[OVERVIEW]
Ash-Greninja's excellent offensive typing combines with its monstrous Special Attack and Speed stats to turn it into a dangerous attacker that is capable of shredding offensive teams once its checks have been weakened or removed. This is further enhanced by its access to Water Shuriken, which is one of the most monstrous priority moves in the game if Battle Bond has activated. However, until it successfully knocks something out, Greninja needs to go through its mediocre base forme, which functionally lacks an ability, and its ability to achieve the feat required to transform is hindered by the coverage it sacrifices in order to gain access to Battle Bond, most notably including Gunk Shot and Hidden Power Fire. This means that it can have a lot of difficulty breaking through a number of common defensive Pokemon like Tapu Fini, Toxapex, and Assault Vest Tangrowth. It is also incredibly frail, meaning that it has a lot of difficulty switching into even strong resisted hits consistently.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Dark Pulse
move 3: Water Shuriken
move 4: Ice Beam / Spikes / U-turn
item: Choice Specs
ability: Battle Bond
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hydro Pump is Greninja's strongest attack, dealing heavy damage to neutral targets and being capable of pressuring bulky Pokemon once Greninja has transformed. Dark Pulse acts as a secondary STAB move, hitting Mega Metagross and Gengar accurately while dealing neutral damage to Toxapex and having a nasty flinch rate to boot. After Battle Bond has activated, Water Shuriken becomes a brutally strong priority move that puts offensive teams under immense pressure while also acting as a more accurate alternative to Hydro Pump versus weakened neutral targets and Pokemon weak to Water. Ice Beam deals super effective damage to the Grass-types that prevent Greninja from mindlessly spamming its Water-type STAB moves, being its strongest attack versus Assault Vest Tangrowth and Amoonguss, which otherwise stop Greninja cold. Spikes is also an option that allows Greninja to punish the opponent's attempts to switch into defensive answers like Tapu Fini and Toxapex by pressuring their attempts to switch into Greninja later on in the match. U-turn allows Greninja to grab momentum before transforming by scouting attempts to switch into Pokemon that check it and going to a teammate that can threaten these Pokemon, which pose as roadblocks to transformation. However, its usefulness drops significantly after Battle Bond has activated because Ash-Greninja typically prefers to spam its STAB attacks. Extrasensory is also an option that deals huge damage to Keldeo, allowing Greninja to transform on its attempts to switch in, while also hitting Toxapex, Mega Venusaur, and Amoonguss for 2HKOs.
Set Details
========
Battle Bond is what allows this set to function, giving Greninja the ability to transform into Ash-Greninja upon securing a KO. Choice Specs bolsters Greninja's firepower substantially without wearing it down over time, which is important for securing a safe transformation. Maximum investment in Special Attack and Speed allows Greninja to hit as hard and fast as possible; a Timid nature is vital for a large number of Speed benchmarks that are detrimental to miss out on, such as Speed tying with opposing Greninja before transformation, outpacing base 110s regardless of forme, outpacing Tapu Koko and Weavile post-transformation, and Speed tying with opposing Ash-Greninja after Battle Bond has activated.
Usage Tips
========
Unless the situation forces you to do so, do not ever click Water Shuriken if Greninja has not transformed because it is extremely weak, inconsistent, and easy to punish. If Greninja carries Spikes, the optimal time to use it is when you expect Pokemon like Tapu Fini, Toxapex, Assault Vest Tangrowth, and Primarina or anything else that takes very little from either of its STAB moves to switch into Greninja so that they can be more easily pressured later in the match. This is also the correct time to click U-turn if it is carried, although it is generally not advised if Greninja has already transformed. Try to play Greninja aggressively before transformation so that it is able to remove weakened targets in order to reap the benefits that Battle Bond brings. Bring Greninja in using a slow VoltTurn user or when a teammate faints, and generally try to avoid switching in directly unless it is absolutely necessary.
Team Options
========
Pokemon that are able to eliminate Toxapex and Tapu Fini, such as Tapu Koko, Mega Metagross, Landorus-T, and Latios, make for useful teammates because they are major roadblocks to transformation; Pokemon that eliminate Assault Vest Tangrowth such as Charizard, Volcarona, and Mega Pinsir make for solid teammates for the same reason. Slow VoltTurn users like Mega Scizor, Landorus-T, and Rotom-W are useful for getting Ash-Greninja onto the field safely, with a special mention going to Pelipper due to Ash-Greninja being a powerful asset to rain teams with its brutally strong Hydro Pumps, lack of dependence on rain to maintain its excellent Speed tier, and powerful priority to ease matchups that rain teams otherwise struggle with, such as those against Mega Alakazam or Choice Scarf Tapu Koko. Entry hazards from Pokemon such as Ferrothorn, Landorus-T, Alolan Marowak, and Garchomp are useful to put bulky Pokemon under additional pressure, which Greninja appreciates both before and after transforming; similarly, wallbreakers such as Tapu Bulu, Mega Metagross, Choice Specs Magearna, and Tapu Lele are also capable of putting defensive Pokemon under heavy pressure to consequentially enhance Greninja's effectiveness. Dugtrio is capable of trapping and eliminating threats to Greninja, with Tectonic Rage variants OHKOing Toxapex and Choice Scarf variants eliminating Tapu Koko; Lightning Rod Alolan Marowak, Ferrothorn, Choice Scarf Garchomp, and Assault Vest Tangrowth are also capable of helping versus the latter.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
========
Wave Incense is an option that allows Greninja to switch moves, with Taunt being an option on such a set to prevent Tapu Fini using Defog or Calm Mind in its face while also preventing Toxapex's attempts to use Recover or Toxic Spikes, although the power drop on Dark Pulse is sharp. Grassium Z can be used alongside Grass Knot to deal heavy damage to Tapu Fini, Primarina, and Gastrodon, which otherwise wall Ash-Greninja, while also hitting Keldeo hard, whereas Psychium Z can be used alongside Extrasensory to OHKO Toxapex, Mega Venusaur, and Amoonguss; that said, the power drop isn't usually worth the trade-off. Surf provides an accurate Water-type STAB move that acts as a halfway move between Water Shuriken and Hydro Pump, and unlike the former, it also hits grounded Pokemon when Psychic Terrain is active. That said, Ash-Greninja can't afford to sacrifice either of the aforementioned moves, and it is redundant for the most part due to Water Shuriken being sufficient in the role of an accurate Water-type STAB move.
Checks and Counters
========
**Transformation-prevention Strategies**: Ultimately, Greninja isn't particularly threatening to a lot of builds until it transforms; therefore, taking measures that prevent it from transforming, such as aggressive pivoting or packing Pokemon that take its attacks with ease before it transforms are good ways of keeping it in check.
**Bulky Water-types**: These Pokemon mean that Greninja can't mindlessly spam Hydro Pump and Water Shuriken like it wants to. Toxapex can easily take a few Dark Pulses before Greninja transforms and as such is generally able to stop it transforming, although it is prone to falling victim to flinches. Tapu Fini and Primarina resist everything Greninja can throw at it short of the rare Bloom Doom and can subsequently stop it transforming on a consistent basis; granted, both are extremely easy to wear down due to their lack of recovery options. Gastrodon is immune to Hydro Pump and takes less than 40% from Dark Pulse before Greninja transforms, although once again it gets KOed by the rare Bloom Doom.
**Bulky Grass-types**: As long as these Pokemon are alive, Greninja can't mindlessly spam its Water-type STAB moves. Assault Vest Tangrowth takes very little from Dark Pulse and only takes around 50% from Ice Beam before Greninja transforms. Tapu Bulu resists both of Greninja's STAB types and OHKOes in return with Horn Leech, although it needs to be careful of Ice Beam. Amoonguss takes very little from Greninja's STAB attacks pre-transformation and, with a specially defensive EV spread, takes even less from Ice Beam than Assault Vest Tangrowth. Mega Venusaur takes very little from Greninja's STAB attacks and doesn't fear Ice Beam due to Thick Fat, although its reliance on the low-PP Synthesis for recovery means that it is easy to overwhelm.
**Keldeo**: Keldeo resists both of Greninja's STAB types and doesn't fear Ice Beam; with Choice Scarf, it is capable of outpacing and OHKOing Greninja with Secret Sword, whereas the rarer Choice Specs and Calm Mind variants take little enough to not really fear Greninja's attacks, allowing them to fire off attacks or set up with impunity.
**Faster Pokemon**: Choice Scarf users such as Terrakion and Garchomp are able to attack it before it can move, although these Pokemon need to be careful of Water Shuriken. Tapu Koko outpaces Greninja before it transforms and can OHKO with Thunderbolt or Volt Switch. Mega Alakazam and Mega Aerodactyl are capable of revenge killing Greninja provided it isn't locked into Water Shuriken.
**Strong, Unresisted Priority**: Mega Pinsir poses a major threat with Quick Attack or Feint, as does Mega Medicham with Fake Out, although Quick Attack variants of the former need to be careful of Water Shuriken. Zygarde and Dragonite can deal heavy damage with Extreme Speed, which sits in a higher priority bracket than Water Shuriken. Breloom resists Water Shuriken and OHKOes with Mach Punch. While much more niche, Talonflame OHKOes Greninja with Brave Bird or Supersonic Skystrike and gets priority on said moves if it's at full health, although once again it needs to be careful if Ash-Greninja is locked into Water Shuriken. That said, a lot of common priority moves—namely Bullet Punch—are resisted by Greninja and, as such, don't faze it, and it can also ease matchups versus priority users with Water Shuriken.
[OVERVIEW]
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Dark Pulse
move 3: Water Shuriken
move 4: Ice Beam / Spikes / U-turn
item: Choice Specs
ability: Battle Bond
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Set Details
========
Usage Tips
========
Team Options
========
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
========
Checks and Counters
========
**Transformation-prevention strategies**: Ultimately, Greninja isn't particularly threatening to a lot of builds until it transforms; therefore, taking measures that prevent it from transforming, such as aggressive pivoting or packing Pokemon which take its attacks with ease before it transforms are good ways of keeping it in check.
**Bulky Water-types**: These Pokemon mean that Greninja can't mindlessly spam Hydro Pump and Water Shuriken like it wants to. Toxapex can easily eat a few Dark Pulses before Greninja transforms and as such is generally able to stop it transforming. Tapu Fini and Primarina resist everything Greninja can throw at it short of the rare Bloom Doom and as such can consistently stop it transforming, granted both are extremely easy to wear down. Gastrodon is immune to Hydro Pump and takes less than 40% from pre-transformation Dark Pulse, although once again it gets KOed by the rare Bloom Doom.
**Bulky Grass-types**: As long as these Pokemon are alive, Greninja can't mindlessly spam its Water-type STAB moves. Assault Vest Tangrowth takes very little from Dark Pulse and only takes around 50% from Ice Beam before Greninja transforms. Tapu Bulu resists both of Greninja's STABs and OHKOs in return with Horn Leech, although it needs to be careful of Ice Beam. Amoonguss takes very little from Greninja's STABs pre-transormation and, with a specially defensive EV spread, takes even less from Ice Beam than Assault Vest Tangrowth. Mega Venusaur takes very little from Greninja's STABs and doesn't fear Ice Beam due to Thick Fat, although its reliance on the low-PP Synthesis for recovery means it is easily overloaded.
**Keldeo**: Keldeo resists both of Greninja's STABs and doesn't fear Ice Beam; with Choice Scarf, it is capable of outpacing and OHKOing Greninja with Secret Sword, whereas the rarer Choice Specs and Calm Mind variants take little enough to not really fear Greninja's attacks--allowing them to fire off attacks or set up with impunity.
**Faster Pokemon**: Choice Scarf users such as Terrakion and Garchomp are able to attack it before it can move, although these Pokemon need to be careful of Water Shuriken. Tapu Koko outpaces before Greninja transforms and can OHKO with Thunderbolt or Volt Switch. Mega Alakazam is capable of revenge killing Greninja provided it isn't locked into Water Shuriken.
**Strong, unresisted priority**: Zygarde can deal heavy damage with Extreme Speed and out-prioritizes Water Shuriken; same goes for Dragonite. Breloom resists Water Shuriken and OHKOs with Mach Punch. While much more niche, Talonflame OHKOes with Brave Bird or Supersonic Skystrike and gets priority if it's at full health. That said, a lot of common priority—namely Bullet Punch—is resisted and, as such, doesn't faze Greninja, and it can also offset a lot of priority with Water Shuriken.
- Great offensive typing combined with its excellent power and speed post-transformation allows it to shred offense
- Post-Bond Water Shuriken is the best prio in the game
- Brutally fast and strong
- Missing coverage compared to Protean Gren blows
- Struggles to break through common Pokemon such as Tapu Fini Toxapex
- Needs to go through abilityless Gren to get this awesome boost
- Frail shit
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Dark Pulse
move 3: Water Shuriken
move 4: Ice Beam / Spikes / U-turn
item: Choice Specs
ability: Battle Bond
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
- Hydro Pump is strongest STAB; nukes shit
- Dark Pulse is secondary STAB; nails MegaGross and Gengar accurately and hits Toxapex neutrally, among other things
- Water Shuriken, after the boost from Battle Bond, is devistatingly strong priority that really does a number on a lot of offensive teams.
- Ice Beam hits Grass-types that prevent Greninja from mindlessly spamming Pump/Shuriken, such as AV Tangrowth and Amoonguss, harder than any other move in its arsenal. Also 100% accurate move for Zygarde and Chomper.
- Spikes allows Greninja to take advantage of when Toxapex, Tapu Fini etc. switch in to make coming in later harder.
- U-turn allows it to grab momentum on Pokemon that it struggles to break, such as Tapu Fini and Toxapex, which is useful before transforming.
- Extrasensory nails Keldeo and 2HKOs Toxapex and Mega Venusaur whilst still hitting Amoonguss hard.
Set Details
========
- Specs bolsters Gren's power without causing recoil like LO; this makes transformation easier and means that it doesn't wear itself down before transforming.
- Max SpA/Spe+Timid to hit as hard and fast as possible whilst taking advantage of Greninja's high speed stat to outpace things like Mega Metagross and base 110s--namely Mega Metagross--pre-transformation.
- Battle Bond allows Greninja to transform into Ash Greninja
Usage Tips
========
- Don't click Water Shuriken before transforming unless absolutely forced to by the situation.
- If Greninja carries Spikes and you expect Tapu Fini/Toxapex/Assault Vest Tangrowth/Primarina/whatever to come in, click Spikes so that they can be pressured more easily later on.
- Before transformation, try to play Greninja aggressively in order to remove heavily weakened targets which it can transform on.
- Bring in on free switches or slow Volt Switches/U-turns and avoid switching in directly unless absolutely necessary.
Team Options
========
- Pokemon which can eliminate Toxapex and Tapu Fini, such as Tapu Koko, Mega Metagross, Landorus-T, and Latios
- Pokemon which can eliminate Tangrowth, such as Charizard, Volcarona, and Pinsir
- Slow Volt Switch/U-turn users like Mega Scizor, Landorus-T, and Rotom-W help to get Ash Greninja onto the field.
- Entry hazard help wear stuff down for Greninja to pick off, making Pokemon like Ferrothorn, Landorus-T, Garchomp, and Alolan Marowak good partners.
- Dugtrio can trap and eliminate Toxapex with ease.
- Wallbreakers like Tapu Bulu, Mega Metagross, and Specs Magearna can help Greninja transform by weakening things for it to pick off and help Ash Greninja with the job of tearing through teams.
- Pokemon that help deal with Tapu Koko, such as Lightning Rod Alolan Marowak and Tangrowth are useful to stop it taking advantage of an un-transformed Greninja easily.
- Pelipper can bolster Ash Greninja's power to nuclear levels with Drizzle, with rain as an archetype benefitting from Ash Greninja due to it being more powerful than Kingdra even before transformation, faster outside of rain (making the archetype less reliant on rain being up to function) and providing brutally strong priority to the archetype to help with matchups such as that of Mega Alakazam. In exchange, Pelipper provides a slow U-turn to help get Greninja in with minimum risk.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
========
- Wave Incense to switch moves. Taunt is an option on this set which stops fini CMing or Defogging even tho Defog Fini is steaming garb, and it prevents things like toxapex recovering
- Grass Knot+Grassium Z nukes Switch-is like Tapu Fini whilst also helping with Gastrodon and other bulky Water-types, but it is weak as shit compared to specs--especially-pre transformation--and doesn't help it deal with Toxapex.
- Psychinium Z alongside Extrasensory is similar to Grassium except it OHKOs SpD Toxapex after Dark Pulse instead; recommended alongside Lele so that Toxa just dies if u don't hit it w/ DPulse and don't want it TSpiking or smth.
- Surf provides an accurate Water-type STAB at the cost of nuking ability, but Water Shuriken already achieves this sufficiently for the most part whilst also providing priority and hitting through Focus Sash and Substitute. Note that the ability to function under Psychic Terrain is a boon of this move over the aforementioned priority move.
Checks and Counters
========
**Transformation-prevention strategies**: Ultimately, Greninja isn't particularly threatening to a lot of builds until it transforms; therefore, taking measures that prevent it from transforming, such as aggressive pivoting or packing Pokemon which take its attacks with ease before it transforms are good ways of keeping it in check.
**Bulky Water-types**: These Pokemon mean that Greninja can't mindlessly spam Hydro Pump and Water Shuriken like it wants to. Toxapex can easily eat a few Dark Pulses before Greninja transforms and as such is generally able to stop it transforming. Tapu Fini and Primarina resist everything Greninja can throw at it short of the rare Bloom Doom and as such can consistently stop it transforming, granted both are extremely easy to wear down. Gastrodon is immune to Hydro Pump and takes less than 40% from pre-transformation Dark Pulse, although once again it gets KOed by the rare Bloom Doom.
**Bulky Grass-types**: As long as these Pokemon are alive, Greninja can't mindlessly spam its Water-type STAB moves. Assault Vest Tangrowth takes very little from Dark Pulse and only takes around 50% from Ice Beam before Greninja transforms. Tapu Bulu resists both of Greninja's STABs and OHKOs in return with Horn Leech, although it needs to be careful of Ice Beam. Amoonguss takes very little from Greninja's STABs pre-transormation and, with a specially defensive EV spread, takes even less from Ice Beam than Assault Vest Tangrowth. Mega Venusaur takes very little from Greninja's STABs and doesn't fear Ice Beam due to Thick Fat, although its reliance on the low-PP Synthesis for recovery means it is easily overloaded.
**Keldeo**: Keldeo resists both of Greninja's STABs and doesn't fear Ice Beam; with Choice Scarf, it is capable of outpacing and OHKOing Greninja with Secret Sword, whereas the rarer Choice Specs and Calm Mind variants take little enough to not really fear Greninja's attacks--allowing them to fire off attacks or set up with impunity.
**Faster Pokemon**: Choice Scarf users such as Terrakion and Garchomp are able to attack it before it can move, although these Pokemon need to be careful of Water Shuriken. Tapu Koko outpaces before Greninja transforms and can OHKO with Thunderbolt or Volt Switch. Mega Alakazam is capable of revenge killing Greninja provided it isn't locked into Water Shuriken.
**Strong, unresisted priority**: Zygarde can deal heavy damage with Extreme Speed and out-prioritizes Water Shuriken; same goes for Dragonite. Breloom resists Water Shuriken and OHKOs with Mach Punch. While much more niche, Talonflame OHKOes with Brave Bird or Supersonic Skystrike and gets priority if it's at full health. That said, a lot of common priority—namely Bullet Punch—is resisted and, as such, doesn't faze Greninja, and it can also offset a lot of priority with Water Shuriken.
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