Editing Greninja

{{ArticleIcons|ssb4=y|ultimate=y}}

{{forfighter|SSB4=y|SSBU=y}}

|name = Greninja

|image = [[File:Greninja.png|300px]]

|caption = [[File:PokemonSymbol.svg|50px|class=invert-dark]]<br>Official artwork of Greninja from [[bulbapedia:Pokémon X and Y|''Pokémon X'' and ''Y'']].

|games = ''[[SSB4]]''<br>''[[Ultimate]]''

|universe = {{uv|Pokémon}}

|firstgame = [[bulbapedia:Pokémon X and Y|''Pokémon X'' and ''Y'']] (2013)

|lastappearance= [[bulbapedia:Pokémon Scarlet and Violet|''Pokémon Scarlet'' and ''Violet'']] (2023, via update)

|console = [[Nintendo 3DS]]

|species = Greninja

|homeworld = {{s|bulbapedia|Kalos}}

|artist = Yūsuke Ōmura

|japanactor = Yūji Ueda

|franceactor = Frédéric Clou

|germanactor = Benedikt Gutjan

|interwiki = bulbapedia

|interwikiname = Bulbapedia

|interwikipage = Greninja (Pokémon)

REMINDER: Our Manual of Style states that all Pokémon are to use gender-neutral pronouns.

'''Greninja''' ({{ja|ゲッコウガ|Gekkōga}}, ''Gekkouga'') is a Ninja Pokémon from the {{uv|Pokémon}} series. It debuted in the series' {{s|bulbapedia|sixth generation}} as the final stage [[bulbapedia:Water (type)|Water-type]] {{iw|bulbapedia|starter Pokémon}} of {{iw|bulbapedia|Kalos}}, and is present as a playable character in ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''.

==Origin==

[[File:Ash-Greninja.png|left|thumb|150px|Artwork of Ash-Greninja.]]

Greninja, a dual Water/Dark-type Pokémon, is a bipedal frog-like creature that greatly resembles a {{s|wikipedia|ninja}}; it wraps its long tongue around its mouth in emulation of a scarf. It is the final evolved form of the Kalosian starter Pokémon {{s|bulbapedia|Froakie}}, evolving from the intermediate {{s|bulbapedia|Frogadier}} from level 36 onward. It is categorized within the {{s|bulbapedia|Pokédex}} at #658 as the "Ninja Pokémon".

According to the Pokédex and based on its statistics in the ''Pokémon'' games, Greninja is extremely fast, to the point that it has the highest raw speed statistic of any starter Pokémon (not counting Mega Evolution). Fittingly, it relies on this speed in battle to confound its prey with swift, ninja-like grace before striking with its {{iw|bulbapedia|Water Shuriken|move}} move, which is said to be able to shear metal. In exchange, however, it is rather frail because of its low overall defenses.

In the ''Pokémon'' games, Greninja has access to numerous unique abilities. Initially, it was the only Pokémon able to learn [[Water Shuriken]]—which it uses in ''Super Smash Bros.''—and {{iw|bulbapedia|Mat Block|move}} (used in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series during [[Secret Ninja Attack]]), where it flips a tatami mat in front of itself to shield itself and its allies from incoming attacks. Besides these two unique moves, it has access to a diverse range of offensive and status moves; while its standard ability is {{s|bulbapedia|Torrent}} (as with every other Water type starter Pokémon, its [[bulbapedia:Ability#Hidden Abilities|Hidden Ability]] is the rare {{s|bulbapedia|Protean}}, which changes its type to match each move it uses and ensures it gets the maximum possible power out of every attack, allowing it to take advantage from its large range of available moves.

In [[bulbapedia:Pokémon Sun and Moon|''Pokémon Sun'' and ''Moon'']], Greninja appears as a {{s|bulbapedia|gift Pokémon}} obtainable via the games' demo version. This Greninja is male only, cannot breed, and has the unique {{s|bulbapedia|Battle Bond}} {{s|bulbapedia|ability}}, the latter of which transforms Greninja into its more powerful Ash-Greninja form after defeating a Pokémon. Ash-Greninja is exclusive to ''Sun'', ''Moon'' and their "{{s|bulbapedia|upper version}}s" [[bulbapedia:Pokémon Sun and Moon|''Ultra Sun'' and ''Ultra Moon'']], due to Greninja and its pre-evolutions being unobtainable in [[bulbapedia:Pokémon Sword and Shield|''Pokémon Sword'' and ''Shield'']], and the form being retired outright in favor of Battle Bond being repurposed into a stat-boosting ability in [[bulbapedia:Pokémon Scarlet and Violet|''Pokémon Scarlet'' and ''Violet'']].

Greninja has made multiple appearances in the ''Pokémon'' anime, but is most notable for being {{s|bulbapedia|Ash Ketchum}}'s [[bulbapedia:Ash's Greninja|ace Pokémon]] during the {{s|bulbapedia|XY series}}. Having been part of Ash's party ever since Ash received it from {{s|bulbapedia|Professor Sycamore}}, the Pokémon developed a close bond with Ash throughout the series as it trained and evolved, eventually gaining access to its strengthened "Ash-Greninja" (coined by {{iw|bulbapedia|Bonnie}}) form because of [[bulbapedia:Bond Phenomenon|the connection between Pokémon and Trainer]].

With the help of Greninja and the rest of his Pokémon team, Ash was able to achieve his greatest success in a Pokémon League tournament up to that point, only losing in the finals due to Greninja being overwhelmed and defeated by {{s|bulbapedia|Alain's Charizard}}. At the end of the series, Greninja bade farewell to Ash, parting ways in order to help protect Kalos alongside two {{pkmn|Zygarde}}, {{s|bulbapedia|Squishy}} and {{s|Bulbapedia|Z2}}.

[[File:Greninja SSB4.png|thumb|left|Greninja, as it appears in ''Super Smash Bros. 4''.]]

Greninja debuts as a [[newcomer]] in ''Super Smash Bros. 4''. It was first revealed in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' Direct on April 8, 2014, alongside fellow ''Pokémon'' fighter {{SSB4|Charizard}}. Much like in its home series, Greninja is very quick and mobile, similarly to {{SSB4|Sheik}} and {{SSB4|Sonic}}. However, it possesses more consistent KO power overall in comparison to them. It also possesses special moves that can catch opponents off-guard, such as [[Shadow Sneak]] and [[Substitute]].

 

Greninja is currently ranked 26th out of 55 on the [[tier list]], placing it in the C tier. Greninja's strengths include very fast overall mobility and great combo potential, most notably with its neutral attack's [[jab cancel]], and its up and down tilts. [[Water Shuriken]] also grants it a decent [[projectile]], which not only has fairly good travel distance, but is also capable of being thrown out for a fast attack or charged up for greater power. Despite these positives, Greninja has a few noticeable negatives. It has unusually high ending lag in its moveset, especially its smash attacks. Substitute is a weak and avoidable [[counterattack]]. Lastly, its grab game is burdened with an abysmal pummel, an overall low damage output, and only two throws whose utility is decent at best. Regardless of these issues, as well as being noticeably nerfed in update [[1.0.4]], Greninja is still viewed as a viable choice for competitive play, thanks to it achieving decent results.

{{main|List of SSB4 trophies (Pokémon series)}}

|desc-ntsc=This Water/Dark-type Pokémon is the fully evolved form of Froakie. It's just as fast and dangerous as any other ninja, and the throwing stars it can make out of water can shear metal. In Smash Bros., as well as being a graceful, speedy fighter, it can also use moves like Hydro Pump that let it travel through the air and avoid falling.

|desc-pal=This Water- and Dark-type Pokémon is the fully evolved form of Froakie. It is just as fast and dangerous as its name suggests, and the throwing stars it can make out of water can shear metal. In this game, as well as being a graceful, speedy fighter, it can also use moves like Hydro Pump to let it move through the air and avoid falling.

 

|desc-ntsc=Greninja's Substitute down special lets you teleport to dodge attacks and then strike back, making it an effective and hard-to-predict way to counterattack. You can also control where you reappear by inputting directions. When you vanish, sometimes you'll be replaced by a log, other times by a cuddly toy.

|gamelist-ntsc={{Trophy games|console1=3DS|game1=Pokémon X & Pokémon Y|release1=10/2013}}

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==In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''==

{{Main|Greninja (SSBU)}}

[[File:Greninja SSBU.png|thumb|Greninja, as it appears in ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''.]]

Greninja returns as a playable character in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''. Unlike in ''SSB4'', it is an unlockable character instead of a starter. Two of the most notable changes are that its water katanas have been replaced with water kunais, and that its Final Smash now features its Ash-Greninja form introduced in the anime and featured in ''Pokémon Sun and Moon''.

SSBU spirit Greninja.png|418. '''''Greninja'''''

*Greninja's depiction in ''Smash'' is not directly based on a particular member of its species in the anime, unlike all other playable Pokémon in the game, due to its moveset being inspired by mere concept art. However, it shares its voice actors in various languages with {{s|bulbapedia|Ash's Greninja}} and {{s|bulbapedia|Riot}}'s Greninja.

*Greninja was the first character debuting in the 2010s to be revealed as a fighter.

*Prior to [[Corrin]]'s [[Corrin (SSB4)|appearance]] as [[Downloadable content (SSB4)|downloadable content]], Greninja was the most recently debuted playable character at the time of ''SSB4'''s release, with a debut of October 2013.

*After the release of ''SSB4'', a [[bulbapedia:List of Japanese region serial code event Pokémon distributions in Generation VI#Super Smash Bros. Greninja| Japanese Event distribution]] from November 21, 2014 to January 20, 2015 featured an Event Greninja with its ''Smash Bros.'' moveset.

*Several Greninja in the film ''Pokémon Detective Pikachu'' use water swords, similar to the Greninja in ''Smash 4''.

*Greninja was the first fighter announced to be playable in a ''Super Smash Bros.'' title on the same console as its console of origin, as ''Pokémon X'' and ''Y'' and ''Smash 3DS'' are all [[Nintendo 3DS]] games.