Greninja Guide: Best Moveset, Counters & Pokemon GO Tips

Greninja is a popular Water/Dark-type Pokemon in Pokemon GO. With a maximum CP of 2,654, Greninja is a solid choice for Ultra League battles and various raid encounters.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Greninja in Pokemon GO, including its stats, best moveset, counters, and tips for using it effectively in both PvE raids and PvP battles.

📊 Greninja Base Stats & Overview

Greninja (#658) is a Water/Dark-type Pokemon from Generation 6.

Base Stats
Attack	223
Defense	152
Stamina	176
Total Stats	551
Max CP	2,654
Buddy Distance	3 km

With 223 Attack, 152 Defense, and 176 Stamina, Greninja has a total stat product of 551. While not the highest in any single stat, Greninja’s balanced stats make it versatile in various battle situations.

⚔️ Best Moveset for Greninja

Choosing the right moveset is crucial for maximizing Greninja’s potential in Pokemon GO. The optimal moveset varies depending on whether you’re using Greninja for raids, gym battles, or PvP.

Best Raid & Gym Moveset

For PvE content like raids and gym battles, you want moves that maximize DPS (Damage Per Second). The best Water/Dark-type moves will benefit from STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus), increasing damage by 20%.

Best PvP Moveset

In PvP battles, energy generation and coverage moves become more important. You’ll want a fast move that charges energy quickly and charged moves that provide good type coverage.

🎯 Greninja Type Effectiveness

Understanding type effectiveness is crucial for both using Greninja effectively and knowing how to counter it. As a Water/Dark-type Pokemon, Greninja has specific strengths and weaknesses.

⚠️ Weaknesses (Takes Super Effective Damage From)

Greninja is weak to: Electric, Grass, Fighting, Bug, Fairy-type moves. When battling against Greninja, use Pokemon with these types to deal 1.6x (or 2.56x for double weaknesses) damage.

• Electric – Deals increased damage
• Grass – Deals increased damage
• Fighting – Deals increased damage
• Bug – Deals increased damage
• Fairy – Deals increased damage

🛡️ Resistances (Takes Reduced Damage From)

Greninja resists: Fire, Water, Ice, Steel, Ghost, Dark, Psychic-type moves. This means Greninja takes reduced damage (0.625x or less) from these attack types.

• Fire – Reduced damage
• Water – Reduced damage
• Ice – Reduced damage
• Steel – Reduced damage
• Ghost – Reduced damage
• Dark – Reduced damage
• Psychic – Reduced damage

🏆 Greninja PvP Analysis

Greninja can be used in Pokemon GO’s GO Battle League PvP battles. Here’s how it performs in each league:

Great League (1500 CP Limit)

With a max CP of 2,654, Greninja would need to be under-leveled for Great League. Check if the stats at 1500 CP are competitive before investing resources.

Ultra League (2500 CP Limit)

Greninja fits well in Ultra League with a max CP of 2,654. It can compete effectively against the meta threats in this league.

Master League (No CP Limit)

Greninja is generally not recommended for Master League due to its lower max CP (2,654). Focus on other leagues instead.

⚔️ Greninja Raid Guide

Greninja is primarily used as a raid attacker rather than a raid boss. Here’s how to use it effectively in raids:

Using Greninja in Raids

When using Greninja as a raid attacker:

• Best against raid bosses weak to Water-type moves
• Power up to at least level 30-35 for decent performance
• Ensure you have the optimal moveset for maximum DPS

🎯 Best Counters for Greninja

Whether you’re battling Greninja in raids, gyms, or PvP, knowing the best counters is essential for victory. Here are the top Pokemon to use against Greninja:

Top Counter Pokemon

The best counters exploit Greninja’s weaknesses to Electric, Grass, Fighting, Bug, Fairy-type moves:

Pokemon	Type	Why It Works
Zekrom	Dragon/Electric	Top Electric DPS in the game
Electivire	Electric	Thunder Shock + Wild Charge deals high damage
Raikou	Electric	Consistent Electric damage dealer
Kartana	Grass/Steel	Highest Grass DPS available
Roserade	Grass/Poison	Razor Leaf + Grass Knot hits hard
Venusaur	Grass/Poison	Vine Whip + Frenzy Plant (Community Day)

Counter Strategy Tips

1. Prioritize Type Advantage: Use Pokemon with moves that are super effective against Greninja
2. Consider Bulk: Tankier counters can survive longer and deal more total damage
3. Watch for Coverage Moves: Greninja may have moves that counter its own counters
4. Weather Boost: Take advantage of weather conditions that boost your counter’s attacks

📍 How to Get Greninja in Pokemon GO

There are several ways to obtain Greninja in Pokemon GO:

• Wild Encounters: Greninja can spawn in the wild, especially in areas matching its type
• Eggs: May hatch from 3km eggs
• Evolution: Evolve from its pre-evolution using Candy
• Raids: Occasionally appears in raid battles
• Research Tasks: Complete field research for a chance to encounter
• Trading: Trade with friends

Shiny Greninja

Yes, Shiny Greninja is available in Pokemon GO! The shiny variant has a different coloration and is highly sought after by collectors. The shiny rate for wild encounters is approximately 1 in 500, though this can be boosted during special events like Community Days or Spotlight Hours.

Greninja Evolution

Check the Pokédex for complete evolution information including candy costs and special evolution requirements.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

💡 Pro Tips for Using Greninja

Here are some advanced strategies and tips to maximize Greninja’s potential in Pokemon GO:

1. IV Optimization

For raids and gym battles, prioritize Greninja with high Attack IVs (15 Attack is ideal). The Attack stat contributes most to damage output in PvE content.

For PvP battles, the ideal IVs depend on the league:

• Great League: Look for low Attack, high Defense and HP (0/15/15 is often ideal)
• Ultra League: Similar to Great League, optimize for stat product under 2500 CP
• Master League: Perfect 15/15/15 IVs are best since there’s no CP cap

2. Power Up Priority

Before investing Stardust and Candy into Greninja, consider:

• Do you have enough resources? (Powering to level 50 costs 296,000 Stardust and 296 Candy)
• Will this Pokemon fill a gap in your battle team?
• Are there better alternatives for the same role?
• Do you have the optimal moveset or need Elite TMs?

3. Team Composition

Greninja works best when paired with Pokemon that cover its weaknesses. As a Water/Dark type weak to Electric, Grass, consider adding team members that resist these types.

4. Weather Considerations

Take advantage of weather boosts:

• When catching: Weather-boosted Greninja spawns at higher levels (up to 35)
• When battling: Weather that boosts Water moves increases your damage output
• When raiding: Spawn weather-boosted counters by raiding in appropriate weather

📚 Greninja in the Pokemon Franchise

Greninja first appeared in Generation 6 of the main Pokemon series. For more detailed lore and information about Greninja’s origins, check out Bulbapedia.

In Pokemon GO, Greninja was introduced as part of the Generation 6 Pokemon rollout. It became available to catch after Niantic released the Generation 6 Pokemon update.

📊 How Greninja Compares

Let’s see how Greninja stacks up against other Water-type Pokemon:

Stat	Greninja	Type Average	Rating
Attack	223	~180	⭐⭐⭐
Defense	152	~160	⭐⭐
Stamina	176	~170	⭐⭐
Max CP	2,654	~2,500	⭐⭐

🎯 Conclusion

Greninja is a versatile Water/Dark-type Pokemon that can be a valuable addition to your Pokemon GO roster. With a max CP of 2,654 and solid base stats (223/152/176), it performs well in Ultra League PvP and can serve as a reliable raid attacker against appropriate targets.

Remember to:

• Optimize IVs based on your intended use (PvP vs PvE)
• Use the recommended moveset for maximum effectiveness
• Build a team that covers Greninja’s weaknesses
• Take advantage of weather boosts when possible

For more Pokemon guides and the complete Pokedex, visit our Pokemon GO Database. Check out our PvP Rankings for the current meta and Raid Guides for battle strategies.

Last updated: January 2026. Information based on the latest Pokemon GO game data.

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