This article is about the move for Corrin. For other uses, see Counter (disambiguation). For the general class of moves, see Counterattack.
Counter Surge
Corrin Counter Surge.jpg
Counter Surge in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.
User Corrin
Universe Fire Emblem

Counter Surge (反竜穿, Anti-Dragon Drill) is Corrin's down special move.

Description

It operates similarly to many counterattack special moves, but it bears several distinctions unique to it. It launches opponents on a vertical trajectory, defends Corrin equally from front and back with water surges as forceful as the countered attack, and Corrin outright evades the attack rather than absorbing it, meaning that nearby opponents can be hit by the missed attacks. Corrin utilizes his Dragon Fang for this attack, morphing into his dragon form as he retaliates.

This move deals a minimum of 10% to each opponent struck, and it reflects back x1.2 damage on both sides. By virtue of its nearly purely vertical knockback, upon Corrin's debut, it was the strongest non-custom counter in the game in terms of KO power (surpassing even Shulk's Vision and Roy's Counter) when the counterattack hits as early as possible, being capable of OHKOing after countering a hitbox dealing at least 33% damage, a lower requirement than any other counter move. However in the 1.1.5 update, the damage multiplier (which was originally x1.3) and counter window of the move have been reduced, making it less powerful and more in line with the aforementioned counters.

Customization

Special Move customization was added in Super Smash Bros. 4. These are the variations:

1. Counter Surge
"If attacked while in this stance, Corrin turns into a dragon and launches enemies with jets of water."
  1. Counter Surge: Default.

Like the other DLC characters, Corrin has no custom move variations.

Origin

 
The pose Corrin makes as seen in Fire Emblem Fates.

Counter Surge is based on a core element of Fire Emblem gameplay: in all games of the series, when a unit attacks another unit, the targeted unit will perform a counter-attack to strike back at their attacker if they currently have an equipped weapon with a compatible range. In addition, some of the games have a Counter skill that reflects half or all damage (depending on the game, with varying rates of occurrence). Corrin in particular can learn the skill itself in his home game by reclassing into the Oni Chieftain class tree, and his use of his dragon form is reminiscent of their attack pattern while equipped with a dragonstone.

In the Japanese script of the games, it should be noted that the term 竜穿 is often translated as "Dragon Fang".

Gallery