History Main / CounterAttack

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[[caption-width:110:[-The master of counter attacks.-] ]]

--> You're open!
--->--''Ike, Super Smash Bros. Brawl''

* In the StarWars ExtendedUniverse, there is a [[LaserBlade lightsaber]] style called Sorasu which revolves around waiting for an enemy to make a mistake...or simply get tired.

** FinalFantasyTacticsAdvance also has several variations: Counter, which works against all physical attacks whether they hit or not; Bonecrusher, which deals 50% more damage than Counter but requires that the attack hits and Strike Back which lets you evade and counter but only against basic attacks. There is a version for spells, too, but only if you have the mana. And against enemies like the flans which are healed by the element they use, this can backfire badly.

** The Monk class in {{Final Fantasy III}}'s DS version has the "Retaliate" ability which causes the monk to counterattack with double his normal attack damage every time he is hit with a physical attack that turn.

** FinalFantasyX allows you to counter ''magic''.

** FinalFantasyTacticsAdvance also has several variations, the strongest (but also most situational) being Bonecrusher, which deals more damage than a basic attack. Strike Back on the other hand lets you evade basic attacks and counter. There is a version for spells, too, but only if you have the mana. And against enemies like the flans which are healed by the element they use, this can backfire badly.

* ''GoldenSun'' has the djinn Reflux, which when used will attach to a chosen party member and counter every attack inflicted onto that character during the turn.

* The [[DualWielding Twin Rose]] Style in {{Flipside}} soleley consists of counter attacks. This is parodied in an omake, where, when faced with an oppoent who won't attack (flipside) she's reduced to hurling random objects instead.

* [[MabinogiFantasyLife Mabinogi]] has the Counterattack skill, which takes an incoming melee attack and sends part of it[[hottip:*:The exact percentage of the attack that gets returned depends on the defender's Counterattack skill rank.]] right back, with the defender's attack added to it. Extremely useful against [[MightyGlacier certain bosses]]

* One piece of Sky Masters tech introduced in the DaleBrown book ''Rogue Forces'' is a system that allows a plane to blow up incoming missiles with FrickinLaserBeams, then attempt to fry the missile-launcher as well.

* Many armies employ weapons-locating teams equipped with devices designed to locate enemy artillery or rocket positions so that appropriate retaliation can take place.

The patient warrior who waits until their opponent commits to an attack will be rewarded with a good opportunity to smack the other guy, hard. This is the principle behind counter attacks in games and other types of fiction. Often, in exchange for the cost in tactical opportunities (and need for good timing), these attacks will be significantly more powerful than normal attacks or even [[OneHitKill slay the attacker instantly]].

** In Cataclysm several of these attacks are being removed. The parry mechanic is also being altered to reduce damage by 50% for two attacks instead of avoiding it entirely once, which should help healers from a game mechanic perspective but makes no sense as a "parry".

* In ''MahouSenseiNegima'', Negi does this against [[BoisterousBruiser Rakan]], absorbing his attack then sending it back along with his own lightning spear in a [[XanatosGambit convoluted]] yet [[{{CrowningMoment/MahouSenseiNegima}} awesome fight scene]]. Although [[spoiler: it still wasn't enough to take the lunkhead down.]]

* Fable2 has these as a buyable ability although the timing can be tricky.

** Also in Smash Bros, is the unique ability to more easily dodge attacks than most fighting games allow. This, and some quick thinking makes coming up with a counter simpler than most other fighting games.

* The ''{{Touhou}}'' fighting games has [[NinjaMaid Sakuya's]] Perfect Maid move. When executed, she will momentarily take a [[JojosBizarreAdventure Dio Brando-like]] pose, and if she's hit with a melee attack in that stance, she will instantly teleport away while [[FlechetteStorm surrounding her attacker with a hail of knives]].

* In ''FireEmblem'', if a melee unit attacks another melee unit or a ranged unit attacks another ranged unit, the defending character will counterattack. If the defending unit's speed is high enough, it will attack ''twice''. If the attacking unit's speed is high enough, then''it'' will counterattack after the defending unit does.

** Not always. There are times when countering with either sword only knocks an opponent back unless it's followed up by another button press at the correct moment. The hidden blade will always be fatal on the counter attack, though.
** Waiting for the guards to attack one at a time is fine and all, until you encounter the more skilled professional soldiers who will gladly let you sit back and then guard break your weapon and beat the hell out of you.
** Yeah? Well it remains the same in II. There are some enemies who are trained and can block your counters, but it remains the best technique to kill everything.
*** Actually, in 2, the guys with large weapons (Axes, Polearms, Big Swords) cannot be counter-attacked (or at least, not as easily). Instead, there's a different counter attack which is Dodge, Attack. By definition, it's a counter attack, it's just not the counter-attack move.
**** Those enemies can still be disarmed, at which point you can [[HoistByHisOwnPetard kill them with their own weapon]].
**** OR, just time your side step and you're be instantly behind your enemy, which by then, anything kills.

* Some abilities in WorldOfWarcraft work as counters, although they require the defender to dodge an enemy attack. Effects include damage and disarming the enemy.