Properties of Counter in RBY

[Nitro]

So, I'm from the PBS era where counter was broken lol. I need help knowing exactly how counter works in RBY.

-Does it always go last? Like, say I have an active golem and chansey switches in to take a bslam. If I EQ next turn, will Chansey go 2nd automatically and fail counter because the last thing that hit her was EQ? Or will she just go first with counter anyway and hit me up for massive damage before I EQ her?

-Does counter hit Gengar? Say the same situation above happens (chansey switches into a golem bslam). If I immediately switch to Gengar, will counter not hit due to Gengar's ghost type?

[WaterWizard]

No, Earthquake will hit you and reset the counter (fail).
Doesn't hit Gengar.

~

One of the best moves in the game, for sure.

Counter continues to work until the foe uses a PP (or the user faints/switches).

Thus, if the foe uses Stomp on you, you can use Counter the next turn, and the next, and the next, as long as the foe either a) fully paralyzes, b) switches, c) is asleep, d) wakes up, f) is frozen, g) recharges, h) hurts itself in confusion, i) flinches, j) takes in sunlight, k) lowers its head, l) is glowing, m) gathers a whirlwind, or n) faints.

Counter will also work on the turn the opponent flies up high or digs down low, although it will miss and be reset upon the descent/ascent of the foe. However, if the foe fully paralyzes or hurts itself in confusion on the turn it is supposed to descend/ascend, the Counter will not be reset.

The key is that Counter works until the foe uses a PP. So Rest, Recover, Toxic, Psychic, and Lick will all reset the Counter. Notice I said using Rest resets Counter. However, the act of sleeping does not reset the counter (if you manage to get a sleeping pokemon out and then have it try to sleep).

The Counter user can use other moves, including Rest and Fly, and then use Counter again later (as long as the Counter has still not been reset).

Counter will always go second, however. Counter can be countered. If both pokemon use Counter, both Counters will fail.

WW

[t3h Icy]

A few of WaterWizard's strategies with Counter:

-Keep a fresh Chansey with Counter and switch to it when you expect a Tauros or Snorlax Hyper Beam. So long as it isn't Critical or misses, they have to recharge, while you OHKO them with Counter.

-If you just killed something with Counter and they send out something Frozen, Asleep, or something that is Fully Paralyzed (requires luck), Counter won't be reset, which means you can use it again.

-If you're able to get it setup, you can Counter Counters.

[Nitro]

Wow, sounds legit. Thanks guys.

[Nerd]

I <3 counter! If you use it right, it can absolutely destroy an opponent. The key is to be unpredictable. Here's a couple examples:

Switch Machamp into Snorlax body slam. Opponent switches to Exeggutor on expected submission, but you used counter and Exeggutor takes a ton of damage as a result (make sure to EQ if you think they're going to switch to Gengar, though).

Switch Jynx / Hypno Wigglytuff / any counter user with a sleep move into a physical attack from a pokemon slower than it. You can put them to sleep and use counter to kill them / the pokemon that switches in. If they're switching to gengar (after you put the first thing to sleep, on the expected counter), use psychic! Even if they don't switch, they're still sleeping.

Switching into a hyper beam - you can use counter right away to kill them on the recharge turn. If you decide to put them to sleep, make sure you predict properly; they might screw you over by switching to Gengar, so predict. If you switch your jynx into a Tauros' hyper beam and they have NO faster or statused pokemon, use counter right away, put the next thing they send out to sleep, and use counter. If they don't switch, rinse and repeat, and if they do switch you will have killed two pokemon and put one to sleep with your Jynx, who is still alive and well.

Remember that you can use counter until they attack you with another attack. So if you counter their Tauros' hyper beam with your Jynx, you can put their next pokemon to sleep and use counter again for a (likely) OHKO.

Once you pwn them with counter a few times with the switch in to a slower physical attacker strategy, they may switch to a paralyzed pokemon to avoid the sleep. If you predict this, use counter on the switch - you'll kill the paralyzed pokemon.

In conclusion, Counter is great, and if you can read minds, it is godly.