Through a process called the Bond Phenomenon, certain Greninja, such as Ash's Greninja in Pokémon the Series, can change into an alternate form called Ash-Greninja. In this form, Greninja's skin turns a lighter shade of blue, while its face gains red stripes and its cheeks and side fins turn black, changing shape to resemble Ash's hair. Ash-Greninja is always male.
As Ash-Greninja, its speed and power far outpace those of a normal Greninja. Its legs are strengthened, increasing its speed to a point where it becomes highly difficult to see and enabling it to dispatch enemies in a flash. It gains the ability to form even larger Water Shurikens on its back and launch them in rapid succession. Ash-Greninja is described as a form used in battle in order to break through Greninja's limits.[2]
Ash-Greninja is the only known Pokémon that can have Battle Bond as an Ability.
As of Gen IX, Greninja cannot access Ash-Greninja form in mainline games due to the changes in the Battle Bond Ability.
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