- This article is about the move for the Fire Emblem representatives. For Palutena's version, see Counter (Palutena). For the Mii Swordfighter's version, see Blade Counter.
- This article is about the move. Counter can also be used to describe a match-up that strongly favors one character.
Counter (カウンター, Counter) is Marth, Roy, Ike, Lucina and Chrom's Down Special Move. The user enters a defensive stance, and retaliates with their own attack when struck.
Overview[]
The user holds their weapon in a defensive stance, which is signaled by a metallic chink. If an opponent attacks the user in their stance with a blockable attack, another metallic chink will play (further indicated by a heart monitor in SSBWU/3DS), and the user will slash at the opponent, usually hitting them unless they are out of reach.
Counter is a very powerful defensive and surprise tool, as it can be used to intercept powerful attacks, and retaliate with at least the same power quickly, making it a very viable move against powerful characters. In addition, Counter can be used to intercept recoveries, potentially knocking opponents away and preventing them from recovering. However, effectively using Counter requires precisely predicting attacks, as mistiming it or using it frequently leaves the user vulnerable to punishment due to its high ending lag. Additionally, it cannot block all attacks (such as Final Smashes), and can be negated by the use of a grab.
Marth[]
Marth's Counter deals up to 7% damage, regardless of the attack. Marth's Counter has a faster start-up time and lasts slightly longer than Roy's Counter, which makes Marth's Counter more effective but less damaging.
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Marth's Counter reflects back 1.1x damage, with a minimum damage of 8%.
In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U, Counter reflects back 1.2x damage. Additionally, Marth no longer speaks when using it.
In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Marth's Counter has faster startup but higher end lag. If Marth counters a powerful attack, a yellow flash is produced, and if he successfully connects the countering slash, then the Critical Hit sound effect will play. He once again speaks while countering saying, "Nice try!", "My turn!", or "Predictable!".
.jpg "Marth SSB4 (6).jpg (124 KB)")
| Marth's Special Moves | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melee | Brawl | 3DS/Wii U | Ultimate | |
| Standard Special | Shield Breaker | |||
| Side Special | Dancing Blade | |||
| Up Special | Dolphin Slash | |||
| Down Special | Counter | |||
| Final Smash | — | Critical Hit | ||
Lucina[]
Lucina's Counter functions identically to Marth's. However, Lucina's stance mirrors her battle stance from Fire Emblem Awakening, and she shouts "You're mine!" or "My turn!" upon countering an attack.
In Ultimate, Counter has slightly more end lag, but compensates with faster startup. In addition, when countering a powerful move, a yellow flash will be produced, and if the counterattack connects, the Critical Hit sound effect plays.
.png "Counter (Lucina).png (2.61 MB)")
| Lucina's Special Moves | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3DS/Wii U | Ultimate | |
| Standard Special | Shield Breaker | |
| Side Special | Dancing Blade | |
| Up Special | Dolphin Slash | |
| Down Special | Counter | |
| Final Smash | Critical Hit | |
Custom Variations (Marth & Lucina)[]
In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U, with the introduction of Custom Moves, Marth and Lucina have two variations of Counter.
Easy Counter[]
Easy Counter is one of Marth and Lucina's Down Special Moves that can be used via customizations. Marth and Lucina counters for a longer period of time.
Strengths:
- Counter window is greater
Weaknesses:
- Less damage.
- Less knockback.
Easy Counter has a bigger counter window, so Marth and Lucina are more likely to counter an incoming attack when it is used. However, the counterattack won't deal as much damage or knockback as a result.
Iai Counter[]
Iai Counter is one of Marth and Lucina's Down Special Moves that can be used via customizations. Marth and Lucina moves forwards and hits the opponent when countering.
Strengths:
- Moves forwards
- Faster
- Hits opponents that are behind Marth and Lucina
- Deals electric damage
- Stronger
Weaknesses:
- Cannot hit opponents that move past Marth and Lucina.
- Stricter timing
Iai Counter will have Marth or Lucina move past the opponent and hit them with the sword from behind, much like Shulk's Vision when input past the opponent. The move is executed faster but not fast enough to hit enemy attacks that go past opponents like Wario's Bike, Fox's Fox Illusion, and even Ness's PK Thunder when used on himself. The move also deals more damage
| Marth's Custom Special Moves | ||
|---|---|---|
| Custom 1 | Custom 2 | |
| Standard Special | Storm Thrust | Dashing Assault |
| Side Special | Effortless Blade | Heavy Blade |
| Up Special | Crescent Slash | Dolphin Jump |
| Down Special | Easy Counter | Iai Counter |
| Lucina's Custom Special Moves | ||
|---|---|---|
| Custom 1 | Custom 2 | |
| Standard Special | Storm Thrust | Dashing Assault |
| Side Special | Effortless Blade | Heavy Blade |
| Up Special | Crescent Slash | Dolphin Jump |
| Down Special | Easy Counter | Iai Counter |
Roy[]
Roy's Counter deals 1.5x times the original attack's damage. Roy's Counter has a slower start-up time, and lasts slightly less longer than Marth's Counter. Roy additionally sets the opponent on fire while countering.
In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U, Roy's Counter only deals 1.35x times the damage and he swings at a more horizontal angle. He has the second most powerful counter in this game, following Corrin.
In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Roy's Counter has more active frames, allowing it to last longer. Roy now says, "Now!" or "Gotcha!" when countering.
| Roy's Special Moves | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Melee | 3DS/Wii U | Ultimate | |
| Standard Special | Flare Blade | ||
| Side Special | Double-Edge Dance | ||
| Up Special | Blazer | ||
| Down Special | Counter | ||
| Final Smash | — | Critical Hit | |
Ike[]
Ike's Counter has a longer startup than Marth, but reflects back 1.2x damage and more knockback, with the minimum damage being 10%. Ike will shout "You're open!" or "Gotcha!" upon countering an attack.
In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U, Ike's Counter as faster startup and ends sooner, but the actual countering slash has more startup and less duration.
In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Counter activates faster, but its endlag, as well as the endlag of the countering slash, is slower. When successfully connecting, Counter produces blue flames, which alludes to Ike's title, "Hero of the Blue Flames." Ike now says, "Gotcha!" when wearing his Path of Radiance outfit, or "Amateur!" when in his Radiant Dawn alternate.
.jpg "Ike SSB4 (8).jpg (113 KB)")
| Ike's Special Moves | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Brawl | 3DS/Wii U | Ultimate | |
| Standard Special | Eruption | ||
| Side Special | Quick Draw | ||
| Up Special | Aether | ||
| Down Special | Counter | ||
| Final Smash | Great Aether | ||
Custom Variations (Ike)[]
In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS /Wii U, with the introduction of Custom Moves, Ike has two variations of Counter.
Paralyzing Counter[]
Paralyzing Counter is one of Ike's Down Special Moves that can be used via customizations. It's a counter that paralyzes enemies.
Strengths:
- Paralyzes opponents
- KO set-up
- Good damage
Weaknesses:
- Doesn't launch opponents
- Short paralysis effect
Paralyzing Counter is useful as a KO set-up as when it paralyzes opponents they are briefly left open to attack. The paralysis doesn't last long enough to follow up with Ike's slow smash attacks, but his tilts, jab, and grab are useful follow-ups to this counterattack. The move deals good damage but doesn't launch opponents, which means that it cannot be relied on solely for closing out stocks, instead requiring Ike to attack the opponent with one of his quicker KO moves like jab or up tilt to KO the opponent.
Smash Counter[]
Smash Counter is one of Ike's Down Special Move that can be used via customizations. The move delivers a slower, more powerful attack when countering.
Strengths:
- Very powerful counter-attack
- High launch and KO power
Weaknesses:
- Takes a moment for Ike to launch the actual counter, making it easier for opponents to dodge
- Cannot counter moves that move past Ike such as Fox Illusion and Wario's Bike
Smash Counter is a very powerful counter-attack. When hit with an attack while in the countering stance, Ike will pause a moment before smashing the opponent with his sword; this brief window in between the counter stance and the counter-attack can allow for opponents to escape, and the move is useless against moves that go past Ike like Fox's Fox Illusion. The counter attack has high launch and KO power though, capable of KO'ing at very early percentages. This high launch and KO power makes it especially useful at the edge for countering edge attacks since the high launch from the edge of the stage is very likely to KO an opponent.
| Ike's Custom Special Moves | ||
|---|---|---|
| Custom 1 | Custom 2 | |
| Standard Special | Tempest | Furious Eruption |
| Side Special | Close Combat | Unyielding Blade |
| Up Special | Aether Drive | Aether Wave |
| Down Special | Paralyzing Counter | Smash Counter |
Chrom[]
Chrom's Counter functions similarly to Roy's, albeit it does not possess a flame hitbox when connecting, as well as deals slightly more knockback, improving its KO potential. When countering, Chrom may shout, "Not today!" or "No way!".
| Chrom's Special Moves | |
|---|---|
| Ultimate | |
| Standard Special | Flare Blade |
| Side Special | Double-Edge Dance |
| Up Special | Soaring Slash |
| Down Special | Counter |
| Final Smash | Awakening Aether |
Similar Moves[]
There are several other moves similar to Counter: Double Team, Toad, Slip Counter, Substitute, Vision, Counter Surge, Interception Arm, and (to a lesser extent) Wolf's Reflector.
Origin[]
This move seems to be based on the fact that, in the Fire Emblem games, characters can counterattack when an enemy attacks them. However, starting from Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance, a battle skill of the same name was made. In Path of Radiance and Radiant Dawn the skill inflicts half the damage dealt to the user back at the attacker. In Awakening, Counter inflicts the same amount damage to the attacker that the user receives as long as the user is not killed.
Masahiro Sakurai actually confirmed in a recent interview that the Counter move (concerning Fire Emblem characters) was based on the phase battle system of the Fire Emblem games, in which the player would take a turn moving their units and then all the enemy units would move in, and that the Counter move was to illustrate this system of battle.
Trivia[]
- Marth's Counter can be used on Kirby's Inhale attack in Brawl or any other Vacuum created by an attack.
- If three or more Marths are playing, it is possible to repeatedly Counter to huge amounts of damage. For this to work with Ike or Roy, who have slower counter strikes and slower counter activation than Marth, it is recommended to have four players play as Ike or Roy.
- Marth can use Counter on the tides of lava and acid on Norfair and Brinstar. When the stage-wide wave of lava appears on Norfair, Marth can stand outside of the Capsule and time Counter correctly to avoid the damage.
- Super Smash Bros. Brawl is the only game that doesn't include a heart monitor wave whenever Marth or Ike successfully counters an attack.
- In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, the activation and trigger sound effects of Ike's Counter are not in sync, presumably due to Ike's slower startup.