Greninja

Using Greninja in a Playthrough

Froakie evolves into Frogadier at level 16 and Greninja at level 36, giving the line the standard starter progression but a final form built around speed and flexibility rather than bulk. Standard Greninja has base 122 Speed, 103 Special Attack, and 95 Attack, with Surf or Hydro Pump, Dark Pulse, Ice Beam, Water Shuriken, U-turn, Extrasensory, Grass Knot, Spikes, and other coverage allowing physical, special, or mixed play. Torrent boosts Water-type moves at low HP, while Protean is the standout Hidden Ability: in Generations VI through VIII it changes Greninja's type to match each move before the attack, effectively granting STAB repeatedly, while from Generation IX onward it can change type only once per switch-in. Battle Bond is a separate special case: in Generation VII it can transform a specific Greninja into Ash-Greninja after scoring a knockout, but from Generation IX onward the form change was removed and Battle Bond instead grants a one-time Attack, Special Attack, and Speed boost after a knockout. Mega Greninja keeps Water/Dark typing but rises to base 125 Attack, 133 Special Attack, and 142 Speed; current ability-enabled play gives it Protean. Timid is usually safest for standard or Mega special sets, while Naive, Hasty, or Jolly can support mixed and physical approaches.

Greninja in Competitive Pokémon

Greninja became one of the signature offensive Pokemon of Generation VI. Protean combined with base 122 Speed and an enormous movepool to give every attack effective STAB, and ORAS additions such as Gunk Shot and Low Kick eventually made defensive counterplay so difficult that Greninja was banned from standard XY/ORAS OU to Ubers. In Sun and Moon, Protean Greninja returned as an elite OU offensive Spikes setter, while Battle Bond Greninja could transform after a knockout into Ash-Greninja with base 145 Attack, 153 Special Attack, and 132 Speed, turning Water Shuriken into a stronger three-hit priority move. Mega Greninja is much newer: current Champions data gives it 125 Attack, 133 Special Attack, 142 Speed, and Protean, placing extreme speed and mixed offense on top of the family's already broad coverage. The recurring drawback across every Greninja form is frailty—base Greninja's 72/67/71 defenses leave little room for mistakes, so its competitive success depends on speed, prediction, type manipulation, and offensive pressure rather than taking hits.

Greninja in Nuzlockes

Greninja is an excellent Nuzlocke starter because it reaches its final form at a normal level and base 122 Speed lets it avoid many attacks entirely. Reliable Surf, Dark Pulse, Ice Beam, or Water Shuriken are generally safer than depending on Hydro Pump or other low-accuracy coverage unless the additional power is necessary. Protean can create valuable resistances or immunities by changing Greninja's type before attacking, but this mechanic becomes less flexible from Generation IX onward because the type change can occur only once per switch-in. Ash-Greninja is available only under specific Generation VII Battle Bond circumstances, and its transformation requires a knockout first, so it should not be assumed in an ordinary Kalos playthrough. Mega Greninja's base 142 Speed makes it even safer offensively, but its defenses remain only 72/77/81, so Fighting, Bug, Electric, Grass, and Fairy attacks can still be dangerous whenever its current typing leaves those weaknesses exposed.

Greninja is an elusive, ninja-like predator that compresses water into sharp weapons, especially Water Shuriken capable of slicing through metal. It can also form other water weapons such as blades and kunai in animated and game portrayals. The long tongue wrapped around its neck is not merely decorative: exposure to air currents helps Greninja detect enemies it cannot see, and the tongue is strong enough to restrain large targets. Its movements are built around sudden acceleration, misdirection, and precise strikes rather than direct endurance.