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[OVERVIEW]
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Dark Pulse
move 3: Water Shuriken
move 4: Spikes
item: Choice Specs
ability: Battle Bond
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
========
Usage Tips
========
Team Options
========
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Water Resist or Immunities**: Greninja's most spammable and valuable move is Hydro Pump so Pokemon that naturally want to switch into it pose a huge problem. Keldeo and Toxapex don't mind switching into it but others such as Plasmanta, Mollux, and Mantine actually benefit off of it and can give the opponent free turns.
**Arghonaut**: Arghonaut is one of the best counters for Greninja due to resisting both STABs, being able to revenge kill it with Mach Punch, or even use it as set up fodder. Arghonaut must be wary of the rare Extrasensory though as it can deal a large amount of damage to it and more so if Psychic Terrain is up because Arghonaut cannot revenge kill Greninja with Mach Punch.
**Faster Pokemon**: Because Greninja is so frail, Choice Scarf users won't have too much trouble picking it off even if it is a neutral move. Prime examples would be Pokemon like Kartana, Latios, and Mollux who are all specially notable because they resist Water Shuriken. Some other Pokemon such as Hawlucha in Electric Terrain and a few notable mega evolutions like Mega Lopunny and Mega Aerodactyl all outspeed it as well and prior to transformation, Tapu Koko and Weavile do outspeed its base form as well but they are also prone to Water Shuriken and are outsped after transformation.
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: While not all specially defensive Pokemon can take two Hydro Pumps in Battle Bond form, some are still able to come in against Greninja prior to earning its first kill like Assault Vest Magearna and Mew are able to threaten it out.
**Priority**: Because of Greninja's fraility, strong priority attacks like Choice Band Zygarde's Extremespeed, Revenankh's Drain Punch, and Mega Pinsir's Quick Attack can all pick off Greninja if weakened enough.
- Extremely potent late game cleaner with the unique niche of keeping its 'boost' even after switching out
- Powerful STABs that hit most of the tier at least neutrally
- An insane speed tier that outspeed most Pokemon even before Battle Bond.
- Is very frail and vulnerable to hazards
- Sort of struggles prior to getting Battle Bond due to being outsped by Tapu Koko and having a lower damage output that fails to get some 2HKOes.
- Some Pokemon can switch into Greninja with no fear such as Toxapex or Arghonaut.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Dark Pulse
move 3: Water Shuriken
move 4: Spikes
item: Choice Specs
ability: Battle Bond
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
- Hydro Pump is Greninja's hardest hitting STAB and is its safest bet on getting the KOs it needs.
- Dark Pulse allows Greninja to hit targets that would normally resist Water such as Water and Dragon-types such as Rotom-W, Necturna, Latios
- Water Shuriken gives Greninja some of the fastest priority moves in the whole metagame and allows pre-Battle Bond Greninja to revenge kill some faster threats such as Tapu Koko and Stratagem
- Spikes allows Greninja to capitalize on the many switches it forces and can pave a way for itself in the future, but requires some prediction
========
- Choice Specs and maximum Special Attack investment allows Greninja to hit as hard as possible.
- 252 Speed and a Timid nature allows Greninja to outspeed some crucial Pokemon like Tapu Koko after Battle Bond
- Battle Bond itself transforms Greninja and gives it a boost to its most important stats after securing a KO.
Usage Tips
========
- Unlike most sweepers, Greninja's 'set-up' is doesn't get reset after switching out so making sure Greninja can transform as early as possible puts you in the best position.
- When hard counters are present like Arghonaut and Toxapex are present try to restrict your use of Greninja or use it as a lure to bring in something that threatens the predicted switch in.
- Greninja is a very prediction heavy Pokemon in the early game so make sure to consider what move you use when Pokemon that can switch into Greninja's STABs are still present. This is especially true when Greninja has not transformed yet so try to use Spikes to weaken Greninja counters for later. Good prediction is key to getting Greninja's transformation. Spikes is usually used best in the early game to make sweeping with Hydro Pump easier in the late game.
- Greninja despises any form of chip damage as its very fragile. Avoid taking unnecessary damage from hazards or priority when Greninja is in from users such as Scarf Volkraken, Colossoil's Sucker Punch, or Water Shuriken from opposing Greninja's.
Team Options
========
- Greninja's most powerful move is Hydro Pump and Greninja will want to use as often as possible so having Pokemon that can take out opposing bulky Water-types like Toxapex and Arghonaut such as Tapu Koko, Tapu Bulu, and Magnezone make for excellent partners. In return, Greninja can apply a hefty amount of pressure on the Ground-types that might switch into Volt Switch or KO some Fire-types that Bulu does not like letting in.
- Tapu Lele is an interesting partner as it threatens many of Greninja switchins such as Mega Venusaur, Toxapex, and Arghonaut but it also provides priority protection and the ability to OHKO Toxapex from full with Extrasensory if Greninja desires to lure it, but you must be wary of using Water Shurkien while Psychic Terrain is up.
- Kartana is also a great partner to point out as they can both gang up on similar checks such as Keldeo, Toxapex, and Celesteela while providing overall great type synergy with Greninja checking most of the offensive Fire-types that resist Swords Dance Kartana's moves such as Volcarona and Victini and Kartana can threaten all the common Water-types with just Leaf Blade.
- Hazard setters like Ferrothorn, Landorus-T, and Skarmory help to make Greninja even harder to switch into and combine well with Greninja's Spikes to wear down teams fast.
- Bulky Grass-types like the previously mentioned Ferrothorn and Pyroak help to switch into the Water-types that want to come in on Greninja as well as tank Tapu Koko when Greninja has not transformed or is locked into a Dark Pulse.
- Tapu Koko as well as other Electric-type help to beat bulky Water-types. Greninja also appreciates the Volt Switch switch ins and in favor can threaten the Ground-types that want to come in on Greninja's STAB. Tapu Koko as well as Tapu Bulu can also help to overwrite Psychic Terrain and make your Water Shuriken available to use
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
- Ice Beam gives Greninja the ability to chip down some Pokemon that would switch into its STAB like Tapu Bulu and Malaconda, but Spikes also accomplishes the same thing over time while also chipping down other Pokemon such as Arghonaut
- Surf is a more accurate alternative but trades power and makes some matches harder due to not being able to get the first KO for Battle Bond to activate.
- Extransensory is actually nice option for Greninja. For one it hits most of Greninja's switchins such as Toxapex, Mollux, and Keldeo and can also pave a way for other teammates as well.
- Waterium Z gives pre-Battle Bond Greninja to pick up an easy KO on an unsuspecting target but Greninja loses a lot of its fire power that the Choice Specs gives it.
- Life Orb gives it free range to change up moves but with Greninja's fraility and the lack of fire power to miss some 2HKOs on Pokemon like Celesteela it isn't really worth it.
- Choice Scarf can give the ability to literally outspeed every viable scarfer after Battle Bond and most prior but Greninja might struggle to pick up a KO for Battle Bond and it just isn't as threatening as Choice Specs and Choice Scarf is usually outdone by Protean Greninja.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Water Resist or Immunities**: Greninja's most spammable and valuable move is Hydro Pump so Pokemon that naturally want to switch into it pose a huge problem. Keldeo and Toxapex don't mind switching into it but others such as Plasmanta, Mollux, and Mantine actually benefit off of it and can give the opponent free turns.
**Arghonaut**: Arghonaut is one of the best counters for Greninja due to resisting both STABs, being able to revenge kill it with Mach Punch, or even use it as set up fodder. Arghonaut must be wary of the rare Extrasensory though as it can deal a large amount of damage to it and more so if Psychic Terrain is up because Arghonaut cannot revenge kill Greninja with Mach Punch.
**Faster Pokemon**: Because Greninja is so frail, Choice Scarf users won't have too much trouble picking it off even if it is a neutral move. Prime examples would be Pokemon like Kartana, Latios, and Mollux who are all specially notable because they resist Water Shuriken. Some other Pokemon such as Hawlucha in Electric Terrain and a few notable mega evolutions like Mega Lopunny and Mega Aerodactyl all outspeed it as well and prior to transformation, Tapu Koko and Weavile do outspeed its base form as well but they are also prone to Water Shuriken and are outsped after transformation.
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: While not all specially defensive Pokemon can take two Hydro Pumps in Battle Bond form, some are still able to come in against Greninja prior to earning its first kill like Assault Vest Magearna and Mew are able to threaten it out.
**Priority**: Because of Greninja's fraility, strong priority attacks like Choice Band Zygarde's Extremespeed, Revenankh's Drain Punch, and Mega Pinsir's Quick Attack can all pick off Greninja if weakened enough.
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