Counter (move)

Counter カウンター Counter

A retaliation move that counters any physical attack, inflicting double the damage taken.

Battles Type  Fighting Category  Physical PP  20 (max. 32) Power  Varies Accuracy  100% Priority  -5 Makes contact Not affected by Protect Not affected by Magic Coat Not affected by Snatch Not affected by BrightPowder Not affected by King's Rock

Target Foe Foe Self Ally May affect anyone but the user

Availability Introduced  Generation I TM18 in Generation I Move tutor in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen

Contests Category  Tough Appeal  2 ♥♥ Jam  0 Prevents user from receiving counter appeal points once during the current round.

Super Contests Category  Tough Appeal  2 ♥♥ Earns double the score on the final performance.

Counter on Legendary Pokémon MoveDex Counter on Eevee's Movedex

Counter (Japanese: カウンター Counter) is a damage-dealing Fighting-type move introduced 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, Counter will do twice as much damage to the opponent. Although Counter deals Fighting-type damage, its type does not alter the amount of damage it inflicts; however, it does not work against Ghost-types which are immune to Fighting-type attacks.

Counter is a decreased priority move. 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 partial trapping move. Counter will always miss if called by Metronome.

Switching, full paralysis, 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. However, 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.

If an HP-restoring item is used on the opponent during the same round that Counter is used, Counter will counter the item.

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 and on

Counter counters all physical moves for twice the damage done to the user.

Learnset

Generation I

By leveling up

#   Pokémon Type Level 107 Hitmonchan Fighting 53 Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move. Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form gets STAB from this move.

By TM18

#   Pokémon Type 004 Charmander Fire 005 Charmeleon Fire 006 Charizard Fire Flying 007 Squirtle Water 008 Wartortle Water 009 Blastoise Water 031 Nidoqueen Poison Ground 034 Nidoking Poison Ground 035 Clefairy Normal 036 Clefable Normal 039 Jigglypuff Normal 040 Wigglytuff Normal 054 Psyduck Water 055 Golduck Water 056 Mankey Fighting 057 Primeape Fighting 061 Poliwhirl Water 062 Poliwrath Water Fighting 063 Abra Psychic 064 Kadabra Psychic 065 Alakazam Psychic 066 Machop Fighting 067 Machoke Fighting 068 Machamp Fighting 074 Geodude Rock Ground 075 Graveler Rock Ground 076 Golem Rock Ground 080 Slowbro Water Psychic 094 Gengar Ghost Poison 096 Drowzee Psychic 097 Hypno Psychic 104 Cubone Ground 105 Marowak Ground 106 Hitmonlee Fighting 107 Hitmonchan Fighting 108 Lickitung Normal 112 Rhydon Rock Ground 113 Chansey Normal 115 Kangaskhan Normal 122 Mr. Mime Psychic 124 Jynx Ice Psychic 125 Electabuzz Electric 126 Magmar Fire 143 Snorlax Normal 150 Mewtwo Psychic 151 Mew Psychic Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move. Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form gets STAB from this move.

Generation II

By leveling up

#   Pokémon Type Level 107 Hitmonchan Fighting 50 202 Wobbuffet Psychic -- 214 Heracross Bug Fighting 27 237 Hitmontop Fighting 31 Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move. Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form gets STAB from this move.

By breeding

#   Pokémon Type Father 019 Rattata Normal Sandshrew, Sandslash Nidoran♂, Nidorino, Nidoking Mankey, Primeape Rhyhorn, Rhydon Aipom Sneasel Teddiursa, Ursaring Houndour, Houndoom 027 Sandshrew Ground Rattata, Raticate Nidoran♂, Nidorino, Nidoking Mankey, Primeape Rhyhorn, Rhydon Aipom Sneasel Teddiursa, Ursaring Houndour, Houndoom 029 Nidoran♀ Poison Rattata, Raticate Sandshrew, Sandslash Nidoran♂, Nidorino, Nidoking Mankey, Primeape Rhyhorn, Rhydon Aipom Sneasel Teddiursa, Ursaring Houndour, Houndoom 032 Nidoran♂ Poison Rattata, Raticate Sandshrew, Sandslash Nidoran♂, Nidorino, Nidoking Mankey, Primeape Rhyhorn, Rhydon Aipom Sneasel Teddiursa, Ursaring Houndour, Houndoom 046 Paras Bug Grass Heracross 056 Mankey Fighting Rattata, Raticate Sandshrew, Sandslash Nidoran♂, Nidorino, Nidoking Rhyhorn, Rhydon Aipom Sneasel Teddiursa, Ursaring Houndour, Houndoom 111 Rhyhorn Ground Rock Rattata, Raticate Sandshrew, Sandslash Nidoran♂, Nidorino, Nidoking Mankey, Primeape Rhyhorn, Rhydon Aipom Sneasel Teddiursa, Ursaring Houndour, Houndoom 123 Scyther Bug Flying Heracross 152 Chikorita Grass Rhyhorn, Rhydon Kangaskhan 190 Aipom Normal Rattata, Raticate Sandshrew, Sandslash Mankey, Primeape Rhyhorn, Rhydon Wooper, Quagsire Sneasel Teddiursa, Ursaring Houndour, Houndoom Phanpy, Donphan 207 Gligar Ground Flying Heracross 215 Sneasel Dark Ice Rattata, Raticate Sandshrew, Sandslash Mankey, Primeape Aipom Wooper, Quagsire Teddiursa, Ursaring Swinub, Piloswine Houndour, Houndoom Phanpy, Donphan 216 Teddiursa Normal Rattata, Raticate Sandshrew, Sandslash Mankey, Primeape Aipom Wooper, Quagsire Sneasel Swinub, Piloswine Houndour, Houndoom Phanpy, Donphan 228 Houndour Dark Fire Rattata, Raticate Sandshrew, Sandslash Nidoran♂, Nidorino, Nidoking Mankey, Primeape Rhyhorn, Rhydon Aipom Sneasel Teddiursa, Ursaring Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move. Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution gets STAB from this move. *Indicates Pokémon that can only learn the move through chain breeding.

Generation III

By leveling up

#   Pokémon Type Level 107 Hitmonchan Fighting 50 202 Wobbuffet Psychic -- 214 Heracross Bug Fighting 30 237 Hitmontop Fighting 31 286 Breloom Grass Fighting 28 287 Slakoth Normal 37 288 Vigoroth Normal 37 289 Slaking Normal 37 360 Wynaut Psychic 15 386 Deoxys Defense Forme Psychic 50 Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move. Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form gets STAB from this move.

By breeding

#   Pokémon Type Father 019 Rattata Normal Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking 027 Sandshrew Ground Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking 029 Nidoran♀ Poison Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking 032 Nidoran♂ Poison Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking 046 Paras Bug Grass Heracross Breloom 056 Mankey Fighting Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking 111 Rhyhorn Ground Rock Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking 115 Kangaskhan Normal Nidoran♂, Nidorino, Nidoking Rhyhorn, Rhydon Chikorita, Bayleef, Meganium 123 Scyther Bug Flying Heracross 152 Chikorita Grass Rhyhorn, Rhydon Kangaskhan Mudkip, Marshtomp, Swampert Breloom 190 Aipom Normal Rattata, Raticate Sandshrew, Sandslash Mankey, Primeape Rhyhorn, Rhydon Wooper, Quagsire Sneasel Teddiursa, Ursaring Houndour, Houndoom Phanpy, Donphan Torchic, Combusken, Blaziken Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking Zangoose 207 Gligar Ground Flying Heracross 215 Sneasel Dark Ice Rattata, Raticate Sandshrew, Sandslash Mankey, Primeape Aipom Wooper, Quagsire Teddiursa, Ursaring Swinub, Piloswine Houndour, Houndoom Phanpy, Donphan Torchic, Combusken, Blaziken Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking Zangoose 216 Teddiursa Normal Rattata, Raticate Sandshrew, Sandslash Mankey, Primeape Aipom Wooper, Quagsire Sneasel Swinub, Piloswine Houndour, Houndoom Phanpy, Donphan Torchic, Combusken, Blaziken Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking Zangoose 228 Houndour Dark Fire Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking 231 Phanpy Ground Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking 255 Torchic Fire Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking 296 Makuhita Fighting Hitmonchan Hitmontop 331 Cacnea Grass Hitmonchan Hitmontop Breloom 335 Zangoose Normal Rattata, Raticate Sandshrew, Sandslash Mankey, Primeape Aipom Wooper, Quagsire Teddiursa, Ursaring Sneasel Swinub, Piloswine Houndour, Houndoom Phanpy, Donphan Torchic, Combusken, Blaziken Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move. Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution gets STAB from this move. *Indicates Pokémon that can only learn the move through chain breeding.

By move tutor

In Pokémon FireRed, LeafGreen, and Emerald

#   Pokémon Type 004 Charmander Fire 005 Charmeleon Fire 006 Charizard Fire Flying 007 Squirtle Water 008 Wartortle Water 009 Blastoise Water 019 Rattata Normal 020 Raticate Normal 025 Pikachu Electric 026 Raichu Electric 027 Sandshrew Ground 028 Sandslash Ground 029 Nidoran♀ Poison 030 Nidorina Poison 031 Nidoqueen Poison Ground 032 Nidoran♂ Poison 033 Nidorino Poison 034 Nidoking Poison Ground 035 Clefairy Normal 036 Clefable Normal 039 Jigglypuff Normal 040 Wigglytuff Normal 046 Paras Bug Grass 047 Parasect Bug Grass 054 Psyduck Water 055 Golduck Water 056 Mankey Fighting 057 Primeape Fighting 060 Poliwag Water 061 Poliwhirl Water 062 Poliwrath Water Fighting 063 Abra Psychic 064 Kadabra Psychic 065 Alakazam Psychic 066 Machop Fighting 067 Machoke Fighting 068 Machamp Fighting 074 Geodude Rock Ground 075 Graveler Rock Ground 076 Golem Rock Ground 080 Slowbro Water Psychic 094 Gengar Ghost Poison 096 Drowzee Psychic 097 Hypno Psychic 104 Cubone Ground 105 Marowak Ground 106 Hitmonlee Fighting 107 Hitmonchan Fighting 108 Lickitung Normal 111 Rhyhorn Ground Rock 112 Rhydon Ground Rock 113 Chansey Normal 115 Kangaskhan Normal 122 Mr. Mime Psychic 123 Scyther Bug Flying 124 Jynx Ice Psychic 125 Electabuzz Electric 126 Magmar Fire 143 Snorlax Normal 150 Mewtwo Psychic 151 Mew Psychic 152 Chikorita Grass 153 Bayleef Grass 154 Meganium Grass 157 Typhlosion Fire 158 Totodile Water 159 Croconaw Water 160 Feraligatr Water 172 Pichu Electric 173 Cleffa Normal 174 Igglybuff Normal 175 Togepi Normal 176 Togetic Normal Flying 180 Flaaffy Electric 181 Ampharos Electric 185 Sudowoodo Rock 186 Politoed Water 190 Aipom Normal 195 Quagsire Water Ground 199 Slowking Water Psychic 204 Pineco Bug 205 Forretress Bug Steel 206 Dunsparce Normal 207 Gligar Ground Flying 209 Snubbull Normal 210 Granbull Normal 212 Scizor Bug Steel 214 Heracross Bug Fighting 215 Sneasel Dark Ice 216 Teddiursa Normal 217 Ursaring Normal 225 Delibird Ice Flying 227 Skarmory Steel Flying 228 Houndour Dark Fire 229 Houndoom Dark Fire 231 Phanpy Ground 232 Donphan Ground 236 Tyrogue Fighting 237 Hitmontop Fighting 238 Smoochum Ice Psychic 239 Elekid Electric 240 Magby Fire 241 Miltank Normal 242 Blissey Normal 248 Tyranitar Rock Dark 252 Treecko Grass 253 Grovyle Grass 254 Sceptile Grass 255 Torchic Fire 256 Combusken Fire Fighting 257 Blaziken Fire Fighting 259 Marshtomp Water Ground 260 Swampert Water Ground 261 Poochyena Dark 262 Mightyena Dark 272 Ludicolo Water Grass 277 Swellow Normal Flying 286 Breloom Grass Fighting 287 Slakoth Normal 288 Vigoroth Normal 289 Slaking Normal 293 Whismur Normal 294 Loudred Normal 295 Exploud Normal 296 Makuhita Fighting 297 Hariyama Fighting 302 Sableye Dark Ghost 303 Mawile Steel 306 Aggron Steel Rock 307 Meditite Fighting Psychic 308 Medicham Fighting Psychic 311 Plusle Electric 312 Minun Electric 313 Volbeat Bug 314 Illumise Bug 316 Gulpin Poison 317 Swalot Poison 326 Grumpig Psychic 327 Spinda Normal 331 Cacnea Grass 332 Cacturne Grass Dark 335 Zangoose Normal 341 Corphish Water 342 Crawdaunt Water Dark 352 Kecleon Normal 356 Dusclops Ghost 359 Absol Dark 377 Regirock Rock 378 Regice Ice 379 Registeel Steel 383 Groudon Ground 386 Deoxys Normal Forme Psychic 386 Deoxys Attack Forme Psychic 386 Deoxys Defense Forme Psychic 386 Deoxys Speed Forme Psychic Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move. Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form gets STAB from this move.

Generation IV

By leveling up

#   Pokémon Type Level 107 Hitmonchan Fighting 51 202 Wobbuffet Psychic -- 214 Heracross Bug Fighting 25 237 Hitmontop Fighting 28 286 Breloom Grass Fighting 25 287 Slakoth Normal 37 288 Vigoroth Normal 37 289 Slaking Normal 37 360 Wynaut Psychic 15 386 Deoxys Defense Forme Psychic 97 447 Riolu Fighting 6 448 Lucario Fighting Steel 6 Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move. Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form gets STAB from this move.

By breeding

#   Pokémon Type Father 004 Charmander* Fire Nidoran♂, Nidorino, Nidoking Rhyhorn, Rhydon, Rhyperior Chikorita, Bayleef, MeganiumHGSS 019 Rattata Normal Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking Lucario 027 Sandshrew Ground Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking Lucario 029 Nidoran♀ Poison Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking Lucario 032 Nidoran♂ Poison Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking Lucario 046 Paras Bug Grass Heracross Breloom 056 Mankey Fighting Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking Lucario 066 Machop Fighting Hitmonchan Hitmontop Lucario 111 Rhyhorn Ground Rock Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking Lucario 113 Chansey Normal Breloom 115 Kangaskhan* Normal Nidoran♂, Nidorino, Nidoking Rhyhorn, Rhydon, Rhyperior Chikorita, Bayleef, Meganium Mudkip, Marshtomp, Swampert 123 Scyther Bug Flying Heracross 152 Chikorita Grass Rhyhorn, Rhydon, Rhyperior Kangaskhan Mudkip, Marshtomp, Swampert Breloom 190 Aipom Normal Rattata, Raticate Sandshrew, Sandslash Mankey, Primeape Rhyhorn, Rhydon, Rhyperior Wooper, Quagsire Sneasel, Weavile Teddiursa, Ursaring Houndour, Houndoom Phanpy, Donphan Torchic, Combusken, Blaziken Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking Zangoose Chimchar, Monferno, Infernape Lucario 194 Wooper Water Ground Rattata, Raticate Sandshrew, Sandslash Mankey, Primeape Aipom, Ambipom Teddiursa, Ursaring Sneasel, Weavile Houndour, Houndoom Phanpy, Donphan Torchic, Combusken, Blaziken Mudkip, Marshtomp, Swampert Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking Zangoose Chimchar, Monferno, Infernape Lucario 204 Pineco Bug Heracross 207 Gligar Ground Flying Heracross 215 Sneasel Dark Ice Rattata, Raticate Sandshrew, Sandslash Mankey, Primeape Aipom, Ambipom Wooper, Quagsire Teddiursa, Ursaring} Houndour, Houndoom Phanpy, Donphan Torchic, Combusken, Blaziken Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking Zangoose Chimchar, Monferno, Infernape Lucario 216 Teddiursa Normal Rattata, Raticate Sandshrew, Sandslash Mankey, Primeape Aipom, Ambipom Wooper, Quagsire Sneasel, Weavile Houndour, Houndoom Phanpy, Donphan Torchic, Combusken, Blaziken Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking Zangoose Chimchar, Monferno, Infernape Lucario 228 Houndour Dark Fire Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking Lucario 231 Phanpy Ground Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking Lucario 236 Tyrogue Fighting Hitmonchan Hitmontop 255 Torchic Fire Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking Lucario 258 Mudkip* Water Nidoran♂, Nidorino, Nidoking Rhyhorn, Rhydon, Rhyperior Chikorita, Bayleef, Meganium Wooper, Quagsire Shellos, Gastrodon 296 Makuhita Fighting Hitmonchan Hitmontop Lucario 270 Lotad* Water Grass Paras, Parasect Chikorita, Bayleef, Meganium Wooper, Quagsire Cacnea, Cacturne Shellos, GastrodonHGSS 331 Cacnea Grass Hitmonchan Hitmontop Breloom Lucario 335 Zangoose Normal Rattata, Raticate Sandshrew, Sandslash Mankey, Primeape Aipom, Ambipom Wooper, Quagsire Teddiursa, Ursaring Sneasel, Weavile Houndour, Houndoom Phanpy, Donphan Torchic, Combusken, Blaziken Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking Chimchar, Monferno, Infernape Lucario 390 Chimchar Fire Rattata, Raticate Sandshrew, Sandslash Mankey, Primeape Machop, Machoke, Machamp Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan, Hitmontop Rhyhorn, Rhydon, Rhyperior Aipom, Ambipom Wooper, Quagsire Sneasel, Weavile Teddiursa, Ursaring Houndour, Houndoom Phanpy, Donphan Torchic, Combusken, Blaziken Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking Makuhita, Hariyama Cacnea, Cacturne Zangoose Lucario 410 Shieldon* Rock Steel Nidoran♂, Nidorino, Nidoking Rhyhorn, Rhydon, Rhyperior Chikorita, Bayleef, MeganiumHGSS 422 Shellos West Sea Water Wooper, Quagsire Wobbuffet Mudkip, Marshtomp, Swampert 422 Shellos East Sea Water Wooper, Quagsire Wobbuffet Mudkip, Marshtomp, Swampert 440 Happiny Normal Breloom 446 Munchlax* Normal Nidoran♂, Nidorino, Nidoking Rhyhorn, Rhydon, Rhyperior Chikorita, Bayleef, MeganiumHGSS 453 Croagunk Poison Fighting Hitmonchan Hitmontop LucarioHGSS Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move. Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution gets STAB from this move. *Indicates Pokémon that can only learn the move through chain breeding.

In the anime

Koffing	Wobbuffet	Houndoom
A retaliation move that counters any physical attack, inflicting double the damage taken.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Episode Used In		Notes
Koffing	Koffing charges at the opponent when the foe uses an attack and collides with it.
James's Koffing	Clefairy and the Moon Stone		Debut
Staryu	Staryu charges at the opponent, spinning around.
Misty's Staryu	The Water Flowers of Cerulean City		None
Mewtwo	Mewtwo sticks out its hand when a attack comes near him. The attack bounces off and is sent back to the opponent.
Mewtwo (anime)	Mewtwo Strikes Back		None
Wobbuffet	Wobbuffet raises its tail and becomes outlined in pink or 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
Wynaut	Wynaut becomes outlined in orange. Any attack that hits it is sent flying back to the opponent.
A wild Wynaut	Why? Why Not!		None
A wild Wynaut	Who, What, When Where, Wynaut?		None
Houndoom	Houndoom becomes outlined in orange. Any attack that hits it is sent flying back to the opponent.
Harrison's Houndoom	Playing with Fire!		None

Trivia

• In the Spanish version of the games, this move was translated as Contador (meaning accountant, or someone or something that counts - a "counter"). However, in the anime dub, this move was properly translated as Contraataque (counter-attack).
  • In addition, the Polish dub of the anime committed the same error.
• In the anime, Ash's Caterpie attempted to use Counter, but it is impossible for it to learn it gamewise. (It failed to work anyway.) This also applies to Misty's Staryu, who used Counter in her battle with Ash, and to James's Koffing. However, these may just mean a basic counter-attack, rather than the move itself.

In other languages

• Spanish: Contador (games only), Contraataque (anime only)
• French: Riposte
• German: Konter
• Italian: Contatore
• Polish: Liczydło

Variations on the move Counter
	Counter
	Mirror Coat

This move article is part of Project MoveDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each move.