Pokemon GO clone event info: How to get clones!

Today we're taking a peek at the first round of Pokemon GO's own clone Pokemon! These Pokemon were introduced for the first time to make way for the release of the Netflix movie Pokemon: Mewtwo Strikes Back – Evolution, and for the 2020 Pokemon Day celebration! This release brings heat to the world of Pokemon GO with a brand new sort of Pokemon in clones – the start of which hit Pikachu and Charizard first!

The deal here begins with Mewtwo, who – as you may know – is a clone of the original Pokemon, Mew! To celebrate the launch of the movie Mewtwo Strikes Back – Evolution, Niantic teamed up with the Pokemon Company to release FIVE different clone Pokemon. These new Pokemon will have abilities similar to their originals, but will have a different skin – and perhaps some different moves, if we're lucky – right out the gate!

Clone Pokemon in the first wave will be launched on Tuesday, February 25th, and will last until March 2 – that's a Monday. This series of Pokemon will signify the first time Clone Pokemon will ever have appeared in any Pokemon game – that's right! No previous Pokemon game has EVER had a clone Pokemon besides Mewtwo – this is a first!

UPDATE: Apparently the previously-listed fifth Pokemon is not quite as exciting as we expected – it's not another unknown Pokemon, but the previously-released Armored Mewtwo. The rest of the list are confirmed for the event, as follows:First Clones in Pokemon GO:

• Clone Venusaur: available in four-star raids

• Clone Charizard: available in four-star raids

• Clone Blastoise: available in four-star raids

• Clone Pikachu: appearing exclusively in photos of other Pokemon – he's a photobomber!

You'll be able to meet up with the clones above in Pokemon Gym raid battles first and foremost. The Pikachu might also appear in the wild – but don't count on it! Once this event begins, start snapping photos like crazy!

We've not yet seen proof of other Clone Pokemon in the game's code. Chances are we'll see the four NEW Clone Pokemon shown above first, then more closer to future clone events. When we do, we're expecting the following to appear before any others.

• Dewgong

• Gyarados

• Hitmonlee

• Meowth

• Nidoqueen

• Ninetails

• Pidgeot

• Pikachu

• Psyduck / Golduck

• Rapidash

• Rhyhorn

• Sandslash

• Scyther

• Seadra

• Squirtle

• Tentacruel

• Vaporeon

• Vileplume

• Vulpix

• Wigglytuff

Strange mix of creatures, right? The list above appeared first (with Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise) in the movie Pokemon: The First Movie: Mewtwo Strikes back! It was there that Mewtwo started this process – clones are pretty old! In the movie they were called things like Squirtletwo and Vulpixtwo – but the naming conventions aren't something we're expecting will be particularly important in the games to come. Stick around and we shall see!