Counter (ability)

Counter is a reoccurring ability in the Final Fantasy series, typically belonging to the monk job or monk type characters. The ability allows a player who is hit to immediately attack the enemy who attacked it. In some incarnations this negates the damage to the attacked creature, in other versions the attacked player will take damage and then immediately perform a counter-attack.

Final Fantasy VII
Counter is a special materia. When equipped it allows a player to counter-attack against physical and magical attacks, but the player still does take damage from those attacks.

Final Fantasy XI
In Final Fantasy XI, monks have the ability to counter enemy's attack. In this version the monk actually takes no damage from attacks they can counter. Counter is a passive ability and is gained once player has 10 levels in monk or for anyone who sets their subjob to monk of level 20 or greater. Counter is only activated occasionally, but the chance of countering an attack can be greatly increased if a player uses the ability counterstance.