Bond Phenomenon

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Ash and his Greninja have perfected the transformation

The Bond Phenomenon (Japanese: キズナ現象 Bond Phenomenon) is a transformation affecting Pokémon that was introduced in Pokémon the Series: XY. It is said to have some connection to the Pokémon's hidden potential, similar to Mega Evolution and Primal Reversion.

Unlike Mega Evolution or Primal Reversion, the transformation does not require any specific items for either the Trainer or the Pokémon, though in the games it requires the Ability Battle Bond. The only known Pokémon able to undergo this transformation is Greninja, whose alternate form is referred to as Ash-Greninja (Japanese: サトシゲッコウガ Satoshi Gekkouga). In this form, its strength increases and it gains the ability to form large Water Shurikens on its back, which it can use in battle to great effect.

Pokémon capable of Bond Phenomenon

Pokémon Before Bond Phenomenon After Bond Phenomenon
Image Type Ability Image Type Ability
Greninja Greninja  Water  Dark  Battle Bond Ash-Greninja  Water  Dark  Battle Bond

In the core series games

Main article: Greninja (Pokémon) → Form data

Bond Phenomenon made its core series debut in the form of a Greninja that can be transferred to Pokémon Sun and Moon from the Special Demo Version. This unique Greninja possesses the Battle Bond Ability, which triggers the transformation into Ash-Greninja after the opposing Pokémon has fainted and increases the power of Water Shuriken by approximately 33% (or more accurately, by a factor of 5448/4096). In addition, the base Battle Bond Greninja, before transforming, are treated as an alternate form separate from Greninja with Torrent or Protean. As of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Battle Bond no longer transforms Greninja into Ash-Greninja, currently making the form exclusive to Generations VII and VIII.

#0658 Greninja
Battle Bond Greninja
Black clover.png
Poké Ball summary IV.png Level 36 (met at level 5) 658Greninja.png
Type:
WaterIC SM.png DarkIC SM.png
Ability: Battle Bond
Held item: None
ID: 131017
OT: サトシ
Ash
Sacha
지우
Satoshi
Met: the Kalos region (fateful encounter)
Nature: Random
Ribbon: Souvenir Ribbon Souvenir Ribbon
Water Shuriken
Water Special
Aerial Ace
Flying Physical
Double Team
Normal Status
Night Slash
Dark Physical
Games Method Region Location Duration
SM hide all Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon Special Demo Version November 18, 2016 onwards
Moves in bold can be taught again at the Move Reminder as a special move if forgotten.
Date received is the date on the system when the gift is picked up from the deliveryman.
This Pokémon's origin is the same as the language chosen in the demo, regardless of the language of the receiving game.

Base stats

Generation VII

Stat Range
At Lv. 50 At Lv. 100
72
132 - 179 254 - 348
145
135 - 216 265 - 427
67
64 - 130 125 - 256
153
142 - 225 279 - 445
71
68 - 135 132 - 265
132
123 - 202 242 - 399
Total:
640
  • Minimum stats are calculated with 0 EVs, IVs of 0, and (if applicable) a hindering nature.
  • Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and (if applicable) a helpful nature.

In the spin-off games

Pokémon Tretta

Pokémon Shuffle

Pokémon Picross

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

During Greninja's Final Smash, it temporarily transforms into Ash-Greninja while performing Secret Ninja Attack.

In animation

Ash and Greninja activating the Bond Phenomenon
Depiction from the Ninja Village of a Greninja who achieved the transformation

Pokémon the Series

In Pokémon the Series, the Bond Phenomenon may be achieved when the trust between a Trainer and their Pokémon reaches its maximum. While a Pokémon and Trainer are using this form, the Trainer shares the Pokémon's pain in the same place the Pokémon was dealt damage. The Trainer can also share the Pokémon's point of view. If the form is not mastered, the Trainer and Pokémon can pass out from exhaustion.

Pokémon the Series: XY

In The Legend of the Ninja Hero! , a Greninja in its Battle Bond form is shown on a shrine in the Ninja Village.

The Bond Phenomenon makes its first proper appearance in A Festival of Decisions!, in which Ash's Frogadier evolved into Greninja and assumed the Ash-Greninja form. However, the transformation would not be addressed by name until Kalos League Passion with a Certain Flare!, in which Professor Sycamore, after researching the matter, reported his results to Ash and his friends.

Pokémon Journeys: The Series

In Catching the Aura of Fate!, Ash described that his ability to become one with Greninja felt similar to Lucario's Aura. Flashbacks to scenes that featured Ash-Greninja are changed to feature regular Greninja instead.

In the manga

Greninja in Pokémon Journeys

Pokémon Adventures

X & Y arc

In the Japan Mini-volume 6 for the X & Y arc, Y's Greninja, Croaky, was revealed to have Battle Bond as his Ability.

Pokémon Journeys

Ash's Greninja appeared in a fantasy in Legend? Check! Friends? Check!, where it was seen in its Ash-Greninja form.

In the TCG

In the Pokémon Trading Card Game, Ash's Greninja in its Ash-Greninja form is featured as a Promotional PokémonEX card.

Related cards
Cards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format.
Cards listed with a green background are legal to use in both the current Standard and Expanded formats.
Card Type English
Expansion
Rarity # Japanese
Expansion
Rarity #
Ash-GreninjaEX Water XY Black Star Promos   XY133 XY-P Promotional cards   218/XY-P
      XY-P Promotional cards   290/XY-P
 


In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 牽絆現象 Hīnbuhn Yihnjeuhng
Mandarin 牽絆現象 / 牵绊现象 Qiānbàn Xiànxiàng
Denmark Flag.png Danish Båndfenomen
The Netherlands Flag.png Dutch Vertrouwensbandfenomeen
Finland Flag.png Finnish Sideilmiö
France Flag.png French Phénomène de Synergie
Germany Flag.png German Freundschaftsphänomen
Italy Flag.png Italian Effetto Sintonia
South Korea Flag.png Korean 유대현상 Yudae Hyeonsang
Norway Flag.png Norwegian Båndfenomen
Poland Flag.png Polish Zjawisko Więzi
Portuguese Brazil Flag.png Brazil Fenômeno Vincular
Portugal Flag.png Portugal Fenómeno da ligação
Russia Flag.png Russian Узы доверия Uzy doveriya
Spanish CELAC Flag.png Latin America Sinergia afectiva
Spain Flag.png Spain Metamorfosis afectiva
Sweden Flag.png Swedish Bandfenomen
Turkey Flag.png Turkish Bağ Fenomeni
Vietnam Flag.png Vietnamese Hiện tượng Kết nối

Related articles

Pokémon forms and variants
Permanent: Shiny Pokémon (GO) • Alternately colored Pokémon (animated series)
Gender differencesForm differences (GO) • Brilliant PokémonAlpha Pokémon
Transformations: Mega Evolution (ShuffleMastersGO) • Primal Reversion (GO) • Bond Phenomenon
Ultra BurstDynamax (GO) • Gigantamax (GO) • EternamaxTerastal phenomenon
Groups: Totem PokémonNoble PokémonTitan Pokémon
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Analogous species: Paradox PokémonEcologically similar Pokémon
Species-specific: Arbok variantsPikachu variants (SurfingFlyingCosplayCap) • Ditto transformations
Miscellaneous: Giant PokémonSpiky-eared PichuPartner Pokémon (LGPE)
Fusions (GO) • Human–Pokémon transformation
Side series original: Colo/XD: Shadow PokémonShadow Lugia
Spin-off original: GO: Shadow Pokémon (GO)Battle-Only FormMighty Pokémon
Mystery Dungeon: Primal DialgaRumble: Toy Pokémon (Rusty Pokémon)
Pokkén: Shadow MewtwoQuest: PokéxelNew Snap: Illumina phenomenon
Animation original: Pokémon the Series: Pink ButterfreeClone PokémonCrystal Onix
Mirage PokémonMeta GroudonGreen-crystal Deoxys
Manga original: Adventures: Thu-Fi-ZerElectric Tale: Black FogGolden Boys: Black Tyranitar
Project Anime logo.png This article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon animation.