Where did Ancient Mew come from?
In Japan, Ancient Mew first came out on July 17, 1999, inside the pamphlet sold for the second Pokémon movie, known in English as The Power of One. In the United States, cinemas gave it away during the first week of Pokémon The Movie 2000, July 21 to 28, 2000, in a cellophane packet together with a Pokémon League teaser card.
Because every moviegoer that week got one, the English card is far from rare. The Japanese versions are the ones collectors hunt for.
What does the Ancient Mew card say?
All of the text is in runes, but the layout is a normal Pokémon card. Translated, Ancient Mew is a Psychic Pokémon with 30 HP. Its one attack, Psyche, costs two Psychic Energy and does 40 damage. It has a Psychic weakness and a Retreat Cost of two.
The whole card is covered in a glittering foil, from the artwork to the borders, which is part of why it looked so mysterious in 2000.
How do you spot the Nintedo error?
Look at the copyright line along the bottom edge. On the error card it reads "Nintedo" instead of "Nintendo". The error only exists in the first Japanese print, called Ancient Mew I. It was corrected in a later print of the same card, and Japan also released a separate Ancient Mew II through the same pamphlets.
The English cinema card does not have the error.
How much is Ancient Mew worth?
In late September 2026, the Cardmarket price Pooka tracks for the Japanese Ancient Mew was about €115, with eBay sales averaging about €85. The Nintedo error is the most valuable version, and graded copies in top condition sell for thousands of dollars.
English cinema copies are much easier to find, especially still sealed in their original cellophane packet.
All cards in this guide
| Card | Set | Rarity | Released | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Ancient Mew #98 | Miscellaneous Promos | 1996 |
