Greninja (Pokémon)

For Pokémon GO information on this species, see the game's section.
← #0657: Frogadier	Pokémon	#0659: Bunnelby →
This article is about the species. For a specific instance of this species, see Greninja (disambiguation).

Greninja Ninja Pokémon ゲッコウガ Gekkouga #0658 Greninja Ash-Greninja Images on the Bulbagarden Archives
Type Water Dark Unknown Unknown Ash-Greninja Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Abilities Torrent Cacophony Ash-Greninja Cacophony Protean Hidden Ability Cacophony Hidden Ability Cacophony Ash-Greninja Cacophony Battle Bond Battle Bond Greninja
Gender ratio Unknown 87.5% male, 12.5% female	Catch rate 45 (11.9%)
Breeding Egg Groups Water 1Greninja and No Eggs DiscoveredBattle Bond Greninja Hatch time 20 cycles
Height 4'11" 1.5 m Greninja 0'0" 0 m Ash-Greninja 0'0" 0 m {{{form3}}} 0'0" 0 m {{{form4}}}	Weight 88.2 lbs. 40.0 kg Greninja 0 lbs. 0 kg Ash-Greninja 0 lbs. 0 kg {{{form3}}} 0 lbs. 0 kg {{{form4}}}
Mega Stone [[|]] [[|]]
Base experience yield Unknown Gen. IV Unknown IV 239	Leveling rate Medium Slow
EV yield Total: 3 Greninja 0 HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 3 Speed Ash-Greninja 0 HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed
Shape	Footprint Ash-Greninja
Pokédex color   Blue	Base friendship 70
External Links On Smogon Pokédex: Generation VI Generation VII Generation VIII Generation IX Artwork on Bulbagarden Archives

Greninja (Japanese: ゲッコウガ Gekkouga) is a dual-type Water/Dark Pokémon introduced in Generation VI.

It evolves from Frogadier starting at level 36. It is the final form of Froakie.

In Generation VII, Greninja with the Ability Battle Bond can transform into a special form known as Ash-Greninja after defeating an opponent during battle. Greninja with Battle Bond is treated as a distinct form in the games' code.

In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the Ash-Greninja transformation is no longer present, and Battle Bond's effect was changed to instead increase Greninja's stats upon defeating an opponent.

(Refer to Game data→Form data for more details.)

Biology

Greninja is a bipedal, frog-like Pokémon. It is mostly dark blue with a yellow chest, a white triangular marking over each eye, a light blue four-pointed star on each thigh, and yellow on the lower half of its face. It has red eyes with white pupils and its mouth is hidden behind a large, pink tongue that wraps around its neck and extends outward behind its head. Running down the middle of its head is a fin-like extension, and there is a similar fin on each side of its head. Light blue webbing connects its head fins. There is a large, white bubble-like bump on each elbow and knee. Its back feet have two toes, while its front feet have three toes. Each digit has a bulbous tip and yellow webbing.

Greninja's movements are swift, rapid and graceful, akin to those of ninja.^[1] It uses this speed to confound enemies while slicing them up. It can compress water into various weapons to slice up enemies, most commonly in the form of its Water Shuriken, though it has been shown creating water katana and water kunai in both the animated series and the Super Smash Bros. video game series. It can also create shuriken from the mucus it excretes from its thighs for sharp projectiles that can split through metal. As seen in the animated series, Greninja's tongue is extremely long and many times its own height, and strong enough to catch and hold an average human. However, it usually keeps its tongue wrapped around its neck like a scarf. Doing so exposes its tongue to air movements, allowing Greninja to detect enemies it otherwise could not see.

In Generation VI, Mat Block was its signature move. In Generation IX, Water Shuriken is its signature move.

• 
  Greninja throw stars made of compressed water
• 
  Greninja extending its tongue

Forms

Greninja has an alternate form: Ash-Greninja.

Through a process called the Bond Phenomenon, certain Greninja, such as Ash's Greninja in Pokémon the Series, can change into an alternate form called Ash-Greninja. In this form, Greninja's skin turns a lighter shade of blue, while its face gains red stripes and its cheeks and side fins turn black, changing shape to resemble Ash's hair. Ash-Greninja is always male.

As Ash-Greninja, its speed and power far outpace those of a normal Greninja. Its legs are strengthened, increasing its speed to a point where it becomes highly difficult to see and enabling it to dispatch enemies in a flash. It gains the ability to form even larger Water Shurikens on its back and launch them in rapid succession. Ash-Greninja is described as a form used in battle in order to break through Greninja's limits.^[2]

Ash-Greninja is the only known Pokémon that can have Battle Bond as an Ability.

As of Gen IX, Greninja cannot access Ash-Greninja form in mainline games due to the changes in the Battle Bond Ability.

Greninja	Ash-Greninja

Evolution

Greninja evolves from Frogadier and is the final form of Froakie.

(For specifics on this Pokémon's Evolution in the games, refer to Game data→Evolution data.)

Unevolved Froakie  Water

→

First Evolution Frogadier  Water

→

Second Evolution  Water  Dark

Game data

Pokédex entries

Greninja in the Blueberry Pokédex

Game locations

In side games

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation VI.
Generation VI Battle Trozei Renegade Meadow: Stage 5 Rumble World Dewdrop Bay: Castle Moat (Back Boss) Picross Area 03: Stage 05
Generation VII Rumble Rush Greninja Sea, Zygarde SeaFinal
Generation VIII This Pokémon is unavailable in Generation VIII side games.
Cross-Generation Shuffle Expert Stage: Stage EX24 Event: Greninja Appears Event: Great Daily Pokémon (First release) Event: Ash-Greninja Appears (Ash-Greninja) Masters EX Master Fair sync pair scout: Serena (Champion) & Greninja, Calem (Champion) & Greninja UNITE Beginner Login Bonus (Day 14 Reward) Purchase for 10,000 Aeos Coins/575 Aeos Gems

In events

Greninja

Poké Portal News

In-game events

Battle Bond Greninja

Held items

Game		Held Item(s)
Events*		Master Ball (100%)

Stats

Base stats

Greninja

Ash-Greninja

Type effectiveness

Learnset

By leveling up

By TM

Generation IX Other generations: VI - VII - VIII

TM   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP  TM001 TM001 Take Down Normal Physical 09090 085}}85% 20 TM005 TM005 Mud-Slap Ground Special 02020 100}}100% 10 TM007 TM007 Protect Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TM011 TM011 Water Pulse Water Special 06060 100}}100% 20 TM012 TM012 Low Kick Fighting Physical 0000— 100}}100% 20 TM014 TM014 Acrobatics Flying Physical 05555 100}}100% 15 TM018 TM018 Thief Dark Physical 06060 100}}100% 25 TM020 TM020 Trailblaze Grass Physical 05050 100}}100% 20 TM022 TM022 Chilling Water Water Special 05050 100}}100% 20 TM025 TM025 Facade Normal Physical 07070 100}}100% 20 TM027 TM027 Aerial Ace Flying Physical 06060 00—}}—% 20 TM032 TM032 Swift Normal Special 06060 00—}}—% 20 TM034 TM034 Icy Wind Ice Special 05555 095}}95% 15 TM035 TM035 Mud Shot Ground Special 05555 095}}95% 15 TM036 TM036 Rock Tomb Rock Physical 06060 095}}95% 15 TM039 TM039 Low Sweep Fighting Physical 06565 100}}100% 20 TM043 TM043 Fling Dark Physical 0000— 100}}100% 10 TM047 TM047 Endure Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TM050 TM050 Rain Dance Water Status 0000— 00—}}—% 5 TM052 TM052 Snowscape Ice Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TM055 TM055 Dig Ground Physical 08080 100}}100% 10 TM057 TM057 False Swipe Normal Physical 04040 100}}100% 40 TM058 TM058 Brick Break Fighting Physical 07575 100}}100% 15 TM060 TM060 U-turn Bug Physical 07070 100}}100% 20 TM069 TM069 Ice Punch Ice Physical 07575 100}}100% 15 TM070 TM070 Sleep Talk Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TM077 TM077 Waterfall Water Physical 08080 100}}100% 15 TM081 TM081 Grass Knot Grass Special 0000— 100}}100% 20 TM085 TM085 Rest Psychic Status 0000— 00—}}—% 5 TM086 TM086 Rock Slide Rock Physical 07575 090}}90% 10 TM087 TM087 Taunt Dark Status 0000— 100}}100% 20 TM088 TM088 Swords Dance Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 20 TM090 TM090 Spikes Ground Status 0000— 00—}}—% 20 TM091 TM091 Toxic Spikes Poison Status 0000— 00—}}—% 20 TM094 TM094 Dark Pulse Dark Special 08080 100}}100% 15 TM102 TM102 Gunk Shot Poison Physical 120120 080}}80% 5 TM103 TM103 Substitute Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TM110 TM110 Liquidation Water Physical 08585 100}}100% 10 TM123 TM123 Surf Water Special 09090 100}}100% 15 TM130 TM130 Helping Hand Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 20 TM135 TM135 Ice Beam Ice Special 09090 100}}100% 10 TM142 TM142 Hydro Pump Water Special 110110 080}}80% 5 TM143 TM143 Blizzard Ice Special 110110 070}}70% 5 TM145 TM145 Water Pledge Water Special 08080 100}}100% 10 TM152 TM152 Giga Impact Normal Physical 150150 090}}90% 5 TM154 TM154 Hydro Cannon Water Special 150150 090}}90% 5 TM163 TM163 Hyper Beam Normal Special 150150 090}}90% 5 TM171 TM171 Tera Blast Normal Special 08080 100}}100% 10 TM174 TM174 Haze Ice Status 0000— 00—}}—% 30 TM179 TM179 Smack Down Rock Physical 05050 100}}100% 15 TM193 TM193 Weather Ball Normal Special 05050 100}}100% 10 TM214 TM214 Sludge Wave Poison Special 09595 100}}100% 10 TM229 TM229 Upper Hand Fighting Physical 06565 100}}100% 15

Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Greninja Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution or an alternate form of Greninja Click on the generation numbers at the top to see TM moves from other generations

By breeding

Greninja

Generation IX Other generations: VI - VII - VIII

Parent   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP  Counter Fighting Physical — 100% 20 * Retaliate Normal Physical 70 100% 5 Spikes Ground Status — —% 20 Switcheroo Dark Status — 100% 10 Toxic Spikes Poison Status — —% 20

Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Greninja Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Greninja Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Greninja Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Egg moves from other generations

Battle Bond Greninja

Generation IX Other generations: VII - VIII

Parent   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP  * Counter Fighting Physical — 100% 20 * Retaliate Normal Physical 70 100% 5 * Spikes Ground Status — —% 20 * Switcheroo Dark Status — 100% 10 * Toxic Spikes Poison Status — —% 20

Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Greninja Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Greninja Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Greninja

By a prior Evolution

Greninja

Generation IX Other generations: VI - VII - VIII

Stage   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP  Round Normal Special 60 100% 15 Bounce Flying Physical 85 85% 5

Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Greninja Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Greninja

Battle Bond Greninja

Side game data

Greninja

Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon Body size: Standard (1 tile) How to Recruit: Talk to in Noe Town Connected to: Shedinja, Lucario Connection Orb Set: 23 Phrases Normal To live in the shadows cast by those who shine… That is the destiny of the ninja! Low HP (< 50%) Ugh… Speaking as a ninja following its fate most rigorously, this is far from over… Phrases if the hero Normal (All right! I'll give it my all!) Low HP (< 50%) (This is hard…but I need to hang in there!) Phrases if the partner Normal Let's give it our all! Low HP (< 50%) I'm OK… I can take it a little more…
Pokémon Rumble Rush Walking Speed: 1.42 seconds Base HP: 54 Base Attack: 80 Base Defense: 53 Base Speed: 70
Pokémon Battle Trozei Water Attack Power: ★★★★★ Power of Five Increases the damage dealt by matching five Pokémon.			Pokémon Shuffle Water Attack Power: 70 - 125 10 #177 Mind Zap Delays your opponent's disruptions.
Pokémon: Magikarp Jump Friendship Item: Shell Bell (500) ★✰✰✰✰: +0% ★★✰✰✰: +40% (6) ★★★✰✰: +100% (8) ★★★★✰: +180% (11) ★★★★★: +280% (20) Skill: Awards lots of JP Recovery time: 5 hours
Pokémon GO Base HP: 176 Base Attack: 223 Base Defense: 152 Egg Distance: N/A Buddy Distance: 3 km Evolution Requirement: N/A Fast Attacks: Bubble, Feint Attack, Water Shuriken* Charged Attacks: Hydro Pump, Surf, Aerial Ace, Night Slash, Hydro Cannon†

Costumes in Pokémon GO
Halloween costume

Ash-Greninja

Pokémon Shuffle Water Attack Power: 70 - 110 5 #177 Power of 4+ Deals even more damage when you make a match of four. Swappable Skill(s): Unity Power

Form data

In the XY&Z arc of Pokémon the Series: XY, Ash's Greninja gained the ability to transform into a stronger form known as "Ash-Greninja" through an occurrence referred to as the Bond Phenomenon. This form was introduced to the core series games in Pokémon Sun and Moon.

In the Generation VII games, a Greninja with the Ability Battle Bond will transform into Ash-Greninja after it directly causes an opponent to faint without ending the battle. It will remain in this form until either it faints or the battle ends; in the former case, this prevents it from changing back into Ash-Greninja for the remainder of the battle. Ash-Greninja has different base stats than regular Greninja, with increased Attack, Special Attack, and Speed. Additionally, the move Water Shuriken will be more powerful, having 20 power instead of 15, and will always hit 3 times, instead of varying between 2-5 hits. Ash-Greninja is not possible to obtain in the core series as of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet due to Battle Bond having its effect changed.

Internally, standard Greninja with Battle Bond are considered to be a separate form to Greninja with Torrent or Protean. These Greninja are always male, cannot breed, and, like Special Pokémon, are banned from the Battle Spot. A Greninja with Battle Bond can be transferred to Pokémon Sun and Moon from the Special Demo Version. This is the only way to obtain it, so it is no longer obtainable for players who did not download the demo before the discontinuation of the 3DS Nintendo eShop on March 27, 2023.

Default form Greninja  Water  Dark

Battle Bond ↔

After knocking out one opponent Ash-Greninja  Water  Dark

Water  Dark  Battle Bond HP Atk Def SpA SpD Spe 72 95 67 103 71 122

Ash-Greninja  Water  Dark  Battle Bond HP Atk Def SpA SpD Spe 72 145 67 153 71 132

Evolution data

Unevolved Froakie  Water

Level 16 →

First Evolution Frogadier  Water

Level 36 →

Second Evolution  Water  Dark

Battle Bond Greninja

Unevolved Battle Bond Greninja  Water  Dark

Sprites

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation VI.
Generation VI X Y Omega Ruby Alpha Sapphire Front Back Front Back
Generation VII Sun Moon Ultra Sun Ultra Moon Front Back Front Back
This Pokémon is unavailable in Generation VIII.
Cross-Generation HOME

For other sprites and images, please see Greninja images on the Bulbagarden Archives.

In animation

Main series

Major appearances

Ash's Greninja

Ash's Frogadier evolved into a Greninja in A Festival of Decisions! while battling Heidayu's Bisharp. It soon gained the ability to transform into Ash-Greninja.

Sanpei's Greninja

A Greninja appeared in A Stealthy Challenge!, under the ownership of Sanpei. It reappeared in The Legend of the Ninja Hero! and A Festival of Decisions!. It was mostly seen outside of its Poké Ball.

Other

Greninja debuted in A Rush of Ninja Wisdom!, under the ownership of Ippei, but only in a fantasy. His Greninja made its physical debut in The Legend of the Ninja Hero!, later reappearing in the next episode.

A Greninja appeared in Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction, under the ownership of Riot. It was his main Pokémon, used to assist him in his thievery.

Minor appearances

A Greninja appeared in the opening sequence of Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel, when it evolved from Froakie and Frogadier.

Pokédex entries

GOTCHA!

A Greninja briefly appeared in GOTCHA!, under the ownership of Serena.

In the manga

Movie adaptations

Riot owns a Greninja in Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction.

Pokémon Adventures

Main article: Croaky

Y's Frogadier, Croaky, evolved into a Greninja during a battle against Xerosic in Malamar Traps.

Pokémon Journeys

Main article: Ash's Greninja

Ash's Greninja appeared in a fantasy in Legend? Check! Friends? Check!.

In the TCG

Main article: Greninja (TCG)

Other appearances

Super Smash Bros.

Main article: Greninja (Super Smash Bros.)

POKÉMON Detective Pikachu

Five Greninja appeared in POKÉMON Detective Pikachu. They were genetically modified and put in chambers. They were later used to chase after Harry Goodman, and also Tim and Lucy when they broke into Howard's facility.

Pokémon UNITE

Main article: Greninja (UNITE)

Greninja is playable through obtaining a Unite License. It is a ranged attacker that starts as Froakie and evolves into Frogadier at level 5, which evolves into Greninja at level 7.

Trivia

• Greninja is the only fully evolved form of a first partner Pokémon that has more than two possible Abilities without having a Mega Evolution, and the only one to have an event-exclusive Ability.
• Greninja and its pre-Evolutions are the only Water-type first partner Pokémon line to be in the Water 1 Egg Group and only the Water 1 Egg Group.
• Greninja shares its category with Ninjask. They are both known as the Ninja Pokémon.
• Greninja won first place in the Japanese Pokémon general election 720 (Japanese: ポケモン総選挙720) poll to decide what Pokémon would be distributed at showings of Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel in Japan.
• It was revealed that Greninja was added into Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U before Pokémon X and Y was even released. Masahiro Sakurai knew that a Generation VI Pokémon was going to be a playable fighter in that game, so when Greninja was decided, all they had to go on in terms of design was concept art, similar to Roy during the development of Super Smash Bros. Melee.
• In the Pokémon of the Year vote held by The Pokémon Company International and Google in February 2020, Greninja won first place with 140,559 votes and beat Lucario at second place (102,259 votes) and Mimikyu at third (99,077 votes).
• Greninja is the only Pokémon playable in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate that is unavailable in a Generation VIII core series game.
  • Greninja's appearance in Ultimate was its only appearance in a Nintendo Switch game until Pokémon UNITE's release in 2021.
• Battle Bond Greninja and Ash-Greninja are the only Pokémon to have no viewable Pokédex entries in Pokémon HOME's Pokédex.

Origin

Greninja's overall appearance is based on a frog,^[3] and it may have been inspired by horned frogs from the genera Megophrys and Ceratophrys due to the spiked protrusions above its eyes. Its color scheme and body shape is similar to that of the splendid leaf frog. The bubble-like protrusions on its body may be based on a toad's parotoid glands, possibly referencing the traditional myth of toads causing warts, though they may also be remnants of Froakie and Frogadier's frubbles.

As its species name implies, Greninja is also based on a ninja. Japanese culture associates frogs and toads with ninjas based on the folk story The Tale of the Gallant Jiraiya (Japanese: 児雷也豪傑物語 Jiraiya Gōketsu Monogatari), about a ninja who can shapeshift into a large toad. Greninja and its pre-Evolutions may also draw inspiration from the thief or rogue character class in role-playing games, which are generally ranged combatants that often rely on speed and stealth, focusing more on dodging attacks rather than withstanding damage.

Ash-Greninja's appearance is based on Ash's attire in Pokémon the Series: XY and his hair. On its back it wears a shuriken (ninja star) made out of water.

Name origin

Greninja may be a combination of grenouille (French for frog) and ninja.

Gekkouga may be a combination of げこっ geko (croak) or 月光 gekkō (moonlight, in reference to a popular conception of ninja running through the night or to Greninja's Dark typing) and 甲賀流 Kōga-ryū.

In other languages

Language Title Meaning Japanese ゲッコウガ Gekkouga From げこっ geko or 月光 gekkō and 甲賀流 Kōga-ryū French Amphinobi From amphibien and shinobi Spanish Greninja Same as English name German Quajutsu From Quak and Ninjutsu Italian Greninja Same as English name Korean 개굴닌자 Gaegulninja From 개굴개굴 gaegul-gaegul and ninja Mandarin Chinese 甲賀忍蛙 / 甲贺忍蛙 Jiǎhèrěnwā From 甲賀流 Kōga-ryū, 忍者 rěnzhě, and 蛙 wā Cantonese Chinese 甲賀忍蛙 Gaaphohyánwā From 甲賀流 Kōga-ryū, 忍者 yánjé, and 蛙 wā

More languages Greek Γκρενίντζα Greníntza From English name Hindi ग्रेनिंजा Greninja Transcription of English name Russian Грениндзя Grenindzya Transcription of English name Thai เก็คโคกะ Kekkhoka Transcription of Japanese name

Ash-Greninja

See also

• Ash's Greninja
• Sanpei's Greninja
• Croaky
• Greninja (Super Smash Bros.)
• Greninja (UNITE)
• First partner Pokémon
• Bond Phenomenon
• List of Pokémon with form differences

References

External links

• SmashWiki article on Greninja
• Ash's Greninja
• Weaponry in the Pokémon world

← #0657: Frogadier

Pokémon

#0659: Bunnelby →

This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.