MEW redirects here. For the Pokémon Trading Card Game set that uses this set identifier, see 151 (TCG).

Mew (Japanese: ミュウ Mew) is a Psychic-type Mythical Pokémon introduced in Generation I.

It is not known to evolve into or from any other Pokémon.

Mew is notable for its unique ability to learn every Technical Machine, Technical Record, Hidden Machine, and Move Tutor move (except those exclusive to a particular Pokémon or group of Pokémon, such as Volt Tackle and Secret Sword).

It is a member of the Mew duo along with Mewtwo.

Mew was first officially revealed in the May 1996 issue of CoroCoro,[1] less than two months after Pokémon Red and Green were released in Japan.

Table of Contents

Biology

Mew is a pink, bipedal Pokémon with mammalian features. It has a rounded, wide snout; triangular ears; and large, blue eyes. It has short arms with three-fingered paws and large hind paws with oval markings on the soles. Its tail is long and thin with an ovoid tip. Its fur is so fine and thin, it can only be seen under a microscope.

Mew has shown a playful, childish personality, showing signs of high intelligence, curiosity, shyness, playfulness, and even selflessness. It is said to have the DNA of every single Pokémon contained within its body. This causes many scientists to theorize that Mew is the ancestor of all Pokémon. It is an incredibly adaptable species, capable of levitation and teleportation. It can use almost all known moves, regardless of their types. It has also shown the rare power to transform into all known Pokémon. It is capable of making itself invisible at will, so it entirely avoids notice even if it approaches people. As seen on several occasions, it has the ability to create an orb of energy around itself for protection, which can come in many colors, such as green, yellow, and pink.

According to journals found in Kanto's Pokémon Mansion, Mr. Fuji is the one who discovered Mew deep in the jungle and coined its name. With other scientists, he managed to gather some of Mew's DNA and used it in his mansion to create a modified clone of it, aiming it to be the most powerful Pokémon of all, which resulted in the birth of the Legendary Pokémon Mewtwo. Since Mew can make itself invisible, very few people have seen it, leading some scientists to declare it extinct and most to assume it to be nothing, but a mirage. However, sightings of it are still being reported to this day, confirming its existence. Even though it's rarely seen, it will willingly show itself to a person who is pure of heart and has a strong desire to see it.

According to the anime's radio drama, The Birth of Mewtwo, Mew was discovered by Jessie's mother, Miyamoto, who registered its cry in a forest 20 years before the events of the series. It was worshiped for its protection by ancient people who created a song in its honor and believed it appeared once a year with the rising sun. It wasn't rediscovered until 18 years after Miyamoto met Mew by sunrise on the peak of a high mountain. As depicted in the episode In the Palms of our Hands! it is capable of splitting itself up and transforming into more than one Pokémon at the same time. It was also shown to possess a strong rivalry with its clone, Mewtwo in Mewtwo Strikes Back.

Mew is the only known Pokémon capable of using the Z-Move Genesis Supernova.

Game data

NPC appearances

Spoilers end here.

Pokédex entries

The Pokédex entry from Japanese Pokémon Blue and LeafGreen had some localization changes:

In the German version of Pokémon Stadium, Mew's entry does not mention South America; instead, it says that Mew has been seen in "Niemandsland" (No Man's Land).

Generation I Kanto#151
Red(JPN) (This entry was originally untranslated in English until it was reused in Pokémon FireRed.)
Green
Red(ENG) So rare that it is still said to be a mirage by many experts. Only a few people have seen it worldwide.
Blue
Yellow When viewed through a microscope, this Pokémon's short, fine, delicate hair can be seen.
Stadium A mythical Pokémon of South America which had been thought extinct. A growing number of people have seen it recently.
Generation II Johto#250
Gold Apparently, it appears only to those people who are pure of heart and have a strong desire to see it.
Silver Its DNA is said to contain the genetic codes of all Pokémon, so it can use all kinds of techniques.
Crystal Because it can learn any move, some people began research to see if it is the ancestor of all Pokémon.
Stadium 2 Apparently, it appears only to those people who are pure of heart and have a strong desire to see it.
Generation III Hoenn#— Kanto#151
Ruby Mew is said to possess the genetic composition of all Pokémon. It is capable of making itself invisible at will, so it entirely avoids notice even if it approaches people.
Sapphire
Emerald A Mew is said to possess the genes of all Pokémon. It is capable of making itself invisible at will, so it entirely avoids notice even if it approaches people.
FireRed A Pokémon of South America that was thought to have been extinct. It is very intelligent and learns any move.
LeafGreen So rare that it is still said to be a mirage by many experts. Only a few people have seen it worldwide.
Generation IV Sinnoh#— Johto#255
Diamond Because it can use all kinds of moves, many scientists believe Mew to be the ancestor of Pokémon.
Pearl
Platinum
HeartGold Apparently, it appears only to those people who are pure of heart and have a strong desire to see it.
SoulSilver Its DNA is said to contain the genetic codes of all Pokémon, so it can use all kinds of techniques.
Generation V Unova#—
Black Because it is able to use every move, there are many scientists who believe that it is the ancestor of all Pokémon.
White
Black 2 Because it can use all kinds of moves, many scientists believe Mew to be the ancestor of Pokémon.
White 2
Generation VI Kalos#— Hoenn#—
X Because it can use all kinds of moves, many scientists believe Mew to be the ancestor of Pokémon.
Y Its DNA is said to contain the genetic codes of all Pokémon, so it can use all kinds of techniques.
Omega Ruby Mew is said to possess the genetic composition of all Pokémon. It is capable of making itself invisible at will, so it entirely avoids notice even if it approaches people.
Alpha Sapphire
Generation VIII Galar#— Sinnoh#— Hisui#—
This Pokémon has no Pokédex entries in Legends: Arceus.
Sword It's very intelligent and can use an incredible variety of moves. Many believe that all other Pokémon are descendants of this one.*
Shield This mythical Pokémon is said to be extinct, but sightings of it are still being reported to this day.*
Brilliant Diamond Because it can use all kinds of moves, many scientists believe Mew to be the ancestor of Pokémon.
Shining Pearl

Game locations

Generation I
Generation II
Generation III
Generation IV
Generation V
Generation VI
Generation VII
Generation VIII
Generation IX

In side games

Generation I
Generation II
This Pokémon is unavailable in Generation II side games.
Generation III
Generation IV
Generation V
Generation VI
Generation VII
Generation VIII
Cross-Generation

Also, in Pokémon Stadium and Pokémon Stadium 2, Mew is available as a rental Pokémon after the player beats Round 1 of the Prime Cup.

In events

Held items

Pokémon caught in Generation I must be traded to a Generation II game in order for a held item to appear.

Stats

Base stats

Pokéathlon stats

Speed
4/5 ★★★★☆
Power
2/5 ★★☆☆☆
Skill
5/5 ★★★★★
Jump
3/5 ★★★☆☆
Total
18/25 ★★★☆☆

Type effectiveness

Under normal battle conditions in Generation IX, this Pokémon is:
Damagednormally by:
Immune to:
Resistant to:

While Mew is Transformed into other Pokémon, type effectiveness depends on the type(s) of the Pokémon transformed into.

Learnset

By leveling up

Generation IX
  • Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Mew
  • Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Mew
  • Click on the generation numbers at the top to see level-up moves from other generations

By TM

By breeding

Generation IX
  • Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Mew
  • Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Mew
  • Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Mew
  • Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Egg moves from other generations

Side game data

Pokémon Ranger
Group: Poké Assist: Field move: None
Loops: 18 Min. exp.: 150 Max. exp.: 250
Browser entry R-213
Mew is a rare Pokémon considered to be a mirage. It does flips and can go invisible.
Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs
Group: Not available in the present.
Poké Assist:(past) Field move:(past) (Psy Power ×1)
Browser entry N-222
It lets loose psychic orbs at Pokémon.
Pokémon Rumble Rush
Walking Speed: 2.08 seconds Base HP: 59
Base Attack: 83 Base Defense: 59 Base Speed: 70
Pokémon Battle Trozei
Attack Power: ★★★★★

Power of Six
Increases the damage dealt by matching six Pokémon.
Pokémon GO
Base HP: 225 Base Attack: 210 Base Defense: 210
Egg Distance: N/A Buddy Distance: 20 km Evolution Requirement: N/A
Fast Attacks: Pound, Steel Wing, Charge Beam, Shadow Claw, Volt Switch, Struggle Bug, Frost Breath, Dragon Tail, Infestation, Poison Jab, Rock Smash, Snarl, Cut, Waterfall
Charged Attacks: Psychic, Ancient Power, Dragon Claw, Psyshock, Ice Beam, Blizzard, Hyper Beam, Solar Beam, Thunderbolt, Thunder, Flame Charge, Low Sweep, Overheat, Focus Blast, Energy Ball, Stone Edge, Gyro Ball, Bulldoze, Rock Slide, Grass Knot, Flash Cannon, Wild Charge, Dark Pulse, Dazzling Gleam, Surf
New Pokémon Snap
Photodex entry #060
Mew is an incredibly intelligent Pokémon that lives hidden in the ruins. People say it only appears before those who are pure of heart.

In Pokémon GO, Mew can be obtained by completing the Special Research, A Mythical Discovery.

Evolution data

Sprites

Generation I
Generation II
Generation III
Generation IV
Generation V
Generation VI
Generation VII
Generation VIII
Cross-Generation

In the anime

Main series

Major appearances

Mew (M01)

In Mewtwo Strikes Back, a Mew fought its clone Mewtwo to stop it from destroying the world. Afterwards, it made cameo appearances in anime works related to the movie, such as The Uncut Story of Mewtwo's Origin and Mewtwo Returns before the movie was remade into Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution.

Mew (M08)

A Mew was the guardian of the Tree of Beginning in Lucario and the Mystery of Mew.

Mew (anime)
Mew in the main series

Mew first appeared in a flashback in Enter Pikachu!, four years prior to the events of Pokémon - I Choose You!. Goh and Chloe spotted it while attending Professor Oak's Summer Camp, where it was seen battling a Nidoking. Mew soon ran off, leading Goh and Chloe to chase it. This Mew has made further appearances in Pokémon Journeys: The Series.

Other

A Mew appeared in PK14.

In The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon, a Mirage Mew helped sabotage the Mirage Master's plans.

Minor appearances

A Mew appeared in the opening sequence of Destiny Deoxys.

In the opening sequence of The Rise of Darkrai, a Mew was attacked by Mewtwo.

Mew made its main series debut in the boss fantasy of A Lean Mean Team Rocket Machine!. As of this episode, every Generation I Pokémon appeared in at least one episode of the anime.

In Genesect and the Legend Awakened, an image of a Mew was on a computer screen used by Mewtwo's creators.

A Mew appeared in the ending credits in Meloetta's Moonlight Serenade.

Mew made its main series physical debut in Alola, Kanto!, flying around near Professor Oak's Laboratory. As of this episode, every Generation I Pokémon physically appeared in at least one episode of the anime.

A Mew appeared in a fantasy in That New Old Gang of Mine!.

A silhouetted Mew appeared in a fantasy in Healing the Healer!.

Pokémon Origins

A Mew appeared at the end of File 4: Charizard, being the only Generation I Pokémon that Red had not caught by the end of the miniseries.

GOTCHA!

A Mew briefly appeared in GOTCHA!.

In the manga

Movie adaptations

Main article: Mew (M01)
Main article: Mew (M08)

Two different Mew appear in the manga adaptations of the first and eighth Pokémon movies.

Pokémon Adventures

Main article: Mew (Adventures)

Mew debuted in A Glimpse of the Glow.

In The Jynx Jinx, Green's Ditto, nicknamed Ditty, transformed into Mew as an example to Red. It later used this form to lure the Team Rocket Grunts away.

Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys

A Mew appeared as a silhouette in Let's Aim For The Goal!.

Pokémon Journeys: The Series

A Mew appeared in a flashback in Being Stalked by a Scorbunny–and Challenging a Snorlax in Dynamax Form?!.

A Mew appeared in Getting More than You Battled For!.

Pokémon Pocket Monsters

A Mew appeared in Obtain the Moon Stone!!, where it was revealed to be a woman who accidentally transformed into Mew after an experiment went wrong. She eventually reverted to her normal form.

Giovanni caught a Mew as part of the supplies used for the creation of Mewtwo. It was released along with Mewtwo after the creation was unsuccessful.

Pokémon Ruby-Sapphire

Red befriended a Mew in Showdown! Clefairy VS Mew!!.

In the TCG

Main article: Mew (TCG)

Other appearances

Mew trophy in Super Smash Bros. for 3DS

Super Smash Bros. series

In Super Smash Bros., Mew will sometimes appear out of a Poké Ball. When summoned, it will use Fly to leave the arena. In single-player, the summoner is awarded the "Mew Catcher" bonus, worth 15,000 points.

After unlocking every character in Super Smash Bros. Melee, there is a 1 in 251 chance of Mew appearing from a Poké Ball. The thrower of the Poké Ball receives the same "Mew Catcher" bonus.

Mew returns again as a rare Pokémon in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, the chance of it appearing is 1 in 493 this time. Like the other "secret" Pokémon, it drops rare items instead of just flying away. In Mew's case, the items are CDs. However, once all the pick-up CDs are obtained, it will drop Stickers instead.

Mew returns in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U and comes out of a Poké Ball (rarely) and/or Master Ball (rare, but less rare than a Poké Ball).

Mew returns yet again in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, once again as a rare Poké Ball summon, but also as a Spirit.

Throughout the series, Mew, much like Mewtwo, is roughly akin to its portrayal in the first movie, especially having Kōichi Yamadera reprise his role.

Melee trophy information

Mew is an extremely rare Pokémon that has been seen by only a few people. Information on every Pokémon in the world is contained in Mew's cell structure, so it has the ability to use any and all TMs and HMs. Some Pokémon scholars believe Mew to be the ancestor of all existing Pokémon, but the idea is debatable.

Brawl trophy information

"A New Species Pokémon. An extremely rare Pokémon that contains the DNA of all other Pokémon, it is thought by many scholars to be a Pokémon ancestor, considering the wide range of moves it can use. On top of being able to make itself invisible, Mew can also transform into any opponent Pokémon and use characteristics and moves in exactly the same way."

3DS/Wii U trophy information

Mew appears as a trophy in both versions of the game.

NA: Mew is a Pokémon previously thought to be extinct but rediscovered by Dr. Fuji. This Legendary Pokémon doesn't often show itself to humans, so it is considered quite lucky to see one. In Smash Bros., Mew will appear and then use Fly to sail away, leaving behind a gift. Thanks, Mew!

PAL: Mew was thought to be extinct until it was rediscovered by Dr. Fuji in Guyana. This Mythical Pokémon doesn't often show itself to humans, so it's considered very lucky to see one. In this game, it will float upwards and leave a present behind. If only Mew would turn up more often, eh?

Mew in Pokémon UNITE

Pokémon Snap

Mew appears in the seventh course, Rainbow Cloud. Although the game is not combat-oriented, the difficulty of photographing Mew effectively makes it the game's boss. Mew floats in a bubble that turns opaque when the zoom is activated, so players must throw a series of Pester Balls or Food at it to break the bubble so Mew will come out for a clear shot. Photographing Mew gets an automatic bonus of 2,500 points, making it the highest-ranking Pokémon in the game with the highest possible score of 10,000 points with perfect positioning, size, and pose.

Pokémon UNITE

Main article: Mew (UNITE)

Mew is playable through obtaining a Unite License. It is a ranged attacker.

Celestial

Mew appeared in the music video for Celestial by Ed Sheeran.

Music

This is a list of music associated with Mew in the Pokémon games.

Trivia

Mew's discovery date.

Origin

Bulbanews has an article related to this subject:

Designer Shigeki Morimoto stated that Mew's design was based on Mewtwo. Its design was made simpler than Mewtwo in order to take up less space on the cartridge.[7][8]

Mew's overall physical appearance appears to be based on domestic cats. Several of Mew's features, such as a short muzzle and large hind feet, are commonly found in cats. Its morphology is also vaguely similar to a jerboa, having large hind legs and a long skinny tail. Mew's earliest design in Pokémon Red and Green resembled a vertebrate embryo, featuring a large head and small body. Mew was soon revised and became mostly mammalian with cat-like traits, while still retaining several embryonic features such as having short fine hair and small forearms. Mew is believed by scientists to be the last universal common ancestor of all other Pokémon, which, along with its resemblance to an embryo, may be a reference to the recapitulation theory.

Name origin

Mew may be a combination of mutant or mutation and new. It may also involve 妙 myō (wonderful, exquisite).

According to Julien Bardakoff, the French localizer for Pokémon Red and Blue, he asked if Mew's name was based on the English onomatopoeia for a cat's meow, and was explicitly told it was not.[9]

In other languages

Notes

References