Summary
The new Power-Ups found inSuper Mario Bros. Wonderare few but very detailed, each helping you in your journey with new movement tools or ways to deal with enemies. With their own distinct identities, the tricks you can perform will have you beat the game in no time.
Yet there’s a learning curve to these powers, and if you’re not paying attention to their full capabilities, you might get stuck on some levels. While nearly all can be done without the aid of Power-Ups, certain puzzle segments require you to have a deep understanding of how they function.
8Drill: Trust The Helmet
Not today, Lakitu
The Drill’s power lets you burrow into the ground or the ceiling, becoming invulnerable to all damage and gaining access to hidden areas. Not only that, but it makes your jumps deadly from above and from below, thanks to the helmet’s pointy end.
That pointy end always deals damage to your enemies, even if you’re not jumping. So if an enemy is trying to ambush you from above, just stay still and see them bounce off defeated. This even works with certain projectiles, like the ones Lakitu throws from the safety of his cloud.
7Drill: Be Careful Of Where You Burrow
Not every surface is Burrow-Friendly
With the potential to make you invulnerable, it might seem that the Drill is the best Power-Up in the game. However, it can’t protect you everywhere, and if you’re not mindful of where you’re going, you might suddenly pop up to an unexpected Bullet Bill to the face.
Boss arenas are a no-burrow zone, so there’s little the Power can do to help you there. You also can’t burrow on vertical surfaces, but you can on horizontal and diagonal ones; keeping this in mind will let you know when there’s a secret area for the Drill and when it’s just set dressing.
6Fire Flower: Avoid Using The Fire Power
The enemies have adapted to it
The Fire Power is the tried and true method of dealing with enemies in Mario since time immemorial, so it’s no surprise that it’s the only returning Power in Super Mario Bros. Wonder. While it may not be as versatile as the new Powers, the range of its attack makes it still viable.
Yet it isn’t as strong as it once was, and if you rely too heavily on it, you’ll end up being punished. There are plenty of creatures immune to the fire, and the Maw-Maws can even return your shots with even bigger fireballs. Use the Fire Power sparingly and prioritize the other abilities.
5Elephant: Use Your Trunk
It has more uses than you might think
The Elephant Power is the mightiest of all forms in terms of size and offensive might. The melee attacks are strong enough to deal with the biggest enemies in one blow, and you’re big enough to grab items otherwise out of reach.
The unique feature of the Elephant, however, is being able to hold water in your trunk. This can allow you to solve a lot of puzzles, from watering plants to dousing flames. So whenever you see a water source, the Elephant is your best choice for taking it with you.
4Elephant: Be Mindful Of Your Size
Bigger isn’t always better
There are plenty of instances in Mario games where you need to squeeze into small places. While you can move while crouching, these hidden areas either need the speed only attained by being small or some other puzzle-solving technique. Not to mention that the Elephant form adds moments of danger where there used to be none.
A classic way of getting killed in Mario games is being squashed by a wall or enemy. We’re used to crouching when needed, but the Elephant form needs to dodge more things than you might be expecting. Especially in stages with a moving trolley, you might think you’re fine while standing still when the Elephant needs to duck.
3Bubbles: Use Them Offensively
The best defense is a wall of bubbles
If a level in Super Mario Bros. Wonder feels like a bullet hell, then it surely also contains the Bubble Power-Up. It can consume a lot of enemies that are either invulnerable or have multiple phases, meaning you can protect yourself as you advance by spamming Bubbles in front of you.
This isn’t a technique to use haphazardly, however, since if you’re not careful, the Bubbles can block your movement or consume an enemy that you need for a puzzle. It’s best to calculate where and when to shoot the Bubble, understanding that it moves forward while ascending slightly.
2Bubbles: Use For Enemies Out Of Reach
They can even grab coins!
The rule of thumb when using the Bubbles is to measure your enemies against them. If they fit inside the Bubble, they can be instantly killed. If not, the Bubble will do nothing. But more important than that is understanding the reach of the Bubble; it can go through walls.
So if you need to kill an enemy on the other side of a wall or even above you, the Bubble is the way to go. It can also deal with enemies without breaking bricks so that you can advance, leaving the way intact in case you need it for platforming.
1Bubbles: Use As Platforms
No flag is out of reach
The final and trickiest use of the Bubbles is as a platform. If you time your jumps right, you can hop on your own Bubbles to reach unexpected places. They can even help you reach flags that you wouldn’t normally be able to get.
Since Bubbles are normally used to attack, be mindful of the position of enemies when using them as platforms. An enemy being sucked up by the Bubble removes its momentum and jump power, so attempt to use them this way when there are no foes in sight.
