[SET]
name: Special Protean
move 1: Hydro Pump / Ice Beam
move 2: Gunk Shot / Ice Beam
move 3: Hidden Power Fire / Extrasensory / Grass Knot
move 4: Spikes / Toxic Spikes / U-turn
item: Waterium Z / Life Orb
ability: Protean
nature: Hasty
evs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
=========
Hydro Pump hits the hardest neutrally and threatens Fire-types like Heatran, Victini, and Volcarona that would otherwise wall or set up on Greninja. It can additionally be powered up by Waterium Z into Hydro Vortex, becoming an incredibly strong neutral hit that OHKOes Mega Medicham and Mega Mawile, as well as Tornadus-T after Stealth Rock. Ice Beam can be used instead to hit Flying-types like Tornadus-T and Zapdos harder and threaten Dragon-types like Garchomp, Mega Latias, and Kommo-o; however, dropping Hydro Pump makes Greninja vulnerable to the aforementioned Fire-types, especially Heatran, as it resists Greninja's coverage moves. Gunk Shot hits Fairy-types like Tapu Bulu and Tapu Fini, which are common checks to Ash-Greninja, as well as Grass-types like Serperior. Ice Beam can be used over Gunk Shot, gaining the aforementioned benefits while not having to worry about being walled by Fire-types. Hidden Power Fire allows Greninja to threaten Ferrothorn and Mega Scizor, additionally giving it resistances to Grass and Bug, helpful against Ferrothorn's Power Whip and Mega Scizor's U-turn, respectively, as well as a Fairy resistance that helps Greninja more safely chip away at Magearna. Extrasensory threatens Kommo-o and Mega Venusaur and, in conjunction with Life Orb, 2HKOes Toxapex, preventing it from switching in safely; however, it has a very limited amount of uses and is usually only seen on teams with Psychic Terrain support, meaning Hidden Power Fire is generally preferred. Grass Knot allows Greninja to hit the likes of Gastrodon and Seismitoad. Spikes allow Greninja to support its team with entry hazards and wear down its own checks, like Toxapex and Chansey, while additionally giving Greninja a valuable immunity to previously super effective Electric-type moves. Toxic Spikes can be used instead to punish teams lacking a Poison-type, with ideal targets like Mega Medicham, Tapu Lele, and Mega Swampert, although the prevalence of Toxapex harshly reduces its consistency. U-turn can be used to gain momentum, mostly being suited for teams that either already have Spikes or don't want them due to preferring to keep entry hazards off of the field.
Set Details
========
Waterium Z gives Greninja a strong attack that can finish off chipped neutral targets when necessary, although Life Orb can be used if you would prefer to fit a Z-Crystal on one of Greninja's teammates or if it isn't running Hydro Pump. Sets lacking Gunk Shot should use a Timid nature instead.
Usage Tips
========
Due to how much set versatility Greninja has, it has a tendency to land unexpected damage, such as against Pokemon like Tapu Fini and Ferrothorn switching in expecting an Ash-Greninja only to be punished by Gunk Shot and Hidden Power Fire, respectively. Protean can be used defensively against slower Pokemon, gifting Greninja with new resistances in place of its base typing's weaknesses; make sure to get the most out of this, like using Hidden Power Fire to resist an incoming Fleur Cannon from Magearna or using Spikes to block Volt Switch, for example. In matchups where Greninja faces a hard counter, like Toxapex or Chansey, focus on setting Spikes; Greninja can often successfully sacrifice its own HP to reach three layers of Spikes, severely reducing opposing counterplay to Greninja and its teammates. Greninja can use its offensive presence to become a devastating momentum tool with U-Turn, pairing with other pivots to keep up pressure on the opposing team.
Team Options
========
This variant of Greninja is suited best for offense and bulky offense teams, harassing common defensive Pokemon like Tapu Fini and Ferrothorn while supporting teammates with entry hazards. Mega Mawile greatly appreciates Greninja's Spikes wearing down the likes of Heatran, Magearna, and Toxapex; in return, Mega Mawile can break holes in the opposing team for Greninja to clean up late-game. Tapu Lele similarly appreciates Spikes weakening Steel-types like the aforementioned Heatran and Magearna, as well as others like Jirachi, and it can increase the potency of Greninja's Extrasensory by setting Psychic Terrain. Pivoting support from the likes of Landorus-T, Rotom-W, Magearna, and Tornadus-T can assist in getting the frail Greninja onto the field; Landorus-T can additionally set Stealth Rock, synergizing with Greninja's Spikes. Choice Scarf users like Kartana and Landorus-T appreciate Greninja's Spikes setting the stage for them to clean up; in a similar vein, wallbreakers like Mega Medicham and Mega Mawile, which easily force switches, also appreciate Spikes support.
[SET]
name: Physical Protean
move 1: Dig / Low Kick / U-turn
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Gunk Shot
move 4: Spikes / Toxic Spikes
item: Groundium Z / Fightinium Z / Life Orb / Poisonium Z
ability: Protean
nature: Hasty
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
=========
When paired with Groundium Z, Dig allows Greninja to remove two very prevalent checks to Ash-Greninja that it lures in, Assault Vest Magearna and Toxapex, additionally hitting other Pokemon out of reach of Greninja's coverage, like Heatran. Low Kick in combination with Fightinium Z specializes against the likes of Ferrothorn and Chansey, KOing them after small prior chip damage while also dealing good damage to switch-ins like Magearna and Celesteela. Greninja can also add U-turn to its kit, dealing notable damage to neutral targets and synergizing well with Spikes. Ice Beam gives Greninja solid special coverage that nails Landorus-T, Garchomp, and Mega Latios. Gunk Shot takes advantage of the way that the likes of Tapu Fini and Tapu Bulu are lured in, assuming they are dealing with Ash-Greninja, only for Gunk Shot to permanently remove them. It can also take advantage of Poisonium Z, giving it a powerful hit that upgrades Gunk Shot's 2HKO on Tapu Fini into an OHKO and hits Pokemon like Kyurem-B and Rotom-W hard neutrally. Spikes let Greninja punish the opposing team long-term, which is useful against defensive checks like Ferrothorn and Gastrodon that are weak to Spikes. Toxic Spikes can punish grounded threats like Mega Medicham, opposing Greninja, and Tapu Lele hard, and Greninja can remove Toxapex with Groundium Z to maintain them.
Set Details
========
Groundium Z allows Greninja to remove Toxapex and Assault Vest Magearna, two common Ash-Greninja checks; Dig should never be used without it. Fightinium Z is used similarly, targeting Chansey and Ferrothorn instead, additionally maintaining the ability to hit Heatran and Tyranitar. Life Orb lets Greninja generally hit harder without using a Z-Crystal, increasing the potency of its coverage. Poisonium Z solidifies Greninja's matchup against Fairy-types and continues to hit neutral targets like Kyurem-B and Tornadus-T hard, and, as Gunk Shot is already a move that is being run, Greninja gains a free moveslot over Groundium Z and Fightinium Z variants.
Usage Tips
========
Although Ash-Greninja's reputation forces quite direct responses to Greninja, many opponents are aware of the possibility of Tectonic Rage and will scout accordingly, even more so after Greninja reveals itself to have Protean rather than Battle Bond. Try to get Greninja in front of Pokemon like Landorus-T that both it and Ash-Greninja threaten, and play Greninja very offensively utilizing the switches it forces; attempt to read incoming Tapu Fini and Tapu Bulu switching in with Gunk Shot, Assault Vest Magearna and Toxapex switching in with Tectonic Rage, or Chansey and Ferrothorn with All-Out Pummeling. Greninja can also use its own offensive pressure to set Spikes, wearing down the opposing team indirectly instead and safely making progress regardless of the opposing team. Greninja is most effective early-game before its set is revealed, so try to get it in early-game with pivot moves like U-turn and Volt Switch or via a double switch so it can make the most of the opponent's uncertainty.
Team Options
========
This variant fits best on offense and bulky offense teams, luring in defensive Pokemon and removing them to benefit itself and its offensive teammates. Volcarona sets without a Z-Move appreciate Greninja, as they benefit from both the Groundium Z variant removing Toxapex and the Fightinium Z variant removing Chansey. Greninja struggles to switch directly into hits, so pivots like Landorus-T, Rotom-W, and Assault Vest Magearna can help Greninja get onto the field safely. Tapu Lele appreciates the removal of Jirachi and Magearna via Tectonic Rage, and in return, it sets Psychic Terrain to prevent the likes of Mega Mawile and Mega Medicham from pestering Greninja with strong priority. As mentioned previously, Spikes can assist cleaners like Choice Scarf Kartana and Landorus-T and wallbreakers like Mega Medicham and Mega Mawile, wearing down defensive answers and punishing switches.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/zinnias.569291/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/cm-reuniclus.620979/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.103/
name: Special Protean
move 1: Hydro Pump / Ice Beam
move 2: Gunk Shot / Ice Beam
move 3: Hidden Power Fire / Extrasensory / Grass Knot
move 4: Spikes / Toxic Spikes / U-turn
item: Waterium Z / Life Orb
ability: Protean
nature: Hasty
evs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
=========
Hydro Pump hits the hardest neutrally and threatens Fire-types like Heatran, Victini, and Volcarona that would otherwise wall or set up on Greninja. It can additionally be powered up by Waterium Z into Hydro Vortex, becoming an incredibly strong neutral hit that OHKOes Mega Medicham and Mega Mawile, as well as Tornadus-T after Stealth Rock. Ice Beam can be used instead to hit Flying-types like Tornadus-T and Zapdos harder and threaten Dragon-types like Garchomp, Mega Latias, and Kommo-o; however, dropping Hydro Pump makes Greninja vulnerable to the aforementioned Fire-types, especially Heatran, as it resists Greninja's coverage moves. Gunk Shot hits Fairy-types like Tapu Bulu and Tapu Fini, which are common checks to Ash-Greninja, as well as Grass-types like Serperior. Ice Beam can be used over Gunk Shot, gaining the aforementioned benefits while not having to worry about being walled by Fire-types. Hidden Power Fire allows Greninja to threaten Ferrothorn and Mega Scizor, additionally giving it resistances to Grass and Bug, helpful against Ferrothorn's Power Whip and Mega Scizor's U-turn, respectively, as well as a Fairy resistance that helps Greninja more safely chip away at Magearna. Extrasensory threatens Kommo-o and Mega Venusaur and, in conjunction with Life Orb, 2HKOes Toxapex, preventing it from switching in safely; however, it has a very limited amount of uses and is usually only seen on teams with Psychic Terrain support, meaning Hidden Power Fire is generally preferred. Grass Knot allows Greninja to hit the likes of Gastrodon and Seismitoad. Spikes allow Greninja to support its team with entry hazards and wear down its own checks, like Toxapex and Chansey, while additionally giving Greninja a valuable immunity to previously super effective Electric-type moves. Toxic Spikes can be used instead to punish teams lacking a Poison-type, with ideal targets like Mega Medicham, Tapu Lele, and Mega Swampert, although the prevalence of Toxapex harshly reduces its consistency. U-turn can be used to gain momentum, mostly being suited for teams that either already have Spikes or don't want them due to preferring to keep entry hazards off of the field.
Set Details
========
Waterium Z gives Greninja a strong attack that can finish off chipped neutral targets when necessary, although Life Orb can be used if you would prefer to fit a Z-Crystal on one of Greninja's teammates or if it isn't running Hydro Pump. Sets lacking Gunk Shot should use a Timid nature instead.
Usage Tips
========
Due to how much set versatility Greninja has, it has a tendency to land unexpected damage, such as against Pokemon like Tapu Fini and Ferrothorn switching in expecting an Ash-Greninja only to be punished by Gunk Shot and Hidden Power Fire, respectively. Protean can be used defensively against slower Pokemon, gifting Greninja with new resistances in place of its base typing's weaknesses; make sure to get the most out of this, like using Hidden Power Fire to resist an incoming Fleur Cannon from Magearna or using Spikes to block Volt Switch, for example. In matchups where Greninja faces a hard counter, like Toxapex or Chansey, focus on setting Spikes; Greninja can often successfully sacrifice its own HP to reach three layers of Spikes, severely reducing opposing counterplay to Greninja and its teammates. Greninja can use its offensive presence to become a devastating momentum tool with U-Turn, pairing with other pivots to keep up pressure on the opposing team.
Team Options
========
This variant of Greninja is suited best for offense and bulky offense teams, harassing common defensive Pokemon like Tapu Fini and Ferrothorn while supporting teammates with entry hazards. Mega Mawile greatly appreciates Greninja's Spikes wearing down the likes of Heatran, Magearna, and Toxapex; in return, Mega Mawile can break holes in the opposing team for Greninja to clean up late-game. Tapu Lele similarly appreciates Spikes weakening Steel-types like the aforementioned Heatran and Magearna, as well as others like Jirachi, and it can increase the potency of Greninja's Extrasensory by setting Psychic Terrain. Pivoting support from the likes of Landorus-T, Rotom-W, Magearna, and Tornadus-T can assist in getting the frail Greninja onto the field; Landorus-T can additionally set Stealth Rock, synergizing with Greninja's Spikes. Choice Scarf users like Kartana and Landorus-T appreciate Greninja's Spikes setting the stage for them to clean up; in a similar vein, wallbreakers like Mega Medicham and Mega Mawile, which easily force switches, also appreciate Spikes support.
[SET]
name: Physical Protean
move 1: Dig / Low Kick / U-turn
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Gunk Shot
move 4: Spikes / Toxic Spikes
item: Groundium Z / Fightinium Z / Life Orb / Poisonium Z
ability: Protean
nature: Hasty
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
=========
When paired with Groundium Z, Dig allows Greninja to remove two very prevalent checks to Ash-Greninja that it lures in, Assault Vest Magearna and Toxapex, additionally hitting other Pokemon out of reach of Greninja's coverage, like Heatran. Low Kick in combination with Fightinium Z specializes against the likes of Ferrothorn and Chansey, KOing them after small prior chip damage while also dealing good damage to switch-ins like Magearna and Celesteela. Greninja can also add U-turn to its kit, dealing notable damage to neutral targets and synergizing well with Spikes. Ice Beam gives Greninja solid special coverage that nails Landorus-T, Garchomp, and Mega Latios. Gunk Shot takes advantage of the way that the likes of Tapu Fini and Tapu Bulu are lured in, assuming they are dealing with Ash-Greninja, only for Gunk Shot to permanently remove them. It can also take advantage of Poisonium Z, giving it a powerful hit that upgrades Gunk Shot's 2HKO on Tapu Fini into an OHKO and hits Pokemon like Kyurem-B and Rotom-W hard neutrally. Spikes let Greninja punish the opposing team long-term, which is useful against defensive checks like Ferrothorn and Gastrodon that are weak to Spikes. Toxic Spikes can punish grounded threats like Mega Medicham, opposing Greninja, and Tapu Lele hard, and Greninja can remove Toxapex with Groundium Z to maintain them.
Set Details
========
Groundium Z allows Greninja to remove Toxapex and Assault Vest Magearna, two common Ash-Greninja checks; Dig should never be used without it. Fightinium Z is used similarly, targeting Chansey and Ferrothorn instead, additionally maintaining the ability to hit Heatran and Tyranitar. Life Orb lets Greninja generally hit harder without using a Z-Crystal, increasing the potency of its coverage. Poisonium Z solidifies Greninja's matchup against Fairy-types and continues to hit neutral targets like Kyurem-B and Tornadus-T hard, and, as Gunk Shot is already a move that is being run, Greninja gains a free moveslot over Groundium Z and Fightinium Z variants.
Usage Tips
========
Although Ash-Greninja's reputation forces quite direct responses to Greninja, many opponents are aware of the possibility of Tectonic Rage and will scout accordingly, even more so after Greninja reveals itself to have Protean rather than Battle Bond. Try to get Greninja in front of Pokemon like Landorus-T that both it and Ash-Greninja threaten, and play Greninja very offensively utilizing the switches it forces; attempt to read incoming Tapu Fini and Tapu Bulu switching in with Gunk Shot, Assault Vest Magearna and Toxapex switching in with Tectonic Rage, or Chansey and Ferrothorn with All-Out Pummeling. Greninja can also use its own offensive pressure to set Spikes, wearing down the opposing team indirectly instead and safely making progress regardless of the opposing team. Greninja is most effective early-game before its set is revealed, so try to get it in early-game with pivot moves like U-turn and Volt Switch or via a double switch so it can make the most of the opponent's uncertainty.
Team Options
========
This variant fits best on offense and bulky offense teams, luring in defensive Pokemon and removing them to benefit itself and its offensive teammates. Volcarona sets without a Z-Move appreciate Greninja, as they benefit from both the Groundium Z variant removing Toxapex and the Fightinium Z variant removing Chansey. Greninja struggles to switch directly into hits, so pivots like Landorus-T, Rotom-W, and Assault Vest Magearna can help Greninja get onto the field safely. Tapu Lele appreciates the removal of Jirachi and Magearna via Tectonic Rage, and in return, it sets Psychic Terrain to prevent the likes of Mega Mawile and Mega Medicham from pestering Greninja with strong priority. As mentioned previously, Spikes can assist cleaners like Choice Scarf Kartana and Landorus-T and wallbreakers like Mega Medicham and Mega Mawile, wearing down defensive answers and punishing switches.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/zinnias.569291/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/cm-reuniclus.620979/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.103/
Last edited:
