Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: Greninja raid predictions and possible counters

POKÉMON Scarlet and Violet has announced the third target for its seven-star tera raids, the Water-type starter Greninja.

It will come with a Poison-tera type, and be available for two separate weekends.

Greninja will be available from Friday, January 27, until Sunday, January 30, and again from Friday, February 10, until Sunday, February 13.

Here are the possible movesets, abilities and counters for Greninja raids in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: Possible Greninja sets

Greninja is a fast mixed sweeper, with good offences and speed, and poor defences.

This makes it hard to determine if it will be a special or physical attacker, but as it lacks defensive support moves you can hit it either way.

Gunk Shot, its only Poison-type move, is special, but it could use Tera Blast paired with Swords Dance to make up for this.

It learns both Double Team and Smokescreen, and evasion techniques are also a possibility.

It will likely come with the ability Protean, but this doesn’t work with terastylization and can be ignored.

The Mightiest Greninja – Level 100

• Potential nature – Adamant (physical) / Modest (special)
• Ability – Protean
• Item – None
• Tera-type – Poison
• Potential physical moves – Swords Dance, Tera Blast, Night Slash, Liquidation, Acrobatics, Facade, Brick Break
• Potential special moves – Gunk Shot, Dark Pulse, Hydro Pump, Water Shuriken, Rain Dance, Blizzard, Grass Knot, Extrasensory, Double Team

Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: Potential Greninja counters

As Greninja has such a wide move pool, we will be giving some Pokémon that would work well as counters depending on its moveset.

Once we know the actual moveset, we can give more concrete advice, though some of these potential Pokémon are likely to find success.

West Sea Gastrodon

Gastrodon’s Storm Drain will redirect Water-type moves away from the rest of the party, while also boosting its special attack.

It also learns a good number of support moves, as well as Ground-type attacks which will be powerful against the Poison-tera Pokémon.

Gastrodon also provides good bulk to keep it healthy. However, if Greninja brings Grass Knot Gastrodon is not advised.

West Sea Gastrodon – Level 100

• Nature – Bold/Calm HP and (Special) Defense invested
• Ability – Storm Drain
• Item – Ability Shield
• Tera-type – Ground
• Potential moves – Earth Power, Recover, Yawn, Amnesia/Acid Armor, Helping Hand

Klefki

Steel-types are very strong against a Poison-type foe, and it negates Fairy-types Poison weakness.

Klefki also has one of the most impressive support sets of any Pokémon paired with Prankster to make up for its poor stats.

However, if Greninja brings Fighting-type moves like Brick Break, Klefki will not be useful.

Klefki – Level 100

• Nature – Bold/Calm HP and (Special) Defense invested
• Ability – Prankster
• Item – Ability Shield
• Tera-type – Steel
• Potential moves – Flash Cannon, Metal Sound, Swift, Sunny Day, Reflect/Light Screen, Rest, Iron Defense/Calm Mind, Stored Power

Paldean Tauros Aqua Breed

Anger Point is a strong ability which maximises attack when hit with a critical hit from a move like Night Slash.

It has defence boosting moves, and strong accurate moves to help if Greninja brings Double Team. Grass Knot or Extrasensory could cause problems here though.

Paldean Tauros Aqua Breed – Level 100

• Nature – Bold/Calm HP and (Special) Defense invested
• Ability – Anger Point
• Item – Shell Bell
• Tera-type – Steel/Psychic
• Potential moves – Smart Strike, Bulk Up, Rest, Sleep Talk

Gholdengo

Extrasensory threatens Gholdengo, but it is very specially bulky, and its ability is helpful against status moves.

It is also a powerful special attacker that could take out Greninja quickly.

Gholdengo – Level 100

• Nature – Bold/Calm HP and (Special) Defense invested
• Ability – Good as Gold
• Item – Ability Shield
• Tera-type – Steel
• Potential moves – Metal Sound, Recover, Nasty Plot, Flash Cannon/Make it Rain, Light Screen/Reflect

Tinkaton

Tinkaton is another Pokémon that’s threatened by Brick Break but little else.

It learns a huge array of support moves which are especially powerful when backed by Gigaton Hammer.

Tinkaton – Level 100

• Nature – Bold/Calm HP and (Special) Defense invested
• Ability – Own Tempo
• Item – Shell Bell
• Tera-type – Steel
• Potential moves – Gigaton Hammer, Reflect/Light Screen, Swords Dance, Helping Hand, Thunder Wave

Written by Georgina Young on behalf of GLHF.