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Archives of Nethys

Archives of Nethys

Pathfinder RPG (1st Edition) Pathfinder RPG (2nd Edition) Starfinder RPG

Rules Index | GM Screen | Player's Guide
Chapter 8: Playing the Game

Counteracting

Source Player Core pg. 431 2.0
Some effects try to counteract spells, afflictions, conditions, or other effects. Counteract checks compare the power of two forces and determine which defeats the other. Successfully counteracting an effect disrupts it (page 415), preventing it from having any effect, unless noted otherwise.

When attempting a counteract check, add the relevant skill modifier or other appropriate modifier to your check against the target's DC. If you're counteracting an affliction, the DC is in the affliction's stat block. If it's a spell, use the caster's DC. The GM can also calculate a DC based on the target effect's level. For spells, the counteract check modifier is your spellcasting attribute modifier plus your spellcasting proficiency bonus, plus any bonuses and penalties that specifically apply to counteract checks.

What you can counteract depends on the check result and the target's counteract rank. If an effect is a spell, its rank is the counteract rank. Otherwise, halve its level and round up to determine its counteract rank (minimum counteract rank 0). If an effect's level is unclear and it came from a creature, halve and round up the creature's level.

Critical Success Counteract the target if its counteract rank is no more than 3 higher than your effect's counteract rank.
Success Counteract the target if its counteract rank is no more than 1 higher than your effect's counteract rank.
Failure Counteract the target if its counteract rank is lower than your effect's counteract rank.
Critical Failure You fail to counteract the target.

Counteract Table

This table provides a reference for what an effect can counteract based on its rank and the check result. The first number in each column is the counteract rank at which you can counteract an effect based on your degree of success. The numbers in parentheses are the typical level range corresponding to that rank.

Counteract

Counteract RankFailureSuccessCritical Success
0—1 (1 to 2)3 (5 to 6)
10 (–1 to 0)2 (3 to 4)4 (7 to 8)
21 (1 to 2)3 (5 to 6)5 (9 to 10)
32 (3 to 4)4 (7 to 8)6 (11 to 12)
43 (5 to 6)5 (9 to 10)7 (13 to 14)
54 (7 to 8)6 (11 to 12)8 (15 to 16)
65 (9 to 10)7 (13 to 14)9 (17 to 18)
76 (11 to 12)8 (15 to 16)10 (19 to 20)
87 (13 to 14)9 (17 to 18)11 (21 to 22)
98 (15 to 16)10 (19 to 20)12 (23 to 24)
109 (17 to 18)11 (21 to 22)13 (25 to 26)