Secret Ninja Attack

Secret Ninja Attack
User	Greninja
Universe	Pokémon
Articles on Bulbapedia	Mat Block; Ash-Greninja

“	Flip up an opponent, and repeatedly attack.	”
—Smash for 3DS's foldout

“	Greninja uses Mat Block to flip foes into the air before striking them repeatedly and smacking them back down to the ground. The Mat Block doesn't have much range, so make use of Greninja's speed to get in close to opponents.	”
—Description from Ultimate's Move List

Secret Ninja Attack (忍びの秘奥義, The Shinobi's Hidden Secret), is Greninja's Final Smash.

Overview[edit]

Ash-Greninja in Ultimate.

In this Final Smash, Greninja sends one or more foes airborne by using Mat Block: hitting them with a tatami, then overwhelms its opponent with slashes, kicks, and palm strikes in front of the moon. Greninja then readies a final blow to send the foe flying.

The Final Smash deals a total of 52% damage: 2% if opponent(s) are caught by the Mat Block, 5% for the Mat Block flip, 2% for each rapid attack, and 15% for the final blow.

Aside from the initial Mat Block, the attack is visually identical to Zoroark's Fury Swipes attack; however, the Secret Ninja Attack deals significantly more damage, and the final blow cannot be teched (except in Ultimate).

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Greninja transforms into Ash-Greninja for the Final Smash.

Origin[edit]

Mat Block as it appears in Pokémon X & Y.

Greninja activates this move by striking downward at a tatami, a type of mat, to flip it upward and hit opponents, referencing Mat Block (known in Japan as Tatami Flip), formerly one of its signature moves in the Pokémon games. Mat Block possesses the ability to defend the user's side of the field from all attacks used after it; however, unlike other protective moves, it does not possess increased priority, and thus will fail if used last in the turn. It is also only able to be used the first turn after Greninja enters the field; at all other times, it will fail.

Artwork of Ash-Greninja.

In the Pokémon anime, upon his final evolution, Ash Ketchum’s Greninja originally obtained a unique ability called Bond Phenomenon, but in the game, Greninja obtains a Bond Phenomenon's true form called Battle Bond. It is similar to Mega Evolution, but relies on being in sync with Ash rather than a Mega Stone. This transformation caused Greninja to temporarily take on a design based on Ash and his Kalos outfit, as well as producing a psychic bond with Ash. The transformation later appeared in the main series games with a special Greninja (Ash’s) only obtainable in the Sun and Moon demo, where the transformation would activate upon defeating an opponent. This transformation appears in Secret Ninja Attack in Ultimate.

Trophy Descriptions[edit]

Secret Ninja Attack Trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

Secret Ninja Attack: In Greninja's Final Smash, it uses its Mat Block move to flip opponents into the air. It then slices them repeatedly in front of the bright moon before smacking them back to the ground and launching them. The initial Mat Block flip doesn't have much range, but should it hit home, the rest of the attack is unavoidable.; In Greninja's Final Smash, it uses its Mat Block move to flip an opponent into the air. It then slices them repeatedly in front of the shining moon, before smacking them down to the ground so hard they get launched. The initial Mat Block flip doesn't have much range, but if it hits home, there's no evading the rest of the attack.

Gallery[edit]

Greninja catches Lucario with Mat Block, starting Secret Ninja Attack.
Secret Ninja Attack as shown by a Skill Preview in Ultimate.

Trivia[edit]

In stages with platforms that reside at high altitudes, such as Palutena's Temple, characters not caught in the Final Smash are able to show up in the animation. These characters are fully mobile and do not appear as silhouettes, unlike Greninja and any opponents it caught.
Although the trophy depicts a full moon, the final smash actually only uses a graphic of half of the moon, which can be seen by pausing and moving the camera (Wii U only). In the 3DS, more of the moon is visible when the camera is focused on Greninja, but one can't see where the moon ends in normal gameplay.