Greninja (Pokémon)

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Greninja (Japanese: ゲッコウガ Gekkouga) is a dual-type introduced in Generation VI.
It evolves from starting at level 36. It is the final form of .
In Generation VII, Greninja with the Ability can into a special form known as Ash-Greninja after defeating an opponent during battle. Greninja with Battle Bond is treated as a distinct form in the games' code.
In , the Ash-Greninja transformation is no longer present, and Battle Bond's effect was changed to instead increase Greninja's stats upon defeating an opponent.
(Refer to Game data→Form data for more details.)
==Biology==
Greninja is a bipedal, -like . It is mostly dark blue with a yellow chest, a white triangular marking over each eye, a light blue four-pointed star on each thigh, and yellow on the lower half of its face. It has red eyes with white pupils and its mouth is hidden behind a large, pink tongue that wraps around its neck and extends outward behind its head. Running down the middle of its head is a fin-like extension, and there is a similar fin on each side of its head. Light blue webbing connects its head fins. There is a large, white bubble-like bump on each elbow and knee. Its back feet have two toes, while its front feet have three toes. Each digit has a bulbous tip and yellow webbing.
Greninja's movements are swift, rapid and graceful, akin to those of ninja.| Starter Pokémon (Archived) It uses this speed to confound enemies while slicing them up. It can compress water into various weapons to slice up enemies, most commonly in the form of its , though it has been shown creating water katana and water kunai in both the and the Super Smash Bros. video game series. It can also create shuriken from the mucus it excretes from its thighs for sharp projectiles that can split through metal. As seen in the animated series, Greninja's tongue is extremely long and many times its own height, and strong enough to catch and hold an average human. However, it usually keeps its tongue wrapped around its neck like a scarf. Doing so exposes its tongue to air movements, allowing Greninja to detect enemies it otherwise could not see.
In Generation VI, was its signature move. In Generation IX, is its signature move.
Greninja Tumblr concept art.png|Greninja throw stars made of compressed water
Riot Greninja.png|thumb|Greninja extending its tongue
===Forms===
Greninja has an alternate form: Ash-Greninja.
Through a process called the Bond Phenomenon, certain Greninja, such as Ash's Greninja in , can change into an alternate form called Ash-Greninja. In this form, Greninja's skin turns a lighter shade of blue, while its face gains red stripes and its cheeks and side fins turn black, changing shape to resemble 's hair. Ash-Greninja is always male.
As Ash-Greninja, its speed and power far outpace those of a normal Greninja. Its legs are strengthened, increasing its speed to a point where it becomes highly difficult to see and enabling it to dispatch enemies in a flash. It gains the ability to form even larger s on its back and launch them in rapid succession. Ash-Greninja is described as a form used in battle in order to break through Greninja's limits.https://web.archive.org/web/20171023143056mp_/http://www.pokemon-sunmoon.com/en-us/pokemon/ash-greninja/
Ash-Greninja is the only known Pokémon that can have as an Ability. 
As of Gen IX, Greninja cannot access Ash-Greninja form in mainline games due to the changes in the Battle Bond Ability.
	
	
===Evolution===
Greninja evolves from and is the final form of .
(For specifics on this Pokémon's Evolution in the games, refer to Game data→Evolution data.)
==Game data==
===Pokédex entries===
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Greninja in the
===Game locations===
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====In side games====
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====In events====
=====Greninja=====
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=====Poké Portal News=====
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=====In-game events=====
=====Battle Bond Greninja=====
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===Held items===
===Stats===
====Base stats====
=====Greninja=====
=====Ash-Greninja=====
===Type effectiveness===
===Learnset===
====By leveling up====
====By TM====
====By ====
=====Greninja=====
=====Battle Bond Greninja=====
====By a prior Evolution====
=====Greninja=====
=====Battle Bond Greninja=====
===Side game data===
====Greninja====
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Halloween costume				
====Ash-Greninja====
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===Form data===
In the XY&Z arc of , Ash's Greninja gained the ability to transform into a stronger form known as "Ash-Greninja" through an occurrence referred to as the Bond Phenomenon. This form was introduced to the core series games in .
In the Generation VII games, a Greninja with the Ability will transform into Ash-Greninja after it directly causes an opponent to faint without ending the battle. It will remain in this form until either it faints or the battle ends; in the former case, this prevents it from changing back into Ash-Greninja for the remainder of the battle. Ash-Greninja has different base stats than regular Greninja, with increased , , and . Additionally, the move will be more powerful, having 20 power instead of 15, and will always hit 3 times, instead of varying between 2-5 hits. Ash-Greninja has been removed from the core series in due to Battle Bond having its effect changed.
Internally, standard Greninja with Battle Bond are considered to be a separate form to Greninja with or . These Greninja are always male, cannot , and, like Special Pokémon, are banned from the Battle Spot. A Greninja with Battle Bond can be transferred to Pokémon Sun and Moon from the Special Demo Version. This is the only way to obtain it, so it is no longer obtainable for players who did not download the demo before the discontinuation of the 3DS Nintendo eShop on March 27, 2023.
	
===Evolution data===
====Battle Bond Greninja====
===Sprites===
==In animation==
===Main series===
====Major appearances====
=====Ash's Greninja=====
's Frogadier evolved into a Greninja in A Festival of Decisions! while battling Heidayu's . It soon gained the ability to transform into Ash-Greninja.
=====Sanpei's Greninja=====
A Greninja appeared in A Stealthy Challenge!, under the ownership of Sanpei. It reappeared in The Legend of the Ninja Hero! and A Festival of Decisions!. It was mostly seen outside of its Poké Ball.
=====Other=====
Greninja debuted in A Rush of Ninja Wisdom!, under the ownership of Ippei, but only in a fantasy. His Greninja made its physical debut in The Legend of the Ninja Hero!, later reappearing in the next episode.
A Greninja appeared in Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction, under the ownership of Riot. It was his main Pokémon, used to assist him in his thievery.
====Minor appearances====
A Greninja appeared in the opening sequence of Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel, when it evolved from Froakie and Frogadier.
====Pokédex entries====
===GOTCHA!===
A Greninja briefly appeared in GOTCHA!, under the ownership of .
==In the manga==
===Movie adaptations===
Riot owns a Greninja in .
===Pokémon Adventures===
's , Croaky, evolved into a Greninja during a battle against Xerosic in Malamar Traps.
===Pokémon Journeys===
Ash's Greninja appeared in a fantasy in Legend? Check! Friends? Check!.
==In the TCG==
==Other appearances==
===Super Smash Bros.===
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Five Greninja appeared in . They were genetically modified and put in chambers. They were later used to chase after Harry Goodman, and also Tim and Lucy when they broke into Howard's facility.
===Pokémon UNITE===
Greninja is playable through obtaining a Unite License. It is a ranged attacker that starts as Froakie and evolves into Frogadier at level 5, which evolves into Greninja at level 7.
==Trivia==
* Greninja is the only fully evolved form of a first partner Pokémon that has more than two possible without having a Mega Evolution, and the only one to have an -exclusive Ability.
* Greninja and its pre-Evolutions are the only Water-type first partner Pokémon line to be in the Water 1 Egg Group and only the Water 1 Egg Group.
* Greninja shares its with . They are both known as the Ninja Pokémon.
* Greninja won first place in the Japanese Pokémon general election 720 (Japanese: ポケモン総選挙720) poll to decide what Pokémon would be distributed at showings of Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel in Japan.
* It was revealed that Greninja was added into Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U before Pokémon X and Y was even released. Masahiro Sakurai knew that a Generation VI Pokémon was going to be a playable fighter in that game, so when Greninja was decided, all they had to go on in terms of design was concept art, similar to during the development of Super Smash Bros. Melee.
* In the Pokémon of the Year vote held by The Pokémon Company International and in February 2020, Greninja won first place with 140,559 votes and beat at second place (102,259 votes) and at third (99,077 votes).
* Greninja is the only Pokémon playable in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate that is unavailable in a Generation VIII core series game.
* Battle Bond Greninja and Ash-Greninja are the only Pokémon to have no viewable Pokédex entries in 's .
===Origin===
Greninja's overall appearance is based on a frog,Official Nintendo Magazine - Interview: Game Freak on the origins of Pokémon X & Y (Archived) and it may have been inspired by horned frogs from the and due to the spiked protrusions above its eyes. Its color scheme and body shape is similar to that of the . The bubble-like protrusions on its body may be based on a toad's s, possibly referencing the traditional myth of causing s, though they may also be remnants of Froakie and Frogadier's frubbles.
As its species name implies, Greninja is also based on a . Japanese culture associates frogs and toads with ninjas based on the folk story The Tale of the Gallant (Japanese: 児雷也豪傑物語 Jiraiya Gōketsu Monogatari), about a ninja who can shapeshift into a large toad. Greninja and its pre-Evolutions may also draw inspiration from the thief or rogue in s, which are generally ranged combatants that often rely on speed and stealth, focusing more on dodging attacks rather than withstanding damage.
Ash-Greninja's appearance is based on 's attire in and his hair. On its back it wears a (ninja star) made out of water.
====Name origin====
Greninja may be a combination of grenouille (French for frog) and ninja.
Gekkouga may be a combination of げこっ geko (croak) or 月光 gekkō (moonlight, in reference to a popular conception of ninja running through the night or to Greninja's Dark typing) and 甲賀流 .
==In other languages==
Ash-Greninja
==See also==
* Ash's Greninja
* Sanpei's Greninja
* Croaky
* Greninja (Super Smash Bros.)
* Greninja (UNITE)
* First partner Pokémon
* Bond Phenomenon
* List of Pokémon with form differences
==References==
==External links==
*
* Ash's Greninja
* Weaponry in the Pokémon world
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Category:Pokémon that appeared in the animated series before their game debut
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