Mew, a Legendary Psychic-type pocket monster from Kanto, has been a recent topic of discussion among several trainers in the Pokémon GO community regarding its Shiny variation. Mew is doubtless one of the favorite Legendaries that players can capture during their journey of the AR Realm, and finding a Shiny variant of this rare and highly sought-after creature would certainly be an outstanding achievement. For those unfamiliar with Mew’s Shiny appearance, the pocket monster features light, sky-blue skin in contrast to its classic pastel-pink look. Continue reading to learn how Trainers might be able to get Shiny Mew in Pokémon GO.
[Updated August 12, 2024 – Fixed inconsistencies and updated links]
Catching Shiny Mew in Pokémon GO
In 2021, Niantic held a live Kanto Tour event during which Trainers were able to purchase Event Tickets to participate. On the date of the event, players received various Special Research Tasks for rewards. One of these rewards was a guaranteed encounter with a Shiny blue Mew in Pokémon GO.
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Unfortunately, Shiny Mew is no longer available, at least not for now in Pokémon GO. Of course, this information does not mean that Shiny Mew cannot make a return in the future in another event, but it is unlikely that Trainers will see this ultra-rare Legendary pocket monster anytime soon. There are hundreds of Pokémon to catch, with more being introduced into the game on a regular basis. The chance of Niantic offering a rerun for past live events is unlikely, as it goes against the FOMO model of all mobile-based games. Such a disadvantage is not the fault of Niantic or Pokémon GO, but the responsibility falls upon the mobile industry as a whole and the consumers who willingly accept such practices.
While catching the Shiny Mew variant is currently out of the question, Pokémon GO Trainers can still obtain the standard version by completing “A Mythical Discovery,” an 8-Step Special Research questline that concludes with players receiving a guaranteed encounter with the Legendary Pokémon. However, fulfilling the tasks of this Special Research is far from easy, as Trainers must do activities such as “Catch a Ditto,” “Evolve a Magikarp,” and “Earn a Kanto Gold Medal.” Completion of these tasks is heavily dependent on RNG, meaning that it could be weeks or months before players ever finish “A Mythical Discovery” and receive their Mew.
