Counterattack

Counterattack or Counterattacking is an action performed by pressing the appropriate buttons when available.

This action is a valuable ability when it comes to escaping death during combat. It allows you to attempt to fend off an aggressor by striking them, with varying success depending on the target.

Mechanics
You will only be able to counterattack when attacked by an animal.

Counterattacking can be performed barehanded, holding a single-handed weapon, and/or a double-handed weapon. However, weapons make counterattacking more successful. Counterattacking with your bare hands is not recommended as this will almost always result in an injury to your hominid.

When attacked, time will slow down and you will be prompted to press and hold buttons in a specific order to counterattack.
 * A successful counterattack will result in your hominid damaging the attacking animal in a specific way, depending on the weapon in your hands. However, counterattacking isn't without its risks. Depending on the animal and the weapon used, you may sustain damage. Certain animals can damage you even after a successful counterattack with the wrong weapon.
 * An unsuccessful counterattack may result in your hominid falling down to one side with an injury specific to the attacking animal Bleed minor ico.png Bleed major ico.png Bleeding, Injury minor ico.png Injury major ico.png Injury, Venom Poisoning minor ico.png Venom Poisoning major ico.png Venom Poisoning.
 * A failure to counterattack (not taking any of the prompts following the attack) may result in an injury for your hominid or even a death cut-scene, depending on the attacking animal.

A killing animation cut-scene may be triggered by the first counterattack on an animal, the success rate depending on the type of animal (higher success rates for smaller animals such as mambas and lower success rate for larger animals such as  Machairodus).

After successive successful counterattacks on the same animal, the animal will begin to show injures (moving slowly, limping, making pained noises, sticks sticking out of them etc.). In this instance another counterattack may cause a cut-scene showing your hominid killing the animal.

After successfully striking an enemy the first time with each weapon, on onscreen display will alert you to your ability to strike that enemy with that weapon.

As you learn specific neurons, your ability to counterattack successfully will increase. This lowers the chances of damage and increases your ability to cause harm.

When exploring in a group, your clan members may mimic this action automatically or even initiate it by themselves once the Group Defense (CO 06) neuron is learned. Pay attention to your clan in dangerous situations! The game AI is very bad at using this game mechanic and it could leave your clan members open to harm or even death.

Neurons
The following neurons impact counterattacking.