Pokémon counters guide

Best Counters for Greninja

Find practical counter Pokémon, attacking types, and defensive matchup notes for Greninja.

WaterDark
Greninja Pokémon sprite

Greninja

#0658

Quick answer

Greninja is best pressured by Electric, Grass, Fighting, Bug, and Fairy-type attacks at 2x damage. Because there is no 4x weakness, defensive safety, Speed, and raw stats matter more.

Best move types

Electric×2Grass×2Fighting×2Bug×2

Top weaknesses (5)

Electric×2Grass×2Fighting×2Bug×2Fairy×2

Type matchup table

Electric type iconElectric2x
Grass type iconGrass2x
Fighting type iconFighting2x
Bug type iconBug2x
Fairy type iconFairy2x
Normal type iconNormal1x
Poison type iconPoison1x
Ground type iconGround1x
Flying type iconFlying1x
Rock type iconRock1x
Dragon type iconDragon1x
Fire type iconFire0.5x
Water type iconWater0.5x
Ice type iconIce0.5x
Ghost type iconGhost0.5x
Dark type iconDark0.5x
Steel type iconSteel0.5x
Psychic type iconPsychic0x

Recommended practical counters

Kommo-o Pokémon sprite

Kommo-o

#0784

Resists both STABs
DragonFighting
  • Deals 2x damage with Fighting-type attacks
  • Has STAB Fighting-type attacks
  • Resists the target's Water 0.5x, Dark 0.5x STAB attacks
  • Solid mixed bulk improves switch-in safety
Best typeFighting×2

Safe into Water 0.5x, Dark 0.5x

110 offense · 85 Speed

Strong theoretical counters

Best move types to use

Electric×2Grass×2Fighting×2Bug×2Fairy×2

Move availability depends on game version and learnset data, so this page recommends move types rather than guaranteed moves.

Electric type pageGrass type pageFighting type pageBug type pageFairy type page

Counter notes for Greninja

  • Greninja is a Water / Dark Pokémon with 122 base Speed and stronger special attack (103 Sp. Atk). Electric, Grass, Fighting, Bug, and Fairy attacks all work offensively, but safer counters are usually the ones that reduce risk from its own STAB types.
  • Greninja has several 2x weaknesses rather than a single 4x weakness, so the best counters are the ones that can hit it super-effectively while also reducing the risk from Water / Dark STAB.
  • Known abilities include Torrent, Protean, and Battle Bond. This page does not assume ability-specific battle effects, so verify the format before relying on a single counter.
  • Avoid counters that are weak to Water / Dark unless they are fast enough to pressure immediately or bulky enough to survive the exchange.
  • Greninja has alternate forms in the National Dex, but this page focuses on the standard Water / Dark matchup.

What not to use

Psychic×0Fire×0.5Water×0.5Ice×0.5Ghost×0.5Dark×0.5Steel×0.5

These attacking types are resisted or blocked by the defender's typing, so they are usually lower-priority choices unless they provide a special battle role.

Battle caveats

  • This ranking uses modern Gen 6+ type matchups, STAB value, defensive switch-in safety, and base stats.
  • Abilities, held items, Terastallization, weather, terrain, and format rules can change real battle outcomes.
  • Coverage moves can punish obvious counters, so treat this as type-based guidance rather than a full matchup simulator.
  • Move availability depends on game version and learnset data; this page recommends attacking types rather than guaranteed moves.

Related pages

Greninja weakness chartGreninja PokédexWater / Dark countersElectric type pageGrass type pageFighting type pagePokémon type chartSpeed tiers

FAQ

What is the best counter for Greninja?

Greninja is best countered by Pokémon that can use Electric, Grass, Fighting, Bug, and Fairy (2x) attacks while avoiding bad defensive matchups into Water / Dark STAB attacks. Because there is no 4x weakness, Speed, bulk, and offensive stats matter more when choosing the actual Pokémon.

What type is best against Greninja?

Electric, Grass, Fighting, Bug, and Fairy are the strongest attacking types against Greninja, dealing 2x damage under the modern Gen 6+ type chart.

How many useful attacking types hit Greninja super-effectively?

Greninja has 5 super-effective attacking options: Electric, Grass, Fighting, Bug, and Fairy. Use the highest multiplier first, then choose a Pokémon that is not exposed to Water / Dark STAB attacks.

Are abilities included in this counter ranking?

No. The ranking uses base typing and base stats. Abilities, items, Terastallization, weather, terrain, and special move rules can change the real matchup.

Does Terastallization change Greninja counters?

Yes. Terastallization can replace the defensive typing used here, so the recommended counter types may change completely in formats where Tera is active.

What should I avoid using against Greninja?

Avoid relying on Psychic, Fire, Water, Ice, and Ghost attacks unless they have a special role or unusually high power.

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