Counter Shield

Counter Shield (Japanese: カウンターシールド Counter Shield) is a tactic developed by Ash Ketchum in Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl. Ash developed this technique while trying to find a way to prevent Fantina's Pokémon from making his Pokémon sleep with Hypnosis. It was eventually used for both offensive and defensive purposes. Ash took inspiration from the Contest Battle between Dawn and Lila in the Celestic Contest in Battling The Generation Gap! to develop this technique.

In Shield with a Twist!, Ash used it in his Gym battle with Fantina. Amazed with the method, Fantina named it the Counter Shield. It eventually helped Ash with his battle, earning him the Relic Badge.

In Evolving Strategies!, it was used again by Ash's Pikachu, Buizel, and Monferno against Paul's Pokémon. This time, however, all three Pokémon were defeated, and Paul didn't seem all that impressed with the technique. However, he later used this technique with his Gastrodon's Muddy Water in Familiarity Breeds Strategy! and his Electivire's Thunder in Battling a Thaw in Relations!, where Buizel used the technique once again.

In Piplup, Pansage, and a Meeting of the Times!, it was used by Dawn's Piplup to counter Cilan's Pansage's Rock Tomb attack.

In When Regions Collide!, Brock commanded his Geodude and Steelix to use Gyro Ball to deflect attacks, and mentioned that "a certain challenger of his" taught him to use a Pokémon's attack as a means of defense.

In Bewitch, Battle, and Bewilder!, Ash used it for the first time since Sinnoh during his battle against Cynthia. Pikachu used Thunderbolt to counter Spiritomb's Hypnosis.

In A Flood of Torrential Gains!, Leon instructed his Inteleon to use a Counter Shield of his own, having seen the technique in the last semifinals battle.

Methods

Pikachu

Ash Pikachu Counter Shield.png Pokémon First Used In Moves Involved
Ash's Pikachu Shield with a Twist! Thunderbolt
Description
Pikachu spins on his back while using Thunderbolt to form an electric barrier in order to protect himself from the opponent's attacks.

Monferno

Ash Monferno Counter Shield.png Pokémon First Used In Moves Involved
Ash's Chimchar/Monferno Shield with a Twist! Flamethrower and Flame Wheel
Description
Chimchar/Monferno uses Flamethrower while using Flame Wheel to create flame whips that prevent foes from getting closer while also hitting the opponent.

Buizel

Ash Buizel Counter Shield.png Pokémon First Used In Moves Involved
Ash's Buizel Shield with a Twist! Aqua Jet or Water Gun
Description
Buizel spins on his back while using Aqua Jet to create a water tornado or Water Gun to create water whips in order to protect himself from the opponent's attacks.

Drifblim

Fantina Drifblim Counter Shield.png Pokémon First Used In Moves Involved
Fantina's Drifblim Shield with a Twist! Will-O-Wisp and Psychic
Description
Drifblim uses Will-O-Wisp to surround its body in fire wisps. Then it uses Psychic to move the fire in two circles. Drifblim can either shoot the flames as an attack or keep the fire around it as a defense tactic.

Gastrodon

Paul Gastrodon Counter Shield.png Pokémon First Used In Moves Involved
Paul's Gastrodon Familiarity Breeds Strategy! Muddy Water
Description
Gastrodon uses Muddy Water to make a tornado made of water around it to avoid its opponent getting closer to it because it is slower. However, it will purposely leave an opening at the bottom of its body to entice opponents to strike there, so Gastrodon can counterattack in retaliation.

Electivire

Paul Electivire Counter Shield.png Pokémon First Used In Moves Involved
Paul's Electivire Battling a Thaw in Relations! Thunder
Description
Electivire shoots Thunder into the air before spreading it out across the battlefield, making movement difficult.

Piplup

Dawn Piplup Counter Shield.png Pokémon First Used In Moves Involved
Dawn's Piplup Piplup, Pansage, and a Meeting of the Times! Bubble Beam
Description
Piplup jumps in the air and uses Bubble Beam while spinning to create a large ring of bubbles around himself in order to avoid the opponent's attacks.

Geodude

Brock Geodude Counter Shield.png Pokémon First Used In Moves Involved
Brock's Geodude When Regions Collide! Gyro Ball
Description
Geodude uses Gyro Ball to deflect the opponent's attacks.

Steelix

Brock Steelix Counter Shield.png Pokémon First Used In Moves Involved
Brock's Steelix When Regions Collide! Gyro Ball
Description
Steelix uses Gyro Ball to deflect the opponent's attacks.

Inteleon

Leon Inteleon Counter Shield.png Pokémon First Used In Moves Involved
Leon's Inteleon A Flood of Torrential Gains! Aqua Jet
Description
Inteleon uses Aqua Jet while spinning to protect itself in a vortex of water and create water whips that sweep the battlefield in a circular motion and strike the opponent.

Trivia

In other languages

Language Title
Mandarin Chinese 返拳防護罩 Fǎnquán Fánghùzhào
The Czech Republic Flag.png Czech Protištít (DP102, JN123-present)
Obranný štít (DP186BW086)
Štít (DP132)
Denmark Flag.png Danish Counter Shield
The Netherlands Flag.png Dutch Afweerschild
Finland Flag.png Finnish Vastasuoja
France Flag.png French Bouclier Riposte
Germany Flag.png German Konterschild
South Korea Flag.png Korean 카운터 실드 Kaunteo Sildeu
Poland Flag.png Polish Kontratarcza
Portuguese Brazil Flag.png Brazil Escudo Contra-ataque (DP186–present)
Escudo de Contragolpe (DP132)
Escudo de Contra-ataque (DP102)
Portugal Flag.png Portugal Contraescudo
Romania Flag.png Romanian Scutul de Contracarare
Spanish CELAC Flag.png Latin America Contraescudo
Spain Flag.png Spain Contradefensa
Project Anime logo.png This article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon animation.