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Greninja (JP) is a species of Pokémon in the series of the same name. It is a dual-type Water-type/Dark-type Pokémon that made its first appearance in the sixth generation games X and Y. It is the final evolution of Froakie. It is also playable in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. In Sun and Moon, it has a new form, from its new ability Battle Bond, called Ash-Greninja, activated after defeating an enemy.
Physiology and Behaviour[]
Greninja is a bipedal, frog-like Pokémon. It is mostly dark blue with a yellow chest, a white triangular marking over each eye, a light blue four-pointed star on each thigh, and yellow on the lower half of its face. It has red eyes with white pupils and its mouth is hidden behind a large, pink tongue that wraps around its neck and extends outward behind its head. Running down the middle of its head is a fin-like extension, and there is a similar fin on each side of its head. Light blue webbing connects its head fins. There is a large, white bubble-like bump on each elbow and knee. Its back feet have two toes, while its front feet have three toes. Each digit has a bulbous tip and yellow webbing.
Greninja moves with the speed and grace of a ninja. It uses swift movements to confuse its enemies while it slices them up with weapons made of compressed water, most commonly in the form of throwing stars. The shurikens are also created out of the mucus it excretes from its thighs. These throwing stars are sharp enough to split metal. The long tongue Greninja keeps wrapped around its neck allows it to sense unseen enemies by feeling the air movements.
Ash-Greninja[]
Through a transformation called Bond Phenomenon, Ash's Greninja in the anime and any Greninja with the Ability Battle Bond in the Seventh Pokémon generation can change into an alternate form called Ash-Greninja. In this form, Greninja's skin turns a lighter shade of blue, while its face gains red stripes and its cheeks and side fins turn black, changing shape to resemble Ash Ketchum's hair. Its legs are stronger in this form, and it gains the ability to form large Water Shurikens on its back. Ash-Greninja is always male.
Appearances[]
Main Pokémon games[]
Greninja makes their debut in Pokemon X and Y. Its Ash-Greninja form was added to Pokémon Sun and Moon. From Eighth Pokémon generation onwards, the form did not returned. In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Greninja appeared in seven-star Tera battles via the Poké Portal News. Its Battle Bond effect was altered to only increase Greninja's stats when defeating an opponent, and Ash-Greninja no longer exists. Its Ash-Greninja form is referenced in Nemona's house as a painting, however.
Other Pokémon games[]
Pokémon GO: In December of 2020, Greninja was released, being able to be evolved from Frogadier with 100 Froakie Candies.
Super Smash Bros. series[]
Greninja's Super Smash Bros. Ultimate artwork
Greninja appears for the first in the series as a playable fighter in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, taking a very ninja-like playstyle, using water katanas in several attacks. It returns in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, with its Ash-Greninja form appearing in its Final Smash.
Specials[]
- Neutral Special: Water Shuriken
- Side Special: Shadow Sneak
- Up Special: Hydro Pump
- Down Special: Substitute
- Final Smash: Secret Ninja Attack (includes Ash-Greninja form in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate)
Trophy descriptions[]
In the anime[]
Ash Ketchum's Greninja
Greninja debuted in Pokémon the Movie: Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction, under the ownership of Ninja Riot. Ash Ketchum would later owned it in the main anime, capable for Bond Phenomenon and released it at the end of the series. Greninja returned as a guest star in Pokémon Journeys: The Series. Sanpei and Ippei also had a Greninja.
Five Greninja appeared in Detective Pikachu. They were genetically modified and put in chambers. They were later used to chase after Harry Goodman, and also Tim and Lucy when they broke into Howard's facility.
Greninja appeared in two animated shorts Bubble Beam Berry Blast and Turning the Tera Tide, alongside Piplup, Palafin and Quaxly.
Origin and inspiration[]
Greninja's overall appearance is based on a frog, and it may have been inspired by horned frogs from the genera Megophrys and Ceratophrys due to the spiked protrusions above its eyes. Its color scheme and body shape is similar to that of the splendid leaf frog. The bubble-like protrusions on its body may be based on a toad's parotoid glands, possibly referencing the traditional myth of toads causing warts, though they may also be remnants of Froakie and Frogadier's frubbles. Greninja is based on a ninja.
Ash-Greninja's appearance is based on Ash's attire in Pokémon the Series: XY.
Greninja may be a combination of grenouille (French for frog) and ninja.
In-game information[]
Pokédex entries[]
| Title | Entry |
|---|---|
| Sixth Pokémon generation | |
| Pokémon 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. |
| Pokémon 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. |
| Pokémon Omega Ruby | 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. |
| Pokémon Alpha Sapphire | 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. |
| Ninth Pokémon generation | |
| Pokémon Scarlet | The movement of air against the long tongue Greninja keeps wrapped around its neck allows it to sense enemies it can't see. |
| Pokémon Violet | It makes shuriken out of mucus excreted from its thighs. These shuriken can cut cleanly through steel cables. |
Game locations[]
| Title | Location(s) |
|---|---|
| Sixth Pokémon generation | |
| Pokémon X | |
| Pokémon Y | |
| Seventh Pokémon generation | |
| Pokémon Sun | |
| Pokémon Moon | |
| Pokémon Ultra Sun | |
| Pokémon Ultra Moon | |
| Ninth Pokémon generation | |
| Pokémon Scarlet | Evolve Frogadier |
| Pokémon Violet | Evolve Frogadier |
Evolution[]
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Form change[]
In the Seventh Pokémon generation, Greninja with Battle Bond transforms into Ash-Greninja, for the remainder of the battle, upon knocking out an opponent via direct damage.
In the Ninth Pokémon generation onward, Ash-Greninja no longer exists, with Battle Bond instead raising Greninja's Attack, Special Attack, and Speed stats by one stage when knocking out an opponent, rather than changing forms.
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Ash Form | ||
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Base Stats[]
Normal[]
| HP | 72 |
| Attack | 95 |
| Defense | 67 |
| Sp. Attack | 103 |
| Sp. Defense | 71 |
| Speed | 122 |
| Total | 530 |
Ash[]
| HP | 72 |
| Attack | 145 |
| Defense | 67 |
| Sp. Attack | 153 |
| Sp. Defense | 71 |
| Speed | 132 |
| Total | 640 |
Moveset[]
Gallery[]
| Main article: Greninja/gallery |
Renders[]
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Trivia[]
- Greninja is the only fully evolved form of a First partner Pokémon that has more than two possible Abilities without having a Mega Evolution, and the only one to have an event-exclusive Ability.
- Greninja shares its category with Ninjask. They are both known as the Ninja Pokémon.
- Greninja won first place in the Japanese Pokémon general election 720 poll to decide what Pokémon would be distributed at showings of Pokémon the Movie: Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel in Japan.
- It was revealed that Greninja was added into Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii Ubefore Pokémon X and Y was even released. Masahiro Sakurai knew that a Generation VI Pokémon was going to be a playable fighter in that game, so when Greninja was decided, all they had to go on in terms of design was concept art, similar to Roy during the development of Super Smash Bros. Melee.
- During the Pokémon of the Year event held by The Pokémon Company International and Google in February 2020, Greninja won first place with 140,559 votes and beat Lucario at second place (102,259 votes) and Mimikyu at third (99,077 votes).
- Greninja is the only Pokémon from Pokémon Unite and Super Smash Bros. that is unavailable in and untransferable to Pokémon Sword and Shield, including The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra.
- However, both Greninja and Incineroar are unavailable and untransferable to Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.
- Greninja is the only fighter in Super Smash Bros. to be an amphibian.
- Greninja is the second Water-type Pokémon, after Squirtle and fully-evolved First partner Pokémon in the Super Smash Bros. series, after Charizard, the next is Incineroar.
- Greninja is the only Water-type first partner Pokémon to have evolved under Ash's ownership.
- Greninja is also the first fully evolved Water-type first partner Pokémon owned by a main character.
- Greninja, in its Ash-Greninja form, was featured in a Nintendo 3DS theme.
- In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Greninja's weight is 88. This matches up with its in-game weight of 88.2 lbs. from the Pokémon games.
External links[]
- Greninja at Pokémon Wiki, the Fandom wiki on Pokémon.
- Greninja (Pokémon) at Bulbapedia, the Pokémon wiki.
- Greninja (Super Smash Bros.) at Bulbapedia, the Pokémon wiki.
| Pokémon with multiple forms | |
|---|---|
| Generation I | Pikachu |
| Generation II | Pichu • Unown |
| Generation III | Castform • Kyogre • Groudon • Deoxys |
| Generation IV | Burmy • Wormadam • Cherrim • Shellos • Gastrodon • Rotom • Dialga • Palkia • Giratina • Shaymin • Arceus |
| Generation V | Basculin • Darmanitan • Deerling • Sawsbuck • Tornadus • Thundurus • Landorus • Kyurem • Keldeo • Meloetta • Genesect |
| Generation VI | Greninja • Vivillon • Flabébé • Floette • Florges • Furfrou • Meowstic • Aegislash • Pumpkaboo • Gourgeist • Xerneas • Zygarde • Hoopa |
| Generation VII | Oricorio • Lycanroc • Wishiwashi • Silvally • Minior • Mimikyu • Necrozma • Magearna |
| Generation VIII | Cramorant • Toxtricity • Sinistea • Polteageist • Alcremie • Eiscue • Indeedee • Morpeko • Zacian • Zamazenta • Eternatus • Urshifu • Zarude • Calyrex • Ursaluna • Enamorus |
| Generation IX | Oinkologne • Maushold • Squawkabilly • Palafin • Cyclizar • Tatsugiri • Dudunsparce • Gimmighoul • Koraidon • Miraidon • Poltchageist • Sinistcha • Ogerpon • Terapagos |