QC Checks: Jordy / ABR / Leo
GP Checks: Fireflame479 / martha
[SET]
name: Physically Based Protean
move 1: Low Kick
move 2: Gunk Shot
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Spikes
item: Fightinium Z
ability: Protean
nature: Hasty
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
A strong Low Kick is the main draw of this set, allowing Greninja to surprise its specially defensive checks such as Ferrothorn, Chansey, Gastrodon, and Assault Vest Magearna when used in conjunction with Fightinium Z. It also allows Greninja to have the coverage to hit Heatran, Tyranitar, and Kyurem-B while dealing the most damage to Celesteela and preventing Mega Gyarados from setting up freely once Mega Evolved. Gunk Shot allows Greninja to hit Grass- and Fairy-types such as Tapu Bulu, Tangrowth, and Clefable, preventing them from walling it with ease. It also has a decent poison chance, which can be useful to wear down the likes of Gastrodon and Mew. Ice Beam exploits the weaknesses of certain bulky foes, such as Landorus-T, Zygarde, and Zapdos. It is also an accurate move that scores guaranteed 2HKOs on Tornadus and Mega Latios. Spikes is utilized in the last slot to provide excellent team support by chipping down grounded targets. Dig instead of Low Kick can be used with Groundium Z to allow Greninja to OHKO Toxapex and Magearna that may try to switch in while still hitting Heatran, but Dig being an unreliable move afterwards is a major downside. U-turn is also a possibility, as it allows Greninja to pivot, scout your opponent's switch-ins to Greninja, and bring in teammates safely. Toxic Spikes is a decent option, but its effectiveness entirely depends on the opponent's team composition, making it inconsistent.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack and Speed investment allows Greninja to be as fast as possible while hitting as hard as possible. A Hasty nature is used over a Naive nature to better take hits from the likes of Heatran and other Greninja and to not reduce the damage output of Ice Beam. Protean allows Greninja to have a STAB boost on every attack it goes for, and this is what makes it so threatening to deal with. Fightinium Z allows Greninja to use All-Out Pummeling, which lets it break past its checks more easily. Alternatively, Groundium Z can be used with Dig to let Greninja KO Toxapex and Magearna.
Usage Tips
========
Attempt to bluff using Ash-Greninja because it is much more common, and utilize this to try to blow back typical Ash-Greninja answers using coverage moves. Since Greninja is excellent at forcing switches against foes such as Heatran and Tornadus-T, use this to your advantage to easily set up Spikes and slowly wear down the opposing team. Greninja is also able to beat most Defoggers in the tier, letting it keep up entry hazards. Don't use up Greninja's Z-Move right away, as your opponent might scout for it and try to pivot around it; instead, try to first put your opponent into a false state of security. Play aggressively and try to get Greninja in through double switches and the use of VoltTurn tactics to maximize its offensive presence.
Team Options
========
Strong wallbreakers, setup sweepers, and cleaners such as Mega Alakazam, Choice Band and Dragon Dance Zygarde sets, Swords Dance Mega Mawile and Gliscor, and Shift Gear Magearna all enjoy the Spikes support that Greninja provides, which puts their checks into range of their attacks. Utility Heatran is a great partner for Greninja, as it's able to beat Toxapex and Mega Venusaur while setting up Stealth Rock, and it also enjoys Greninja's ability to lure in Gastrodon and KO it with All-Out Pummeling. U-turn and Volt Switch users such as Tapu Koko, Landorus-T, and Assault Vest Magearna can help Greninja get onto the field safely. Common Choice Scarf users such as Landorus-T and Kartana are able to clean up much more efficiently when Grass-types and other roadblocks such as Tornadus-T, Clefable, and Zapdos are either weakened or removed by Greninja. Special wallbreakers that struggle with Chansey, such as Mega Alakazam and Mega Latios, enjoy Greninja's luring capabilities, as Chansey usually fears little from it. Reuniclus pairs well with the Toxic Spikes variants of Greninja, since it wears down Dark-types that Reuniclus would otherwise struggle with.
GP Checks: Fireflame479 / martha
name: Physically Based Protean
move 1: Low Kick
move 2: Gunk Shot
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Spikes
item: Fightinium Z
ability: Protean
nature: Hasty
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
A strong Low Kick is the main draw of this set, allowing Greninja to surprise its specially defensive checks such as Ferrothorn, Chansey, Gastrodon, and Assault Vest Magearna when used in conjunction with Fightinium Z. It also allows Greninja to have the coverage to hit Heatran, Tyranitar, and Kyurem-B while dealing the most damage to Celesteela and preventing Mega Gyarados from setting up freely once Mega Evolved. Gunk Shot allows Greninja to hit Grass- and Fairy-types such as Tapu Bulu, Tangrowth, and Clefable, preventing them from walling it with ease. It also has a decent poison chance, which can be useful to wear down the likes of Gastrodon and Mew. Ice Beam exploits the weaknesses of certain bulky foes, such as Landorus-T, Zygarde, and Zapdos. It is also an accurate move that scores guaranteed 2HKOs on Tornadus and Mega Latios. Spikes is utilized in the last slot to provide excellent team support by chipping down grounded targets. Dig instead of Low Kick can be used with Groundium Z to allow Greninja to OHKO Toxapex and Magearna that may try to switch in while still hitting Heatran, but Dig being an unreliable move afterwards is a major downside. U-turn is also a possibility, as it allows Greninja to pivot, scout your opponent's switch-ins to Greninja, and bring in teammates safely. Toxic Spikes is a decent option, but its effectiveness entirely depends on the opponent's team composition, making it inconsistent.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack and Speed investment allows Greninja to be as fast as possible while hitting as hard as possible. A Hasty nature is used over a Naive nature to better take hits from the likes of Heatran and other Greninja and to not reduce the damage output of Ice Beam. Protean allows Greninja to have a STAB boost on every attack it goes for, and this is what makes it so threatening to deal with. Fightinium Z allows Greninja to use All-Out Pummeling, which lets it break past its checks more easily. Alternatively, Groundium Z can be used with Dig to let Greninja KO Toxapex and Magearna.
Usage Tips
========
Attempt to bluff using Ash-Greninja because it is much more common, and utilize this to try to blow back typical Ash-Greninja answers using coverage moves. Since Greninja is excellent at forcing switches against foes such as Heatran and Tornadus-T, use this to your advantage to easily set up Spikes and slowly wear down the opposing team. Greninja is also able to beat most Defoggers in the tier, letting it keep up entry hazards. Don't use up Greninja's Z-Move right away, as your opponent might scout for it and try to pivot around it; instead, try to first put your opponent into a false state of security. Play aggressively and try to get Greninja in through double switches and the use of VoltTurn tactics to maximize its offensive presence.
Team Options
========
Strong wallbreakers, setup sweepers, and cleaners such as Mega Alakazam, Choice Band and Dragon Dance Zygarde sets, Swords Dance Mega Mawile and Gliscor, and Shift Gear Magearna all enjoy the Spikes support that Greninja provides, which puts their checks into range of their attacks. Utility Heatran is a great partner for Greninja, as it's able to beat Toxapex and Mega Venusaur while setting up Stealth Rock, and it also enjoys Greninja's ability to lure in Gastrodon and KO it with All-Out Pummeling. U-turn and Volt Switch users such as Tapu Koko, Landorus-T, and Assault Vest Magearna can help Greninja get onto the field safely. Common Choice Scarf users such as Landorus-T and Kartana are able to clean up much more efficiently when Grass-types and other roadblocks such as Tornadus-T, Clefable, and Zapdos are either weakened or removed by Greninja. Special wallbreakers that struggle with Chansey, such as Mega Alakazam and Mega Latios, enjoy Greninja's luring capabilities, as Chansey usually fears little from it. Reuniclus pairs well with the Toxic Spikes variants of Greninja, since it wears down Dark-types that Reuniclus would otherwise struggle with.
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