[SET]
name: Battle Bond
move 1: Hydro Pump / Surf
move 2: Dark Pulse
move 3: Water Shuriken
move 4: Spikes
item: Choice Specs / Waterium Z
ability: Battle Bond
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hydro Pump is favored due to its being Greninja's strongest viable STAB attack. Alternatively, Surf trades power for more consistency and PP. Dark Pulse gives Greninja perfect neutral coverage against Pokemon such as Ferrothorn, Mega Latias, and Gastrodon. Additionally, Dark Pulse also comes with a chance to flinch, allowing Greninja to fish for it on weakened non-Dark-resistant checks like Toxapex and Ferrothorn. Water Shuriken becomes one of the strongest priority moves when Greninja is transformed and allows Greninja to check faster Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Landorus-T, Sand Rush Excadrill, and boosted Volcarona. Spikes allows Greninja to wear down and punish checks in the long run such as Toxapex, Tapu Bulu, and Kommo-o as well as support its teammates in games where it will struggle to make progress.
Set Details
========
Choice Specs maximizes Greninja's power and gives it the extra power to activate Battle Bond. However, Waterium Z allows Greninja to use a one-time Hydro Vortex to power through Pokemon such as Celesteela and Tornadus-T and allowing it to crucially switch moves. A Timid nature is used to allow Greninja to outspeed Tornadus-T and Tapu Koko after transformation.
Usage Tips
========
Greninja's main purpose is to KO a foe to activate Battle Bond and act as a powerful cleaner thanks to its great stats once transforming. Playing Greninja aggressively, especially if it's carrying Choice Specs, is most recommended to get the most out of Greninja's effectiveness as a wallbreaker due to it still having just enough power even prior to transformation. Predicting switches, such as against Pokemon that Greninja forces out like Heatran and Gliscor, helps Greninja pick up KOs on weakened foes more easily or support offensive partners. Against bulkier teams where Greninja can struggle to make progress, setting Spikes should always be prioritized. Good switching as well as VoltTurn support helps out Greninja immensely, since its very frail and can't switch in very easily.
Team Options
========
Ash-Greninja fits best on offense and balance teams. Pivots such as Tapu Koko and Assault Vest Magearna can get Ash-Greninja in safely. Tornadus-T and Mega Scizor can also pivot Ash-Greninja in safely while being able to check Grass-types. Wallbreakers such as Mega Mawile, Mega Medicham, and Kyurem-B can let Ash-Greninja clean more easily and enjoy the Spikes support that Ash-Greninja provides. Offensive Stealth Rock users such as Garchomp and Landorus-T can help support Ash-Greninja, since they can pressure checks such as Toxapex and Magearna. Cleaners such as Choice Scarf Victini and Mega Lopunny appreciate the extra offensive pressure that Ash-Greninja's Spikes provide, and they checks with Ash-Greninja. Ferrothorn resists Electric and Grass and provides Stealth Rock. Pelipper provides rain and can pivot Ash-Greninja in safely with U-turn. Other teammates alongside Pelipper such as Mega Swampert and Manaphy are great teammates, as they can help overwhelm defensive Pokemon such as Toxapex and Chansey, and Mega Swampert can also set entry hazards for Ash-Greninja. Toxapex and Clefable resist Fighting and can support Ash-Greninja with Toxic Spikes and Stealth Rock, respectively. Bulkier wincons on balance teams such as Calm Mind Mega Latias and Swords Dance Gliscor appreciate Ash-Greninja's Spikes support and its ability to pressure checks such as Heatran and Mega Latias.
[CREDITS]
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/imzer0.629771/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/diyusi.519886/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/cm-reuniclus.620979/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/adorluigi.528364/
name: Battle Bond
move 1: Hydro Pump / Surf
move 2: Dark Pulse
move 3: Water Shuriken
move 4: Spikes
item: Choice Specs / Waterium Z
ability: Battle Bond
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hydro Pump is favored due to its being Greninja's strongest viable STAB attack. Alternatively, Surf trades power for more consistency and PP. Dark Pulse gives Greninja perfect neutral coverage against Pokemon such as Ferrothorn, Mega Latias, and Gastrodon. Additionally, Dark Pulse also comes with a chance to flinch, allowing Greninja to fish for it on weakened non-Dark-resistant checks like Toxapex and Ferrothorn. Water Shuriken becomes one of the strongest priority moves when Greninja is transformed and allows Greninja to check faster Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Landorus-T, Sand Rush Excadrill, and boosted Volcarona. Spikes allows Greninja to wear down and punish checks in the long run such as Toxapex, Tapu Bulu, and Kommo-o as well as support its teammates in games where it will struggle to make progress.
Set Details
========
Choice Specs maximizes Greninja's power and gives it the extra power to activate Battle Bond. However, Waterium Z allows Greninja to use a one-time Hydro Vortex to power through Pokemon such as Celesteela and Tornadus-T and allowing it to crucially switch moves. A Timid nature is used to allow Greninja to outspeed Tornadus-T and Tapu Koko after transformation.
Usage Tips
========
Greninja's main purpose is to KO a foe to activate Battle Bond and act as a powerful cleaner thanks to its great stats once transforming. Playing Greninja aggressively, especially if it's carrying Choice Specs, is most recommended to get the most out of Greninja's effectiveness as a wallbreaker due to it still having just enough power even prior to transformation. Predicting switches, such as against Pokemon that Greninja forces out like Heatran and Gliscor, helps Greninja pick up KOs on weakened foes more easily or support offensive partners. Against bulkier teams where Greninja can struggle to make progress, setting Spikes should always be prioritized. Good switching as well as VoltTurn support helps out Greninja immensely, since its very frail and can't switch in very easily.
Team Options
========
Ash-Greninja fits best on offense and balance teams. Pivots such as Tapu Koko and Assault Vest Magearna can get Ash-Greninja in safely. Tornadus-T and Mega Scizor can also pivot Ash-Greninja in safely while being able to check Grass-types. Wallbreakers such as Mega Mawile, Mega Medicham, and Kyurem-B can let Ash-Greninja clean more easily and enjoy the Spikes support that Ash-Greninja provides. Offensive Stealth Rock users such as Garchomp and Landorus-T can help support Ash-Greninja, since they can pressure checks such as Toxapex and Magearna. Cleaners such as Choice Scarf Victini and Mega Lopunny appreciate the extra offensive pressure that Ash-Greninja's Spikes provide, and they checks with Ash-Greninja. Ferrothorn resists Electric and Grass and provides Stealth Rock. Pelipper provides rain and can pivot Ash-Greninja in safely with U-turn. Other teammates alongside Pelipper such as Mega Swampert and Manaphy are great teammates, as they can help overwhelm defensive Pokemon such as Toxapex and Chansey, and Mega Swampert can also set entry hazards for Ash-Greninja. Toxapex and Clefable resist Fighting and can support Ash-Greninja with Toxic Spikes and Stealth Rock, respectively. Bulkier wincons on balance teams such as Calm Mind Mega Latias and Swords Dance Gliscor appreciate Ash-Greninja's Spikes support and its ability to pressure checks such as Heatran and Mega Latias.
[CREDITS]
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/imzer0.629771/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/diyusi.519886/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/cm-reuniclus.620979/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/adorluigi.528364/
Last edited: