Bring Up My Italian Cannon!

Greninja.

The mention of Greninja immediately perked Xia Yan up.

It couldn't be helped.

In the original series, Ash's Greninja from Generation VI had truly been cool.

Especially after Ash and Greninja activated the cheat-like Bond Evolution, something similar to Mega Evolution, Ash-Greninja's stylish appearance had attracted countless fans.

The effects brought by Bond Evolution were even more impressive than Mega Evolution.

After all, Mega Evolution theoretically only increased a Pokémon's base stats by 100 points.

Bond Evolution, however, increased them by 110.

Although Water Absorb Charizard ultimately left the outcome somewhat regrettable, it did nothing to diminish Greninja's popularity.

It had even briefly claimed first place on the Pokémon popularity rankings and held the spot for quite some time.

Of course.

If it had only been because of the original series, its influence would not have been this exaggerated.

The main reason was that Greninja was also quite outstanding in the games.

First of all, it possessed exceptional speed. With its ninja-like bearing, anyone could tell at a glance that it was a Pokémon skilled in speed.

Secondly, both its physical and special attacking abilities were decent.

Its Water-type and Dark-type combination was not particularly disadvantaged either.

Most importantly, Greninja possessed the hidden Ability Protean.

Protean: Changes the user's type according to the type of move used.

In other words, if a Water-type and Dark-type Greninja used a Fighting-type move, it would become Fighting-type. If it used a Ground-type move, it would become Ground-type.

Just imagine it: when facing an Electric-type move that countered Water-types, Greninja could suddenly use a Ground-type move and temporarily change itself into a Ground-type, rendering the Electric-type attack completely harmless.

Moreover, Pokémon using moves matching their own type also dealt greater damage.

All in all, this Ability was a little too overpowered.

It was