Mimikyu

Mimikyu in the games: a Pikachu costume with a purpose

Mimikyu is a Ghost and Fairy type introduced in Generation VII with Pokémon Sun and Moon, and it does not evolve. It hides its true body under an old rag shaped like Pikachu, a disguise it wears in the hope of being liked the way Pikachu is. It stands only 0.2 m tall, though the costume makes it look taller.

Its ability, Disguise, is exclusive to it. The first damaging hit in a battle breaks the costume's neck instead of hurting Mimikyu, switching it from Disguised Form to Busted Form. In Generation VII that hit did no damage at all; from Generation VIII onward the attack is still blocked, but Mimikyu loses 1/8 of its maximum HP. Mimikyu is also the only Pokémon with the Z-Move Let's Snuggle Forever.

The design landed with fans: in The Pokémon Company's 2020 Pokémon of the Year poll, Mimikyu was the most popular Generation VII Pokémon and third overall.

Jessie's Mimikyu and Team Rocket

In the Sun & Moon anime, Mimikyu debuted in the third episode. Ash tried to catch it, but it sided with Team Rocket after seeing Pikachu and flying into a rage, and Jessie caught it in the next episode. The card game nodded to that history in Destined Rivals (2025) with Team Rocket's Mimikyu.

Mimikyu on cards: Guardians Rising to Tag Team GX

Guardians Rising (2017) printed a Mimikyu illustrated by Megumi Mizutani, and our catalog lists 32 Mimikyu printings across 17 sets, split mainly across the Sun & Moon (15), Sword & Shield (9) and Scarlet & Violet (7) eras.

Lost Thunder (2018) introduced Mimikyu GX, up to a Secret Rare, and Team Up (2019) paired it with Gengar in the Tag Team card Gengar & Mimikyu GX, printed four ways including an alternate art by Midori Harada and a Secret Rare. Cosmic Eclipse (2019) added a Secret Rare Mimikyu by You Iribi. Mimikyu V and VMAX followed in the Sword & Shield era, with Trainer Gallery versions in Brilliant Stars (2022), and Scarlet & Violet brought Mimikyu ex and a shiny rare in Paldean Fates (2024).

Cards to know

• Mimikyu GX (Lost Thunder #226)

  A Secret Rare GX card from Lost Thunder (2018).

• Gengar & Mimikyu GX (Team Up #186)

  A Secret Rare Tag Team card pairing Mimikyu with Gengar, from Team Up (2019).

• Gengar & Mimikyu GX (Team Up #165)

  The alternate art version of the Tag Team card, illustrated by Midori Harada.

• Mimikyu (Cosmic Eclipse #245)

  A Secret Rare Mimikyu illustrated by You Iribi, from Cosmic Eclipse (2019).

• Mimikyu VMAX (Brilliant Stars Trainer Gallery #TG17)

  A Trainer Gallery Mimikyu VMAX by Naoki Saito from Brilliant Stars (2022).

• Mimikyu (Paldean Fates #160)

  A shiny rare Mimikyu by Nelnal from Paldean Fates (2024).