Greninja in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: A Comprehensive Guide

Greninja, the Ninja Pokémon, is a dual-type Water/Dark Pokémon known for its speed and ninja-like movements. This guide provides a detailed look at Greninja's learnset, abilities, stats, strengths, weaknesses, and strategies for using it effectively in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (SV).

Greninja's Evolution and Typing

Greninja evolves from Frogadier starting at level 36, which itself evolves from Froakie at level 16. As a Water/Dark-type Pokémon, Greninja possesses a unique set of strengths and weaknesses that trainers should consider when building their teams.

Abilities

Greninja has two primary abilities:

Torrent: This ability increases the power of Water-type moves by 50% when Greninja's HP is below 1/3 of its maximum.
Protean (Hidden Ability): Before Greninja uses a move, it changes its type to match that move. This provides strategic flexibility, allowing Greninja to adapt to various situations and gain STAB (Same-Type Attack Bonus) on every move it uses.

Greninja Stats

Greninja boasts impressive stats, with its standout feature being its exceptional Speed. Here’s a breakdown:

HP: Base stat
Attack: Base stat
Defense: Base stat
Special Attack: Base stat
Special Defense: Base stat
Speed: Base stat

Greninja's highest IV (Individual Value) stat is Speed (122), making it one of the fastest Pokémon in the game. Its lowest stat is Defense (67), making it susceptible to strong physical attacks.

Strengths and Weaknesses

As a Water/Dark-type, Greninja has the following type matchups:

Weaknesses: Grass, Electric, Fighting, Bug, Fairy
Resistances: Steel, Fire, Water, Ice, Ghost, Dark, Psychic

Understanding these type matchups is essential for strategic gameplay, allowing trainers to anticipate and mitigate potential threats.

Greninja Learnset

Greninja can learn a diverse range of moves through leveling up, TM (Technical Machine) compatibility, and breeding.

Moves Learned by Leveling Up

Greninja learns several moves as it levels up, enhancing its offensive and strategic capabilities. These moves include Water Shuriken.

TM Moves

Greninja is compatible with a wide array of TMs, providing extensive movepool customization:

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The user slashes the target the instant an opportunity arises.
Using a pulled-up mat as a shield, the user protects itself and its allies from damaging moves.
The user growls in an endearing way, making the opposing team less wary.
A spray of countless bubbles is jetted at the opposing team.
The user lunges at the target at a speed that makes it almost invisible.
The target is licked with a long tongue, causing damage.
The user attacks the target with a pulsing blast of water.
The user releases an obscuring cloud of smoke or ink.
The user extends its shadow and attacks the target from behind.
The user lays a trap of spikes at the opposing team's feet.
The user approaches the target disarmingly, then throws a sucker punch.
The user hits the target with throwing stars two to five times in a row.
The user makes a copy of itself using some of its HP.
The user attacks with an odd, unseeable power.
The user slashes the target the instant an opportunity arises.
The user hits the target with throwing stars two to five times in a row.
A move that leaves the target badly poisoned.
The target is struck with an icy-cold beam of energy.
A howling blizzard is summoned to strike the opposing team.
The target is attacked with a powerful beam.
It enables the user to evade all attacks.
The user throws a stone or projectile to attack an opponent.
The user burrows, then attacks on the second turn.
Boulders are hurled at the target.
The user confounds the target with speed, then slashes.
The user goes to sleep for two turns.
The user attacks and steals the target's held item simultaneously.
The user attacks the target with a song.
The user attacks the target with an echoing voice.
The user shoots boiling hot water at its target.
The user flings its held item at the target to attack.
The user nimbly strikes the target.
The user charges at the target using every bit of its power.
Large boulders are hurled at the opposing team to inflict damage.
The user snares the target with grass and trips it.
The user enrages and confuses the target.
The user makes a copy of itself using some of its HP.
The user attacks with a punch that can shatter a rock.
The user attacks the target with a secret power.
The user releases a horrible aura imbued with dark thoughts.
Striking opponents over and over makes the user's fists harder.
The user tells the target a secret, and the target loses its ability to concentrate. This lowers the target's Sp.
The target is cut with a scythe or a claw.
It swamps the area around the user with a giant wave.
The target is slugged with a punch thrown at maximum power.
The user charges at the target and may make it flinch.
Diving on the first turn, the user floats up and attacks on the second turn.
The user covers itself with mud.
The user lays a trap of poison spikes at the opponent's feet.
The user soaks itself with water. The move weakens Fire-type moves for five turns.

Egg Moves

Greninja can also learn moves through breeding. By breeding a female Greninja with a compatible male Pokémon, trainers can pass down specific moves.

Competitive Movesets and Builds

Greninja's versatility allows for various competitive builds, each designed to exploit specific strategies and counter particular threats.

Tera Type Strategies

Tera+STAB Attacker: Stacking the Tera Type damage boost with STAB to get a 2x damage boost for one type.
Tera Boost Coverage: Using a Tera Type different from its main types to get a 1.5x boost in a new typing for greater coverage.
Weakness Protection: Using a Tera Type to reduce or remove one of their critical weaknesses.

Sample Builds

Special Attacker:
- Nature: Naive (+Spe, -Sp. Def)
- EVs: 20 Atk / 236 Sp. Atk / 252 Spe
- Ability: Protean
- Item: Focus Sash
- Moves:
  - Surf (reliable Water-type STAB)
  - Ice Beam (coverage against Grass-types)
  - Dark Pulse (Dark-type STAB)
  - U-Turn (for pivoting)
Offensive Support:
- Nature: Hasty (+Spe, -Def)
- EVs: 252 Sp. Atk / 4 Sp. Def / 252 Spe
- Ability: Protean
- Item: Life Orb
- Moves:
  - Hydro Pump (high-power Water-type STAB)
  - Ice Beam (coverage)
  - Gunk Shot (for Fairy-types)
  - Spikes/Toxic Spikes (entry hazards)

Move Choices Explained

Water Shuriken: A multi-strike Water-type move that hits 2-5 times.
Ice Beam: Provides coverage against Grass-types.
Dark Pulse: A strong Dark-type move with a chance to flinch the target.
U-Turn: Allows Greninja to pivot out of unfavorable matchups.
Gunk Shot: A powerful Poison-type move that can take out Fairy-types.
Low Kick: A Fighting-type move that deals more damage to heavier opponents, useful for taking out threats like Kingambit and Tyranitar.
Spikes/Toxic Spikes: Entry hazards that damage opponents switching into battle.

How to Breed Greninja

Greninja can breed with Pokémon that share its Egg Group, allowing trainers to pass down desired moves and IVs.

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Counters and Allies

While Greninja is a powerful Pokémon, it has its weaknesses. Pokémon that can outspeed or resist its attacks can pose a threat.

Effective Team Members

Gholdengo: A great switch-in against Breloom and can threaten Flutter Mane with super-effective Make it Rain unless Flutter Mane Terastallizes into Fire.
Torkoal: May be a better option for switching into Freeze-Dry or Flower Trick.

Greninja in Tera Raids

Greninja has also appeared in 7-star Tera Raid events in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. These raids feature Greninja with a Poison Tera-type, requiring trainers to exploit Poison's weaknesses while navigating Greninja's diverse movepool.

Potential Moveset

Physical Set: Swords Dance, Tera Blast, Night Slash, Liquidation, Acrobatics, Facade, Brick Break, Double Team, Toxic Spikes
Special Set: Gunk Shot, Dark Pulse, Hydro Pump, Water Shuriken, Rain Dance, Ice Beam, Grass Knot, Extrasensory, Double Team, Toxic Spikes

Recommended Pokémon for Tera Raids

West Sea Gastrodon: Resistant or neutral to most of Greninja's attacks (except Grass Knot), with the Storm Drain ability to absorb Water-type moves.
Klefki: A Steel/Fairy-type with Prankster, allowing it to use status moves effectively.
Paldean Tauros (Aqua): Can be powerful with Anger Point if Greninja runs Night Slash.
Gholdengo: A solid choice on paper, with an ability that grants immunity to status moves.

Greninja's Design and Inspiration

Greninja's design is based on a frog and draws inspiration from ninjas. Its swift movements and ability to create weapons from compressed water are reminiscent of ninja techniques. The association of frogs and ninjas in Japanese culture stems from the folk story The Tale of the Gallant Jiraiya, which features a ninja who can shapeshift into a large toad.

Ash-Greninja

In the Pokémon the Series: XY anime, Ash's Greninja gained the ability to transform into a stronger form known as Ash-Greninja through the Bond Phenomenon. Greninja with the Ability Battle Bond will transform into Ash-Greninja after directly causing an opponent to faint in battle.

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