Guard

This article is about the move in the Paper Mario series. For the boss in Virtual Boy Wario Land, see Guard (boss). For the bee enemy in Donkey Kong 3 also referred to as "Guard", see Buzzbee.

Mario guarding in Paper Mario

“That's how it's done! A successful block! That'll reduce the damage you take.”

—Action Toad, Paper Mario: Color Splash

Guard (also known as block) is a defensive move in several role-playing games of the Super Mario franchise. It is mainly used in battle to reduce the damage of attacks, occasionally preventing any damage from being taken.

History[edit]

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars[edit]

In Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, Mario and his party members (Mallow, Geno, Bowser and Peach) can guard against enemy attacks if the player presses as the attack connects. Depending on the timing, they can take reduced damage or no damage at all. Mortal blows that are imperfectly guarded leave the character at 1 HP. Some attacks, mainly magic attacks such as Flame Wall and Static E!, are not able to be blocked.

The remake makes some magic attacks blockable (mainly those that only target a single character), as well as adding a notice for unblockable attacks. Guarding also adds to the chain number that grants boosts the higher it gets, though it does not prevent status effects. Any perfect guards will produce a barrier in front of the guarding character and play a distinct sound effect.

Paper Mario series[edit]

Paper Mario[edit]

In Paper Mario, by pressing within 3/30ths of a second (3 frames) before an attack's impact, the player can reduce the damage that Mario takes by 1, or, if the attack is targeting a Partner, nullify all damage. Guarding also nullifies any status effects otherwise inflicted by enemies. When a guard is completed successfully, the yellow text "NICE" will appear above the guarding character. By equipping the Dodge Master Badge, the amount of time before impact that the player has to successfully guard increases to 5/30ths of a second (5 frames). Equipping one or more Damage Dodge Badges will further decrease the amount of damage that Mario takes by one extra point per equipped Badge.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door[edit]

In Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door and its Nintendo Switch remake, guarding works similarly to the way it does in Paper Mario. By pressing within 8/60ths of a second (8 frames)^[1] before an enemy's attack hits, the damage that Mario or his partner receives will be reduced by 1. Guarding will also negate almost every status effect linked to the attack, such as Poison. The only exception to this is immobilization,^{[citation needed]} which only three enemies in the game (X-Yux, Atomic Boo and Grodus) can inflict without an item. When a guard is completed successfully, the blue text "NICE" ("GUARD" in green in the remake) will appear above the guarding character. By equipping Damage Dodge badges, guarding will negate one additional point of damage per equipped badge. Two Simplifier badges or one Unsimplifier badge will respectively increase or decrease the window to guard by 1/60th of a second. Guarding reduces damage even against piercing attacks.

Should an attack target both Mario and his partner, the player only has to successfully guard the first hit; whoever gets hit second will automatically take whatever defensive action (Guard, Superguard, or neither) the first did. Because of this, there is a bug where the player cannot control what the second target does if the attack misses the first target — the second target's action will match whatever the last defensive action was for the previous attack.

Items used by enemies cannot be guarded against.

There exists a much stronger version of the guard, called the Superguard, which blocks all damage and status effects, while also damaging any enemies that attack Mario or his partner directly. Performing a superguard requires much tighter timing than a regular guard.

Paper Mario: Sticker Star[edit]

Guarding returns in Paper Mario: Sticker Star after being absent in the previous entry, being used to reduce the damage received in battles and block status effects. Pressing during enemy attacks will have Mario raise his arms up defensively for 10/60ths of a second (10 frames). This halves incoming damage (rounded up) while displaying the blue text "BLOCK" on the side. If Mario is hit multiple times in quick succession, the guard will be held for the remainder of that attack. Conversely, if Mario isn't hit while guarding, he will drop his arms and briefly be unable to block. When guarding against certain enemies such as Paint Guys, the player must repeatedly press to push away the enemy and stop their attack, rather than reducing damage. Guarding cannot be performed while Mario is inflicted with the Clipped, Crumpled, Frozen, or Sleep status effects.

Certain stickers modify the behavior of Mario's guard in battle. With the Frog Suit or Super Boot and their shiny variants, Mario will jump which can be used to completely evade certain attacks, while still being vulnerable to high or long-lasting attacks. The Tail and Shiny Tail allow Mario to swipe in front of him when performing a guard, which can attack enemies who get close or deflect projectiles, however it cannot block attacks from above. While wearing a Spike Helmet leaves Mario exposed to attacks from the front, enemies falling onto him will automatically be hurt and pressing will have Mario stand up to deal extra contact damage. The Leaf and Shiny Leaf will make Mario automatically block all incoming attacks without player input. These stickers will fall off of Mario at the end of the turn or if he is hit. Only one evasive sticker can be applied at a given time; attempting to use multiple guard modifiers causes the previous sticker to fall off before applying the next one.

Paper Mario: Color Splash[edit]

In Paper Mario: Color Splash, guarding retains most of its functionality and timing from Paper Mario: Sticker Star, halving the incoming damage (rounded down) and being performed by either pressing or tapping the touchscreen. The blue text "Block!" is repositioned above Mario when successfully guarding against an attack. The Frog Suit, Tail, and Spike Helmet serve their same defensive purposes from the previous game, specializing the guard for evading or countering damage from certain attacks. Additionally, these defensive Battle Cards are no longer discarded at the end of the round, only being lost when Mario takes damage. Tail cards in particular are required during the fight against Ludwig in Fort Cobalt to deflect cannonballs back towards the Super Ludship.

During the final battle against Black Bowser, Huey transforms himself into a Thing Card to help contain the black paint. When guarding with Huey, Mario will hold him in front with the lid opened, absorbing any incoming paint from Black Bowser's attacks. Huey is only able to handle blocking eleven attacks before his body becomes too crumpled,^[2] requiring Mario to be more efficient with how much paint he shakes off of Black Bowser during the fight. Huey also has Mario remove any defensive cards he attempts to use during this part of the fight, as it would inhibit their plan of absorbing the black paint.

Paper Mario: The Origami King[edit]

In Paper Mario: The Origami King, guarding has been weakened compared to the previous two entries, with a base 30% damage reduction if Mario successfully blocks an attack. To compensate, certain accessories can be used to increase Mario's defense; Guard Plus reduces the amount of damage Mario receives even further, similar to the Damage Dodge badges in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. The specific reduction amount is randomized but generally improved by the tier of the accessory, and is added onto the base percentage reduction:

If Mario successfully blocks an attack at least once, an extra 10 coins are added to his Clear Bonus at the end of battle. Although the Tail and Shiny Tail items return in this game, they are no longer used defensively. Failing to guard against the Rubber Band's binding attack and similar moves will cause Mario to be immobilized for a follow-up attack, similar to being inflicted with some status effects from previous games. Mario is also able to guard while using the 1,000-Fold Arms during the Handaconda boss fight, though the timing is not strict; losing a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors will allow Handaconda to punch Mario, however he can brace his arms together to halve the incoming damage. The Hole Punch attack from the boss of the same name cannot be blocked, reducing Mario's maximum health while ignoring the guard.

Mario & Luigi series[edit]

Mario guarding against a Dried Blooper in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey

Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions, Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey and Mario & Luigi: Brothership^[3] have a defensive move called Emergency Block and Emergency Guard, respectively, which players can use by pressing and holding (in Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam and Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions), (in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey), or (in Mario & Luigi: Brothership)^[4] if they are having trouble avoiding damage in a particular situation. Like in the Paper Mario games, the Emergency Block/Guard can reduce damage taken by Mario and Luigi, and Paper Mario in Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam. However, it does not prevent status effects.

The Urchin's explosion in Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam and the Extension Corps' explosion at the end of their battle in Mario & Luigi: Brothership cannot be avoided via any means other than Emergency Block/Guard.

Gallery[edit]

• 

  Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

• 

  Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Nintendo Switch remake)

• 

  Paper Mario: Sticker Star

• 

  Paper Mario: Color Splash

• 

  Paper Mario: Origami King

Names in other languages[edit]

References[edit]

[Edit] 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 • Doctor1,2 • Dr. Toadley2 • Fava1,2 • Firebrand and Thunderhand1,2 • Hammerhead Bros.1,2 • Harhall1,2 • Hermie III • Hoohoo civilization1,2 • Jellyfish Sisters1,2 • Lady Lima1,2 • Miles Tones1,2 • Moai1,2 • Mole1,2 • Pea1,2 • Peach-bot1,2 • Photographer (Koopa Troopa)1,2 • Pipeman1,2 • Professor E. Gadd • Prospector1,2 • Psycho Kamek1 • Queen Bean1,2 • Soybean civilization1,2 • Spangle • Starshade Bros.1,2 • 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 • Starlow3
Special moves	Overworld/solo attacks	Dunk Hammer1,2 • Fire Dash1,2 • Firebrand1,2 • Hammer1,2 • High Jump1,2 • Jump1,2 • Mini-Mario1,2 • Pump Mario1,2 • Spin Jump1,2 • Surfboard1,2 • Thunder Tickle1,2 • Thunderhand1,2
	Bros. Attacks1,2	Bounce Bros. • Chopper Bros. • Cyclone Bros. • Fire Bros. • Knockback Bros. • Splash Bros. • Swing Bros. • Thunder Bros.
	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 • 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 • 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 • Recording2 • 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 • Whirlwind1,2
Game mechanics	Stats	Bros. Point1,2 • Defense • Experience Point • Heart Point • Level up • Power • Speed1,2 • Spirit3 • Stache1,2
	Elements	Fire • Thunder
	Status	Burn1,2 • Charred1,2 • DEF-Down • DEF-Up • Dizzy • Downed • 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
	Battle mechanics	Action Command • Advanced Command/Super Attack1,2 • Counterattack1,2 • Emergency Block2 • First Strike • Flee1,2 • Lucky hit
	Minigames1,2	Border Jump • Mysterious Mine Carts • Star 'Stache Smash • Barrel • Chuckola Bounce • Surfing Game • Splart
Music		"A New Adventure Begins" • "We're Off Again!" • "Touch of Evil" • "Prince Peasley's Theme" • "Fawful Music" • "Bowser's Road" • "Cackletta, the Fiercest Foe" • "A Journey Full of Laughs" • "Going Home" • "Stardust Fields Area 64" • "Hoohoo Mountaintop" • "The Kingdom Called Beanbean" • "Beanish People" • "Castle of Beans" • "Chucklehuck Woods" • "Danger Abounds!" • "Woohoo Hooniversity" • "Sea... Sea... Sea..." • "Don't Dwell on Danger" • "Sweet Surfin'" • "Hold the Corny Jokes, Please!" • "Decisive Battleground" • "Let's Go!" • "We Can't Lose!" • "The Marvelous Duo" • "Fawful and Cackletta" • "Time to Settle This!" • "Showdown with Cackletta!" • "Win & Dance" • "Let's Kick it into High Gear!" • "Star 'Stache Smash!" • "To Challenge!" • "It's My Turn" • "This is Minion Turf!" • "Everyone, Attack!" • "Fighting Friends" • "Let's Talk Strategy" • "Bowser's Minions March"
Other		Battle Guide2 • Bean Fever1,2 • Beanhole locations1 (Bowser's Minions2) • Block locations1 (Bowser's Minions2) • Bestiary1 (Bowser's Minions2) • Enemy formations1,2 • Gallery1 (Bowser's Minions2) • Gear1 (Bowser's Minions2) • Glitches1 (Bowser's Minions2) • Hidden Block locations1 • Hooroglyphs1,2 • Kingdom Courier1,2 • Koopa Gundan Taichō Type Shindan • Level up progressions1,2 • Luigi-do Check • Mario & Luigi Moves Guide • Mario & Luigi RPG: Sound Selection1 • Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions Trivia • Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga Joke Spinner • Mario Bros.1 • Multimedia1 (Bowser's Minions2) • Pre-release and unused content1 • Quick Poll • Quotes1 (Bowser's Minions2) • Shops2 • Special Skill3 • Sound test2 • Staff1 (Bowser's Minions2) • Story summaries2
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