Counterattacks when attacked
Description
Counter is a support ability that has the character retaliate when targeted by an enemy's physical attack by attacking them with their own weapon.
Another way to have enemy harmed whenever they attack the player party, is to use Return Damage.
Obtained[]
Counter is learned by Carbuncle for 200 AP and can be taught to any GF with Monk's Code. Carbuncle is drawn from the boss at the end of the Deling City parade scenario or Krysta in the final dungeon. After Carbuncle masters Counter, it can learn Auto-Reflect.
Monk's Code[note 1] can be refined from two Glow Curtains (made from 100 Dragon Skins) with Eden's GFAbl Med-RF or from Eden's card with Quezacotl's Card Mod.
Mechanics[]
Counter activates when the character is targeted by an enemy's physical attack whether the attack deals damage, hits or not, or targeted the entire party. The counterattack is the normal Attack command, and so has all the same properties for critical hit and elemental and status junctions etc. Multiple counter effects can trigger at once in case for Rinoa's Angelo Rush (Counter takes precedence), or if multiple party members have Counter and they are struck by a party-wide hit. If multiple counterattacks activate, and the attacker is killed and there are other enemies remaining, the following counterattacks will be retargeted. Counter works with Cover and Defend, as well as Auto-Potion and Return Damage.
Counter will not activate for attacks that deal magic damage or typeless damage, or if the character is disabled by a status effect; e.g. if the enemy's physical attack inflicts Sleep, the character does not retaliate. The party member will counterattack during Berserk and Angel Wing, though Rinoa's counterattack does not gain the quintuple damage boost associated with Angel Wing.
The player's counterattacks do not trigger enemies' counters, but the player may counter an enemy's counterattack, and a counterattack will still activate the enemy's final attack, should they have one. Only enemies' attacks are countered; if the player attacks their own party, it will not activate.
Use[]
Counter lets the player get in a free attack when targeted by an enemy, without needing to use up a turn and even amid another stance, like Defend, summon charge, or Angel Wing. Counter is generally useful to have unless the enemy only uses magic/typeless damage, though it takes up a valuable support ability slot, and may not be a priority. It is best used on a character who is junctioned for high Strength, and because it works with Cover, such party member would be best placed in the middle of the party formation to be able to cover for both allies on the sides. Because Counter activates even for missed attacks, Evasion junctions are still good to have.
As it works with Defend, the player can nullify all damage and still retaliate during their defensive stance. This would work well against an enemy that uses all or mainly physical attacks, like T-Rexaur or Raijin. Elnoyle and Krysta counterattack every attack from the player with an attack of their own, but would not react to counterattacks, and the player will counterattack the enemy's counter.
Counter makes Mad Rush even better as it still actives under Berserk.
Notes[]
- ↑ Monk is a job class in the Final Fantasy series that commonly has Counter.