Ash's Greninja: Difference between revisions

In ''[[XY052|A Stealthy Challenge!]]'', Froakie was training with Ash and Pikachu until Bonnie noticed Sanpei in the water, and went to rescue him and his {{p|Greninja}}, who were previously attacked by [[Saizo]] and his {{p|Barbaracle}}. After thwarting another attack, the group decided to aid Sanpei in finding a mansion so he could deliver a secret document given to him by his mentor. After saving Clemont from falling via his Frubbles and then being separated from Clemont, Bonnie and {{an|Serena}} in a cave full of {{p|Golbat}}, Froakie and Greninja encountered Saizo once more in a rematch but neither their joint attacks or the involvement of Pikachu gave them the upper hand. After being trapped in some rocks by Barbaracle's {{m|Mud-Slap}}, which had also blinded Pikachu and Greninja, Froakie broke free and evolved into a Frogadier, managing to weaken the Collective Pokémon using its newly-learned {{m|Aerial Ace}} before Saizo fled the battle. After reaching the mansion, it was revealed that Saizo was in fact Sanpei's mentor, who had been testing his student and that the document was actually blank. Frogadier and Greninja had a battle at the end of the episode, though the outcome is unknown.

In ''[[XY075|Rivals: Today and Tomorrow!]]'', Ash used Frogadier as his third Pokémon in his three versus three battle against Sawyer. It went up against {{p|Treecko}}, despite the type-disadvantage. Frogadier hit Treecko with a super-effective speedy Aerial Ace, surprising Sawyer. Treecko then hit Frogadier with Bullet Seed. Treecko kept using Bullet Seed while moving, which Frogadier struggled to dodge. Treecko then used {{m|Agility}} in an attempt to outspeed it, but Frogadier was able to stop it by hitting Treecko with a Water Pulse. Agitated, Treecko suddenly evolved into {{p|Grovyle}}, learning {{m|Leaf Blade}} in the process. Frogadier used Double Team, of which Leaf Blade destroyed the copies. This, however, left Grovyle open for a surprise Aerial Ace from behind by Frogadier. After dodging more Leaf Blades, Frogadier used Cut as Grovyle used Leaf Blade which cancelled each other out. Grovyle then used its jumping abilities to jump in the air and use Bullet Seed, but it was countered by Water Pulse. This created smoke which allowed Frogadier to get into the air and counter attack with Water Pulse from behind, defeating the Wood Gecko Pokémon. After the battle, both Frogadier and Grovyle were impressed with the other's abilities and developed a rivalry with each other.

In ''[[XY102|Meeting at Terminus Cave!]]'', Greninja was used by Ash to retrieve [[Squishy]], who was captured by Team Rocket at the time. Greninja quickly retrieved it and returned it to Bonnie, after easily dodging the {{m|Cross Poison}} and the {{m|Stone Edge}} fired at it by [[Celosia]]'s {{p|Drapion}} and [[Bryony]]'s Bisharp, respectively. After Squishy defeated [[Team Flare]]'s Pokémon and ran away, Greninja battled Celosia's {{p|Manectric}} and Bryony's {{p|Liepard}}, who chased after Squishy. Greninja blocked Liepard's Shadow Claw with Cut, but while locked in combat with Liepard, it got hit by Manectric's {{m|Thunderbolt}}. Greninja refused to give up, however, and transformed to its Ash-Greninja form. It easily beat back Manectric and Liepard with its great speed and power, forcing Team Flare to retreat. During the battle it was shown that Ash and Greninja share each others pain and exhaustion while Greninja was in its Ash-Greninja form. Afterwards, Greninja and Ash fell to their knees in exhaustion.

[[File:Ash and Greninja.png|thumb|left|250px|Ash and Greninja]]

Their training was seen in ''[[XY118|Championing a Research Battle!]]'', where the two raced through a forest in order to boost their stamina. When [[Diantha]] arrived to inform Ash and his friends about {{p|Zygarde}}, she also requested a battle with Ash and Greninja after hearing of Greninja's special power. Greninja had a hard time battling her {{p|Gardevoir}} at first, as Gardevoir easily dodged its moves without even needing verbal orders from Diantha. Greninja then used Double Team to avoid an incoming {{m|Shadow Ball}}, but Gardevoir quickly fired off several Shadow Balls to destroy all copies and hit Greninja. After its Water Shuriken was dodged again, it managed to dodge Gardevoir's {{m|Moonblast}}, but was blown back into a tree by the blast caused by Moonblast's impact. Greninja then fired off two Water Shurikens, which again were easily dodged. It, however, managed to distract Gardevoir by launching a third one, allowing it to emerge from the smoke and hit the Embrace Pokémon with Cut. Greninja and Ash then reached the point where they could transform into Ash-Greninja. Diantha was greatly impressed by its special form, as Greninja started to gain the upper hand, being able to push Gardevoir back by overpowering its Shadow Ball with Cut. After a collision between Water Shuriken and Shadow Ball, Gardevoir proceeded to dodge Greninja's attacks again. This time, however, Greninja was able to keep up with Gardevoir's speedy movements and struck it with another Cut. As Greninja headed in using Aerial Ace, Diantha finally had Gardevoir Mega Evolve and repel Greninja's attack. Launched into the air, Greninja fired a Water Shuriken, which Gardevoir countered with Shadow Ball, the attacks colliding with equal force. Another Aerial Ace was then blocked by Gardevoir's {{m|Reflect}}, but Greninja immediately after used Double Team and Cut to push Gardevoir back, even through its Reflect. After destroying a Shadow Ball with Aerial Ace, Ash and Greninja reached Ash-Greninja's Final form, and the water veil that surrounded Greninja turned into a massive, back-mounted shuriken, much to everyone's shock. Greninja then attacked with its new shuriken while Gardevoir fired another Shadow Ball. This time, however, Greninja's Water Shuriken proved stronger and knocked Gardevoir off her feet. However, before the battle could progress any further, both Greninja and Ash passed out again from exhaustion. As a result, Gardevoir had to fend off Team Rocket while the two regained consciousness. Greninja and Ash soon recovered, and vowed to fully master their newfound transformation.

In ''[[XY120|All Hail the Ice Battlefield!]]'', Greninja was Ash's final Pokémon used in his Gym battle against [[Wulfric]] and faced his {{p|Avalugg}}. Although damaged by the {{weather|Hail}}, which also gave Avalugg recovery because of its {{a|Ice Body}} ability, Greninja used its great speed to hit Avalugg with a strong Cut, after dodging the incoming {{m|Stone Edge}}. It then attacked with Aerial Ace, which Avalugg countered with {{m|Gyro Ball}}, repelling Greninja. Greninja then fired several Water Shurikens at Avalugg's feet while the latter kept spinning to shield itself. The cold, however, froze Avalugg's wet feet to the ground, leaving it wide open for another Cut. Now having gained the upper hand, Ash and Greninja were able to activate the Ash-Greninja form and completely overwhelmed Avalugg, sending it sliding backwards with a series of powerful hits from Aerial Ace. Wulfric, however, used Greninja's now even greater speed to his advantage by commanding Avalugg to use {{m|Avalanche}}, which was powered up due to Avalugg acting after its opponent, causing Ash visible pain. Greninja was then able to hit Avalugg with Cut after tearing through its Stone Edge, but Avalugg immediately retaliated by knocking Greninja in the air with another Stone Edge. After another exchange of blows with Aerial Ace and Avalanche, Greninja attacked with another Cut, but this time Avalugg caught it with {{m|Ice Fang}}, slowly freezing Greninja. Unable to escape Avalugg's fangs, Greninja was left vulnerable to a Gyro Ball, sending it flying into the Gym's wall, knocking it out, causing Ash to fall down as well. Ash later on oversaw Greninja lying unconscious in the [[Pokémon Center]], blaming himself for their loss. Ash decides to leave Greninja and walked off into the [[Kalos Route 20|Winding Woods]] alone.  

It was [[XY121|later]] revealed that Greninja was awake while Ash talked to it in the Pokémon Center and the following morning, Serena, Clemont and Bonnie found out it had left on its own as well. While sitting in a tree somewhere in the Winding Woods, Greninja thought back to its losses against Sawyer's Sceptile and Wulfric's Avalugg, leaving it upset. Greninja was also pretty angry at Ash for leaving it, but after thinking back to Ash's words in the Pokémon Center, Greninja got angry at itself for not thinking about it sooner while punching the tree out of frustration and decided to go look for him. Later, in the midst of a blizzard, Greninja came across Squishy in its [[List of Pokémon with form differences#Zygarde|10% Form]], who was looking for Ash as well. Using Zygarde Cells, Squishy managed to locate Ash, who was trying to help a bunch of {{p|Spewpa}} to get out of a tree branch above a cliff, and informed Greninja. When Ash reached for the last Spewpa, the branch broke and both fell down the ravine. Greninja, however, arrived just in time to save Ash from falling by grabbing him with its tongue. A sudden gust of wind, however, caused Ash to lose grip of the Spewpa. Determined to save Spewpa, Ash and Greninja were able to activate the Ash-Greninja form and with their feelings in sync, Greninja was able to reach the final stage and perfect the Ash-Greninja form. While Greninja jumped down the cliff, Ash, able to share Greninja's vision, gave Greninja the proper commands to get both it and Spewpa safely on the ground. Afterwards, Ash and Greninja along with some forest Pokémon sought shelter in a cave, where the two made up and promised to start over from zero again. Later on, Ash and Greninja reunited with the group again and after Pikachu defeated Team Rocket they returned to the Pokémon Center. At the Pokémon Center, Greninja showed Ash its Poké Ball and rolled it over to him, like the time when it was first caught, signifiying their resolve to start over again.

In ''[[XY131|Down to the Fiery Finish!]]'', Greninja was Ash's final Pokemon used in the finals against Alain, where it was sent out against Alain's Bisharp. Due to the {{weather|rain}}, set up earlier by {{AP|Goodra}}'s {{m|Rain Dance}}, its {{type|Water}} attacks were powered up which allowed it to defeat Bisharp with Water Shuriken after dodging its Iron Head with Double Team. Alain then sent out his final Pokémon, Charizard, again. First, Charizard fired off a Flamethrower while both Pokémon headed towards each other. Greninja, however, avoided the attack and struck Charizard with a powerful Cut. After the rain cleared, it transformed into Ash-Greninja while Charizard Mega Evolved into Mega Charizard X. Greninja then started attacking by charging at Charizard while using Double Team. Charizard, however, wiped out its clones with Flamethrower, creating a huge cloud of smoke. Greninja then appeared from the smoke and fired off a Water Shuriken which was countered by Charizard's Dragon Claw. Both Pokémon then engaged in a brawl using Aerial Ace and Dragon Claw, but eventually Charizard managed to outmaneuver Greninja and knock it off its feet with Dragon Claw. After blocking a Flamethrower with Cut, Greninja slammed its Water Shuriken on the ground to counter Charizard's Blast Burn. As another cloud of smoke covered the field, Greninja was able to hit Charizard with Aerial Ace, slamming it onto the ground. Charizard, however, stood up and knocked it back with Dragon Claw. After clashing with Dragon Claw and Cut, Charizard attacked with Thunder Punch, but Greninja used Water Shuriken as a melee weapon to counter the attack and was able to strike Charizard with it. Ash and Alain then had their Pokémon use Water Shuriken and Blast Burn, respectively. As Greninja unleashed all of its power into the attack, its Shuriken grew to massive size and changed to a fiery red-orange color. Both Pokémon then fired off their powerful attacks with both scoring a direct hit on their opponent, causing another explosion and leaving the battlefield covered in smoke. Although initially both Pokémon were still standing, Greninja wasn't able to take the damage and fainted, causing Ash to end up as the Runner-Up of the Lumiose Conference.

Greninja later helped [[Serena's Braixen]], [[Steven's Metagross]], and Professor Sycamore's Garchomp fight against the Megalith {{p|Zygarde}}. Greninja managed to sense Chespie's location inside the creature and managed to throw a Water Shuriken into its body, marking the location. It, along with the other Pokémon, was eventually subdued by the creature's roots, but was freed by a combined attack from the Pokémon of all the Kalos Gym Leaders and Diantha. After strategizing, everyone combined their powers to fend off the Megalith Zygarde's roots, allowing Ash and Alain to reach its center and save Chespie, bringing the creature down. After the resurrection of the Megalith Zygarde, who was now controlled by Lysandre, Greninja, Pikachu, and Alain's Charizard managed to destroy Lysandre's control device, allowing Squishy and [[Z2]] to destroy the Megalith Zygarde. In ''[[XY137|Battling with a Clean Slate]]'', Greninja is awarded a medal with Ash and the rest of the gang for their efforts against Team Flare.

In ''[[XY139|Facing the Needs of the Many!]]'', Greninja detected the presence of one of the remnants of the [[Megalith Zygarde]]. After transforming into Ash-Greninja, it was able to see the source of the root under the ground and used {{m|Water Shuriken}} on it, causing the root to wither away. After [[Xerosic]] revealed that he was planning on creating Neo-[[Team Flare]] and kidnapped {{an|Clemont}}, Ash sent Greninja to follow after him. Greninja helped Ash and his friends defeat Xerosic in battle, leading to Xerosic's arrest. However, parts of the Megalith Zygarde still remained. After [[Squishy]] appeared and saved {{an|Bonnie}} from one of the roots, it led Greninja and the group to [[Z2]], where Z2 requested for Greninja to help it and Squishy detect and destroy all of the remnants of the Megalith Zygarde. Greninja accepted Z2's request and bid farewell to Ash and his friends. In [[XY140|the following episode]], Greninja was seen destroying a root, with Squishy and Z2 watching close by. It possibly saw Ash's flight to Kanto leaving, so it is uncertain if Greninja came back to Kanto with Ash or not.

As a Froakie, it was a stubborn, picky Pokémon, displayed by the fact that it had several other Trainers that it refused to listen to, either forcing them to return it to Professor Sycamore or abandoning them and returning to the lab itself. It is also extremely similar to Ash personality wise, as it is not afraid to leap into danger regardless of its own safety and doesn't back down from a fight. It is clear that it recognizes these traits in Ash, hence why it was finally willing to accept being taken into Ash's wing. It also has a sense of honor, as demonstrated when it attacked {{AP|Fletchling}} just because it made {{an|Bonnie}} cry. In ''[[XY011|The Bamboozling Forest!]]'', it is shown to have a good judgement of character, as it became suspicious of Meowth when he pretended to side with it, {{AP|Pikachu}}, and {{TP|Clemont|Chespin}} under a temporary truce. Froakie is prone to blushing when praised, as shown when being thanked by Bonnie in ''[[XY003|A Battle of Aerial Mobility!]]'' and {{TP|Serena|Fennekin}} in ''[[XY011|The Bamboozling Forest!]]''. As shown in ''[[XY013|Kindergarten Chaos!]]'', Greninja as a Froakie gets embarrassed when losing in a bad way, such as when it lost because of Attract.

Greninja seems to appreciate and respect bravery and selflessness, and as such, aims to be so itself. This is first shown when it took a hit for Pikachu during Team Rocket's attack despite not knowing Pikachu or his Trainer, and then proceeded to help them both in combat. It respects those with these traits, as it does Ash. Greninja was impressed and surprised by Ash's willingness to put himself in danger to help a Garchomp that wasn't his Pokémon and barely knew, and admired this show of self sacrifice and selflessness to the point Greninja as a Froakie went alongside Ash to face Garchomp. It also showed genuine concern for Ash's safety when Ash jumped off the Prism Tower. A lack of these traits in its previous Trainers may be what caused Greninja to leave them.

Shortly after evolving into Greninja, through its strong bond with Ash, he can call upon a transformation similar to [[Mega Evolution]], where it takes on an appearance resembling its Trainer while being covered in a water veil. In its final form, the water veil moves from around its body to its back and forms an "X" shape, which resemble wings, then the wings form into a small sphere shape of water on the middle of its back with a light blue ring in the middle of it and it then grows in size until it forms into a giant shuriken made of water. Its full capabilities were unknown, but it appears to give a significant boost in speed and power. In its completed form, it can rival the power of Mega Evolved Pokémon. This form comes with a side effect where whenever Greninja takes damage, the pain is shared with Ash in the same location where Greninja was hurt. Ash is also shown to be able to see from Greninja's point of view and will occasionally mimic Greninja's movements. Ash describes it as feeling like he "became" Greninja. It is revealed by Clemont's device that Ash and Greninja share the exact same heartbeat while Greninja is in the form and that the form can be accessed when Ash and Greninja's feelings synchronize. If the form is pushed too hard, it's possible for Ash to pass out from the resulting exhaustion and pain. The term '''Ash-Greninja''' (Japanese: '''サトシゲッコウガ''' ''Satoshi-Gekkouga'') was officially coined by Bonnie in ''[[XY120|All Hail the Ice Battlefield!]]''. During the [[XY121|next episode]], Ash and Greninja made amends and were able to trigger the transformation at will. [[XY122|By the time of their rematch against Wulfric]], Ash and Greninja were able to use the form without passing out, and although they still shared each others pain, it seemed to be more manageable for Ash to handle. [[XY129|During the Lumiose Conference]], it is soon revealed by Professor Sycamore that the transformation Greninja had been going through is known as [[Bond Phenomenon]].

| colspan="3" style="text-align:left" |'''Description:''' '''Frubble''' (Japanese: '''ケロムース''' ''Keromousse'') is a physical characteristic of Froakie and Frogadier. It reaches into the bubbles on its neck, pulling out handfuls of bubbles and throwing them at its opponents much like an actual attack. This is used usually to subdue the opponents and strike them while they are distracted. It can also be used as a kind of adhesive or as a cleaning agent (as in ''[[XY011|The Bamboozling Forest!]]''). Frogadier can also use the frubbles to make a copy of itself (as in ''[[XY003|A Battle of Aerial Mobility!]]'') and to prevent {{status|poisoning}} (as seen in ''[[XY058|The Green, Green Grass Types of Home!]]''). It was also used to make a chain in order to catch someone from falling and pull them to safety (as seen in ''[[XY052|A Stealthy Challenge!]]'' and ''[[XY086|A Legendary Photo Op!]]''). Froakie can also [[a:File:Ash Froakie hood.png|cover itself in a hood of bubbles]]. It is unknown if it can still use this ability as a Greninja.

Ash's Greninja is featured in the [[Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon Special Demo Version|Special Demo Version]] of {{g|Sun and Moon}}. In it, Sun, the [[player character]], is given a Greninja with Ash as his [[Original Trainer]] to take care of, met by Ash on [[XY002|October 17, 2013]] at level 5 in the Kalos region. Completing the demo allows the player to transfer the Greninja to the full game.

Like in the anime, this Greninja can transform into [[List of Pokémon with form differences#Greninja|Ash-Greninja]] by defeating a Pokémon in a battle with two or more Pokémon, activating its unique ability, {{a|Battle Bond}}.

|level=36

Ash's Greninja, in Ash-Greninja form, is featured in the [[Pokémon Trading Card Game]] as a [[XY Black Star Promos (TCG)|Promotional]] {{TCG|Pokémon-EX|Pokémon}}{{EX}} card.

** As a Froakie, Greninja was also Ash's first Water type to evolve under his ownership since ''[[EP075|Round One - Begin!]]'', 777 episodes earlier, when {{p|Krabby}} evolved into {{AP|Kingler}}.

* Greninja is Ash's only Kalos Pokémon that hasn't been weak to {{t|Ice}} moves at any point.

* Greninja is Ash's only Pokémon that has an alternate form.

== Voice actors ==

{{vatable|color={{water color}}|bordercolor={{dark color dark}}

|ja=[[Yuji Ueda]]

|en=[[Billy Bob Thompson]]

|fr_eu=Frédéric Clou

|it=Davide Garbolino

|pt_br=Fabrício Vila Verde

|de=Benedikt Gutjan

[[Category:Ash's Pokémon]]