Talk:Shell defense

(First topic)

Can anyone help expand this? Joseph (talk) (contribs)

Platforming games

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I think we should include the stationary shell-ducking thing that Boom Boom does in Super Mario Bros. 3 and New Super Mario Bros. U and Bowser Jr. does in New Super Mario Bros. where they hide under the shell's spikes after being hit, since it doesn't fit with the shell-spinning thing other shelled bosses tend to do. Doc von Schmeltwick (talk) 22:17, May 23, 2025 (EDT)

Those moves aren't what this article is about, which describes a specific move from an RPG meant to be used as a defense. Xiahou Ba^{(the Nasty Warrior)} 22:28, May 23, 2025 (EDT)

Punch, Jump, and Hammer are all defense moves as well. Why should this be the only specific one? Doc von Schmeltwick (talk) 23:12, May 23, 2025 (EDT)

I think my issue including this one would be how your example is NPC behavior versus this, and Jump, Punch, and Hammer all being named (I assume "shell defense" is named?) player actions. It's me, Mario! (Talk / Stalk) 23:14, May 23, 2025 (EDT)

If I understand the videos of gameplay I've been watching, Jump and Hammer should have been split to create the Jump Guard and Hammer Guard articles sometime after Paper Jam came out. (As per the Battle Guide) Actually yes, the counterattacks are distinct from standard attacks.

As for this topic: In Super Mario Bros U and Super Mario Run Boom Boom isn't hiding under his shell, he's falling over because he got hit and his shell happens to have spikes. (And goofily enough in Run there isn't even a hitbox.) Ever so slightly different from the very deliberate shell defense. I dunno, leaning toward no. Salmancer (talk) 23:32, May 23, 2025 (EDT)

Then what should be done about this recurring move used by multiple bosses? Doc von Schmeltwick (talk) 23:46, May 23, 2025 (EDT)

If there are two bosses, then just have Bowser Jr's page make the comparison and link to Boom Boom's page. Simple! Salmancer (talk) 00:07, May 24, 2025 (EDT)

We need more move coverage, even for enemy moves. :T Doc von Schmeltwick (talk) 00:18, May 24, 2025 (EDT)

Another example I forgot: Hammer Mario's version of ducking, where he goes into the shell and it protects him from fire. (I don't think Shell Mario's does that, but I could be wrong). Doc von Schmeltwick (talk) 14:42, May 24, 2025 (EDT)

Is that not just a modified version of Crouch, and therefore that page's problem? Salmancer (talk) 14:48, May 24, 2025 (EDT)

Name origin

This name has some odd stuff going on. In DS, when Broque introduces it before saying yes/no the tutorial, he says shell defense in blue text.

"Ah! Monsieur! Broggy, he jumps up on people, sometimes. He is naughty, oui! And he ignores zee punches as well. So, if he jumps on you, zat is when you use zat fine shell! Oui, if you hold down , you will use zee shell defense! You want zee lecture?"

Saying "I do!" to the lecture has this text, where it gets referred to as duck:

"So zen, watch zee way Broggy moves carefully... NOW! Hold down and you will duck! Broggy, he does not give up yet, non! He will jump from zee rear! Duck, or zis will be très bad for vous! NOW! Hold down and duck!"

In 3DS, the tutorial is completely different, as Broggy attacks first and Broque does not stop to explain. In this first attack, you can now suddenly use shell defense, so using it allows cleanly skipping all tutorials. If you do not use it, you get this text:

"Ah! Monsieur! Broggy, he jumps up on people, sometimes. He is naughty, oui! So, if he jumps on you, zat is when you use zat fine shell! You want zee lecture?"

Saying "I do!" to the lecture has this text:

"So zen, watch zee way Broggy moves carefully... When he jumps, hold down and you will duck! Broggy, he does not give up yet, non! He will jump from zee rear! Duck, or zis will be très bad for vous!"

None of this text makes it clear what the move is named, and the line that specifically has shell defense was removed. The Guide does update, so maybe that has something? The "Defense" entry has this:

"Bowser always has access to two kinds of defense when enemies are attacking. Bowser punches with , and uses his shell with . Punch mainly guards against frontal attacks. Shell defends against overhead attacks."

This "Defense" entry does not make it clear what it is named. There is a "Shell Guard" entry, but...

"Press during an enemy attack, and Bowser will crouch down and guard with his shell. Doing so will protect Bowser from falling objects by repelling them with his shell spikes."

This "Shell Guard" entry does not name the move either. The Guide entry name seems like a good source, but this entry may be in title case and is not a good example of the name. The Guide has other inconsistent oddities, like in the "Jump Guard" entry, it names jumping during enemy attacks as jump guard in blue text. Meanwhile, the "Hammer Guard" entry names hammering during enemy attacks Hammer Guard in blue text, which has an inconsistent capitalization style with jump guard.

I'm mainly making this talk section because I wanted to explain the name source, as it seems that shell defense is only said one time ever, and the remake removes this line and does not make it clear what the move is actually called. I originally thought this was a conjecturally-named page, but then I found the Prima Guide using the name, then I finally discovered the line in DS. --Spencer PK (talk) 04:42, June 2, 2025 (EDT)

I'd stick with Shell defense. It's a much clearer and official name whilst the remake changes it to a generic name for no reason. PrincessPeachFan (talk) 09:00, July 16, 2025 (EDT)