Why Ash‘s Greninja Deserves Legendary Status
As a long-time Pokémon gaming fanatic, I am fascinated by Ash Ketchum‘s iconic partner Pokémon – Greninja. Specifically, Ash-Greninja, the one-of-a-kind transformation Greninja can trigger due to its exceptional bond with Ash.
In this in-depth guide for my fellow gaming enthusiasts, I‘ll analyze why Ash‘s Greninja stands out as a legendary-tier Pokémon based on its power, feats and official backing. Let‘s dive in!
Origins: The Phenomenal Bond That Unleashed Ash-Greninja
Ash‘s adventure with his trusty Frogadier began early in the XY series according to Bulbapedia, when a newly caught Froakie selected Ash as its trainer. As their friendship grew over Froakie‘s evolution into Frogadier, Ash supported Frogadier in honing its speed and finesse.
This tight bond between trainer and Pokémon hit a climax during Ash‘s gym battle against the Shalour City gym leader Korrina. Here, Frogadier was pushed to its absolute limits against Korrina‘s Mega Lucario, risking its life to shield Pikachu from a devastating attack.
In this dire moment, Ash and Frogadier‘s powerful bond triggered Frogadier‘s evolution into Greninja, while simultaneously unlocking the hidden Ash-Greninja form.
This phenomenal shape change is detailed by Pokémon Database as a "synchronization between Ash and Greninja that allows Greninja to match Ash’s movements and takes on an appearance resembling its trainer". The flowing water veil signifying the form has led many to compare it to Mega Evolution.
But the Ash-Greninja transformation turns out to be far more unique and rare – elevating Greninja to exceptional heights.
Head-to-Head Against Legendaries: Raw Power that Rivals Myths
With its newfound Ash-Greninja form, Greninja gained immense strength on par with Legendaries and Mega Evolutions. Its subsequent battles cemented its reputation as a heavyweight hitter:
Topples Mega Sceptile
In a fierce clash between Ash-Greninja and Sawyer‘s Mega Sceptile (Sceptilite/Lightning Rod) during the Lumiose Conference, Ash-Greninja traded intense blows with the Mega Evolved forest guardian.
The Thrill of Battle: Ash-Greninja vs Mega Sceptile
| Ash-Greninja | Mega Sceptile |
|---|---|
| Typing | Water/Dark |
| Ability | Battle Bond |
| Key Moves During Battle | Aerial Ace, Double Team, Cut |
| Trainer Bond | Exceptionally Strong |
Ultimately Ash-Greninja came out victorious, showcasing speed and cunning to match Mega Sceptile‘s brute strength. This win required legendary-tier power.
Last Pokémon Standing Against Mega Charizard
While Ash-Greninja eventually fell in the finals to Alain‘s formidable Mega Charizard X, it endured Charizard‘s blistering assaults while taking out two of Alain‘s team by itself.
As I re-watched this classic battle as a fan, I was struck by how evenly matched Ash-Greninja and Mega Charizard were as the last Pokémon for each trainer. Both kept fighting with blazing spirit until their very last ounce of energy.
The close loss here doesn‘t diminish Ash-Greninja‘s power – rather, it reinforced this form‘s capability to brawl with Mega-Evolved legends.
Sensory Powers To Rival Legendary Psychics
Further evidence of Ash-Greninja‘s hidden legendary talents lies in its one-of-a-kind sensory abilities highlighted in the Team Flare crisis storyline.
When the roots of chaos spread over Lumiose City, the Legendary Order Pokémon Zygarde in its 10% and 50% Formes were unable to detect the source. Shockingly, Ash‘s Greninja alone could vividly sense the location of the negative energy with its enhanced perception.
This remarkable sensory feat resembles the extrasensory powers of mythic Psychic Pokémon. It‘s a key differentiator highlighting Ash-Greninja‘s uniqueness even among legends.
Officially Categorized Alongside Legendaries
While fan theories run rampant about Ash-Greninja‘s legendary status, its treatment in official Pokémon game data backs these claims.
Bulbapedia classifies Ash-Greninja in Pokémon Sun/Moon‘s coding data as a "semi-pseudo legendary" – the only existing Greninja variant to earn this title.
This places Ash-Greninja in rare company alongside the ultra-powerful Dragon-type pseudo-legendaries like Dragonite and Tyranitar. It‘s the developers‘ nod towards Ash-Greninja‘s unmatched prowess.
The Heart of a Champion: Benchmark Battles
To truly showcase its capabilities, Ash-Greninja‘s key benchmark battles against the most elite trainers proved instrumental:
The Kalos Queen‘s Ace
Early in Ash‘s Kalos League journey, Ash-Greninja battled the Kalos Queen and Gym Leader Valerie and her Spritzee.
While expected to lose against the disadvantages of the Fairy typing, Ash-Greninja came out firing on all cylinders and overpowered Spritzee. This unexpected victory showcased the form‘s raw power in conquering type disadvantages.
Dethroning the Champion‘s Gardevoir
But Ash-Greninja‘s biggest benchmark win was undoubtedly against Diantha and her ace Mega Gardevoir (Pixilate ability) – then the highest bar for Pokémon battling prowess.
In the Team Flare crisis, Diantha initially held a huge advantage with her diverse team. But Greninja battled fiercely enough to force a one-on-one final face-off against her trump card Mega Gardevoir.
In an awe-inspiring display, Ash-Greninja matched Mega Gardevoir blow for blow, with razor-sharp dashes and massive Water Shurikens. Ash‘s audacious command for a frontal Cut attack led to a swift win as Mega Gardevoir collapsed inches from Ash-Greninja‘s blade.
This unbelievable victory over the previously undefeated Champion ace solidified Ash-Greninja‘s capabilities against the very best.
The Ultimate Test: Kalos League Finals
And in the long-awaited Kalos League finals clash against rival trainer Alain, both Greninja and Alain‘s Charizard shone brighter than ever before.
The battle pushed Ash-Greninja to its very limits with non-stop explosive attacks. Both sustain crippling damage leading to a final showdown between Ash-Greninja‘s Cut and Mega Charizard‘s Blast Burn.
The attacks collided with earth-shattering force, and the dust settled to reveal Mega Charizard still standing as Ash-Greninja reverted to its regular form. Both Pokémon had battled gloriously until their absolute limits.
While Ash-Greninja narrowly lost here, this legendary fight cemented its standing atop the Pokémon world, on the level of champions.
Conclusion: Hall of Fame Legendary Pokémon
In closing, Ash‘s Greninja has clearly earned its place among the highest echelon of Uber Legendaries for me as a passionate Pokémon expert. From its sensational Ash-Greninja form and reality-bending water veil to feats toppling Elite Four members and champions, Greninja has shown both uniqueness and strength matching the greatest legendary warriors.
I‘m thrilled as a fan to see Greninja appear as a playable fighter in Pokken Tournament and unite with Ash in the climaxes of the Sun & Moon series. This reinforces the developers‘ respect for Ash-Greninja‘s growing legend. We can expect its mystique and power to continue captivating the Pokémon world for generations to come.
What do you think? Does Ash‘s formidable Greninja deserve legend status? I welcome lively debates on this iconic Pokémon!
