Super Smash Bros. Fighters - Pokémon series - 07 Greninja

 

Super Smash Bros. Fighters - Pokémon series - 07 Greninja

Debut

In the Pokémon series: Pokémon X and Pokémon Y (2013)
In the Super Smash Bros. series: Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS & Wii U (2014)

Boxing Ring Title: Master of Stealth

Theme Song: Battle! (Trainer Battle) - Pokémon X / Pokémon Y

Greninja: the Ninja Pokémon. Water and Dark Type. #658 in the Pokédex. Greninja is the evolved form of Frogadier, who is the evolved form of Froakie, who is the one of the three starter Pokémon in the Kalos Region. If you chose the Grass type Chespin, your friendly rival Shauna will pick Froakie. On the flipside, if you choose the Fire type Fennekin, your main rival - either Serena or Calem - will pick Froakie. Froakie evolves into Frogadier at Level 16, who then evolves into Greninja at Level 36.

As a species, Greninja tend to move about with the speed and the grace of a ninja, and it uses this fact to toy with foes in battle by utilizing hit-'n-run tactics, hitting the foes with Water Shurikens while trying to keep out of the foe's sight. When Greninja isn't in battle, it's mostly quiet and reserved, sometimes observing its surrounding with its watchful eyes. Oh, and the pink scarf its wearing? That's actually its tongue. Greninja have a higher chance of being male than female.

Notable Greninja include Ash's Greninja from "Pokémon the Series: XY." As shown in episode 92 "Cloudy Fate, Bright Future," Ash's Greninja, back when he was a little Froakie, lived near a pond with others of his kind. While all the Froakie there loved to play, he preferred to isolate himself to train for battles instead, which eventually caused the other Froakie to see him as a disturbance and attack him. He was then rescued and restored to full health by Nurse Joy, during which he learned that he could become stronger if a capable Pokémon Trainer raised him. Froakie was then given to Professor Sycamore, a man who gave new trainers their first Pokémon to begin their adventure. Froakie journeyed with many trainers, but he would always end up returning to Professor Sycamore's lab, as the Trainers he journeyed with lacked something he was looking for: love.

Fraokie made his proper debut in Episode 1: "Kalos, Where Dreams and Adventures Begin!" One day while roaming around Lumiose City, Froakie happened to spot Ash Ketchum and Pikachu after they got kicked out of the Gym's security system, and decided to keep an eye on them. When the Team Rocket Trio - comprised of Jessie, James, and Meowth - interrupted a friendly battle Ash was having with a boy named Clement, Froakie stepped in to help fend them off, which left him weak and injured. Ash would rush Froakie back to Professor Sycamore's lab so he could be healed. Here, he asked about Froakie's trainer, only to be informed that Froakie's trainer was planning on returning him because of Froakie's disobedience. 

The Team Rocket Trio, recovering from their previous defeat, would disguise themselves as scientists to steal the Pokémon living at Sycamore's Lab. Froakie recognizes them and informs a nearby Garchomp. The Team Rocket Trio decide to test out a ring device they made on Froakie, but it ends up capturing Garchomp instead. The device malfunctions, which causes Garhcomp to go on a rampage throughout Lumiose City. Ash, Pikachu, and Froakie would chase her down to the top of Prism Tower, where they manage to break the ring device and save her. All of these events make Froakie realize that Ash is the Pokémon Trainer he was looking for, and so the next day would join Ash's team.

During their travels, Froakie would be shown to be a loyal and protective ally with a huge sense of honor, though he notably would feel embarrassed if he lost in a bad way. In Episode 52 "A Stealthy Challenge," Froakie would evolve into Frogadier. Later on in Episode 100 "A Festival of Decisions," Frogadier would evolve into Greninja.

Once Ash's Greninja became a... Greninja, he would also acquire a unique form called "Ash-Greninja," a transformation that would occasionally occur due to the bond Greninja and Ash had. It took a awhile While Greninja is noticeably stronger as Ash-Greninja, any pain he receives during battle would also be transferred to his trainer as well.

Once Ash's adventures in Kalos were over, Greninja would choose to stay in the region and help protect the Kalos region with the two Zygarde cells, Squishy and Z2.

In Super Smash Bros., Greninja uses his speed and stealth to gain the upperhand! He's also not above pulling some dirty tactics to win. This is a Pokémon to watch out for!

Special Moves 

Neutral Special: Water Shuriken

By holding the Special Button, Greninja charges up a Water Shuriken. Once it's all charged up, Greninja will automatically toss it forward, though you can also have him throw it earlier by simply letting go off the Special Button.

A fully charged Water Shuriken will drag any foes that it hits with it before flinging them away, while a not-fully charged one will disappear after hitting the foe, though it compensates by being faster.

Inspired by the move, Water Shuriken, introduced in "Pokémon X & Y". Water Shuriken is a Special Water Type move with a power of 15, and the potential to hit a foe 2-5 times. It also has a priority of 1, meaning the user will act first unless the foe is using a higher priority move, or is faster when using a move with the same priority. (in case of a speed tie, it's random who goes first) This move was the signature move of the Greninja line until "Pokémon Sword & Shield".

Greninja learns this move when its prior form, Frogadier, evolves into Greninja. 

Side Special: Shadow Sneak

A shadow appears in front of Greninja, and as long as you hold the Special Button, it moves a certain distance away from him.

After a few seconds - or if you release the Special Button - Greninja disappears and reappears where the shadow was, attacking anyone nearby.

Greninja is able to freely move and jump around while using the move, though he is unable to dash or attack until he executes Shadow Sneak. As Greninja moves, the Shadow will remain at a relative distance away from him. If the shadow goes off the stage, Greninja will simply teleport near the ledge if he's on the ground.

Inspired by the move, Shadow Sneak, introduced in "Pokémon Diamond & Pearl". Shadow Sneak is a Physical Ghost Type move with a power of 40 and a priority of 1, meaning the user will act first unless the foe is using either a higher priority move, or is faster when using a move with the same priority. (in case of a speed tie, it's random who goes first)

Greninja needs to visit a Move Relearner in order to use this move. 

Up Special: Hydro Pump

Greninja shoots water out of his hand to fling himself in whatever direction you're holding, with upwards being the default if nothing is held. The liquid Greninja is shooting can also push foes away and deal minor damage.

Greninja can also fire himself in another direction during the halfway point of Hydro Pump's distance, otherwise he'll continue to fling himself in the same direction he's currently traveling.

Inspired by the move, Hydro Pump, introduced in "Pokémon Red & Blue". Hydro Pump is a Special Water Type attack with a power of 120 (in Gens 1-5) or 110 (in Gen 6 onwards) though it has an accuracy of 80%.

Greninja tends to learn this move in the later levels. 

Down Special: Substitute

Greninja strikes a pose. If he gets hit during it...

... Greninja gets replaced by a Substitute doll!

After which he reappears while delivering a powerful flying kick! Depending on the direction you're holding will depend on where Greninja reappears for his counter attack, otherwise it's randomly chosen.

Sometimes instead of a doll, Greninja will be replaced by a log. Speaking of which, both the doll and the log will stick around on the stage for a bit before vanishing. During this, they can block projectile attacks, making them situational shields of sorts.

Loosely inspired by the move, Substitute, in "Pokémon Red & Blue". Substitute is a Status Normal Type move that gives the Pokémon a Substitue Doll to hide behind, but they have to sacrifice about 25% of their maximum health to set it up, and if doing so would KO them, it'll fail. The Doll will have the same amount of health the user lost to summon it, and it'll take every hit except for Sound-based moves, like Hyper Voice, as well as a select few other moves. In Super Smash Bros., Greninja will not take any damage from using it, and it will also allow Greninja to block and counter Sound-based moves. The use of a log is a reference to popular folklore of ninja using it as a substitute/body-replacement to escape danger.

Greninja tends to learn this in some of the later levels. 

Final Smash: Secret Ninja Attack

Greninja transforms into Ash-Greninja, and uses Mat Block to fling any opponents in front of him up towards the top-center of the stage.

Ash-Greninja then begins barraging the opponent with various attacks...

...before slamming them back down towards the ground! After that, Ash-Greninja will then turn back into Greninja.

If Ash-Greninja fails to hit anyone with his Mat Block, then the move fails and he'll turn back into Greninja.

Very loosely inspired by the move, Mat Block, in "Pokémon X & Y". Mat Block is a Status Fighting Type move that will block any move that isn't a Status move for the user, as well as the user's allies. The move doesn't have any increased priority, so if the user goes last, then Mat Block does nothing. It must be used on the first turn that the Pokémon is sent out, otherwise it'll fail on every subsequent turn. The only way to use it at that point would be to switch it out with a different Pokémon and then put it back into the fight. Mat Block was the Signature Move of Greninja until "Pokémon Sun & Moon." Greninja would have to visit the Move Relearner to use it. Unlike it's portrayal in Super Smash Bros., it has no offensive utility, nor does it send opponents to the sky.

The barrage of attacks and overall aesthetics could be inspired by the move, Night Slash, introduced in "Pokémon Diamond & Pearl." Night Slash is a Physical Dark Type move with a power of 70 and has a high chance of scoring a critical hit. Greninja learns this move at the later levels, though it could also visit a Move Relearner to learn it sooner.

Ash-Greninja is a form that debuted in "Pokémon the Series: XY." Ash's Greninja obtained it while trying to protect Pikachu. Ash-Greninja would later on appear in the games through a unique Greninja having the ability, "Battle Bond". Upon scoring a KO, Greninja would transform into Ash-Greninja and have increased power.

Additional Notes 

While incredibly weak. Greninja's Down Taunt can damage and opponents and fling them skywards. Despite the previous statement, it is capable of KOing foes, but only at ludicrous damage percentages.

Although Greninja is a Water type, he can still drown if you leave him to swim in the water for too long. Don't think about it too much, I suppose.

To celebrate Greninja joining the cast of "Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS & Wii U", a special Greninja was distributed to players of "Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire" in Japan from December 9, 2014, to March 25, 2015. This Greninja was male and at level 36, and had the same attacks as he does in Super Smash Bros. (Water Shuriken, Shadow Sneak, Hydro Pump, and Substitute.)

Unlike the other Pokémon fighters, who were chosen due to their popularity in other media - like "Pokémon  the Series" - Greninja was chosen before it was even revealed to the public. Masahiro Sakurai wanted someone from the (then) upcoming "Pokémon X & Y" to join the battle, and decided to go with Greninja after looking through the concept art of various Pokémon Game Freak had made. Pretty lucky that Greninja turned out to be quite a popular Pokémon, huh?