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Counter

From Fire Emblem Wiki, your source on Fire Emblem information. By fans, for fans.
Counter

Is wii counter.png
Icon of the Counter skill in Radiant Dawn.


Damage taken from an adjacent enemy is dealt back to that foe.

Type(s)
First game

Path of Radiance

Counter (Japanese: カウンター Counter) is a combat skill which debuted in Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance. In all of its appearances, when an enemy unit attacks and damages the skill's user, the skill returns the user's damage to the attacker; the amount of damage reflected and other specifics of the skill's operation vary from game to game.

Data

In the main Fire Emblem series

Game Icon Effect Activation Capacity Notes
Path of Radiance Is gcn counter.png Deals half of damage taken by the user to the foe. (Skill/2)% 10 --
Radiant Dawn Is wii counter.png Deals half of damage taken by the user to the foe. (Skill)% 10 Cannot be assigned to Herons.
Awakening Is 3ds01 counter.png Deals the damage taken by the user to the foe. If fighting an enemy at range = 1 -- Will not activate against Dual Strikes.
User will not gain experience when an enemy is killed by damage from this skill.
Nullified against Dragonskin.
Fates Is 3ds02 counter.png Deals the damage taken by the user to the foe. If foe initiates combat at range = 1 -- Will not activate against Dual Strikes.
User will not gain experience when an enemy is killed by damage from this skill.
Nullified against Divine Shield and Dragonskin.
Base cost: 1250 G

In other Fire Emblem series titles

Game Icon Effect Activation Capacity Notes
Warriors Is fewa counter.png May emit shockwaves when blocking powerful enemy attacks. -- -- --

Availability

Path of Radiance

Units Titania
Items Counter

Radiant Dawn

Units Titania
Items Counter

Awakening

Units DeenLinusPallaTitania
Classes Warrior (Learned at Level 15)

Fates

Classes Oni Chieftain (Learned from Level 15)

Warriors

Learned Oboro (requires Oboro's Sleeve Sash ×3)
Borrowed Requires ×1 each of Oboro's Essence and Oboro's Chest Guard

Other appearances

Super Smash Bros. series

SSB.png This article or section is a short summary of Counter.
SmashWiki features a more in-depth article.

In Super Smash Bros. Melee, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Counter is Marth, Roy, Ike, Lucina, and Chrom's down special move. Counter in Smash Bros. predates the Fire Emblem skill; it is based off of units counterattacking when attacked.[1]

When used, the user becomes invulnerable for a second and, if hit in this short window, will reflect the damage back at the attacker. Its properties vary slightly depending on which of the three characters use it.

  • Marth's Counter is faster and more reliable than Roy or Ike's, but is less potent. In Melee, it deals a flat 7% damage no matter what, in Brawl it reflects back 1.1x the damage the incoming attack would have dealt, and in for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U it reflects back 1.2x the damage.
  • Roy's Counter is slower than Marth's and lasts for less time, but is more powerful. In Melee, it deals far more damage by reflecting back 1.5x the damage the incoming attack would have dealt, and in for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U it reflects back 1.35x the damage.
  • Ike's Counter is, in Brawl, slower than Marth's and reflects back 1.2x the damage the incoming attack would have dealt. Its range and knockback are both higher.
  • Lucina's Counter is identical to Marth's, reflecting back 1.2x the damage the incoming attack would have dealt.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U introduced character customization, including alternate variations on each character's special moves. Like all special moves in the two games, Counter has its own variations, which are found at random and collected during the course of the game's other modes. Marth and Lucina share the same variants, while Ike has his own unique ones. Roy, like all DLC characters, has no variants of his special moves at all, including Counter.

Marth and Lucina's two custom versions of Counter are as follows:

  • Easy Counter (Japanese: イージーカウンター Easy Counter) allows Marth/Lucina a longer period of time to counterattack in, but the strength of the counterattack is reduced.
  • Iai Counter (Japanese: 居合いカウンター Quick-Draw Counter) deals less damage, but has Marth/Lucina charge forward when counterattacking to send the foe flying behind them. Called "Rush Counter" in the PAL version.

Ike's two custom versions of Counter are as follows:

  • Paralyzing Counter (Japanese: 麻痺カウンター Paralyze Counter) deals no damage in its counterattack, instead paralyzing its target.
  • Smash Counter (Japanese: スマッシュカウンター Smash Counter) has a delayed response, but in exchange its counterattack is far more powerful than usual.

Flavor text

Game Text
(English)
Text
(Japanese)
Path of Radiance
(skill assignment menu)
In certain instances,
causes enemy to
receive half of the
damage it deals to
this unit.
All units
受けたダメージの半分を
技/2の確率で、
相手にも与える
取得可能
全ユニット
Path of Radiance
(help)
In certain instances, causes
enemy to receive half of the
damage it deals to this unit.
ダメージを受けた時
一定の確率で
その半分を相手に与えます
Radiant Dawn
(skill assignment menu)
Can cause enemy to
receive half of the
damage it deals to
this unit.
発動すると
自分が受けたダメージの
半分を相手にも与える
Radiant Dawn
(help)
Can cause enemy to receive half of the
damage it deals to this unit.
発動すると
自分が受けたダメージの
半分を相手にも与える
Awakening
Damage taken from an adjacent
enemy is dealt back to that foe.
隣接した敵から受けた
ダメージを相手にも与える
Fates
Damage taken from an adjacent attacking
enemy is also dealt back to that foe.
隣接する敵から攻撃された時、
受けたダメージ分、敵にダメージを与える
Warriors
Makes blocking powerful attacks
sometimes emit shockwaves.
敵の強力な攻撃をガードすると
周囲に衝撃波が発生するようになる

Trivia

  • In Awakening and Fates, if a unit possesses both Counter and Miracle, it is possible for both of them to activate simultaneously against a Lethality activation by an enemy; if this happens, an "infinite" amount of damage (expressed in-game as 99 damage) is reflected back at the enemy, guaranteed to kill it unless the Lethality user also activates Miracle.

Etymology and other languages

Names, etymology, and in other regions
Language Name Definition, etymology, and notes
English

Counter

--

Japanese

カウンター

Counter

Spanish

Contraatacar

Counter-attack

French

Contre

Counter

German

Talion

An obscure English word for "retaliation".

Italian

Scudo

Shield

Russian

Контрудар

Counter-attack. Used only in the Russian version of Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, as no Fire Emblem game has as yet been officially released in the region.

Korean

카운터

Counter

Gallery

References

  1. "Interviewer: In Smash, a lot of Fire Emblem characters have "counter" moves. Is there a reason behind that?
    Sakurai: That comes directly from the Fire Emblem games. In Fire Emblem, first you have your attack phase, and then the enemy attacks. That pattern repeats itself, so to express the nature of those battles, I gave them counter moves...although Robin doesn't have one (laughs). Robin doesn’t seem like a counterattack-type character to me."Sakurai Interview: Fire Emblem 25th Anniversary, Source Gaming, Published: December 13, 2015, Retrieved: August 15, 2018

See also

Skills in Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
Experience-related skills BlossomParagon
Low-HP skills MiracleResolveWrath
Mobility skills CelerityCantoMove AgainSaviorShoveSmite
Miscellaneous skills AdeptCorrosionCounterGambleGuardInsightNihilParityProvokeReinforceRenewalSerenityShadeTempestVantageVigilance
Class skills KnifeLuminaMove AgainShoveSteal
Mastery skills AetherAstraBlessingBoonCancelColossusDeadeyeFlareLethalityLunaRoarSolStunVortex
Enemy-exclusive skills DisciplineDaunt
Skills in Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn
Command skills FlourishGambleGaldrarGlareParitySacrificeShoveSmiteStealWildheart
Counter skills CounterHowlMaelstromQuickclawShriek
Bonus damage skills BeastfoeBirdfoeDragonfoeNullify
Experience-related skills BlossomDisciplineParagon
Healing skills BlessingBoonGaldrarImbueMantleRenewalSacrifice
Low-HP skills MiracleResolveWrath
Mobility skills CantoCelerityGaldrarPassSaviorShoveSmite
Proximity skills Blood TideDauntNight TideWhite Pool
Miscellaneous skills AdeptCancelFortuneGuardMercyNihilPaviseProvokeVantage
Beorc-exclusive skills CorrosionDisarmDisciplineShadeStillness
Laguz-exclusive skills BlessingBlood TideBoonFormshiftGaldrarHowlInsightMaelstromNight TideQuickclawShriekVigilanceWhite PoolWildheart
Class skills CantoCritical +ShoveSteal
Mastery skills AetherAstraBaneColossusCoronaDeadeyeEclipseFlareImpaleIreLethalityLunaRendRoarSavageSolStunTear
Enemy-exclusive skills Aurora
Skills in Fire Emblem Awakening
Breaker skills AxebreakerBowbreakerLancebreakerSwordbreakerTomebreaker
Bonus damage skills ConquestIote's ShieldBeastbaneWyrmsbane
Experience-related skills AptitudeDisciplineParagonUnderdogVeteran
Faire skills AxefaireBowfaireLancefaireSwordfaireTomefaire
Healing skills BondHealtouchLifetakerReliefRenewal
Offensive skills AetherAstraIgnisLethalityLunaLuna+SolVengeance
Pair Up skills DefenderDelivererDual Guard+Dual Strike+Dual Support+Veteran
Proximity skills AnathemaCharmDemoiselleFocusHexSolidarityTantivy
Rally skills Rally DefenseRally HeartRally LuckRally MagicRally MovementRally ResistanceRally SkillRally SpectrumRally SpeedRally Strength
Stat-boosting skills All Stats +2Avoid +10Defense +2Hit Rate +20HP +5Indoor FighterLuck +4Magic +2Movement +1Outdoor FighterResistance +2Resistance +10Skill +2Special DanceSpeed +2Strength +2Zeal
Turn-related skills AggressorEven RhythmLucky SevenOdd RhythmPatiencePrescienceQuick BurnSlow BurnVantage
Miscellaneous skills AcrobatAegisArmsthriftCounterDespoilGaleforceGambleLocktouchMiraclePassPaviseRightful KingShadowgiftWrath
Outrealm skills AggressorAll Stats +2BondIote's ShieldLimit BreakerParagonRally HeartResistance +10
Enemy-exclusive skills Aegis+DragonskinHawkeyeHit Rate +10Luna+Pavise+Rightful GodVantage+
Skills in Fire Emblem Fates
Class skills Personal skills
Bonus damage skills Armor ShieldBeastbaneBeast ShieldGolembaneWinged Shield --
Breaker skills AxebreakerBowbreakerLancebreakerShurikenbreakerSwordbreakerTomebreaker --
Counter skills CounterCountermagic CountercurseDivine RetributionIcy BloodShuriken MasteryTriple Threat
Debuffing skills Draconic HexSeal DefenseSeal MagicSeal ResistanceSeal SpeedSeal Strength HighwaymanIcy BloodShuriken Mastery
Experience-related skills AptitudeFuture SightNobilityParagonUnderdog Pride
Faire skills AxefaireBowfaireLancefaireShurikenfaireSwordfaireTomefaire --
Healing skills AmaterasuBetter OddsCamaraderieEven BetterGood FortuneLive to ServeReliefRenewal Draconic HeirForagerGoody BasketHaikuHealing DescantMorbid CelebrationOptimisticReciprocitySweet Tooth
Item-obtaining skills ProfiteerSalvage BlowWitch's Brew CollectorMake a Killing
Mobility skills LungePassShoveSurefootedSwapWarp --
Mutual effect skills Life and DeathQuixoticWary Fighter Peacebringer
Offensive skills AetherAstraDragon FangIgnisLethalityLunaRend HeavenSolVengeance --
Pair Up skills Bold StanceDefenderDual GuardsmanDual StrikerNohrian TrustShelterTactical Advice BushidoCompetitiveDaydreamDevoted PartnerEvasive PartnerFierce RivalForceful PartnerGallantMiraculous SaveNoble CauseSisterhoodSupportive
Proximity skills AmaterasuCharmDemoiselleForeign PrincessGentilhommeHeartseekerInspirationMalefic AuraSavage BlowSolidarityVoice of Peace Fierce MienFortunate SonHealing DescantLily's PoiseMisfortunatePeacebringerPerspicaciousPlaythingsPyrotechnicsQuiet StrengthRallying CryRose's Thorns
Rally skills Rally DefenseRally LuckRally MagicRally MovementRally ResistanceRally SkillRally SpectrumRally SpeedRally Strength Fancy FootworkPerfect Pitch
Stat-boosting skills Dancing BladeDefense +2GambleHeavy BladeHP +5Inspiring SongLuck +4Magic +2Movement +1Resistance +2Rifled BarrelSkill +2Speed +2Strength +2SurveyVeteran Intuition CalmOptimistPerfectionistProdigyPuissanceVow of FriendshipWind Disciple
Taker skills DefensetakerLifetakerLucktakerMagictakerResistancetakerSkilltakerSpeedtakerStrengthtaker --
Turn-related skills AggressorArmored BlowBetter OddsCertain BlowDarting BlowDeath BlowDuelist's BlowEven BetterEvenhandedEven KeelFuture SightIron WillLucky SevenOdd ShapedPoison StrikeQuick DrawSavage BlowStrong RiposteToxic BrewWarding Blow CountercurseFearsome BlowMischievousMorbid CelebrationPyrotechnics
Miscellaneous skills AegisAir SuperiorityAwakeningClarityDragon WardElbow RoomGaleforceGrisly WoundHoshidan UnityLocktouchMiracleNatural CoverOpportunity ShotPavisePoint BlankPotent PotionQuick SalveReplicateShadowgiftSpendthriftTrampleVantage Aching BloodBibliophileBloodthirstBorn StewardBrynhildrCaptureChivalryFierce CounterFiery BloodGuarded BraveryIn ExtremisKidnapLucky CharmNohr EnmityOpportunistPragmaticUnmaskVendetta
Enemy-exclusive skills Divine ShieldDragonskinHit/Avoid +ImmobilizeImmune StatusInevitable EndResist StatusSelf-DestructStaff SavantVoid Curse
Crests in Warriors
Attack Crests Awaken CrestCombo CrestFang CrestFury CrestSerenity CrestSpecial CrestWar God Crest
Defense Crests Axe CrestBlade CrestBow CrestClaw CrestDragon CrestLance CrestMedicinal CrestPrayer CrestRelief CrestRemedy CrestTome Crest
Boost Crests Mastery CrestSanctuary CrestSkill CrestSurge CrestTalent Crest
Skills AegisAmaterasuArmored BlowAstraAwakeningCounterDef +10DracoshieldGaleforceHP +50Iote's ShieldLck +20LethalityLive to ServeLone WolfLunaMag +10ParagonPassPavisePaydayPotent PotionQuick WitRes +10Resonating PowerSkl +10SolSolidaritySp +10Str +10TrampleVengeance