Greninja

Greninja (Japanese: ゲッコウガ Gekkouga) is a dual-type Water/Dark Pokemon introduced in Generation VI. It evolves from Frogadier starting at level 36 and is the final form of Froakie, one of the three starter Pokemon of the Kalos region. Greninja gained massive popularity through the anime and was voted Pokemon of the Year in 2020.

Basic Information

AttributeValue
National Pokedex #658
TypeWater/Dark
SpeciesNinja Pokemon
Height1.5 m (4'11")
Weight40.0 kg (88.2 lbs)
AbilitiesTorrent, Protean (Hidden), Battle Bond (Special)
Egg GroupsWater 1
Gender Ratio87.5% Male, 12.5% Female
Catch Rate45 (11.9% with Poke Ball)
Base Friendship50
Base Experience265

Taxonomy

Classification

  • Kingdom: Animalia (fictional)
  • Phylum: Pokemonata
  • Class: Amphibia
  • Order: Ninjae
  • Family: Greninjidae
  • Genus: Greninja
  • Species: G. shinobi

Name Origin

LanguageNameOrigin
Japaneseゲッコウガ (Gekkouga)月光 (gekkou, moonlight) + 甲賀 (Kouga, ninja clan)
EnglishGreninjaGrenouille (French: frog) + ninja
GermanQuajutsuQuaken (croak) + jutsu (technique)
FrenchAmphinobiAmphibien + shinobi
Korean개굴닌자 (Gaegulninja)Frog + ninja
Chinese甲賀忍蛙 (Jiǎhè Rěnwā)Kouga ninja frog

Biology

Physical Description

Greninja is a bipedal, frog-like Pokemon with a dark blue body and a light blue underside. Its most distinctive feature is the pink tongue-like scarf wrapped around its neck and lower face, which is actually part of its body. It has red eyes with black pupils, webbed hands and feet, and a star-shaped mark on its thighs.

Physical Features

FeatureDescription
Body ColorDark blue with light blue
"Scarf"Pink, tongue-like appendage
EyesRed with black pupils
LimbsWebbed hands and feet
Star MarksYellow stars on thighs
BuildLean, athletic

Ninja Abilities

Greninja possesses exceptional ninja skills:

AbilityDetails
SpeedCan outrun Ninjask
StealthMoves silently
ShurikenCreates throwing stars from water
AgilityConfuses foes with swift movements
TongueUses tongue as scarf and weapon

Behavior

  • Habitat: Rivers, marshes, dense forests
  • Diet: Carnivorous; catches prey with tongue
  • Temperament: Calm, collected, protective
  • Activity Pattern: Nocturnal

Behavioral Traits

TraitDescription
Speed FocusPrioritizes swiftness over power
LoyaltyDevoted to trainer
StrategyPlans attacks carefully
StealthPrefers ambush tactics

Pokedex Entries

GameEntry
X"It creates throwing stars out of compressed water. When it spins them and throws them at high speed, these stars can split metal in two."
Y"It appears and vanishes with a ninja's grace. It toys with its enemies using swift movements, while slicing them with throwing stars of sharpest water."
Scarlet"It appears in an instant, dealing out a series of strikes with its throwing stars made of water before it vanishes again."

Base Stats

StatBase ValueMin (Lv. 100)Max (Lv. 100)
HP72254348
Attack95175317
Defense67125256
Sp. Attack103189335
Sp. Defense71132265
Speed122223375
Total530--

Evolution

Evolution Line

Froakie → Frogadier → Greninja
 Lv. 16     Lv. 36
StagePokemonLevelMethod
BasicFroakie—Starter/Wild
Stage 1Frogadier16Level up
Stage 2Greninja36Level up

Ash-Greninja (Battle Bond)

The Bond Phenomenon

A unique form achieved through powerful bond:

AttributeValue
TypeWater/Dark
AbilityBattle Bond
TriggerKO an opponent
DurationUntil battle ends or Greninja faints

Battle Bond Ability

AspectDetails
EffectTransforms after KOing opponent
Stat BoostsAttack, Sp. Attack, Speed increase
Water ShurikenBecomes stronger (20 power per hit, always 3 hits)
AnimeBased on Ash's bond with Greninja

Ash-Greninja Stats

StatBaseAsh-Greninja
HP7272
Attack95145
Defense6767
Sp. Attack103153
Sp. Defense7171
Speed122132
Total530640

Appearance Changes

FeatureNormalAsh-Greninja
HeadNormalLarge water shuriken
ColoringDark blueBlack accents
"Scarf"PinkRed
AuraNoneBlue aura
Resemblance—Resembles Ash's appearance

Abilities

Standard Ability

Torrent

AspectDetails
EffectBoosts Water moves by 50% at ≤33% HP
ActivationLow HP
Strategic UseEmergency power boost

Hidden Ability

Protean

AspectDetails
EffectChanges type to match move used
STABGrants STAB on every attack
Nerf (Gen IX)Only activates once per switch-in
CompetitiveExtremely powerful before nerf

Special Ability

Battle Bond

AspectDetails
EffectTransforms to Ash-Greninja after KO
RequirementMust KO opposing Pokemon
AvailabilitySpecial event/Demo Greninja
CompetitiveBanned in some formats

Moves

Level-Up Moves (Generation IX)

LevelMoveTypeCategoryPowerAccuracy
1PoundNormalPhysical40100%
1GrowlNormalStatus—100%
1BubbleWaterSpecial40100%
1Quick AttackNormalPhysical40100%
1Mat BlockFightingStatus——
1Water PulseWaterSpecial60100%
1Night SlashDarkPhysical70100%
1Role PlayPsychicStatus——
1HazeIceStatus——
14RoundNormalSpecial60100%
19FlingDarkPhysical—100%
23Smack DownRockPhysical50100%
28Shadow SneakGhostPhysical40100%
33SpikesGroundStatus——
42ExtrasensoryPsychicSpecial80100%
49Double TeamNormalStatus——
56Hydro PumpWaterSpecial11080%
70Water ShurikenWaterSpecial15100%

Signature Move

Water Shuriken

AspectDetails
TypeWater
CategorySpecial (but priority)
Power15 per hit
Hits2-5 times
Priority+1
Ash-Greninja20 power, always 3 hits

Mat Block

AspectDetails
TypeFighting
EffectProtects team from damage (first turn only)
CategoryStatus
SignatureUnique to Greninja

Key TM Moves

MoveTypePowerStrategic Use
Surf/Hydro PumpWater90/110Water STAB
Dark PulseDark80Dark STAB
Ice BeamIce90Coverage
U-turnBug70Pivot
Grass KnotGrassVariesCoverage
Gunk ShotPoison120Fairy coverage
Low KickFightingVariesCoverage
SpikesGround—Hazards

Competitive Battling

Historical Dominance

Greninja has been a top-tier threat since introduction:

GenerationTierNotes
VIOU → UbersProtean banned
VIIOU (standard), Ubers (Battle Bond)Split forms
VIIINot available—
IXUUProtean nerfed

Protean Era (Gen VI-VII)

AspectDetails
StrategyChange type every attack for STAB
CoverageIce Beam, Gunk Shot, Low Kick all STAB
UnpredictabilityNever knowing its type
BanEventually banned to Ubers

Common Sets

Protean Attacker

MovePurpose
Hydro PumpWater STAB
Ice BeamCoverage
Gunk ShotFairy coverage
U-turnPivot

Battle Bond

MovePurpose
Water ShurikenPriority STAB
Dark PulseDark STAB
Ice BeamCoverage
Spikes/U-turnSupport/Pivot

Spikes Lead

MovePurpose
SpikesEntry hazard
TauntPrevent setup
Hydro PumpSTAB
Ice BeamCoverage

Strengths

StrengthDetails
SpeedBase 122 outspeeds most threats
VersatilityPhysical, special, or mixed
Protean(Pre-nerf) STAB on everything
PriorityWater Shuriken
CoverageExcellent movepool

Weaknesses

WeaknessDetails
FrailtyLow defenses
Fairy2x weakness
Fighting2x weakness
Bug2x weakness (4x with Dark)
PredictionRelies on smart play

In Popular Culture

Pokemon of the Year 2020

Greninja won the official fan vote:

StatisticResult
Total Votes140,559
Rank#1 (out of 890)
Runner-upLucario
SignificanceFirst Pokemon of the Year poll

Anime: Ash's Greninja

One of Ash's most beloved Pokemon:

AspectDetails
First AppearanceXY Series
Caught AsFroakie
Bond PhenomenonUnique transformation
Notable Battlesvs. Alain's Charizard (Kalos League)
DepartureReleased to protect Kalos

Kalos League Finals

AspectDetails
MatchAsh vs. Alain
Key BattleAsh-Greninja vs. Mega Charizard X
ResultGreninja loses (controversial)
ImpactOne of most-watched Pokemon battles

Super Smash Bros.

Greninja is a playable fighter:

GameStatusNotes
3DS/Wii UPlayableDebut
UltimatePlayableReturns

Smash Playstyle

AspectDetails
TypeFast, combo-focused
RecoveryHydro Pump
SpecialShadow Sneak, Water Shuriken
Final SmashSecret Ninja Attack

Trading Card Game

Popular and competitive cards:

CardSetNotes
Greninja BREAKBREAKpointMeta-defining
Greninja GXForbidden LightCompetitive
Greninja V-UNIONSWSH PromosUnique mechanic
Greninja VSTARBrilliant StarsRecent

Breeding

Egg Information

AspectValue
Egg GroupsWater 1
Egg Cycles20 (5,140 steps)
Gender Ratio87.5% Male, 12.5% Female

Egg Moves

MoveTypeNotable Parents
Toxic SpikesPoisonQwilfish, Tentacruel
BestowNormalDewpider
CamouflageNormalKecleon
Mind ReaderNormalPoliwrath

Trivia

  • Greninja was the first non-Generation I Pokemon to win Pokemon of the Year
  • Ash-Greninja was inspired by the anime before being added to the games
  • Greninja is the only starter Pokemon to become a playable Smash Bros. fighter
  • The concept of "Bond Phenomenon" is unique to Greninja
  • Greninja's tongue scarf is actually part of its body
  • Greninja was unavailable in Generation VIII until DLC
  • Protean Greninja was banned from OU to Ubers in Gen VI

Type Effectiveness

Defensive

TypeEffectiveness
Psychic0x (Immune)
Ghost0.5x
Steel0.5x
Fire0.5x
Water0.5x
Ice0.5x
Dark0.5x
Fighting2x
Bug2x
Grass2x
Electric2x
Fairy2x

Offensive (STAB)

Move TypeSuper Effective Against
WaterFire, Ground, Rock
DarkPsychic, Ghost

Related Pokemon

PokemonRelationship
FroakiePre-evolution
FrogadierPre-evolution
ChesnaughtFellow Kalos starter
DelphoxFellow Kalos starter
InteleonSimilar design concept

See Also

References

  1. ^Pokemon X and Y — Game Freak / Nintendo (2013)
  2. ^Official Greninja Page — The Pokemon Company (2024)
  3. ^Greninja (Pokemon) — Bulbapedia (2024)
  4. ^Greninja Pokedex Entry — Serebii.net (2024)
  5. ^Pokemon of the Year Results — The Pokemon Company (2020)
  6. ^Pokemon XY Anime Series — Nintendo / TV Tokyo (2013-2019)
  7. ^Greninja Competitive Analysis — Smogon University (2024)