Is Greninja Good in X & Y Playthrough?
Water/Dark at level 36 with AbilityTorrent. The fastest starter ever made. Dark covers Olympia's Psychic gym and Diantha's Gardevoir. Handles Grant, Malva, and Olympia. Struggles against Valerie's Fairy and Ramos's Grass but the Speed lets it outrun almost everything. The fan-favorite starter of Gen 6.
Froakie trades roughly evenly with Viola's team.
Frogadier has the type edge here and should clean up Grant's team.
Frogadier trades roughly evenly with Korrina's team.
Ramos's team hits Frogadier's weaknesses hard.
Clemont's team hits Frogadier's weaknesses hard.
Greninja trades roughly evenly with Valerie's team.
Greninja has the type edge here and should clean up Olympia's team.
Greninja trades roughly evenly with Wulfric's team.
Greninja has the type edge here and should clean up Malva's team.
Greninja trades roughly evenly with Wikstrom's team.
Greninja trades roughly evenly with Drasna's team.
Greninja trades roughly evenly with Siebold's team.
Greninja trades roughly evenly with Diantha's team.
Froakie is available as a starter.
Your Froakie should hit Level 16 before you reach Grant, at typical leveling pace.
Your Frogadier should hit Level 36 before you reach Valerie, at typical leveling pace.
How to Get Greninja in X & Y
You're catching Froakie first, not Greninja. Froakie appears but it's a rare spawn in the encounters below. The step cards map the full 3-stage chain with evolution methods between each stage.
How to Obtain Greninja in XY
To get Greninja, start by catching Froakie through gift encounters at Lv. 5+. The chain covers 1 catchable stage before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch FroakieAquacorde TownLv.5Gift from NPCLimitedStarter choiceVaniville TownLv.5In-game tradeLimitedTrade any (post-Elite Four, Chespin starter)
Step 2Evolve into FrogadierBREEDINGAvailableLeave Greninja with a compatible partner at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Frogadier egg.
Step 3Greninja ✓
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 |
What is Greninja Weak Against
AvgBest Pokemon Against Greninja
 Gallade PsychicFighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Gallade builds →Leaf Blade 2x78-92% Rock Smash 2x54-65% Thunderbolt 2x49-58% Fury Cutter 2x35-43% | ||
 Plusle Electric | C | |
 Minun Electric | C | |
 Roselia GrassPoison | C | |
 Simisage Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Simisage builds →Seed Bomb 2x89-106%KO Rock Smash 2x31-37% | ||
 Venusaur GrassPoison | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Bulbasaur (Lumiose City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Venusaur builds →Petal Dance 2x116-138%KO Rock Smash 2x26-31% | ||
 Hariyama Fighting | B | |
 Gardevoir PsychicFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Gardevoir builds →Moonblast 2x111-132%KO Thunderbolt 2x70-84% Magical Leaf 2x48-57% | ||
 Bellossom Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Bellossom builds →Leaf Blade 2x81-95% Infestation 2x13-16% | ||
 Pangoro FightingDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Pangoro builds →Vital Throw 2x88-104%KO Infestation 2x11-14% | ||
Venusaur GrassPoison | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Bulbasaur (Lumiose City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Venusaur builds →Petal Dance 2x116-138%KO Rock Smash 2x26-31% | ||
 Florges Fairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Florges builds →Moonblast 2x104-122%KO Petal Dance 2x87-102%KO | ||
 Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Heracross builds →Brick Break 2x93-110%KO Pin Missile 2x34-40% Bullet Seed 2x22-27% | ||
 Ampharos Electric | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Ampharos builds →Thunderbolt 2x98-116%KO Rock Smash 2x23-29% | ||
Gardevoir PsychicFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Gardevoir builds →Moonblast 2x111-132%KO Thunderbolt 2x70-84% Magical Leaf 2x48-57% | ||
Venusaur GrassPoison | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Bulbasaur (Lumiose City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Venusaur builds →Petal Dance 2x116-138%KO Rock Smash 2x26-31% | ||
Florges Fairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Florges builds →Moonblast 2x104-122%KO Petal Dance 2x87-102%KO | ||
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Heracross builds →Brick Break 2x93-110%KO Pin Missile 2x34-40% Bullet Seed 2x22-27% | ||
Ampharos Electric | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Ampharos builds →Thunderbolt 2x98-116%KO Rock Smash 2x23-29% | ||
Gardevoir PsychicFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Gardevoir builds →Moonblast 2x111-132%KO Thunderbolt 2x70-84% Magical Leaf 2x48-57% | ||
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Heracross builds →Close Combat 2x154-182%KO Pin Missile 2x35-42% Bullet Seed 2x24-28% | ||
Venusaur GrassPoison | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Bulbasaur (Lumiose City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Venusaur builds →Petal Dance 2x123-145%KO Rock Smash 2x26-32% | ||
Gardevoir PsychicFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Gardevoir builds →Moonblast 2x118-139%KO Thunderbolt 2x75-88% Magical Leaf 2x50-60% | ||
 Chesnaught GrassFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Chespin (Aquacorde Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Chesnaught builds →Seed Bomb 2x91-108%KO Low Sweep 2x75-89% Pin Missile 2x20-25% | ||
Florges Fairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Florges builds →Moonblast 2x107-126%KO Petal Dance 2x89-105%KO | ||
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Heracross builds →Close Combat 2x155-183%KO Pin Missile 2x33-40% Bullet Seed 2x23-27% | ||
Venusaur GrassPoison | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Bulbasaur (Lumiose City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Venusaur builds →Petal Dance 2x123-145%KO Rock Smash 2x25-30% | ||
Gardevoir PsychicFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Gardevoir builds →Moonblast 2x118-140%KO Thunderbolt 2x75-88% Magical Leaf 2x51-60% | ||
Chesnaught GrassFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Chespin (Aquacorde Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Chesnaught builds →Seed Bomb 2x91-108%KO Low Sweep 2x74-88% Pin Missile 2x21-25% | ||
 Abomasnow GrassIce | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Abomasnow builds →Wood Hammer 2x121-143%KO Rock Smash 2x28-33% | ||
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Heracross builds →Close Combat 2x156-184%KO Megahorn 2x156-184%KO Bullet Seed 2x23-27% | ||
 Sawk Fighting | C | |
 Throh Fighting | C | |
Florges Fairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Florges builds →Moonblast 2x107-127%KO Petal Dance 2x90-106%KO | ||
 Exeggutor GrassPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Exeggutor builds →Leaf Storm 2x161-190%KO Infestation 2x18-22% | ||
Chesnaught GrassFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Chespin (Aquacorde Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Chesnaught builds →Wood Hammer 2x135-159%KO Hammer Arm 2x113-134%KO Pin Missile 2x20-24% | ||
Gallade PsychicFighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Gallade builds →Close Combat 2x154-181%KO Leaf Blade 2x77-91% X-Scissor 2x69-81% Thunderbolt 2x44-51% | ||
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Heracross builds →Close Combat 2x154-181%KO Megahorn 2x154-181%KO Bullet Seed 2x22-27% | ||
Hariyama Fighting | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Hariyama builds →Close Combat 2x149-175%KO | ||
 Roserade GrassPoison | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Roserade builds →Solar Beam 2x146-172%KO Dazzling Gleam 2x65-77% | ||
In X & Y, Xerneas can KO Greninja with Focus Blast (134-158%). Arceus's Earthquake hits Greninja for 65-77%. Darkrai deals 61-72% with Sludge Bomb.
S | ||
Recommended Build AbilityFairyaura ItemPower Herb NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Xerneas builds →Moonblast 2x106-125%KO Focus Blast 2x134-158%KO | ||
S | ||
Recommended Build AbilityMultitype ItemLife Orb NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Arceus builds →Extreme Speed53-62% Earthquake65-77% | ||
A | ||
Recommended Build AbilityBaddreams ItemLife Orb NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Greninja View Darkrai builds →Dark Pulse27-32% Sludge Bomb61-72% | ||
Greninja Evolutions
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 87 partners from the Water1 egg group. Notable egg moves include Bestow, Camouflage, Mind Reader and 3 more.
XY Greninja Best Moveset
AbilityProtean changes type to match every move used, gaining TermStab on every attack regardless of type. 103 Sp. Atk at 122 Speed fires with constant type advantage while the defensive typing shifts unpredictably. Opponents can't predict resistances. The moveset defined a new kind of attacker: one that's always the right type.
Best Build
Greninja best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Dark Pulse
- Ice Beam
- Hydro Pump
- Water Shuriken
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
Hard to wall, honestly. Greninja threatens 10 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.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
Base Stats
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 X & Y Guide
In X & Y, 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 Life Orb is the standard set.
In X & Y, 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 a special attacker with base 103 Sp. Atk. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a sweeper.
In X & Y, the best way to handle Greninja: Priority moves (Mach Punch, Aqua Jet, Ice Shard) bypass its speed. Bulky walls that resist its STAB also shut it down.
Game Availability
Greninja joined the series in X & Y and has been available in 6 titles so far. With 5 generations of appearances, it's established itself despite the later start.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XYDebut
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves