Greninja Guide: Matchup Chart and Combos

This is a guide to using Greninja in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Greninja's bread and butter combos, how to unlock, frame data, alt costumes and skins, as well as Greninja's matchups, counters, and tier list placement can all be found here.

Greninja Tier and Overview

Stats and General Info

Greninja
Game Series	Pokémon
Smash Bros. Debut	Super Smash Bros. for WiiU/3DS
Fighter Number	50
Unlock Order	58
Number of Jumps	2
Weight	88 Units (66/87)
Dash Speed	2.288 (8/87)
Air Speed	1.239 (10/87)
Fast Fall Speed	2.96 (9/87)
Special Attributes	Crouch Walk, Wall Jump, Wall Cling

Tier List Placement

Tier

A versatile fighter with great mobility

Smash Ultimate Greninja is a very versatile charcter with excellent speed and mobility, a good projectile, as well as lots of deadly combos. Greninja relies heavily on its powerful combo game, so it is important to learn which moves can be comboed off of to make the most of this character. Greninja has access to combos from its grabs, aerials, and grounded options, including dash attack. Additionally, the character is not short of KO options.

While a very good character overall, Greninja is quite light, and thus can be KO'ed rather early. It also has poor out of shield options, meaning that it will struggle to punish opponents that attack its shield. Lastly, Greninja's disadvantage is somewhat mediocre, so Greninja players will have to be creative in order to land and reset neutral.

See Our Tier List Here!

Greninja's Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths	・Very good mobility ・Powerful vertical recovery (Up Special) ・Access to a projectile, which can be charged to increase power (neutral B) ・Access to a variety of combos ・Has several moves for KO'ing opponents
Weaknesses	・Predictable recovery route ・Lack of good Out of Shield Options ・Light, and easy to KO

Greninja Matchup Chart

Matchup Chart

-2
-1
0
+1
+2

Notes About Matchup Chart

1. -2 = Disadvantage. -1 = Slight Disadvantage or Even. 0 = Even. +1 = Slight Advantage or Even. +2 = Advantage.
2. The matchup chart was based around both the opinions of professional players of each character, as well as our own experience through playing Greninja.
3. Characters within each tier are unordered
4. Pokemon Trainer's individual Pokemon (Squirtle, Ivysaur, and Charizard) as well as Echo fighters with no significant difference than their regular counterpart are not shown.
5. For other characters who are not shown here, we are still investigating the matchup.

Greninja Combos

Bread and Butter Combos
Dash→Up tilt→Up Smash
Up Throw→Jump→Up Air
Down Tilt→Dash→Up Smash
Advanced Combos
Nair→Dash→Up Smash
Up Air→Forward Smash
Fair→Dash Attack→Dash→Up Smash

Bread and Butter Combos Explanation

Advanced Combos Explanation

Greninja Frame Data and Moveset

Best Out of Shield Options

Move	Frames
Back Air	8 Frames
Up Air	10 Frames
Up Smash	12 Frames
Shield Grab	14 Frames
Shield Release > Jab	14 Frames

Greninja has poor out of shield options, meaning that he struggles a bit in terms of defense. The only somewhat quick options he has are back air and up air, but they are situational, as they will ht an opponent behind or above Greninja only, and even then, they don't come out until frames 8 and 10 respectively. Up smash can also be used to try and hit opponents above him, although the hitboxes that hit on both sides of Greninja do not come out until later than frame 12.

He also has a slow grab, which is too slow to be used out of shield for a quick punish. In most cases, Greninja will have no option other than simply dropping shield and trying to hit with a quick move like jab or down tilt, or simply moving away to reset neutral.

Jab (Neutral Attack)

	1v1 Damage (%)	Startup Frames
Jab 1 (A)	2.4	3
Jab 2	2.4	3
Jab 3	3.6	5
Rapid Jab (Multi-Hit)	0.6	-
Rapid Jab (Finisher)	2.4	4

Jab

Greninja's jab has a quick startup. Greninja lacks many attacks with quick startup, so it's a valuable short-range tool for Greninja.

Dash Attack / Tilts

	1v1 Damage (%)	Startup Frames
Dash Attack (Dash ＋ A)	9.6	7
Forward Tilt (← or → + A)	9.96	10
Forward Tilt (Regular)	8.76	10
Forward Tilt (Angled Down)	9.96	10
Up Tilt (↑ + A)	5.4	9
Down Tilt (↓ + A)	4.8	5

Dash Attack

Greninja's dash attack has a quick startup. It's a great combo starter due to the angle it sends opponents, and can be used as a whiff punish.

Forward Tilt

Greninja's forward tilt has decent range, and can be angled up or down to hit an opponent in the air or close to the ground. It's mostly used as a poking tool, especially after a back dash.

Up Tilt

Greninja's up tilt hits opponents upward into the air with its tongue. It's mainly used as a get-off-me tool against opponents trying to catch your landing, or as a combo starter. It can combo into itself, as well as an aerial.

Down Tilt

Greninja swipes his opponent with his tongue. It's mainly used to hit enemies on the ledge, or for a KO confirm into an Up Smash.

Smash Attacks

	1v1 Damage (%)	Startup Frames
Forward Smash (Smash ← or → + A）	16.8	13
Up Smash (Hit 1) (Smash ↑ + A)	6	12
Up Smash (Hit 2)	16.8/13.2	18
Up Smash (Hit 2/Late 1)	13.2	19
Up Smash (Hit 2/Late 2)	12	21
Down Smash (Smash ↓ + A)	15.6/15.6/ 13.2/13.2	11
Down Taunt	0.6	30

Forward Smash

Greninja's forward smash is great for range and knockback. Most of the time, Greninja can KO without relying on smash attacks, so forward smash alone is rarely used, other than as a hard punish.

Up Smash

Greninja's up smash is a two-staged hit, beginning upward then proceeding down to Greninja's sides. If the first hit connects, the opponent is knocked strongly upwards. However, if it the first hit doesn't connect, the second hit will only lightly launch the opponent horizontally. Since it's difficult to land the first hit, it's mostly just used as a combo finisher, or to hit opponents on a platform.

Down Smash

Greninja's down smash has the fastest startup of all its smash attacks. It's mainly used as an edgeguarding tool, or a way to counter an opponent that is rolling in, due to the range of the multiple hitboxes.

Aerials

	1v1 Damage (%)	Startup Frames
Neutral Air (A + no direction while airborne)	13.2	12
Neutral Air (Late)	7.2	14
Forward Air (Hold ← or → in the direction you are facing + A while airborne)	16.8	16
Back Air (Hit 1) (← or → Opposite of the direction you are facing + A while airborne)	3.6	5
Back Air (Hit 2)	3	7
Back Air (Hit 3)	7.2	11
Up Air (Hit 1-4) (↑ + A While Airborne)	1.56	7/10/13/16
Up Air (Hit 5)	1.56	19
Up Air (Hit 6)	3.6	22
Down Air (↓ + A While Airborne)	9.6	17
Down Air (Late)	9.6	20
Down Air (Bounce)	-	-

Neutral Air

Greninja's neutral air is mainly used as a combo starter. It can confirm into an up smash or back air. The hitbox covers Greninja's whole body, and it is very safe on shield.

Forward Air

Greninja's forward air is great for range, damage, and knockback. Despite its long startup, its range makes it a very useful poking tool, and it is very safe on shield. It is a very useful tool in Greninja's neutral game, as it can be used to start combos, and can KO at higher percentages. It also works as an edgeguarding tool for offstage opponents.

Back Air

Greninja's back air is its fastest aerial. Since most of its other aerials suffer from slow startup, back air is the go to for a combo follow-up.

Up Air

Greninja's up air has quick startup. It's mainly used to juggle, but it can also be used as for drag-down combo due to its multi-hit property.

Down Air

Greninja kicks down with his feet in his down air. This attack's long landing lag makes it difficult to make use of, although hitting an opponent with it causes Greninja to bounce into the air, and it can lead into some combos.

Specials

	1v1 Damage (%)	Startup Frames
Neutral Special (Ground, No Charge) (B)	3.6	20
Neutral Special (Ground, Partial Charge)	12	-
Neutral Special (Ground, Max Charge, Multi Hit)	1.2	60
Neutral Special (Ground, Max Charge, Finisher)	10.8	96
Neutral Special (Aerial, No Charge)	3.6	20
Neutral Special (Aerial, Partial Charge)	12	-
Neutral Special (Aerial, Max Charge, Multi Hit)	1.2	60
Neutral Special (Aerial, Max Charge, Finisher)	10.8	96
Side Special (Front) (← or → + B)	12	24
Side Special (Back)	14.4	24
Up Special (First Pump) (↑ + B)	2.4	19/24
Up Special (Second Pump)	2.4	30/35
Down Special (Counter) (↓ + B)	-	8
Down Special (Attack, Sideways)	13.2	40
Down Special (Attack, Up)	15.6	?
Down Special (Attack, Down)	15.6	?
Down Special (Attack, Diagonal Up)	14.4	?
Down Special (Attack, Diagonal Down)	14.4	?
Down Special (Bounce)	-	-
Down Special (Landing)	-	-

Neutral Special (Water Shuriken)

Greninja's Water Shuriken is a useful projectile. It can be charged by holding the special button longer, which leads to an increase in damage and knockback, at the cost of less speed and range. The charge can't be cancelled and held onto, so only start the move when you want to release it then. When charged to the full extent, the move can KO at high percents, and when uncharged, it is useful as a long ranged poking tool.

Side Special (Shadow Sneak)

Greninja disappears into the shadows for a sneak attack in his side special. Greninja goes into the shadows when you press and hold the special button, then it performs the attack when you release the button. You can control the movement of Greninja even in the shadows. The attack has a slow startup at close range, so it's mainly used as a recovery tool, although landing the attack on the opponent can deal significant knockback.

Up Special (Hydro Pump)

Greninja launches himself in a given direction using his up special. You choose the direction Greninja is initially launched in, and you're also able to change it once. The travel distance of the jump is quite far, but Greninja will go into helplessness immediately after the second hydro pump is used. While the move doesn't damage opponents, it can be used to prevent the recovery of some characters, similar to Mario's F.L.U.D.D.

Down Special (Substitute)

Greninja's down special is essentially a counterattack. Greninja will freeze in place until struck. After being struck, Greninja will disappear then jump out to strike the opponent. You can decide the direction it jumps out in. Unlink other counters, the attack portion has rather slow startup, which makes it better to only for edgeguarding.

Grab / Throws

	1v1 Damage (%)	Startup Frames
Pummel	1.2	2
Grab (Normal)	-	10
Dash Grab	-	13
Pivot Grab	-	14
Forward Throw (Hitbox) (← or → While Grabbing)	3.6	15
Forward Throw (Throw)	6	16
Back Throw (Throw) (← or → While Grabbing)	10.8	18
Up Throw (Throw) (↑ While Grabbing)	6	16
Down Throw (Hitbox) (↓ While Grabbing)	6	16

Forward Throw

Greninja shoves his opponent forward. It's not used for combos, because of the distance it creates between Greninja and the opponent even at low percentages.

Back Throw

Greninja smacks his opponent backwards. Like its Forward Throw, it cannot be used for combos, because of the distance it creates between Greninja and the opponent at low percentages, so it's mainly used to put an opponent offstage.

Up Throw

Greninja tosses his opponent upward. It can be followed up with an up air. At very high percents, it can KO.

Down Throw

Greninja throws his opponent downward. It works as a combo starter into back air, so be sure and practice your timing with doing a reverse aerial rush.

Final Smash

Attack	How to Use	Effect
Secret Ninja Attack	Press B after obtaining the Smash Ball	Greninja kicks opponents into the air in front of the moon, and unleashes a series of attacks on them before finishing them off with a final kick to the ground that deals heavy damage and knockback.

Greninja Balance Changes

Version 7.0.0 Balance Patch

	Change
Other	Increased shield size.

Version 4.0.0 Balance Patch

	Change
Down Air Attack	Immediately descend when using the attack after being launched.

Version 3.0.0 Balance Patch

	Change
Neutral Special	Reduced the power against shields.

Version 2.0.0 Balance Patch

	Change
Down Smash Attack	Increased the range of the inner attacks.
Up Special	Can no longer move immediately when landing on a moving platform or slanted ground.

How to Unlock Greninja

Unlocking Via Smash Mode
58th Fighter Unlocked After unlocking Ken, let 10 minutes pass OR play another battle in smash after soft-resetting OR return to the menu from World of Light
Unlocking via Classic Mode
Clear Classing Mode 6 times using Donkey Kong.
Unlocking via World of Light
Mysterious Dimension

There are three ways to unlock Greninja. Completing any of these, then defeating Greninja when they appear in the “a New Challenger Appears” screen will allow you to use them afterward.

How to Unlock Characters Fast

Greninja Alt Costumes and Skins

Greninja Reveal Trailer

Smash Ultimate Character Guides

List of Fighters
Tier List	Unlocking Fighters

Character Stat Lists

Character Stats
Weights of All Characters	Run Speeds of All Characters
Air Speeds of All Characters	Fast Fall Speeds of All Characters