How to get Mewtwo and its Mega Stones for free in Pokémon Legends Z-A

How to get Mewtwo and its Mega Stones for free in Pokémon Legends Z-A

Summary:

Pokémon Legends Z-A just handed trainers one of the strongest gifts imaginable: a free Mewtwo plus both of its Mega Stones, Mewtwonite X and Mewtwonite Y, delivered straight through the Mystery Gift feature. Once you claim the Project M Mystery Gift via the internet, a special side mission unlocks that sends you back into the heart of Lumiose City, toward Lysandre Café and the depths of Lysandre Labs. Clear that mission and Mewtwo joins your team, ready to shift between Mega Mewtwo X and Mega Mewtwo Y whenever you want. The nice twist is that this event is open to anyone who has beaten the main story, regardless of whether you own the Mega Dimension DLC or play on Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2. There is currently no announced end date for the distribution, which sounds generous but also makes it easy to forget about. Here we walk through the exact requirements, every step to claim the Mega Stones, how to trigger Project M, and some practical tips to make sure you catch Mewtwo on the first try instead of watching it slip away.


Why the free Mewtwo event in Pokémon Legends Z-A is such a big deal

Mewtwo has always been one of those Pokémon that instantly changes how strong your team feels, and in Pokémon Legends Z-A that is even more true thanks to Mega Evolution. By giving out Mewtwonite X and Mewtwonite Y through a simple online distribution, The Pokémon Company is basically handing every player a late game boss that can swap between a bruiser style Mega Mewtwo X and a glass cannon style Mega Mewtwo Y. You are not hunting random codes or standing in line at a store. You just connect your game, grab the Project M Mystery Gift and follow it through to the end. For anyone who has already cleared Lumiose City’s main story, this is a perfect excuse to jump back in, test new teams, and enjoy a powerful legendary without grinding for hours. For newer players slowly working through the story, it is a clear long term goal waiting at the finish line.

How the Mewtwo Mystery Gift works in Pokémon Legends Z-A

The Mewtwo event is built around the Mystery Gift system that you unlock a little way into Pokémon Legends Z-A. Project M appears as a standard “Get via Internet” distribution inside the Mystery Gift menu, so there is no code to type and no store visit required. Once you connect and choose the Project M gift, the game sends two items straight into the Mega Stones pocket of your satchel: Mewtwonite X and Mewtwonite Y. That is already valuable, but these stones also act like keys. Having them in your bag tells the game you are ready for an extra story beat, and that unlocks a hidden side mission built around Mewtwo itself. The clever part is that the mission works even if you never touch the upcoming Mega Dimension DLC, so everyone gets to enjoy the showdown.

Requirements before you can claim the Project M Mystery Gift

Before you rush into the menus and start hammering buttons, there are a few requirements you need to tick off. First, you must have played long enough to unlock the Link Play menu, which appears in the X menu after you activate the Rewards feature in Mable’s Research. That usually takes around one to one and a half hours of normal play, so most players who have reached Lumiose City proper are already covered. Second, you need a stable internet connection and a Nintendo Account linked to your user profile, because the game has to talk to the servers to download gifts. Third, and most important, you must have finished the main story of Pokémon Legends Z-A. The Project M mission sits firmly in postgame, and the game will not trigger the Mewtwo encounter if your main quest log is still unfinished. Once all of that is in place and your game is updated to the latest patch, you are ready to go hunting for Mega Stones.

Step by step instructions to claim Mewtwonite X and Mewtwonite Y

The actual process of grabbing the stones is straightforward once everything is unlocked. From the HOME menu, launch Pokémon Legends Z-A and load your save. While you are in the field or a safe area, press the X Button to open the main menu and scroll down to Link Play. Inside Link Play, look to the right side of the screen and choose the Mystery Gift option. Here the game will ask how you want to receive your gift. Pick the choice labeled “Get via Internet” or “Receive via Internet,” then give the game a moment to connect. Once the connection is set up, a list of available gifts appears. Among them you should see a Project M Mystery Gift that clearly mentions Mewtwonite X and Mewtwonite Y in the description. Highlight that gift, confirm that you want to receive it, and wait while the animation plays out. When the game finishes, both Mega Stones are stored in your satchel, ready for use and ready to unlock the side mission that leads to Mewtwo.

Quick checklist of Mystery Gift menu options

If you are worried about clicking the wrong thing, it helps to remember the exact order of menus. Think of it as a small ritual you repeat each time a new distribution drops. Start by pressing X, then choose Link Play, then move to Mystery Gift. Inside that screen you will always see two main ways to redeem rewards: gifts that come “via internet” and gifts that require a code or password. The Mewtwo event sits in the first group, so if you find yourself on a keyboard screen being asked to enter letters and numbers, back out and choose the other option instead. After that, the only real danger is selecting the wrong gift if multiple events happen to be live at the same time. Take a second to read the descriptions and only confirm the Project M line when you are sure. It is a small habit, but it saves you from confusion and helps you get exactly what you came for.

How to start the Project M side mission at Lysandre Café

Once the Mega Stones are in your bag, the game silently flips a switch in the background. You do not get a new quest marker on your map, and the side mission list does not suddenly light up with a giant Mewtwo logo begging for attention. Instead, you are expected to notice the hint in the Mystery Gift description and act on it. That clue points you straight toward Lysandre Café, the stylish little spot tied to some of the stranger secrets in Lumiose City. Make sure your party is healed and stocked with Poké Balls, then fast travel to the nearest warp point and head northeast toward the café entrance. When you step inside, keep an eye out for the elevator that leads deeper below the streets. This is your doorway back into Lysandre Labs, and it is where the Mega Stones in your satchel start to matter again.

Reaching Lysandre Labs and triggering the encounter

Inside Lysandre Café, walk to the elevator and take it down to the lowest available floor, often marked as B3F or a similar label. The air changes as soon as you step out, with the usual city noise replaced by a heavy mechanical hum and the glow of dormant equipment. Move forward through the corridor, following the same route you might remember from earlier story missions, and head into the heart of Lysandre Labs. At some point the systems scattered around you will react to the Mega Stones in your bag, which triggers a new cutscene and formally starts the Project M side mission. From here the game guides you through a sequence of puzzles, Trainer encounters or environmental hazards that all build toward one goal: reaching the chamber where Mewtwo waits. Take your time, keep an eye out for items on the ground and be sure your team is in good shape before stepping through the final door.

What to expect in the Project M side mission

The Project M mission is built as a proper late game challenge rather than a quick handshake, so it helps to go in with realistic expectations. The trainers and security systems inside Lysandre Labs tend to lean on high level Pokémon that can punish sloppy switching and poor type coverage, which means you want a balanced team with answers to Psychic and Fighting type moves. Along the way, you will likely hit story beats that tie back to Lysandre’s earlier experiments and the broader theme of Mega Evolution in Kalos. Even if you know Mewtwo is waiting at the end, seeing how the game frames this return trip makes the whole mission feel more like an epilogue chapter than a simple event. By the time you stand face to face with Mewtwo, the game has already reminded you why this legendary is treated with so much caution in the story, which makes finally catching it feel that much sweeter.

Best tips for catching Mewtwo and using Mega Mewtwo in battle

When you finally reach Mewtwo, emotions tend to spike. It is tempting to throw your strongest attacks and hope for the best, but a little planning goes a long way here. Remember that this fight is designed with late game teams in mind, so Mewtwo will hit hard and punish risky plays. A reliable strategy is to bring at least one Pokémon that can reliably inflict a sleep or paralysis status, one wall that can take Psychic type hits, and a couple of heavy hitters that can chip Mewtwo down without knocking it out too quickly. Stock up on Ultra Balls and, if you have one, keep a Master Ball sitting in your bag as an emergency option. Even if the event lets you retry the fight, it feels great to secure the capture in one clean run. Once Mewtwo is yours, the fun really starts as you experiment with its Mega forms in both offline and online battles.

Think of your lineup as a safety net designed around Mewtwo’s strengths and weaknesses. Dark type Pokémon that can shrug off Psychic attacks and hit back super effectively are incredibly useful, especially if they carry moves that can lower Mewtwo’s stats or spread status. Bulky Steel types can also help, walling some coverage moves while giving you time to heal or throw Poké Balls. Support partners that carry Reflect, Light Screen or similar defensive tools can cut Mewtwo’s damage enough to keep your team alive during a long capture attempt. On the offensive side, consider bringing at least one Pokémon that can whittle Mewtwo down with weaker, controlled hits instead of all out nukes. It feels boring to tap away with smaller moves, but it is much better than accidentally scoring a critical hit that sends Mewtwo fainting before you even reach for a ball.

Move and role ideas for Mega Mewtwo X and Mega Mewtwo Y

Once the battle is over and Mewtwo is sitting securely in your boxes, the Mega Stones you grabbed earlier finally step into the spotlight. Mega Mewtwo X leans into a Psychic plus Fighting combination, turning Mewtwo into a devastating physical attacker that can smash through walls and scare off Dark types that usually enjoy facing Psychic Pokémon. Moves like Close Combat or a strong Fighting type signature attack pair beautifully with high power Psychic moves to keep pressure on your opponent. Mega Mewtwo Y, on the other hand, plays to Mewtwo’s traditional special attacking strengths, pushing its Special Attack to absurd levels while also boosting its speed. This form loves fast, hard hitting moves that let it sweep weakened teams before they can react. Swapping between the two Mega forms gives you a flexible answer to different challenges, and experimenting with both is half the fun of this whole event.

Event timing, expiration concerns and troubleshooting tips

One of the most surprising details about the Project M distribution is that it currently has no official end date listed. Previous Pokémon Legends Z-A events, such as those featuring other Mega evolutions or special rewards, usually came with clear start and finish windows. This time the language in the announcements simply states that the Mystery Gift is available from December 2, 2025 onward, without saying when it disappears. That sounds friendly on paper, since it suggests that late adopters will still have a shot at grabbing Mewtwo weeks or months from now. At the same time, it creates a weird temptation to put things off. If you want to be safe, treat the event as if it might quietly gain an expiration date later and grab your Mega Stones sooner rather than later. It only takes a few minutes and keeps you from stressing over fine print in the future.

Does this Mystery Gift event have an end date

Right now, all messaging around the Mewtwo distribution says the event has started but does not mention a cut off. That includes official news updates as well as press coverage, many of which even point out how unusual that is. There are two likely explanations. Either the developers genuinely plan for Project M to be a long running or even permanent reward tied to Pokémon Legends Z-A’s late game, or the expiry date simply was not finalized in time for the first announcement. Because you cannot know which of those is true from the outside, the safest approach is to claim the gift as soon as you reasonably can. Treat the lack of a posted deadline as a helpful grace period rather than a promise that the event will run forever. That way you avoid disappointment if the distribution ever does get a closing date in a later update.

Fixing Mystery Gift and connection issues

If Project M does not appear in your Mystery Gift list, do not panic. Start with the basics. Double check that your game is updated to the latest version on your Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2, since some online events require the newest patch to show up correctly. Make sure your console is connected to the internet and that your user account is still linked to a valid Nintendo Account. Then, load your save and confirm that you actually have access to Link Play and Mystery Gift in the first place. If those menu options are missing, you probably have not unlocked the Rewards feature in Mable’s Research yet, so play the story a bit longer. If everything seems fine but the gift still will not appear, try closing the game completely, restarting your console, and checking again after a short break. Most connection hiccups clear up after a fresh login.

Safety reminders before redeeming your rewards

There are a couple of small but important safety habits that can save you headaches while claiming gifts like this. Before you connect, make sure your Switch or Switch 2 has enough battery life or is docked, so it does not shut down halfway through the download. Avoid putting the console into sleep mode while the Mystery Gift animation plays out, and do not mash buttons during autosave prompts. It is also a good idea to keep at least one manual save from before you started any major new mission, just in case you decide you want to tackle Project M later with a different team build. None of this is absolutely required to grab Mewtwo, but treating events with a bit of caution keeps your save data safe and lets you enjoy the new legendary without worrying about something going wrong behind the scenes.

Why you should not skip the Mewtwo event in Pokémon Legends Z-A

Project M is more than a simple freebie dropped into your satchel. It feels like a natural extension of Pokémon Legends Z-A’s story, tying together Lumiose City, Lysandre’s legacy and the renewed focus on Mega Evolution in one neat package. By completing the mission you gain a legendary that can reshape your strategies, both in single player challenges and in any battles you play with friends. You also get a fresh reason to revisit parts of the map you might have sprinted through during the main campaign, noticing details and story threads that hit differently now that you know more about how the city works. Even if you usually ignore online distributions, this one is worth making an exception for. It is quick, it slots neatly into the postgame experience and it gives you a flexible powerhouse that will stay relevant for as long as you keep returning to Lumiose.

Conclusion

The Mewtwo and Mega Stone distribution in Pokémon Legends Z-A is the kind of event that rewards you for simply paying attention. By unlocking Mystery Gift, connecting via the internet and selecting the Project M gift, you receive Mewtwonite X and Mewtwonite Y, open a hidden side mission and earn the chance to catch one of the strongest Pokémon in the entire series. The whole process is approachable once you know the requirements, from clearing the main story to reaching Lysandre Café and pushing into Lysandre Labs one more time. Along the way you get a sharp bit of extra story and a climactic battle that feels worthy of Mewtwo’s reputation. Whether you want a new anchor for ranked play, a powerful partner for DLC adventures or simply an excuse to revisit Lumiose City, this event delivers. Claim the gift, catch your Mewtwo and enjoy having both Mega forms waiting in your Mega Stones pocket whenever you need a boost.

FAQs
  • Do I need the Mega Dimension DLC to get Mewtwo in Pokémon Legends Z-A
    • No, the Project M Mystery Gift and Mewtwo side mission are available to all players who own Pokémon Legends Z-A, whether you have purchased the Mega Dimension DLC or not. The only real requirement on the story side is that you must have completed the main campaign before the side mission will trigger in Lysandre Labs.
  • Where do I find the Mewtwo side mission after claiming the Mystery Gift
    • After you receive Mewtwonite X and Mewtwonite Y via the Mystery Gift menu, fast travel to Lumiose City and head for Lysandre Café. Go inside, take the elevator down to the lowest floor and walk into Lysandre Labs. As you explore the deepest area, the systems will react to the Mega Stones in your bag, a cutscene will play and the Project M side mission that leads to Mewtwo will begin.
  • Why does Project M not show up in my side mission list
    • The game treats Project M a little differently from regular missions. It does not always appear as a standard side mission entry and may not get a visible map marker. Instead, the event is triggered by your actions after you claim the Mega Stones. As long as you have finished the main story, just head to Lysandre Café, descend into Lysandre Labs and walk into the deepest room to activate the encounter with Mewtwo.
  • Can I still get Mewtwo later if I do not play the event right away
    • At the moment, the distribution information does not list a specific end date for the Project M Mystery Gift. That suggests you have some breathing room and do not need to rush on the very first day. However, since details can change in future announcements, it is wise to claim the gift as soon as possible so you do not miss out if a closing date is added later.
  • What happens if I knock out Mewtwo during the Project M mission
    • If things go wrong in the battle and you accidentally faint Mewtwo, you are not permanently locked out of the event. The encounter can be repeated, so you will have more chances to weaken and catch it properly. That said, going in with status moves, enough Poké Balls and a balanced team will make it easier to secure the capture on your next attempt.
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