Greninja (Pokémon)

This article is about the species. For a specific instance of this species, see Greninja (disambiguation).

**Greninja** (Japanese: **ゲッコウガ** *Gekkouga*) is a dual-type Water/Dark Pokémon introduced in Generation VI.

It evolves from Frogadier starting at level 36. It is the final form of Froakie.

In Generation VII, Greninja with the Ability Battle Bond can transform into a special form known as **Ash-Greninja** after defeating an opponent during battle.

* Greninja with Battle Bond is a distinct form, and is unable to breed as it belongs to the No Eggs Discovered Egg Group, and alternate forms of Froakie and Frogadier with Battle Bond do not exist.

In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Battle Bond's effect was altered to only increase Greninja's stats when defeating an opponent, and Ash-Greninja no longer exists.

## Biology

Greninja is a bipedal, frog-like Pokémon. 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 moves with the speed and grace of a ninja. It uses swift movements to confuse its enemies while it slices them up with weapons made of compressed water, most commonly in the form of throwing stars. These throwing stars are sharp enough to split metal. In Generation VI, Mat Block was its signature move. In Generation IX, Water Shuriken is its signature move.

Through a transformation called Bond Phenomenon, Ash's Greninja in the anime and any Greninja with the Ability Battle Bond in Generation VII 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 Ash's hair. Its legs are stronger in this form, and it gains the ability to form large Water Shurikens on its back.

## In the anime

### Main series

#### Major appearances

##### Ash's Greninja

Ash's Frogadier evolved into a Greninja in *A Festival of Decisions!* while battling Heidayu's Bisharp. 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.

### GOTCHA!

A Greninja briefly appeared in GOTCHA!, under the ownership of Serena.

## In the manga

### Movie adaptations

Riot owns a Greninja in *Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction*.

### Pokémon Adventures

Main article: Croaky
Y's Frogadier, Croaky, evolved into a Greninja during a battle against Xerosic in PS587.

### Pokémon Journeys: The Series

Main article: Ash's Greninja
Ash's Greninja appeared in a fantasy in *Legend? Check! Friends? Check!*.

## In the TCG

Main article: Greninja (TCG)
The first ever Greninja card in English was Greninja 41/146 from XY.

The newest Greninja card in English is Greninja Promo 305. This card is made for the the first runner-up(Japan) of the Pokémon TCG Illustration Contest 2022

First CardNewest Card
## Other appearances

### Super Smash Bros.

Main article: Greninja (Super Smash Bros.)

### *Detective Pikachu*

Five Greninja appeared in *Detective Pikachu*. 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.

## Game data

### Game locations

#### In events

##### Greninja

 **XYORAS** | Pokémon General Election 720 Greninja | All

### Stats

#### Base stats

##### Greninja

* Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and (if applicable) a helpful nature.

##### Ash-Greninja

* Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and (if applicable) a helpful nature.

### Learnset

#### By a prior evolution

 * **Bold** indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Greninja
* *Italic* indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Greninja

### Forms

Greninja with Battle Bond transforms into Ash-Greninja, for the remainder of the battle, upon knocking out an opponent via direct damage.

## Trivia

* Greninja is the only starter Pokémon that has more than two possible Abilities without having a Mega Evolution, and the only starter Pokémon with an event-exclusive Ability.
* Greninja shares its category with Ninjask. 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 Roy during the development of Super Smash Bros. Melee.
* Greninja is the only Generation VI Pokémon to be playable in the Super Smash Bros. series, though many others appear from Poké Balls.
* During the Pokémon of the Year vote held by The Pokémon Company International and Google in February 2020, Greninja won first place with 140,559 votes and beat Lucario at second place (102,259 votes) and Mimikyu 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.

### Origin

Greninja's overall appearance is based on a frog, and it may have been inspired by horned frogs from the genera *Megophrys* and *Ceratophrys* due to the spiked protrusions above its eyes. Its color scheme and body shape is similar to that of the splendid leaf frog. The bubble-like protrusions on its body may be based on a toad's parotoid glands, possibly referencing the traditional myth of toads causing warts, though they may also be remnants of Froakie and Frogadier's frubbles.

As its species name implies, Greninja is also based on a ninja. Japanese culture associates frogs and toads with ninjas based on the folk story *The Tale of the Gallant Jiraiya* (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 character class in role-playing games, 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 Ash's attire in *Pokémon the Series: XY*.

#### 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 *Kōga-ryū*.

## Related articles

* Ash's Greninja
* Sanpei's Greninja
* Croaky
* Greninja (Super Smash Bros.)
* Starter Pokémon
* Bond Phenomenon
* List of Pokémon with form differences

## References

1. ↑ Official Nintendo Magazine - Interview: Game Freak on the origins of Pokémon X & Y (Archived)