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Will Pokémon Scarlet Have Greninja? Your Ultimate Guide

Yes, Greninja is available in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet! However, acquiring this popular Pokémon isn’t as straightforward as simply finding it roaming in the wild. Initially, Greninja appeared as a seven-star Tera Raid Battle event, a challenging encounter designed for experienced players. While the event has concluded and may return later, it is still possible to get Froakie and evolve it into Greninja through breeding. Here’s everything you need to know about getting your hands on this elusive Water/Dark-type ninja Pokémon in the Paldea region.

Getting Greninja Through Breeding

Even if you missed the Tera Raid event, fear not! There’s still a reliable method to obtain Greninja in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: breeding. Here’s how:

Catch a Greninja: If you managed to capture a Greninja during the 7-star Raid event, you’re already halfway there. Alternatively, if you missed the raid, you’ll need to trade with someone who did participate and captured one.
Find a Ditto: Ditto, the transform Pokémon, is crucial for breeding Pokémon of unique species. Ditto can breed with almost any Pokémon to produce eggs of that Pokémon’s species. Ditto is found in the West Province (Area Two) and other regions of the Paldea region, often disguised as other common Pokémon.
Breeding Mechanics: Head to a picnic spot with your Greninja and Ditto in your party. Start a picnic, and after some time, an egg will appear in the picnic basket. Collect the egg and continue your adventure until the egg hatches.
Hatching Froakie: The egg will hatch into a Froakie, the base form of Greninja. Congratulations! You’ve successfully obtained Froakie in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.
Evolution: Froakie evolves into Frogadier at level 16, and Frogadier evolves into Greninja at level 36. Train your Froakie and Frogadier through battles or using Candies to reach the required levels.

Greninja’s Stats and Abilities

Understanding Greninja’s strengths and weaknesses is crucial for effective battles.

Type: Water/Dark
Abilities:
- Torrent: Powers up Water-type moves when the Pokémon’s HP is low.
- Protean (Hidden Ability): Changes the Pokémon’s type to the type of the move it is about to use. Note: This ability has been nerfed in Scarlet and Violet, only working once per switch-in.

Greninja’s high speed and special attack make it a potent offensive threat. Its diverse movepool allows it to cover a wide range of types, making it unpredictable in battle.

Greninja’s Movepool

Greninja has access to a variety of moves, allowing for diverse strategies. Here are some notable moves:

Hydro Pump: A powerful Water-type move with high damage output.
Dark Pulse: A strong Dark-type move with a chance to flinch the opponent.
Ice Beam: An excellent coverage move to deal with Grass, Flying, Dragon, and Ground types.
Extrasensory: A Psychic-type move useful against Fighting and Poison types.
U-Turn: A Bug-type move that allows Greninja to switch out while dealing damage.

Optimizing Greninja for Battle

To maximize Greninja’s potential, consider these strategies:

Nature: A Timid nature (+Speed, -Attack) or Modest nature (+Special Attack, -Attack) are ideal for maximizing Greninja’s offensive capabilities.
EV Training: Focus on Speed and Special Attack to boost Greninja’s offensive presence.
Held Item:
- Choice Specs: Boosts Special Attack but locks Greninja into one move.
- Life Orb: Increases damage output at the cost of HP.
- Focus Sash: Allows Greninja to survive one hit with 1 HP, providing an opportunity to use a crucial move.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Greninja in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

1. Can you catch Froakie in the wild in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet?

No, Froakie does not appear in the wild in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. The only way to obtain Froakie is by breeding a Greninja (obtained from the Raid event or through trading) with a Ditto.

2. Is Ash-Greninja available in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet?

Unfortunately, Ash-Greninja is not available in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. The Battle Bond ability, which triggered the Ash-Greninja transformation, has been altered and no longer provides the transformation. It now provides a one-time stat boost upon knocking out an opponent.

3. Will every Pokémon eventually be available in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet?

While not every Pokémon is initially available, Pokémon HOME compatibility allows you to transfer many Pokémon from other games. The DLC has also added more Pokemon. Across all Nintendo Switch titles, most of the 1000+ Pokémon will be catchable in one of the games.

4. How many Pokémon are missing from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet?

Initially, over 600 Pokémon were missing from the base game of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. DLC expansions have brought back many of these Pokémon.

5. Can you transfer Pokémon like Darkrai and other Mythicals to Scarlet and Violet?

Some Mythical Pokémon, such as Melmetal, Genesect, Zeraora, Marshadow, Celebi, Deoxys, Keldeo, and Victini, are not transferable to Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

6. Is Greninja nerfed in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet?

Yes, Greninja has been effectively nerfed because of the changes to its Protean ability. Protean now only changes the Pokémon’s type once per switch-in, limiting its ability to gain STAB (Same-Type Attack Bonus) on every move.

7. Is Greninja a good Pokémon to use in competitive battles in Scarlet and Violet?

Despite the Protean nerf, Greninja can still be an effective Pokémon in competitive battles due to its high speed, special attack, and diverse movepool. It requires careful planning and strategy to maximize its potential.

8. How do I get Greninja without participating in the Raid event?

If you missed the Raid event, your best bet is to trade with someone who caught a Greninja during the event or by breeding Greninja (obtained through trade) with Ditto.

9. What are the best movesets for Greninja in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet?

A good moveset for Greninja might include Hydro Pump, Dark Pulse, Ice Beam, and U-Turn. This provides a balance of damage output, coverage, and strategic flexibility.

10. What Tera Type is best for Greninja?

The best Tera Type for Greninja depends on your strategy. Tera Water or Tera Dark can boost the power of its STAB moves, while Tera Electric could cover its weakness to electric types.

11. Can Froakie be shiny in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet?

You will need to hatch a lot of eggs to find a shiny Froakie. The odds are 1/4096, or 1/683 with the shiny charm.

12. Are there any special Greninja forms in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet besides Ash-Greninja?

No, there are no other special Greninja forms in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. The Ash-Greninja transformation is not available.

13. Will Greninja appear in future events in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet?

It’s possible that Greninja will return in future Raid events. Keep an eye on official announcements from The Pokémon Company for updates.

14. What other Pokémon are returning to Scarlet and Violet?

Many Pokémon have returned to Scarlet and Violet through updates and DLC, including Ninetails, Politoed, Gliscor, Milotic, and Kommo-o.

15. Are all Pokémon Scarlet and Violet events the same across both versions of the game?

Generally, most events are the same across both versions of the game. However, some events might have slight variations in the Pokémon that appear or the rewards offered.

Conclusion

While obtaining Greninja in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet requires some effort, it’s definitely achievable. Whether through successful breeding or perhaps a future Raid event, adding this powerful Water/Dark-type Pokémon to your team can significantly enhance your battles. Remember to strategize its moveset, optimize its stats, and adapt to the Protean nerf to unlock its full potential. Happy training, and may your journey in the Paldea region be filled with exciting discoveries!

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Will Pokémon Scarlet have Greninja?