[OVERVIEW]
What Greninja lacks in raw offensive stats it makes up for in an incredible movepool, an amazing ability in Protean, and an impressive Speed, making it an offensive threat in the current metagame. Greninja's versatility allows it to take on many different Pokemon, although it cannot take on every Pokemon at once and it is still outsped by Pheromosa and Tapu Koko, threatening to KO it through its rather lacking defenses.
Below are some sample sets. These sets are likely to be standard, but they will be expanded upon and updated as the metagame progresses.
[SET]
name: Sweeper
move 1: Ice Beam
move 2: Gunk Shot
move 3: Water Shuriken/Grass Knot/Hydro Pump
move 4: Dark Pulse/Hidden Power Fire/Low Kick
item: Life Orb/Focus Sash
ability: Naive
nature: Protean
evs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
* This set takes advantage of Greninja's expansive movepool in order to sweep through opposing teams.
* When backed by the STAB gained through Protean, Ice Beam and Gunk Shot are essential tools in Greninja's arsenal to take on Dragon-, Flying-, Ground-, Grass-, and Fairy-types.
* The last two moveslots are incredibly customizable, allowing Greninja to break through Pokemon that its teammates may struggle with.
* Water Shuriken Greninja to pick off weakened Pokemon, especially faster opponents such as Choice Scarf users, boosted Blaziken, and Pheromosa.
* Grass Knot deals extra damage against Water- and Ground-types.
* Hydro Pump is Greninja's strongest STAB move.
*Dark Pulse provides excellent neutral coverage and the ability to deal with Psychic- and Ghost-types.
* Hidden Power Fire covers Steel-types, most notably Ferrothorn and Mega Scizor.
* Low Kick deals heavy damage to Mega Kangaskhan and Tyranitar.
* U-turn not only allows Greninja to scout the opponent's moveset, it also breaks Mimikyu's Disguise, preventing it from setting up for free.
* Extrasensory can be used to hit Mega Venusaur and Buzzwole hard.
* Rock Tomb can be used with Focus Sash in order to reduce a faster threat's Speed, leaving the opponent open to possibly being revenge killed.
* Greninja is best kept off until late game, as it struggles to KO many walls. However, Greninja can be used early to mid game in order to weaken more offensive teams, especially if it carries U-turn.
* Wallbreakers are Greninja's best friends, as it simply does not have the offensive stats to deal significant damage to most walls. In turn, most wallbreakers appreciate Greninja's ability to take on faster, more offensive Pokemon.
* Life Orb patches up Greninja's offensive stats, allowing it to deal significantly more damage, while Focus Sash allows Greninja one shot at revenge killing sweepers such as Mega Salamence, given that Stealth Rock is not set up.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Ice Beam
move 2: Gunk Shot
move 3: Rock Slide/Grass Knot/Hydro Pump
move 4: Dark Pulse/U-turn/Hidden Power Fire
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Naive
nature: Protean
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
* Even with its high Speed, Greninja misses out on outspeeding threats such as Tapu Koko, Choice Scarf users, and setup sweepers. Having a Choice Scarf of its own alleviates Greninja's weaknesses to these Pokemon.
* Ice Beam allows Greninja to revenge kill +1 Mega Salamence and Choice Scarf Landorus-T, while Gunk Shot allows it to KO Fairy-types such as Tapu Koko and Tapu Lele.
* Rock Slide allows Greninja to revenge kill threatening Fire-types such as Mega Charizard Y and +1 Volcarona, Grass Knot deals with opposing Water-types, and Hydro Pump provides the power that this set lacks compared to other non-Choice Scarf sets.
* In the last moveslot, Dark Pulse provides great neutral coverage overall, notably hitting Psychic- and Ghost-types for super effective damage and picking off weakened Gengar more easily, U-turn allows Greninja to not only scout out the opponent's moves, it can also break through Focus Sashes of common users, most notably Pheromosa, and Hidden Power Fire makes it so Greninja is not walled by Steel-types.
* In combination with a Naughty nature, Waterfall allows Greninja to OHKO Blaziken and 2HKO Tapu Lele while only taking up one moveslot. However, this leaves Greninja outsped by Jolly Mega Salamence after a Dragon Dance.
* As with all Greninja sets, the last moveslot generally depends on what its teammates need to be dealt with, so some moves may work better over others.
* Choice Scarf Greninja works best early game, providing opportunities to scout opposing Pokemon as well as being an excellent revenge killer.
* Pokemon who struggle to deal with offensive threats such as Mega Salamence, Pheromosa, Tapu Koko, and Choice Scarf Landorus-T will appreciate Choice Scarf Greninja as a partner.
[SET]
name: Z-Happy Hour
move 1: Happy Hour
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Gunk Shot
move 4: Dark Pulse/Hydro Pump/Low Kick
item: Normalium Z
ability: Naive
nature: Protean
evs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
* When used with Normalium Z, Z-Happy Hour gives Greninja +1 boosts in all stats, turning it into a powerful offensive threat. Although, this can only be used once and leaves Greninja vulnerable to Haze and being phazed.
* Ice Beam hits Dragon-, Flying-, and Ground-types for super effective damage, while Gunk Shot allows Greninja to deal with the plethora of Fairy-types present in Battle Spot Singles.
* The last moveslot provides coverage for what Ice Beam and Gunk Shot may struggle with. Dark Pulse provides excellent neutral coverage, with an added chance to flinch. Hydro Pump leaves Greninja less effective against Water-types, but it is Greninja's most powerful special coverage option. Low Kick can deal more damage against Normal-, Dark-, and Steel-types, but it leaves it more vulnerable to Ghost-types. Surf can also be used due to it's perfect accuracy, although it is weaker than Hydro Pump and may not achieve KOs that the latter can.
* Greninja is most effective late game, once all its checks are removed, giving it a chance to set up with Z-Happy Hour.
* Refrain from setting up if the opponent can phaze Greninja out or use Haze on it, as Greninja has only one opportunity to set up.
* Grass- and Electric-type teammates help deal with Water-types for Greninja, while Fire-, Ground-, and Fighting-types can take on Steel-types.
* Stealth Rock support can help weaken opposing teams and break Focus Sashes, granting Greninja an easier time sweeping.
What Greninja lacks in raw offensive stats it makes up for in an incredible movepool, an amazing ability in Protean, and an impressive Speed, making it an offensive threat in the current metagame. Greninja's versatility allows it to take on many different Pokemon, although it cannot take on every Pokemon at once and it is still outsped by Pheromosa and Tapu Koko, threatening to KO it through its rather lacking defenses.
Below are some sample sets. These sets are likely to be standard, but they will be expanded upon and updated as the metagame progresses.
[SET]
name: Sweeper
move 1: Ice Beam
move 2: Gunk Shot
move 3: Water Shuriken/Grass Knot/Hydro Pump
move 4: Dark Pulse/Hidden Power Fire/Low Kick
item: Life Orb/Focus Sash
ability: Naive
nature: Protean
evs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
* This set takes advantage of Greninja's expansive movepool in order to sweep through opposing teams.
* When backed by the STAB gained through Protean, Ice Beam and Gunk Shot are essential tools in Greninja's arsenal to take on Dragon-, Flying-, Ground-, Grass-, and Fairy-types.
* The last two moveslots are incredibly customizable, allowing Greninja to break through Pokemon that its teammates may struggle with.
* Water Shuriken Greninja to pick off weakened Pokemon, especially faster opponents such as Choice Scarf users, boosted Blaziken, and Pheromosa.
* Grass Knot deals extra damage against Water- and Ground-types.
* Hydro Pump is Greninja's strongest STAB move.
*Dark Pulse provides excellent neutral coverage and the ability to deal with Psychic- and Ghost-types.
* Hidden Power Fire covers Steel-types, most notably Ferrothorn and Mega Scizor.
* Low Kick deals heavy damage to Mega Kangaskhan and Tyranitar.
* U-turn not only allows Greninja to scout the opponent's moveset, it also breaks Mimikyu's Disguise, preventing it from setting up for free.
* Extrasensory can be used to hit Mega Venusaur and Buzzwole hard.
* Rock Tomb can be used with Focus Sash in order to reduce a faster threat's Speed, leaving the opponent open to possibly being revenge killed.
* Greninja is best kept off until late game, as it struggles to KO many walls. However, Greninja can be used early to mid game in order to weaken more offensive teams, especially if it carries U-turn.
* Wallbreakers are Greninja's best friends, as it simply does not have the offensive stats to deal significant damage to most walls. In turn, most wallbreakers appreciate Greninja's ability to take on faster, more offensive Pokemon.
* Life Orb patches up Greninja's offensive stats, allowing it to deal significantly more damage, while Focus Sash allows Greninja one shot at revenge killing sweepers such as Mega Salamence, given that Stealth Rock is not set up.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Ice Beam
move 2: Gunk Shot
move 3: Rock Slide/Grass Knot/Hydro Pump
move 4: Dark Pulse/U-turn/Hidden Power Fire
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Naive
nature: Protean
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
* Even with its high Speed, Greninja misses out on outspeeding threats such as Tapu Koko, Choice Scarf users, and setup sweepers. Having a Choice Scarf of its own alleviates Greninja's weaknesses to these Pokemon.
* Ice Beam allows Greninja to revenge kill +1 Mega Salamence and Choice Scarf Landorus-T, while Gunk Shot allows it to KO Fairy-types such as Tapu Koko and Tapu Lele.
* Rock Slide allows Greninja to revenge kill threatening Fire-types such as Mega Charizard Y and +1 Volcarona, Grass Knot deals with opposing Water-types, and Hydro Pump provides the power that this set lacks compared to other non-Choice Scarf sets.
* In the last moveslot, Dark Pulse provides great neutral coverage overall, notably hitting Psychic- and Ghost-types for super effective damage and picking off weakened Gengar more easily, U-turn allows Greninja to not only scout out the opponent's moves, it can also break through Focus Sashes of common users, most notably Pheromosa, and Hidden Power Fire makes it so Greninja is not walled by Steel-types.
* In combination with a Naughty nature, Waterfall allows Greninja to OHKO Blaziken and 2HKO Tapu Lele while only taking up one moveslot. However, this leaves Greninja outsped by Jolly Mega Salamence after a Dragon Dance.
* As with all Greninja sets, the last moveslot generally depends on what its teammates need to be dealt with, so some moves may work better over others.
* Choice Scarf Greninja works best early game, providing opportunities to scout opposing Pokemon as well as being an excellent revenge killer.
* Pokemon who struggle to deal with offensive threats such as Mega Salamence, Pheromosa, Tapu Koko, and Choice Scarf Landorus-T will appreciate Choice Scarf Greninja as a partner.
[SET]
name: Z-Happy Hour
move 1: Happy Hour
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Gunk Shot
move 4: Dark Pulse/Hydro Pump/Low Kick
item: Normalium Z
ability: Naive
nature: Protean
evs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
* When used with Normalium Z, Z-Happy Hour gives Greninja +1 boosts in all stats, turning it into a powerful offensive threat. Although, this can only be used once and leaves Greninja vulnerable to Haze and being phazed.
* Ice Beam hits Dragon-, Flying-, and Ground-types for super effective damage, while Gunk Shot allows Greninja to deal with the plethora of Fairy-types present in Battle Spot Singles.
* The last moveslot provides coverage for what Ice Beam and Gunk Shot may struggle with. Dark Pulse provides excellent neutral coverage, with an added chance to flinch. Hydro Pump leaves Greninja less effective against Water-types, but it is Greninja's most powerful special coverage option. Low Kick can deal more damage against Normal-, Dark-, and Steel-types, but it leaves it more vulnerable to Ghost-types. Surf can also be used due to it's perfect accuracy, although it is weaker than Hydro Pump and may not achieve KOs that the latter can.
* Greninja is most effective late game, once all its checks are removed, giving it a chance to set up with Z-Happy Hour.
* Refrain from setting up if the opponent can phaze Greninja out or use Haze on it, as Greninja has only one opportunity to set up.
* Grass- and Electric-type teammates help deal with Water-types for Greninja, while Fire-, Ground-, and Fighting-types can take on Steel-types.
* Stealth Rock support can help weaken opposing teams and break Focus Sashes, granting Greninja an easier time sweeping.
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