[OVERVIEW]
Greninja has very high Speed, a great movepool, and the excellent ability Protean, which gives it STAB on every attack. However, it has pretty weak defensive stats and is thus easily KOed by common priority moves. It doesn't match up well against common Pokemon in the metagame, such as Mega Kangaskhan, which can KO it with the combination of Fake Out + Sucker Punch, and Choice Scarf Landorus-T, which can dispatch of it with U-turn or Superpower. Greninja's Special Attack is sufficient only when using super effective moves; its neutral attacks won't do much damage. It also loses pretty badly against speed control; Trick Room, Tailwind, and rain teams with Swift Swim sweepers destroy it pretty easily.
[SET]
name: Mixed Attacker
move 1: Ice Beam
move 2: Dark Pulse / Gunk Shot
move 3: Low Kick
move 4: Protect
item: Life Orb
ability: Protean
nature: Naive / Timid
evs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Ice Beam allows Greninja to threaten Dragon-types such as Mega Salamence and Garchomp, bulky Grass-types such as Amoonguss, and Landorus-T. Dark Pulse hits important targets such as Aegislash, Mega Gengar, and most Trick Room setters super effectively. Gunk Shot is useful to threaten Fairy-types, which can usually take special attacks rather easily, such as Sylveon, Azumarill, and Mega Gardevoir. Low Kick OHKOes threats such as Tyranitar and threatens Heatran and Mega Kangaskhan. Protect allows Greninja to avoid any move while its partner attacks; it also helps to scout Choice Scarf users and avoid Fake Out, which are problems for Greninja otherwise.
Set Details
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Full Special Attack investment is used to maximize Greninja's damage output, while maximum Speed investment and a Timid nature allow Greninja to outspeed most Pokemon in VGC. Life Orb increases the power of its attacks, and Protean makes all of Greninja's attacks STAB moves. Use a Timid nature instead of Naive if Greninja is not running any physical moves. If you want to guarantee the OHKO on Azumarill with Gunk Shot, Greninja can run an EV spread of 20 Atk / 236 SpA / 252 Spe.
Usage Tips
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Greninja works pretty well as a lead, and it should use Protect to scout Choice Scarf users and avoid Fake Out when necessary. It also works as a late-game sweeper after your team has eliminated priority and Choice Scarf users. Greninja needs to deal lethal damage in order to trade positively with the opposing team, as its lack of bulk means that it can't afford to take any hits in return. It shouldn't be switched into anything other than very weak hits and Psychic-type attacks. Protean can be used defensively as well as offensively. It shouldn't be relied on, but it can be a tool in trading more effectively against foes.
Team Options
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Mega Kangaskhan is a great partner thanks to its access to Fake Out, which can bring threats into Greninja's KO range. Talonflame is able to threaten Fighting-type Pokemon, which usually run a priority move. Redirection support from Pokemon that can take hits for Greninja, such as Amoonguss and Togekiss, is very helpful. Chip damage from sand or hail is appreciated to help Greninja get KOs, and because Greninja is already frail, it does not mind taking residual damage itself. Abomasnow is therefore a pretty good partner, and Greninja can take advantage of a perfectly accurate Blizzard under hail as well. Tyranitar can set sand and deal with Talonflame, Greninja's main counter. Mega Charizard Y has great offensive synergy with Greninja, as Greninja deals with foes such as Landorus-T and Garchomp, while Mega Charizard Y handles Aegislash and other Steel-type Pokemon.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Hydro Pump is a strong Water-type move, though its imperfect accuracy is pretty annoying. Scald is often a better option due to its 100% accuracy and burn chance; it is still able to KO most of the Fire-type Pokemon that Hydro Pump does as well. Greninja can run Focus Sash instead of Life Orb to have more staying power, but it will lose a lot of power. Safety Goggles might be a useful item instead of Life Orb if redirectors are annoying to your team. Hidden Power Grass is a nice move to hit Water-type Pokemon such as Azumarill and Rotom-W, and it is better than Grass Knot in this case because Grass Knot doesn't do much damage to the lightweight Rotom-W. Choice Scarf can be used to make Greninja outspeed every Pokemon in VGC. Expert Belt can be run to get a little damage boost without Life Orb recoil and to fake a Focus Sash. Rock Slide threatens Pokemon such as Mega Charizard Y and Talonflame. Extrasensory could be considered to threaten Fighting-type Pokemon; the same goes for Hidden Power Fire for Steel-type Pokemon such as Ferrothorn and Scizor. Mat Block works pretty well alongside Focus Sash set, supporting Greninja's teammate by protecting it from any non-status move.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Priority Attackers**: Pokemon such as Conkeldurr can bypass Greninja's Speed and easily KO it with priority moves such as Mach Punch, Fake Out, and Feint. Talonflame does the same with its priority Brave Bird, especially when it's running Choice Band or Life Orb and an Adamant nature.
**Speed**: Fast Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Landorus-T, Mega Gengar, Mega Manectric, and Mega Lopunny can outspeed and easily KO Greninja.
**Rotom-W**: Rotom-W can easily check Greninja and KO it with an Electric-type STAB move.
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