Zone Shot
A Zone Shot is a special move in Mario Tennis Aces. It allows the player to aim, then shoot the ball in a first-person perspective. This shot requires the player's energy gauge to be at least one-third full to perform. The game also communicates that the player has enough energy for a Zone Shot by making their energy gauge yellow or green instead of red. Once this requirement is met, the player can use a Zone Shot by pressing 
or 
while either serving or while receiving when inside a smash point. Starting from version 3.0.0, if the player is eligible to use a Zone Shot through being within a smash point, the smash point turns turquoise while the player is inside it.[1] Using a Zone Shot spends a little less than one-fourth of the energy gauge.
Once a Zone Shot is initiated, the player can use 
or the gyroscope to choose where they want to hit the shot. While aiming, movement of all characters and objects is stopped. Movement resumes once a location is selected. If the player takes too long to make a decision on where to send the ball, their energy gauge will begin to deplete gradually until they do. Zone Shots darken the screen and cause red confetti effects to appear across the screen, both of which subside after the shot is received or after the ball bounces off the court. These effects are similar to those of Zone Speed and Special Shots.
Zone Shots are very fast, and if the opponent returns them with incorrect timing their racket takes damage. Zone Shots are unable to damage Dry Bowser's racket.[2] When rackets get damaged three times by Zone Shots, they break, preventing the opponent from returning the shot entirely. The receiver can block an opposing Zone Shot by returning it with proper timing, preventing the Zone Shot from damaging their racket. Zone Speed can be used to slow down time, making reaching the ball and timing the block easier. Blocking a Zone Shot without Zone Speed increases the player's energy gauge. Special Shots automatically block Zone Shots.
Fire Piranha Plants sometimes appear out of the pipes in Piranha Plant Forest instead of a regular Piranha Plant; if the ball is sent toward one, it will catch the ball and fire a Zone Shot at the opposing player. Enemies and bosses in Adventure Mode are also capable of using Zone Shots.
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ねらいうち[?] Neraiuchi |
Sharpshooting | |
| Dutch | Focusslag[?] | Focus shot | |
| French (NOA) | Coup instinct[3] | Instinct shot | |
| French (NOE) | Frappe instinct[4] | Instinct shot | |
| Italian | Colpo intenso[?] | Intense shot | |
| Spanish | Disparo de zona[?] | Zone shot |
References[edit]
- ^ "Changed smash point color from yellow to turquoise when Zone Shot can be activated (when energy is 1/3 or greater and the character is in a rotating star)." – 15 Apr. 2019. How to Update Mario Tennis Aces. Nintendo of America. Retrieved 3 Nov, 2025.
- ^ "Dry Bowser is a special Defensive-type character type whose racket will not get damaged even if he fails to block his opponent’s Zone Shot." – 31 May 2019. How to Update Mario Tennis Aces. Nintendo of America. Retrieved 3 Nov, 2025.
- ^ Polo (June 22, 2018). LUIGI EST DEVENU MÉCHANT !? | Mario Tennis Aces #1. YouTube (Canadian French). Retrieved August 26, 2024.
- ^ OcariKnights (June 30, 2018). [LP] Mario Tennis Aces #01 : La malédiction de Rakhet. YouTube (French). Retrieved August 26, 2024.
