Mario Strikers: Battle League Complete Guide (11 Sections) | AntMag

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Welcome to Mario Strikers: Battle League, the chaotic 5-on-5 arcade soccer game from Nintendo! Forget the usual Mario sports fare; this is a high-octane, over-the-top experience where the objective is simple: score more goals than the opposing team. You'll be tackling, dodging, and unleashing devastating Hyper Strikes to gain the advantage. With a roster of iconic Mario characters, each boasting unique stats and abilities, team composition and synergy are key to victory.

This guide is your playbook for dominating the pitch. We'll break down everything from the fundamental controls and the nuances of Perfect Actions to advanced strategies for conquering the toughest challenges, including the formidable Flower Cup. Learn how to optimize your team's gear and counter every opponent's move, ensuring you're ready to claim victory in every match.

Part 1

Hey, and welcome to my first FAQ!

Ok, so this guide is about the UK's first Wifi supported game on the Wii, Mario Strikers Charged. First, I'd like to point out that although this is the sequel to Mario Smash Football/Super Mario Strikers on the Gamecube, it is a completely different game. Stuff from the old game has been left out (for instance the super team, and Perfect Passes) while loads of new things have been put in to this version (Bowser is a playable character, new sidekicks, different ball e.t.c.). It's really easy to get the hang of, since all you need is a remote and nunchuk. The controls are pretty much the same this time around as well, with the exception that Z is lob pass/shot and the remote has to be shaken to perform the big hit. I will not be covering any of the Striker Cup in this FAQ, because it is full of randomly generated teams that are all different, and it would take me AGES. Well, that's it for my nervous introduction. I hope you like my FAQ and you enjoy reading it! I am also on the message board every day if someone wants to talk.

1a. Legal Stuff

Basically, anyone and everyone is free to read this FAQ but should not under any circumstances claim it to be made by them. If you do, I WILL FIND OUT. Do not put it on your piczo or bebo or myspace or whatever without notifying me and recieving my permission. This guide may only be printed off for personal use. Only IGN FAQs can display this guide. Finally, if you send me an e-mail with some tips on how to make the FAQ better, I will put you in the credits section if I decide to take the advice. Offensive or irrelevant e-mails will be filtered to my junk box and deleted immediately.

1b. Version History

/02/07/07/ - Finished the intro, legal stuff and started the guide.

/03/07/07/ - Sorted out the weird text, worked on characters section.

/04/07/07/ - Continued and finished captains section, started sidekicks section.

/05/07/07/ - Lazy day, did nothing on the FAQ. Instead, played MSC ;p

/06/07/07/ - Continued and finished Sidekicks section, completed WiFi section, started Other Notes section.

/07/07/07/ - Continued Other Notes, added Striker Challenges section

/31/07/07/ - Big break, been very busy. Finally got round to fixing stuff in the characters section.

/1/08/07/ - Pinch, Punch. Continued with the tips section.

/11/08/07 - FINALLY got round to uploading the nearly finished version.

2. Characters

Now we reach the bulk of my FAQ, the characters section. MSC offers a much wider range of characters than its predecessor, which adds a lot more depth and strategy into the game. The characters come in 2 sections, Captains and Sidekicks, and 5 different types of player. These are Balanced, Defensive, Offensive, Playmaker and Power. I'm gonna do a quick review on all of them. Remember, this is just my opinion. Try and reach your own verdict on whether you want to use a character or not. This is how I'm going to review each one: Deke: The type of deke each character has, complete with my own little nickname ;p Super Ability (Captains Only): The name and description of each captain's Super Ability. Skillshot (Sidekicks Only): The name and description of each sidekicks unique skillshot. Tactics: Common use of this character. What to look out for: What not to let this character do. Rating: My overall rating out of 10 Notes/Comments: Miscellaneous stuff

2a. Captains

These guys are your team leaders. MSC doesn't have the HUGE amount of random Mario characters that other games such as Double Dash!! have, so the captains are pretty much A-list Mario characters.

--Balanced Captains--

These guys can be counted on to get a job done. They have average everything, and their Super Abilities involve crushing the opposition into the ground, similar to the Offensive characters' dekes. Their skills are:

Movement: 6
Shooting: 6
Passing: 6
Defence: 6

Mario

Maz' is obviously the star of the game. Being a Balanced character, he's pretty good at everything. He is a common choice on WiFi and is often accompanied by Offensive and Power characters to back up his average shooting.

Deke: Mazza Roll (Mario does a small roll and is able to dodge attacks)
Super Ability: Super Mario (Mario shouts a random Mario phrase and then grows to an enormous size, crushing everyone)
Tactics: Mario fits pretty well into any of the standard football positions (defence, midfield, striker)and can help set up for other characters. The standard strategy is crush everyone with Super Mario and go straight into a Megastrike.
What to look out for: Mario players tend to go super, crush everyone and get a Megastrike. Use a fast character like Dry Bones to run from the super because eventually they will stop chasing you and go straight into a Megastrike. He will shrink as he determines the number of balls to be shot, so hit him then.
Rating: 7/10
Notes/Comments: Mario fits anywhere in a team, but he's not that good in my books. Monty Mole, DK, Bowser and even other balanced characters can easily take out Mario with a big hit.

Luigi

Luigi, t

Part 2

This section covers various captains available in Mario Strikers: Battle League, detailing their unique abilities, tactics, and effectiveness.

Luigi

Luigi is functionally identical to Mario, possessing the same Super Ability. Despite this, he is less popular on Wi-Fi, perhaps due to aesthetic preferences.

Deke: Crouch Jump (Luigi sits down and jumps a short distance)
Super Ability: Super Luigi (Luigi grows to a massive size)
Tactics: Same as Mario.
What to look out for: Same as Mario.
Rating: 7/10
Notes/Comments: Almost identical to Mario; could have benefited from a defensive role.

Yoshi

Yoshi offers a different playstyle with a strong Big Hit and a unique Super Ability. He is considered a balanced captain.

Deke: Flutter Jump (Yoshi hops forward, staying airborne longer than the Mario Bros.)
Super Ability: Egg Roll (Yoshi turns into an egg and can be controlled to crush opponents)
Tactics: Spamming his deke and using Egg Roll to overwhelm opponents.
What to look out for: Egg Roll can trap the ball, but is countered similarly to the Mario Bros.' Super Ability.
Rating: 7.5/10
Notes/Comments: Marginally better than the Mario Bros., but his Super Ability is considered a drawback.

Defensive Captains

Defensive characters are scarce. Dry Bones is recommended if you don't choose one of the two main defensive captains. They excel in motility and tackling but are weaker with the ball. They also have the potential to teleport into the goal.

Movement: 10
Shooting: 3
Passing: 3
Defence: 10

Daisy

Daisy is the standard Defensive character, known for her speed and unique Super Ability. Waluigi is often preferred over her.

Deke: White Smoke (Daisy spins and briefly disappears and reappears)
Super Ability: Crystal Smash (Daisy creates six spiky crystals around her in a hexagon)
Tactics: Using Crystal Smash near the goalie to stun them before taking a shot.
What to look out for: She is very fast and can tackle effectively. Use power characters to knock her away. Avoid letting her near your goalie with Crystal Smash charged or when she has a white ball.
Rating: 6/10
Notes/Comments: Outclassed by Waluigi; Dry Bones is a better defensive option.

Waluigi

Waluigi is a rare but highly regarded captain, known for his powerful Super Ability. His effectiveness can vary greatly.

Deke: Vanish (Waluigi grabs the ball and disappears in a cloud of smoke)
Super Ability: Wall-Luigi (Waluigi leaves a trail of purple vines, increasing his speed)
Tactics: Boxing opponents into a corner with Wall-Luigi to set up a Megastrike.
What to look out for: Avoid tackling Waluigi's teammates without the ball to prevent Wall-Luigi. Do not let him get a white ball. His normal shots are weak. Passing can be difficult on certain stages like The Dump.
Rating: 8/10
Notes/Comments: Wall-Luigi duration is short, and normal shots are ineffective.

Offensive Captains

Offensive Captains are strong with passing and shooting but struggle to gain possession. Their dekes involve powerful ground slams.

Movement: 3
Shooting: 10
Passing: 10
Defence: 3

Wario

Wario is a strong offensive character with a useful deke and Super Ability. He is frequently used online.

Deke: Butt Smash (Wario slams down with a large damage area)
Super Ability: Gas Mask (Wario releases a green gas cloud that disorients opponents)
Tactics: Using Gas Mask to disrupt opponents and facilitate a Megastrike.
What to look out for: Gas Mask can be tackled through to reach Wario.

Part 3

This section covers Playmaker and Power Captains in Mario Strikers: Battle League. Playmakers excel at movement and passing but struggle with shooting and defense. Power Captains are the opposite, with high shooting and defense but low movement and passing.

Playmaker Captains:

Playmakers are not a personal favorite for many, as they can move and pass well but have difficulty getting and scoring with the ball. Their strengths lie in setting up plays and utilizing unique goalie-jumping and teleport tricks.

Movement: 10
Shooting: 3
Passing: 10
Defence: 3

Peach

Princess Peach, known for her iconic look, is a Playmaker captain. Her deke is a 'Jump', allowing her to leap over opponents. Her Super Ability is 'Freeze Frame', which traps opponents in camera flashes.

Deke: Jump
Super Ability: Freeze Frame
Tactics: Pass the ball between herself and characters with good passing, like Hammer Bros.
What to look out for: Her passing can be annoying, and she can pass while using her deke. Avoid her when she has Freeze Frame active.
Rating: 5.5/10
Notes: Not a favorite due to lack of standout strategies and reliance on luck for Megastrikes.

Diddy Kong

Diddy Kong is considered a better Playmaker than Peach, with a more agile jump and a strong Super Ability. He is not commonly seen online.

Deke: Monkey Jump
Super Ability: Red Card (A tractor beam lifts opponents out of the match, leaving only Diddy)
Tactics: Making charged shots and using Red Card for Megastrike chances.
What to look out for: Stealing the ball to force an early Red Card. Jump the goalie is a common tactic.
Rating: 7.5/10
Notes: Potentially the best Playmaker; his Red Card ability is very powerful.
Unlocked by beating the Crystal Cup.

Power Captains:

Power Captains are a mix of players who are strong in defense and shooting but lack mobility and passing ability. They are common on WiFi.

Movement: 3
Shooting: 10
Passing: 3
Defence: 10

Donkey Kong (DK)

Donkey Kong is a Power Captain who is often overused online. His Super Ability is considered less useful by some.

Deke: Chest Smash (damages nearby opponents)
Super Ability: Thunder Wham (causes a shockwave that knocks players into the fence)
Pros: Fast deke, good normal shooting.
Cons: Often out of position, Super Ability is questionable, large size makes him easy to tackle.
Tactics: Using Thunder Wham to create MegaStrike chances.
What to look out for: Thunder Wham's area of effect is smaller than it appears. Try to force DK to use it before attempting a Megastrike.
Rating: 5/10

Bowser Jr.

Bowser Jr. is an Offensive captain and a personal favorite for many. He is less frequently seen used by opponents online.

Deke: Shell Smash (Jr. jumps and crashes down shell-first)
Super Ability: Sonic Roar (Jr. screams, emitting a damaging 'ray' that shrinks opponents, lowering their abilities)
Tactics: Pass back and forth to charge the ball and shoot. Jr. can score with an uncharged ball. Bounce shots off the goalie to teammates like Monty Mole for easy shots.
What to look out for: Sonic Roar is annoying and effective in sudden death, making scoring easier and defense harder. It's considered a top 5 ability.
Rating: 9/10
Notes: A great character with a main drawback being a poor slide tackle, though it has a wider area than Wario's.
Unlocked by beating the Fire Cup.

Part 4

This section of the guide covers additional captains and sidekicks in Mario Strikers: Battle League.

Captains Covered:

Bowser

Bowser is a Power captain. His Super Ability is Fire Storm, where he breathes fire, causing opponents to panic and run into electric fences. His Deke is Withdraw, where he withdraws into his shell, deflecting opponents. While his Fire Storm can be slow, players can discover a 'Flamethrower' tactic with it. Bowser is rated 7.5/10.

Petey Piranha

Petey Piranha is another captain with a unique presence. His Super Ability is Mud Slinger, where he spits mud. If it hits a player directly, it acts as a tackle; otherwise, it slows players down. His Deke is Head Rattle, where he rapidly bangs his head, hurting nearby opponents. Tactics often involve spamming Head Rattle or using Mud Slinger to create Megastrike opportunities. Be cautious of Mud Slinger slowing you down and Head Rattle spammers. Petey is rated 7/10.

Sidekicks

Sidekicks do not have Megastrikes or Super Abilities but have Skillshots activated similarly to Megastrikes. They are categorized as Balanced, Defensive, Offensive, Playmaker, and Power. Teams can consist of three identical or three different sidekicks.

Balanced Sidekicks

Balanced sidekicks are versatile and have decent Skillshots and dekes. They are less common on WiFi.

Koopa

Koopa Troopa is a balanced sidekick. His Deke is Shell Spin, where he spins in his shell. His Skillshot is Shell Smash, launching a giant shell to stun opponents. Tactics involve looking for Shell Smash opportunities or utilizing his balanced nature for general play. The Skillshot is highly effective and should not be allowed to charge. Koopa is rated 8.5/10.

Shy Guy

Shy Guy is another balanced sidekick. His Deke is Shy Jump, a small jump. His Skillshot is Bullet Bill Blast, where he rides a Bullet Bill towards the opponent's goal. If players are in the path, it explodes, knocking everyone down, but Shy Guy recovers faster. Tactics involve using the explosion to create scoring chances or having a player near the goal to steal the ball post-explosion. Standing in front of the Bullet Bill can stop it. Shy Guy is rated 5/10. Koopa is generally preferred due to a faster deke and a less risky Skillshot.