Special Skill (Mario & Luigi series)

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This article is under construction. Therefore, please excuse its informal appearance while it is being worked on. We hope to have it completed as soon as possible.

A Goomba's Special Skill activating

Special Skills are techniques used in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions and Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey. They are exclusive to the Minion Quest: The Search for Bowser mode in the former and the Bowser Jr.'s Journey mode in the latter. Every ally and enemy in both games has a Special Skill which will randomly activate during battles. The likelihood of this happening is determined by a trooper's spirit stat. Most Special Skills are offensive moves which deal heavy damage to one or more opposing troopers, though a few of them give stat boosts instead.

When a trooper is about to use their Special Skill, an "!" will appear above their head. The "!" will be red for allies and blue for enemies. The effectiveness of allied troopers' Special Skills is dependent on action commands requiring well-timed presses of the A Button button (or in the case of Rain of Pain and Spitfire Fury, pressing A Button repeatedly).

Captains can prevent opposing troopers' Special Skills from activating by using the Deny command after the "!" appears. Only one Special Skill can activate at a time, and the effects of any Captain Commands used during a Special Skill's execution other than Deny will not occur until after it is finished.

Bowser Jr's Journey introduces Team Attacks, where multiple copies of the same troop team up to perform a more powerful version of their Special Skill. If Deny is used against a team attack, at least one unit will resist.

List of Special Skills

Minion Quest: The Search for Bowser

There are a total of 22 Special Skills in the game. Most of them are usable by multiple kinds of troopers. The only exceptions are Evasion Cloak and Feed the Speed, which are exclusive to Boos and White Magikoopas, respectively.

Name Description Command Allies Enemies
Rocket Headbutt A jump attack that resembles the Headbonk move from the Paper Mario series. Press A Button right before colliding with the enemy. Goomba, Private Goomp Gritty Goomba
Cranium Crush The user flips in midair, then stomps on an enemy. Paragoomba, Koopa Paratroopa, Koopa Paratroopa (Red), Corporal Paraplonk Parabeanie, Paratroopea, Scaratroopea, Mecha-Fawful Y
Spin Cycle The user approaches the target, then spins to inflict damage. Hurts nearby enemies as well. Big Tail Goomba, Tail Boo Tanoomba, Chuck Guy, Elite Chuck Guy
Whomping Wallop The user slams the ground, creating a shockwave that damages all enemies directly in front of the user. Press A Button when the spark appears. Goomba Tower, Pokey Clumph
Rock Solid Raises the user's defense. Press A Button when the meter is above the line. Koopa Troopa, Buzzy Beetle Troopea, Elite Troopea
Chain Shot Hits an enemy with up to four projectiles. Press A Button each time the cursor is in the center of the targeting reticule. Dry Bones, Magikoopa (Blue), Ludwig Most Furious Fawful Z
Evasion Cloak Raises the user's evasion. Press A Button when the meter is above the line. Boo None
Kaboom Bash Charges into an enemy and explodes. Any other enemies caught in the blast will be damaged as well. Press A Button right before colliding with the enemy. Bomb Boo, Bob-omb None
Piercing Projectile Either hurls a projectile that comes back to the thrower (Boomerang Bro, Beanerang Bro, and Wendy) or fires a large laser beam (Big Boo and Mecha-Fawful Z). Both versions of this attack will damage any enemies in their path. Press A Button when the cursor is in the center of the targeting reticule. Big Boo, Boomerang Bro, Wendy Beanerang Bro, Mecha-Fawful Z
Air Bash A charging attack that lowers the target's defense. Press A Button right before colliding with the enemy. Broozer, Chargin Chuck None
Throw the Fight Throws a large projectile at an enemy. Press A Button when the cursor is in the center of the targeting reticule. Shy Guy, Bandit, Ice Bro, Spike, Larry Birdo
Rain of Pain Throws projectiles at multiple enemies. Press A Button repeatedly. Spear Guy, Hammer Bro, Fire Bro Fuzzbush, Popple
Mega Tackle The user charges into an enemy. Press A Button right before colliding with the enemy. Fly Guy, Mechakoopa Beanie, Gold Beanie, Rex
Dive Attack The user flies into an enemy. Para-Beetle, Starlow Most Furious Fawful Y
Spin to Win The user rolls into an enemy up to three times. Press A Button right before each collision with the enemy. Spiny, Roy Sharpea, Pestnut, Elite Pestnut
Chain Stomp Jumps on a single enemy twice. Press A Button right before each collision with the enemy. Lakitu, Morton Lakipea, Most Furious Fawful X
Charging Champ The user charges into an enemy and keeps going, damaging any other enemies in the way. Press A Button right before colliding with the enemy. Chain Chomp, Prince Peasley Mecha-Fawful X
Spitfire Fury Spits projectiles at multiple enemies. Press A Button repeatedly. Fire Stalking Piranha Plant, Lemmy Ice Snifit, Piranha Bean, Starkiss
Feed the Speed Raises the speed of nearby troopers. Press A Button when the meter is above the line. Magikoopa (White) None
Power Up Raises the power of nearby troopers. Magikoopa (Red), Iggy None
Sure Shot Raises the accuracy of nearby troopers. Magikoopa (Green), Sergeant Guy None
Smack Back Attack The attacker charges into an enemy, knocking them into another enemy and damaging them both. Press A Button right before colliding with the enemy. Bowser Jr. Limbo Bro, Elite Limbo Bro

Bowser Jr.'s Journey

This section is under construction. Therefore, please excuse its informal appearance while it is being worked on. We hope to have it completed as soon as possible.

There is a total of 26 Special Skills in this game. Only four skills, all of which raise stats, are exclusive.

Name Description Team Attack Command Allies Enemies
Rocket Headbutt A jump attack resembling the Headbonk from the Paper Mario series. The group lines up in front of the enemy and Headbonks one by one. Press A Button right before colliding with the enemy. Goomba, Captain Goomba, Private Goomp Oho Jee (Red)
Mega Tackle The user charges into an enemy. The group lines up on either side of the enemy and charges one by one, alternating between sides. Koopa Troopa (Green), Buzzy Beetle, Mechakoopa, Para-Biddybud (Purple), Fly Guy Scutlet, Sockop
Spin Cycle The user approaches the enemy, then spins to inflict damage. Hurts nearby enemies as well. The group forms a tower and attacks together. Deals critical damage against flying enemies. Big Tail Goomba, Tail Boo None
Chain Stomp Jumps on a single enemy twice. The group stomps together. Larger groups will stomp multiple enemies - up to two units per target. Press A Button right before each collision with the enemy. Morton, Lakitu Fawful Guy, Urchin, Oho Jee (Blue)
Charging Champ The user charges into an enemy and keeps going, damaging other enemies in the way. The group charges one by one, each unit targeting a different enemy. Press A Button right before colliding with the enemy. Koopa Troopa (Red), Chain Chomp Fawflant, Pendril, Choomba
Hit 'Em Up The user charges into an enemy, launching them into the air before landing on the user's spikes. The enemy is juggled between the group, landing on all of the users' spikes. Press A Button right before colliding with the enemy, then again as the enemy lands on the spikes. Spike Top, Spiny, Horned Ant Trooper Drillbit Crab
Whomping Wallop The user slams the ground, creating a shockwave that damages all enemies in front of the user. The shockwave does not damage flying enemies. The group slams together, creating a bigger shockwave that damages all enemies, including flying ones. Press A Button when the spark appears. Bowser Jr. (Melee), Goomba Tower, Pokey Toothy, Crawful
Kaboom Bash The user charges into an enemy and explodes. Any other enemies caught in the blast will be damaged as well. One member of the group attacks as normal. The rest stand near the targeted enemy and explode along with the attacker. Press A Button right before colliding with the enemy. Bomb Boo, Bob-omb Alarm Bob-omb
Spin to Win The user charges into an enemy up to three times while spinning in his shell. N/A Press A Button right before each collision with the enemy. Roy, Bowser (Melee) None
Smack Back Attack The user charges into another enemy, sending them flying into another enemy and damaging them both. The first user attacks as normal; Subsequent users lauch the preceding user to stomp on the original target. If the original target is defeated, another enemy will be targeted. Press A Button right before colliding with the enemy. Bowser Jr. (Flying), Broozer, Chargin' Chuck, Bully Chuboomba, Broque Madame
Cranium Crush The user flips in midair, then stomps on an enemy. The group lines up on either side of the enemy and stomps one by one, alternating between sides. Paragoomba, Koopa Paratroopa (Green and Red), Corporal Paraplonk, Para-Biddybud (Green) None
Super Stomp The user hovers over an enemy, attempting to stomp on it. The group attacks together. Press A Button when all of the attackers are directly above the enemy. Koopa Paratroopa Trio, Para-Biddybud (Yellow) Cheep Cheep
Dive Attack The user flies into an enemy. The group lines up in front of the enemy and dives one by one in rapid succession. Press A Button right before colliding with the enemy. Para-Beetle, Parabones, Para-Biddybud (Red) None
Discord The user attacks with sound waves, damaging enemies in front of the user and lowering their stats. The group attacks with a bigger sound wave that hits all enemies. Press A Button when the shrinking circle touches the spark. Boo, Swoop Fawfulcopter, Kaley
Air Bash The user rams into an enemy. This lowers the target's defense in addition to dealing damage. N/A Iggy Beef
Rain of Pain Launches a barrage of projectiles at multiple enemies. Launches a horde of projectiles at all enemies. Press A Button repeatedly. Bowser Jr. (Ranged), Dry Bones, Spear Guy, Hammer Bro, Fire Bro Treevil, Dieter, King Bob-omb
Spitfire Fury Press A Button when the shrinking circle touches the spark. Lemmy, Fire Stalking Piranha Plant Borp
Throw the Fight The user throws a large projectile at an enemy. The projectiles combine into an even bigger projectile that damage all enemies in the landing zone. Normal: Press A Button when the cursor is over the enemy.

Team Attack: Press A Button to confirm the target area.

Larry, Shy Guy (All colors), Captain Shy Guy, Ice Bro, Spike, Bandit None
Chain Shot Attacks an enemy with up to four projectiles. N/A Press A Button each time the cursor is over the target. Ludwig, Kamek Magifoofa
Piercing Projectile Launches a projectile that plows through enemies, damaging any in its path. The group attacks together while standing side-by-side. Press A Button when the cursor is over the target. Wendy, Big Boo, Boomerang Bro Shroob, Beehoss, Best Fitness Friends
DEF Up Raises the user's defense. If used by a Magikoopa, affects surrounding allies as well. N/A Press A Button when the shrinking circle touches the spark. Captain Koopa Troopa, Magikoopa (White) None
POW Up Raises the power of surrounding allies. Magikoopa (Red)
SPEED Up Raises the speed of surrounding allies. Magikoopa (Green)
ACCURACY Up Raises the accuracy of surrounding allies. Sergeant Guy
EVASION Up Raises the user's evasion. Captain Boo
Hurt or Heal The user hits a block that cycles between a small projectile, a stick, a Mushroom (which heals the user) and a large projectile (which deals more damage). The group hits a block one at a time, then attacks together. Press A Button to hit the block. Ninji, Nabbit Lakitu King
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Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga / Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions / Minion Quest: The Search for Bowser
Characters (Superstar Saga) Protagonists Mario1,2 • Luigi1,2 • Princess Peach1,2 • Prince Peasley • Bowser1,2
Antagonists Cackletta (Bowletta) • Fawful • Popple • Bowser (Rookie)1,2
Supporting characters Beanbean troops1,2 • Bink1,2 • Blablanadon1,2 • Bloat1,2 • Boddle1,2 • Border Bros1,2 • Bubbles • Chuckleroot1,2 • Chuckleroot's granddaughter1,2 • Cork and Cask • Dr. Toadley2 • Fava1,2 • Firebrand and Thunderhand1,2 • Hammerhead Bros.1,2 • Harhall1,2 • Hermie III • Hoohoo civilization1,2 • Jellyfish Sisters1,2 • Koopa Cruiser crew • Lady Lima1,2 • Miles Tones1,2 • Moai1,2 • Mole1,2 • Pea1,2 • Peach-bot1,2 • Pipeman1,2 • Professor E. Gadd • Prospector1,2 • Psycho Kamek1 • Queen Bean1,2 • Soybean civilization1,2 • Spangle • Starshade Bros.1,2 • Toad doctor1,2 • Toadsworth1,2 • Tolstar1,2 • Tuki1,2 • Yoshi Fan Club1,2
Species Ankoopa1 • Beanish1,2 • Beanlet1,2 • Big Koopa Troopa2 • Designbomb1,2 • Ghost1,2 • Hoohooligan1,2 • Kurako1,2 • Lagoon-dweller1,2 • Oho Jee • Sailor1,2 • Thwomp • Toad1,2 • Winkle1,2 • Yoshi1,2
Characters (The Search for Bowser) Protagonists Captain Goomba3 (Gold3) • Captain Shy Guy3 • Captain Boo3 (Gold3) • Captain Koopa Troopa3 (Gold3) • Koopalings (Iggy · Morton · Lemmy · Ludwig · Roy · Wendy · Larry)
Antagonists Cackletta (Bowletta) • Fawful • Popple
Supporting characters Bowser3 • Corporal Paraplonk3 • Private Goomp3 • Sergeant Guy3 • Prince Peasley • Bubbles • Cork and Cask • Hermie III • Professor E. Gadd • Spangle
Special moves Overworld/solo attacks Emergency Block2 • Counterattack1,2 • Dash1,2 An M ripped from the game. • Dunk Hammer1,2 An L ripped from the game. • Firebrand1,2 An M ripped from the game. • Flee1,2 • Hammer1,2 • High Jump1,2 An L ripped from the game. • Jump1,2 • Mini-Mario1,2 An M ripped from the game. • Pump Mario1,2 An M ripped from the game. • Spin Jump1,2 An M ripped from the game. • Surfboard1,2 An L ripped from the game. • Tickle1,2 An L ripped from the game. • Thunderhand1,2 An L ripped from the game.
Bros. Attacks1,2 Bounce Bros. An L ripped from the game. • Chopper Bros. An M ripped from the game. • Cyclone Bros. An L ripped from the game. • Fire Bros. An M ripped from the game. • Knockback Bros. An L ripped from the game. • Splash Bros. An M ripped from the game. • Swing Bros. An M ripped from the game. • Thunder Bros. An L ripped from the game.
Captain Commands3 Deny • Rally • Chance • Play Dead • Lightning • Parry • Pass the Bob-omb • Thwomp Thump • Clash of Captains • Call for Backup • Sneak Attack • Shell Shock
Bosses Superstar Saga Birdo • Bowletta1,2 • Bowser1,2 • Cackletta1,2 • Chuckolator1,2 • Dragohoho1,2 • Fawful • Flaret1,2 • Hermie III1,2 • Hoohooros1,2 • Jojora1,2 • Jojora's friends1,2 • Koopalings (Iggy · Morton · Lemmy · Ludwig · Roy · Wendy · Larry) • Mom Piranha1,2 • Popple • Queen Bean1,2 • Rookie1,2 • Tolstar1,2 • Trunkle1,2 • Wiggler1,2
The Search for Bowser Birdo • Corporal Paraplonk3 • Fawful • Koopalings (Iggy · Morton · Lemmy · Ludwig · Roy · Wendy · Larry) • Popple • Private Goomp3 • Sergeant Guy3
Locations Beanbean Airport1,2 • Beanbean Borderland1,2 • Beanbean Castle1,2 • Beanbean Castle Sewers/Beanbean Castle Sewer1,2 • Beanbean Castle Town1,2 • Beanbean Outskirts/Beanbean Fields • Beanbean Kingdom • Bowser's Castle • Castle Town Item Shop1,2 • Chateau de Chucklehuck1,2 • Chucklehuck Woods • Fire Palace1,2 • Guffawha Ruins1,2 • Gwarhar Lagoon • Harhall's Studio1,2 • Hoohoo Mountain • Hoohoo Village1,2 • Information Booth1,2 • Joke's End • Koopa Cruiser • Little Fungitown1,2 • Little Fungitown Item Shop1,2 • Mario and Luigi's house1,2 • Mushroom Kingdom1,2 • Oho Oasis1,2 • Oho Ocean1,2 • Pipe House1,2 • Princess Peach's Castle1,2 • Relaxation Room1,2 • S.S. Chuckola1,2 • Seabed1,2 • Starbeans Cafe1,2 • Stardust Fields1,2 • Teehee Valley • Thunder Palace1,2 • Toadtown Square/Peach's Castle1,2 • Winkle Colosseum1,2 • Woohoo Hooniversity1,2 • Yoshi Theater1,2
Enemies Superstar Saga Anuboo1,2 • Beanerang Bro • Beanie • Belly Blech1,2 • Bill Blaster1,2 • Blooper1,2 • Bob-omb • Boo • Cheep Cheep1 • Chomp Bro1,2 • Chuck Guy • Chuckorok1,2 • Clumph • Dry Bones4 • Eeker1,2 • Elite Chuck Guy • Elite Dry Bones1,2 • Elite Gritty Goomba1,2 • Elite Limbo Bro • Elite Pestnut • Elite Troopea • Fighter Fly1,2 • Fuzzbush • Fuzzy1,2 • Glurp1,2 • Gold Beanie • Goomba • Goomdiver1,2 • Gritty Goomba • Gunner Guy1,2 • Hammer Bro • Ice Snifit • Lakipea • Laser Snifit1,2 • Limbo Bro • Magikoopa • Malibut1,2 • Mecha-Blooper1,2 • Mecha-Chomp1 • Mechakoopa • Oucher Glass1,2 • Parabeanie • Paratroopea • Pestnut • Piranha Bean • Piranha Plant1,2 • Puffer-Cheep1 • Rex • Roto-Disc1,2 • Sand Cheep1,2 • Scaratroopea • Sharkbone1,2 • Sharpea • Sniper Bill1,2 • Spiky Snifit1,2 • Spiny4 • Spiny Cheep Cheep2 • Starkiss • Super Fly1,2 • Sworm1,2 • Tanoomba • Time Bob-omb1,2 • Troopea • Virus1,2 • Yo Bro1,2
The Search for Bowser Bandit3 • Beanerang Bro • Beanie • Big Boo3 • Big Tail Goomba3 • Bob-omb • Bomb Boo3 • Boo • Boomerang Bro3 • Broozer3 • Buzzy Beetle3 • Chain Chomp3 • Chargin' Chuck3 • Chuck Guy • Clumph • Dry Bones4 • Elite Captain Quartet3 • Elite Chuck Guy • Elite Limbo Bro • Elite Pestnut • Elite Troopea • Fire Bro3 • Fire Stalking Piranha Plant3 • Fly Guy3 • Fuzzbush • Gold Beanie • Goomba • Goomba Tower3 • Green Magikoopa3 • Gritty Goomba • Hammer Bro • Ice Bro3 • Ice Snifit • Koopa Paratroopa3 • Koopa Troopa3 • Lakipea • Lakitu3 • Limbo Bro • Magikoopa • Mechakoopa • Mechawful3 • Para-Beetle3 • Parabeanie • Paragoomba3 • Paratroopea • Pestnut • Piranha Bean • Pokey3 • Red Magikoopa3 • Rex • Scaratroopea • Sharpea • Shy Guy3 • Spear Guy3 • Spike3 • Spiny4 • Spiny Cheep Cheep2 • Starkiss • Tail Boo3 • Tanoomba • Troopea • White Magikoopa3
Items Consumables 1-Up Mushroom1,2 • 1-Up Super1,2 • 100 Coin2 • 10 Coin2 • 50-Coin2 • Beanbean coin1,2 • Boo Biscuit2 • Coin1,2 • Five Coin1,2 • Golden Mushroom1,2 • Green Pepper1,2 • Max Mushroom1,2 • Max Nut1,2 • Max Syrup1,2 • Mushroom1,2 • Nut1,2 • Red Pepper1,2 • Refreshing Herb1,2 • Super Mushroom1,2 • Super Nut1,2 • Super Syrup1,2 • Syrup1,2 • Ultra Mushroom1,2 • Ultra Nut1,2 • Ultra Syrup1,2
Key items Bean Fruit1,2 • Beanbean Brooch1,2 • Beanbean Map1,2 • Beanstar1,2 • Beanstar piece1,2 • Beanstone1,2 • Chuckola Fruit1,2 • Chuckola Reserve1,2 • Crabbie Grass1,2 • Face1,2 • Fake Beanstar1,2 • Flaming statue1,2 • Hoohoo Spirit1,2 • Invincishroom • Membership Card1,2 • Neon Egg1,2 • Peach's Extra Dress1,2 • Pearl Bean1,2 • Peasley's Rose1,2 • Precious belonging1,2 • Red and Green Goblets1,2 • Secret Scroll 11,2 • Secret Scroll 21,2 • Suitcase1,2 • Winkle Card1,2
Bean Juice1,2 Chuckle Blend • Chuckoccino • Hoohoo Blend • Hoolumbian • Teehee Blend • Teeheespresso • Woohoo Blend
Special items Bonus Ring1,2 • Cobalt Necktie1,2 • Excite Spring1,2 • Game Boy Horror SP1,2 • Great Force1,2 • Greed Wallet1,2 • Power Grip1 • Secret Specs2
Blocks1,2 ! Block • ? Block • Bros. Block • Command Block • Hidden Block • Hoohoo Block • L Block • M Block • Rally Block • Random Block • Recovery block • Save Album • Simu-Block • Spin Block
Other Axe1,2 • Badge1,2 • Bean1,2 • Bike Pads1,2 • Black Rock1,2 • Boo Statue1,2 • Brown Rock1,2 • Button1,2 • Cart1,2 • Gold ring • Chuckola Cola1,2 • Clothing1,2 • Conductor1,2 • Gown1,2 • Gray Rock1,2 • Headgear1,2 • Invincibility Mushroom3 • Koopa Clown Car1,2 • Lift1,2 • Poison Mushroom1,2 • Poltergust 30001,2 • Pressure Plate1,2 • Region map1 • Rolling Bar Defense System1,2 • Spiky Stardust Defense System1,2 • Spring Pad1,2 • Super Poltergust 30011,2 • Surfing Spot1,2 • Toad Express1,2 • Torch1,2 • Wall Face1,2 • Warp Pipe1,2 • Watering hole1,2 • Waterspout1,2
Minigames1,2 Border Jump • Mysterious Mine Carts • Star 'Stache Smash • Barrel • Chuckola Bounce • Surfing Game • Splart
Stats Bros. Point1,2 • Defense • Experience Point • Heart Point • Level up • Power • Speed1,2 • Spirit3 • Stache1,2
Status Burn1,2 • Charred1,2 • DEF-Down • DEF-Up • Dizzy • Fury2 • Heavy G1,2 • Invisible2 • Light G1,2 • Poison1,2 • POW-Down • POW-Up • Prohibited Command1,2 • SPD-Down1,2 • SPD-Up1,2 • Trip1,2
Other Bean Fever1,2 • Beanbean Air • Beanhole locations1 (Bowser's Minions2) • Block locations1,2 • Bestiary1 (Bowser's Minions2) • Enemy formations1,2 • Gallery1 (Bowser's Minions2) • Gear1 (Bowser's Minions2) • Glitches1 (Bowser's Minions2) • Hidden Block locations1 (Bowser's Minions2) • Hooroglyphs1,2 • In-game music2 • Kingdom Courier1,2 • Level up progressions1,2 • Mario & Luigi RPG: Sound Selection1 • Mario Bros.1 • Pre-release and unused content1 • Quotes1 (Bowser's Minions2) • Shops2 • Special Skill3 • Staff1 (Bowser's Minions2) • Story summaries2 • Super Attack1,2
1 Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
2 Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions
3 Minion Quest: The Search for Bowser
4 Enemy variants differ in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions
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