Overview
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Greninja is a potent threat in the CAP Metagame thanks to its high Speed and diverse movepool. It has an impressive base 122 Speed, allowing it to outspeed some of the fastest CAP Pokemon, such as Syclant and Cawmodore. Its ability Protean is one of the best in the game, giving Greninja a STAB boost on all of its attacks. Furthermore, its diverse physical and special movepool allows it to hit a wide array of Pokemon for super effective damage. Despite its positive attributes, foes can easily OHKO Greninja, especially with priority moves, due to its low defenses. This doesn't stop Greninja from being an effective Pokemon though, as it still makes for an excellent revenge killer and late-game cleaner.
Life Orb
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name: Life Orb
move 1: Ice Beam
move 2: Hydro Pump / Low Kick
move 3: Extrasensory / Dark Pulse
move 4: Gunk Shot
ability: Protean
item: Life Orb
evs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Naive
Moves
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Ice Beam functions as Greninja's most reliable and spammable attack thanks to Protean, and it hits plenty of common CAP Pokemon, such as Tomohawk, Colossoil, and Cyclohm, for massive damage. Hydro Pump provides excellent coverage alongside Ice Beam and hits anything that doesn't resist it or have a lot of special bulk incredibly hard. Low Kick is usable over Hydro Pump, still hitting Pokemon such as Tyranitar and Heatran for a lot of damage while also providing coverage versus Chansey and Ferrothorn. Extrasensory provides important coverage versus Mega Venusaur and Mollux, which could otherwise hard wall Greninja. Extrasensory also provides a guaranteed super effective hit on Tomohawk, which could otherwise stall turns with Roost and Leftovers. Dark Pulse hits Mega Metagross and Mega Slowbro hard. Gunk Shot allows Greninja to OHKO Mega Gardevoir and 2HKO several common Fairy-types, such as Clefable.
Set Details
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Life Orb maximizes Greninja's damage output while still retaining the ability to switch moves. The given EV spread and nature maximize Greninja's Speed and Special Attack. A Naive nature is used to ensure that Greninja outspeeds threats such as Syclant. Greninja can also opt to invest more in its Attack to give Gunk Shot and Low Kick more power. 40 EVs in Attack allow Greninja to OHKO Assault Vest Azumarill with Gunk Shot, while 92 EVs in Attack lets it OHKO specially defensive Heatran with Low Kick after Stealth Rock damage. Finally, 124 Attack EVs let Greninja OHKO physically defensive Sylveon with Gunk Shot after Stealth Rock damage.
Usage Tips
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Greninja's high Speed stat coupled with Protean and Life Orb-boosted attacks means it can OHKO several offensive threats or weakened defensive Pokemon. As such, it can be brought in mid-game to revenge kill or saved for late-game to clean up the opposition. However, its frailty means it should not switch directly into attacks, and it only should be brought in after a teammate has fainted or via a slow U-turn or Volt Switch. Additionally, it has trouble OHKOing bulky Pokemon, such as Clefable and Mega Charizard X, so a different Pokemon should be switched in to weaken the threat, allowing Greninja to clean up late-game.
Team Options
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Greninja is powerful and often forces switches. To capitalize on this, entry hazards users, such as Tomohawk, Mollux, and Garchomp, make for good teammates. Greninja's ability to hit a majority of the metagame hard and high Speed means that it fits in well with the VoltTurn playstyle, so slower Volt Switch or U-turn users, such as Rotom-W and Colossoil, make for good teammates, as they can ensure that Greninja is brought in safely.
Other Options
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Spikes gives Greninja a way of racking up residual damage on the opponent's team and can be used as the foe switches out; however, by running it, Greninja will be sacrificing important coverage. U-turn is an option to scout the foe and switch out to a Pokemon better equipped to handle the situation, but, again, Greninja loses out on important coverage and some of its late-game cleaning potential. Hidden Power Fire is an option to OHKO Ferrothorn, and Hidden Power Grass can be used to hit Rotom-W and Krilowatt harder than Greninja's other moves.
Checks & Counters
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**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Specially bulky Pokemon such as Chansey and Porygon2 are near counters to Greninja, as they can stomach its hits and slowly wear it down.
**Bulky Attackers**: Greninja has a hard time taking hits due to its low defenses, so Pokemon that can take a hit and KO it back, such as Tomohawk, Mega Venusaur, and Krilowatt, can be used to check it.
**Faster Attackers**: Greninja is easily checked and forced out by Choice Scarf users such as Keldeo and Mollux. In addition, Pokemon that are naturally faster than Greninja, such as Stratagem and Mega Manectric, can revenge kill it, but they shouldn't switch directly into Greninja.
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