Counterattack

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For the ability in Three Houses, see Counterattack (ability). For the Tactics Drill, see Basics 8: Counterattacks.

In the combat of the Fire Emblem series, a unit may be able to counterattack (Japanese: 反撃 counterattack) under certain circumstances. Counterattacking is available to almost every weapon-wielding unit if an opposing unit attacks them, allowing the defending unit to retaliate with an attack of their own. Generally, units can only counterattack if their equipped weapon's range matches the distance between the attacker and the defender; for example, a unit with a 1-range sword can counterattack against enemies that are one space away, but not against enemies that are two or more spaces away.

Counterattacks are fuelled by the same number of calculations that attacks are: their damage dealt, hit rates, critical rates, and ability to perform follow-up attacks are largely identical to those of standard attacks, though other factors such as skills may affect counterattack calculations specifically. Whether or not an opponent is able to counterattack will be displayed in the combat forecast.

Several weapons and status effects can disable a unit's ability to counterattack, even if they could under normal circumstances. In Gaiden, Radiant Dawn, and Echoes: Shadows of Valentia, certain specific units may refuse to attack or counterattack other specific units due to moral, familial, or other reasons. Thracia 776 similarly prevents a unit from counterattacking against any enemy unit that grants a support bonus to them. In Engage, the break status inflicted by the weapon triangle and other sources prevents a unit from counterattacking both during the round of combat they were inflicted with it, as well as for one round of combat afterward.

Weapons and skills affecting counterattacks

Weapons affecting counterattacks
	Weapon	Effect	Games
	Meteor	Foe cannot counterattack.	Mystery of the Emblem, Genealogy of the Holy War, Thracia 776, Path of Radiance, Radiant Dawn, New Mystery of the Emblem
	All ballistae and siege tomes	Foe cannot counterattack.	Genealogy of the Holy War, Thracia 776, Path of Radiance, Radiant Dawn
	All ballistae and siege tomes	User and foe cannot counterattack.	The Binding Blade, The Blazing Blade, The Sacred Stones
	Spectre Card	Foe cannot counterattack.	Radiant Dawn
	Reaper Card	Foe cannot counterattack.	Radiant Dawn
	Daemon Card	Foe cannot counterattack.	Radiant Dawn
	Judge (long-range versions)	Foe cannot counterattack.	Radiant Dawn
	All ballistae	Foe cannot counterattack.	Three Houses, Engage
	Crest of Flames Power	Foe cannot counterattack.	Three Houses
	Hliðskjálf	If user initiates combat, foe cannot counterattack.	Engage

Skills affecting counterattacks
	Skill	Effect	Games
	Vantage	User can counterattack before foe can make their first attack.	Genealogy of the Holy War, Thracia 776, Path of Radiance, Radiant Dawn, Awakening, Fates, Three Houses, Engage
	Guard	Nullifies any further counterattacks from the foe during the current round of combat.	Path of Radiance, Radiant Dawn
	Windsweep	Foe cannot counterattack.	Echoes: Shadows of Valentia, Three Houses, Engage
	Vengeful Cry	User can counterattack regardless of the range between user and foe.	Echoes: Shadows of Valentia
	Close Counter	User can counterattack at 1 range if user has a bow equipped.	Three Houses
	Counterattack	User can counterattack regardless of the range between user and foe.	Three Houses
	Desperation	User can perform a follow-up attack before foe can counterattack.	Three Houses, Engage
	Battalion Vantage	User can counterattack before foe can make their first attack.	Three Houses
	Battalion Desperation	User can perform a follow-up attack before foe can counterattack.	Three Houses
	All gambits and Staggering Blows	Foes cannot counterattack.	Three Houses
	All engage attacks	Foe cannot counterattack.	Engage
	Surprise Attack	If user initiates combat while standing on terrain that grants an avoid bonus, foe cannot counterattack.	Engage

Status effects affecting counterattacks
	Status effect	Effect	Games
	Paralysis	Unit cannot act or counterattack.	Gaiden, Radiant Dawn, Three Houses
	Sleep	Unit cannot act or counterattack.	Genealogy of the Holy War, Thracia 776, The Binding Blade, The Blazing Blade, The Sacred Stones, Path of Radiance, Radiant Dawn
	Petrify	Unit cannot act or counterattack.	Thracia 776, The Sacred Stones, Radiant Dawn
	Confusion	Unit cannot counterattack.	Three Houses
	Retribution	Unit can counterattack regardless of the range between them and their foe.	Three Houses
	Break	Unit cannot counterattack.	Engage

Etymology and other languages

Names, etymology, and in other regions
Language	Name	Definition, etymology, and notes
English	Counterattack	--
Japanese	反撃	Counterattack
Spanish	Contrataque	Counterattack
French	Contre-attaque	Counter-attack
German	Gegenangriff	Counterattack
Italian	Contrattaccaro	Counterattack
Portuguese	Contra-ataque	Counterattack
Korean	반격	Counterattack
Simplified Chinese	反击	Counterattack
Traditional Chinese	反擊	Counterattack

Gallery

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See also

• Attack