Summary: Before the internet, Mew sparked endless speculation. From being hidden under a truck to showing up after 100 Elite Four wins, these myths defined early Pokémon culture—even if none of them were real.
Explore how Mew became the focus of Gen 1's biggest Pokémon myths—from the S.S. Anne truck to Pokédex rewards—in an era before the internet could fact-check it all.
In Part 1 of this series, we explored how Satoshi Tajiri intended Mew to be the subject of schoolyard rumors—and how the mysterious Pokémon was secretly programmed into the game. Now, in Part 2, we’ll dive deeper into those legendary playground myths and urban legends.
In this article
- Schoolyard Rumours and Urban Legends
- Mew Under the Truck
- Mew Can Be Found in the Wild
- Beating the Elite Four 100 Times Unlocks Mew
- Completing the Pokédex Unlocks Mew
- Conclusion
Schoolyard Rumours and Urban Legends
How the legend of Mew in Generation One was Born
When word of Mew started to spread, schoolyard rumors exploded. Keep in mind, this was 1996—well before the internet was widespread. Most players got their information from gaming magazines or publications like CoroCoro Magazine. With limited ways to fact-check, misinformation thrived, and kids’ imaginations filled in the gaps. So, what kinds of wild rumors were being passed around?
Mew Under the Truck
Players believed that Mew could be found hiding under a mysterious truck near the S.S. Anne in Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow. The rumor claimed that if you did a specific set of actions—like avoiding the S.S. Anne from departing—you could access a hidden area with a truck. If you used Strength or another special method near this truck, Mew would appear.
The truck can be found on the docks, but it's programmed to serve no purpose and cannot be interacted with. It's most likely a leftover asset from a scrapped section of the game. Since the area becomes inaccessible once the S.S. Anne departs—and the truck is out of the player's normal view—the developers likely chose to leave it in place.
Despite having no basis in the actual game code, the "Mew under the truck" legend spread like wildfire—fueled by schoolyard chatter, wild speculation, and a lack of official information. The sheer mystery surrounding Mew made it the perfect subject for these kinds of myths. As one of the first “secret” Pokémon, Mew captured players’ imaginations and embodied the idea that anything could be hiding within the game’s vast world. In an era before widespread internet access, rumors like these were a core part of the Pokémon experience, reinforcing the sense that the games were filled with hidden secrets just waiting to be discovered—whether they were real or not.
Mew Can Be Found in the Wild
Rumors spread like wildfire in the late '90s that Mew was hidden somewhere in the wild, just waiting to be discovered. Some said it was in Cerulean Cave, hidden in tall grass only accessible with a secret Surf route. Others claimed Mew could be found beneath a specific tile using Strength or by cutting down trees in a specific order.
Other theories included things like:
- Walking around the Pokémon Mansion on Cinnabar Island and pressing A in every corner.
- Beating the Elite Four with only one Pokémon or under a certain time limit to trigger a hidden event.
- Surfing along Cinnabar Island’s eastern coast, which was already home to other glitches.
Mew was not programmed to appear in the wild under any legitimate conditions. The game does not contain any scripted wild encounter for Mew, nor any code that makes it appear through natural gameplay. These legends were born out of player curiosity and the sense that a mysterious 151st Pokémon must surely be hidden somewhere in the game world.
Beating the Elite Four 100 Times Unlocks Mew
This myth claimed that if a player beat the Elite Four 100 times in a row, or under certain specific conditions (e.g., without using items, or with only one Pokémon), a secret ending would be triggered in which Professor Oak would reward the player with Mew.
Variations included:
- Completing the Elite Four using only starter Pokémon.
- Defeating the Champion with exactly 6 Pokémon fainted.
- Returning to Pallet Town after your 100th win to trigger a cutscene.
The game does not track the number of times you defeat the Elite Four beyond saving your Hall of Fame records (which cap at 50 entries). There is no script, reward, or flag for reaching 100 wins. While it added replay value for kids hoping for a secret reward, this was pure fabrication.
Completing the Pokédex Unlocks Mew
This was one of the most widely believed myths: Catch all 150 Pokémon, and Professor Oak would reward you with the final, mysterious 151st Pokémon—Mew. It seemed logical to players, especially given that Oak congratulates you for completing the Pokédex.
Some versions even claimed Oak would battle you and then hand over Mew, or that you’d be sent to a new location like a “Pokémon Lab extension.”
If you completed the Pokédex with all 150 Pokémon, all you received was a certificate—either on-screen or printable via the Game Boy Printer in Pokémon Yellow. Mew was never part of the reward. Why? Because Mew was intended to be event-exclusive, accessible only through Nintendo-sponsored distributions.
Conclusion
The legend of Mew stands as a testament to the magic of early gaming culture—where imagination filled the gaps left by limited information. Though none of these myths turned out to be true, they fueled exploration, conversations, and unforgettable memories. In the absence of facts, the mystery became the feature, and Mew, whether real or rumor, became legendary.
