Counter

Fighting

Counter is a Fighting-type physical attack. It has — base power, 100% accuracy, 20 PP and targets the user. It has negative priority (-5), so it usually moves last. It makes contact, which matters for contact-triggering abilities and items.

Technical data

Type
Fighting
Category
physical
Power
Accuracy
100
PP
20
Priority
-5
Target
self
Contact
Yes
Spread
No
Protect blocks
Yes
Wide Guard blocks
No

Competitive value

A coverage or STAB option worth comparing with alternatives of the same type in the team builder.

How to learn it

Pokémon that can learn or be taught this move, by method.

Level-up71 Pokémon

  • Heracross MegaHeracross Mega
  • Falinks MegaFalinks Mega
  • Charizard Mega YCharizard Mega Y
  • Charizard Mega XCharizard Mega X
  • Lucario Mega ZLucario Mega Z
  • Lucario MegaLucario Mega
  • Charizard GmaxCharizard Gmax
  • Machamp GmaxMachamp Gmax
  • MachampMachamp
  • CharizardCharizard
  • HeracrossHeracross
  • Lycanroc DuskLycanroc Dusk
  • Lycanroc MidnightLycanroc Midnight
  • FalinksFalinks
  • LucarioLucario
  • AnnihilapeAnnihilape
  • Medicham MegaMedicham Mega
  • MudsdaleMudsdale
  • MedichamMedicham

TM / HM67 Pokémon

  • Slowbro MegaSlowbro Mega
  • Blastoise MegaBlastoise Mega
  • Charizard Mega YCharizard Mega Y
  • Charizard Mega XCharizard Mega X
  • Gengar MegaGengar Mega
  • Kangaskhan MegaKangaskhan Mega
  • SnorlaxSnorlax
  • Alakazam MegaAlakazam Mega
  • Blastoise GmaxBlastoise Gmax
  • Charizard GmaxCharizard Gmax
  • Machamp GmaxMachamp Gmax
  • MachampMachamp
  • Gengar GmaxGengar Gmax
  • BlastoiseBlastoise
  • GengarGengar
  • CharizardCharizard
  • AlakazamAlakazam
  • KangaskhanKangaskhan
  • Clefable MegaClefable Mega
  • Snorlax GmaxSnorlax Gmax
  • ClefableClefable
  • Slowbro GalarSlowbro Galar
  • SlowbroSlowbro

Move Tutor220 Pokémon

  • Tyranitar MegaTyranitar Mega
  • Blaziken MegaBlaziken Mega
  • Houndoom MegaHoundoom Mega
  • Ampharos MegaAmpharos Mega
  • Heracross MegaHeracross Mega
  • Scizor MegaScizor Mega
  • Sceptile MegaSceptile Mega
  • Swampert MegaSwampert Mega
  • Slowbro MegaSlowbro Mega
  • Blastoise MegaBlastoise Mega
  • Charizard Mega YCharizard Mega Y
  • Charizard Mega XCharizard Mega X
  • Gengar MegaGengar Mega
  • Kangaskhan MegaKangaskhan Mega
  • SnorlaxSnorlax
  • Alakazam MegaAlakazam Mega
  • Feraligatr MegaFeraligatr Mega
  • Meganium MegaMeganium Mega
  • Blastoise GmaxBlastoise Gmax
  • Charizard GmaxCharizard Gmax
  • Aggron MegaAggron Mega
  • SwampertSwampert
  • Machamp GmaxMachamp Gmax
  • MachampMachamp
  • FeraligatrFeraligatr
  • Gengar GmaxGengar Gmax
  • BlastoiseBlastoise
  • GengarGengar
  • TyranitarTyranitar
  • Skarmory MegaSkarmory Mega
  • TyphlosionTyphlosion
  • CharizardCharizard
  • BlazikenBlaziken
  • AlakazamAlakazam
  • Absol MegaAbsol Mega
  • Raichu Mega YRaichu Mega Y
  • AggronAggron
  • Absol Mega ZAbsol Mega Z
  • HeracrossHeracross
  • Raichu Mega XRaichu Mega X
  • Raichu AlolaRaichu Alola
  • SceptileSceptile
  • ScizorScizor
  • KangaskhanKangaskhan
  • Mawile MegaMawile Mega
  • Clefable MegaClefable Mega
  • MeganiumMeganium
  • PolitoedPolitoed
  • Slowking GalarSlowking Galar
  • AmpharosAmpharos
  • Typhlosion HisuiTyphlosion Hisui
  • Snorlax GmaxSnorlax Gmax
  • ClefableClefable
  • Slowbro GalarSlowbro Galar
  • HoundoomHoundoom
  • Sableye MegaSableye Mega
  • SlowbroSlowbro
  • Medicham MegaMedicham Mega
  • RaichuRaichu
  • AbsolAbsol
  • SlowkingSlowking
  • ForretressForretress
  • SkarmorySkarmory
  • Pikachu StarterPikachu Starter
  • MedichamMedicham
  • MawileMawile
  • PikachuPikachu
  • Pikachu Alola CapPikachu Alola Cap
  • Pikachu BellePikachu Belle
  • Pikachu CosplayPikachu Cosplay
  • Pikachu GmaxPikachu Gmax
  • Pikachu Hoenn CapPikachu Hoenn Cap
  • Pikachu Kalos CapPikachu Kalos Cap
  • Pikachu LibrePikachu Libre
  • Pikachu Original CapPikachu Original Cap
  • Pikachu Partner CapPikachu Partner Cap
  • Pikachu PhdPikachu Phd
  • Pikachu Pop StarPikachu Pop Star
  • Pikachu Rock StarPikachu Rock Star
  • Pikachu Sinnoh CapPikachu Sinnoh Cap
  • Pikachu Unova CapPikachu Unova Cap
  • Pikachu World CapPikachu World Cap
  • SableyeSableye

Egg move (breeding)119 Pokémon

  • Blaziken MegaBlaziken Mega
  • Greninja AshGreninja Ash
  • Greninja MegaGreninja Mega
  • Swampert MegaSwampert Mega
  • Charizard Mega YCharizard Mega Y
  • Kommo OKommo O
  • Charizard Mega XCharizard Mega X
  • Kangaskhan MegaKangaskhan Mega
  • SnorlaxSnorlax
  • Scrafty MegaScrafty Mega
  • Feraligatr MegaFeraligatr Mega
  • InfernapeInfernape
  • Meganium MegaMeganium Mega
  • Charizard GmaxCharizard Gmax
  • RhyperiorRhyperior
  • QuaquavalQuaquaval
  • SwampertSwampert
  • FeraligatrFeraligatr
  • Greninja Battle BondGreninja Battle Bond
  • CharizardCharizard
  • BlazikenBlaziken
  • GreninjaGreninja
  • KangaskhanKangaskhan
  • MeganiumMeganium
  • PassimianPassimian
  • ConkeldurrConkeldurr
  • BastiodonBastiodon
  • Snorlax GmaxSnorlax Gmax
  • ScraftyScrafty
  • GliscorGliscor
  • Stunfisk GalarStunfisk Galar
  • Pikachu Kalos CapPikachu Kalos Cap
  • Pikachu Sinnoh CapPikachu Sinnoh Cap

Pokémon that use this move

317 Pokémon, sorted by usage

  • Tyranitar MegaTyranitar Mega
  • Blaziken MegaBlaziken Mega
  • Greninja AshGreninja Ash
  • Greninja MegaGreninja Mega
  • Houndoom MegaHoundoom Mega
  • Ampharos MegaAmpharos Mega
  • Heracross MegaHeracross Mega
  • Scizor MegaScizor Mega
  • Falinks MegaFalinks Mega
  • Sceptile MegaSceptile Mega
  • Swampert MegaSwampert Mega
  • Slowbro MegaSlowbro Mega
  • Blastoise MegaBlastoise Mega
  • Charizard Mega YCharizard Mega Y
  • Kommo OKommo O
  • Charizard Mega XCharizard Mega X
  • Gengar MegaGengar Mega
  • Kangaskhan MegaKangaskhan Mega
  • SnorlaxSnorlax
  • Lucario Mega ZLucario Mega Z
  • Lucario MegaLucario Mega
  • Alakazam MegaAlakazam Mega
  • Scrafty MegaScrafty Mega
  • Feraligatr MegaFeraligatr Mega
  • InfernapeInfernape
  • Meganium MegaMeganium Mega
  • Blastoise GmaxBlastoise Gmax
  • Charizard GmaxCharizard Gmax
  • RhyperiorRhyperior
  • QuaquavalQuaquaval
  • Aggron MegaAggron Mega
  • SwampertSwampert
  • Machamp GmaxMachamp Gmax
  • MachampMachamp
  • FeraligatrFeraligatr
  • Gengar GmaxGengar Gmax
  • BlastoiseBlastoise
  • GengarGengar
  • TyranitarTyranitar
  • Greninja Battle BondGreninja Battle Bond
  • Skarmory MegaSkarmory Mega
  • TyphlosionTyphlosion
  • CharizardCharizard
  • BlazikenBlaziken
  • AlakazamAlakazam
  • GreninjaGreninja
  • Absol MegaAbsol Mega
  • Raichu Mega YRaichu Mega Y
  • AggronAggron
  • Absol Mega ZAbsol Mega Z
  • HeracrossHeracross
  • Lycanroc DuskLycanroc Dusk
  • Lycanroc MidnightLycanroc Midnight
  • Raichu Mega XRaichu Mega X
  • Raichu AlolaRaichu Alola
  • SceptileSceptile
  • ScizorScizor
  • KangaskhanKangaskhan
  • Mawile MegaMawile Mega
  • Clefable MegaClefable Mega
  • MeganiumMeganium
  • PolitoedPolitoed
  • Slowking GalarSlowking Galar
  • PassimianPassimian
  • ConkeldurrConkeldurr
  • AmpharosAmpharos
  • BastiodonBastiodon
  • Typhlosion HisuiTyphlosion Hisui
  • Snorlax GmaxSnorlax Gmax
  • ClefableClefable
  • FalinksFalinks
  • ScraftyScrafty
  • Slowbro GalarSlowbro Galar
  • HoundoomHoundoom
  • LucarioLucario
  • Sableye MegaSableye Mega
  • SlowbroSlowbro
  • AnnihilapeAnnihilape
  • Medicham MegaMedicham Mega
  • MudsdaleMudsdale
  • GliscorGliscor
  • RaichuRaichu
  • AbsolAbsol
  • SlowkingSlowking
  • ForretressForretress
  • SkarmorySkarmory
  • Stunfisk GalarStunfisk Galar
  • Pikachu StarterPikachu Starter
  • MedichamMedicham
  • MawileMawile
  • PikachuPikachu
  • Pikachu Alola CapPikachu Alola Cap
  • Pikachu BellePikachu Belle
  • Pikachu CosplayPikachu Cosplay
  • Pikachu GmaxPikachu Gmax
  • Pikachu Hoenn CapPikachu Hoenn Cap
  • Pikachu Kalos CapPikachu Kalos Cap
  • Pikachu LibrePikachu Libre
  • Pikachu Original CapPikachu Original Cap
  • Pikachu Partner CapPikachu Partner Cap
  • Pikachu PhdPikachu Phd
  • Pikachu Pop StarPikachu Pop Star
  • Pikachu Rock StarPikachu Rock Star
  • Pikachu Sinnoh CapPikachu Sinnoh Cap
  • Pikachu Unova CapPikachu Unova Cap
  • Pikachu World CapPikachu World Cap
  • SableyeSableye

What this move does

Counter is a Fighting-type physical attack. It has — base power, 100% accuracy, 20 PP and targets the user. It has negative priority (-5), so it usually moves last. It makes contact, which matters for abilities and items that trigger on contact. Counter is a Fighting-type physical attack. It has — base power, 100% accuracy, 20 PP and targets the user. It has negative priority (-5), so it usually moves last. It makes contact, which matters for contact-triggering abilities and items.

A coverage or STAB option worth comparing with alternatives of the same type in the team builder.

When to consider it

Consider Counter when its type and power cover targets your team otherwise struggles with. Single-target attacks are reliable and do not risk your own partner, but they can be redirected by Follow Me or Rage Powder. Evaluate the move alongside your team's speed tiers and overall coverage.

How to evaluate it in team building

In team building, Counter is usually a coverage or primary STAB option. It shines when your team already has speed control or when it patches a matchup hole. Compare it with alternative moves of the same type and category to decide whether the extra power, accuracy or side effect justifies the slot over a more defensive option.

Common mistakes

Common mistakes with Counter include: Using it without a clear plan for the turns it creates. Forgetting that Protect and Detect can block it, wasting a key turn. Spamming it predictably and letting the opponent switch into a resist. Not considering how redirectors like Follow Me and Rage Powder change targeting.

VGC interactions

Protect and Detect block this move. These interactions are situational, so test them in the team builder and matchup analyzer before committing to the moveslot.

Related tools and guides

Use the tools below to test Counter in a full team context and compare it with alternative options.

VGC interactions

  • Protect / Detect: blocks this move.
  • Wide Guard: does not block this move.
  • Follow Me / Rage Powder: spread moves are not redirected.
  • Quick Guard: no effect (non-priority).

Frequently asked questions

Is Counter good in ChampionsVGC?

A coverage or STAB option worth comparing with alternatives of the same type in the team builder. It is blocked by Protect and Detect, which can waste a key turn if predicted.

Is Counter blocked by Protect?

Yes, Counter is blocked by Protect and Detect.

Last updated: July 2026 · This entry is kept navigable while additional editorial context is being added.
All figures are estimated trends based on available data and do not guarantee competitive results. Matchups are situational. See our methodology for how these figures are calculated.