From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.
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
|
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
Buizel
|
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
|
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
|
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
Piplup
Geodude
Steelix
Inteleon
|
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
