You get Mewtwo in Pokemon Legends Z-A by claiming the free Mewtwonite X and Mewtwonite Y Mega Stones through Mystery Gift, finishing the main story, and then walking down into Lysandre Labs beneath Lysandre Cafe, which starts the “Project M” side mission and a level 70 Mewtwo encounter on B3F. Catch it, and it can Mega Evolve into Mega Mewtwo X or Mega Mewtwo Y depending on which stone it holds. Below we cover the requirements, the exact menu steps for the gift, how to start the mission, how to catch Mewtwo without wasting it, and how the two Mega forms work.
The requirements here are verified against the official Mewtwo announcement and the patch notes for Pokemon Legends Z-A through version 2.0.2. It works the same on Nintendo Switch and in the Switch 2 Edition.
What You Need Before Mewtwo Appears
Three things have to line up before the mission appears:
- The main story must be finished. The Pokemon Company’s Mewtwo announcement is explicit that the extra side mission needs the main story completed. Per the community wiki, it opens alongside the first post-game mission.
- Both Mega Stones must be in your Satchel. Mewtwonite X and Mewtwonite Y sit in the Satchel’s Mega Stones pocket once claimed. The mission triggers because the lab detects them.
- An internet connection for the gift. Mystery Gift over the internet needs your console online with a Nintendo Account linked to your user profile. The official page also notes that Mystery Gift itself only unlocks after roughly an hour of play.
You do not need the Mega Dimension DLC. The distribution went live on December 2, 2025 for the base game on both Switch and Switch 2, and as of this writing no end date has been announced. You can claim the stones early in the story and simply hold them until the credits roll.
How to Claim Mewtwonite X and Mewtwonite Y
| Step | What to press or select |
|---|---|
| Open the menu | X |
| Open online features | Link Play |
| Open gifts | Mystery Gift |
| Download the distribution | Get via Internet, then pick the Mewtwonite gift |
| Check it arrived | Satchel, Mega Stones pocket |
Save your game after the gift is received, then check the Mega Stones pocket to confirm both stones arrived.
How to Start the Project M Side Mission
Lysandre Cafe is in Magenta Plaza, in the Magenta District. The labs sit beneath it, and you will recognize the route down from the story. Once the credits have rolled and the stones are in your Satchel:
- Fast travel near Magenta Plaza and walk into Lysandre Cafe.
- Head down into Lysandre Labs and ride the elevator to B3F.
- Follow the corridor to the end of the lab. As you enter, the lab reactivates, Mable calls you, and the side mission “Project M” begins. The community side mission list files it as EX2.
- Approach Mewtwo to start the battle.
How to Catch Mewtwo
Mewtwo is a level 70 pure Psychic type. Per the community wiki’s mission data, it knows Psychic, Aura Sphere, Psycho Cut and Amnesia, and it holds no item, so it will not Mega Evolve against you.
- Bring Bug, Ghost and Dark moves. Those are Mewtwo’s weaknesses, while Psychic resists Fighting moves.
- Heal before you go in. Stop at a Pokemon Center or buy a drink at any cafe (cafe drinks heal your team) before heading underground, so you start the fight at full strength.
- Chip it down, then inflict a status. Paralysis or sleep makes a real difference to a low catch rate.
- Throw your best balls. Stock Ultra Balls at any Pokemon Center before the trip. Player guides report that Mewtwo breaks out of balls often, so bring plenty.
- Do not panic if you knock it out. Player guides report that Mable scolds you and the mission resets to just before the encounter. We still recommend saving before you walk in.
Per the community wiki, catching Mewtwo completes the mission and adds an Exp. Candy XL to your Satchel. There is only one Mewtwo per save file.
How Mega Mewtwo X and Mega Mewtwo Y Work
Mewtwo holds one Mega Stone at a time, and the stone decides the form:
| Held stone | Mega form | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Mewtwonite X | Mega Mewtwo X | Psychic and Fighting |
| Mewtwonite Y | Mega Mewtwo Y | Psychic |
To switch forms, give Mewtwo the other stone from your Satchel outside of battle. In battle, Mega Evolution in Z-A runs on Mega Power: you build the gauge by landing attacks, and player guides describe triggering it by clicking in the right stick once the gauge has charge.
If you want to use Mewtwo competitively, each ranked season sets its own rules, so check our Ranked Battles Season 17 guide before you build around it. Thinking of moving Mewtwo into Pokemon HOME? Read our HOME transfer guide first, because the official rules say Pokemon cannot be transferred from Z-A to earlier games. Still choosing a version for the post-game? See whether the Switch 2 Edition is worth it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need the Mega Dimension DLC to get Mewtwo in Pokemon Legends Z-A? No. The Mewtwonite X and Mewtwonite Y distribution is for the base game on Switch and Switch 2, and the Project M side mission runs without the DLC.
Is the Mewtwo Mystery Gift still available? It started on December 2, 2025, and no end date has been announced as of September 2026. Claim it through X, Link Play, Mystery Gift, Get via Internet.
Can you get Mewtwo before beating the story? You can claim the stones early, but the side mission will not start until the main story is complete. Keep both stones in your Satchel until then.
What level is Mewtwo in Legends Z-A? Level 70. Bring a team near that level and moves of the Bug, Ghost or Dark type.
What happens if you knock out Mewtwo? Player guides report that the mission resets to just before the battle, so you can try again. Saving before you enter B3F is still the safest plan.
Can one Mewtwo use both Mega Evolutions? Yes, but not at once. Mewtwo holds one stone at a time, so swap Mewtwonite X for Mewtwonite Y outside of battle to change which Mega form it takes.