The counterattack mechanic in Final Fantasy XVI can be used in a number of different ways, ranging from basic melee counters to ranged magic counters, known as Precision Strike and Precision Shot respectively. You can also use counterattacks by executing specific special Eikon abilities, which can inflict far more damage to the opponent if you time it right. We’ll show you how to use different types of counterattacking in FFXVI on this page.

How Counterattacking Works in Final Fantasy 16¶

We’ll take you through the basics of counterattacking, including Precision Dodges, Precision Counter Strike, and Precision Counter Shot below.

How to Perform Basic Counterattacks¶

There are two types of basic counterattacks that you can use against enemies in Final Fantasy XVI. They’re generally referred to as Precision Strike (melee) and Precision Shot (ranged). As with most basic attacks, you can press either to execute a Precision Strike, or to execute a Precision Shot. You will be guaranteed to hit with these if you press the relevant button immediately after performing a Precision Dodge by pressing just before an enemy attack hits you.

The most important thing to understand about how to execute one of these basic counterattacks is that you need to dodge an attack just before it lands, much in the same way as you do with the parry mechanic. The difference here is that although you can’t parry all enemy attacks, you can dodge pretty much any attack from any enemy, giving you a more reliable method of avoiding damage and then quickly inflicting it.

When to Execute a Precision Dodge¶

As with the parrying mechanic, the best way to ensure that you can successfully perform a Precision Dodge is by paying attention to the movements and sounds of the enemy. There will be different attack animations for each enemy that you fight, but in general, for those that wield weapons, you can focus on the weapon and look for when it’s being swung or charged up. One of the best ways to practice this against different enemies is by using the Arete Stone, which can be found in the Hidden Hideaway. There you will be able to enter the Hall of Virtue, where you can set specific battle conditions to work on your weaknesses.

The sounds that come from different enemies can also provide a useful cue for when you need to execute a Precision Dodge. Listen out for grunts, battle cries, or consistent sounds in the form of element affinities and creature sounds. A wolf might bark just before an attack, whereas you may hear the wings of a hornet flap more intensely as they charge an attack. It will always be different depending on the enemy, but you’ll become familiar with the signs the more you encounter them.

Upgrade Precision Dodge to Mastery¶

The default window of opportunity to execute a Precision Dodge is rather short at first, but you can extend the trigger window by upgrading the skill to Mastery level in the abilities menu for 500 Ability Points. This will give you more time to press from the time an enemy attack begins, to when it ends by hitting you. For this reason we recommend upgrading Precision Dodge as soon as possible, since it will become one of the most useful basic abilities in your combat arsenal.

Precision Counter Strike Effects¶

There isn’t much to the basic Precision Counter Strike, but the main thing that it does is inflict far more damage with one melee hit than you would be able to otherwise. You will also be able to move in on the enemy with great speed, in a similar way as you do with Phoenix Shift, so you can get back in melee range after dodging quickly. Finally, a Precision Strike will briefly stun most weaker opponents, so you can follow it up with a combo for even more damage.

Precision Counter Shot Effects¶

The Precision Shot counterattack functions in a similar way to Precision Strike, in that you’ll execute a swift attack that will inflict massive damage in one hit. This has the power to knock most weaker enemies to the ground, giving you more time to hit them with combos, but it will only briefly stagger larger enemies. The key thing to remember here is to press immediately after the Precision Dodge is executed, since if you leave it too late you will only execute a regular ranged attack.

How to Use Eikon Ability Counterattacks¶

The basic counterattacks that come in the form of Precision Strikes and Precision Shots after executing a Precision Dodge will be your bread and butter for most normal fights, but it’s also possible to counterattack using some of your special Eikon abilities. These will generally inflict much more damage than those described above, and they will allow you to counter directly from enemy attacks, rather than having to dodge them first.

One of the first Eikon abilities that you can use as a counterattack is Heatwave. This is a Phoenix ability, so it comes in the form of fire, and it’s best used to counter against ranged magical attacks. A good time to practice this one is during the fight against Benedikta during the Headwind main quest. She will cast various forms of ranged magic at you throughout the fight, giving you plenty of opportunities. The way you counter these is by executing the Heatwave attack just before the magic hits you, at which point you’ll begin to fire projectiles of your own back at the enemy.

The Heatwave counterattack method is useful in boss fights, and against groups of enemies. It inflicts good damage and it will also reduce the stagger bar significantly. There are other Eikon abilities that you can begin to use as counterattacks later on in the game, such as Titan Guard, which allows you to counter with up to three magical melee attacks if you get the timing right. This ability also makes parrying easier to an extent, but it really comes into its own as a chain of counterattack moves.

More FF16 Combat Guides¶

There’s plenty more to learn about the combat system in Final Fantasy XVI, so be sure to check the pages below:

• How to Parry Attacks in Final Fantasy XVI
• How to Use the Magic Burst Combo in FFXVI
• Best Phoenix Eikon Abilities in FFXVI
• Best Garuda Eikon Abilities in FFXVI