The tankiest Psychic in the game just suited up. Armored Mewtwo is back in Pokémon GO raids — and if you’re walking in with the same counters you’d use for regular Mewtwo, you’re in for a surprise. While standard Mewtwo is a glass cannon with sky-high Attack, Armored Mewtwo flips the script with dramatically boosted Defense at the cost of lower offensive power.
This makes it one of the HARDEST raid bosses to take down efficiently — requiring more trainers, longer fights, and precise counter selection. Here’s everything you need to dominate this armored nightmare.
Table of Contents
Pokémon GO Armored Mewtwo — Raid Overview
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Boss | Armored Mewtwo |
| Typing | Pure Psychic |
| Raid Tier | 5-Star Legendary Raid |
| Key Difference | Much higher Defense than regular Mewtwo |
| Attack Stat | 182 (vs. regular Mewtwo’s 300) |
| Defense Stat | 278 (vs. regular Mewtwo’s 182) |
| Stamina | 214 |
| Weaknesses | Bug, Ghost, Dark |
| Resistances | Fighting, Psychic |
| Recommended Trainers | 4–6 (with optimal counters) |
| Shiny Available? | ✅ Yes |
| Shiny Odds | ~1 in 20 (standard Legendary rate) |
| Can Be Soloed? | ❌ No — requires minimum 3–4 high-level trainers |
100% IV CP Values — What to Watch For
After defeating Armored Mewtwo, you’ll encounter it at its base form for catching. Here are the perfect IV CP values:
| Condition | 100% IV CP |
|---|---|
| ☀️ Normal Weather | 1,740 CP |
| 🌬️ Weather Boosted (Windy) | 2,175 CP |
If you see these exact CP numbers — Golden Razz + Excellent curveball throw. That’s a perfect Armored Mewtwo.
Armored Mewtwo vs. Regular Mewtwo — The Key Differences
| Stat | Regular Mewtwo | Armored Mewtwo | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attack | 300 | 182 | 🏆 Regular — far stronger offensively |
| Defense | 182 | 278 | 🏆 Armored — dramatically tankier |
| Stamina | 214 | 214 | Tie |
| Max CP | 4,724 | 3,187 | 🏆 Regular — higher CP ceiling |
| Raid Difficulty | Hard (hits hard) | Harder (takes forever to kill) | 🏆 Armored — longer fights |
| PvP Viability | Great (Master League) | Excellent (Ultra/Master League) | 🏆 Armored — bulkier in PvP |
| Raid Attacker | 🏆 Top-tier — best Psychic DPS | ❌ Poor — too low Attack | Regular wins for PvE |
The critical difference: Armored Mewtwo is NOT a good raid attacker. Its value is in PvP — where its massive Defense and reasonable moveset make it one of the best Ultra League and Master League picks. You’re raiding this for PvP, not for future raid teams.
Weaknesses & Resistances
As a pure Psychic-type, Armored Mewtwo’s weaknesses are straightforward:
| Weakness | Types (Super Effective) |
|---|---|
| ⬆️ 2× Weak To | Bug 🐛, Ghost 👻, Dark 🌑 |
| Resistance | Types (Reduced Damage) |
|---|---|
| ⬇️ Resists | Fighting 👊, Psychic 🔮 |
Dark-types are your best friends. They deal super effective damage AND resist Armored Mewtwo’s Psychic attacks — making them both offensive AND defensive powerhouses in this raid.
Best Counters — Top 10 Attackers
| Rank | Pokémon | Fast Move | Charged Move | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 1 | Mega Gengar | Shadow Claw | Shadow Ball | Ghost |
| 🥈 2 | Mega Tyranitar | Bite | Brutal Swing | Dark |
| 🥉 3 | Shadow Chandelure | Hex | Shadow Ball | Ghost |
| 4 | Mega Banette | Shadow Claw | Shadow Ball | Ghost |
| 5 | Shadow Tyranitar | Bite | Brutal Swing | Dark |
| 6 | Giratina (Origin) | Shadow Claw | Shadow Force | Ghost |
| 7 | Hydreigon | Bite | Brutal Swing | Dark |
| 8 | Darkrai | Snarl | Shadow Ball | Dark |
| 9 | Chandelure | Hex | Shadow Ball | Ghost |
| 10 | Yveltal | Snarl | Dark Pulse | Dark |
Why Dark-Types Dominate This Raid
| Dark-Type Advantage | Detail |
|---|---|
| ⚔️ Super effective damage | Dark hits Psychic for 1.6× damage |
| 🛡️ Resists Psychic moves | Armored Mewtwo’s STAB moves deal reduced damage |
| 💀 Double resistance advantage | Deal MORE + take LESS = longest time on field |
| 🏆 Best overall performance | Dark-types consistently top DPS + TDO against Armored Mewtwo |
Ghost-types also deal super effective damage but DON’T resist Psychic attacks — making them slightly less survivable than Dark-types. However, Mega Gengar’s astronomical DPS earns it the No. 1 spot regardless.
Budget Counters — F2P-Friendly Options
| Pokémon | Fast Move | Charged Move | How to Get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyranitar | Bite | Crunch / Brutal Swing | Larvitar Community Day — very accessible |
| Hydreigon | Bite | Brutal Swing | Deino Community Day — strong pick |
| Gengar | Shadow Claw | Shadow Ball | Gastly evolution — extremely common |
| Weavile | Snarl | Foul Play | Sneasel evolution — easy |
| Honchkrow | Snarl | Dark Pulse | Murkrow evolution — common |
| Houndoom | Snarl | Foul Play | Houndour evolution — accessible |
| Pinsir | Bug Bite | X-Scissor | Bug-type alternative — common |
A team of six Tyranitar with Bite/Brutal Swing is one of the most accessible and effective raid teams you can build — and Larvitar has been available through multiple Community Days, making it easy to power up a full squad.
Recommended Team Compositions
Optimal Team (Experienced Players)
| Slot | Pokémon | Moveset |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mega Gengar | Shadow Claw / Shadow Ball |
| 2 | Shadow Tyranitar | Bite / Brutal Swing |
| 3 | Giratina (Origin) | Shadow Claw / Shadow Force |
| 4 | Hydreigon | Bite / Brutal Swing |
| 5 | Darkrai | Snarl / Shadow Ball |
| 6 | Chandelure | Hex / Shadow Ball |
Budget Team (F2P Players)
| Slot | Pokémon | Moveset |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyranitar | Bite / Brutal Swing |
| 2 | Hydreigon | Bite / Brutal Swing |
| 3 | Gengar | Shadow Claw / Shadow Ball |
| 4 | Weavile | Snarl / Foul Play |
| 5 | Honchkrow | Snarl / Dark Pulse |
| 6 | Houndoom | Snarl / Foul Play |
Armored Mewtwo’s Moveset — What It Throws at You
Understanding the boss’s attacks helps you counter more effectively:
Fast Moves
| Fast Move | Type | Danger Level |
|---|---|---|
| Confusion | Psychic | 🟡 Medium — resisted by Dark-types |
| Iron Tail | Steel | 🟡 Medium — neutral to most counters |
Charged Moves
| Charged Move | Type | Danger Level | Counter Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psystrike | Psychic | 🟢 Low for Dark-types | Dark-types resist — your best counter isn’t threatened |
| Dynamic Punch | Fighting | 🔴 HIGH for Dark-types | Super effective vs. Tyranitar, Hydreigon, Weavile! |
| Rock Slide | Rock | 🟡 Medium | Hits Ghost-types normally |
| Future Sight | Psychic | 🟢 Low for Dark-types | Dark-types double-resist |
| Earthquake | Ground | 🟡 Medium | Hits some counters hard |
⚠️ The Dynamic Punch Problem
If Armored Mewtwo has Dynamic Punch, your Dark-type counters take SUPER EFFECTIVE damage from a Fighting-type charged move. This is the one moveset that can wreck an all-Dark team.
| If Dynamic Punch | Adjustment |
|---|---|
| Tyranitar | ❌ Takes massive damage (double weak — Dark/Rock) |
| Hydreigon | ⚠️ Takes super effective damage |
| Darkrai | ⚠️ Takes super effective damage |
| Switch to Ghost-types | ✅ Ghosts RESIST Fighting — Mega Gengar, Giratina become safer |
Pro Tip: If you notice your Dark-types dying unusually fast, the boss likely has Dynamic Punch. Switch to a Ghost-heavy team for the re-lobby.
Why You Want Armored Mewtwo — PvP Powerhouse
Armored Mewtwo’s value isn’t in raids — it’s in PvP. Its massive Defense stat makes it one of the most durable Pokémon in competitive play:
| PvP Format | Viability | Best Moveset |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 Ultra League | S-Tier — top meta pick | Confusion + Psystrike + Dynamic Punch |
| 🏆 Master League | A-Tier — strong pick | Confusion + Psystrike + Dynamic Punch |
| ❌ Great League | N/A — too high CP | Cannot be used |
Best PvP Moveset
| Move Slot | Move | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Move | Confusion | High damage + STAB + energy generation |
| Charged Move 1 | Psystrike | STAB nuke — excellent damage per energy |
| Charged Move 2 | Dynamic Punch | Coverage — hits Dark-types that resist Psychic |
Dynamic Punch is the key to Armored Mewtwo’s PvP viability — without it, Dark-types completely wall you. With it, you have coverage that catches switch-ins off guard.
Shiny Armored Mewtwo — Is It Worth Hunting?
| Shiny Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Shiny Available | ✅ Yes |
| Shiny Rate | ~1 in 20 (standard Legendary) |
| Shiny Appearance | Green-tinted armor — very distinct |
| Guaranteed Catch? | ❌ No — but Legendary raid bosses have boosted catch rates |
| Rarity | High — Armored Mewtwo raids are infrequent |
| Collector Value | Very High — one of the most sought-after shinies |
At ~1 in 20 odds, you can expect a shiny encounter roughly every 20 raids. Armored Mewtwo raids don’t appear often in the rotation — so when they do, grinding for the shiny is highly recommended for collectors.
Raid Battle Tips — How to Win Efficiently
| Tip | Why It Helps |
|---|---|
| Lead with Mega Gengar or Mega Tyranitar | Mega boost amplifies all allies’ Ghost or Dark damage |
| Bring 5–6 trainers minimum | Armored Mewtwo’s Defense makes it a LONG fight — more DPS = faster clear |
| Dodge Dynamic Punch if possible | Prevents team wipes for Dark-type squads |
| Use Golden Razz + Excellent curveball | Legendary catch rates are low — maximize every throw |
| Weather advantage matters | Fog boosts Ghost + Dark; Windy boosts the boss (avoid Windy!) |
| Re-lobby strategically | If your first team faints, re-enter with a second squad rather than quitting |
| Check for 100% CP | 1,740 (normal) or 2,175 (boosted) = perfect IV |
| Remote raids work | Coordinate with friends globally for more attempts |
The Fog Weather Advantage
| Weather | Effect | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| ☁️ Fog | Boosts Ghost + Dark moves | ✅ BEST — your counters hit harder |
| 🌬️ Windy | Boosts Psychic (boss’s attacks) | ❌ AVOID — boss hits harder + catch CP higher |
| ☀️ Clear/Sunny | Neutral | ➡️ Fine — no advantage either way |
| 🌧️ Rain | Neutral | ➡️ Fine |
Raiding in Fog weather gives your Ghost and Dark counters a ~20% damage boost — potentially reducing the number of trainers needed from 5 to 4 with optimal teams.
Armored Mewtwo’s Origin — Why It Exists
Armored Mewtwo originated from the 2019 animated film “Mewtwo Strikes Back — Evolution,” where Mewtwo wears restrictive armor designed to suppress and control its immense psychic power. The armor was created by Giovanni (Team Rocket’s leader) to contain Mewtwo as a weapon.
In Pokémon GO, Armored Mewtwo translates this narrative directly into gameplay — the armor suppresses Attack (lower than regular Mewtwo) while providing massive Defense (higher than regular Mewtwo). It’s one of the most lore-accurate stat translations in the entire game.
For a comprehensive overview of Mewtwo’s history across the Pokémon franchise, visit the official Mewtwo Wikipedia page.
Should You Power Up Armored Mewtwo?
| Use Case | Power Up? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 PvP (Ultra League) | ✅ YES — top priority | One of the strongest Ultra League picks |
| 🏆 PvP (Master League) | 🟡 Maybe — if you lack better options | Viable but not top-tier at max CP |
| ⚔️ Raid Attacker | ❌ NO — don’t waste resources | 182 Attack is too low for meaningful raid DPS |
| 📦 Collection | ✅ Keep one — don’t power up | Collector’s item — save stardust |
The Bottom Line on Investment: Power up ONE Armored Mewtwo for Ultra League PvP — it’s worth the Stardust and Rare Candy investment. Don’t power up a second unless you need one for Master League too. And never use Armored Mewtwo as a raid attacker — regular Mewtwo is leagues better for PvE.
Quick Reference — Raid Cheat Sheet
| Category | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Best Counters | Mega Gengar, Mega Tyranitar, Shadow Chandelure, Giratina-O |
| Budget Counters | Tyranitar, Hydreigon, Gengar, Weavile |
| Weaknesses | Bug, Ghost, Dark (best) |
| Avoid | Fighting-types, Psychic-types |
| Trainers Needed | 4–6 (with optimal counters) |
| 100% IV CP | 1,740 (normal) / 2,175 (boosted) |
| Shiny Odds | ~1 in 20 |
| Power Up For | Ultra League PvP (Confusion / Psystrike / Dynamic Punch) |
| Don’t Power Up For | Raids — Attack stat too low |
| Best Weather | Fog (boosts Ghost + Dark counters) |
| Worst Weather | Windy (boosts boss’s Psychic attacks) |
👉 Also Read: Latest Gaming News & Guides on TechnoSports
👉 Also Read: Trending Tech & Gaming Stories This Week
FAQs
Q: What are the best counters for Armored Mewtwo in Pokémon GO?
The best counters are Mega Gengar (Shadow Claw/Shadow Ball), Mega Tyranitar (Bite/Brutal Swing), Shadow Chandelure (Hex/Shadow Ball), and Giratina Origin (Shadow Claw/Shadow Force). Dark-types are ideal because they deal super effective damage AND resist Armored Mewtwo’s Psychic attacks. However, watch out for Dynamic Punch — if the boss has this Fighting-type charged move, switch to Ghost-type counters instead.
Q: What CP indicates a 100% IV Armored Mewtwo?
After defeating Armored Mewtwo, look for 1,740 CP in normal weather or 2,175 CP in weather-boosted (Windy) conditions. Shiny Armored Mewtwo is also available at approximately 1 in 20 odds. Power up Armored Mewtwo for PvP (Ultra League) rather than raids — its 278 Defense makes it a PvP tank, but its 182 Attack is too low for meaningful raid DPS.
