This set actually looks really good! As much as I love killing stray Charizards with Rock Slide, I have to recommend U-turn over it because it is just such a good move. It basically ignores any checks or counters to Greninja that are not faster and lets you keep your momentum. Rock Slide is still great against the Flying and Bug type Pokemon out there, but it's usually not going to save you against Talonflame or Mega Pinsir unless you have great prediction and use it right before they switch in. U-turn is just more useful against more Pokemon, but I definitely understand if your team is weak to things like Dragonite, Togekiss, Mandibuzz, Charizard, Black Kyurem, Galvantula and the like.I made a team using Pokes I normally see in OU but with sets you don't normally see to surprise a lot of people. Has been doing great so far. One of the members
I personally run:
Greninja @ Life Orb
Proteam
Jolly
6HP / 252 Att / 252 Spe
-Power Up Punch
-Shadow Sneak
-Waterfall
-Rock Slide
So many people switch into their Special walls only for them to get taken out or if they lack something faster I can get free Power Up Punches. Shadow Sneak saved me tons of times and gives a Fighting resistance which is something Special Greninjas cant pull off(unless it learns Shadow Ball?) also using Rock Slide potentially makes you able to avoid being revenge killed by Talonflame?
Most times I use it though is late game where its a very good cleaner.
Just a minor nitpick, but why not Scald over Pledge? Same power, but with a 30% burn chance.I usually pair up my Greninja with mega lucario. But here's his set.
Greninja @ Life Orb
Ability: Protean
6HP/252SpA/252Spe
Timid Nature
-Water Pledge
-Dark Pulse
-Ice Beam
-Mat Block
Basically, Greninja's main use in my team is set up support for Mega Lucario. He uses mat block so Lucario can use Swords Dance safely. The rest are mainly staples for a special Greninja (with water pledge at 80 now, I figured it's a good choice)
That's not a bad idea... I think I'll go with thatJust a minor nitpick, but why not Scald over Pledge? Same power, but with a 30% burn chance.
What is the full set on your greninja? I am likin your EV spread, but I am more interested in using an Expert Belt/Life Orb cleaner/revenge killer with U-.turn, Water Shuriken, Ice Beam, and either Grass Knot or Extrasensory at the momentIs Hydro Pump really important in Greninja? I have lurked this thread for a while now, and I seem to seeing a alot of people saying that Greninja desperately needs the extra power on Hydro Pump.I am currently using the mixed IVs Greninja (88 Atk/168 SpAtk/252 Spd, stole it from someone here a while ago), and I am currently using Surf over Hydro Pump. So I have to ask, is there any important Pokemon wherein you miss out on the OHKO if you run Surf over Hydro Pump?
Running max speed is a much better idea IMO because if you don't fully invest in speed, you're getting outsped by other Greninja, Alakazam, Tornadus-T, Sceptile should it ever appear in an OU battle (probably not, but you never know), Hawlucha and more. These threats (aside from Sceptile) are pretty crucial to outspeed, so it is almost mandatory to run max speed on Greninja. The best EV spreads for the Attack, Sp. Atk and Speed on the U-turn special sets are probably 4/252/252 and 88/168/252 (OHKO's Multiscale Dragonite with Protean Ice Beam).Some useful EV info since so many people here like to run a Special set with U-Turn.
Greninja @ Life Orb
Hasty/Naive
56 Atk / 252 SAtk / 200 Spd
This spread allows him to outspeed all base 115 pokemon, where most of the notable pokemon he outspeeds reside. Sacrificing defenses with his nature instead of attack allows him to punch a bit harder with U-Turn, which the leftover EVs from speed helps with as well.
Also worth note, if you don't need Greninja to be the fastest thing on your team you can run him with a Mild/Rash nature with the exact same spread and he will outspeed base 100 pokemon every time.
Attack investment is used to ohko specially defensive Celebi with u-turn, or it was when I last heard. Somewhere around 96 in standard, not 52, and it guarantees the ko.Raikou is 115 base speed too iirc, but the point is a slightly stronger U-Turn will not matter much, and sure you want to avoid having to rely on speed ties but if it comes down to it it's better to speed tie than to know you'll be slower.
I mean how much extra damage do 52 extra Atk EVs really give you, U-Turn is mostly used for grabbing momentum anyway.
But If Greninja uses Fling, he'll lose his Dark STAB.I've been running this set for a few days and it has hands down been the best physical Greninja set I've used. Special still outclasses it, but it is still good and unexpected.
Greninja (M) @ Dread Plate
Ability: Protean
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd / 4 HP
Jolly Nature/Hasty Nature
- Acrobatics
- Fling
- Power-Up Punch/U-turn/Ice Beam/Hidden Power Ground
- Water Shuriken/Waterfall/U-turn
Okay, this looks super gimmicky, but it works. Acrobatics is really strong after Fling and is the strongest Physical attack that Greninja can use. It is a must on any set. Fling reaches 90 power when used with a plate + STAB and is Greninja's second-strongest physical attack (strongest with Iron Ball, but don't do that) and, like Acrobatics, has no immunities. For the remaining two moveslots, I have only used Power-up Punch and Water Shuriken so far, but the other slots help with dealing with some of Greninja's checks. Power-up Punch raises Greninja's mediocre attack and is useful since Greninja is able to force a lot of switches with its unpredictability. Water Shuriken priority is pretty helpful and has saved me a few times. It is a nice last resort move against faster Pokemon like Scarfers, Noivern, Jolteon, Aerodactyl, and others but is a bit weak. If you want strong Water STAB use Waterfall.
Unfortunately, this set has some 4 moveslot syndrome. I've often found that I missed U-turn a lot on this set and there were tons of times that I could have used it to my advantage. Going mixed would also be a good idea sometimes since Ice Beam has so much power and coverage and Hidden Power Ground covers the Electric, Steel and Rock type Pokemon that resist Acrobatics for super-effective damage and makes it immune to Electric-type attacks that will come at it when it is Water or Flying type. You could run Hydro Pump as well, but I'm not sure if it would be able to fit in the set. I'll do some more testing with the other options and come back for more feedback. Try it for yourselves. ^_^
EDIT: Oh calcs
+1 252 Atk Protean Greninja Acrobatics (110 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Blissey: 393-463 (55 - 64.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery (Not that impressive considering Blissey could Thunder Wave and end the sweep. Chansey is an even worse situation. Also provides that you have used both Power-up Punch and Fling beforehand)
252 Atk Greninja Water Shuriken (3 hits) vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Mega Aerodactyl: 144-168 (47.6 - 55.6%) -- approx. 50.4% chance to 2HKO
+1 252 Atk Greninja Water Shuriken (4 hits) vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Mega Aerodactyl: 272-336 (90 - 111.2%) -- approx. 50% chance to OHKO
+1 252 Atk Protean Greninja Acrobatics (110 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Conkeldurr: 456-536 (110.1 - 129.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO (Probably wouldn't want to do this in fear of Mach Punch)
+1 252 Atk Protean Greninja Acrobatics (110 BP) vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Mega Charizard Y: 267-315 (89.5 - 105.7%) -- 37.5% chance to OHKO
252 Atk Dread Plate Greninja Fling (90 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Aegislash-Shield: 204-240 (62.9 - 74%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery (Not good enough...)
252 Atk Protean Greninja Acrobatics (55 BP) vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Alakazam: 135-160 (53.5 - 63.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (used in fear of Focus Blast)
252 Atk Protean Greninja Acrobatics (110 BP) vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Alakazam: 271-319 (107.5 - 126.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+1 252 Atk Greninja Water Shuriken (4 hits) vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Excadrill: 360-432 (99.4 - 119.3%) -- approx. 93.8% chance to OHKO
+1 252 Atk Greninja Water Shuriken (4 hits) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Heatran: 224-272 (58 - 70.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
+1 252 Atk Dread Plate Greninja Fling (90 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Heatran: 204-240 (52.8 - 62.1%) -- 98.8% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 Atk Protean Greninja Power-Up Punch vs. 32 HP / 0 Def Bisharp: 216-256 (77.4 - 91.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Greninja Acrobatics (110 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Mega Venusaur: 182-216 (50 - 59.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
+2 252 Atk Greninja Acrobatics (110 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Mega Venusaur: 360-426 (98.9 - 117%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO
252 Atk Greninja Acrobatics (110 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Mega Venusaur: 242-288 (66.4 - 79.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
+1 252 Atk Greninja Acrobatics (110 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Mega Venusaur: 362-428 (99.4 - 117.5%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO
4 SpA Mega Venusaur Sludge Bomb vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Greninja: 153-181 (53.6 - 63.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Mega Venusaur Sludge Bomb vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Greninja: 205-243 (71.9 - 85.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
4 SpA Protean Greninja Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Zapdos: 218-260 (56.7 - 67.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery (252 EV's will give you a 75% to OHKO after rocks :/)
4 SpA Protean Greninja Ice Beam vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Zapdos: 218-260 (67.7 - 80.7%) -- 43.8% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
108 SpA Protean Greninja Ice Beam vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Zapdos: 242-288 (75.1 - 89.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock (Hmm...)
4 SpA Greninja Ice Beam vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Tornadus-T: 218-260 (72.9 - 86.9%) -- 81.3% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
4 SpA Greninja Ice Beam vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Multiscale Dragonite: 200-236 (61.7 - 72.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (Switch out after this unless Dragonite does not use Dragon Dance)
88 SpA Protean Greninja Hidden Power Ground vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Magnezone: 316-376 (91.8 - 109.3%) -- 50% chance to OHKO
4 SpA Protean Greninja Hidden Power Ground vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Magnezone: 292-348 (84.8 - 101.1%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO
188 SpA Protean Greninja Hidden Power Ground vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Magnezone: 348-412 (101.1 - 119.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO
4 SpA Protean Greninja Hidden Power Ground vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Magnezone: 292-348 (103.5 - 123.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO (Greninja outspeeds Scarfed Magnezone)
4 SpA Protean Greninja Hidden Power Ground vs. 32 HP / 0 SpD Bisharp: 180-212 (64.5 - 75.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
4 SpA Greninja Hidden Power Ground vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Mega Manectric: 162-192 (57.6 - 68.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (on turn it Mega Evolves)
Sometimes Greninja just doesn't have enough power, but a few of these calcs surprise me. It's definitely not as consistent as the standard Special set, but still pretty good.
Nobody uses Celebi so I don't see how this is very relevant tbh.Attack investment is used to ohko specially defensive Celebi with u-turn, or it was when I last heard. Somewhere around 96 in standard, not 52, and it guarantees the ko.
Love this set. Might not be the strongest hitting Greninja set and defiantly not the most effective but predictions is by far my favourite part of playing Pokemon and this set is lovely for prediction.But If Greninja uses Fling, he'll lose his Dark STAB.
I hate that Greninja doesn't get Natural Gift. That would be far better than Fling.
But anyways, here's a Nice set I'm thinking about ATM.
Greninja (M) @ Expert Belt
Ability: Protean
EVs: 72 Atk / 186 Sp.Atk / 252 Spd
Hasty/Naive Nature
- Power Up Punch
- Shadow Sneak
- Grass Knot
- U-Turn/Rock Slide/Waterfall/Night Slash/Bounce
Why Grass Knot?
- To break Smeargle's Sash and Absorb Spore, then you get a free Power Up Punch for the Clean 2HKO.
- To to mention you can hit and OHKO all Water/Ground Types for x4 Damage.
- This set completely wrecks Breloom. You can also Grass knot to Absorb Spore (if they have a Sash they will spore) or go straight for the Shadow Sneak if you predict Mach Punch, and then land a Power Up Punch as you Shadow Sneak on the Predicted Mach Punch or U-Turn for the Escape and KO. You might need a bit of Prediction Game, but this set is fun to use. You can even just leave and U-Turn after you've become Ghost and taken Mach Punch.
>>You won't K.O w/ U-Turn after the continuous hits unless you score a Power Up Punch.<<
It has its uses.Physical Greninja is terrible and you should feel terrible.
It should never, ever be used.