Bond Phenomenon
The Bond Phenomenon (Japanese: キズナ現象 Bond Phenomenon) is a transformation exclusive to Greninja which causes it to become Ash-Greninja (Japanese: サトシゲッコウガ Satoshi Gekkouga). In this form, Greninja's physical features become similar to those of Ash Ketchum, and its strength increases along with gaining the ability to form large Water Shurikens on its back, which it can use in battle to great effect.
The Bond Phenomenon is said to have some connection to the Pokémon's hidden potential, similar to Mega Evolution and Primal Reversion. However, unlike the former, which requires a Mega Stone and Key Stone to achieve, and the latter, which necessitates the Red or Blue Orb, it does not require any specific items for either the Greninja or its Trainer.
The Bond Phenomenon was originally introduced in Pokémon the Series as a transformation achieved by Ash's Greninja. It was later made available in the Generation VI games through the Battle Bond Ability starting with Pokémon Sun and Moon. However, in Generation IX, Battle Bond's effect was changed to make Greninja's stats increase, making Ash-Greninja no longer playable.
Overview
The Bond Phenomenon is a transformation that is made possible thanks to the bonds between people and Pokémon, and is only known to have happened once several hundred years ago. After Greninja becomes Ash-Greninja, its legs are strengthened and its speed is boosted to the point where it can take out opponents in a flash, making it nearly impossible to perceive.[1] In the games, Greninja turns into Ash-Greninja if its Ability is Battle Bond and it has defeated an opponent, which also increases the power of its signature move, Water Shuriken. In the animated series episode All Hail the Ice Battlefield!, Bonnie was the one to coin the term "Ash-Greninja". In Kalos League Passion with a Certain Flare!, Professor Sycamore was the one to reveal the concept of the Bond Phenomenon to Ash and his Greninja.
In A Festival of Decisions!, shortly after evolving, Greninja through its strong bond with Ash, became able to transform into Ash-Greninja, 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 then grows in size until it forms into a giant shuriken made of water. In its completed form, it can rival the power of Mega-Evolved Pokémon.
This form comes with a drawback: 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. In The Synchronicity Test!, Clemont's device revealed that Ash-Greninja shares the exact same heartbeat with Ash and that it can be accessed when their feelings synchronize. If the form is pushed too hard, it is possible for Ash to pass out from the resulting exhaustion and pain. In the Seeing the Forest for the Trees!, Ash and Greninja made amends and were able to trigger the transformation at will. By the time of their rematch against Wulfric in A Real Icebreaker!, Ash and Greninja were able to use the form without passing out, and while they still shared each other's pain, it seemed to be more manageable for Ash to handle.
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Spoilers end here. |
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Pokémon capable of achieving the Bond Phenomenon
| Pokémon | Before Bond Phenomenon | After Bond Phenomenon | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image | Type | Ability | Image | Type | Ability | |
| Greninja | 
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Water Dark | Battle Bond | 
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Water Dark | Battle Bond |
In the core series games
- Main article: Greninja (Pokémon) → Form data
The Bond Phenomenon made its core series debut in the form of a Greninja that can be transferred to Pokémon Sun and Moon from the Special Demo Version. This unique Greninja possesses the Battle Bond Ability, which triggers the transformation into Ash-Greninja after the opposing Pokémon has fainted and increases the power of Water Shuriken by approximately 33% (or more accurately, by a factor of 5448/4096). In addition, the base Battle Bond Greninja, before transforming, is treated as a separate form from Greninja with Torrent or Protean. As of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Battle Bond no longer transforms Greninja into Ash-Greninja, currently making the form exclusive to Generation VII.
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| Date received is the date on the system when the gift is picked up from the deliveryman. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This Pokémon's origin is the same as the language chosen in the demo, regardless of the language of the receiving game. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Base stats
Generation VII
| Stat | Range | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| At Lv. 50 | At Lv. 100 | ||
HP: 72
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132 - 179 | 254 - 348 | |
145
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135 - 216 | 265 - 427 | |
67
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64 - 130 | 125 - 256 | |
153
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142 - 225 | 279 - 445 | |
71
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68 - 135 | 132 - 265 | |
132
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123 - 202 | 242 - 399 | |
Total: 640
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In the spin-off games
Pokémon Tretta
Pokémon Shuffle
Pokémon Picross
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
During Greninja's Final Smash, it temporarily transforms into Ash-Greninja while performing Secret Ninja Attack.
In animation
Pokémon the Series
In Pokémon the Series, the Bond Phenomenon may be achieved when the trust between a Trainer and their Pokémon reaches its maximum. While a Pokémon and Trainer are using this form, the Trainer shares the Pokémon's pain in the same place the Pokémon was dealt damage. The Trainer can also share the Pokémon's point of view. If the form is not mastered, the Trainer and Pokémon can pass out from exhaustion.
Pokémon the Series: XY
In The Legend of the Ninja Hero! , a Greninja in its Battle Bond form is shown on a shrine in the Ninja Village.
The Bond Phenomenon makes its first proper appearance in A Festival of Decisions!, in which Ash's Frogadier evolved into Greninja and assumed the Ash-Greninja form. However, the transformation would not be addressed by name until Kalos League Passion with a Certain Flare!, in which Professor Sycamore, after researching the matter, reported his results to Ash and his friends.
Pokémon Journeys: The Series
In Catching the Aura of Fate!, Ash described that his ability to become one with Greninja felt similar to Lucario's Aura. Flashbacks to scenes that featured Ash-Greninja are changed to feature regular Greninja instead.
In the manga
Pokémon Adventures
X & Y arc
In the Japan Mini-volume 6 for the X & Y arc, Y's Greninja, Croaky, was revealed to have Battle Bond as his Ability.
Pokémon Journeys
Ash's Greninja appeared in a fantasy in Legend? Check! Friends? Check!, where it was seen in its Ash-Greninja form.
In the TCG
In the Pokémon Trading Card Game, Ash's Greninja in its Ash-Greninja form is featured as a Promotional Pokémon
card.
| Related cards Cards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format. Cards listed with a green background are legal to use in both the current Standard and Expanded formats. | |||||||
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| Card | Type | English Expansion |
Rarity | # | Japanese Expansion |
Rarity | # |
| Ash-Greninja
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XY Black Star Promos | XY133 | XY-P Promotional cards | 218/XY-P | ||
| XY-P Promotional cards | 290/XY-P | ||||||
In other languages
| Language | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese | Cantonese | 牽絆現象 Hīnbuhn Yihnjeuhng |
| Mandarin | 牽絆現象 / 牵绊现象 Qiānbàn Xiànxiàng | |
| Danish | Båndfenomen | |
| Dutch | Vertrouwensbandfenomeen | |
| Finnish | Sideilmiö | |
| French | Phénomène de Synergie | |
| German | Freundschaftsphänomen | |
| Italian | Effetto Sintonia | |
| Korean | 유대현상 Yudae Hyeonsang | |
| Norwegian | Båndfenomen | |
| Polish | Zjawisko Więzi | |
| Portuguese | Brazil | Fenômeno Vincular |
| Portugal | Fenómeno da ligação | |
| Russian | Узы доверия Uzy doveriya | |
| Spanish | Latin America | Sinergia afectiva |
| Spain | Metamorfosis afectiva | |
| Swedish | Bandfenomen | |
| Turkish | Bağ Fenomeni | |
| Vietnamese | Hiện tượng Kết nối | |
Related articles
References
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This article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon animation. |