Pokemon is giving fans a free Greninja to use in their games, but only players attending PokemonXP and the World Championships will be able to claim the final starter evolution. The giveaway commemorates the biggest competitive event of the year for the Pokemon franchise.
The beloved monster-catching franchise offers plenty of avenues for its most skilled players to test themselves against strong competition. Pokemon supports a vibrant competitive scene for everything from the main-series video games and the Pokemon TCG to its many spin-offs, including Pokemon GO and Pokemon Unite. The Pokemon World Championships serves as the pinnacle of the competitive year for Pokemon players, with players from all around the world coming together to compete for the title of best in the world. Now, Pokemon fans attending the annual event can snag a free gift for their Pokemon games.
Pokemon is Giving Away a Free Greninja at Worlds
- Greninja
- Available through Pokemon Home via NFC tap in select locations at PokemonXP and the Pokemon World Championships.
Fans attending PokemonXP and the Pokemon World Championships can receive a free Greninja through Mystery Gift for a limited time. The Pokemon is being given away through the Pokemon Home mobile app as a Mystery Gift, though no details have been released about its moves or abilities. The Greninja is available at select locations throughout the venue for the Pokemon World Championships, using an NFC tap setup to distribute the Pokemon to fans' Pokemon Home accounts. The Pokemon Company has not plans to make the Greninja available to non-attendees, and the Pokemon will likely only be available until the conclusion of the World Championships.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
The free Greninja comes as a particularly useful asset for the Pokemon franchise's newest main game. Among the many Mega Evolutions introduced in Pokemon Legends: Z-A's return to the Kalos region, each of the region's starter Pokemon received new Mega forms, including the addition of Mega Greninja. Legends: Z-A introduced the Greninjite required to Mega Evolve Greninja as a reward for the game's Ranked queue, first giving out the Mega Stone for reaching Rank K in Season 1 and re-running the item multiple times since
While not achieving the same level of stardom as Pikachu or Charizard, Greninja has grown into a fan-favorite and a major mascot for modern Pokemon. Greninja featured prominently in the Pokemon anime as a member of Ash's team during the Pokemon X and Y era, appearing as a special variant that fans and The Pokemon Company typically refer to as "Ash-Greninja." Greninja has also been a mainstay in the Pokemon Trading Card Game, including Mega Greninja ex recently starring as the cover Pokemon for the Pokemon TCG's Chaos Rising expansion.
The Pokemon World Championships not only serve as a way to celebrate the game's most skilled players, but also a teaser of the franchise's future. Pokemon TCG Pocket officially revealed the addition of dual-type Pokemon cards during PokemonXP, showing off a new Mega Mewtwo X card that will be both Psychic-type and Fighting-type. The Pokemon Company typically features panels throughout the weekend discussing different parts of the franchise, with 2026's event including segments centered around Pokemon GO, Pokemon LEGOs, and more. As Pokemon's best players come together to battle for supremacy, the future of the Pokemon franchise looks bright, with plenty in store for fans.