Why is Greninja Illegal? Understanding the Competitive Ban of a Fan Favorite
The question of why Greninja, particularly its Ash-Greninja form, is considered “illegal” in certain competitive Pokémon settings is a complex one, steeped in both gameplay mechanics and the unique lore surrounding this popular Pokémon. It’s important to differentiate between different types of illegality. Standard Greninja is not “illegal” in most formats, but the specific form of Ash-Greninja, and sometimes standard Greninja in specific metagames, is where the illegality arises. This arises due to a mix of factors: the power of its Battle Bond ability, the unique nature of Ash-Greninja’s transformation, and game balance concerns. Specifically, Ash-Greninja is not obtainable through normal gameplay, rendering it illegitimate in most competitive formats. Furthermore, Standard Greninja, during past metagames, was deemed too powerful and was banned in specific formats due to its versatility.
The Centralizing Power of Greninja in Past Metas
Greninja’s Versatility
Before delving into Ash-Greninja specifically, it’s important to address why standard Greninja was a problem in certain formats. In the OR/AS (Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire) meta, Greninja gained access to a potent arsenal of moves that made it incredibly difficult to counter. It was able to learn moves like Gunk Shot, which allowed it to decimate Fairy-types like Azumarill, and Low Kick, which provided coverage against bulky Pokémon like Chansey and Porygon2. This level of versatility, combined with its excellent speed, made it a top-tier threat. Its Protean Ability (changed to Torrent later in subsequent generations) meant it changed its type before using any move, making it hard to predict and wall. This power made it over-centralizing, meaning teams were built either around or specifically to counter Greninja, reducing strategic diversity.
The Banhammer Falls
Due to its overwhelming strength and versatility, standard Greninja was ultimately deemed too dominant and became a candidate for banishment in certain official battling tiers, such as Smogon’s OverUsed (OU) tier. This ban aimed to promote a more varied and balanced competitive environment, where teams weren’t primarily built in response to a single Pokémon.
The Unique Case of Ash-Greninja
The Mechanics of Battle Bond
The issue of legality regarding Ash-Greninja stems from its unique origin and how it is triggered. Ash-Greninja’s transformation is tied to the Battle Bond ability. This ability allows the Greninja to transform into the Ash-Greninja form after defeating an opponent for the first time during a battle. Crucially, this transformation was only available during Generation 7 games (Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, Ultra Moon) through specific means. After battling using it and earning the battle bond, Greninja would change form and receive a significant boost to its base stats. This boost, in combination with its unique design and lore connection, made it very desirable.
Why Ash-Greninja is Illegal in Competitive Play
Ash-Greninja is not available through any normal means in any recent games. It is a form tied to a very specific game mechanic that only existed in one generation. You cannot breed it, catch it or obtain it in the current competitive game (Scarlet and Violet). The Ash-Greninja form was an in-game gift in the Sun and Moon games and it cannot be transferred up to later generations, rendering it completely illegitimate in the game’s competitive formats. Additionally, while the Battle Bond ability still exists for Greninja, it no longer triggers a form change. Instead, it now provides a stat boost, eliminating the need for a separate Ash-Greninja form.
Its illegality stems from the fact that it cannot be obtained through normal gameplay, rendering it incompatible with the rules governing competitive battling. The Pokémon Company and Nintendo emphasize fair play and enforce rules to make sure that every Pokémon is obtained through a method available for every player.
Ash-Greninja in Pokémon Showdown
Even on Pokémon Showdown, a battle simulator often used for testing and practice, Ash-Greninja is usually treated as an illegal or banned Pokémon in most standard formats. In the past, the game allowed for a custom version of Ash-Greninja for testing. The simulator may still offer formats where this special form is available for specific testing purposes, but it remains separate from the standard format. This is because the core issue, it cannot be acquired through normal game mechanics, remains unchanged. It was a special, event-based form that is unavailable in current competitive Pokémon titles.
FAQs: Further Clarifying Greninja’s Legality
1. Is standard Greninja banned in all competitive formats?
No, while standard Greninja was banned in specific formats during the OR/AS era due to its over-centralizing power, it is usually legal in modern competitive formats that do not use rulesets from previous generations.
2. Why is Shiny Ash-Greninja not obtainable?
Shiny Ash-Greninja is not a thing. It was a one-time form that never could be shiny during its available time, and it does not exist outside of that singular specific time period in the game series.
3. Can I breed an Ash-Greninja?
No, the form was not based on genetics, but rather on a specific transformation. Battle Bond only gives a stat boost now and does not trigger a form change.
4. Why is Ash-Greninja not a Mega Evolution?
Ash-Greninja is not a Mega Evolution because it’s tied to the Battle Bond ability instead of a Mega Stone. It’s a unique transformation linked to a trainer-Pokémon bond, distinct from Mega Evolution’s mechanics.
5. Can Ash-Greninja return to the games?
While technically possible, there’s no indication that the Ash-Greninja form will be re-introduced to future titles. The Battle Bond ability remains, but its form change was a one-time concept in Generation 7.
6. Why did Ash leave Greninja in the anime?
Ash released Greninja to help Zygarde protect the Kalos region from the Giant Rock, which was a major plot point in the Pokémon XY&Z anime series.
7. Is Ash’s Greninja stronger than his Charizard?
According to the article provided, Ash’s Charizard is considered stronger due to its overall achievements. While Greninja is a powerhouse, Charizard’s legacy puts it in a different tier.
8. Does Ash still have Greninja’s Pokeball?
Yes, Ash still has Greninja’s Pokéball, indicating that he still owns the Pokémon, even if it is currently not part of his active team.
9. Will Greninja ever rejoin Ash?
While Greninja has made a reappearance in the anime, it has not permanently rejoined Ash’s team. His primary duty remains protecting the Kalos region.
10. Why is Caterpie banned in some formats?
Caterpie was banned in very specific early Pokémon games because its String Shot move could cause the game to freeze, rather than due to its power.
11. Why is female Greninja banned in certain formats?
Female Greninja is not banned. The standard Greninja, not the female specific form, was banned in past metagames. Gender plays no role in competitive formats unless stated otherwise.
12. Is Shiny Keldeo truly illegal?
A shiny Keldeo is considered illegitimate in Pokémon games due to being shiny-locked through legal methods. Only hacked versions of it exist.
13. Does Ash feel Greninja’s pain?
Yes, in the anime, Ash and Greninja share a strong bond where Ash feels Greninja’s pain when it gets hit.
14. Can Greninja defeat a Blastoise?
The outcome of a Greninja vs. Blastoise fight can vary depending on movesets, stats, and individual game mechanics, but the type matchup and specific moves will play the biggest role.
15. Why doesn’t Ash use Greninja against Leon?
Ash did not use Greninja in his battle against Leon because the Pokémon was still busy protecting the Kalos region.
Conclusion
While the standard Greninja is not inherently “illegal,” its special Ash-Greninja form is, due to the restrictions on how it is obtained and its non-standard game mechanics. The Ash-Greninja form exists as a unique entity within the Pokémon lore, linked to a specific time in the series, rather than a continuously accessible mechanic in the main series. This makes it an exception within the established rules of competitive play, cementing its unique place in the memories of Pokemon trainers. Its absence from most competitive arenas is not due to any inherent flaws in design, but rather because its very existence was tied to a very specific, and now past, event. Understanding the difference between the standard and Ash-Greninja versions of the Pokémon is key to understanding its complicated role in the competitive sphere.