Bros. Attack

Not to be confused with Bros. Move.

Bros. Attack
Artwork of Max-Mix Vortex, one of the Bros. Attacks from Mario & Luigi: Brothership
First appearance	Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (2003)
Latest appearance	Mario & Luigi: Brothership (2024)
Used by	Mario Luigi
Effect	Allows Mario and Luigi to work together and do a more powerful attack at the cost of Bros. Points
Related Brawl Attack Bros. Item Luiginary Attack Trio Attack

Bros. Attacks are special attacks that require Mario and Luigi to work together. These moves are used in most of the games in the Mario & Luigi series, with the exception of Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. "Bros. Attacks" has been pronounced as "Brothers Attacks" and "Bros. Attacks", though the latter is more recent. A Bros. Attack challenges the player to successfully perform Action Commands as the animation progresses. Missing inputs may cause the attack to deal less damage, conclude early without dealing the maximum number of hits, or prevent it from doing any damage as the Bros. mess up. Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga only used each brother's button, those being and , for the Action Commands, but later games implement Action Commands involving directional inputs. They also become more minigame like, with inputs required to make the characters move at all instead of just accentuating an animation. Mario & Luigi: Dream Team implements gyroscope based controls for three Bros. Attacks. Later games have endurance modes where the player has to keep successfully performing a Bros. Attack until they reach a maximum score, with the challenge being lost if the player makes too many mistakes.

Bros. Attacks cannot be performed if either brother is unable to act. This includes any case where a brother is KO'd, but also instances where a brother has a status effect like Trip or Burn. Some status effects on one brother, like Tiny, prevent Bros. Attacks but do not restrict other actions.

History

Mario & Luigi series

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga / Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions

See also: Super Attack

The Starshade Bros. explaining Bros. Attacks

In Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, Mario and Luigi learn eight Bros. Attacks during the adventure, four for each brother; the required moves are based off their Bros. Actions in the field, ex. the Bounce Bros. attack, which is based on the High Jump action, and are obtained at the same time. In addition, there are two secret Bros. Attacks that they can learn by acquiring the two Secret Scrolls in the Hammerhead Bros.' caverns in eastern Beanbean Outskirts. A very small selection of enemies can use attacks similar to Bros. Attacks, such as the bosses Popple and Rookie in their second battle.

Bros. Attacks use up Mario and Luigi's Bros. Points, or BP. Each Bros. attack costs three to eight Bros. Points, which can be replenished with Syrup Jars, other BP restorative items (like Golden Mushrooms), and/or certain badges.

To perform Bros. Attacks, buttons must be pressed in the right order, at the right time. If a button is missed, the attack will do far less damage, possibly even less than a regular Jump or Hammer attack. Each Bros. Attack also has three Modes: 1, 2, and 3. Mode 1 is the most basic; the game goes into slow motion when buttons need to be pressed, to give the player ample time to press the correct buttons. In addition, button icons that show which button needs to be pressed are clearly displayed. In Mode 2, slow-motion is taken out, but the button icons remain. Mode 3 has no slow-motion, or button icons, but Bros. Attacks performed in Mode 3 are more powerful and cost less BP than those performed in the other Modes.

After executing a Bros. Attack successfully (i.e. pressing all of the buttons correctly) a certain number of times, Super Attacks are learned. Advanced Bros. Attacks are generally harder to perform than regular ones, but Advanced attacks often have added bonuses such as stealing items, inflicting status ailments, or simply doing more damage to the boss or enemy.

In Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions, Modes 1, 2, and 3 no longer exist for the Bros. Attacks, instead they are replaced by "Normal" or "Easy" difficulty, with the Easy difficulty being more lenient in timing but with the downside of costing more BP to perform. The slowed down pace of Mode 1 is also removed. Additionally, all battle backgrounds now scroll whenever Mario or Luigi use a Bros. Attack. The "Advanced" Bros. Attacks have been given their own separate category of "Super Bros. Attacks". Even if the Bros. fail to obtain an "Excellent!" rating for the original attacks, it still counts towards the number of times that the move is performed, meaning that there is no penalty for failing to perform the attack properly. Furthermore, the Bros. have a chance to practice their Bros. attacks if they lack knowledge on proper timing during "Practice" mode or watch a "Demo" of the attacks in order to learn how to perform them properly, both of which are accessed during combat. Some attacks, such as Swing Bros., have had their inputs changed.

Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time

Main article: Bros. Item

The concept of Bros. Attacks was replaced with Bros. Items in the sequel, Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, which are disposable attacks that can be bought from shops or found in ? Blocks. However, one Bros. Attack does make an appearance. The Hammer Bros. in the game use Knockback Bros. as an attack.

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey

See also: Brawl Attack

The Green Shell Special/Bros. Attack in action.

In Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, Bros. Attacks are referred to as Special Attacks and they use up Special Points. Unlike in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, instead of gaining new attacks through learning new Bros. Actions, all Special Attacks are unlocked through collecting ten Attack Pieces in a given area. Attack Pieces can be obtained either by hitting Attack Piece Blocks or by completing certain quests to obtain all ten pieces at a time. All Bros. Attacks can be activated by both Mario and Luigi, and Advanced Commands are completely omitted.

In the remake, Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey, "Special Attacks" and "Special Points" are renamed back to "Bros. Attacks" and "Bros. Points," respectively. Just like in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions, the "Easy" difficulty mode for Special Attacks can be toggled on or off in the remake using , which makes the timing of button presses for the attacks much more lenient, but at the cost of more Bros. Points being used up.

Bowser's equivalent to Bros. Attacks are Brawl Attacks (also named "Special Attacks" in the original version), which function the same way as Bros. Attacks.

Mario & Luigi: Dream Team

See also: Luiginary Attack

Bros. Attacks return in Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, and can be used in battles in the Real World. Mario and Luigi have five Bros. Attacks each, making a total of 10. Each one is unlocked by collecting all ten Attack Pieces in a specific area of the real world, or by a character in the real world giving the bros. ten Attack Pieces. This is similar to how Special Attacks are unlocked in the preceding game. In battles in the Dream World, Luiginary Attacks are used instead of Bros. Attacks. They are unlocked in the same way as Bros. Attacks, but in the dream world, and no characters grant a full set of ten.

In this game, Bros. Attacks and Luiginary Attacks are designated as dealing damage with either the boots, the hammers, or neither of them. This is because Mario and Luigi can equip boots and hammer gear which apply their Power boost and special effect when the player uses attacks corresponding to the item. Certain Bros. Attacks and Luiginary Attacks, such as Fire Flower, inflict damage with fire. All attacks with fire use neither the boots nor the hammers.

Missing or failing Bros. Attacks or Luiginary Attacks enough times provides the player with the option to enable "Slow Attack" for that move, which can be toggled on and off with while in the menu. The attack failing because the enemy is immune counts. In Slow Attack, the game slows down when a button press is required, making the inputs easier to perform. However, Slow Attack reduces the damage dealt by the attack. If the attack is used outside of Slow Attack enough times, the option will be disabled until the condition is met again.

The Guide menu allows the player to watch a demo of an Excellent version of each Bros. Attack or Luiginary Attack used on dummy enemies. Depending on the attack, a different number of enemies appear. They respawn after each attack so the demo can repeat. The player can choose to practice that attack with these enemies, with the enemies being replaced after each attack even if any of them survive. Each session tracks the number of Excellent attacks the player performs in a row, resetting on a non-Excellent attack and when the player quits.

The Mad Skillathon serves as an endurance mode for Bros. Attacks, though three attacks are excluded. In it, the player is tasked earn 999 points in each game through perfect use of the specified attack. They often have modified mechanics compared to the version seen in battles. Luiginary Attacks have an equivalent mode in Battle Broque Madame.

Four Bros. Attacks are also available for Dreamy Luigi in Giant Battles. Giant Luigi does not have BP, so attacks do not require it. Instead, using Bros. Attacks exhausts Mario for one turn, meaning Bros. Attacks cannot be used on consecutive turns. Additionally, some opponents can knock Mario off Giant Luigi, which prevents Bros. Attacks from being used until he returns. Two of the four Bros. Attacks are special finishing moves, only used to conclude the boss battle. These moves are exempt from the mechanics that can prevent Bros. Move from being used, with Mario always recovering or returning just before they are used. Slow Attack is not available in these battles. Giant Luigi is not affected by gear, so there is no distinction between boots and hammers. None of Giant Luigi's Bros. Attacks involve hammers though.

Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam

See also: Trio Attack

Bros. Attacks return for the fourth time in Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam, where like in Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, Mario and Luigi have five Bros. Attacks each. When the player uses a Bros. Attack, Mario and Luigi will execute the attack while Paper Mario cheers for the duo; as a result Bros. Attacks can even be used if Paper Mario is knocked out or absent entirely. Paper Mario instead has the option to use Trio Attacks that work similarly to Bros. Attacks; but require Mario, Luigi, and Paper Mario to cooperate with each other. Unlike in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story and Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, Bros. Attacks are not gained by collecting Attack Pieces; they are instead gained by getting them back from Nabbit who stole them at the beginning of the game, with the exception of Toad Trail which is obtained after defeating King Bob-omb at the top of Mount Brrr and after gaining access to Neo Bowser Castle.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership

Bros. Attacks return again in Mario & Luigi: Brothership. As before, they cannot be used if a brother cannot act (i.e., being dazed, frozen, KO'd, or tripped), but they are also prohibited if a brother gets inflicted with Glohm. Technikki creates six of the Bros. Attacks and gives Mario and Luigi two at a time at certain points in the game. Another Concordian gives the Red Shell and Green Shell, and the last two Bros. Attacks, Conductor Connector and Max-Mix Vortex are given by the Great Conductor and both Burnadette and Chilliam, respectively near the end of the game. As with the previous two mainline installments, Dream Team and Paper Jam, Mario and Luigi each have five Bros. Attacks. Five of them return from previous games (Red Shell and Bomb Derby from Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, Green Shell, Jump Helmet, and Yoo Who Cannon from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story), with the rest being completely new attacks.

While Mario and Luigi's jump and hammer combo attacks have them working together to attack the enemy, they are not considered Bros. Attacks.

List of Bros. Attacks

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga / Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions

Descriptions for the "Target" column:

• Single: The attack targets one enemy.
• Single (serial): Same as single, except the remaining strikes are redirected against other enemies if the move defeats the target.
• All: The attack hits all enemies.
• Ground: The attack hits all enemies except flying ones.
• Random: The attack hits enemies randomly.
• Choose: The player can choose the target during the attack.

Mario
Bros. Attack	Description	BP	Location	Target
Splash Bros.	GBA: Jump high and drop!	GBA: 4 (Modes 1 & 2), 3 (Mode 3)	GBA: After meeting the Starshade Bros. (in tandem with Spin Jump)	Single
	3DS: Press the Button before Mario jumps on Luigi. Press the Button when Mario is directly over Luigi. Press when they smash into the enemy. Time button inputs well for an Excellent rating!	3DS: 4 (Normal)/6 (Easy)	3DS: During the tutorial for Bros. Attacks.
Super Splash Bros.	This can be used to attack spiky enemies. When Mario climbs on top of Luigi, press ->-> to the rhythm. Finish by pressing the Button! Press it when you jump on the enemy to get an Excellent!	6 (Normal)/9 (Easy)	GBA: Use Splash Bros. 20 times.	Single
			3DS: Get an Excellent with Splash Bros. 6 times.
Chopper Bros.	GBA: Dunk Luigi and attack!	GBA: 5 (Modes 1 & 2), 3 (Mode 3)	After freeing Cork and Cask in Chateau de Chucklehuck (in tandem with Dunk Hammer).	Single
	3DS: Press the Button when Mario swings his Hammer over his head. Press the Button when Mario jumps on Luigi to pop up. Tap the Button once Mario descends to the same height as the enemy!	3DS: 6 (Normal)/8 (Easy)
Super Chopper Bros.	This won't affect flying enemies. Press the Button when Mario swings his Hammer over his head. When Luigi is directly under the enemy, press to knock them into the air! If you knock Luigi back into the ground, you can hit your foe into the air again. To knock Luigi back underground, press the Button when Luigi hits the ground. Then, press when the foe hits the ground to make submerged Luigi knock them sky high! ... Continue this rhythm eight times to earn an Excellent rating!	10 (Normal)/13 (Easy)	GBA: Use Chopper Bros. 32 times.	Single
			3DS: Get an Excellent with Chopper Bros. 6 times.
Swing Bros.	GBA: Swing Luigi around!	GBA: 6 (Modes 1 & 2), 4 (Mode 3)	Obtain the Secret Scroll 1 in the Hammerhead Bros.' cave, after obtaining the Super Hammers.	Single
	3DS: Press when Luigi and Mario hold hands! Keep holding the button to make them spin around. They will keep spinning faster. The faster they spin, the more damage they will deal. When Mario and Luigi reach top speed, let go of the Button! Press when Luigi collides with a foe! Pull it off flawlessly to earn an Excellent rating!	3DS: 8 (Normal)/10 (Easy)
Super Swing Bros.	Successfully earn a Good rating or better to cause an item to drop. Press when Luigi and Mario hold hands! Keep holding the button to make them spin around. They will keep spinning faster. The faster they spin, the more damage they will deal. When Mario and Luigi reach top speed, let go of the Button! Press when Luigi collides with a foe! Nail all button inputs to earn an Excellent rating! Press the Button when Mario and Luigi touch to make them join together! Press and at once when you stomp on a foe. Don't let go to earn an Excellent rating!	15 (Normal)/18 (Easy)	GBA:Use Swing Bros. 10 times.	Single
			3DS: Get an Excellent with Swing Bros. 6 times.
Fire Bros.	GBA: Attack with fireballs!	GBA: 6 (Modes 1 & 2), 3 (Mode 3)	After visiting the Relaxation Room (in tandem with Fire Dash).	Single
	3DS: When Mario throws a fireball, press the Button quickly to make it grow. When the fire gets close to Luigi, hit it by pressing the Button! The bigger the flame, the better your chances of an Excellent! And the more damage you'll deal!	3DS: 12 (Normal)/15 (Easy)
Super Fire Bros.	When Mario throws a fireball, press the Button quickly to make it grow. When the fire gets close to Luigi, hit it by pressing the Button! Press when Mario and the fire are the same height! A larger flame may earn an Excellent! If you succeed, there's a chance you'll inflict the BURN status on your enemy.	14 (Normal)/17 (Easy)	GBA: Use Fire Bros. 28 times.	Single
			3DS: Get an Excellent with Fire Bros. 6 times.	Single (fireball) Ground (explosion)
Luigi
Bros. Attack	Description	BP	Location	Target
Bounce Bros.	GBA: Jump off Mario!	GBA: 4 (Modes 1 & 2), 3 (Mode 3)	GBA: After meeting the Starshade Bros. (in tandem with High Jump)	Single
	3DS: Press before Luigi jumps on Mario. Press when both are directly above the enemy! Press the Button when jumping on an enemy. Time all jumps well to get an Excellent rating!	3DS: 5 (Normal)/7 (Easy)	3DS: During the tutorial for Bros. Attacks.
Super Bounce Bros.	This move can hit two enemies. Press the Button before Luigi jumps on Mario. Press the Button before hitting the ground to perform a big jump! Get an Excellent rating by jumping on enemies using → in the correct order!	8 (Normal)/11 (Easy)	GBA: Use Bounce Bros. 8 times.	Single (first Bro.) Random (second Bro.)
			3DS: Get an Excellent with Bounce Bros. 6 times.
Knockback Bros.	GBA: Fire Mario to attack!	GBA: 5 (Modes 1 & 2), 3 (Mode 3)	After freeing Cork and Cask in Chateau de Chucklehuck (In tandem with Mini-Mario)	Single
	3DS: Press when Luigi swings his Hammer over his head. Mario will become Mini Mario! Press the Button whenever Luigi's Hammer is about to hit Mario! Press when Mario hits an enemy. Nail all button inputs to earn an Excellent rating!	3DS: 8 (Normal)/10 (Easy)
Super Knockback Bros.	Press when Luigi swings his Hammer over his head. Mario will become Mini Mario! Mini Mario will ask Luigi for help. During that time, press the Button. Press the Button whenever Luigi's swings are about to hit Mario! Mario will bounce back when he hits a foe. Luigi can then knock Mario into the foe again. Press when Mario smashes into a foe. Press to hit him again when he returns! ... Do this successfully five times for an Excellent! Note that the speed gets faster!	10 (Normal)/13 (Easy)	GBA: Use Knockback Bros. 43 times.	Single (serial)
			3DS: Get an Excellent with Knockback Bros. 6 times.	Single (first hit) Random (starting from second hit)
Thunder Bros.	GBA: Attack with thunder!	GBA: 6 (Modes 1 & 2), 4 (Mode 3)	After visiting the Relaxation Room (In tandem with Thunder Tickle).	Ground
	3DS: Press when Luigi builds up his thunder. Press when Luigi gets on top of Mario to perform a big jump! Press when Luigi is highest in his jump. Get an Excellent to deal heavy damage! If you succeed, there's a chance you'll lower the enemy's DEF.	3DS: 14 (Normal)/17 (Easy)		All
Super Thunder Bros.	Press when Luigi builds up his thunder. When Mario's Hammer is above his head, press ! When Luigi gets to the base of the foe's feet, press the Button for an Excellent rating! If you succeed, there's a chance you'll lower the enemy's POW.	10 (Normal)/13 (Easy)	GBA: Use Thunder Bros. 24 times.	Single
			3DS: Get an Excellent with Thunder Bros. 6 times.
Cyclone Bros.	GBA: A twin-spin attack!	GBA: 8 (Modes 1 & 2), 4 (Mode 3)	Obtain the Secret Scroll 2 in the Hammerhead Bros.' cave after obtaining the Ultra Hammers.	Single (first hit) Choose (starting from second hit)
	3DS: Press when Luigi swings his Hammer over his head. Mario will become Mini Mario! When Luigi jumps, tap the Button! This will spin Mini Mario around at high speed! Get many consecutive hits for an Excellent! You can attack enemies several times. During the attack, you can change the foe you are targeting. When Mario starts to move forward, move the Circle Pad toward the foe you want to target.	3DS: 13 (Normal)/16 (Easy)
Super Cyclone Bros.	Press when Luigi swings his Hammer over his head. Mario will become Mini Mario! When Luigi jumps, tap the Button! This will spin Mini Mario around at high speed! Get many consecutive hits for an Excellent! You can attack enemies several times. During the attack, you can change the foe you are targeting. When Mario starts to move forward, move the Circle Pad toward the foe you want to target. In the Super version, an additional attack can be made at the end. When Mario and Luigi stop spinning, press the Button to prepare for the finisher. Finish by pressing when the Hammer is overhead! This can make enemies dizzy.	15 (Normal)/18 (Easy)	GBA: Use Cyclone Bros. 21 times.	Single (first hit) Choose (starting from second hit)
			3DS: Get an Excellent with Cyclone Bros. 6 times.

Gallery

• 

  Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (Splash Bros.)
• 

  Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions (Splash Bros.)
• 

  Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (Chopper Bros.)
• 

  Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions (Chopper Bros.)
• 

  Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (Swing Bros.)
• 

  Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions (Swing Bros.)
• 

  Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (Fire Bros.)
• 

  Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions (Fire Bros.)
• 

  Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (Bounce Bros.)
• 

  Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions (Bounce Bros.)
• 

  Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (Knockback Bros.)
• 

  Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions (Knockback Bros.)
• 

  Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (Thunder Bros.)
• 

  Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions (Thunder Bros.)
• 

  Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (Cyclone Bros.)
• 

  Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions (Cyclone Bros.)

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey

Bros. Attack	Illustration	Description	SP	BP	Location
Green Shell*		Mario kicks with ; Luigi with ! Keep on kicking the shell! Target: One enemy. Effect: None.	3	4	Trash Pit
Fire Flower		Repeatedly press the button of whoever's holding the big fireball! Target: Random. Effect: BURN.	4	6	Pump Works
Jump Helmet		Land on the helmet and jump with ! Dash to the landing spots with /by pressing left or right on ! Target: One enemy. Effect: None.	6	10	Flab Zone
Yoo Who Cannon*		Remember which barrels the bros are in! launches Mario; launches Luigi! Target: Random. Effect: None.	7	14	Toad Town (after mastering the Shell Mario technique)
Super Bouncer		Launch HIGH with