Competitive Information for Greninja [X/Y]
Water / Dark
Abilities:
Movesets for Singles
What is a good competitive moveset for Greninja? These builds have been optimized for Pokemon competing in X/Y Single Battles. The movesets and EVs have been specifically calibrated to deal the most amount of damage to the largest group of potentially common opponents and typing threats for the X/Y generation metagame.
ThrohTangrowthAromatisseTyranitar-MegaLugiaAmbipomDusknoirMetagrossGengarFerrothorn
Greninja is a sensational Water and Dark-typed Pokemon. It's a pretty standard sight to see Greninja out in the 6th generation battlefield. Greninja is considered strong enough to compete with Uber tiered Pokemon. Greninja is weak to Bug, Electric, Fairy, Fighting, and Grass-typed attacks.
Item: Focus Sash / Choice Band
Ability: Protean
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 188 Hp / 252 Atk / 68 Spe
Moveset:
- Night Slash / Thief
- Waterfall / Dive
- U-turn / Return
- Ice Punch
Physical Sweeper Greninja (Protean)
Greninja is an awesome Physical Sweeper. It's designed to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Focus Sash helps protect Greninja from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. Choice Band will increase the damage of Greninja's physical moves by 1.5x at the cost of locking you into the first move you pick. With Protean, Greninja's type changes to match the type of the move it is about to use. U-turn was added to provide additional threat coverage.
♦ Thief is a physical STAB-boosted 60-base power Dark-type move (if your Greninja has no item, it steals the target's).
♦ Waterfall is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (20% chance to flinch the target).
♦ Dive is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (dives underwater turn 1, strikes turn 2).
♦ U-turn is a physical 70-base power Bug-type move (Greninja switches out after damaging the target).
♦ Return is a physical 0-base power Normal-type move (max 102 power at maximum happiness).
♦ Ice Punch is a physical 75-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/gs10a292
Item: Focus Sash / Choice Specs
Ability: Protean
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 188 Hp / 252 SpA / 68 Spe
Moveset:
- Surf / Scald
- Dark Pulse
- Ice Beam / Icy Wind
- Extrasensory
Special Sweeper Greninja (Protean)
Greninja is a stupendous Special Sweeper. It's goal is to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Focus Sash helps protect Greninja from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. Choice Specs will increase the damage of Greninja's special moves by 1.5x but will lock you into the first move you pick. With Protean, Greninja's type changes to match the type of the move it is about to use.
♦ Scald is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (30% chance to burn the target. thaws target).
♦ Dark Pulse is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Dark-type move (20% chance to flinch the target).
♦ Ice Beam is a special 90-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
♦ Icy Wind is a special 55-base power Ice-type move (100% chance to lower the foes speed by 1 stage).
♦ Extrasensory is a special 80-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to flinch the target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/gs11a292
Item: Expert Belt
Ability: Protean
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Dark Pulse
- Extrasensory
- Ice Beam
- Surf / Hydro Cannon
Greninja Special Sweeper (Go Ninja Greninja Go)
Greninja is an interesting Special Sweeper. This moveset attempts to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. With Protean, Greninja's type changes to match the type of the move it is about to use.
♦ Extrasensory is a special 80-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to flinch the target).
♦ Ice Beam is a special 90-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
♦ Surf is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Water-type move (hits adjacent pokemon. double damage on dive).
♦ Hydro Cannon is a special STAB-boosted 150-base power Water-type move (Greninja cannot move next turn).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/gs12a292
Item: Red Card
Ability: Protean
Nature: Quiet (+SpA, -Spe)
EVs: 120 Hp / 252 SpA / 136 SpD
Moveset:
- Scald / Toxic Spikes
- Shadow Sneak
- Dark Pulse
- Ice Beam
Greninja Special Tank (Special Ninja)
Greninja is a phenomenal Special Tank. The purpose of this moveset is to take a decent amount of hits from special attacks while dealing some decent damage. With Protean, Greninja's type changes to match the type of the move it is about to use.
♦ Toxic Spikes is a status move (poisons grounded foes on switch-in. max 2 layers).
♦ Shadow Sneak is a physical priority-increased 40-base power Ghost-type move (usually goes first).
♦ Dark Pulse is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Dark-type move (20% chance to flinch the target).
♦ Ice Beam is a special 90-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/gs13a292
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Protean
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Grass Knot
- Dark Pulse
- Ice Beam
- Hydro Pump
Greninja Special Sweeper (Greninjorb)
Greninja is an interesting Special Sweeper. It attempts to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Life Orb boosts the power of Greninja's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Protean, Greninja's type changes to match the type of the move it is about to use.
♦ Dark Pulse is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Dark-type move (20% chance to flinch the target).
♦ Ice Beam is a special 90-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
♦ Hydro Pump is a special STAB-boosted 110-base power Water-type move that deals a gigantic amount of damage.
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/gs14a292
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Protean
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Scald
- Grass Knot
- Dark Pulse
- Ice Beam
Greninja Special Sweeper (Special )
Greninja is a marvelous Special Sweeper. It was designed to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Life Orb boosts the power of Greninja's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Protean, Greninja's type changes to match the type of the move it is about to use.
♦ Grass Knot is a special 0-base power Grass-type move (more power the heavier the target).
♦ Dark Pulse is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Dark-type move (20% chance to flinch the target).
♦ Ice Beam is a special 90-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/gs15a292
Movesets for Doubles
What is a good doubles moveset for Greninja? These builds have been optimized for X/Y Double Battles. They have movesets and EVs specifically calibrated to generally work best versus multiple Pokemon at once as well as helping to support other team members and allys in the X/Y generation metagame.
ThrohTangrowthAromatisseTyranitar-MegaLugiaAmbipomDusknoirMetagrossGengarFerrothorn
Item: Focus Sash / Choice Band
Ability: Protean
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 188 Hp / 252 Atk / 68 Spe
Moveset:
- Night Slash / Thief
- Rock Slide / Rock Tomb
- Waterfall / Dive
- Ice Punch / U-turn
Doubles Physical Sweeper Greninja (Protean)
Greninja is an outstanding Physical Sweeper. This moveset attempts to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Focus Sash helps protect Greninja from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. Choice Band will increase the damage of Greninja's physical moves by 1.5x at the cost of locking you into the first move you pick. With Protean, Greninja's type changes to match the type of the move it is about to use. Ice Punch or U-turn are added to provide additional threat coverage.
♦ Thief is a physical STAB-boosted 60-base power Dark-type move (if your Greninja has no item, it steals the target's).
♦ Rock Slide is a physical 75-base power Rock-type move (30% chance to flinch the foes).
♦ Rock Tomb is a physical 60-base power Rock-type move (100% chance to lower the target's speed by 1 stage).
♦ Waterfall is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (20% chance to flinch the target).
♦ Dive is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (dives underwater turn 1, strikes turn 2).
♦ Ice Punch is a physical 75-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
♦ U-turn is a physical 70-base power Bug-type move (Greninja switches out after damaging the target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/gd10a292
Item: Focus Sash / Choice Specs
Ability: Protean
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 188 Hp / 252 SpA / 68 Spe
Moveset:
- Surf / Bubble
- Dark Pulse
- Icy Wind / Ice Beam
- Extrasensory
Doubles Special Sweeper Greninja (Protean)
Greninja is an astounding Special Sweeper. It is designed to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Focus Sash helps protect Greninja from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. Choice Specs will increase the damage of Greninja's special moves by 1.5x but will lock you into the first move you pick. With Protean, Greninja's type changes to match the type of the move it is about to use.
♦ Bubble is a special STAB-boosted 40-base power Water-type move (10% chance to lower the foes speed by 1 stage).
♦ Dark Pulse is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Dark-type move (20% chance to flinch the target).
♦ Icy Wind is a special 55-base power Ice-type move (100% chance to lower the foes speed by 1 stage).
♦ Ice Beam is a special 90-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
♦ Extrasensory is a special 80-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to flinch the target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/gd11a292
Movepool
Wondering what moves can Greninja learn? Here is the list of moves this Pokemon can learn in this selected generation.
Sort and organize the learnset by move type, category, accuracy, and power. Bolded moves will gain the same-type attack bonus (STAB) if this Pokemon uses them.
Damage Modifiers:
Combo List
These are a list of several common move combinations Greninja can perform in X/Y. Not every combo going to be game-changing, but some can be pretty fun to play with. Sometimes these can be easily overlooked or forgotten, hence why we find and list them here. Discover what items, abilities, and moves this Pokemon can use in combination with each other to gain a strategic advantage in competitive battles.
Competitive XY Move and Ability Combos for Greninja
- Moves: Rest + Sleep talk
- Moves: Rest + Snore
- Ability: Torrent + Item: Focus sash
- Move: Swagger + Item: Mirror Herb
- Move: Fling + Item: King's Rock
- Move: Facade + Item: Flame Orb
- Move: Facade + Item: Toxic Orb
- Move: Acrobatics + Item: Red Card
- Move: Acrobatics + Item: Flying Gem
- Moves with Priority: Protect, Snatch, Quick Attack, Shadow Sneak, Water Shuriken
- Moves that inflict status: Scald, Toxic
Moves that boost Greninja's stats
- Power-Up Punch
Most notable and possible best moves for Greninja
- Hidden Power
- Hydro Cannon
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Protect
- Rest
- Scald
- Taunt
- Toxic
- U-turn
Common Effort Values for Greninja in X and Y
- Adamant Nature ( 0/252/0/0/0/252 )
- Modest Nature ( 0/0/0/252/0/252 )
- Optimize Greninja's EV spread for Pokemon X and Y
Related Videos
Here are various how-to-use and competitive moveset analysis video guides for Greninja in X/Y. These featured videos will most likely contain additional strategies and combos not listed on our site. Disclaimer: All videos belong to their respective owners along with the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the videos. They belong solely to the author and not to us.
We currently do not have any competitive video guides for Greninja in X/Y
Want to have your Competitive Pokemon videos sponsored on our site? Contact us!
Some builds on this page have been hidden, click here to display them
Here are the best movesets for Greninja. Top rated Greninja X/Y movesets. You can find Greninja builds X/Y. Greninja movesets X/Y are listed here. VGC Greninja Competitive Movesets can be found here. Find various EV spreads, find the best nature for Greninja in X/Y along with competitive movesets. Basic info and Movesets for evolution