It’s a return that many no longer dared to hope for. After four years of absence in its classic form, Mewtwo will be available again in Pokémon GO, and this time, without going through Level 5 Raids.
To mark the 30th anniversary of the Pokémon franchise, celebrated in 2026, Pokémon GO is hosting a special event from March 3 to 9. Players will be able to encounter the legendary Pokémon Psychic via a temporary GO Pass, accessible for free.
Free Mewtwo in Pokémon GO, dates and operation of the GO Pass
The anniversary event will be held from Tuesday, March 3 to Monday, March 9, 2026. According to the official announcement: “From Tuesday, March 3, to Monday, March 9, Pokemon GO will hold its Pokemon 30th Anniversary event, which features a limited-time GO Pass that leads to an encounter with Mewtwo.”
True translation: Pokémon GO’s 30th anniversary event will run from Tuesday, March 3 to Monday, March 9 and will feature a limited-time GO Pass leading to an encounter with Mewtwo. Concretely, players will have to progress in this GO Pass by completing tasks to unlock the encounter. If they’re lucky, they might even get a Chromatic Mewtwo.
Free or Deluxe GO Pass, what are the differences?
The standard GO Pass will allow access to the encounter with Mewtwo as well as several bonuses.
- Double Capture Candy
- Double XP
From March 7 to 9, there will be no daily limit on GO Pass points, allowing for faster progression. A GO Pass Deluxe version will be offered at $7.99. It will include additional rewards like XL Mewtwo Candies, encounters with Kanto’s legendary trio – Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres – as well as rare Candies.
Featured Pokémon from Kanto and Special Raids
During the event, all Pokémon native to Kanto will appear in the wild, except for Mewtwo, Mew, and regional Pokémon. Developer Scopely specifies that “almost all” of the Pokémon available in Pokémon GO will appear in the wild.
The Kanto forms of Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres will appear exceptionally in the wild, while they are usually reserved for Raids. 1-star Raids will feature Pikachu wearing the hats of Red and Leaf. 3-star Raids will feature Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise. Ditto will also take on several different forms during the event.
A strategic return before GO Fest 2026
The original form of Mewtwo had not returned to Pokémon GO since 2022, although a Shadow Mewtwo was offered during a limited event in 2024. It was previously announced that Mewtwo would return for GO Fest 2026 scheduled for June. This anniversary event therefore offers an early opportunity for players who missed the legendary Pokémon.
Some fans are also speculating about the potential arrival of Mega Mewtwo X and Mega Mewtwo Y later this year, especially after the recent introduction of Super Mega Raids. The Moving Memories season will begin on March 3 and continue until June 2, 2026, marking a new phase for the mobile game developed by Niantic and now operated by Scopely.