Editing Mewtwo (SSBU)

'''Mewtwo''' ({{ja|ミュウツー|Myūtsū}}, ''Mewtwo'') is a playable character in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''. It was officially revealed on June 12th, 2018 alongside {{SSBU|Meta Knight}} and the rest of the [[veteran]]s. Like in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'', Mewtwo is once again an unlockable character. Mewtwo is classified as [[Fighter number|Fighter #24]].

{{iw|wikipedia|Keiji Fujiwara}}'s portrayal of Mewtwo from ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]'' was repurposed for ''Ultimate''. This is also the last game for which Fujiwara voiced Mewtwo prior to his death in April 2020.

 

 

 

Overall, while Mewtwo possesses strong tools and high KO power, as well as a powerful projectile and combo game courtesy of Shadow Ball, it is difficult for it to find consistency due to its undesirable combination of being a very large and lightweight character. As a result, Mewtwo rarely sees representation in competitive play, with most of its major representation coming from {{Sm|WaDi}} prior to his leave from competitive play.

Mewtwo is a large, tall fighter with a slew of powerful moves, but it is actually a [[weight|lightweight]] fighter (tied for 7th lightest in the game with {{SSBU|Kirby}}, {{SSBU|Pikachu}}, {{SSBU|Olimar}}, and {{SSBU|Sephiroth}}). Despite its size, Mewtwo's overall mobility is outstanding: it has above-average [[traction]], the 20th fastest [[walk]]ing speed, the 9th fastest [[dash]]ing speed, is tied (with {{SSBU|Bowser}}, {{SSBU|Marth}}, {{SSBU|Lucina}}, and {{SSBU|Lucario}}) for the 6th fastest initial dash, and has the 3rd fastest [[air speed]] in the game. Mewtwo has a low initial [[jump]], but its short hop is rather high and its double jump is the highest in the game (albeit delayed); additionally, Mewtwo has average [[air acceleration]] and [[falling speed]] with below-average [[gravity]]. Given these attributes, Mewtwo falls squarely into the glass cannon category and must use its uniquely fast mobility to land devastating blows while avoiding close-quarters combat where its size – particularly its notoriously vulnerable tail – and light weight can become a liability.

Mewtwo's overall damage output is very high, especially in regard to its grounded moves. [[Neutral attack]] is a fairly disjointed [[neutral infinite]] that can regularly rack up 20% or more damage if the opponent is caught at close range, but it is unsafe on shield. [[Forward tilt]] is a strong tail swipe with good range and a sweetspot that can KO reliably at high percentages while near the edge, but it has moderate start-up and ending lag. In addition to its deceptively high power, it can also be angled to serve as a niche anti-air or ledge-hanging punish option. [[Up tilt]] is an overhead tail swipe with generous range around Mewtwo's entire body and its large but brief sweetspot (located directly in front of Mewtwo) launches opponents up and toward Mewtwo, making it an excellent combo starter in neutral. [[Down tilt]] is a low tail sweep boasting relatively low ending lag, quick start-up, and good grounded range while launching opponents at mostly vertical angles. This makes it a great neutral and combo tool, comboing into all of Mewtwo's aerials and up tilt if the opponent is hit at close range. While down tilt is technically unsafe on shield, its overall quick speed and long range make it difficult to punish if an enemy reacts too slowly.

On the contrary, [[down smash]] is safe on shield and is notorious for causing immense shield damage if it connects. Nonetheless, it is still a risky move to use in the neutral game, due to it having the most amount of start-up among all of Mewtwo's smash attacks and being one of the few down smashes in the entire game to only hit on one side. In contrast, [[Up smash]] has the quickest start-up of all Mewtwo's smash attacks and is a great anti-air to catch forced landings, but also has the highest ending lag and is generally the most punishable move in Mewtwo's moveset. [[Forward smash]] has decent range, can be angled and is Mewtwo's most powerful smash attack in terms of knockback when spaced (being able to KO at mid percentages while close to the edge) and can potentially allow it to dodge attacks via shifting its hurtbox, since it leans back just before charging it, but has noticeable ending lag and is also not safe on shield if landed at close range. These traits make Mewtwo one of the strongest characters in the game in terms of outright KO power, though it is optimal for players to not play too close to opponents with quick movement, disjointed range, or attacks that are fast enough to punish any mistakes. However, Mewtwo can also use its great ground and air speed to mix up approaches and punish mistakes using these moves, making it necessary for high-level players to recognize when to approach offensively.

Mewtwo's aerials are some of the best in the game, with generally quick start-up, low landing lag, long range and great power. [[Forward aerial]] is a claw swipe that serves as a safe poke when spaced on landing, a useful combo starter at low percentages, and a reliable KO option; it is considered by many to be among the best forward aerials in the game due to its safety, speed, and power. [[Neutral aerial]] consists of Mewtwo emitting electricity from its hands and feet for multiple hits, before launching opponents away with a large electricity discharge surrounding its full body. The move is a capable combo starter at all percentages, and is a safe poke when it is spaced sufficiently; it is also Mewtwo's best out-of-shield option due to his aerial speed allowing it to safely escape pressure (compared to committing to its laggy up smash). Though its forward and neutral aerials are fast and threatening, they are only slightly disjointed and the former lacks range. This makes Mewtwo's approach game with these moves significantly weaker against opponents that have long weapons or strong projectiles.

[[Back aerial]] is Mewtwo's second slowest aerial, primarily being used to wall out offstage opponents who have poor range and/or recoveries. However, it can be beaten out by disjoints easily, cannot reliably hit close to ground at any height, and leaves Mewtwo's tail very vulnerable if it whiffs. Since it swings its tail upwards, it is also less effective when Mewtwo is falling downwards, and is better used while Mewtwo is rising from its midair jump. As a result, it cannot fulfill the role of giving Mewtwo good effective range in the neutral game. [[Up aerial]] is one of Mewtwo’s best moves, as it has decent start up, short end and landing lag, covers a large arc starting directly in front of Mewtwo’s face, and has incredibly strong power. Altogether, these traits make the move relatively safe to use in neutral and excellent for punishing landings or reckless edgeguards. [[Down aerial]] has the most startup of Mewtwo's aerials, but is a very strong [[meteor smash]] when sweetspotted, has a decently disjointed hitbox directly beneath Mewtwo that can [[Edge#2_frame_punish|two frame punish]], and can also serve as a situational combo starter at low to medium percentages.

Mewtwo's [[neutral special]], [[Shadow Ball]], has excellent versatility, as it can combo into virtually any of Mewtwo's quicker moves at any percent depending on the charge of the projectile. When fully charged, it also becomes a reliable KO move at high percents, and deals decent [[shield]] damage for good measure. In midair, it can even be used as a landing mixup, as the recoil from the fully charged variant pushes Mewtwo back a considerable distance. Mewtwo can utilize techs like [[wavebounce]]s, [[B-reverse]]s, Shadow Ball cancels and turnaround specials to make its movement even more tricky, improving its baits and punishes. However, it has a decent amount of startup, making it risky to use at close range. Its [[side special]], [[Confusion]], is a command grab with a very large grabbox that doubles as a somewhat slow but very active [[reflector]] and can be used for combo setups, though alert opponents can react out of it before Mewtwo below a certain amount of damage.

Mewtwo's [[down special]], [[Disable]], is a risky option in most situations due to its start-up, high ending lag and its requirement that the opponent be within a very short distance away while also facing Mewtwo on the ground for it to work. However, if landed at mid to high percentages, it more often than not leads to a guaranteed stock by allowing Mewtwo to punish the opponent with any option that will KO, such as with Down Smash or a charged, upward-angled Forward Smash. It additionally has intangibility frames before the attack comes out, making it easier to beat out poor grounded approaches with while also ensuring that Mewtwo will not stun the opponent while simultaneously taking a hit, and serving as a very niche defensive option in the air.

Mewtwo also possesses a strong [[grab]] game. Its [[up throw]] and [[back throw]] are both among the strongest in the cast, while [[forward throw]] is excellent at racking up damage at low percentages and possibly killing near the ledge at higher percentages. Mewtwo's [[down throw]] has respectable combo potential: it can combo into upward angled forward tilt and up tilt (depending on the opponent's DI) at low percentages, and into forward aerial at medium percentages, with the latter also being a reliable KO combo on the majority of the cast at high percentages if they fail to DI properly. Mewtwo's grab range is only slightly above average which can sometimes hurt the utility of its throws in close-quarters combat or out of shield, but its dash grab is relatively quick and has great range due to Mewtwo's very fast dashing speed, making it useful as a surprise burst option.

Due to Mewtwo's varied attributes and [[special moves]], its [[recovery]] potential is arguably the best in the game. Its combination of having the 3rd fastest air speed, the highest double jump in the game, low gravity and average falling speed give it great longevity and mobility off-stage. [[Teleport]], its primary recovery move, covers a long distance and provides full intangibility and directional mobility, making it nearly impossible to [[edgeguard]] if Mewtwo chooses to teleport to the edge from above. Furthermore, two of its other special moves offer a form of assistance with recovery: a fully charged Shadow Ball's recoil can push Mewtwo back far enough to be a viable horizontal recovery option if aimed away from the stage, and [[Confusion]] can turn it around, temporarily stalls it in the air when used once and can be combined with the momentum from a rising double jump when used twice to go even higher. With these options, Mewtwo has many ways to mix up its recovery and get safely back on-stage, while still being able to punish reckless edgeguarders with its powerful and long ranged up and back aerials without losing recovery distance.

Mewtwo has surprisingly good range for a lightweight fighter. All of its smash attacks have [[disjointed]] hitboxes that allow them to beat out attacks safely; this is especially evident with up smash, as using it at the right time can prevent any [[stall-then-fall]]s. Forward smash can be angled up or down to catch an airborne opponent or to edgeguard low recoveries, respectively. Mewtwo's tail attacks also offer excellent range, despite not being as disjointed. Its back aerial in particular offers very large coverage behind Mewtwo and can be used in decently quick succession, making it a useful walling tool against opponents with low range attacks. Its tilts also use its tail, so they have good range as well. Tying into this is its aforementioned mobility; Mewtwo's extremely fast horizontal movement speed grants it a very potent punishment game with its range, allowing it to bait approaches and easily punish them with its long-reaching moves.

To compensate for its large size, Mewtwo is granted with  traits and unique defensive options that allow him to escape pressure. Its forward and back rolls have among the longest traveling distances in the game, making them deceptively effective for movement compared to those of other characters of similar size. Its [[edge attack]] has among the longest ranges out of the roster, allowing it to punish ledgetrapping attempts. All of its air dodges render it invisible; combined with its fast air speed and moderate air acceleration, Mewtwo can play mind games with its aerial drift while invisible. Offstage, Mewtwo's incredibly long-distanced recovery enables it to use air dodges and safely recover in situations when many other fighters wouldn't. In addition, using a neutral air dodge immediately after using Mewtwo's double jump causes it to immediately gain height while maintaining intangibility and invisibility, making it useful to mix up opponents in the air. Mewtwo's Teleport travels a significant distance and can be used very quickly out of shield (frame 9 intangibility) as a long-ranged evasive maneuver, allowing it to gain more favorable stage positioning and space from aggressive opponents – especially when teleporting off of platforms to avoid pressure. And though it is brief, Disable provides intangibility frames just before Mewtwo emits the light from its eyes, giving it niche defensive use with good timing even in the air where the projectile cannot be [[Priority|clanked]] with.

Despite Mewtwo's strengths, it has some noticeable weaknesses, the most glaring of which is its infamously poor endurance. Mewtwo's very light weight makes it easy to KO, while its tall frame, average falling speed and below average gravity make it easier to combo compared to other characters of its weight class. Furthermore, Mewtwo lacks an effective aerial move to disrupt combos, and an attempt to Teleport out of a combo can be interrupted due to its startup or punished due to its noticeable ending lag and momentum. And compared to all other characters in the game, Mewtwo is also unable to reliably double jump out of juggling pressure due to it taking a noticeable amount of time for his hurtbox to shift vertically. However, its aerial speed and recovery mix-ups can mitigate some of these shortcomings.

 

Although Mewtwo has a multitude of KO options, it often has trouble landing them due to it needing to safely approach the enemy. Up and back throw can be risky to attempt because of Mewtwo's aforementioned average grab range. Forward and down smash have slow start-up lag, whereas up smash has minimal horizontal range below its blast of dark energy and high ending lag (it can also unreliably connect due to some jostle animations). Forward aerial and Shadow Ball's KO potentials can be hindered via staleness because of their frequent usage in Mewtwo's combos and neutral game. Lastly, its frame data is slightly below-average, which makes its attacks even more prone to punishment if they are not spaced well and used intentionally. As a result, Mewtwo cannot effectively pressure through offensive means, yet needs to rely on its movement options and special moves to create openings from which it can proceed to punish the opponent. During Mewtwo's disadvantage state, it often cannot depend on its offensive options to relieve pressure, and instead must rely on evading and only attacking when necessary.

 

Overall, Mewtwo is a non-traditional glass cannon who falls under the category of the zoner archetype; it must play cautiously and aware so the opponent does not capitalize on its large hurtbox and light weight. However, this does not mean Mewtwo is forced to rely on [[turtling]], as its outstanding mobility, excellent air game, and overall powerful moveset make it a force to be reckoned with. Instead, Mewtwo should be played very patiently by controlling space (zoning) as well as baiting and poking with Shadow Ball, its aerials and its movement.

 

As a result, Mewtwo is a character with a fairly high learning curve, as it has to capitalize on reads more often than not because of its frailty and susceptibility to pressure. While Mewtwo's moveset may not be as versatile as other characters, such as {{SSBU|Wolf}}'s, it makes up for it with comparatively huge power and damage output. In short, Mewtwo has the attack power and range of an archetypal heavyweight, yet retains the combo game and mobility of a lightweight.

In the late metagame of ''SSB4'', Mewtwo was ranked as a top tier character (specifically 10th out of 54), thanks to its combination of a potent neutral game, excellent mobility, a powerful projectile, and a dangerous combo game. Mewtwo has received a large mix of buffs and nerfs in its transition to ''Ultimate'', but despite receiving more buffs than nerfs, the latter are especially more prevalent due to the weakening of its most useful options. Because of this, Mewtwo was greatly nerfed overall.

Mewtwo's largest direct nerf was to its hurtbox. Mewtwo has an additional hurtbox on its tail, which widens its hurtbox overall, making it even easier to hit and reducing the disjoint of its tail-based attacks. Considering Mewtwo is already one of the lightest characters in the game and many of its attacks utilize its long tail, this forces Mewtwo to be much more cautious with using its tail attacks, as trading with even a decently strong attack can prove fatal. Additionally, this now causes Mewtwo to be usually clipped by attacks during some situations (such as when turning around). Even after game updates later reduced its hurtbox sizes, it remains easy to hit. This worsens both its spacing and defensive game.

Mewtwo has also received many nerfs to its best moves, hindering both its previously strong [[neutral game]] and combo ability. [[Shadow Ball]] now deals less shield damage, making it less viable as a zoning and pressuring option from a distance. [[/Neutral attack|Neutral attack]], as with most others, can no longer effectively [[jab cancel]], removing its wide range of previously true followups; [[/Down tilt|down tilt]] has more ending lag, which combined with the changes to knockback, impairs its combo potential and narrows Mewtwo's KO setups, especially into [[/Forward aerial|forward aerial]]. [[/Neutral aerial|Neutral aerial]] has heavily increased ending lag, a shorter duration, and much smaller hitboxes, making it less viable for covering options and removing its aerial combo potential, limiting Mewtwo to land with the move and read the opponent's trajectory accordingly. Forward aerial is slightly slower and launches at a slightly lower angle, hindering its combo ability into itself and almost completely removing its ability to initiate a deadly [[wall of pain]] at low to medium percentages.

In terms of gameplay changes, the changes to [[air dodge]]s in ''Ultimate'' have also hindered Mewtwo more so than any other character. Since air dodges can now only be utilized once before landing or getting hit, combined with them generally having more ending lag, this especially affects Mewtwo as it previously held the distinction of having the air dodge with the lowest ending lag out of the entire roster (allowing it to be spammed rather safely to play mindgames), which renders it even more susceptible to combos and juggling, given its large hurtbox for its weight class.

However, Mewtwo has received a multitude of buffs in the transition as well. Mewtwo's KO potential is considerably better and more consistent overall; moves like its neutral attack, [[/Forward tilt|forward tilt]], [[/Dash attack|dash attack]] and fully charged Shadow Ball deal more damage and knockback, with all of them now gaining KO potential at high percentages. Other attacks, such as [[Disable]] and its [[smash attacks]], have noticeably increased range, allowing them to secure KOs more easily from deceptive ranges. Shadow Ball has also received a decrease in ending lag when uncharged, which coupled with its reduced ending lag makes it an even more versatile option. Mewtwo has also seen a slight weight increase, improving its endurance.

Most of the universal changes to gameplay mechanics have also benefited Mewtwo. Although the changes to air dodging mostly hamper it, they also make its edgeguarding game more potent, thanks to its quick air speed, large variety of aerial attacks, useful projectile, long double jump and powerful recovery. The universal increase in mobility and traction across the cast, the reintroduction of [[dash-dancing]], and the expanded utility of [[dash-canceling]] each benefit Mewtwo, as it can now move around much quicker, occasionally play mindgames on its approach, and punish opponents easier both in the neutral game and [[out of shield]]; notably, the increase on its mobility has granted Shadow Ball a significant increase on its combo potential, with access to combos it previously didn't have. Finally, the near-universal reduction to landing lag has made Mewtwo's aerials safer on hit and opened some new combo routes due to its streamlined [[jumpsquat]].

Overall, despite the improvements made to Mewtwo's mobility, endurance, KO power, and the distinct benefits it received from ''Ultimate''{{'}}s mechanics, these changes do not completely compensate for the considerable nerfs it has received to its defensive potential, combo game, and hurtbox. Game updates have offered Mewtwo numerous buffs that have either helped alleviate some of its issues, improved its strengths, or fixed a few of its moveset's inconsistencies, though these haven't fully compensated for its more drastic issues. Because of this, Mewtwo is much less effective than it was in ''SSB4'', retaining its reward but with its much further defined weaknesses impairing its effectiveness.

Mewtwo received a mix of buffs and nerfs via game updates, but was buffed significantly overall. Update 1.1.0 noticeably increased [[Disable]]'s ending lag, which made it even riskier to use. Update 2.0.0 improved the consistency of both [[Teleport]] and forward tilt: the former enables Mewtwo to grab edges much more reliably, and the latter is more effective for spacing and KOing due to it launching opponents in front of Mewtwo exclusively instead of potentially behind it. However, this update also made dash attack much less safe on shield by noticeably decreasing its shieldstun multiplier.

Update 3.0.0 would then provide Mewtwo's first noteworthy changes: neutral attack has less start-up, up tilt has improved combo potential, forward smash has more range, forward tilt, up tilt and up aerial deal more damage, and [[Shadow Ball]]'s already impressive power increased even further. Mewtwo's weight also increased slightly, although this is a fairly negligible improvement to its endurance. However, this same update also decreased Shadow Ball's shield damage output as part of a near-universal nerf to projectiles.

In update 4.0.0, Mewtwo's tail hurtbox was shrunken slightly, which made spacing with its tail attacks somewhat more effective. Additionally, some of its primary KO moves were improved, while [[Confusion]]'s start-up, ending lag and reflection hitbox were each sped up by 2 frames. Update 7.0.0 buffed Mewtwo in a few minute ways. Its shield was enlarged as part of a near-universal buff, and its posture was altered while shielding, both of which make it less likely for it to be shield poked. Aside from these changes, down tilt's consistency was improved: it now reaches further into the plane of gameplay during its frame 6 hitbox, which prevents it from missing some characters entirely in certain situations.

However, update 8.0.0 granted Mewtwo arguably its most notable buffs. Shadow Ball, in particular, improved noticeably thanks to its decreased ending lag, faster traveling speed, and its uncharged version's higher damage output. Altogether, these buffs not only supplement its fully charged version's KO potential, but also made its uncharged version significantly better for both spacing and set-ups. Although somewhat less impactful than Shadow Ball's buffs, down throw's decreased ending lag is nevertheless noteworthy, as it has been repurposed from Mewtwo's least useful move into a decent combo starter that even possesses a KO combo (albeit one that is heavily dependent on DI)<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhvdbRPP0_k Mewtwo Changes Patch 8.0.0]</ref> into forward aerial at high percentages.

Aside from these buffs, back and up aerials were strengthened, improving their already above-average KO potentials at the cost of slightly worsening their combo potentials. Teleport's landing lag was decreased significantly, which makes Mewtwo less vulnerable when it Teleports directly on-stage in order to recover, escape pressure, or play mindgames. Like a few other characters, Mewtwo's pummel was also enlarged and repositioned to improve its consistency. Lastly, update 13.0.1 increased the damage outputs of both forward tilt and forward throw. As a result, the former's KO potential was improved even further when sweetspotted and it is safer on hit overall, whereas the latter is now the most damaging throw of its kind by default.

Overall, Mewtwo fares significantly better than it did at the launch of ''Ultimate'', thanks to its buffs noticeably expanding the utility of its moveset (particularly Shadow Ball, Confusion, Teleport and down throw) as well as strengthening its already impressive overall power.

|neutraldesc=Extends its arm to emit a small burst of energy. Repeatedly pressing the attack button causes Mewtwo to sway its arm up and down to emit multiple bursts of energy before finishing with an energy-infused upward swipe. The first hit can [[jab reset]]. It is one of the most damaging neutral attacks in the game (especially when backed up against a wall or edge), and is usually able to deal around 20%-30%, even if the opponent uses optimal [[SDI]].

|ftiltname=Tail Whip ({{ja|テイルウィップ|Teiru Uippu}})

|ftiltdesc=Swings its tail forward. It is surprisingly strong for a tilt attack, with its near hitbox KOing at around 80% near the edge and even its far hitbox KOing at around 120%. It can be angled up to function as an anti-air, and angled down to hit opponents hanging on the ledge. Its long range and high power allows it to function as an effective whiff punish, especially out of a pivot.

|dtiltdesc=Crouches and spins around to swing its tail in front of itself. It is Mewtwo's fastest tilt with long range and low ending lag, making it good for close quarters combat. It is also among Mewtwo's best combo starters, being able to combo into an up tilt or any of Mewtwo's aerials. However, the sourspot on the tip of the tail does not lead to any combos, making it only useful for poking in the neutral. If it hits an opponent below the edge, it can confirm into a forward aerial for a potential KO combo at high percentages.

|dashdesc=A lunging, energy-infused palm thrust. Its clean sweetspot deals above average knockback, which can KO at around 140% at the ledge. It is relatively fast and covers a decent distance, making it suitable for whiff punishes. However, it has moderate ending lag, making it punishable on shield. The late hit can lead into a buffered forward aerial at very low percentages.

|fsmashdesc=Quickly cups its hands to its side, and then thrusts them forward to perform a double palm thrust that emits a blast of energy. It is Mewtwo's strongest attack and an incredibly powerful punish out of a shield break or [[Disable]], with its sweetspot KOing at around 70% near the edge uncharged and its sourspot having respectable power as well. Due to it hitting on frame 19 and having 31 frames of ending lag, however, it is very punishable when whiffed or shielded at close range. It can be angled. It resembles Mewtwo's animation when performing a special move in the [[bulbapedia:Pokémon Stadium (series)|''Pokémon Stadium'' series]], and one of its attacking animations as of [[bulbapedia:Pokémon X and Y|''Pokémon X'' and ''Y'']].

|usmashdesc=Thrusts its arm upward to emit a swirling, galaxy-shaped blast of energy. It can KO middleweights at around 90% if all hits connect and is very fast for its power, with its initial scooping hitbox coming out on frame 9 and its overhead hitbox frame 10. However, due to [[jostling]], the initial hitbox can sometimes miss even at point blank range, making it unreliable as an out of shield punish unless the opponent lands very close to Mewtwo's shield. The large, disjointed, long-lasting overhead hitbox can work as an anti-air against landing aerials, but opponents can air dodge through it with good timing. It has an enormous 43 frames of ending lag, making it very easy to punish if it misses due to the reasons above and making it a very high risk, high reward maneuver.

|dsmashdesc=Extends its arm at a diagonal angle toward the ground to emit a large burst of energy from its fingertip. It is one of the few down smashes that does not hit on both sides. It is incredibly powerful, KOing at around 90% and launches at 55°, the latter of which makes optimal DI ambiguous. It comes out on frame 21, yet its ending lag relative to its power and startup is extremely low, as Mewtwo can act out of it after 41 frames. Combined with its extra shield damage, it is safe on shield against most characters, and potentially even on whiff. This makes it a non-committal punish against landings, spot dodges, etc., helped by its lack of a sourspot. It can also act as a powerful [[2 frame punish]] at the edge due to its generous hitbox and 3 active frames. While it lacks a traditional sourspot, its outer hitbox only affects grounded opponents and deals less shield damage than its inner hitbox.

|nairdesc=Discharges electricity around itself with its limbs spread out. It comes out on frame 7, tying it with forward aerial for having the lowest startup lag out of Mewtwo's aerials. Its hitboxes are positioned at Mewtwo's hands and feet and keep the opponent trapped, whereas its last hitbox launches them. Its fast startup and long duration make it great for catching jumps. It is Mewtwo's best out of shield option thanks to it hitting in front of and behind itself, although it can be inconsistent at hitting because of its looping hitboxes being extremely small. Its linking hits can also drag opponents down if fast falling, which can lead to follow-ups, gimps and KO confirms, most reliably into up smash.

|fairdesc=An energy-infused swipe. It comes out on frame 7, tying it with neutral aerial for having the lowest startup lag out of Mewtwo's aerial attacks. It is one of Mewtwo's best KO options, KOing middleweights at around 90% near the edge. It also boasts combo potential at low percentages, as it can also combo into itself, down tilt, [[Shadow Ball]] and more. It is a very safe poking option because of its range, safety on shield and low landing lag. However, it is susceptible to anti-airs due to not being disjointed. It can also be used as an edgeguarding tool, albeit with some difficulty due to its hitbox's position. Its speed, safety, range, and utility at all percentages make it a staple of Mewtwo's neutral game and moveset, and it is generally considered the best forward aerial in the game.

|bairdesc=Swings its tail behind itself in an upward arc. It covers a very wide area and deals high knockback, making it great at edgeguarding, particularly against double jumps, and allows it to easily wall out opposing aerial approaches. It comes out on frame 13, which is the 2nd highest amount of startup lag out of Mewtwo's aerials. It also possesses a blind spot below Mewtwo, while disjointed attacks will beat out its hitbox, reducing its utility against some characters and making it a liability in disadvantage. It can KO at around 100% near the edge, and much earlier off-stage.

|uairdesc=Backflips to swing its tail in an overhead arcing motion, similarly to its up tilt. It covers a wide range, making it great for juggling, and it deals high knockback for an up aerial, KOing at around 110% near the upper blast line. It can be used to catch high recoveries and jumps onto the stage. If used when landing, it can combo into all of Mewtwo's aerials and Shadow Ball, potentially leading to KOs. Most notably, an ascending double jump up aerial can lead into a forward aerial as a situational KO confirm. However, it is difficult to hit short opponents while descending with the move.

|dairdesc=A backflipping stomp that emits a burst of energy from Mewtwo's foot. It is Mewtwo's most damaging aerial attack. It is also a very powerful [[meteor smash]] when sweetspotted in the air and has a rather large disjoint that extends below Mewtwo's foot, making it useful for edgeguarding and 2 frame punishes. It comes out on frame 15, however, which is the highest amount of startup lag out of Mewtwo's aerials. Its sourspot boasts respectable power and can combo into tilts at low percentages and aerials at medium percentages, or even KO outright at around 140%.

|grabname=Psychic ({{ja|サイコキネシス|Saikokineshisu}}, ''Psychokinesis'')

|grabdesc=[[bulbapedia:Psychic (move)|Telekinetically]] holds an opponent. Mewtwo's grab range and speed are average, though the particle effect used makes it deceptively shorter than it looks.

|pummeldesc=A point-blank burst of dark energy. Average power and speed.

|fthrowdesc=Telekinetically lifts the opponent diagonally in the air before firing 5 Shadow Balls at them. It deals 15% if all of its hits connect, making it the most damaging forward throw in the game by default. However, the Shadow Balls can be reflected by any character with a passive reflector, such as {{SSBU|Hero}} using [[Command Selection|Bounce]] or any opponent wearing a [[Franklin Badge]]. By extension, other nearby opponents with reflectors and/or absorption moves can choose to intercept it, while opponents can also DI to avoid some of the projectiles at higher percentages and mitigate the throw's damage output. While it does not possess any true follow-ups, it has relatively low ending lag and leaves the opponent in a favorable position for Mewtwo to cover their options with a dashing up tilt, dash attack, back aerial, etc. If the opponent fails to DI all of the Shadow Balls correctly, it can KO at around 140% from the combined knockback of every Shadow Ball fired.

|bthrowdesc=Telekinetically throws the opponent behind itself. Its respectable damage output and decent knockback make it one of the strongest back throws in the game, and one of Mewtwo's most viable KO options. It KOs middleweights at around 100% while near the edge.

|uthrowdesc=Telekinetically whirls the opponent around itself before launching them directly overhead. Tied with {{SSBU|Incineroar}}'s up throw for the 3rd strongest up throw in the game, and is surpassed only by {{SSBU|Charizard}}'s up throw and {{SSBU|Olimar}}'s Blue Pikmin-initiated up throw. It KOs middleweights at around 140% from ground level, and even earlier when standing on a platform.

|dthrowdesc=Telekinetically slams the opponent to the ground, and then somersaults in order to strike them with its tail. As of update 8.0.0, it can combo into upward angled forward tilt and up tilt at low percentages, and forward aerial at medium to high percentages, the latter of which can KO reliably at around 80%-130% depending on the opponent's weight and size. The aforementioned follow-ups are susceptible to DI, although its quick startup is difficult to react to, and it can be used as a mix-up to forward throw. At medium to high percentages, it can force the opponent onto a platform if used below one, leading to a [[tech-chase]] situation where Mewtwo can potentially follow up with an aerial, up smash, or even [[Disable]] with a proper read.

|edgedesc=Swings its tail in front of itself while climbing up. As of update 3.0.0, it has the 2nd longest range of any edge attack in the game, being surpassed only by {{SSBU|Bowser}}'s.

|nsdesc=Cups its hands to its side and [[bulbapedia:Shadow Ball (move)|creates a blackish violet sphere of energy]] between its hands, then thrusts its hands forward to launch the sphere. Depending on its charge and the opponent's damage, Shadow Ball can combo into almost any move, including (but not limited to) down tilt, up tilt, grab, dash attack, forward aerial, and up smash, potentially even leading to a KO with the latter two moves. It can be B-reversed and wavebounced, giving Mewtwo tricky movement mix-ups to use in the neutral and when landing. Like all of Mewtwo's specials, it can be used to cancel the upward momentum of Mewtwo's double jump. When fully charged, Shadow Ball travels faster, is harder to clank with, and can KO at medium to high percentages. Because of these attributes, it is one of Mewtwo's best tools in the neutral game.

|ssdesc=Swipes forward to [[bulbapedia:Confusion (move)|emit a ripple of psychic energy]] from its hand. It has impressive utility, courtesy of it functioning both as a [[reflector]] and a [[Grab#Special_moves_that_can_grab|command grab]], making it a viable option when landing, recovering or getting up from the edge. As a grab, the ripple spins opponents around and leaves them [[tumbling]] at a frame disadvantage that is dependent on their damage. If used in the air at 140%, it can combo into forward aerial, ensuring a KO unless the opponent has a combo breaker that comes out on frame 1. If the opponent does not have a combo breaker that comes out on frame 2, it can also combo into up tilt past these percentages, which can KO at around 150%. It also functions as a [[Fall Break]], making it useful for mixing up landings and recovery timings.

|usdesc={{iw|bulbapedia|Teleport|move}}s to a different location. It renders Mewtwo completely invulnerable after frame 9. It has 20 frames of landing lag, making it a potentially effective, albeit punishable escape option when being juggled. It carries Mewtwo's vertical momentum out of a double jump very well, giving it a deceptively long travel distance, though it carries limited horizontal momentum. Its combination of intangibility, long travel distance, and quick startup makes it a very effective recovery move. When coupled with the stalling capabilities of its double jump and other special moves, Teleport makes Mewtwo exceedingly difficult to edgeguard.

It can also be used to [[edge cancel]], although its precise edge canceling window and tendency to "bounce" off surfaces can often cause Mewtwo to overshoot the edge entirely, leading to accidental [[self-destruct]]s offstage and making it a very risky endeavor.

|dsdesc=[[bulbapedia:Disable (move)|Emits a minuscule spark of psychic energy]] from its eyes that travels forward. If it hits an opponent facing Mewtwo, it [[stun]]s them if they are on the ground. Conversely, it will launch them backward with weak knockback if they are airborne. It only works if the opponent is facing Mewtwo and will have no effect otherwise, making it useless for punishing back aerials, [[cross-ups]], etc. It stuns the opponent for longer the more damaged they are, allowing it to confirm KOs from as low as 50%. Since opponents face the same direction during all of their getup options, it is especially effective at tech-chasing, essentially guaranteeing the power of a charged smash attack with the startup of a uncharged one, though its aforementioned properties make it situational to land otherwise. Due to being a projectile, Disable can also be reflected. Disable grants intangibility on frames 10-16, allowing it to beat out attacks when timed properly. When coupled with its deceptively long range, it can also be used as a surprise landing option against unaware opponents.

|fsdesc=[[bulbapedia:Mega Evolution|Mega Evolves]] into Mega Mewtwo Y and performs {{iw|bulbapedia|Psystrike|move}}, its {{iw|bulbapedia|signature move}} in the ''Pokémon'' games. Psystrike is a powerful sphere of psychic energy that plows through both opponents and walls, and any opponent caught will be stunned before being launched by an intense, mind-shattering blow. It is incredibly powerful, as it will KO at around 50% from center-stage.

*Teleports on-screen while surrounded in a flame-like aura of psychic energy, then descends to the ground as whisps of psychic energy disperse from its body.

*'''Up Taunt''': Folds its arms as it telekinetically spins around on the spot while laughing. Resembles the animation Mewtwo performs while using a physical move in ''[[bulbapedia:Pokémon Stadium series|Pokémon Stadium]]'' series. If Mewtwo is holding an item, the item will orbit telekinetically around with it on the final spin.

*'''Side Taunt''': Surrounds itself in a flame-like aura of psychic energy, similarly to {{SSBU|Fox}} and {{SSBU|Lucario}}'s up taunts.

*'''Down Taunt''': After turning to face the screen, it waves its hand in a circular motion in front of itself. It then proceeds to thrust its opposite arm forward while emitting a small burst of energy from its palm. If Mewtwo is holding an item, the item will orbit telekinetically around its body during the taunt.

SSBUMewtwoIdle1.gif|Mewtwo's first idle pose.

SSBUMewtwoIdle2.gif|Mewtwo's second idle pose.

<div class="tabbertab" title="English, Japanese/Chinese, German/Italian, Dutch, French">

!Cheer (German/Italian)

|[[File:Mewtwo Cheer English SSBU.ogg|center]]||[[File:Mewtwo Cheer Japanese SSBU.ogg|center]]||[[File:Mewtwo Cheer German & Italian SSB4 SSBU.ogg|center]]||[[File:Mewtwo Cheer Dutch SSBU.ogg|center]]||[[File:Mewtwo Cheer French SSBU.ogg|center]]

<div class="tabbertab" title="Spanish, Russian, Korean">

|[[File:Mewtwo Cheer Spanish SSB4 SSBU.ogg|center]]||[[File:Mewtwo Cheer Russian SSBU.ogg|center]]||[[File:Mewtwo Cheer Korean SSBU.ogg|center]]

|Mewwww-two! || Mew -- two! || Mew - two!

*'''Left:''' While emitting wisps of psychic energy from its body and growling, Mewtwo raises its left hand in front of itself while pulling back its right hand. Mewtwo then thrusts its right hand forward, emitting a pulsating burst of energy from its palm. In Japanese, it says "{{ja|私は負けるわけにはいかない！|Watashi wa makeru wake ni wa ikanai!}}", which translates to "I cannot afford to lose!"

*'''Up:''' Mewtwo crosses its arms as it turns its back to the screen, and then looks back over its shoulder, scoffing. In Japanese, it says "{{ja|私はなぜ ここにいるのか…？|Watashi wa naze koko ni iru no ka...?}}", which translates to "Why am I here...?"

*'''Right:''' Spins once while levitating and emitting wisps of psychic energy from its body, then strikes a poses while briefly emitting a flame-like aura of psychic energy around itself as it laughs. In Japanese, it says "{{ja|愚かな！|Orokana!}}", which translates to "Foolish!"

[[File:PokemonSeriesVictoryThemeUltimate.ogg|thumb|A small excerpt of the [[bulbapedia:Pokémon Red & Pokémon Green: Super Music Collection|title screen theme song]] of [[bulbapedia:Pokémon Red and Green Versions|''Pokémon Red'', ''Green'']], [[bulbapedia:Pokémon Blue Version (Japanese)|''Blue'']], and [[bulbapedia:Pokémon Yellow Version|''Yellow Versions'']]. The song has since become the {{uv|Pokémon}} series' main theme song.]]

==In [[competitive play]]==

''See also: [[:Category:Mewtwo players (SSBU)]]''

 

*{{Sm|SDX|USA}} - Although he was really only active in the first few months of the competitive scene, he established himself as the best Mewtwo player in the world in the early metagame, placing top 64 at all the majors where he used Mewtwo, including 9th at {{Trn|Glitch 6}}, 17th at {{Trn|GENESIS 6}}, and 33rd at {{Trn|Frostbite 2019}}. He was also formerly ranked Area 51 during the [[Spring 2019 PGRU]], the only solo-Mewtwo player ever ranked on a global ranking. He eventually switched to {{SSBU|Joker}} before he stopped competing in tournaments altogether.

*{{Sm|WaDi|USA}} - The best Mewtwo player of all-time, although his results with Mewtwo were often complemented by {{SSBU|R.O.B.}} or his secondaries. His run to 7th at {{Trn|Smash Factor 9}} marks the highest placement for Mewtwo at a major where Mewtwo was used to win more than one set. In addition, he has placed 9th at both {{Trn|Riptide}} and {{Trn|Glitch 8.5 - Konami Code}} using Mewtwo to defeat {{Sm|Sparg0}} in the former and {{Sm|Dabuz}} in the latter. He has since gone inactive due to sexual misconduct allegations.

 

Initially, the community's perception on Mewtwo was better than in ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]'', where it was widely considered a top tier character due to Mewtwo's improved KO power, its endurance (its main weakness) being seemingly toned down thanks to increased weight, and benefits from the universal mobility changes. As such, many players believed Mewtwo would become a high tier character or even reassert itself as a top tier character, with the potential to be one of the best characters in the game. This initial opinion didn't stick, however, as Mewtwo's flaws became more prominent. Most notoriously, Mewtwo's extended tail hurtbox caused it to be clipped by many attacks from a noticeable range. Additionally, its disadvantage state has been significantly nerfed due to its larger hurtbox and the changes to air dodging. Due to these nerfs, Mewtwo had little impact in ''Ultimate''{{'}}s early metagame, with most of Mewtwo's playerbase from ''SSB4'' dropping it in favor of other characters. Although {{Sm|SDX}} saw initial success with the character, he would also eventually drop the character, leaving Mewtwo with no high-level representation.

Game updates addressed some of Mewtwo's biggest flaws to varying degrees, and dedicated mains such as {{Sm|Zenkai}} and {{Sm|????}} began to gather respectable placements online. In addition, Mewtwo received meaningful buffs during the COVID-19 pandemic, and saw online success from players such as {{Sm|WaDi}} and {{Sm|Chewie}}. Because of these occurrences, Mewtwo's perception started to rise, as many players held hope for the character and considered it to have potential to be a strong upper mid-tier character at the time. However, following the return of offline competitive play, Mewtwo's results would continue to remain sparse, with WaDi being the only player who consistently saw respectable placements with the character, and even then his results with Mewtwo were often complemented with other characters. With Mewtwo having absolutely no notable reputation in tournaments following WaDi's ban as well as its weaknesses becoming further and further pronounced as the meta continued to develop, opinions of the character sank. The current perception on Mewtwo holds that it is a low tier or a lower mid tier at best.

As it stands, collective opinions on Mewtwo are largely negative, resulting in a much worse reputation than it had in its ''SSB4'' days, and it ranks 66th on the current tier list, at the top of the D+ Tier.

Aside from Round 1, Mewtwo is allied with opponents it fought in previous Rounds under the premise that its teammates are under its mental control. These teammates typically represent characters that have been brainwashed in their respective home series.

|1||{{CharHead|Ness|SSBU|hsize=20px}} and {{CharHead|Lucas|SSBU|hsize=20px}}||[[Fourside]]||''{{SSBUMusicLink|EarthBound|Fourside (Melee)}}''||Both characters use PSI attacks, which are similar to Mewtwo's psychic powers. Mewtwo itself is also similar to {{iw|wikibound|Giygas}}/Giegue as he appears in ''{{iw|wikibound|EarthBound Beginnings}}''.

|2||{{CharHead|Cloud|SSBU|hsize=20px}}||[[Midgar]]||''{{SSBUMusicLink|EarthBound|Snowman}}''||{{Head|Lucas|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Grey}} Lucas is a CPU ally. His costume is based on the {{iw|wikibound|Masked Man}}, a form his twin brother, {{iw|wikibound|Claus}}, assumed upon being brainwashed by {{iw|wikibound|Porky Minch}} in ''Mother 3''.

|3||{{CharHead|Ryu|SSBU|hsize=20px}} and {{CharHead|Ken|SSBU|hsize=20px}}||[[Suzaku Castle]]||''{{SSBUMusicLink|Final Fantasy|Fight On!}}''||{{Head|Cloud|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Advent}} Cloud is a CPU ally. Cloud was brainwashed briefly by [[Sephiroth]] in ''Final Fantasy VII''.

|4|| {{CharHead|Richter|SSBU|hsize=20px}}||[[Dracula's Castle]]||''{{SSBUMusicLink|Street Fighter|Vega Stage}}''||{{Head|Ken|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Grey}} Ken is a CPU ally. Ken's costume is based on Violent Ken, a form he assumed upon being brainwashed by M. Bison in ''SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos'' and ''Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers''.

|6||{{CharHead|Pikachu|SSBU|hsize=20px}}, {{CharHead|Pichu|SSBU|hsize=20px}}, {{CharHead|Jigglypuff|SSBU|hsize=20px}}, and {{CharHead|Lucario|SSBU|hsize=20px}}||[[Kalos Pokémon League]]||''{{SSBUMusicLink|Kid Icarus|Destroyed Skyworld}}''||{{Head|Pit|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Black}} Pit is a CPU ally. Pit lost control of [[icaruspedia:Pit's Body|his body]] due to the {{iw|icaruspedia|Chaos Kin}} sealing his soul into [[icaruspedia:Ring of Chaos|a ring]] in ''Kid Icarus: Uprising''.

|Final||{{SSBU|Master Hand}} and {{SSBU|Crazy Hand}}||{{SSBU|Final Destination}}||''{{SSBUMusicLink|Pokémon|Battle! (Lorekeeper Zinnia)}}''||{{Head|Pikachu|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Red}} Pikachu is a CPU ally. {{iw|bulbapedia|Ash's Pikachu}} was [[bulbapedia:Pikachutwo|cloned]] by [[bulbapedia:Mewtwo (original series)|Mewtwo]] in [[bulbapedia:M01|''Pokémon: The First Movie'']], and was mind controlled by a Drowzee in the anime episode [[bulbapedia:EP086 |''Pikachu Re-Volts'']].

Note: Each round uses a track taken from the series fought in the previous Round.

Note 2: Items are disabled in Round 3.

During the opening cutscene, Mewtwo was present on the cliffside when [[Galeem]] unleashed his beams of light. Mewtwo and {{SSBU|Zelda}} attempted to reflect the beams using [[Confusion]] and [[Nayru's Love]], respectively. However, their efforts failed, with both being vaporized and placed under Galeem's imprisonment, along with the rest of the fighters (excluding {{SSBU|Kirby}}).

{{clr}}

Mewtwo's fighter spirit can be obtained by completing {{SSBU|Classic Mode}} as Mewtwo. It is also available periodically for purchase in the shop for 300 Gold, but only after Mewtwo has been unlocked. Unlocking Mewtwo in World of Light allows the player to preview the first spirit below in the Spirit List under the name "???". As a fighter spirit, it cannot be used in Spirit Battles and is purely aesthetic. Its fighter spirit has an alternate version that replaces it with its artwork in ''Ultimate''.

Additionally, one of Mewtwo's Mega Evolutions, Mega Mewtwo Y, appears as a primary spirit.

==In Spirit Battles==

|{{SpiritTableName|FU (Jess-Baptiste VI)|size=64}}

Pokémon Smash Bros.png|Artwork of all the playable Pokémon and Poké Ball Pokémon, as posted by the official ''Pokémon'' Twitter account.

SSBUWebsiteMewtwo3.jpg|Using [[Shadow Ball]] on [[Spirit Train]].

SSBUWebsiteMewtwo6.jpg|Alongside 3 [[Olimar (SSBU)|Pikmin]] on [[Onett]].

SSBUWebsitePichu3.jpg|Alongside {{SSBU|Pichu}} on [[Spear Pillar]].

*The pose that Mewtwo assumes in its render for ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'' is almost identical to the pose it assumes while using [[Disable]].

**Its render pose also resembles its [[bulbapedia:File:150Mewtwo.png|official artwork]] for [[bulbapedia:Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Versions|''Pokémon FireRed'' and ''LeafGreen Versions'']], albeit with Mewtwo's hands and legs positioned slightly differently.

*Mewtwo's confirmation as a fighter in ''Ultimate'' marked the first time that [[Pikachu]] was not the first playable Pokémon to be announced as a part of the roster.

*Mewtwo was the last non-DLC character added to the ''Super Smash Bros.'' Blog.

**However, due to {{SSBU|Mr. Game & Watch}}'s blog page only being available on Asian websites until December 7th, Mr. Game & Watch was the last character added to the blog on non-Asian websites.

*Mewtwo is the only character whose victory grunts/laughter are omitted from the English Sound Test.

**Additionally, if ''Ultimate''{{'}}s language is currently set to either Spanish, German, Dutch or Russian, Mewtwo will be mute during its victory poses. This is due to ''Ultimate'' incorrectly loading up its voice clips from the Japanese version, which are not present in the international versions.

*Mewtwo, {{SSBU|Dark Samus}} and {{SSBU|Ganondorf}} are the only fighters whose Classic Mode routes center around protagonists and heroes for opponents. All of these fighters face heroes/protagonists from their own home series.

**Similarly to [[Dark Samus]], Mewtwo's teammates are based on the premise of them being brainwashed to fight other opponents for its Classic Mode route, thus making Mewtwo's route an inverse of {{SSBU|Joker}}'s.

*There is currently a positioning glitch when Mewtwo performs an [[air dodge]] when it is facing left. It will be facing away from the screen when disappearing and reappearing.

*Mewtwo is the only fighter who can [[stun]] other fighters in ''Ultimate'' without the use of items or breaking shields.

*Mewtwo, {{SSBU|Cloud}}, {{SSBU|Hero}} and {{SSBU|Sephiroth}} are the only fighters to speak Japanese in at least 1 version of ''Ultimate'' to never speak in English in any version of the game.

**Out of those fighters, Mewtwo is the only one who is a first-party character and not property of Square Enix.

**Coincidentally, all of these fighters have been available via [[downloadable content]] at one point.

*While Mewtwo is being attacked by {{b|Pikmin|species}} via [[Pikmin Throw]], [[poison]]ed or [[curse]]d, its eyes turn green just like when it uses [[Disable]]. Unlike Disable, Mewtwo's eyes remain green until the Pikmin falls off or the aforementioned effects wear off.

*Mewtwo's Classic Mode route is the only one that features music that is neither from the stage's home series nor that of the played fighter's universe. Instead, the music is from the ally's home series, with the exceptions being Round 1 (which has no allies) and the Final Round (which features Mewtwo and Pikachu, both of whom are from the {{uv|Pokémon}} series).

*Datamining Mewtwo's sound files revealed that its defeated voice clip when KO'd by reaching 0 HP during its final stock in [[Stamina Mode]] has a "Japanese" variant, much like its victorious voice clips. However, the clip is otherwise identical to the "international" variant.

*Mewtwo is the only playable Pokémon in ''Ultimate'' whose special moveset contains more than 4 moves from the ''Pokémon'' {{iw|bulbapedia|core series}}.

*Mewtwo's shielding sound effect plays one frame earlier that everyone else's.