Highlights
- Super Mario RPG has a straightforward level-up system where characters gain EXP by defeating enemies, regardless of their participation in battle.
- Characters in Super Mario RPG can choose to increase their stats and gain new special abilities upon leveling up.
- Each character in Super Mario RPG has unique skills and abilities that aid Mario in battle, such as Bowser’s powerful Mechakoopa Stomp, Princess Peach’s revival skill Come Back, and Mario’s ultimate attack, Ultra Fireball.
For better or worse, the level-up system in Super Mario RPG is pretty straightforward. Players can form a party of three, although the other two characters can be swapped in on the fly. All characters will gain EXP by defeating enemies, and it doesn’t matter if characters participate in battle or not.
Every Companion in Super Mario RPG Explained
Mario will be joined by a cast of new and returning party members in Super Mario RPG, and each one has their own skills to aid the plumber in battle.
Upon leveling up, characters will get a general boost to their stats in Super Mario RPG. They can also choose to increase one of three bonus stats, including attack power, magic power, and HP. At certain levels, characters will gain new special abilities for combat. Let’s go through those in particular to see which are the best.
8 Mechakoopa Stomp
Bowser: Learned At Level 18
Mechakoopa Stomp is Bowser’s final ability in the game and one of the strongest among the five characters. Players have to mash the A button on the Switch controller to build up strength as a giant Mechakoopa blasts through the screen. This is a fitting finale for Bowser since Mechakoopas were a big part of his arsenal when they debuted in Super Mario World. Of Bowser’s many skills in the game, this is easily the best, although Bowser isn’t great with magic overall. Players should instead use Bowser’s base attack to destroy enemies.
7 Come Back
Princess Peach: Learned At Level 13
While this game isn’t the hardest RPG around, it is inevitable that, at some point, players are going to lose a life. Come Back is a revive technique that will bring party members back from the dead. Unlike the item, Pick Me Up, it won’t heal all damage though. Still, it’s a good healing spell to have for Princess Peach because players can only hold six Pick Me Ups at a time on the Normal difficulty in Super Mario RPG. Overall, Princess Peach is a powerful healer, as that is her specialty.
6 Psych Bomb
Princess Peach: Learned At Level 18
While healing is her trade, Princess Peach does have one attack spell, and it is her finale. Psych Bomb has players mash the A button on Switch to build up the explosive power of a bunch of Bob-ombs she will throw.
Super Mario RPG: How to Save
Super Mario RPG has gotten many quality-of-life changes in the remake, and saving has seen some improvements made to it.
It’s funny to see her spells go from healing and status effects to this. It’s as if to say Princess Peach has had enough, and she isn’t going to take it anymore. It’s a powerful attack that will target all enemies, proving that no one should mess with the great Princess Peach.
5 Ultra Fireball
Mario: Learned At Level 18
Ultra Fireball is Mario’s ultimate attack, and it is a doozy of a spell. It operates a lot like the other Fireball spells, except that this one will target all foes randomly. Ultra Jump also does this random approach, but it’s not as good because predicting where Mario is going to land is tricky. It can be hard to keep the jumping combo going, making it often a waste of FP in Super Mario RPG. With Ultra Fireball, all players have to do is mash the A button on Switch, and the AI takes care of the rest.
4 Super Jump
Mario: Learned At Level 6
What does Mario do best in the main platforming games? Jump. Now, of the three Jump attacks in this game, the middle child, Super Jump, is the best of the bunch. What it lacks in power compared to Ultra Jump, it makes up for with various benefits.
For example, players don’t have to guess where Mario is going to land next at random, unlike Ultra Jump. Also, there are quests tied to the Super Jump technique if players meet the requirements of doing thirty and a hundred jumps in a row. It’s a good way to get one of the best armor and accessories in Super Mario RPG.
3 Geno Blast
Geno: Learned At Level 14
Geno Blast is the second to last technique that newcomer Geno will learn in the game. Most of his skills require charging on a meter. If timed correctly, the skill will release to its true potential, which is not hard to accomplish.
Super Mario RPG: How to Beat Croco
Croco is the first non-tutorial boss that players will encounter in Super Mario RPG, and here is how to beat him.
The attack will send a rainbow of beams down at all enemies in battle. It’s easily a top-tier spell for attacking all foes and could even replace the number-one spot with some caveats. Mallow’s Thunderbolt is good for about half of the game, and then Geno Blast can replace it, mostly.
2 Group Hug
Princess Peach: Starting Move
Group Hug is one of Princess Peach’s starting moves when she is acquired after Booster Tower in Super Mario RPG. It is a healing spell that will restore everyone’s health, and if timed right, it can heal all damage. Not only that, but the spell will heal status elements, which is huge to save on multiple items. It’s a good idea to give Princess Peach the Safety Badge, which will negate all status effects. With her immunity, it will be easy to get everyone else in the team up to snuff after a devastating status attack, like from the various sleeping spells in the game.
1 Thunderbolt
Mallow: Starting Move
Thunderbolt is the starting move from the other newcomer to the Mario series, aka Mallow. He belongs to a cloud-like race of people, so it only makes sense that his attacks are weather-based, from lighting to snow. Thunderbolt is a cheap move to use regarding FP, and it will hit all targets.
There are some enemies with resistance to lightning, but they are few and far between. With Mallow in the party, players can get some good damage going in at the start of battle, especially if players equip Mallow with a speed-boosting accessory like Zoom Shoes. Thunderbolt is technically weak, with only an attack level of fifteen, and yet it somehow does the trick nine times out of ten.
Super Mario RPG
- Platform(s)
- Switch
- Released
- November 17, 2023
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo
- Genre(s)
- RPG