Greninja (SSBU): Difference between revisions

Greninja has been greatly buffed from ''Smash 4'' to ''Ultimate''. As with all other characters in the game, its already quick mobility is faster like most characters, while its previously situational moves (such as dash attack, down smash and Water Shuriken) are much more versatile. Due to the game's universal changes to dash mechanics, Greninja can also further exploit its amazing ground mobility, allowing for easier setups into its combo starters, such as down tilt and dash attack. Furthermore, the reduced landing lag on Greninja's aerial attacks gives it an easier time landing, while the universal 3-frame jumpsquat improves Greninja's ground-to-air potential.

However, its biggest buffs were to its grab game, which saw an even faster standing grab, while its forward and back throws can now KO in addition to its up throw. Its pummel, previously considered one of the worst pummels in ''Super Smash Bros. 4'', has been buffed as well. Despite dealing less damage, it is significantly faster. Up throw and down throw actually have better combo potential as well due to the universal changes. The universal 3-frame jumpsquat and ability to buffer aerials from a short hop improves Greninja's up throw, being able to combo into up aerial at low percents to high percents more reliably, while also being able to start juggles with up aerial more consistently due to up aerial's lowered landing lag. The universal buff of [[dash-canceling]] and the ability to buffer aerials from a short hop greatly benefits Greninja's down throw, now being able to combo into dash attack at low percents to extend combos and being able to potentially kill confirm with a short hop forward aerial or full hop back aerial at higher percentages.

On the other hand, Greninja is not without its nerfs, its biggest being the universal nerf of footstools. While Greninja can still perform footstool combos, they're now harder to pull off due to the ability to tech footstools, which hinders Greninja's combo ability (specifically its down aerial). However, the nerf is not very significant due to Greninja's combo game actually being buffed overall due to other universal changes that impact it more positively.

As a result of receiving multiple buffs with relatively few nerfs, Greninja retains its status as a viable character in ''Ultimate'''s early meta with above average representation as of late thanks to {{Sm|Stroder}}, {{Sm|Lea}}, {{Sm|Jw}}, {{Sm|Somé}}, and {{Sm|iStudying}} and is considered as a high or even top tier character by many professional players.

*{{change|Greninja [[weight|weighs]] less (94 → 88). This worsens its survivability but makes it less susceptible to combos.}}

*{{nerf|Greninja's down taunt has lower knockback and much higher ending lag; unlike other taunts, it is not interruptible (unless it's used during Shadow Sneak). This prevents it from KOing and makes Greninja more vulnerable while using it. However, due to how incredibly situational down taunt is, this is negligible in normal play.}}

**{{buff|Neutral attack's rapid jab is considerably faster.}}

**{{change|Jab 3 now uses stationary hitboxes rather than hitboxes connected to Greninja's arms.}}

**{{nerf|Jab 3 deals less damage (3.5% → 3%), and thus less knockback.}}

**{{buff|Rapid Jab finisher now has 3 hitboxes instead of 2, with different sizes and positions, increasing its range overall.}}

**{{change|Down tilt is now a downward hand sweep.}}

**{{buff|Down tilt launches opponents at a more upward angle (70 → 79/77/75), improving its combo potential.}}

**{{buff|Down tilt has less ending lag (FAF 27 → 23).}}

**{{nerf|Down tilt deals less damage (7% → 4%), and also has altered knockback (60 (base)/40 (scaling) → 30/110), narrowing its combo range into some moves.}}

***{{buff|However, it can now combo into up aerial at realistic percentages for a KO.}}

**{{change|Dash attack has an altered animation with Greninja stopping halfway through the spin.}}

**{{buff|Dash attack deals more damage (7% → 8%) with base knockback reduced to somewhat compensate (100 → 90).}}

**{{buff|Dash attack has less ending lag (FAF 31 → 29).}}

*[[Forward smash]]

**{{buff|Forward smash deals more knockback (30 (base)/101 (scaling) → 35/104).}}

**{{buff|Down smash has much less startup lag (15 → 10), and thus a shorter duration (FAF 55 → 50).}}

**{{buff|Down smash's inner hitbox is now extended (z-offset: 0 → 0-7).}}

**{{buff|Neutral aerial has considerably less ending lag (FAF 65 → 53).}}

**{{buff|Forward aerial has more knockback scaling (84 → 95).}}

**{{buff|Back aerial has less ending lag (FAF 46 → 41).}}

**{{buff|The third hit deals more damage (4% → 6%) with knockback scaling compensated (120 → 95)}}

**{{buff|It has bigger hitboxes (5u/4u/2u → 5.5u/4.3u/2.5u (hits 1 and 2), 5.8u/4.5u/2u → 5.8u/4.5u/2.5u}}

**{{nerf|Down aerial has more ending lag when it hits an opponent, hindering its combo potential and making it slightly less safe on shield.}}

**{{nerf|Down aerial's hitboxes are smaller (6u (clean)/7u (late) → 4.3u/5.2u) and higher up (Y offset: -2 → 0.1)}}

**{{buff|Down aerial has less ending lag when missed (FAF 57 → 52).}}

**{{buff|Standing grab's startup is reduced by 1 frame (11 → 10).}}

**{{nerf|Dash grab's grabbox doesn't extend out as far (Z offset: 4-20 → 4-17.5), reducing its range.}}

**{{buff|Pivot grab's grabbox extends further (Z offset: 4-22 → 4-25.3), increasing its range.}}

*{{buff|[[Pummel]] is significantly faster than in ''Smash 4''. It deals 1% less damage (2% → 1%), but is buffed overall due to Greninja's previously sluggish pummel.}}

**{{buff|Forward throw now has 2 hits, dealing more damage overall (5 (throw) → 3.5 (collateral) + 4.5 (throw), 8 (total)).}}

**{{buff|Forward throw has altered knockback, dealing more knockback overall (70 (base)/45 (scaling) → 65/100).}}

**{{change|Back throw has a new animation. Greninja turns around and throws the opponent with both hands.}}

**{{buff|Back throw's animation is faster, making it harder to [[DI]] properly.}}

**{{buff|Back throw deals more damage (8% → 9%), and thus knockback.}}

**{{change|Greninja now cloaks itself in a whirlwind before disappearing. It may also perform a forward kick to attack.}}

**{{buff|Shadow Sneak’s shadow travels faster.}}

**{{buff|Shadow Sneak's attack has less startup.}}

**{{buff|Forward Shadow Sneak launches at a lower angle, improving its knockout potential.}}

**{{buff|Shadow Sneak can be used multiple times in midair.}}

**{{nerf|The shadow's eyes flash red just before release. Combined with the shadow being notably darker, this makes it easier to predict the attack.}}

**{{change|Substitute has more vibrant particles effects.}}