Grateful Greninja — An Innovative Take on Everyone’s Favorite Frog
Hi everyone! I’m excited to be back after a short hiatus, one over which I traveled west to Anaheim, California for the World Championships. In the main event, I played a [card name=”Gardevoir-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card] build on which I worked extensively with Cody Walinski and our very own Ryan Grant. We all played the list to varying degrees of success, but unfortunately, none of us were able to make it to the second day of play. This said, I was quite disappointed, but at the same time, knew I had a chance to make up for it the very next day at the Anaheim Open.
[cardimg name=”Trevenant” set=”XY” no=”55″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
The Open went very well for me. I made the Top 12 cut, and even though I lost immediately, I took home 80 Championship Points in the new season of play. This past weekend, at the time I’m writing this, I made the Top 8 at two League Cups: I finished fifth and second, respectively. That said, I’m already up to 145 Championship Points this season, and well on my way to my sixth consecutive qualification to the World Championships!
Over the course of last month, I was hard at work testing a variety of decks for Fort Wayne, Indiana Regionals. I think [card name=”Trevenant” set=”XY” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card] is an unbalanced card, and the archetype is without a doubt the frontrunner in the format. I really wish it had been banned along with [card name=”Archeops” set=”Noble Victories” no=”67″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Forest of Giant Plants” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card], but it is what it is, and today I’ll be talking about a deck that can beat it: [card name=”Greninja BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”41″ c=”name”][/card]. To qualify myself on the deck, I’ve made Top 8 at a Regional Championship with the deck in the Expanded format last year, and I worked on Cody Walinski’s finals list heading into the World Championship with him, and others. I hope I can really shed some positive light on an awesome deck that’s set for a major revival!
Editor’s note: The bulk of this article was written before Fort Wayne Regionals.
Overview
Greninja’s last Expanded format showing was a second-place finish at the San Jose, California Regional Championship last December. There, Kenny Britton’s build was demolished by Mark Garcia’s [card name=”Yveltal-EX” set=”XY” no=”79″ c=”name”][/card] deck with Archeops. After that landslide finals victory, most people realized that Greninja BREAK had a poor matchup with Yveltal decks, the biggest cog of the Expanded format, a deck that you need to beat in order to do well at an event, and packed the deck away for another day.
Forest of Giant Plants was the final nail in the coffin for Greninja BREAK decks in Expanded, since it unlocked the keys for a few broken decks like [card name=”Vileplume” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”3″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Decidueye-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”12″ c=”name”][/card] and Vileplume / [card name=”Lurantis-GX” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”15″ c=”name”][/card], among other Grass-type decks in general. Greninja has a Weakness to Grass Pokemon, so it’s always best to steer clear of anything that can cause trouble like Decidueye-GX and Lurantis-GX. With [card name=”Forest of Giant Plants” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card] removed from the game, those two decks seem highly unlikely to be played, and that said, Greninja should be smooth sailing in the Expanded format, as long as Trevenant’s Forest Curse doesn’t cause too many problems.
Again, now that Archeops and Forest of Giant Plants are gone for good — thanks to its Expanded format ban — Greninja BREAK is poised for a comeback. Since the deck hasn’t seen much refinement since its last placing so long ago, there’s a lot of work to be done to iron out the kinks. Luckily, I have a fantastic list, something that you won’t see anything like anywhere else. I’ve done a lot of testing to make things work right, and I’m happy to share it with you. Let’s take a look at it…
Deck List
[decklist name=”Greninja BREAK” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Alolan Vulpix” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”21″][pokemon amt=”17″]4x [card name=”Froakie” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”38″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Frogadier” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”39″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Greninja” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”40″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Greninja BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”41″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Alolan Vulpix” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”21″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”33″]4x [card name=”Professor Sycamore” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”107″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”Wally” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”94″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Teammates” set=”Primal Clash” no=”141″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Fisherman” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”136″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Ace Trainer” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”69″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”VS Seeker” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”109″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Dive Ball” set=”Primal Clash” no=”125″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”135″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”Super Rod” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”149″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Rescue Stretcher” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”130″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Muscle Band” set=”XY” no=”121″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Computer Search” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Rough Seas” set=”Primal Clash” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”10″]7x [card name=”Water Energy” set=”Generations” no=”77″ c=”deck2″ amt=”7″][/card]3x [card name=”Splash Energy” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”113″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card][/energy][/decklist]
Card Explanations
[cardimg name=”Greninja” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”40″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
4 Froakie
I haven’t been using [card name=”Talonflame” set=”Steam Siege” no=”96″ c=”name”][/card] with Greninja BREAK in the Expanded format lately, and that said, I wouldn’t go lower than four [card name=”Froakie” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”38″ c=”name”][/card]. Three is the magic number when you play Talonflame, in an effort to increase your odds of starting it, but since you’re not going to be playing it, this is the only count that makes sense.
4 Frogadier
Water Duplicates and getting Greninja out in general are integral to this deck’s strategy, and that said, you need as many Frogadier as you can get. If you were to Prize a [card name=”Frogadier” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”39″ c=”name”][/card], things can go south quickly, so the maximum copies of the card allotted to you is essential to this deck’s success in tournaments.
4 Greninja
Some of you may be wondering why a single copy of [card name=”Greninja” set=”XY” no=”41″ c=”from”][/card] isn’t included in this lineup. While I think the (regular) Water Shuriken Ability is fine and dandy, it’s always better to just have more copies of your main attacker in nearly every matchup. That said, it’s best to stick to the Moonlight Slashes and Shadow Stitchings of the world.
3 Greninja BREAK
Giant Water Shuriken is insane, and so is 170 HP on a non-EX/GX Pokemon. Having three BREAK in this build is essential to success, so don’t go any lower. In the past I have fiddled with two as a space-saving measure, but when you Prize one, you’re in for a world of hurt, so I wouldn’t suggest it.
1 Tapu Lele-GX
When I first saw this card being included in some Greninja BREAK lists I was sort of repulsed; that is, until I tried it. I will admit that if you’re playing three or four [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”135″ c=”name”][/card], this card should be included. The power of Wonder Tag is too much to pass up on, especially since you can combo it with [card name=”Wally” set=”Radiant Collection 2″ no=”RC27″ c=”name”][/card] in the Expanded format. Additionally, the 170 HP mark is difficult to reach, so you shouldn’t be in too bad of shape if your opponent aims to target it. I love that every Ultra Ball in the deck becomes an instant out for a Supporter card too, which is critical in a generally inconsistent deck such as Greninja BREAK.
1 Alolan Vulpix
Since you can’t fit Talonflame in this list, I prefer to have a single copy of [card name=”Alolan Vulpix” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”21″ c=”name”][/card]. After you’re done using Water Duplicates, you can move onto your setup phase, where you’re going to want to get as many Greninja into play as possible. Having the option to use Beacon is almost just as good as Aero Blitz, since a lot of the time with Talonflame a player will opt to search for Evolution Pokemon to continue setting up, anyways. It comes at an easier price to play, as a one-of in a deck that’s usually crammed for space.
[premium]
4 Professor Sycamore
Consistency is key, especially in a format where an Item locking oppressor reins supreme ([card name=”Trevenant” set=”XY” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card]). Having a consistent flow of Supporter draw is crucial to setting up a clunkier deck like Greninja BREAK, so I highly recommend finding the space for the maximum copies of this card, if you haven’t already.
3 N
I dislike having three [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card], but it’s a space-saving measure. I’d love to have the maximum copies of four, but this is where I sit for now under the 60-cards-in-deck restraint. Having the option to not discard pieces of your setup when getting going can be very nice, as opposed to a big drop off with something like Professor Sycamore.
1 Wally
I mentioned this a little earlier in the [card name=”Tapu Lele-GX” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card] section, but I’m in love with this card in this deck. Getting the turn one Water Duplicates is amazing, and it even doubles as a way to search a Pokemon out of the deck with no loopholes against [card name=”Trevenant BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”66″ c=”name”][/card] decks. Also, I like that you can evolve into a Greninja, and then Wally into the BREAK in the same turn. It’s a sweet card, and you should test it out, so you know why I’m infatuated with it.
1 Teammates
[cardimg name=”Teammates” set=”Primal Clash” no=”160″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
I really like this card in bang-bang matchups like Night March or Turbo [card name=”Darkrai-EX” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card]. It gives you instant access to all the cards in your deck, and that can be incredible when the pressure is on. In a setup deck like this, sometimes all you really need is a card or two to be good to go.
1 Guzma
I like to have one “gust” effect in Greninja decks, and since Greninja has a free Retreat Cost, there’s no reason not to play [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card] instead of [card name=”Lysandre” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”78″ c=”name”][/card]. Additionally, you can pull off a sweet triple Giant Water Shuriken turn if all things go well, since you can use it once, then into another BREAK, use another, and then finally retreat into your third BREAK. That doesn’t happen all too often, but when it does, boy, it’s broken.
1 Fisherman
In Expanded, with Trevenant decks running rampant, I prefer [card name=”Fisherman” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”136″ c=”name”][/card] to the [card name=”Starmie” set=”Evolutions” no=”31″ c=”name”][/card] option. While Starmie is amazing, I will give you that, having a Supporter card that can retrieve Energy cards is a lot better, especially since Staryu is super easy to Knock Out. It’s an option that doesn’t need setup, which is nice, especially in a deck that already requires a lot of setup.
1 Ace Trainer
[card name=”Ace Trainer” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”69″ c=”name”][/card] is awesome in Greninja BREAK decks, since your opponent almost always takes a Prize lead against you. Putting an opponent down to three cards is incredible, especially in the early game, and it proves you a safe way to draw a fresh set of six new cards, too!
4 VS Seeker
Maximum consistency in a naturally inconsistent deck is a good idea. In the late game, it’s awesome to have your choice of Supporter, rather than playing with what you’ve got available to you in your hand. I wouldn’t tamper with this count.
4 Dive Ball
This deck is almost purely Water type, and that said, [card name=”Dive Ball” set=”Primal Clash” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card] is the best Pokemon search card out there for the aforementioned variety. It can get you any piece of the Greninja lineup that you’d like; and for that reason, it’s included as a playset, for maximum consistency.
3 Ultra Ball
There are so many variations of “ball” lineups in Greninja decks that I’ve seen, including [card name=”Evosoda” set=”XY” no=”116″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Level Ball” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Repeat Ball” set=”Primal Clash” no=”136″ c=”name”][/card] and even [card name=”Timer Ball” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”134″ c=”name”][/card]! I like three Ultra Ball in here since it unlocks Tapu Lele-GX as a Supporter option, and that is quite awesome. One thing I’ve had a friend do is switch these to Level Ball, and then run [card name=”Jirachi-EX” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card] instead, but I’m would advise against playing a 90 HP EX in a format where it can easily be preyed on.
1 Super Rod
I like two Pokemon/Energy recovery cards in any Greninja deck, so I’m running a split of [card name=”Rescue Stretcher” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”130″ c=”name”][/card] and this here [card name=”Super Rod” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”149″ c=”name”][/card]. I like that it creates a different avenue of recovery, one that can take back a few Water Energy, which can be crucial in the late game for nicely timed Giant Water Shuriken drops. Its dual Pokemon recovery option is a no-brainer, so this card still makes a lot of sense to me.
1 Rescue Stretcher
While Energy recovery can be nice, the option to take a Pokemon directly from the discard pile into your hand is something I don’t want to miss out on. Rescue Stretcher does a lot in the consistency department for Greninja BREAK decks, so I always try to include at least one copy to reap the awesome benefits.
1 Muscle Band
[card name=”Muscle Band” set=”XY” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card] can make Moonlight Slash do exactly 100 damage to any Pokemon out there, regardless of EX/GX typing. I like that option, as opposed to two [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card], since some things like [card name=”Pumpkaboo” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”44″ c=”name”][/card] with a [card name=”Fighting Fury Belt” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”99″ c=”name”][/card] can be troublesome to Knock Out, otherwise.
1 Field Blower
[card name=”Garbodor” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] and its Garbotoxin Ability still exist in the Expanded format, so playing a [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card] is vital in a Greninja BREAK deck. In addition, the option of discarding something like a [card name=”Fighting Fury Belt” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”99″ c=”name”][/card] is awesome, since it can make some Knockouts a whole lot easier, especially in a matchup like Turbo Darkrai-EX.
1 Computer Search
This is the best Ace Spec for a Greninja BREAK deck to play, since it provides another valuable consistency option in the early or late game. You can get any card, which can be anything from a Frogadier to use Water Duplicates with, or the last Greninja BREAK you need to win the game. The options are endless, and the consistency is real.
1 Choice Band
Back to the aforementioned Muscle Band discussion, for the same reason, I include a single Choice Band for when dealing with Pokemon-EX/GX. Being able to do 70 with Shadow Stitching, or 110 with Moonlight Slash is pretty awesome, and something you don’t want to miss out on.
4 Rough Seas
[cardimg name=”Rough Seas” set=”Primal Clash” no=”137″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
I think maxing out on these is critical to winning the matchup with [card name=”Trevenant BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”66″ c=”name”][/card]. Silent Fear is completely offset for a turn with a [card name=”Rough Seas” set=”Primal Clash” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card] drop, so having four of them will make all the difference. Trevenant usually drops the first Stadium, too, in order to attack with Silent Fear, so that way, you can get ahead in the Stadium war and keep healing their attacks and win the game.
7 Water Energy
I like having seven of these, since six has always seemed like one too few. It’s a great avenue to use Giant Water Shuriken with, and provides you more Energy that you can recover with Fisherman. I’ve found that with six, it’s often hard to pull of a full Fisherman for four [card name=”Water Energy” set=”Generations” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card], which is often crucial for winning a game. Getting as many outs to Energy cards as possible is great, especially in matchups like Trevenant BREAK where you’re going to be Item locked for the majority of the game.
3 Splash Energy
[card name=”Splash Energy” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”113″ c=”name”][/card] is a great card for Greninja BREAK decks, since it can recover the entire line that you worked so hard to build up after a Knockout. It keeps the ball rolling, and you usually have the pre-evolution down already of whatever was Knocked Out, so you can go right ahead and evolve back up into your fearsome frogs! I like three so that you hit them in the early game more often, and make sure that you’re going to be getting the maximum recovery you can get throughout a game.
Matchups
Accelgor / Wobbuffet | Very Unfavorable
Between [card name=”Wobbuffet” set=”Radiant Collection 2″ no=”RC11″ c=”name”][/card] and the Paralysis from [card name=”Accelgor” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”11″ c=”name”][/card]’s Deck and Cover, this matchup is pretty much unwinnable. Greninja relies on using Giant Water Shuriken for extra damage, and Bide Barricade completely stops that. To make things worse, you won’t even be able to attack. You can use Guzma a bit to make things trickier for your opponent, but Accelgor also hits you for Weakness, so the damage will add up fast. Luckily for us, this deck isn’t very popular.
Aerodactyl / Talonflame | Very Favorable
This matchup is pretty simple. Jet Draft can’t to significant damage enough to take one-hit Knockouts, and because of that, you’ll be free to retreat around between your Greninja and use Rough Seas to heal back up to full HP. A single Giant Water Shuriken and a Moonlight Slash can take a one-hit Knockout on an [card name=”Aerodactyl” set=”Fates Collide” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card], or you can just use two Giant Water Shuriken to make things even easier. Between all the offensive options you have and you’re opponent’s lack thereof, you should have an incredibly easy time winning this matchup.
Archie’s Blastoise | Slightly Favorable
Deluge can let your opponent take an early lead, but once you start swinging, you can use use Shadow Stitching in conjunction with a Knockout to render your opponent’s board useless, since he or she won’t be able to use Deluge anymore to build up attackers. Your opponent’s offensive pressure might be too much to overcome in some games, so be wary of the speed of an Archie’s [card name=”Blastoise” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”16″ c=”name”][/card] deck. If all goes well and you set up, you should be in great shape!
Carbink BREAK / Zygarde-EX | Very Favorable
This matchup is super simple, since your opponent’s Fighting deck won’t be able to do enough damage to build up to one-hit Knockouts in a timely manner. You’ll be able to drown them with Giant Water Shuriken drops and Moonlight Slashes for maximum damage, too.
Darkrai-EX / Dragons | Slightly Favorable
This matchup is a little tougher than some of the ones I’ve talked about already, but it’s still favorable. Your opponent can get a lot of damage going early with [card name=”Darkrai-EX” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”74″ c=”name”][/card] and its Dark Pulse, because he or she has access to [card name=”Darkrai-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”88″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Dark Patch” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Max Elixir” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”102″ c=”name”][/card], and [card name=”Double Dragon Energy” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”97″ c=”name”][/card]. The pressure can be a little too hard to match if you have a slower start. If all goes well though, and Greninja does its thing, you’ll have a team of Giant Water Shuriken drops and be able to smoke through your opponent’s attackers. A few things to mention though, are if your opponent doesn’t take a one-hit Knockout, you can retreat to the Bench and heal up with Rough Seas. Additionally, [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card] is huge in this matchup, since it can remove any [card name=”Fighting Fury Belt” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”99″ c=”name”][/card] that could be holding you back from a Knockout.
Eelektrik / Raikou | Slightly Favorable
Much like in the Blastoise matchup, you can lock your opponent out of the option of building attackers by stopping [card name=”Eelektrik” set=”Noble Victories” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card]’s Dynamotor with Shadow Stitching. The only annoying thing is between [card name=”Raikou” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card]’s Shining Body and [card name=”Rough Seas” set=”Primal Clash” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card], it can be surprisingly difficult to take Knockouts. Your opponent might attempt to play a deck-out game, but it won’t work, so rest assured. If he or she gets a hot enough start and gets a Raikou with a ton of Energy on it, though, this matchup can be harder than expected. Using your Field Blower to remove Fighting Fury Belt will be clutch, so make sure to hold onto it. You’ll just need to take down that Raikou, and then it’ll be smooth sailing.
Greninja BREAK | Even
If you and your opponent are both playing Rough Seas, this’ll be a huge grind. I’ve played this mirror in an event before, and it’s not pretty. The first thing to remember, though, is that you should never, ever, stop using Shadow Stitching. If you do, then you will lose. Giving your opponent an opportunity to use Abilities will be game-losing, so don’t even think about doing that. Basically, you and your opponent should be exchanging Shadow Stitching attacks. Giant Water Shuriken is way too big of a liability to allow your opponent to access, so that’s why you don’t want to break the Ability lock. Eventually, you or your opponent will run out of cards, and lose. Otherwise, you may see an opening or two to use Guzma for Prizes, but that’s unlikely, considering the massive amount of healing that you and your opponent will be doing. Playing a [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Pokémon Ranger” set=”Steam Siege” no=”104″ c=”name”][/card] to improve this matchup could be good, but I don’t think it’ll be a popular enough play anytime soon to warrant it — so for now, I’ll stay put.
M Gardevoir-EX | Favorable
[card name=”M Gardevoir-EX” set=”Steam Siege” no=”79″ c=”name”][/card] in the Expanded format plays [card name=”Dimension Valley” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card], so your opponent won’t be able to take many, if any, one-hit Knockouts on Greninja BREAK. That said, you’ll be free to use your powerful attacks and take down M Gardevoir-EX left and right with Giant Water Shuriken. If your opponent plays a [card name=”Giratina” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY184″ c=”name”][/card], things can be a little more difficult, but it won’t be unwinnable, still, since you can Retreat between Greninja BREAK and heal up, while you still pummel your opponent with attacks. Shadow Stitching is very underrated in this matchup, too, since much of your opponent’s strategy relies on Ability-based draw.
M Manectric-EX | Favorable
This matchup is pretty simple, too, since [card name=”M Manectric-EX” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”24″ c=”name”][/card] can never take a one-hit Knockout on any of your Greninja. You will catch up in the Prize race with Giant Water Shuriken and a barrage of Moonlight Slash. [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Muscle Band” set=”XY” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card] help out a lot with numbers, and you can heal up your own attackers with Rough Seas, too.
M Rayquaza-EX | Slightly Favorable
[cardimg name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
I’ve seen a lot of contrasting opinions on this matchup, but I think Greninja does have the advantage. The early game can be challenging, but when you set up, all you have to do is replace your opponent’s Stadium with Rough Seas, and then Shadow Stitching for days. You can even pick off weaker Pokemon-EX/GX (like [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card]) that your opponent has on his or her Bench to get ahead in the Prize trade.
Night March | Slightly Favorable
This matchup used to be one of the main draws to playing Greninja BREAK for a tournament. Night March’s frail Pokemon get bent out of shape with Giant Water Shuriken, and Shadow Stitching doesn’t help, either. [card name=”Teammates” set=”Primal Clash” no=”141″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card], and Muscle Band are all nice cards for this matchup, since they all do things that help you get ahead and stay ahead.
Primal Groudon-EX | Favorable
This matchup is pretty much an automatic win, provided you can hit [card name=”Primal Groudon-EX” set=”Primal Clash” no=”86″ c=”name”][/card] with a late game [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card]. [card name=”Hex Maniac” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card] can make things tricky, but that’s no matter if all goes well. When a Primal Groudon-EX finally gets online, you’ll be on the clock to take a Knockout. Since most lists play [card name=”Wishful Baton” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”128″ c=”name”][/card] now, you’re going to want to take that Knockout with a Giant Water Shuriken so that the Tool card’s effect doesn’t trigger. [card name=”Wobbuffet” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”36″ c=”name”][/card] prevents you from using your Abilities early, so you’re going to have to wait until the Primal comes up. When it does, you’re going to want to have as many Greninja as you can get in play, so hope that you don’t prize a [card name=”Frogadier” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”39″ c=”name”][/card], because if you do, the game will be a lot more tricky.
Rainbow Road | Slightly Favorable
[card name=”Ho-Oh-EX” set=”Dragons Exalted” no=”22″ c=”name”][/card] and its Rebirth Ability are what makes Rainbow Road a viable deck in the Expanded format, so obviously, Shadow Stitching is the first thing that comes to mind. Now your opponent will likely pop off before you get your first Stitching in, so you’re going to want to be prepared for that. You’ll need to have a solid setup in order to avoid being overwhelmed. If all goes well, [card name=”Xerneas” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”107″ c=”name”][/card] is easy to take Knockouts on, since it is just a Giant Water Shuriken and a Moonlight Slash away from its demise.
Sableye / Garbodor | Slightly Favorable
[cardimg name=”Garbodor” set=”Dragons Exalted” no=”54″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
Garbotoxin can be a pain, but the fact that you return your Energy to the hand following a Moonlight Slash can make all the difference. Your opponent’s deck isn’t super popular, so I wouldn’t put too much thought into it, but the Moonlight Slash option is what makes it a positive one. In this matchup, I try to not play down anything that can get trapped. All Froakie must be evolved into Greninja, so that you have the option to use Moonlight Slash. Avoid discarding any Basic Pokemon, so that your opponent cannot use Target Whistle to put them on your Bench. [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card] can get an unfavorable Pokemon out of the Active position, so don’t be too afraid even if your opponent can pull off the Pokemon lock play. This matchup should be won in most cases.
Seismitoad-EX / Crobat | Slightly Favorable
I played our own Eric Gansman in some pivotal sets of this matchup last year at Arizona Regionals, so I think I have a good perspective on this one. Basically, you’re going to take an early lead, and in the late game, your opponent will try to use Grenade Hammer on repeat in conjunction with [card name=”N” set=”Fates Collide” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card] to try to steal the game. [card name=”Hypnotoxic Laser” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”123″ c=”name”][/card] can be super annoying, although with Guzma out now it should be less frustrating if you fall Asleep. Quaking Punch is frustrating, too, but you can usually set up, since you have lots of time since it does so little damage. You can even heal with Rough Seas to buy more time and get all the things you need to set up. In the average game, you should win.
Seismitoad EX / Giratina-EX | Favorable
This a lot better matchup than that of the [card name=”Crobat” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”33″ c=”name”][/card] variant, since your opponent can’t take “one-hit” Knockouts. The ‘bats are what get them there, so in this one, your opponent will be stuck with a [card name=”Seismitoad-EX” set=”Furious Fists” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card] that’s barely doing any damage. [card name=”Giratina-EX” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] and the other Dragons are terrible attackers against Greninja, so it’ll be Greninja versus the ‘toads. You should win, unless you fall in a gimmicky game where you dead draw.
Tool Drop / Garbodor | Even
Think of the [card name=”Garbodor” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card] matchup in the past Standard format; it’s usually close, especially if the Garbodor deck has a solid attacker alongside it. [card name=”Trubbish” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”65″ c=”name”][/card] has its Tool Drop attack, which can be pretty good in this matchup. Garbotoxin is what you want to hope that your opponent doesn’t get going, otherwise you might not be able to come back from the early game lead that your opponent is almost bound to have with Tool Drop. Remember to watch your Items, too, since in the late game Trashalanche can be a serious threat. This matchup is very evenly matched, provided you set up ideally.
Trevenant BREAK | Slightly Favorable
Rough Seas is critical in this matchup, and that’s why I like to play four! As long as you can get even two Greninja out, you’ll be able to loop Moonlight Slash over and over for 80 damage. Most Trevenant lists don’t even play [card name=”Bursting Balloon” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”97″ c=”name”][/card] anymore, which is good news. That said, you’ll be able to freely do 80 damage, which is a perfect two-hit Knockout on the likes of [card name=”Trevenant BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”66″ c=”name”][/card]. As long as the Item lock doesn’t drop you, you should be able to coast to victory, as long as you can get a couple attacking Greninja out.
Turbo Darkrai-EX | Slightly Favorable
Your opponent will really put on the pressure early, but you can make a serious comeback in the late game. Much like against the Dragon version, [card name=”Field Blower” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card] will be huge to remove those pesky [card name=”Fighting Fury Belt” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”99″ c=”name”][/card] Tool cards. Giant Water Shuriken can set up Knockouts with Moonlight Slash, and you’ll get back in the Prize trade with your non-EX/GX attackers. Make sure not to fret if your opponent takes an early lead.
Vespiquen / Flareon | Unfavorable
Unlike against something like Turbo Darkrai-EX, your opponent will not only take an early lead, but he or she should be able to keep it, too. Since your opponent will attempt to not play many Pokemon-EX/GX, you won’t have the option to get super far ahead once you can get your [card name=”Greninja BREAK” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”41″ c=”name”][/card] out. Your best bet will be to take multiple Prizes in the same turn to pull back into the game, but that’s usually unlikely with the pressure your opponent is bound to put on. A late game N can ruin your opponent, too, but most times you’ll lose this one. Bursting Balloon used to make this matchup closer, but there is barely any room to run it, and I personally wouldn’t invest that card for a matchup that’s probably not going to be very popular.
Volcanion-EX | Very Favorable
Water Weakness and Pokemon-EX/GX? This matchup is a piece of cake. Even though your opponent might be able to take a Prize or two in the early game, you’ll destroy them once you start going. With [card name=”Choice Band” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Muscle Band” set=”XY” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card], you can take one-hit Knockouts on a full HP [card name=”Volcanion-EX” set=”Steam Siege” no=”26″ c=”name”][/card], as long as it doesn’t have a Fighting Fury Belt attached. The only problem in this matchup is if your opponent plays [card name=”Ho-Oh-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”21″ c=”name”][/card], but it still is a Pokemon-EX/GX, and it’s hard to power up. If you can do two Giant Water Shuriken and a Moonlight Slash for 80, you’ll still take a one-hit Knockout, and keep running towards victory.
Yveltal-EX | Favorable
Archeops is gone now, and that’s what gave [card name=”Yveltal-EX” set=”XY” no=”79″ c=”name”][/card] decks a shot in this matchup in the past. Now, they’ll have to overextend to take Knockouts, and you’ll simply win the Prize race since your opponent’s deck is predominantly Pokemon-EX/GX. Without any option to take one-hit Knockouts aside from a huge Evil Ball, which is unlikely, or a Dead End GX attack from a [card name=”Darkrai-GX” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”88″ c=”name”][/card] and a [card name=”Hypnotoxic Laser” set=”Plasma Storm” no=”123″ c=”name”][/card]r drop, your opponent will struggle to do much. Get excited if you’re paired up against an opponent with this deck.
An Aside on Bubble and Setup
[cardimg name=”Froakie” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”38″ align=”right” c=”custom”]When in doubt, Bubble![/cardimg]
I’ve played Greninja BREAK quite a bit, and I’m constantly seeing players make a huge mistake when playing the deck. [card name=”Froakie” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”38″ c=”name”][/card]’s Bubble is such an underused attack, and it has a lot to do with setting up properly. Something I like to think is, “When in doubt, Bubble.” If you don’t have the setup you want, or are afraid to lose a Greninja early, it’s generally best to use Bubble. While it won’t always work, it can buy you time to get multiple Greninja BREAK out.
I don’t have anything else that’s special to say about this, it’s just more of a friendly reminder to consider the Bubble option before diving in with say, one [card name=”Greninja” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card] on board. Above all else, remember, multiple Greninja BREAK in play wins games.
Learning to Take “Greninja Hands” in Stride
Here’s my next, and last, tip about playing Greninja. It’s a frustrating deck! I’ve been there, I’ve had a negative tournament record with the deck before, and I know what it’s like. You can draw miserably and fall super far behind. While it does have insane comeback potential, you won’t always get there. It’s the biggest glass cannon deck, and while the games you win are beautiful, the ones you lose are absolutely horrifying. If you use the deck for an event, be mentally prepared for defeat, and don’t get down on yourself if that happens. While it can go on a hot streak, it doesn’t always happen, and it can be a big letdown.
Conclusion
Greninja BREAK is an awesome deck! I really like it overall, and it’s got a great matchup spread in the Expanded format. As of writing this it’s one of my top picks for Fort Wayne, Indiana Regionals right now, and hopefully it’s now one of your’s after reading this, too. Let me know if you have any questions of any kind on our PTCG Subscribers’ Hideout in the forums. Catch y’all later, thanks for stopping by and reading!
-Caleb
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