[Pros]
<ul>
<li>Great coverage and movepool.</li>
<li>Amazing ability in Protean, enabling it to get STAB on its moves regardless of their type as Greninja itself becomes the type of the attack being used. This in turn can cause some mind games to occur.</li>
<li>High base Speed in addition to access to Spikes.</li>
<li>Has access to two priority moves, Shadow Sneak and Water Shuriken.</li>
</ul>
[Cons]
<ul>
<li>Sports poor defenses (67/71) and weak to many of the common
attacking types.</li>
<li>While Protean is a good ability with many positives, it also has an ugly side. After executing the relevant attack, Greninja may find itself in a bit of a bad spot (For instance, using Ice Beam will expose it to Steel- and Fire-type attacks which it was able to take on to a certain extent with its original typing).</li>
<li>Has no boosting moves outside of Power-Up Punch, which is a letdown considering it does not have the best of offenses.</li>
</ul>
<p>Greninja@Life Orb<br />
Ability: Protean<br />
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe<br />
Hasty / Timid Nature<br />
- Hydro Pump / Surf <br />
- Ice Beam<br />
- Dark Pulse<br />
- U-turn / Hidden Power Fire</p>
<p>
This is a Full full-on attacking attack set. Hydro Pump is a solid Water-type STAB attack, and despite the slight nerf
to power,(comma) is
still pretty deadly. Ice Beam
is necessary in order to take out pesky Grass- and Dragon-types. The third moveslot features Dark Pulse
,(comma) which is
designed useful both as a reliable secondary STAB attack and to give Starmie a world of pain. Not to mention it does some solid damage to Tentacruel.
The former move. For the final moveslot, U-turn can be used for momentum-grabbing purposes and
compliments complements Greninja's blazing Speed. Alternatively, Hidden Power Fire can be used
,(comma) and is
helpful primarily for Pokemon who are 4x weak to it
,(comma) such as Scizor and Ferrothorn;
however, as it has low Base Power and would not do much to Pokemon who only are only 2x weak to it, you are better of firing off a Hydro Pump in those situations. Despite the Life Orb boost, Greninja still is
in need of entry hazard support
,(comma) which is vital for securing numerous OHKOs and 2HKOs.</p>
[example?]
<p>This Greninja in particular is generally most effective mid-game to late-game as it requires entry hazard support to ensure various OHKOs and 2HKOs
[redundant with above statement, delete one or the other]. As it can act as a momentum grabber with U-turn, it is key to have other Pokemon which can take advantage of the Pokemon it lures in
[how? examples?]. While Grass Knot may not see much use on Greninja, it is the only way in which Greninja can dispose of Gyarados with ease, landing a 2HKO on Gyarados while outright
OHKOin OHKOing Mega Gyarados.</p>
<p>Greninja @ Life Orb / Focus Sash<br />
Ability: Protean / Torrent<br />
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe<br />
Timid Nature<br />
- Spikes<br />
- Hydro Pump / Surf<br />
- Dark Pulse / Ice Beam<br />
- Hidden Power Fire </p>
<p>This set allows Greninja to
support its team, while still being be a potent force to be reckoned
with, in addition to by setting up a layer or two of Spikes
,(comma) made easier thanks to its high base Speed. Power
over versus accuracy is what
it is all about in determines your choice for moveslot two. Dark Pulse, despite being resisted by Fairy-types, now has the added benefit of not being resisted by Steel-types
,(comma) and cleanly . Dark Pulse finishes off Starmie
and can dent as well as denting Tentacruel
,(comma) who otherwise walls you to hell and back.
Alternatively, Ice Beam stops Dragonite and company cold, literally. It also allows
for the 2HKO on Togekiss after Stealth Rock damage in addition to nailing Crobat.
It doesn't stop there Finally, Hidden Power Fire can be used to hit
those Steel-types
which sport typings that
make them are 4x weak to Fire-type attacks. This set is designed to be used early
on in the game and put a considerable amount of pressure
on the opponent from the get-go.</p>
<p>As Greninja sports a better Special Defense stat compared to its Defense stat, it is only natural to run a nature that would not lower the former.
[What does that have to do with this set? You're not lowering either defensive stat... maybe this was for the first set?] A Timid nature is used to ensure no drops in either defensive stat. Life Orb
can be used for maximum damage output
,(comma) or a Focus Sash can be used to ensure more layers
of Spikes being set up. This set ensures that the Spikes that are set up
stay on the field are not removed while Greninja is on the field, as Greninja can OHKO
most Rapid Spinners, as well as spinners and Scizor / Mega Scizor
,(comma) who can
use simply Defog
the arena.</p>
<p>An alternative set consisting of Toxic Spikes, Spikes, Hydro Pump (or Surf) and Taunt can be utilized as Greninja is arguably the best dual Spiker in the game, because of its high Speed, access to Taunt, and
torrent Torrent ability
,(comma) which boosts to boost its Water-type move once Focus Sash has been activated. Taking advantage of Team Preview to lay the appropriate hazard is key, such as Spikes if your sweeper is walled by their Ferrothorn, or Toxic Spikes if it's walled by their Blissey.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Blissey, Tentacruel, and Fairy-type Pokemon such as Azumarill and Florges all spring to mind when one wants to deal with this pesky
reptile amphibian [frogs aren't reptiles]. Ferrothorn can tank all of Greninja's
common moves
;(semicolon),(remove) however, it has to watch out for Hidden Power Fire. Both Gyarados and Rotom-W can take any hit Greninja wants to throw relatively well and retaliate with their STAB attacks.</p>
<p>Revenge killing Greninja is not the hardest thing in the world. Mach Punch from Conkeldurr and Breloom can send this ninja packing for a one-way trip to the shadow realm
[... ... ... no comment]. Choice Band priority users such as Dragonite can also do a number on Greninja. Bringing Greninja down to a range where it can be OHKOed by ExtremeSpeed is not hard at all; between residual damage from entry hazards and Life Orb
,(comma) Greninja can be worn down alarmingly quickly. Talonflame easily outpaces Greninja and can end its life with a single swipe of its wings using Brave Bird. Choice Scarf users such as Rotom-W and naturally faster Pokemon (such as Crobat) can outspeed and finish Greninja with their powerful STAB attacks.</p>
