Water Shuriken

Water Shuriken (, Water Shuriken) is Greninja's neutral special move.

Overview
Water Shuriken starts charging when pressing the special button, and is thrown forward when the button is released. The more it is charged, the bigger, more powerful and slower it is, and when charged for a sufficient duration it hits multiple times while pushing the opponent back and ends with some notable knockback (which can be Smash DI'd out of). Uncharged shurikens only hit once and are very quick, making them easy to spam. Using the move in the air causes a Fall Break that will raise Greninja upwards slightly, but it can only be done once before requiring Greninja to land; Kirby gains slightly more height by using the move in the air.

Unlike several similar projectiles, the charge of the move cannot be stored. Additionally, as it is not considered an energy-based projectile, it cannot be absorbed by PSI Magnet.

Customization
Special Move customization was added in Super Smash Bros. 4. These are the variations:


 * 1) Water Shuriken: Default.
 * 2) Stagnant Shuriken (known as Still Water Shuriken in the PAL version): Always hits multiple times, but remains in front of Greninja. Releases faster than default Water Shuriken.
 * 3) Shifting Shuriken: Fires one of two types of shuriken, depending on whether the button is tapped or held.
 * Tap Button: Throws a shuriken that launches foes upward.
 * Hold Button: Throws a shuriken that passes through opponents; sends foes toward Greninja.

Origin
Introduced in Generation VI, Water Shuriken is a physical (Generation VI) or special (Generation VII onwards) Water-type move with the unique trait of having +1 priority (like Quick Attack), going before most other moves, while also hitting multiple times in one turn. In Generation VII, if Greninja transforms to Ash-Greninja when Battle Bond is activated then Water Shuriken's power rises from 15 to 20, and it always hits three times.

Greninja can first learn Water Shuriken at level 36, the same level at which it evolves from. Additionally, Water Shuriken was one of Greninja's two signature moves in Pokémon X & Y, although it has since been made accessible to starting from Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire; in Sword and Shield, only Accelgor can learn the move as Greninja was removed from the game.

Trivia

 * Although it is a Water attack, this move can still harm blue Pikmin, most likely because the actual damaging component of the move is blade-based rather than water-based.
 * Kirby's Copy Ability version of Water Shuriken does not have him vocalize while charging or throwing the projectile, despite Greninja making vocal noises for its version.