How to get Mew in Pokemon Yellow

Getting Mew in Pokémon Yellow (and Red and Blue, too) can only be done via a glitch in the game, unless you’re using cheats. It’s actually a lot easier than most people think and can be done by following a few simple steps that we’ll take you through in this article. 

It should be noted that you don’t need to get Mew to complete the Pokedex, but who doesn’t want this mystical cat-like Psychic Pokémon in their squad! Read on to learn how to catch Mew in Pokémon Yellow. 

Step 1 – Nugget Bridge

Head north from Cerulean City on follow the Nugget Bridge path
Head north from Cerulean City on follow the Nugget Bridge path

Before starting, you’ll need to have a Pokémon with the ability to Fly or Teleport, so you might want to read our guide on how to catch Abra first. Note that if you do want to catch Abra, you’ll have to avoid the trainer that stands in the patch of grass where you find him. The reason why will become clear in a moment. 

Once you reach Cerulean City for the first time (the glitch won’t work unless you do it on the first visit) head north on the Nugget Bridge and take a left when you get to the top. On the other side of the water you’ll see a guy standing in the grass. You’ll want to approach him very slowly. As soon as you move within his sight press the menu button (see picture below). You’ll have to press the menu button almost immediately after pressing down to move closer to him. This is the hardest part to execute in the glitch so take your time to get it right and save the game beforehand! 

Press the menu button as soon as you step closer to the guy at the bottom
Press the menu button as soon as you step closer to the guy at the bottom

Once you’ve got the menu button open, use a Pokémon with either the Fly or Teleport ability to transport back to the Pokémon Center. You’ll know that you’ve done it right if there is an exclamation mark above the trainer as you are teleporting away. 

Step 2 – Defeat YOUNGSTER Trainer

Now that you are back in Cerulean City, head north on Nugget Bridge again, but this time take a right towards Route 24. You’ll want to defeat all of the trainers there except for the YOUNGSTER trainer highlighted in the picture below. 

Youngster Trainer highlighted in Yellow
Youngster Trainer highlighted in yellow

After defeating all the other trainers, teleport back to the Pokémon Center in Cerulean City and heal all of your Pokémon. Head back north and up Nugget Bridge and go back towards the YOUNGSTER trainer from the picture above. You don’t want to walk right in front of him though. The glitch necessitates that you must move up next to the wall and then try and walk past him. See the picture below to see the highlighted point where you should walk to. Walking past the trainer in this position will prompt him to approach you and start a battle. Defeat the YOUNGSTER and Teleport back to the Pokémon Center. 

Go past the 'Youngster' trainer, but not directly in front of him
Go past the ‘Youngster’ trainer, but not directly in front of him

Step 3 – Get Your Mew!

The hard part is over and now you’re well on your way to acquiring the mystical 151st Pokémon. 

Once you’re back at the Pokémon Center, head back up the Nugget Bridge north of Cerulean City for the last time. 

As you walk up along the bridge, the game will pause automatically, simply unpause the game and you’ll enter a battle with Mew. Now all you have to do is capture it. It’s worth having a Master Ball ready to guarantee the capture. 

The game will automatically on Nugget Bridge
The game will automatically pause on the Nugget Bridge

Get in Touch

What device did you play Pokémon Yellow on for the first time? Let us know in the comment section below. For me, it was the original Game Boy.

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