Honestly, when Ubisoft first showed off a crossover between Mario and those chaotic, screaming Rabbids, most of us thought it was a fever dream. But then we actually played it. And we realized that Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is secretly one of the most brutal tactical games on the Nintendo Switch. It’s not just "Baby's First XCOM." If you go into a mid-game boss fight with a poorly optimized squad, you’re going to get absolutely wrecked.
The game gives you eight heroes, but since Mario is a permanent fixture (you literally cannot bench him in the first game), you’re really only choosing two slots. This creates a massive ripple effect. You’ve got to balance healing, movement, and raw damage while dealing with a grid that’s designed to punish you.
Mario: The Jack of All Trades (That You're Stuck With)
Mario is your anchor. He’s pretty much the definition of a mid-range brawler. His M-Power is basically the most important technique in the game early on because it’s a flat percentage damage boost for everyone nearby. If you aren't popping M-Power before a big turn, you’re leaving money on the table.
But his real secret weapon isn't the blaster. It’s the Stomp Jump. Once you invest enough Power Orbs into his movement tree, Mario becomes a mobile nuke. You can jump off an ally, land on an enemy’s head for massive damage, and then glide to a different piece of cover. It’s a 2-for-1 deal that most players underutilize because they’re too focused on his Hero Sight (the Overwatch-style reaction shot).
The Rabbid MVPs: Who Actually Carries the Team?
If you talk to anyone who has 100% completed the Ultimate Challenges, they’ll tell you the same thing: the Rabbids are actually better than the Mario cast in several ways. Specifically Rabbid Luigi.
Rabbid Luigi is arguably the best character in the entire game. Period. Here is why: Vamp Dash. When he slides into an enemy, he applies a Life Steal effect. Anyone on your team who hits that enemy afterward gets healed for a percentage of the damage they deal. This is way more efficient than a standard heal because it allows you to stay aggressive while recovering HP. Plus, his Weaken technique reduces enemy damage to basically zero. He turns terrifying Smashers into harmless toddlers.
The Close-Range Chaos of Rabbid Mario
Then there’s Rabbid Mario. Most people use him wrong. They try to play him like a standard soldier, but he’s a proximity-based monster.
- Magnet Dance: He pulls enemies out of cover and toward him.
- Boom Dash: His slides cause explosions.
- The Hammer: He has the highest AoE melee damage in the game.
Basically, you send him into the middle of a group, pull them all into a hug, and then explode everything. It’s risky because he’s a glass cannon, but with a defense buff from someone else, he can clear a map in two turns.
The Snipers and Healers: Luigi vs. Peach
Luigi is the king of "don't touch me." He has the lowest health in the game, which makes him a liability in tight corridors. But on wide-open maps? He’s broken. His Itchy Feet increases the movement range of the whole team, which is vital for those "reach the area" missions. His Steely Stare also triggers three times when upgraded. If an enemy moves, Luigi turns them into Swiss cheese before they even get close.
Peach, on the other hand, is your tank. Forget everything you know about her being a damsel. In Kingdom Battle, she carries a literal shotgun (Boomshot) and a grenade duck. Her Healing Jump heals teammates she lands near, which sounds restrictive until you realize she has a massive health pool. She’s meant to be on the front lines, soaking up hits and blasting cover away so Mario can get a clear shot.
Why Yoshi is the Most Misunderstood
Poor Yoshi usually shows up so late in the game (World 4) that most players have already found their "dream team." He’s a weird one. He uses the Rumblebang, which has a huge damage variance—it either does 20 damage or 200. His Super Chance technique makes every attack a critical hit, which is the only way to make his damage reliable. If you pair him with Rabbid Mario, the crits trigger additional effects like Push or Stone, which can completely lock down a boss.
Team Synergies That Actually Work
You can’t just pick your favorites. Well, you can, but you’ll see the "Game Over" screen a lot.
The "Infinite Health" Squad: Mario, Rabbid Luigi, and Peach.
This is the safest way to play. Rabbid Luigi applies Vamp for constant healing, and Peach provides the Healing Jump. You won't do the most damage, but you’ll never die.
The "One-Turn Clear" Squad: Mario, Luigi, and Rabbid Mario.
This is pure offense. Use Luigi’s Itchy Feet to get Rabbid Mario into the center. Use Magnet Dance to group everyone up. Buff everyone with Mario’s M-Power. Then, just delete the map. It’s high-risk because one mistake leaves Luigi exposed, but it’s the fastest way to get Gold trophies.
What Most People Get Wrong About Cover
It’s easy to think a character with a 100% hit chance is always the priority. But experienced players look at the secondary effects. Stone is the best status effect in the game because it skips the enemy's turn. Honey is second because it stops them from moving. If your character’s weapon has a low crit rate for Stone, it might actually be worse than a weaker weapon with a high Honey rate. Always check the "Super Effect" percentages in the Battle HQ before buying a new toy for Rabbid Peach or Luigi.
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Actionable Steps for Your Next Playthrough
If you're jumping back into the Ancient Gardens or trying to tackle the DK Adventure DLC, keep these specific tactics in mind:
- Respec Constantly: The game lets you reset your skill tree for free. If you’re in a level with no pipes, take the points out of "Pipe Exit Range" and put them into "Health" or "Weapon Damage."
- Focus on Movement Skills: In tactical games, positioning is everything. Prioritize upgrades that give you extra dashes or longer Team Jumps.
- Use the Sentry as a Decoy: Rabbid Peach and Luigi have Sentries. Don't just use them for damage; use them to trigger enemy "Overwatch" shots so your actual heroes can move safely.
- Check the Turn Counter: If you want that Gold trophy, you have to be aggressive. This usually means favoring characters like Rabbid Mario or Luigi over the slower, more defensive Peach.
The game might look like a cartoon, but the math under the hood is deep. Start looking at your team as a series of interlocking gears rather than just three individual shooters. Once you master the synergy between a Magnet Dance and a Steely Stare, the game goes from a struggle to a power trip.
Go to the Battle HQ now and check your skill trees—you probably have enough orbs to turn Rabbid Luigi into the unkillable vampire he was always meant to be.