History Main / Counterspell

* ''Literature/HarryPotter'' has these on at least a theoretical basis, most directly seen in ''Literature/HarryPotterAndThePhilosophersStone'' when a teacher tries to curse Harry off his broom while another tries to counter it. The countercurse was not entirely effective, even though the latter teacher was more skilled than the former, suggesting that counterspells are imperfect as a defense. More common practice is to use shield charms, which block or deflect weak spells, or just use similar spell of equal power so that the two cancel out.

* ''WebVideo/CriticalRole'' uses ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragonsFifthEdition'' for its ActualPlay, so "Counterspell" is a piece of VancianMagic that's cast out of {{turn|BasedCombat}} to interrupt a spell. In fights with multiple spellcasters on both sides, it's not uncommon for characters to counterspell their enemies' counterspells -- [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1syyG7-kxU the record is a counter-counter-counterspell.]]

* ''WebVideo/CriticalRole'' uses ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragonsFifthEdition'' for its ActualPlay, so "Counterspell" is a piece of VancianMagic that's cast out of {{turn|BasedCombat}} to interrupt a spell. In fights with multiple spellcasters on both sides, it's not uncommon for characters to counterspell their enemies' counterspells -- the record is a counter-counter-counterspell.

** The iconic [[https://scryfall.com/card/lea/54/counterspell Counterspell,]] the card upon which so many others are based. The thing proved to be too overpowered; thus, it is no longer printed. We have a selection of weaker, fairer replacements like [[https://scryfall.com/card/tsp/51/cancel Cancel]] and [[https://scryfall.com/card/shm/33/counterbore Counterbore.]] However, development teams have occasionally misjudged a card, giving us ''more'' powerful variants like [[https://scryfall.com/card/leg/65/mana-drain Mana Drain]][[note]]While it originally had ''some'' drawbacks, the 2010 rule changes made it strictly better than the card it was meant to replace[[/note]] and [[https://scryfall.com/card/fut/42/pact-of-negation Pact of Negation.]]

* ''WebVideo/CriticalRole'' uses ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragonsFifthEdition'' for its ActualPlay, so "Counterspell" is a piece of VancianMagic that's cast out of {{turn|BasedCombat}} to interrupt a spell. In fights with multiple spellcasters on both sides, it's not uncommon for characters to counterspell their enemies' counterspells -- the record is a counter-counter-counter-counterspell.

* ''WebVideo/CriticalRole'' uses ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragonsFifthEdition'' for its ActualPlay, so "Counterspell" is a piece of VancianMagic that's cast out of {{turn|BasedCombat}} to interrupt a spell. In fights with multiple spellcasters on both sides, it's not uncommon for characters to counterspell their enemies' counterspells, and so on.

** The page image shows Vaarsuvius making good use of ''[[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragonsThirdEdition D&D]]'''s counterspell rules when [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0166.html battling]] Samantha the bandit sorceress. V notes that counterspelling is a perfectly legitimate, if rarely used, means of disabling a spellcaster.

** In ''VideoGame/TalesOfBerseria'', Magilou's unique Soul Absorber ability allows her to instantly interrupt the casting of a nearby enemy, then immediately unleash a powerful spell of her own as a counterattack.
** Rinwell from ''VideoGame/TalesOfArise'' has aptly-named Magic Cancel as her special attack. If its target casts a spell, Rinwell will steal it and store it into her SpellBook for later use, while forbidding the enemy from casting that spell again for some time.

* In ''VideoGame/TalesOfBerseria'', Magilou's unique Soul Absorber ability allows her to instantly interrupt the casting of a nearby enemy, then immediately unleash a powerful spell of her own as a counterattack.

* The "Nope" card in ''Exploding Kittens'', which can cancel the effects of any other card except the titular Exploding Kitten or a Defuse card.
* ''VideoGame/{{Hearthstone}}'' has two mage secrets which function as this; "Counterspell" cancels the effect of the next spell cast by your opponent, and "Spellbinder" summons a 1/3 minion when your opponent casts a targeted spell, causing the spell to [[TakingTheBullet target the minion instead]].
* In ''VideoGame/LegendsOfRuneterra'' this role is filled by the Ionia spell [[https://leagueoflegends.fandom.com/wiki/Deny_(Legends_of_Runeterra) Deny,]] although because of how the game's timing system works it can only negate Slow and Fast speed spells (it is itself a Fast spell, meaning it can also be counter-Denied). [[https://leagueoflegends.fandom.com/wiki/Purify_(Legends_of_Runeterra) Purify]] can also be considered to function as a form of counterspell, as it's a Burst speed spell which Silences any Follower, stripping away any stat buffs or abilities that may have been granted by enemy buff spells (which themselves are almost all Burst speed, making them immune to Deny). [[https://leagueoflegends.fandom.com/wiki/Hush_(Legends_of_Runeterra) Hush]] is similar to Purify except it only lasts until the end of the round (still enough to completely counter effects that would only last until end of round anyway), can affect Champions as well as Followers, and can be used repeatedly.

* ''[[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings The Fellowship of the Ring]]''. While the Fellowship is in Moria being pursued by orcs (and worse), Gandalf stays behind to hold a door closed. The opposition breaks through anyway. A few moments later Gandalf tells the rest of the Fellowship what happened.
-->'''Gandalf:''' I could think of nothing to do but to try and put a shutting-spell on the door... Then something came into the chamber.. and then it perceived me and my spell.\\
What it was I cannot guess, but I have never felt such a challenge. The counter-spell was terrible. It nearly broke me. For an instant the door left my control and began to open! I had to speak a word of Command. That proved too great a strain. The door burst in pieces.

* ''Literature/HarryPotter'' has these on at least a theoretical basis, most directly seen in ''Literature/HarryPotterAndThePhilosophersStone'' when a teacher tries to curse Harry off his broom while another tries to counter it. The countercurse was not entirely effective, even though the latter teacher was more skilled than the former, suggesting that counterspells are imperfect as a defense. More common practice is to use shield charms, which block or deflect weak spells, or just use similar spell of equal power so that the two cancel out.

* In the ''Franchise/DoctorWhoExpandedUniverse'' book ''Millennial Rites'', the Doctor and his former companion Anne Travers find circumstancial evidence suggesting a rich industrialist is preparing to summon [[Recap/DoctorWhoS5E5TheWebOfFear the Great Intelligence]]. Anne, frantic to stop another invasion, immediately researches the counterspell necessary to banish it. However, it all goes to hell when it turns out the industrialist ''isn't'' going to summon the Intelligence, but rather, a very different being, and Anne uses the counterspell anyway. The incompatible spells mesh in the worst manner imaginable and drag London into an unstable MergedReality of three different universes.

* In the ''Literature/RiversOfLondon'' novel ''False Value'', Peter has learned the counterspell to a demon trap (a sort of magical landmine that appears to be the favourite trick of villainous practitioners). Unfortunately, it's a fourth order spell, meaning there are four parts to it, which you need to cast before the trap gets triggered by the fact you're casting magic at all. He manages it, but only just.

** In 5th edition, this is done with a specific spell named ''Counterspell''. It is now cast as a reaction, freeing the caster to do something else as an action instead of using the action to ready the spell. Some particularly vicious [=GMs=] use it against player-targeted spells like healing or buffs.
* ''TabletopGame/SpheresOfPower'' has the Counterspell feat; allowing you to both counter and DispelMagic.
* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'''s dispel dice are an example of this, being used solely to counter enemy spells. There are also various abilities and pieces of wargear that allow instant dispels (the ubiquitous Dispel Scroll), or increase the power of your dispel attempts, either through modifying the result or granting extra dispel dice.
* In ''TabletopGame/{{Ironclaw}}'' Holy and Unholy spells counter each other, "Create Element" spells can counter spells of the opposite Element while "Move Element" spells counter the same Element, and the Misfortune, Repudiation, and Silence spells counter magic in general.
* In ''TabletopGame/{{Shadowrun}}'', Counterspell is a skill available to some Awakened. Counterspelling can be done in reaction to enemy spellcasting and directly adds its ranks to any defences that would otherwise be used against the spell, usually doubling or tripling the defence die. A low-level mage archetype in-game is the nega-mage, who can take the counterspell skill to counter other magicians' sorcery but otherwise lacks paranatural power. It can also be used actively as a DispelMagic.

* ''TabletopGame/MageTheAwakening'', with its rather complex system of magic, has a fairly simple mechanism for counterspells. To counter obvious spells, a mage merely needs basic knowledge of one of the Arcanum used in its casting (e.g., a spell using Forces 3, Space 2 can be countered with Forces 1 or Space 1). If the mage knows none of those Arcana, he can still disrupt it with sufficient knowledge of the Prime Arcanum, which focuses on the basic pattern of magic; this Arcana can also allow him to disrupt more subtle magic.

* Can be done in ''VideoGame/HeroesOfMightAndMagic V'' if a hero learns the counterspell ability. When used, the hero forgoes their current action, and if an enemy uses a spell between now and their next action, the counterspelling hero spends twice the spell's cost in mana to stop the spell taking effect.

* ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'': Stopspell/Fizzle, in the series from the beginning, keeps your opponent from casting spells. It can be a lifesaver when facing spellcasting monsters, particularly those who can put you to sleep, heal themselves, put serious hurt on you or try to block ''your'' spells.
* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'', Celes' "Runic" command puts her in a defensive stance. If an enemy casts a spell while she's in this stance, she is triggered to absorb the spell through her sword, rendering it harmless and [[EnergyAbsorption granting her the spell's casting cost in MP]]. However, this also works against you since Runic can also absorb spells that your party casts.
* In ''VideoGame/TalesOfBerseria'', Magilou's unique Soul Absorber ability allows her to instantly interrupt the casting of a nearby enemy, then immediately unleash a powerful spell of her own as a counterattack.
%%* ''VideoGame/EternalCardGame'' has a few of these, mostly in Primal.

[[folder:Visual Novel]]

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* In ''Webcomic/TheFarSideOfUtopia'' there is mana interference, which seems to be pretty much exactly this -- when it's used the InstantRunes get [[http://pastutopia.com/?comic=comic-for-monday-february-16th broken and the spell being cast fails.]]

[[folder:Web Original]]

** In 5th edition, this is done with a specific spell named Counterspell. It is now cast as a reaction, freeing the caster to do something else as an action instead of using the action to ready the spell. Some particularly vicious [=GMs=] use it against player-targeted spells like healing or buffs.

[[folder:Webcomics]]

** The page image shows Vaarsuvius making good use of ''[[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons D&D]]'''s counterspell rules when [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0166.html battling]] Samantha the bandit sorceress. V notes that counterspelling is a perfectly legitimate, if rarely used, means of disabling a spellcaster.

** Some Monster Cards, like [[https://yugipedia.com/wiki/Horus_the_Black_Flame_Dragon_LV8 "Horus the Black Flame Dragon [=LV8=]"]], can do this as long as they remain on the field.

* In ''VideoGame/LegendsOfRuneterra'' this role is filled by the Ionia spell [[https://leagueoflegends.fandom.com/wiki/Deny_(Legends_of_Runeterra) Deny]], although because of how the game's timing system works it can only negate Slow and Fast speed spells (it is itself a Fast spell, meaning it can also be counter-Denied). [[https://leagueoflegends.fandom.com/wiki/Purify_(Legends_of_Runeterra) Purify]] can also be considered to function as a form of counterspell, as it's a Burst speed spell which Silences any Follower, stripping away any stat buffs or abilities that may have been granted by enemy buff spells (which themselves are almost all Burst speed, making them immune to Deny). [[https://leagueoflegends.fandom.com/wiki/Hush_(Legends_of_Runeterra) Hush]] is similar to Purify except it only lasts until the end of the round (still enough to completely counter effects that would only last until end of round anyway), can affect Champions as well as Followers, and can be used repeatedly.

** In 5th edition, this is done with a specific spell named Counterspell. It is now cast as a reaction, freeing the caster to do something else as an action instead of using the action to ready the spell. Some particularly vicious GMs use it against player-targeted spells like healing or buffs.

* In ''Webcomic/TheFarSideOfUtopia'' there is mana interference, which seems to be pretty much exactly this -- when it's used the InstantRunes get [[http://pastutopia.com/?comic=comic-for-monday-february-16th broken and the spell being cast fails]].

** The iconic [[https://scryfall.com/card/lea/54/counterspell Counterspell]], the card upon which so many others are based. The thing proved to be too overpowered; thus, it is no longer printed. We have a selection of weaker, fairer replacements like [[https://scryfall.com/card/tsp/51/cancel Cancel]] and [[https://scryfall.com/card/shm/33/counterbore Counterbore]]. However, development teams have occasionally misjudged a card, giving us ''more'' powerful variants like [[https://scryfall.com/card/leg/65/mana-drain Mana Drain]][[note]]While it originally had ''some'' drawbacks, the 2010 rule changes made it strictly better than the card it was meant to replace[[/note]] and [[https://scryfall.com/card/fut/42/pact-of-negation Pact of Negation]].
** Because of the tendency for counterspells to be countered (and those spells to be countered, and those...) a favorite is [[https://scryfall.com/card/dst/23/last-word Last Word]]. That can, amusingly, be countered by [[https://scryfall.com/card/chk/97/time-stop Time Stop]]. Which can itself be countered....

** In 5th edition, this is done with a specific spell named Counterspell. It is now cast as a reaction, freeing the caster to do something else as an action instead of using the action to ready the spell.

* [[http://magiccards.info/query?q=o%3A%22counter+target%22+o%3Aspell+t%3A%22instant%22&v=card&s=cname Loads and loads of examples]] in ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'', including the TropeNamer. Each card in a player's deck (besides land cards) is considered a spell, cards such as Counterspell may be cast in response to "counter" the spell, sending it to the graveyard without having any effect.
** The iconic [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=185820 Counterspell]], the card upon which so many others are based. The thing proved to be too overpowered; thus, it is no longer printed. We have a selection of weaker, fairer replacements like [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=386502 Cancel]] and [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=153966 Counterbore]]. However, development teams have occasionally misjudged a card, giving us ''more'' powerful variants like [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=383006 Mana Drain]][[note]]While it originally had ''some'' drawbacks, the 2010 rule changes made it strictly better than the card it was meant to replace[[/note]] and [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=370354 Pact of Negation]].
** Because of the tendency for counterspells to be countered (and those spells to be countered, and those...) a favorite is [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=50929 Last Word]]. That can, amusingly, be countered by [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=129898 Time Stop]]. Which can itself be countered....

** Trap Cards are played in face-down position, after which they can be activated on either player's turn by flipping them face-up (sometimes requiring a specific condition to do so). The most iconic are those which can be activated when an opponent plays a certain type of card, and have the effect of negating that card and/or destroying it - examples include [[http://yugioh.wikia.com/wiki/Trap_Hole "Trap Hole"]] (for Monster summoning), [[http://yugioh.wikia.com/wiki/Magic_Jammer "Magic Jammer"]] (for Spells) and [[http://yugioh.wikia.com/wiki/Seven_Tools_of_the_Bandit "Seven Tools of the Bandit"]] (for other Traps).

** Some Monster Cards, like [[http://yugioh.wikia.com/wiki/Horus_the_Black_Flame_Dragon_LV8 "Horus the Black Flame Dragon [=LV8=]"]], can do this as long as they remain on the field.

* ''Literature/TalionRevenant'': The Tingus Lurker who Nolas faces off with near the end uses one to stop him simply [[YourSoulIsMine drawing the guy's soul out]]. He therefore has to kill the man the old fashioned way.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

** The page image shows Vaarsuvius making good use of ''[[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons D&D]]'''s counterspell rules when [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0166.html battling]] Samantha the bandit sorceress. V notes that counter-spelling is a perfectly legitimate, if rarely used, means of disabling a spellcaster.
** [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0830.html When Tsukiko is restrained by her own wights]], she tries using a ''shout'' spell (one of the few options left to her, as it can be cast by voice alone) against Redcloak, who just counterspells it (with ''dispel magic'', [[http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=12580970&postcount=10 according to The Giant]], since ''shout'' isn't a cleric spell).

** [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots1058.html Later on]], Vaarsuvius is shown to have upped their skills by picking the "Improved Counterspell" feat, which allows V to counter even clerical spells that aren't on a wizard's spell list.

* Mifune, a Samurai from the Land of Iron in ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' is a master IaijutsuPracticioner famed for his blinding speed to interrupt the hand seals necessary to perform [[FunctionalMagic Ninjutsus]]. As a result, it's said that Ninjutsus are virtually useless against Mifune.

* In ''VideoGame/LegendsOfRuneterra'' this role is filled by the Ionia spell [[https://leagueoflegends.fandom.com/wiki/Deny_(Legends_of_Runeterra) Deny]], although because of how the game's timing system works it can only negate Slow and Fast speed spells (it is itself a Fast spell, meaning it can also be counter-Denied). [[https://leagueoflegends.fandom.com/wiki/Purify_(Legends_of_Runeterra) Purify]] can also be considered to function as a form of counterspell, as it's a Burst speed spell which Silences any Follower, stripping away any stat buffs or abilities that may have been granted by enemy buff spells (which themselves are almost all Burst speed, making them immune to Deny). [[https://leagueoflegends.fandom.com/wiki/Hush_(Legends_of_Runeterra) Hush]] is a more powerful version.

* In ''VideoGame/LegendsOfRuneterra'' this role is filled by the Ionia spell [[https://leagueoflegends.fandom.com/wiki/Deny_(Legends_of_Runeterra) Deny]], although because of how the game's timing system works it can only negate Slow and Fast speed spells (it is itself a Fast spell, meaning it can also be counter-Denied). [[https://leagueoflegends.fandom.com/wiki/Purify_(Legends_of_Runeterra) Purify]] can also be considered to function as a form of counterspell, as it's a Burst speed spell which Silences any Follower, stripping away any stat buffs or abilities that may have been granted by enemy buff spells (which themselves are almost all Burst speed, making them immune to Deny).

** Vaarsuvius is making good use of ''[[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons D&D]]'''s counterspell rules when [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0166.html battling]] Samantha the bandit sorceress. V notes that counter-spelling is a perfectly legitimate, if rarely used, means of disabling a spellcaster.

* One of the low-grade magician types in ''TabletopGame/{{Shadowrun}}'' is the nega-mage, who can counterspell other magicians' sorcery but otherwise lacks paranatural power.