudon	Regirock
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Regice	Giratina	Solgaleo
Lunala	Kyurem	Necrozma
Uxie	Mesprit	Azelf
Calyrex