Counter

Fighting

Counter is a Fast Attack of type Fighting in Pokémon GO. In Gym and Raid battles, it deals 13 damage and it generates 9 energy. In GO Battle League, Counter deals 8 damage and generates 6 energy. Explore its damage and energy stats in battles, its effectiveness against various Pokémon types, and see which Pokémon wield it best.

Counter effectiveness against other Pokémon types

NormalFightingFlyingPoisonGroundRockBugGhostSteelFireWaterGrassElectricPsychicIceDragonDarkFairy
Fighting×1.6×1.0×0.6×0.6×1.0×1.6×0.6×0.4×1.6×1.0×1.0×1.0×1.0×0.6×1.6×1.0×1.6×0.6

Counter Adventure Effects

Counter has no Adventure Effects.

Counter in Gym and Raid Battles

Gym and Raid Battles Stats

CategoryFast Attack
TypeFighting
Power13
Energy9
Animation Duration1.0s
Damage Window0.8s - 1.0s
DPS13 Damage per second
DPE1.44 Damage per Energy
EPS9 Energy per second

Similar moves in Gym and Raid Battles

FightingLow Kick550.5s1010
FightingKarate Chop10131.0s1310
FightingRock Smash17121.5s811.33
FightingCounter1391.0s913
FightingDouble Kick10131.0s1310
FightingForce Palm10161.0s1610

Counter in Trainer Battles

Trainer Battles Stats

CategoryFast Attack
TypeFighting
Power8
Energy6
Duration2 Turns
DPT4 Damage per turn
EPT3 Energy per turn
DPE1.33 Damage per Energy
TagsMultipurpose

Special effects

Counter has no special effects.

Similar moves in Trainer Battles

Strongest Pokémon with Counter

1.Mega Mewtwo X (Mega X)Mega Mewtwo XFightingCounterFightingDynamic Punch+22.7925.08569.41642s25
2.Mega Mewtwo Y (Mega Y)Mega Mewtwo YFightingCounterPsychicFuture Sight+22.6924.77610.5644s23
3.Mega Blaziken (Mega)Mega BlazikenFightingCounterFightingAura Sphere18.3221.24316.99802s45
4.Mega Lucario (Mega)Mega LucarioFightingCounterFightingAura Sphere17.1419.84299.08858s48
5.Shadow Mewtwo (Shadow)Shadow MewtwoFightingCounterPsychicPsystrike16.919.48303.41870s47
6.Mega Alakazam (Mega)Mega AlakazamFightingCounterGhostShadow Ball16.2918.86286902s50
7.Mega Falinks (Mega)Mega FalinksFightingCounterFightingBrick Break+16.2718.57311.12902s46
8.Shadow Haxorus (Shadow)Shadow HaxorusFightingCounterDragonBreaking Swipe15.5818.55234.07946s61
9.Shadow Annihilape (Shadow)Shadow AnnihilapeFightingCounterGhostRage Fist15.3817.58292.72954s49
10.Mega Heracross (Mega)Mega HeracrossFightingCounterBugMegahorn15.0717.09304.47973s47

Best Great League Pokémon with Counter

Great League

Best Ultra League Pokémon with Counter

Ultra League

Best Master League Pokémon with Counter

Master League

All Pokémon that can learn Counter

57PrimeapePrimeapeFightingCounterReleasedStandard learnset
57Shadow Primeape (Shadow)Shadow PrimeapeFightingCounterReleasedStandard learnset
62PoliwrathPoliwrathFightingCounterReleasedLegacy
62Shadow Poliwrath (Shadow)Shadow PoliwrathFightingCounterReleasedLegacy
65AlakazamAlakazamFightingCounterReleasedLegacy
65Dynamax Alakazam (Dynamax)Dynamax AlakazamFightingCounterReleasedLegacy
65Mega Alakazam (Mega)Mega AlakazamFightingCounterReleasedLegacy
65Shadow Alakazam (Shadow)Shadow AlakazamFightingCounterReleasedLegacy
68MachampMachampFightingCounterReleasedStandard learnset
68Dynamax Machamp (Dynamax)Dynamax MachampFightingCounterReleasedStandard learnset

Counter FAQ

How does Counter compare with other moves of the same type?

In raids, Counter has higher move-only DPS compared with Rock Smash: 13 versus 11.33. This compares damage during the attack animation, not a Pokémon’s complete moveset.

In Trainer Battles, Counter deals less damage per turn compared with Force Palm (4 versus 4.33 DPT) and generates less energy per turn (3 versus 3.33 EPT). Its duration is shorter (2 versus 3 turns). Shorter attacks offer more flexibility when switching or timing a Charged Attack.

Alternatives have the same type and attack category and at least one released Pokémon that learns them. The raid comparison uses the alternative with the highest move-only DPS; the PvP comparison uses the highest DPT for Fast Attacks or DPE for Charged Attacks. Stats alone do not account for buffs, debuffs, typing, or the other moves a Pokémon can learn.

How are the best PvP users selected?

These tables show Pokémon whose recommended moveset in our imported PvPoke rankings includes this move as the Fast Attack or either Charged Attack. The rank is their position in the full league ranking, not just among users of this move. Both recommended Charged Attacks are shown. Being able to learn the move does not automatically make a Pokémon a recommended user.

How are the strongest Pokémon with Counter ranked?

Pokémon are ranked by eDPS (effective DPS), which accounts for damage, survivability, and time lost when rejoining. The default ranking uses Level 40 attackers and average raid boss weaknesses. Every moveset includes this attack. TTW estimates the time to win, and faints estimates how many attackers faint during the battle. Changing the settings can change the order.

How are tiers assigned?

Tiers group attackers by similar scores, emphasizing differences near the top. We use eight groups, labelled SS, S, A, B, C, D, E and F, when there are enough distinct scores; otherwise, fewer tiers are used. Group sizes are determined by the scores, not fixed rank cutoffs. Tiers update with the simulation settings and stay the same when you sort or change pages.

How do opponent choice and rejoin time affect the rankings?

Scores attackers against the configured T4+ raid boss pool, including Mega, Legendary and Mythical Pokémon. Outgoing damage reflects how effective each move type is against the bosses; incoming damage reflects the attacker’s resistances to their moves. Per-type rankings use bosses weak to that type. Types without super-effective matchups use the full pool. Unavailable Pokémon are excluded from the boss pool.

The dummy boss uses neutral effectiveness (1.0×) for every move, with incoming damage based on Defense alone. This can favor attackers whose moves the raid pool resists, or whose weaknesses make them take more damage in raids. The dummy has a fixed 25,000 HP, regardless of raid tier.

Time to return after a team of six faints. Applies to eDPS and estimated battle time.

How do Mega and Primal Pokémon boost Counter?

The Pokémon in the Mega and Primal section above boost other Trainers’ Counter damage by 30% (1.3×) in Raid Battles. The boost follows the attack’s type, not the attacking Pokémon’s type.

Standard Mega Pokémon must be on the battlefield. Primal Kyogre, Primal Groudon, and Mega Rayquaza provide their boost while in the current battle party, including after fainting. Multiple Mega or Primal boosts do not stack; the strongest applicable boost is used.

Explore all Mega and Primal type boosts

Does the ranking include Mega and Primal boosts to teammates?

No. The Mega Level setting adjusts the attacker’s own bonuses. Damage boosts provided to teammates are not included in this ranking.

What does the complete learnset list include?

It includes all Pokémon and forms that have access to Counter, whether they have been released in Pokémon GO or not.

What do legacy and exclusive moves mean?

Legacy moves were once available to a Pokémon but can no longer be learned through standard methods, such as a regular TM. Legacy and exclusive moves may require an event, an Elite TM, or another special method to obtain. Some legacy moves cannot be taught with an Elite TM.