Counter (Japanese: カウンター Counter) is a damage-dealing Fighting-type move introduced in Generation I. It was TM18 in Generation I.
Effect
Generation I
If the last amount of damage done before the use of Counter is greater than 0 and was dealt by a Normal-type or Fighting-type attack (except Counter), Counter will do twice as much damage to the opponent. Otherwise, Counter misses.
Although Counter deals Fighting-type damage, it is not affected by type effectiveness (so it can affect Ghost-type Pokémon).
If Counter fails due to the user not receiving Normal or Fighting type damage, the message will state that the attack missed.
Counter has a priority of -1. If the opponent does not use a decreased priority move during the round that it is used, Counter will go last regardless of the user's or opponent's speed. If the opponent also uses a decreased priority move during the same round, the attack order of the users will be determined normally. If the user is put to sleep or is frozen during the round that Counter is (or attempts to be) used, Counter's decreased speed priority will not be reset. Subsequently, it will only be reset on the turn after the user wakes up or is defrosted, or if the user switches out.
Counter can cause a critical hit, but the actual amount of damage dealt by it will not be altered by a critical hit. Counter will only counter the last hit of a multi-hit move and the last attack of a binding move. Counter will always miss if called by Metronome.
If both active Pokémon use Counter during the same round, both attacks will fail. An attack absorbed by a substitute can be countered for the amount of damage it would have done to the user had the user not had a substitute.
Handheld games
Switching and using a multi-turn move will not reset the last amount of damage done, allowing Counter to counter itself as well as self-inflicted recoil damage. If an HP-restoring or battle item is used on the opponent during the same round that Counter is used, Counter will counter the item.
Specifically, Counter will fail in the following circumstances (displayed as a miss):
- If the opponent's last selected move's power is 0 (all damaging moves have non-zero power, including moves like Seismic Toss that deal fixed damage)
- If the opponent's last selected move's type is not Normal or Fighting, or if the move is Counter
- If the last move used in the battle did no damage to its target, unless it is a status move that does not reset the data for the last damage-dealing move used.
- Moves that do not reset this data are: Conversion, Haze, Whirlwind, Roar, Teleport, Mist, Focus Energy, Supersonic, Confuse Ray, Recover, Softboiled, Rest, Transform, Light Screen, Reflect, PoisonPowder, Toxic, Poison Gas, Stun Spore, Thunder Wave, Glare, Substitute, Mimic, Leech Seed, and Splash.
If the last damage was done by a Normal or Fighting attack, a Pokémon selected another type of attack and got fully paralyzed, and the opponent used Counter, then the two players will desynchronize. Likewise, if the last damage was done by another type of attack, a Pokémon selected a Normal or Fighting attack and got fully paralyzed, and the opponent used Counter, then the two players will also desynchronize.
Stadium
In Stadium, switching, full paralysis, and using a multi-turn move reset the last amount of damage done, so Counter can't counter itself or self-inflicted recoil damage if the opponent does not make a move on its following turn.
Generation II
Counter now counters all physical moves for twice the damage done to the user. Counter no longer counters a move that hits a substitute. Furthermore, Ghost-type Pokémon are now immune to Counter.
Counter can counter Hidden Power regardless of its actual type. Counter can also counter Beat Up (despite Dark-type moves not being physical).
In the core series games only, the OHKO moves Fissure and Horn Drill (but not Guillotine) can be countered for maximum damage if they missed.
Generation III
Counter now has a priority of -5. In Double Battles, Counter will hit the last opponent that dealt physical damage to the attacker. Counter cannot affect allied Pokémon.
If the user didn't receive physical damage, the message now states that the move failed
Counter can be used as the second move of a Pokémon Contest combination, with the user gaining 2 bonus appeal points if Taunt was used in the previous turn.
Counter is no longer affected by King's Rock.
Generation IV
Counter can no longer be copied by Mirror Move.
Counter can no longer counter Hidden Power, since Hidden Power is now a special move.
Generation V onwards
In Triple Battles, Counter can hit non-adjacent opponents provided a non-adjacent opponent was the last Pokémon to attack the user.
If the Pokémon using Counter is hit by a physical attack that deals 0 damage (for example, False Swipe when the user of Counter already has 1 HP), Counter becomes a physical move with 1 base power.
Counter can also be used as part of a Contest Spectacular combination, with the user gaining an extra three appeal points if any of the moves Encore, Taunt or Torment was used in the prior turn.
Counter is now affected by King's Rock.
Description
|
Learnset
By leveling up
By breeding
By TM/Move Tutor
Special move
Generation II
| # | Pokémon | Types | Egg Groups | Obtained with | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0207 |  |   | Bug | Earthquake GligarStad2 | ||
| Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move. A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method. An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation. | ||||||
Generation IV
Generation V
Generation VII
Generation IX
| # | Pokémon | Types | Egg Groups | Obtained with | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0783 |  |   | Dragon | Wild Tera Pokémon - Oni MountainSVTM | ||
| Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move. A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method. An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation. | ||||||
By event
Generation VII
In other games
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series
Counter gives the user the Counter status condition. With this status condition, the user will reflect any damage taken from physical moves (including the regular A button attack) back to any adjacent opponents equal to the damage received. Oddly in Explorers of Time and Darkness, though moves are assigned as Physical or Special in game, Counter will return damage from damaging moves from types previously assigned as physical prior to the Physical/Special split. The status lasts for 7-12RBTDS / 6GtISMD turns.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Pyukumuku appears as a Pokémon summoned from the Poké Ball. It uses Counter whenever an opponent gets close enough to it and Pyukumuku waves "goodbye" before it leaves. It can also be picked up and thrown like an item.
Pokémon GO
In Pokémon GO, Counter is a Fast Attack that has been available since February 16, 2017.
Updates
- Gyms & Raids
- February 21, 2017
- Power: 10 → 12
Pokémon Rumble Rush
In Pokémon Rumble Rush, Counter could only be used by opposing Pokémon and could not be obtained on any caught Pokémon. Counter could be seen as a move used by Boss Lycanroc (Midnight Form).
Counter| Charge time | 1.54 seconds |
|---|---|
| Range type | Circular (self) |
| Target | Self |
| Additional effect | Deals damage as a reprisal after the user takes damage |
Description
|
In the anime
 Mewtwo  Wynaut  Lycanroc Dusk Form  Smeargle | |||
| The user counters any physical attacks that are aimed towards itself, inflicting double the damage taken. | |||
| Pokémon | Method | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| User | First Used In | Notes | |
 | Mewtwo sticks out its hand when an attack comes near it. The attack bounces off and is sent back to the opponent or otherwise around the surrounding area. | ||
| Mewtwo (M01) | Mewtwo Strikes Back | Debut | |
 | Wobbuffet raises its tail and becomes outlined in light red, orange, or its whole body glows orange. Any attack that hits it is sent flying back to the opponent. | ||
| Jessie's Wobbuffet | The Tricks of the Trade | None | |
| Lulu's Wobbuffet | Wobbu-Palooza! | None | |
| Duplica's Mini-Dit in the form of Wobbuffet | Imitation Confrontation | Used via Transform | |
 | Wynaut's body becomes outlined in orange. Any attack that hits it is sent flying back to the opponent. | ||
| Wynaut (anime) | Why? Wynaut! | None | |
| A wild Wynaut | Who, What, When, Where, Wynaut? | None | |
| Multiple wild Wynaut | Pikachu's Island Adventure | None | |
 | Houndoom's body becomes outlined in orange. Any attack that hits it is sent flying back to the opponent at twice the initial power. | ||
| Harrison's Houndoom | Playing with Fire! | None | |
 | Slakoth's body becomes outlined in orange energy. Any attacks that hit it are sent flying back to the opponent. | ||
| Marcel's Slakoth | The Garden of Eatin' | None | |
 | When Slaking is about to be hit by a physical attack, it becomes covered in a multicolored aura and punches the opponent. | ||
| Sawyer's Slaking | Analysis Versus Passion! | None | |
 | When Midnight Form Lycanroc gets hit by a physical attack, it punches the opponent; or, when Midnight Form Lycanroc is about to be hit by a physical attack, it becomes covered in a light blue or light red aura and punches or throws the opponent. | ||
| A wild Lycanroc | Rocking Clawmark Hill! | None | |
| Gladion's Lycanroc | A Glaring Rivalry! | None | |
| Blanca's Lycanroc | HZ041 | None | |
 | Smeargle becomes covered in orange energy. Any attack that hits it is sent flying back to the opponent. | ||
| Ilima's Smeargle | Smashing with Sketch! | Used via Sketch | |
 | When Krookodile is about to be hit by a physical attack, its tail becomes covered in orange energy and it strikes the opponent with it. | ||
| Nanu's Krookodile | Tough Guy Trials! | None | |
| | When Dusk Form Lycanroc gets hit by a physical attack, the stone on the top of its head glows orange with a light green outline and it strikes the opponent with it. | ||
| Ash's Lycanroc | Guiding an Awakening! | None | |
- In the Japanese version of Charizard Chills, Tad told his Poliwrath to prepare to use Counter, but the move was disrupted before it could be executed. In the English dub, this was mistranslated as Body Slam.
In the manga
Pokémon Adventures
 Mudsdale  Gengar  Kubfu  Sudowoodo | |||
| The user counters any physical attacks that are aimed towards itself, inflicting double the damage taken. | |||
| Pokémon | Method | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| User | First Chapter Used In | Notes | |
 | When Nidoqueen is hit by the opponent's attack, she punches the opponent with one of her fists, returning the damage she took. | ||
| Giovanni's Nidoqueen | Golly, Golem! | Debut | |
 | When the opponent is about to attack it, Gengar uppercuts the opponent with one of its fists. | ||
| Agatha's Gengar | Striking Golduck | None | |
 | When the opponent is about to attack it, Makuhita steps to the side and pushes the opponent away. | ||
| Brawly's Makuhita | Mashing Makuhita | None | |
 | When Hariyama is hit by the opponent's attack, Hariyama punches the opponent, dealing double the damage from the last attack. | ||
| Brawly's Hariyama | Heavy Hitting Hariyama | None | |
 | When the opponent is about to attack it, Sudowoodo strikes the opponent back with one of its hands. | ||
| Emerald's Sudowoodo | Verily Vanquishing Vileplume II | None | |
 | When Mudsdale is hit by the opponent's attack, it stomps on the opponent with one of its front hooves. | ||
| Hapu's Mudsdale | The Truth and Island Kahuna Hapu | None | |
 | When Kubfu is hit by the opponent's attack, it punches the opponent. | ||
| Mustard's Kubfu | PASS36 | None | |
Pokémon Battle Frontier
In other generations
Core series games
 | This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Missing image from PE |
Side series games
Spin-off series games
Trivia
- In the Spanish and Italian versions of the games, the move was incorrectly translated to Contador and Contatore respectively (meaning someone or something that counts). This translation was corrected to Contraataque and Contrattacco (meaning "counterattack") in the Generation VI games. The Spanish anime dub also corrected the name to Contraataque.
- The Polish dub of the anime committed the same error.
- Counter is the only decreased priority move in Generation I.
- In Generation I, Gengar could learn Counter, despite it only countering Normal- and Fighting-type moves at the time, both of which Gengar is immune to.
