Firebrand

Firebrand is a move used by Mario in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga and its remake, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions. It is the opposite of Luigi's Thunderhand. The move is taught by the Fire God in the Fire Palace, and an advanced technique using the Firebrand is taught by the Jellyfish Sisters, allowing Mario to burn Luigi so he can charge ahead extremely quickly. This can be used to pass through fast-moving spiked barrels, as well as move cannon ball-like objects and knock down Nokottasus (Big Koopa Troopas in the remake) blocking the path. To use this move, the player must have Mario as the lead brother, switch to the Firebrand command, and hold down, which causes Mario to conjure up a fireball. After fully charging the move, releasing will make Mario create a fireball that can be used to light Torches.

In battle, the Firebrand can be used offensively against enemies, and to when using it, the player must press when Mario fully charges the fireball to perform the move successfully. Failure in doing so will result in Mario scorching himself and the move dealing less damage. Some enemies like Glurps or Spiky Snifits have a weakness to the Firebrand, and in a few cases, they can only be damaged by it. Other enemies (like Bowletta's normal form and Mom Piranha's red form) get healed by it instead.

Mario can also use the Fire Bros. Bros. Attack once they learn the Dash technique, which involves him flinging fireballs at Luigi, who then launches them at the enemy with his hammer (in the remake, Mario rapidly tosses fireballs into the air to create a huge fireball before Luigi launches it towards a single enemy with his hammer). A more powerful variant is the Super Fire Bros., however using it uses up more Bros. Points in the remake. Here, Mario can create a huge fireball when Luigi hits smaller fireballs back at him, and once the attack ends, Mario bounces off of Luigi to spike it at the enemy for more damage and possibly inflict the Burn status (in the remake, Luigi hits the huge fireball upwards so Mario can spike it, and it also creates a shockwave which damages other enemies).

Also in the remake, Firebrand can be used to perform a First Strike. If this is done, enemies may be burned at the start of the battle.

Trivia

 * Using the Firebrand on red Oho Jees in the overworld will cause them to go wild and attack Mario and Luigi, forcing them into a battle.

Names in other languages
Mano di Fuoco