[OVERVIEW]
Greninja is one of the most notable offensive presences in the tier, owing to its stellar ability in Protean, good mixed offenses, and a very good Speed tier. Its extremely wide movepool in conjunction with Z-Moves enables it to make full use of its ability and circumvent would-be checks and counters such as Toxapex, Slowbro, and Gastrodon. This makes it a very versatile Pokemon, capable of choosing its good matchups, and a great option for luring Pokemon that might otherwise prove to be an issue for its team. Moreover, Greninja is one of the select few good offensive Spikes setters due to its tendency to force an abundance of switches because of its unpredictability, as well as its ability to beat common Defog users such as Zapdos and Tapu Fini. However, Greninja cannot opt to run every move it wants to run, and therefore cannot hit everything it desires to hit. This means that it is always checked by something, depending on what set it is running. Greninja also has lacklustre bulk, which renders it incapable of taking even strong resisted hits repeatedly, such as Heatran’s Magma Storm and Hydreigon’s Dark Pulse. This also makes it prone to priority from the likes of Mega Scizor, Bisharp, Mega Mawile, and Mega Medicham.
[SET]
name: Specially Based
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Grass Knot
move 4: Spikes
item: Grassium Z
ability: Protean
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
========
Hydro Pump is Greninja's best move to hit Fire- and Rock-types with, such as Heatran, Mega Tyranitar, and Rotom-H. It also provides a strong neutral hit against Steel-types such as Mega Scizor, Corviknight, and Magearna. Ice Beam is useful for hitting Grass-types seeking to pivot into Greninja like Tangrowth. It also allows it to threaten a common Defogger in Zapdos, as well as Dragon-types such as Garchomp and Hydreigon. Grass Knot in combination with Grassium Z allows Greninja to OHKO common Defog users in Tapu Fini and Rotom-W. It also enables it to lure otherwise very solid checks in Slowbro, Gastrodon, and Seismitoad. Spikes is a great utility move due to Greninja’s tendency to force a lot of switches as well as its ability to beat common Defog users in Zapdos, Tapu Fini, and Rotom-W. It also weakens some of its common switch-ins, such as Ferrothorn and Toxapex, for its teammates to take advantage of.
Usage Tips
========
Try to bring Greninja in through VoltTurn support or on predicted double switches, as Greninja's mediocre bulk means it struggles to come in even on resisted hits. Greninja's colorful coverage gives it the ability to threaten a substantial amount of the metagame. Use this to your advantage by attempting to weaken popular defensive cores consisting of Pokemon such as Heatran, Rotom-H, Tangrowth, and Tapu Fini. Aim to set up Spikes as soon as possible on forced switches to weaken Greninja's switch-ins, such as Ferrothorn and Toxapex, for teammates to take advantage of. Attempt to lure Water-types such as Tapu Fini, Slowbro, Rotom-W, and Gastrodon with Bloom Doom in order to either keep Spikes up, pave the way for Greninja itself, or for a teammate. Bluffing a Choice Scarf set can let you surprise opponents that think Greninja is Choice-locked with a super effective coverage move, such as the aforementioned Water-types with Bloom Doom.
Team Options
========
Due to the fact that Greninja beats common Defog users and forces plenty of switches, having a teammate to set up Stealth Rock is a very good idea in order to form a hazard-stacking core. Therefore, the likes of Heatran, Mega Tyranitar, and Clefable make for good teammates. Pokemon that benefit from the removal of defensive Water-types, such as Gliscor, Cinderace, and specially defensive Heatran enjoy Greninja’s ability to pave the path for them by luring these Water-types. Pokemon that can exert a lot of offensive pressure and appreciate Spikes support, such as Mega Latios, Mega Lopunny, and Mega Mawile make for excellent partners. Toxapex and Ferrothorn wall this set with ease, so having a strong means of pressuring these with the likes of Tapu Lele, Mega Medicham, and Magma Storm Heatran, is helpful. In addition, this set fails to keep Spikes up against Corviknight. Therefore, pairing Greninja with the likes of the aforementioned Heatran, as well as Magnezone and Rotom-H, is also very prudent. Mega Lopunny, Slowbro, and Cinderace can all pivot Greninja in safely, with Mega Lopunny and Cinderace luring in the likes of Slowbro, Zapdos, and Hippowdon, all of which Greninja can take advantage of.
[SET]
name: Physically Based
move 1: Dig
move 2: Gunk Shot
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Spikes
item: Groundium Z
ability: Protean
nature: Hasty
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
========
Dig gives access to Tectonic Rage, which allows Greninja to remove the likes of Toxapex, Heatran, Mega Tyranitar, Aegislash, and Mega Mawile at high levels of health. Gunk Shot is useful for hitting common Grass- and Fairy-types attempting to pivot into Greninja such as Tangrowth and Clefable. It also allows Greninja to pressure a common Defogger in Tapu Fini, and proves to be the best option for crippling the likes of Slowbro and Rotom-W due to the high chance of afflicting the target with poison. Ice Beam is important in order to invalidate Ground- and Dragon-types as switch-ins, notable examples being Garchomp, Gliscor, and Hydreigon. In addition, it also pressures a prominent Defog user in Zapdos. Spikes is an excellent tool to punish switches, which Greninja tends to force a lot. Greninja is a particularly good user of the move, due to its ability to beat common Defog users in Zapdos and Tapu Fini. Spikes also weakens some of its common switch-ins for its teammates, such as Slowbro lacking Heavy-Duty Boots, and Ferrothorn. A Hasty nature is preferred over a Naive nature to take hits from Heatran slightly better while not hindering Greninja's damage output.
Usage Tips
========
Attempt to bring Greninja in on predicted double switches or through pivoting support as Greninja's mediocre bulk means it struggles to come in even on resisted hits. Greninja is able to hit a vast amount of the metagame for good amounts of damage. Harness this in order to weaken popular defensive cores consisting of Pokemon such as Heatran, Toxapex, Tangrowth, and Tapu Fini. Aim to set up Spikes as soon as possible on forced switches to weaken Greninja's switch-ins such as Ferrothorn and Slowbro, for teammates to take advantage of. Attempt to lure the likes of Toxapex, Aegislash, and Heatran with Tectonic Rage, in order to either pave the way for Greninja itself, or for a teammate. Bluffing a Choice Scarf set can let you surprise opponents that think Greninja is Choice-locked with a super effective coverage move, such as the aforementioned targets with Tectonic Rage.
Team Options
========
Greninja beats common Defoggers in Zapdos and Tapu Fini, and forces a lot of switches. Therefore, having a teammate to set up Stealth Rock is very advisable in order to form a hazard-stacking core. Heatran, Mega Tyranitar, and Clefable can all reliably set up Stealth Rock and fit on the balanced teams that Greninja resides in. Pokemon that benefit from the removal of the likes of Toxapex, Aegislash, and Heatran, such as Stealth Rock Mega Lopunny, Magearna, and Calm Mind Clefable, enjoy Greninja’s ability to pave the path for them by luring these. Pokemon that can exert a lot of offensive pressure and appreciate Spikes support such as Mega Lopunny, Mega Latios, and Mega Mawile, make for excellent partners. Ferrothorn, Slowbro, and Corviknight wall this set with ease, so having a strong means of pressuring these with the likes of Heatran, Kyurem, and Magnezone is helpful. Mega Lopunny, Cinderace, and Slowbro can all pivot Greninja in safely, with Mega Lopunny and Cinderace luring in Zapdos, Toxapex, and Hippowdon, all of which Greninja can take advantage of.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Waterium Z set consisting of Hydro Pump, Gunk Shot or Ice Beam, Hidden Power Fire, and Spikes may be considered if denting the likes of Clefable, Corviknight, and Mega Scizor is desired. A Choice Scarf set is another viable option as it can revenge kill very notable targets such as Kartana, Hydreigon, Garchomp, and Volcarona. However, such a set fails to break through many defensive threats, and is therefore not advisable over the likes of Choice Scarf Cinderace, Victini, Landorus-T, and Kartana. Low Kick may be used alongside Fightinium Z to lure the likes of Chansey, Heatran, Kyurem, and Mega Tyranitar. However, such a set is utterly walled by common metagame staples in Toxapex, Aegislash, and Slowbro and is therefore not worth it in general. Hidden Power Fire may be used on each of Greninja’s sets in order to lure Ferrothorn and Mega Scizor, and pressure Corviknight harder than any other move. An all-out attacker set may be run alongside a Z-move, Life Orb, or Metronome. Such a set is highly customizable and has the potential to wallbreak a very large portion of the defensive metagame. However, forgoing Spikes is usually not very advisable on the long run. A Suicide Lead set, consisting of Spikes, Toxic Spikes, Taunt, and Ice Beam alongside a Focus Sash, may be run on hyper offensive teams seeking to fit Toxic Spikes. Such a set, however, does not fit on any other playstyle, and is usually outclassed by Mew.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Set-dependant Switch-ins**: Greninja has no guaranteed switch-ins due to its ridiculous movepool versatility. However, as it is limited to four moveslots, it can be countered or checked defensively if Greninja is not carrying the appropriate move or item, making proper scouting the key to check Greninja. Toxapex and Aegislash wall Greninja if it lacks Groundium Z, Extrasensory for the former, or Hidden Power Fire and Waterium Z for the latter; Chansey and Blissey can wall Greninja if it is not running Fightinium Z along with Low Kick; Ferrothorn, Mega Scizor, and Corviknight are safe checks for those lacking Hidden Power Fire, and in Ferrothorn's case, Low Kick; Gastrodon, Slowbro, and Rotom-W will completely stop those lacking Grassium Z; Mega Venusaur fares well against all variants lacking Extrasensory; Clefable is always a reliable switchin for those lacking Gunk Shot or Waterium Z.
**Naturally Faster Pokemon and Priority**: Mega Lopunny, Dragapult, and Choice Scarf users such as Kartana and Cinderace, all outspeed non-Choice Scarf Greninja and threaten it with their STAB or coverage moves. In addition, priority users such as Mega Scizor, Mega Medicham, Mega Mawile, and Bisharp are also capable of taking out Greninja after some chip damage, depending on its typing.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Guardsweeper, 360582]]
- Quality checked by: [[SputnikGT, 475916], [Solaros & Lunaris, 471780], [username3, userid3]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1], [username2, userid2]]
