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Greninja (SSBU)

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This article is about Greninja's appearance in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. For the character in other contexts, see Greninja.
Greninja
in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Greninja SSBU.png
PokemonSymbol.svg
Universe Pokémon
Other playable appearance in SSB4


Availability Unlockable
Final Smash Secret Ninja Attack
GreninjaHeadSSBU.png

Greninja (ゲッコウガ, Gekkouga) is a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. It was officially revealed on June 12th, 2018 alongside Mr. Game & Watch and the rest of the returning roster. Greninja is classified as Fighter #50.

Billy Bob Thompson, Yūji Ueda, Frédéric Clou and Benedikt Gutjan's portrayals from Super Smash Bros. 4 were repurposed for the English, Japanese, French and German versions of Ultimate.

How to unlock

Complete one of the following:

With the exception of the third method, Greninja must then be defeated on Kalos Pokémon League.

Attributes

Greninja, true to being a ninja-themed character, has very strong mobility; it has the 8th fastest run speed, the 10th fastest air speed, is tied for the 9th fastest falling (and fast falling) speed, the 2nd highest gravity, and possesses the 2nd highest jump height overall. However, unlike most characters who boast similar mobility (such as Sheik), Greninja boasts a surprising amount of KO options, good range on plenty of its attacks, and KO throws.

One of Greninja's most notable traits is its high mobility which complements its grounded moveset. Greninja's dash attack comes out on frame 7 and has very low ending lag, as well as the ability to cross upon shields. Its knockback angle allows for many true follow-ups and strings over a large range of percents. Its neutral jab attack comes out on frame 3, making it a good grounded combo breaker. It can also lock, which gives Greninja access to potent punishes from opponents missing techs. Its down tilt is an excellent combo starter due to its low startup, ending lag and vertical launch angle. Greninja's up tilt is a frame 9 disjointed hitbox that acts well as an anti-air and can also be a combo starter. Its smash attacks are also reliable in their own right; its forward smash is quick for its range and power, down smash is an excellent punishment option for ledge regrabs, as well as sending at a low angle, and up smash is a potent combo finisher.

Greninja also has a very strong air game due to its aforementioned air speed and jump height. Greninja's aerials are reliable for multiple situations and all have low landing lag (except for down aerial, at 30 frames). Its neutral aerial is a decent low percent combo starter due to it having incredibly low landing lag and a good launch angle. It can also KO at high percentages. Its forward aerial acts as a combo finisher from its combo starters and can KO moderately early. Forward aerial's low landing lag and disjointed nature also make it safe on shield in many situations when spaced correctly. Its up aerial is a great juggling option with low all-around lag and boasting good KO potential near the upper blast line. Greninja can also utilize its multihits to drag down opponents to create tech chase and jab lock situations. Its back aerial is a very fast follow up or offstage edgeguarding option. Down aerial can be used as a mix up to return to the stage from far above, as well as perform surprise combos on hit with both its meteor smash and sourspot hitbox.

Greninja's grab game is overall very effective, due to its grabs being among the longest ranges of any non-tether grab in the game. Its forward, up, and back throws can KO at high percentages. Down throw acts as a middle percent combo starter, as well as a strong DI mix up, especially at higher percentages at ledge as a 50/50 between DI in and out in conjunction with forward throw. Up throw acts as a versatile combo starter that can lead to juggling situations. Because of this, Greninja has plenty of options off of a grab, as not one of its throws could be considered useless.

Finally, Greninja's special moves are effective in various situations. Water Shuriken acts as a versatile zoning tool, as well as a high-percentage KO option when fully charged. At low-to-mid percents, it is also a combo starter, allowing Greninja to rush down its opponent and follow up with any aerial attack or an up smash. Shadow Sneak works as an effective recovery mix up, as well as a potent KO move from a good read or pseudo-combo finisher. Despite lacking an offensive hitbox, Hydro Pump is a good recovery move for its long distance, and can be used for gimping recoveries due to having windbox properties. Substitute is a counterattack with the unique attribute of being able to be aimed in one of 8 different directions upon a successful counter. These angled follow ups allow for Greninja to gain pseudo-follow ups as well as KO earlier by picking the optimal angle in regards to stage positioning.

Like all characters, Greninja is flawed in many ways. One of Greninja's primary flaws is its inability to break out of disadvantage state. While not as bad as the previous game, Greninja still has difficulties escaping combos due to its fast falling speed and its aerials still having relatively high startup. This can sometimes be alleviated with its back or down aerials, but both are not very effective due to back aerial's almost entirely horizontal hitboxes and down aerial's landing lag. Another option is aerial Water Shuriken, which stalls Greninja in the air and can be used as a landing mix up, as well as Hydro Pump landing mix ups.

Greninja's biggest weakness however, is its terrible out of shield game, which is arguably the worst of the entire cast. Because of his high short hop, his aerials slow startup, and lacking a fast grab (although it has good range), Greninja lacks an effective out of shield option faster than frame 14. While his back aerial is fairly quick at frame 5 (making it frame 8 out of shield), it is unable to hit opponents in front of Greninja and is very inconsistent at hitting opponents behind Greninja due to his high short hop. Jumping or rolling out of shield are potential options to reset neutral, but they are very predictable and easily read. Thus, when Greninja is pinned down in shield, he has difficulty escaping the situation without being punished. Combined with his vulnerability to combos, this gives him an atrocious defensive game.

Altogether, Greninja's playstyle requires players to think like an actual ninja: utilizing Greninja's superb mobility and fast attacks to rush down opponents, saving the slower attacks for potential mixups, mindgames and surprise KO options, and remaining unpredictable to prevent being trapped into disadvantageous positions.

Changes from Super Smash Bros. 4

Greninja has been greatly buffed from Smash 4 to Ultimate. Its playstyle's traits have been further improved in the transition, while the general engine changes benefit said playstyle.

Most of the universal changes notably benefit Greninja. As with all other characters in the game, Greninja's already quick mobility is faster like most characters, which benefits its hit-and-run playstyle, allowing Greninja to close in the distance and escape to reset the neutral game much more easily. The ability to run cancel into any ground move allows Greninja to further exploit its amazing ground mobility, allowing for easier setups into its combo starters, such as up and 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. The implementation of spot dodge canceling improves its potential punish game, due to its wide variety of combo starters and fast frame data. Finally, the changes to air dodge mechanics slightly improve its previously below average edgeguarding game.

Aside from the universal changes, Greninja has also received notable direct buffs. The biggest ones were to its grab game: its standing grab is faster and its pummel, previously one of the worst in Smash 4, deals less damage but is significantly faster, which allows Greninja to deal much more damage before throwing the opponent. Greninja's forward throw has higher knockback, allowing it to KO in an emergency, as with up throw. Its up and down throws also have better combo and juggling potential due to the universal changes to mobility - down throw notably now allows for potential KO confirms into forward and back aerial. Other buffs include Water Shuriken having more range, improving Greninja's camping ability. Greninja now has a new down tilt that has lower ending lag and sends at more favorable angles, and its dash attack sends at a higher angle, further improving Greninja's combo game. Greninja's KO power has also been buffed, with forward smash and forward aerial receiving higher knockback, up smash connecting better into its second hit, and down smash having faster startup. Lastly, Substitute now slows opponents down and offers Greninja intangibility during all of its attack variations, bringing it in line with other counterattacks.

On the other hand, Greninja is not without its nerfs. Notably, the ability to tech footstools has made footstool combos harder to pull off, which hinders Greninja's combo ability (specifically from its down aerial); however, this nerf is alleviated by Greninja's buffed combo game, due to other universal changes that impact it more positively. Substitute's attack variants are all weaker while also being more laggy overall, which compensates for the attack's new intangibility. In exchange for its buffed mobility, Greninja is now lighter, which brings it slightly more in-line with other combo-centric and/or hit-and-run characters, while not compensating much for its vulnerability to combos.

As a result of receiving multiple buffs with relatively few nerfs, Greninja has improved significantly from Smash 4, and has retained its status as a viable character in Ultimate, with above average representation and some strong results in competitive play thanks to smashers such as iStudying, Jw, Lea, Somé, and Stroder. Because of this, Greninja is considered as a high or even top-tier character by many professional players.

Aesthetics

  • Change Greninja's model features a slightly more subdued color scheme, more closely resembling its appearance in recent mainline Pokémon games. Its body and tongue appear to have a glossy, wet sheen. The textures on Greninja's tongue have also been adjusted.
  • Change Greninja is slightly more expressive, squinting akin to how it does in the Pokémon anime in a few of his animations.
  • Change Every move that once used water katanas now uses water kunai, similar to when Ash's Greninja uses Cut in the Pokémon anime.
  • Change Greninja's tongue has less physics-based movement than the previous game.
  • Change Greninja has altered animations for its sidestep, roll, and airdodge animations; it now disappears in a small whirlwind with leaves scattering, similarly to when Substitute is successful.
  • Change Greninja's victory pose where it flips in the air and lands with its arms crossed has been altered: the camera doesn't move as much, causing Greninja's body to face away from the camera.

Attributes

  • Buff Like all characters, Greninja's jumpsquat animation takes 3 frames to complete (down from 4).
  • Buff Greninja walks faster (1.43 → 1.502).
  • Buff Greninja dashes faster (2.08 → 2.288).
    • Buff Its initial dash is significantly faster (1.6 → 2.178).
  • Buff Greninja's air speed is faster (1.18 → 1.239).
  • Nerf Greninja is lighter (94 → 88), worsening its survivability.
  • Buff Greninja's traction is higher (0.045 → 0.087).
  • Buff Forward roll has less ending lag (FAF 30 → 29).
  • Buff Back roll grants more intangibility (frames 4-14 → 4-15).
  • Nerf Back roll has more ending lag (FAF 33 → 34).
  • Buff Spot dodge has less ending lag (FAF 26 → 25).
  • Nerf Spot dodge has more startup with less intangibility (frames 2-16 → 3-16).
  • Buff Air dodge grants more intangibility (frames 2-26 → 2-27).
  • Nerf Air dodge has significantly more ending lag (FAF 32 → 42).
  • Nerf The changes to locking and the ability to tech aerial footstools hurts Greninja more than the rest of the cast, weakening notorious damage racking and KO setups it possessed in Smash 4.
  • Nerf The increased shieldstun, shield grab startup and shield drop lag further hinder Greninja's poor out of shield game, now being arguably the worst out of the cast, as unlike most other characters, all its options that can bypass shield drop lag are either too slow or, in the case of its back aerial, cannot hit most opponents on the ground.

Ground attacks

  • Neutral attack:
    • Buff The first two hits have lower knockback (hit 1: 30 base/30 scaling → 20 / 25/25/15/15; hit 2: 30 base/50 scaling → 20/ 25/25/20), and keep opponents on the ground (hit 1: 70°/60°/80° → 361°/361°/180°/361°; hit 2: 70°/60°/90° → 361°). This allows them to connect better and jab lock.
    • Nerf The first three hits have smaller hitboxes overall (hit 1: 3u/2.5u/3.5u → 2.0u/2.0u/2.2u/2.2u; hit 2: 3u/2.5u/4u → 2.5u/2.8u/3.0u; hit 3: 5u/3u/3u → 3u/3.4u/4u). This reduces their vertical range.
    • Buff The second hit deals more damage (1.6% → 2%).
    • Nerf The third hit deals less damage (3.5% → 3%), and thus less knockback.
    • Change The third hit uses stationary hitboxes rather than hitboxes connected to Greninja's arms.
    • Buff The infinite has faster startup (frame 6 → 4), a shorter gap between hits (4 frames → 3), and has reduced knockback scaling (40 → 10) while gaining a hitstun modifier of 2 on each hit, allowing it to connect much more reliably.
    • Buff The infinite has a lower hitlag multiplier (1× → 0.5×) and SDI multiplier (1.1× → 0.4×), making it harder to escape.
    • Change The infinite is comprised of one extended hitbox rather than two normal ones (size: 5.2u/6.2u → 5.5; Y/Z-offset: 7/7 → 7.5/7.5; Z-stretch: 13 → 14).
    • Change The infinite has gained a shieldstun multiplier of 4×. This allows it to lock opponents into their shields between each hit, and thus pressure them more effectively, but also allows them to cancel shieldstun and punish Greninja more easily if they shield 10 hits or more.
    • Change The infinite's finisher has three hitboxes instead of two, with different sizes (5.6u/6.6 → 4.2u/4.2u/4.8u) and positions (ID 0: 7 Y-offset/8 Z-offset → 7.5/9; ID 1: 7 Y-offset/16 Z-offset → 7.3/13 → ID 2: 7.5 Y-offset/16.5 Z-offset. This increases its horizontal range, but lowers its vertical range.
    • Change The infinite's finisher has reduced hitlag (3× → 2×).
  • Forward tilt:
    • Buff It deals more damage when angled (7.3% → 8.3%).
    • Change It has significantly altered knockback (angled up: 20/30/40 base / 110/90/70 scaling → 50 / 100/79/58; non-angled/angled down: 20/30/40 base / 110/90/70 scaling → 50 / 98/77/56).
      • Buff This improves its KO power if sweetspotted, especially when angled up, allowing it to KO middleweights at around 170% from center stage.
      • Nerf However, this hinders its KO power if sourspotted, and removes its ability to lock opponents at low percents.
  • Down tilt:
    • Change Greninja has a new down tilt: a downward hand sweep instead of a shin kick.
    • Buff It has less ending lag (FAF 27 → 23).
    • Buff It has altered knockback (60 base/40 scaling → 30/110). This slightly narrows its combo range at low percentages, but increases it from mid to higher ones, to the point it now allows for KO confirms at high percents.
    • Buff It launches opponents at a more upward angle (70° → 79°/77°/75°), further improving its combo potential at high percents.
    • Nerf It deals less damage (7% → 4%).
    • Nerf It has smaller hitboxes (4u/3.5u/3u → 3u/2.5u/3u), reducing its vertical range.
  • Dash attack:
    • Change The move has an altered animation with Greninja stopping halfway through the spin.
    • Buff It deals more damage (7% → 8%), with base knockback compensated (100 → 90).
    • Buff It has a longer hitbox duration (frames 7-10 → 7-11) and less ending lag (FAF 31 → 29).
    • Buff It sends at a higher angle (60° → 70°). Combined with its lower ending lag and base knockback, this improves its combo ability.
  • Forward smash:
    • Buff It deals more knockback (30 base/101 scaling → 35/104).
  • Up smash:
    • Buff The first hit has a new hitbox that only hits grounded opponents with significantly reduced knockback (30 base/120 scaling → 20/10) and SDI multiplier (1× → 0.5×), whereas the previous hitbox can now only hit aerial opponents and has reduced knockback scaling (120 → 90). This makes the first hit connect more consistently into the second hit, no longer failing against opponents on platforms above Greninja.
  • Down smash:
    • Buff The move has much less startup lag (frame 16 → 11), with its total duration reduced as well (FAF 55 → 50).
    • Buff The arms' hitboxes have been extended towards Greninja (Z-stretch: 0 → 7), and the move has one additional hitbox at each side during the last active frame, removing its blindspots.

Aerial attacks

  • Buff All aerials have less landing lag (12 frames → 7 (neutral), 15 → 11 (forward), 13 → 10 (back), 15 → 14 (up), 32 → 30 (down)).
  • Neutral aerial:
    • Buff The move has considerably less ending lag (FAF 65 → 53), making it much less likely to cause a self-destruct offstage.
    • Buff The late hit has a longer duration (frames 14-16 → 14-19).
  • Forward aerial:
    • Buff It has much more knockback scaling (84 → 95), allowing it to KO roughly 20% earlier.
    • Buff The move has a new, smaller extended hitbox directly in front of Greninja (size: 3u; Y/Z-offset: 7.5/8; Y-stretch: 8.5), removing its blindspot.
    • Nerf The move's two other hitboxes are smaller (5.4u/4.4u → 4.7u/3.7u), and one of them is offset further from Greninja (Y-offset: -7 → -8), creating a new blindspot between them.
  • Back aerial:
    • Buff The move has less ending lag (FAF 46 → 41).
    • Buff It has bigger hitboxes (hits 1 and 2: 5u/4u/2u → 5.5u/4.3u/2.5u; hit 3: 5.8u/4.5u/2u → 5.8u/4.5u/2.5u).
    • Buff The last two hits have less startup (hit 2: frame 8 → 7; hit 3: frame 13 → 11).
    • Buff The first hit sends at different angles, one of them being a different autolink angle (365°/30°/30° → 367°/35°/35°). This allows it to connect better into the second hit.
    • Buff The third hit deals more damage (4% → 6%), with its knockback scaling not fully compensated (120 → 95), allowing it to KO slightly earlier.
  • Up aerial:
    • Buff The fifth hit uses the autolink angle like the previous hits (85° → 367°), allowing it to connect more reliably into the final hit, and increasing the move's window for drag-down setups.
    • Buff The first five hits have more base knockback (45 → 55), and the fifth hit no longer uses set knockback. This is overall beneficial to the move, as it inflicts more hitstun to opponents that further facilitates drag-down setups, without drastically disrupting its linking ability due to using the autolink angle.
  • Down aerial:
    • Buff The move has less ending lag if it misses (FAF 57 → 52), making it slightly safer to use offstage.
    • Buff Greninja no longer loses its double jump when hitting with the move.
    • Nerf It has more ending lag when it hits an opponent (FAF 13 → 21), hindering its combo potential and making it less safe on shield.
    • Nerf Its hitboxes are smaller (clean: 6u → 4.3u; late: 7u → 5.2u) and higher up (Y-offset: -2 → 0.1), reducing its range.

Throws and other attacks

  • Grab:
    • Nerf All grabs have more ending lag (standing: FAF 30 → 39; dash: 40 → 47; pivot: 36 → 42).
    • Buff Standing and pivot grab have one frame faster startup (standing: frame 11 → 10; pivot: frame 15 → 14).
    • Nerf Dash grab has slower startup (frame 9 → 13).
    • Nerf Dash grab's grabbox doesn't extend out as far (Z-stretch: 20 → 17.5), reducing its range.
    • Buff Pivot grab's grabbox extends further (Z-stretch: -22 → -25.3), increasing its range. It is now the largest non-tether pivot grab in the game.
  • Pummel:
    • Buff Pummel deals more hitlag (4 frames → 11), but has less startup (frame 6 → 2) and significantly ending lag (FAF 27 → 8). It is now one of the fastest pummels in the game, rather than one of the slowest.
    • Nerf It deals less damage (2% → 1%).
  • Change The speed of Greninja's forward, back, and up throws is no longer weight-dependent. This improves up throw's combo potential against heavyweights, but worsens it against lightweights.
  • Forward throw:
    • Buff The move has gained a hitbox before the throw, increasing its damage (5% → 3.5% (hit 1), 4.5% (throw); 8% total) and allowing it to hit bystanders.
    • Buff It launches at a lower angle (50° → 40°) with much more knockback overall (70 base/45 scaling → 65/100), to the point it has above-average knockback for a forward throw rather than being one of the weakest in the game, greatly improving its utility for setting up edgeguards and KOing at very high percents.
  • Back throw:
    • Buff Back throw deals more damage (8% → 9%).
    • Change It has an altered animation: Greninja turns towards the screen instead of remaining facing forward, and swings its arms horizontally towards its back to toss the opponent.
  • Up throw:
    • Buff Up throw has one frame less ending lag (FAF 44 → 43).
  • Down throw:
    • Buff Down throw has less ending lag (FAF 43 → 38), improving its combo potential.
  • Edge attack:
    • Buff Edge attack deals more damage (7% → 9%).
  • Down taunt:
    • Nerf Down taunt has much more ending lag (FAF 80 → 110), further reducing its very limited utility.
    • Nerf Greninja now suffers hitlag when down taunt connects, but the opponent only suffers hitlag on the ground, as the air only hitboxes are flinchless, and thus cannot inflict hitlag. This effectively reduces the move's hit rate.

Special moves

  • Water Shuriken:
    • Buff Water Shuriken has slightly increased range.
    • Buff Opponents don't fall out of the fully charged shuriken as much as before.
    • Nerf Uncharged Water Shuriken has less knockback scaling (85 → 45).
    • Change Water Shuriken looks sharper.
  • Shadow Sneak:
    • Buff It can now be used multiple times in midair.
    • Buff Shadow Sneak's shadow travels faster.
    • Buff Both attack variants have less startup.
    • Buff Forward Shadow Sneak has a new animation: it is a forward kick instead of a handstand kick. It launches at a much lower angle (48° → 36°), improving its KO potential.
    • Change Greninja now cloaks itself in a whirlwind before disappearing.
    • Nerf Shadow Sneak stalls less in the air (initial vertical boost: 2.1 → 1.8), hindering its recovery usage.
    • Nerf The shadow is notably darker, and the shadow's eyes flash red just before release. This makes it easier to predict the attack.
  • Hydro Pump:
    • Change Hydro Pump now has an arrow pointing in the direction of travel, similar to Pikachu's Quick Attack and Pichu's Agility.
    • Buff Hydro Pump can now be ledge-cancelled.
    • Buff Greninja no longer loses its double jump if it is hit out of Hydro Pump.
    • Nerf The water shots have considerably reduced knockback (65 (base)/100(scaling) → 60/80), and smaller hitboxes (6u → 4.7u), greatly reducing the move's offensive utility.
  • Substitute:
    • Buff The counter window is longer (frames 8-29 → 8-34).
    • Nerf It has more ending lag if it misses (FAF 65 → 70).
    • Buff Substitute slows down the opponent when the attack activates, allowing the attack to land more consistently.
    • Buff All of the attack's variants have one frame faster startup (frame 41 → 40).
    • Buff All of the attack's variants now grant Greninja intangibility during the attack (frames 1-37 → 1-56).
    • Nerf All of the attack's variants have slightly more ending lag (FAF 85 → 87).
    • Nerf The side variant has much less knockback scaling (100 → 85).
    • Nerf The up and diagonal up variants deal less damage (up: 14% → 13%; diagonal up: 13% → 12%) and have less knockback scaling (both: 100 → 95), noticeably hindering their KO power.
    • Nerf The down variant deals less damage (14% → 13%) and has less knockback (grounded: 100 scaling → 95; aerial: 50 base/100 scaling → 25/65). This hinders its KO power; particularly, the aerial version is no longer among the strongest meteor smashes in the game.
    • Nerf The diagonal down variant deals less damage (13% → 12%) without compensation on knockback, hindering its KO power.
    • Change Substitute has more vibrant particle effects.
  • Secret Ninja Attack:
    • Change Greninja now turns into Ash-Greninja during its Final Smash.
    • Change Greninja and its opponents are no longer silhouetted during the attack.
    • Nerf The final hit has considerably less knockback scaling (160 → 125), reducing the move's KO potential to the point where it is now weaker than the similar final smashes of Robin and Mii Brawler, both of which also deal less knockback now.

Update history

Greninja has received a mix of minor buffs and nerfs via game updates. Several glitches have also been fixed over time.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate 1.2.0

  • Bug fix A visual glitch with Greninja's screen KO has been fixed.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate 2.0.0

  • Buff Down smash has a larger internal hitbox (Z offset: 0u → 0u-7u).
  • Nerf Hydro Pump no longer instantly cancels Greninja's endlag when landing on a moving or slanted platform.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate 3.0.0

  • Nerf Water Shuriken deals less shield damage (0 → (-1.5 to -5.5)/-4.5 (uncharged/fully charged, hit 6)).

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate 3.1.0

  • Bug fix Fixed an unknown glitch that resulted in Greninja sliding while shielding.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate 4.0.0

  • Change Greninja nows immediately descends when using down aerial after being launched, rather than air stalling.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate 7.0.0

  • Buff Overall shield size has been increased by 1.206×.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate 8.0.0

  • Buff Pummel has a larger hitbox (5u → 6u), allowing it to connect more consistently.

Moveset

For a gallery of Greninja's hitboxes, see here.

Note: All numbers are listed as base damage, without the 1v1 multiplier.

  Name Damage Description
Neutral attack   2% Two alternating palm thrusts followed by a double palm thrust that emits a small blast of water. If button mashed, it is instead followed by a series of knifehand strikes that emit blade-shaped water blasts that concludes with an outward knifehand strike that emits a wide blast of water. It can also be jab canceled, such as into forward tilt, down tilt and forward smash.
2%
3%
0.5% (loop), 2% (last)
Forward tilt   7.3% A hook kick which stops half way. It can be angled and can lock opponents.
Up tilt   4.5% Swings its tongue upwards. A good aerial combo starter and juggling tool due to its low knockback and somewhat disjointed hitbox. It can combo into itself at low percents and is a reliable way to connect into up aerial.
Down tilt   4% Does a downward hand sweep. It sends opponents at an upward angle, making it a versatile combo starter. Notably, it can confirm a KO into an up smash rather easily.
Dash attack   8% Does a sweep kick. Is arguably one of the best dash attacks in the game, as it launches opponents at an excellent angle for combos, making it one of Greninja's best combo starters. Can set up up aerial strings or drag-down combos with up aerial.
Forward smash   14% An inward slash with a water kunai. Deals good knockback and has good range. However, it has notable ending lag.
Up smash   5% (hit 1), 14% (hit 2 clean center), 11% (hit 2 clean sides), 10% (hit 2 late) Two reverse gripped inward slashes with water kunai, similar to Sheik's up smash. Greninja's strongest finisher, especially when hit clean. Can be combo'd into from a down-tilt at specific percentages for a KO.
Down smash   13% (kunai), 11% (arms) Hits both sides with water kunai. Due to it sending opponents at an semi-spike angle and coming out on frame 11, it is a quick and effective way to set up an edge-guard situation.
Neutral aerial   11% (clean), 6% (late) Strikes a ninjutsu pose while emitting an exploding water bubble. Despite noticeable start-up lag for a neutral aerial(frame 12), it boasts great combo potential at low to mid percentages with its strong and weak hits and can KO confirm into up-smash at high percents with the weak hit. It can also KO at very high percents with its strong hit.
Forward aerial   14% Slashes with a water kunai. It has some start-up and suffers from high end lag, but it is a great tool in the neutral for spacing due to its disjointed hitbox and can be used for edgeguarding and KOing. It is also safe on shield if spaced correctly.
Back aerial   3% (hit 1), 2.5% (hit 2), 6% (hit 3) Kicks backwards three times. It is Greninja's fastest aerial attack, although it is also one of the weakest aerials of its kind. However, this makes it a useful combo tool in return. It can be a situational out-of-shield option if the opponent crosses-up on its shield.
Up aerial   1.3% (hits 1-5), 3% (hit 6) Does a upward corkscrew kick, similar to both Sheik's and Joker's up aerials. One of Greninja's best combo and KO tools, as it can juggle and KO effectively due to its great jumping prowess. It also allows for drag-down combos because it's multi-hit properties, although this requires precise timing to autocancel it at the right time, as it has too much base landing lag to set up drag-down combos otherwise.
Down aerial   8% A diving double foot stomp. It acts as a stall-then-fall and bounces off opponents. The clean hit meteor smashes opponents while the late hit sends the opponent upwards, allowing for some situational combos. The descent can be stalled by using Water Shuriken.
Grab   Grabs with a whirlpool. While its standing grab is slow, it is among the longest-reaching grabs in the game, and its dash grab comes out quickly for its range.
Pummel   1% Compresses target with water. Decent speed.
Forward throw   3.5% (hit 1), 4.5% (throw) Shoves the opponent forward. Can KO at high percentages.
Back throw   9% Greninja leans forward and flings the opponent backwards. Like forward throw, its decent knockback gives it good edgeguarding and KO potential at high percentages.
Up throw   5% Tosses the opponent upwards. One of Greninja's most useful throws, as it can combo into a up tilt, up aerial, up smash at low and medium percents and can even KO at later percents.
Down throw   5% Slams the opponent onto the ground. It can combo into a down tilt, forward tilt, forward smash, dash attack and a Shadow Sneak at low percentages. It can also combo into forward aerial at higher percentages with good timing.
Floor attack (front)   8% Sweep kicks around itself while getting up.
Floor attack (back)   8% Sweep kicks around itself while getting up.
Floor attack (trip)   8% Sweep kicks around itself while getting up.
Edge attack   9% Performs a roundhouse kick while climbing up.
Neutral special Water Shuriken 3%-10.8% (uncharged), 1.0% (fully charged looping hits), 9% (fully charged final hit) Uses Water Shuriken, which can be charged. Depending on how long the move is charged, the shuriken will be larger and do more damage, however the speed and distance will decrease as a result. At full charge, it hits multiple times and is a decent KOing option. A fully charged water shuriken that is reflected at a higher speed will have trouble landing the final hit on Greninja because of the looping hits not moving Greninja far enough for it.
Side special Shadow Sneak 10% (normal), 12% (reverse) Disappears briefly, then preforms a forward kick or a drop kick (relative to the user's reappearance in relation to the enemy) to attack. The move activates when the special button is released. The way the shadow moves is relative to Greninja's position, and it can be moved further or closer to change how far Greninja teleports. While performing Shadow Sneak, Greninja cannot run, attack, grab, dodge or shield. However, it can walk slowly, jump and taunt. Has strong knockback and base knockback, which allows it to kill notably early when edge-guarding with the move.
Up special Hydro Pump 2% (per shot) Uses Hydro Pump to propel itself in the inputted direction; it can be used twice. Each shot has a windbox effect that pushes opponents, making it a decent option for gimping predictable recoveries.
Down special Substitute 14% (up or down), 11% (left or right) Does a pose, and if anyone hits it while posing, Greninja will temporarily disappear, get replaced by a wooden log or a Substitute doll, and then appear behind the opponent and strike them. It deviates noticeably from other counters, as the attack itself can be angled in an inputted direction and launching the opponent in that direction (with the down input meteor smashing opponents, which makes it a good punish against reckless edgeguarders).
Final Smash Secret Ninja Attack 6% (the mat), 50% (Total in the attack after mat) Turns into Ash-Greninja and attacks the opponent with a mat. If an opponent is caught in the mat, Greninja will send them up into the air and strike the opponent repeatedly in midair with its kunai, before slamming them down with a final hit.
Down taunt 0.5% While standing on one foot, Greninja holds out its hands, faces the screen, and summons small sprays of water. The sprays produce some knockback, though they're able to KO only at above 420%. A video showing the exact KO percentages at which each character can be KO'd can be found here. Unlike the rest of Greninja's taunts, this one cannot be cancelled (unless Shadow Sneak is being charged before using it).

On-screen appearance

  • Emerges from a Poké Ball, then performs a ninjutsu hand sign that emits a small burst of water from its hands.

Taunts

  • Up Taunt: Stands upright, clasping its hands together before assuming a ninjutsu stance. The stance resembles one of its attack animations from the Pokémon series.
  • Side Taunt: Shakes head from side to side, causing its tongue to whip out in the same directions. Particles of saliva fly off with each whip.
  • Down Taunt: Poses with arms out and palms upward, and summons small sprays of water from them, which deal a small amount of damage.

Idle Poses

  • Crosses arms over its body, then separates them with a flourish.
  • Hunches over and assumes a ninjutsu stance.

Crowd cheer

Cheer (English) Cheer (Japanese/Chinese) Cheer (Italian) Cheer (Dutch) Cheer (French)
Cheer
Custom combination of the flags of Canada, the USA, and Mexico.

Source, tweaked to fix rendering issues
Description Gre - ninja! Ge - kkou -ga! Gre - nin - ja! Gre - ninja! Am - phi - no - bi!
Cheer (German) Cheer (Spanish) Cheer (Russian) Cheer (Korean)
Cheer
Custom combination of the flags of Canada, the USA, and Mexico.

Source, tweaked to fix rendering issues
Description Quaaaaa - jutsu! Greninja! Greninja! Ya ya ya! Gre - ninja! Gae - gul - nin - ja!

Victory poses

  • Left: Does a few hand seals with splashing water, and then a ninja pose. It resembles one of its attack animations in Pokémon X and Y.
  • Up: Performs Double Team to briefly create three afterimages of itself.
  • Right: Does a flip, lands in a spinning pose, and crosses its arms.
A small excerpt of the title theme of Pokémon Red, Blue, Yellow, and Green Versions, a track which would go on to become the Pokémon main theme and the title theme for the entire series.

In competitive play

In the early metagame, players quickly noticed that Greninja had been buffed from Smash 4, with improved versatility and speed and, despite losing its footstool combos, gained a stronger combo game thanks to improved frame data on moves such as dash attack, up throw, down throw, and neutral air. Despite this, Greninja is not a very popular pick due to its high learning curve. Nevertheless, smashers such as Stroder, Venia, Jw, and Lea have proven that the character is a very viable pick, and Greninja has been solidified as a upper high-tier character.

Most historically significant players

Any number following the Smasher name indicates placement on the Fall 2019 PGRU, which recognizes the official top 50 players in the world in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate from July 13th, 2019 to December 15th, 2019.

See also: Category:Greninja professionals (SSBU)

Classic Mode: Your Turn, Greninja!

Greninja's congratulations screen.

Greninja fights against characters that represent different types from the Pokémon games: for example, Charizard and Bowser represent the Fire type, while Mewtwo, Ness and Lucas represent the Psychic type.

Round Opponent Stage Music Notes
1 CharizardHeadSSBU.png Charizard and BowserHeadSSBU.png Bowser Pokémon Stadium Battle! (Elite Four) / Battle! (Solgaleo/Lunala) Represents Fire-type. Charizard's Pokémon Trainer is absent.
2 PikachuHeadSSBU.png Pikachu, PichuHeadSSBU.png Pichu, and ZeroSuitSamusHeadSSBU.png Zero Suit Samus Pokémon Stadium 2 Battle! (Steven) Represents Electric-type.
3 LucarioHeadSSBU.png Lucario, RyuHeadSSBU.png Ryu, and KenHeadSSBU.png Ken Pokémon Stadium Battle! (Reshiram / Zekrom) Represents Fighting-type.
4 IvysaurHeadSSBU.png Ivysaur Pokémon Stadium Battle! (Gladion) Represents Grass-type. Ivysaur's Pokémon Trainer is absent.
5 MewtwoHeadSSBU.png Mewtwo, NessHeadSSBU.png Ness, and LucasHeadSSBU.png Lucas Pokémon Stadium 2 Battle! (Dialga/Palkia) / Spear Pillar Represents Psychic-type.
6 SquirtleHeadSSBU.png Squirtle and GreninjaHeadBlackSSBU.png Greninja Kalos Pokémon League Battle! (Champion) - Pokémon X / Pokémon Y Represents Water-type. Squirtle's Pokémon Trainer is absent. The CPU will be the GreninjaHeadSSBU.png default Greninja if the player chooses the black costume.
Bonus Stage
Final Master Hand Final Destination Master Hand (Less than 7.0 intensity)
Master Hand / Crazy Hand (Intensity 7.0 or higher)
On intensity 7.0 and higher, Crazy Hand fights alongside Master Hand.

Note: All rounds except the sixth round take place on Pokémon Stadium and Pokémon Stadium 2. If applicable, each stage will also shift to their appropriately-typed form at the earliest possible opportunity. (The stages remain in their default form in rounds 3 and 5, as none of the stages have Psychic or Fighting-themed forms.)

Credits roll after completing Classic Mode. Completing it as Greninja has Battle! (Trainer Battle) - Pokémon X / Pokémon Y accompany the credits.

Role in World of Light

Greninja's location in World of Light.
Finding Greninja in World of Light

Greninja was among the fighters that were summoned to fight the army of Master Hands.

During the opening cutscene, Greninja was present on the cliffside when Galeem unleashed his beams of light. Greninja leaped into the air to avoid one of the beams, which hit Lucario instead. Greninja was hit shortly after and vaporized, getting imprisoned by Galeem afterward along with the other fighters, sans Kirby. A puppet fighter cloned from Greninja is later seen alongside ones cloned from Fox, Samus, Link and other fighters.

Greninja was one of the many fighters that fell under Dharkon's control upon Galeem's first defeat, and it can be found in the Mysterious Dimension at The Dark Realm. It can be seen impeding the path, making it an obligatory unlock.

Greninja is later seen among several other fighters, making their last stand against Galeem and Dharkon. It also shows up in the bad ending where Galeem emerges victorious against Dharkon, witnessing Galeem engulf the world in light.

Fighter Battle

No. Image Name Type Power Stage Music
50
Greninja SSBU.png
Greninja
Shield
Shield
10,600 Kalos Pokémon League (Ω form) Battle! (Trainer Battle) - Pokémon X / Pokémon Y

Template:-

Spirit

Greninja's fighter spirit can be obtained by completing Classic Mode. It is also available periodically for purchase in the shop for 500 coins. Unlocking Greninja in World of Light allows the player to preview the spirit below in the Spirit List under the name "???". As a fighter spirit, it cannot be used in Spirit Battles and is purely aesthetic. Each fighter spirit has an alternate version that replaces them with their artwork in Ultimate.

In Spirit battles

As the main opponent

Spirit Battle parameters Inspiration
No. Image Name Series Enemy Fighter(s) Type Power Stage Rules Conditions Music Character
154
SSBU spirit Winky.png
Winky Donkey Kong Series Greninja GreninjaHeadGreenSSBU.png
Attack
1,700 Mushroom Kingdom U N/A •The enemy deals damage when falling
•The enemy has increased jump power
Jungle Level (Brawl)
199
SSBU spirit Zora.png
Zora The Legend of Zelda Series Greninja GreninjaHeadVioletSSBU.png
Shield
1,800 Great Bay N/A •The enemy's neutral special has increased power Ocarina of Time Medley
385
SSBU spirit Slippy Toad.png
Slippy Toad Star Fox Series Greninja GreninjaHeadGreenSSBU.png
Fox FoxHeadBlackSSBU.png
Shield
9,600 Frigate Orpheon (hazards off) N/A •Defeat the main fighter to win
•Timed battle (1:30)
•The enemy tends to avoid conflict
Corneria - Star Fox
482
SSBU spirit Raikou, Entei, & Suicune.png
Raikou, Entei, & Suicune Pokémon Series Greninja GreninjaHeadVioletSSBU.png
Incineroar IncineroarHeadWhiteSSBU.png
Pikachu PikachuHeadLibreSSBU.png
Shield
9,900 Suzaku Castle •Hazard: Lava Floor •The floor is lava Pokémon Red / Pokémon Blue Medley Suicune
516
SSBU spirit Darkrai.png
Darkrai Pokémon Series Greninja GreninjaHeadBlackSSBU.png
Shield
9,900 Luigi's Mansion (Ω form) •Item: Black Hole
•Hazard: Slumber Floor
•The floor is sleep-inducing
•Only certain Pokémon will emerge from Poké Balls (Darkrai)
Battle! (Team Galactic)
770
from the game files
Metal Gear RAY Metal Gear Solid Series •Metal Greninja GreninjaHeadGreySSBU.png (140 HP)
Grab
4,200 Shadow Moses Island •Item: Exploding Types Stamina battle
•Explosion attacks aren't as effective against the enemy
•The enemy is metal
Yell "Dead Cell"
893
SSBU spirit Shadow Man.png
Shadow Man Mega Man Series Greninja GreninjaHeadPurpleSSBU.png×3 (60 HP)
Shield
3,500 Norfair (Battlefield form) N/A •The enemy's neutral special has increased power
Stamina battle
•The enemy favors neutral specials
Shadow Man Stage
1,014
SSBU spirit Luka.png
Luka Bayonetta Series Greninja GreninjaHeadBlackSSBU.png
Shield
3,800 New Donk City Hall •Temporary Invincibility •The enemy becomes temporarily invincible when badly damaged Riders Of The Light
1,048
from the game's files
Octoling Octopus Splatoon Series Greninja Team GreninjaHeadPinkSSBU.png×4
Shield
3,900 Moray Towers N/A •Timed battle (2:00) Octoweaponry
1,143
Sable Prince
Frog & Snake Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru Greninja GreninjaHeadGreenSSBU.png
King K. Rool KingKRoolHeadBlueSSBU.png
Shield
3,600 Dream Land GB (Castle Lololo interior) •Assist Trophy Enemies (Sablé Prince) •Hostile assist trophies will appear Kirby Retro Medley (Castle Lololo) Frog
1,291
Ninjara
Ninjara ARMS Greninja GreninjaHeadGreenSSBU.png
Grab
3,600 Suzaku Castle •Item: Boomerang •The enemy has increased move speed Ninja College
Mii Brawler MiiBrawlerHeadSSBU.png (Moveset 2313, Ninjara Wig, Ninjara Outfit)[SB 1]
  1. ^ This alternative occurs when the corresponding DLC has been purchased and downloaded.

Alternate costumes

Greninja Palette (SSBU).png
GreninjaHeadSSBU.png GreninjaHeadRedSSBU.png GreninjaHeadPinkSSBU.png GreninjaHeadBlackSSBU.png GreninjaHeadVioletSSBU.png GreninjaHeadGreenSSBU.png GreninjaHeadGreySSBU.png GreninjaHeadPurpleSSBU.png

Gallery

Fighter Showcase Video

Trivia

  • In the Pokémon series, Ash-Greninja is only obtainable as a male. The fact that Greninja transforms into Ash-Greninja for its Final Smash, Secret Ninja Attack, implies that Greninja is a male in Ultimate.
  • Greninja's new character portrait resembles its air dodge animation.
    • It also resembles Fox's character portrait from Super Smash Bros. 4 but with the arm and leg positions mirrored.
  • Greninja's fighter number, 50, is the same as the number of its costume in Super Mario Maker. It shares this distinction with Inkling.
  • Greninja, Ivysaur, Olimar, Little Mac, Ryu and Ken are the only characters to never appear as minions in any Spirit battles.
  • Alongside Luigi, Greninja is one of two characters in Ultimate with a taunt that cannot be cancelled, due to the fact that their non-cancelable taunts have hitboxes.
    • Greninja and Luigi are also the only two characters whose Classic Mode titles feature their names.
    • Strangely, this does not apply for Snake and Kazuya's taunts that have damaging hitboxes
  • Greninja can also be unlocked immediately after clearing Classic Mode as Sheik, referencing their ninja-like traits and movements.
  • Greninja appears slightly tilted in its damage meter compared to its character artwork. This distinction is shared with fellow Pokémon series character Incineroar.
    • Coincidentally, both are final evolutions of starter Pokémon and both have Dark as their secondary type.
    • Both are also found and unlocked in the Dark Realm in World of Light.
  • Incineroar and Jigglypuff are the only Pokémon that are not encountered in Greninja's Classic Mode route.
  • Oddly, Greninja does not vanish when performing a directional air dodge despite the sound effects playing. It shares this oddity with Rosalina & Luma and Palutena.
  • In Ultimate, Greninja has a weight of 88, which almost matches its weight in Pokémon (in pounds), being 88.2 lbs.