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| Greninja in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | |
|---|---|
 
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| Universe | Pokémon |
| Other playable appearance | in SSB4 |
| Availability | Unlockable |
| Final Smash | Secret Ninja Attack |
| “ | A ninja-like fighter that battles with moves like the Water Shuriken. Greninja can use a log for clever counterattacks, and this Pokémon can even stick to walls. During its Final Smash, it turns into Ash-Greninja...!? | ” |
| —Super Smash Blog, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Official Site | ||
Greninja (ゲッコウガ, Gekkouga) is a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. It was confirmed on June 12th, 2018. Greninja is classified as fighter #50.
Greninja is once again voiced by Billy Bob Thompson, through recycled voice clips from Smash 4.
How to unlock
Complete one of the following:
- Play VS. matches, with Greninja being the 58th character to be unlocked.
- Clear Classic Mode with Donkey Kong or any character in his unlock tree, being the sixth character unlocked after Sheik.
- Have Greninja join the player's party in World of Light.
With the exception of the third method, Greninja must then be defeated on Kalos Pokémon League.
Attributes
Greninja, true to being a ninja-themed character, has very strong mobility similar to characters such as Sheik, Zero Suit Samus, and Sonic. This is notably evident with its walking speed (4th fastest), dashing speed (7th fastest), air speed (10th fastest), and rolls (both of which are tied for the game's second-fastest). However, unlike said characters, it maintains a strong set of KO moves, notably its smash attacks, throws (except down throw) and fully charged Water Shuriken. As with its appearance in Super Smash Bros. 4, this makes it a strong mix of speed and power.
Greninja's ground move is very strong due to its fast frame data, being among the fastest in the game. To further compound this attribute, most of its attacks have low ending lag, granting it a strong combo game, notably with its down tilt, dash attack, neutral aerial, up aerial's linking hits, and back aerial's first and second hits. Adding on, all of its smash attacks have very fast startup and KO power for their speed, notably with its up smash.
Greninja also has a very strong air game due to its aforementioned air speed, jump height, and aerials that are reliable for multiple situations, while they all have low landing lag (except for down aerial, at 30 frames). Its neutral aerial is a decent low percent-combo starter that can KO at high percentages, its forward aerial can KO very early at the edge, its up aerial can be used multiple times in a row to easily build up damage, its back aerial is a very fast offstage KO option, and its down aerial can be used to return to the stage or perform surprise combos.
Its grab game is also effective, due to having very long-ranged grabs, three KO throws (forward, up and back), and a decently effective combo starter with its down throw. Finally, Greninja's special moves are effective for varying situations; Water Shuriken is a high-percentage KO option when fully charged, where due to hitting multiple times, Greninja can rush down its opponent and follow up with any aerial attack (except for down) or an up smash. Shadow Sneak works as an effective "ambush" option, Hydro Pump is a good recovery move, and Substitute is a counterattack that can be aimed in any direction upon a successful counter.
Greninja's primary flaws are its inability to break out of combos as well as a relative lack of KO setups. While Greninja has an easier time breaking out of combos due to the lower landing lag on all of its aerials, as well as the buffs given to Substitute, it still has difficulties in escaping combos due to its aerials still remaining relatively slow in startup lag. This can be alleviated with its back or down aerials or Shadow Sneak, but both are not very effective due to back aerial's almost entirely horizontal hitboxes, down aerial's landing lag, and Shadow Sneak's "eyes" now flashing just before the attack comes out. Finally, even though Greninja has an easier time KO'ing opponents due to many of its attacks dealing more knockback, it still has trouble KO'ing due to a general lack of reliable KO setups.
Altogether, Greninja's playstyle requires players to think like an actual ninja: utilizing running speed and fast attacks to rush down opponents, but while saving the slower attacks for potential mixups, mindgames and surprise KO options.
Changes from Super Smash Bros. 4
Despite being considered a high-tier character in Super Smash Bros. 4, Greninja has been greatly buffed from Smash 4 to Ultimate. As with all other characters in the game, its already strong mobility is even faster, while its previously situational moves (such as dash attack, down smash and Water Shuriken) are much more versatile. Furthermore, the reduced landing lag on Greninja's aerial attacks gives it an easier time landing, while the universal 3-frame jumpsquat improves Greninja's ground-to-air potential.
However, its biggest buffs were to its grab game, which saw an even faster standing grab, while its forward and back throws can now KO along with its up throw. As a result of receiving multiple buffs with relatively few nerfs, Greninja retains its status as a viable character in Ultimate's early meta.
Aesthetics
Greninja's model features a slightly more subdued color scheme.- Every move that once used water katanas now uses water kunai, similar to when Ash's Greninja uses Cut in the Pokémon anime.
- Greninja's tongue has less physics-based movement than the previous game.
- Greninja has altered animations for its sidestep, roll, and airdodge animations; it now disappears in a small whirlwind with leaves scattering, similarly to when Substitute is successful.
Attributes
Like all characters, Greninja's jumpsquat animation now takes three frames to complete (down from 4).- Greninja dashes faster (2.08 → 2.288).
- Greninja walks faster (1.43 → 1.502).
- Greninja has increased air speed (1.18 → 1.239).
- Greninja weighs less (94 → 88). This worsens its survivability but makes it less susceptible to combos.
The ability to tech footstools hinders Greninja's combo options.- Greninja's down taunt has lower knockback and much higher ending lag; unlike other taunts, it is not interruptible (unless it's used during Shadow Sneak). This prevents it from KOing and makes Greninja more vulnerable while using it. However, due to how incredibly situational down taunt is, this is negligible in normal play.
Ground attacks
- Neutral attack:
- Neutral attack's rapid jab is considerably faster.
- Jab 3 deals less damage (3.5% → 3%), and thus less knockback.
- Down tilt:
- Down tilt is now a downward hand sweep.
- Down tilt launches opponents at a more upward angle, improving its combo potential.
- Down tilt has less ending lag (FAF 27 → 23).
- Down tilt deals less damage (7% → 4%), and also deals more knockback, narrowing its combo range.
- Dash attack:
- Dash attack has an altered animation with Greninja stopping halfway through the spin.
- Dash attack deals more damage (7% → 8%).
- Dash attack has less ending lag (FAF 31 → 29).
- Forward smash deals more knockback.
- Down smash has much less startup lag (15 → 10), and thus a shorter duration (FAF 55 → 50).
Aerial attacks
- All aerials have less landing lag (Neutral: 12 → 7, Forward: 15 → 11, Back: 13 → 10, Up: 15 → 14, Down: 32 → 30).
- Neutral aerial:
- Neutral aerial has considerably less ending lag (FAF 65 → 53).
- Neutral aerial deals slightly more knockback.
- Forward aerial:
- Forward aerial deals more knockback.
- Back aerial
- Back aerial has less ending lag (FAF 46 → 41).
- Down aerial:
- Down aerial has more endlag when it hits an opponent, hindering its combo potential and making it slightly less safe on shield.
- Greninja no longer loses its double jump when it lands down aerial.
- Greninja can act out of a missed down aerial sooner (FAF 57 → 52).
- Late down aerial KOs vertically slightly sooner.
Throws/other attacks
- Grab:
- Standing grab's startup is reduced by 1 frame. (11 → 10)
- Forward throw:
- Forward throw deals more damage and knockback, now boasting KO potential.
- Back throw:
- Back throw has a new animation. Greninja turns around and throws the opponent with both hands.
- Back throw's animation is faster, making it harder to DI properly.
- Back throw deals more knockback.
Special moves
- Water Shuriken:
- Water Shuriken has slightly increased range.
- Opponents don't fall out of the fully charged shuriken as much as before.
- Water Shuriken looks sharper.
- Uncharged Water Shuriken has less knockback growth.
- Shadow Sneak:
- Greninja now cloaks itself in a whirlwind before disappearing. It may also perform a forward kick to attack.
- Shadow Sneak's attack has less startup.
- Forward Shadow Sneak launches at a lower angle, improving its combo potential.
- The shadow's eyes flash red just before release, making it easier to predict the attack.
- Substitute:
- Substitute's counter window is longer.
- Substitute's attack has less startup.
- Substitute slows down the opponent when the attack activates, allowing the attack to land more consistently.
- Substitute now grants Greninja invincibility during the attack.
- Substitute has more vibrant particles effects.
- Hydro Pump:
- Hydro Pump now has an arrow pointing in the direction of travel, similar to Pikachu's Quick Attack.
- Hydro Pump can now be ledge-cancelled.
- Greninja no longer loses its double jump if it is hit out of Hydro Pump.
- Secret Ninja Attack:
- Greninja now turns into Ash-Greninja during its Final Smash.
- Greninja and its opponents are no longer silhouetted during the attack.
Update history
1.2.0
A visual glitch with Greninja's screen KO has been fixed.
2.0.0
- Down smash has a larger internal hitbox.
- Hydro Pump's endlag can no longer be cancelled instantly by landing on a moving or slanted platform.
Moveset
- Greninja is able to crawl, wall cling, and wall jump.
Note: All numbers are listed as base damage, without the 1v1 multiplier.
| Name | Damage | Description | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neutral attack | {{{neutralname}}} | Two alternating palm thrusts followed by a double palm thrust that emits a small blast of water. If button mashed, it is instead followed by a series of knifehand strikes that emit blade-shaped blasts of water that concludes with an outward knifehand strike that emits a small blast of water. It can also be jab canceled, such as into forward tilt, down tilt and forward smash.\ | ||
| {{{neutral2dmg}}} | ||||
| Forward tilt | ||||
| Up tilt | ||||
| Down tilt | ||||
| Dash attack | ||||
| Forward smash | ||||
| Up smash | ||||
| Down smash | ||||
| Neutral aerial | ||||
| Forward aerial | ||||
| Back aerial | ||||
| Up aerial | ||||
| Down aerial | ||||
| Grab | — | |||
| Pummel | ||||
| Forward throw | ||||
| Back throw | ||||
| Up throw | ||||
| Down throw | ||||
| Forward roll Back roll Spot dodge Air dodge |
— | — | ||
| Techs | — | — | ||
| Floor attack (front) Floor getups (front) |
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| Floor attack (back) Floor getups (back) |
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| Floor attack (trip) Floor getups (trip) |
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| Edge attack Edge getups |
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| Neutral special | Water Shuriken | |||
| Side special | Shadow Sneak | |||
| Up special | Hydro Pump | |||
| Down special | Substitute | |||
| Final Smash | Secret Ninja Attack | |||
On-screen appearance
- Emerges from a Poké Ball, then performs a ninjutsu hand sign that emits a small burst of water from its hands.
Taunts
Idle Poses
- Crosses arms over its body, then separates them with a flourish.
- Hunches over and assumes a ninjutsu stance.
Victory poses
- Does a few hand seals with splashing water, and then a ninja pose.
- Performs Double Team to briefly create three afterimages of itself.
- Does a flip, and crosses its arms.
Classic Mode: Your Turn, Greninja!
Greninja fights against characters that represent different types from the Pokémon games: for example, Charizard and Bowser represent Fire type, and Mewtwo, Ness, and Lucas represent Psychic type.
| Round | Opponent | Stage | Music | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charizard and Bowser | Pokémon Stadium | Battle! (Elite Four) / Battle! (Solgaleo/Lunala) | Charizard's Pokémon Trainer is absent. |
| 2 | Pikachu, Pichu, and Zero Suit Samus | Pokémon Stadium 2 | Battle! (Steven) | |
| 3 | Lucario, Ryu, and Ken | Pokémon Stadium | Battle! (Reshiram/Zekrom) | |
| 4 | Ivysaur | Pokémon Stadium | Battle! (Gladion) | Ivysaur's Pokémon Trainer is absent. |
| 5 | Mewtwo, Ness, and Lucas | Pokémon Stadium 2 | Battle! (Dialga/Palkia) / Spear Pillar | |
| 6 | Squirtle and Greninja | Kalos Pokémon League | Battle! (Champion) - Pokémon X / Pokémon Y | Squirtle's Pokémon Trainer is absent. |
| Bonus Stage | ||||
| Final | Master Hand | Final Destination | Master Hand | On intensity 7.0 and higher, Crazy Hand fights alongside Master Hand, and the track Master Hand / Crazy Hand plays during the battle. |
Role in World of Light
Greninja was among the fighters that were summoned to fight the army of Master Hands.
During the opening cutscene, Greninja was present on the cliffside when Galeem unleashed his beams of light. Greninja leaped into the air to avoid one of the beams, which hit Lucario instead. Greninja was hit shortly after and vaporized, getting imprisoned by Galeem afterward along with the other fighters, sans Kirby. A puppet fighter cloned from Greninja is later seen alongside ones cloned from Fox, Samus, Link and other fighters.
Greninja was one of the many fighters that fell under Dharkon's control upon Galeem's first defeat, and it can be found in the Realm of Darkness.
Greninja is later seen among several other fighters, making their last stand against Galeem and Dharkon. It also shows up in the bad ending where Galeem emerges victorious against Dharkon, witnessing Galeem engulf the world in light.
Spirits
Greninja's Fighter Spirit can be obtained by completing Classic Mode. It is also available periodically for purchase in the shop for 500 coins. Unlocking Greninja in World of Light allows the player to preview the spirit below in the Spirit List under the name "???". As a Fighter Spirit, it cannot be used in Spirit Battles and is purely aesthetic. Each Fighter Spirit has an alternate version that replaces them with their artwork in Ultimate.
- Greninja Spirit.png
418. Greninja
Alternate costumes
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Gallery
Artwork of all playable Pokémon characters and Poké Ball Pokémon, as posted by the official Pokémon Twitter account.
Greninja's fighter card.
Greninja coming to a halt on Kalos Pokémon League.
Charging Water Shuriken next to Ryu on Suzaku Castle.
Jumping on Battlefield.
With its Substitute Doll on Wuhu Island after tripping.
Performing Shadow Sneak on Luigi's Mansion.
Struck by Lucario on Pokémon Stadium 2.
Character Showcase Video
Trivia
- In the Pokémon series, Ash-Greninja is only obtainable as a male. The fact that Greninja transforms into Ash-Greninja for its Final Smash, Secret Ninja Attack, implies that Greninja is a male in Ultimate.
- Greninja's new character portrait resembles its air dodge animation.
- Coincidentally, Greninja's fighter number, 50, is the same as the number of its costume in Super Mario Maker.
