Base Stats
Abilities
Type Matchups
View full type chart →Damage multipliers vs. water / dark typing. Ability-based immunities (e.g. Levitate) are not included.
Forms · 4 variations
Evolution Line
Battle & Lore Hub
Battle Strategy
Greninja functions as a premier offensive pivot and revenge killer, utilizing its high Speed and diverse movepool to exploit elemental weaknesses. It relies on its abilities Protean or Battle Bond to maximize damage output and maintain offensive pressure against faster threats.
Best Used In
Excelled historically in Gen 7 OU as a transformation sweeper and remains a potent threat in Gen 9 National Dex OU and UnderUsed as a fast lead or late-game cleaner.
Strengths
- ›High base Speed (122) allows it to outpace most of the unboosted metagame
- ›Versatile movepool covering special, physical, and utility options
- ›Variable typing via Protean provides constant STAB and defensive unpredictability
- ›Effective Mixed Attacker capabilities
Weaknesses
- ›Critically low defensive stats make it susceptible to priority moves like Mach Punch
- ›Weak to common types including Fighting, Fairy, Bug, Grass, and Electric
- ›Vulnerable to entry hazard chip damage which limits its switching opportunities
- ›Reliant on Choice items or Life Orb to secure specific OHKOs
Competitive Tips
- ›Equip a Choice Specs with Battle Bond to transform into Ash-Greninja after a KO for massive Water Shuriken boosts
- ›Use U-turn on predicted switches to maintain momentum against Special Walls like Blissey
- ›Utilize Spikes to punish switches, taking advantage of the free turns Greninja forces against slower Ground-types
- ›Run Ice Beam specifically to OHKO 4x weak targets like Garchomp, Dragonite, and Landorus-Therian
- ›In Gen 9, be mindful that Protean only triggers once per switch-in, requiring more tactical use of non-STAB coverage
Recommended Teammates
Landorus-Therian
Provides U-turn for a Volt-Turn core and offers Intimidate support to mask Greninja's physical frailty
Gholdengo
Blocks Rapid Spin and Defog, ensuring the Spikes set by Greninja remain on the field
Iron Valiant
Applies huge pressure to Dark and Steel types that resist Greninja's STAB combination
Corviknight
Slow U-turn pivot that safely brings Greninja into favorable matchups against Fire or Ground types
Tapu Lele
Psychic Surge protects Greninja from priority moves like Extreme Speed and Sucker Punch
Game History
Introduced in Generation 6 as the final evolution of the Kalos starter Froakie, it immediately became a competitive staple due to its hidden ability Protean. It gained a unique 'Ash-Greninja' form in Generation 7 through the Battle Bond ability, further cementing its status as a top-tier threat across multiple Smogon formats.
Trivia
- ◆Greninja is the only Pokémon capable of using the move Mat Block, though it hasn't been in its moveset in recent generations
- ◆Its design is based on both the Japanese folk hero Jiraiya and the 'Secret Art of Invisibility' associated with ninjas
- ◆It was voted the most popular Pokémon in Japan during the 2016 and 2020 Pokémon of the Year polls
- ◆The 'scarf' around its neck is actually its own incredibly long tongue wrapped around its head
- ◆In the anime, Ash's Greninja reached a unique form through a phenomenon known as the Bond Phenomenon, rather than Mega Evolution
- ◆Despite being a ninja, its base Special Attack is higher than its base Attack
Moves · 95 total
Level-Up
8 movesTM / HM
20 movesEgg Moves
1 movesMove Tutor
2 movesOther
64 movesWhere to find· 6 games
X
PokédexIn this game's Pokédex — wild location data unavailable.
Y
PokédexIn this game's Pokédex — wild location data unavailable.
Omega Ruby
PokédexIn this game's Pokédex — wild location data unavailable.
Alpha Sapphire
PokédexIn this game's Pokédex — wild location data unavailable.
Ultra Sun
1 spot- •Poni Wilds
Ultra Moon
1 spot- •Poni Wilds