Greninja, the iconic Water/Dark-type Pokémon, remains a fan-favorite in the Pokémon universe, celebrated for its speed, versatility, and sleek design. For trainers in Pokémon Violet looking to maximize Greninja’s potential, teaching it powerful moves like Surf is a priority. If you’re wondering When Does Greninja Learn Surf In Violet, you’ve come to the right place. Unlike some Pokémon that learn moves naturally through leveling up, Greninja learns Surf in Pokémon Violet through a Technical Machine (TM).
In Pokémon Violet, TMs are essential tools for customizing your Pokémon’s movesets, allowing you to teach them moves they wouldn’t learn otherwise through leveling or evolution. For Surf, you’ll need to get your hands on TM196.
Alt Text: Greninja unleashing a powerful Water Shuriken attack during a Pokémon battle, highlighting its Water-type prowess.
How to Teach Greninja Surf in Pokémon Violet
Teaching Greninja Surf is straightforward once you have TM196. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Obtain TM196 (Surf): TM196, containing Surf, can be acquired in several ways in Pokémon Violet. Keep an eye out for it as a reward for defeating Team Star leaders, as a purchasable item in Delibird Presents shops after earning a certain number of Gym Badges, or as a pickup in various locations across the Paldea region. Exploring thoroughly and progressing through the game’s story will naturally lead you to obtaining this TM.
- Access Your Bag: Open your in-game menu by pressing the X Button and navigate to your Bag.
- Find TM196: Scroll through your bag to locate TM196. TMs are usually categorized for easy finding.
- Select TM196 and Choose Greninja: Select TM196 and choose Greninja from your party list. The game will confirm if Greninja is compatible with Surf, which it is.
- Learn Surf: Confirm your choice to teach Greninja Surf. It will learn the move instantly, potentially replacing an existing move if Greninja already knows four.
Alt Text: A visual icon representing Pokémon Technical Machines (TMs), tools used for teaching moves to Pokémon in the game.
Why Teach Greninja Surf?
Surf is a valuable Water-type move for Greninja for several reasons:
- Strong Water-Type STAB (Same-Type Attack Bonus): As a Water-type Pokémon, Greninja benefits from STAB when using Water-type moves like Surf, increasing its power by 50%. This makes Surf a significantly stronger attack for Greninja than for non-Water-type Pokémon.
- Reliable Power and Accuracy: Surf boasts a solid 90 base power and 100% accuracy. This reliability makes it a consistent damage-dealing move in various battles, both in-game and competitively.
- Coverage: Water-type moves are effective against common types like Rock, Ground, and Fire. Teaching Greninja Surf expands its offensive coverage, allowing it to handle a wider range of opponents effectively.
- Overworld Utility: Beyond battles, Surf is essential for navigating the Paldea region. It allows Greninja to travel across water bodies, accessing hidden areas and Pokémon that are otherwise unreachable.
Greninja Pokemon character full artwork
Alt Text: Full body artwork of the Pokémon Greninja, showcasing its dynamic pose and distinctive Water and Dark-type design.
Other Water-Type Move Options for Greninja in Violet
While Surf is a great option, Greninja has access to other notable Water-type moves in Pokémon Violet:
- Hydro Pump: A more powerful Water-type move than Surf, but with lower accuracy (80%). Hydro Pump is learned by Greninja through level up in earlier games, but in Violet, it is likely still available via TM or move reminder, offering a high-risk, high-reward alternative for maximum damage.
- Water Shuriken: Greninja’s signature move, Water Shuriken, is a multi-strike move that hits 2-5 times. While each hit is weaker, the multiple hits can be advantageous, especially when combined with abilities or items that trigger on each hit. Greninja typically knows this move from its evolution.
- Scald: Another TM move option, Scald has a slightly lower base power than Surf (80) but comes with a 30% chance to burn the target. The burn status effect can be incredibly useful for crippling physical attackers.
In conclusion, Greninja doesn’t learn Surf by leveling up in Pokémon Violet. Instead, you must teach it using TM196. Surf is a highly recommended move for Greninja, providing a strong, reliable, and versatile Water-type attack that benefits from STAB and offers excellent coverage and overworld utility. Experiment with Surf and other Water-type moves to create the optimal moveset for your Greninja in Pokémon Violet and dominate your battles across the Paldea region!
