Stats & Training
The stat budget goes to damage. Speed and Sp. Atk carry the offense, Defense doesn't even come close. A Ninja Pokemon on a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve, worth 3 Speed EVs per KO.
It creates throwing stars out of compressed water. When it spins them and throws them at high speed, these stars can split metal in two.
It appears and vanishes with a ninja’s grace. It toys with its enemies using swift movements, while slicing them with throwing stars of sharpest water.
Greninja Weakness
Type-wise, Greninja takes extra damage from Electric, Grass, Fighting, Bug, and Fairy. Psychic moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity. With 6 resistances, the defensive profile is strong. Greninja leans offensive (base 95 Atk) rather than trying to tank its weaknesses.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Electric, Grass, Fighting, Bug, Fairy |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Water, Ice, Ghost, Dark, Steel |
| 0x (Immune) | Psychic |
 Primarina WaterFairy | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Primarina builds →Moonblast 2x119-141%KO Energy Ball 2x75-88% Disarming Voice 2x52-61% | ||
 Kommo-o DragonFighting | B | |
Obtain MethodHeahea Beach Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Kommo-o builds →Focus Blast 2x123-145%KO Sky Uppercut 2x99-116%KO X-Scissor 2x62-73% Brick Break 2x88-104%KO | ||
 Whimsicott GrassFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Whimsicott builds →Solar Beam 2x100-118%KO Moonblast 2x80-94% Energy Ball 2x76-90% U-turn 2x37-44% | ||
 Poliwrath WaterFighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Poliwrath builds →Focus Blast 2x93-110%KO Dynamic Punch 2x104-122%KO Submission 2x83-98% Brick Break 2x78-92% | ||
 Shiinotic GrassFairy | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Shiinotic builds →Solar Beam 2x112-133%KO Moonblast 2x90-106%KO Energy Ball 2x84-100%KO Giga Drain 2x71-84% | ||
In Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, Gliscor's Earthquake hits Greninja for 51-59%. Hippowdon's Earthquake hits Greninja for 58-68%. Pelipper deals 74-87% with Hurricane.
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityPoisonheal ItemToxic Orb NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Gliscor builds →Earthquake51-59% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySand Stream ItemLeftovers NatureImpish Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Hippowdon builds →Earthquake58-68% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityDrizzle ItemDamprock NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Pelipper builds →Hurricane74-87% Scald27-32% | ||
 Camerupt FireGround | C | |
Recommended Build AbilitySolidrock ItemSitrus Berry NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Camerupt builds →Fire Blast29-34% | ||
 | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityMagic Bounce ItemRocky Helmet NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Xatu builds →Heat Wave16-19% U Turn 2x35-41% | ||
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Evolution
End of the line. Greninja caps a three-stage chain that started at Froakie. Breeding produces the base form, and eggs are average hatch time. Speed grew the most through evolution (+51 over Froakie), and Greninja peaks at 530 total stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Greninja to get Froakie eggs using 95 partners from the Water1 egg group. Notable egg moves include Bestow, Camouflage, Mind Reader and 4 more.
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Greninja Best Moveset
Dark Pulse is the safe click most turns. Choice Specs locks Greninja into it but rewards with boosted special damage with move lock. Timid nature and max Sp. Atk and Speed EVs maximize that first hit. Battlebond helps on the margins.
Best Build
Greninja best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Dark Pulse
- Water Shuriken
- Ice Beam
- Hydro Pump
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Special Sweeper Moveset
- Dark Pulse
- Ice Beam
- Water Shuriken
- Hydro Pump
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Hard to wall, honestly. Greninja threatens 11 types beyond its own STAB, with Normal and Ghost standing out. Pair that with Hydro Cannon and Hydro Pump and switchins need to think twice.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
Transfer Moves
How to Get Greninja in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon
moderate rates across 2 locations for Greninja in late-game routes. Scroll the sorted list below and pick whichever spot sits closest to your current route. The rate differences between locations are worth comparing.
Greninja Guide
In Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, Protean changes the entire equation for Greninja. The 530 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked A-Tier as a sweeper. Dark Pulse with Choice Specs is the standard set.
In Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, Greninja can Mega Evolve into Mega Greninja. That's 630 BST, up from 530. The stat redistribution often changes its best role. Mega Stone required, one per battle.
In Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, Greninja's biggest threats include Manectric (Electric), Roserade (Grass), and Machamp (Fighting), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Bug and Fairy-type attackers are also a problem. With 5 weakness types, most competitive teams carry at least one counter. Greninja's base 122 Speed lets it outpace many threats and strike first, which matters more than trying to tank hits.
Protean is what you want on Greninja. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Torrent) work on paper but Protean is what makes Greninja worth using. With base 122 Speed, Protean gives Greninja an edge before opponents can react.
Base 122 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. On offense, Greninja is leaning toward the special side (base 103 Sp. Atk). Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a sweeper.
Game Availability
Since debuting in X & Y, Greninja has appeared in 6 titles over 5 generations. Along the way, it received a Mega form in Generation 6, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XYDebut
X & Y - Gen 6ORASMega
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves