Equip new purchases from the menu before the next fight. Keep an offensive set and a survival set available, and change accessories to address the boss’s actual status attacks. A small defense increase may be less valuable than preventing Sleep on your healer.
Recommended progression
| Stage | What to check |
|---|---|
| Mushroom Kingdom | Hammer equipped; basic Shirt or Pants; useful early pins. |
| Moleville | New weapons and Mega armor; compare Work Pants’ attack and speed against their lower defense. |
| Booster Tower | Masher for Mario; Chain Chomp for Bowser from the portrait room. |
| Sea and Sunken Ship | Sailor equipment, Safety Badge and Safety Ring. |
| Nimbus Land | Higher weapons and Fluffy armor. |
| Barrel Volcano | Fire armor and enough FP recovery before the two dragon phases. |
| Bowser’s Keep | Four weapon-course rewards, then final armor at Croco’s later shop. |
Late-game rewards
For Mario, collect the Lazy Shell weapon from Rose Town’s gardener. For Peach, buy the Frying Pan from Moleville’s travelling merchant after the sixth Star Piece. The keep’s challenge courses provide the best main-story weapons for Mallow, Geno and Bowser.
The Lazy Shell armor is a different item from the weapon. It gives excellent defense but lowers Attack, Magic Attack and Speed. Put it on a support character only after considering when they will act. Protecting your healer is valuable, but a very slow healer may need a faster ally to use an emergency item first.
Do not confuse protection types
Safety Badge prevents status effects, but instant defeat is a separate danger. Safety Ring, Jinx Belt and Attack Scarf provide relevant protection for those attacks. Quartz Charm comes from defeating Culex, so it cannot be part of your first Culex preparation.
Work Pants raise Attack and Magic Attack by ten, Defense by fifteen, Magic Defense by five and Speed by five. They are useful offensive armor early on, but do not automatically outperform later protective gear.
Get the unique equipment rewards
Postgame weapon and accessory rewards
Choose equipment for the job a character will perform. A high Attack value does little for a healer who needs to survive status spells, and the Lazy Shell armor’s penalties can make an attacker much weaker. The lists below use the English names for this version.
Weapons
| Weapon | User | Attack bonus and variation | Where to get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hammer | Mario | Attack +10 (± 1) | Hammer Bros. on Mushroom Way |
| Koopa Shell | Mario | Attack +20 (± 2) | First Midas River run; later shell shop |
| Punch Glove | Mario | Attack +30 (± 3) | Moleville shop |
| Super Hammer | Mario | Attack +40 (± 4) | Marrymore shop |
| Masher | Mario | Attack +50 (± 30) | Booster Tower seesaw chest |
| Paratroopa Shell | Mario | Attack +50 (± 5) | Seaside Town after rescue |
| Lucky Hammer | Mario | Attack +0 (± 0) | Seaside Town after rescue |
| Mega Glove | Mario | Attack +60 (± 6) | Nimbus Land shop |
| Ultra Hammer | Mario | Attack +70 (± 7) | Weapon World chest |
| Lazy Shell | Mario | Attack +90 (± 40) | Rose Town gardener, Seed and Fertilizer |
| Froggie Stick | Mallow | Attack +20 (± 3) | Cricket Pie to Frogfucius |
| Cymbals | Mallow | Attack +30 (± 3) | Moleville shop |
| Whomp Glove | Mallow | Attack +40 (±4) | Marrymore shop |
| Ribbit Stick | Mallow | Attack +50 (± 5) | Seaside Town after rescue |
| Sticky Glove | Mallow | Attack +60 (± 6) | Nimbus Land shop |
| Sonic Cymbals | Mallow | Attack +70 (± 7) | Bowser’s Keep action course |
| Finger Shot | Geno | Attack +12 (± 3) | Gaz at Rose Town inn after Bowyer |
| Hand Gun | Geno | Attack +24 (± 4) | Marrymore shop |
| Double Punch | Geno | Attack +35 (± 5) | Seaside Town after rescue |
| Hand Cannon | Geno | Attack +45 (± 6) | Nimbus Land shop |
| Star Gun | Geno | Attack +57 (± 7) | Bowser’s Keep battle course |
| Fake Chomp | Bowser | Attack +9 (± 3) | Marrymore shop |
| Chain Chomp | Bowser | Attack +10 (± 4) | Booster Tower portrait room |
| Hurly Glove | Bowser | Attack +20 (± 5) | Sea merchant |
| Spiked Chomp | Bowser | Attack +30 (± 6) | Monstro Town shop |
| Drill Claw | Bowser | Attack +40 (± 7) | Bowser’s Keep battle course |
| Slap Glove | Peach | Attack +40 (± 4) | Princess joins; later Seaside shop |
| Parasol | Peach | Attack +50 (± 5) | Seaside Town shop |
| War Fan | Peach | Attack +60 (± 6) | Nimbus Land shop |
| Super Slap | Peach | Attack +70 (± 7) | Bowser’s Keep action course |
| Frying Pan | Peach | Attack +90 (± 20) | Moleville travelling merchant after sixth Star Piece |
| Sage Stick | Mallow | Attack +80 | Defeat Scratchy-Throat Belome in the postgame |
| Stella 023 | Geno | Attack +62 | Defeat Engine 023 Booster in the postgame |
| Wonder Chomp | Bowser | Attack +57 | Defeat Leveled-Up Punchinello in the postgame |
The Lucky Hammer
has no attack bonus; its purpose is the Lucky reward trigger. Do not replace a strong weapon with it expecting the shop price to indicate higher damage. The wide damage variation of Masher and Lazy Shell also means individual hits can differ substantially.
Armor
| Armor | User | Buy price if sold | Stat changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shirt | Mario | 7 coins | Defense +6 Mg.Defense +6 |
| Thick Shirt | Mario | 14 coins | Defense +12 Mg.Defense +8 |
| Mega Shirt | Mario | 22 coins | Defense +18 Mg.Defense +10 |
| Happy Shirt | Mario | 38 coins | Defense +24 Mg.Defense +12 |
| Sailor Shirt | Mario | 50 coins | Defense +30 Mg.Defense +15 |
| Fluffy Shirt | Mario | 70 coins | Defense +36 Mg.Defense +18 |
| Fire Shirt | Mario | 90 coins | Defense +42 Mg.Defense +21 |
| Hero Shirt | Mario | 100 coins | Defense +48 Mg.Defense +24 |
| Pants | Mallow | 7 coins | Defense +6 Mg.Defense +3 |
| Thick Pants | Mallow | 14 coins | Defense +12 Mg.Defense +6 |
| Mega Pants | Mallow | 22 coins | Defense +18 Mg.Defense +9 |
| Happy Pants | Mallow | 38 coins | Defense +24 Mg.Defense +12 |
| Sailor Pants | Mallow | 50 coins | Defense +30 Mg.Defense +15 |
| Fluffy Pants | Mallow | 70 coins | Defense +36 Mg.Defense +18 |
| Fire Pants | Mallow | 90 coins | Defense +42 Mg.Defense +21 |
| Prince Pants | Mallow | 100 coins | Defense +48 Mg.Defense +24 |
| Mega Cape | Geno | 22 coins | Defense +6 Mg.Defense +3 |
| Happy Cape | Geno | 38 coins | Defense +12 Mg.Defense +6 |
| Sailor Cape | Geno | 50 coins | Defense +18 Mg.Defense +9 |
| Fluffy Cape | Geno | 70 coins | Defense +24 Mg.Defense +12 |
| Fire Cape | Geno | 90 coins | Defense +30 Mg.Defense +15 |
| Star Cape | Geno | 100 coins | Defense +36 Mg.Defense +18 |
| Happy Shell | Bowser | 38 coins | Defense +6 Mg.Defense +3 |
| Courage Shell | Bowser | 60 coins | Defense +12 Mg.Defense +6 |
| Fire Shell | Bowser | 90 coins | Defense +18 Mg.Defense +9 |
| Heel Shell | Bowser | 100 coins | Defense +24 Mg.Defense +12 |
| Lovely Dress | Peach | – | Defense +24 Mg.Defense +12 |
| Sailor Dress | Peach | 50 coins | Defense +30 Mg.Defense +15 |
| Fluffy Dress | Peach | 70 coins | Defense +36 Mg.Defense +18 |
| Fire Dress | Peach | 90 coins | Defense +42; Magic Defense +21 |
| Royal Dress | Peach | 100 coins | Defense +48 Mg.Defense +24 |
| Work Pants | All | 22 coins | Attack +10 Mg.Attack +10 Defense +15 Mg.Defense +5 Speed +5 |
| Lazy Shell | All | – | Attack -50 Mg.Attack -50 Defense +127 Mg.Defense +127 Speed -50 |
| Super Suit | All | – | Attack +50 Mg.Attack +50 Defense +50 Mg.Defense +50 Speed +30 |
Accessories
| Accessory | User | Stat changes | Effect | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Booster’s Charm | All | Attack +7 Mg.Attack +7 Defense +7 Mg.Defense +7 Speed -5 | Halves elemental damage; stats listed below. | Booster Tower curtain game |
| Antidote Pin | All | Defense +2 Mg.Defense +2 | Prevents Poison. | Mushroom Kingdom shop |
| Attack Scarf | Mario | Attack +30 Mg.Attack +30 Defense +30 Mg.Defense +30 Speed +30 | Prevents instant defeat. | Monstro Town, 30 Super Jumps |
| Nurture Ring | Peach | – | Used by the princess to hatch the Mystery Egg. | Marrymore shop |
| Coin Trick | Mario | – | Doubles coins earned in battle. | Seaside Town Frog Coin merchant |
| Exp. Booster | All | – | Doubles the wearer’s battle EXP, including while in reserve. | Seaside Town Frog Coin merchant |
| Fearless Pin | All | Defense +5 Mg.Defense +5 | Prevents Fear. | Rose Town shop |
| Feather | All | Defense +5 Mg.Defense +5 Speed +20 | Large speed bonus. | Dodge Dodo’s statue inspection |
| Ghost Medal | All | – | Reduces incoming damage. | Three Musty Fears flag hunt |
| Jinx Belt | All | Attack +27 Defense +27 Speed +12 | Prevents instant defeat. | Defeat Jinx three times |
| Jump Shoes | Mario | Mg.Attack +5 Defense +1 Mg.Defense +1 Speed +2 | Allows Jump to affect normally resistant or immune targets. | Mushroom Kingdom shop |
| Quartz Charm | All | – | Damage dealt +50%; damage received halved; prevents instant defeat. | Defeat Culex |
| Defense Scarf | All | Defense +15 Mg.Defense +15 | Raises physical and magic defense. | Cloud-vine detour before Nimbus Land |
| Safety Badge | All | Defense +5 Mg.Defense +5 | Prevents status ailments; does not prevent instant defeat. | Defeat the Sunken Ship chest monster |
| Safety Ring | All | Defense +5 Mg.Defense +5 Speed +5 | Prevents status ailments and instant defeat; elemental protection differs by version. On Normal, elemental damage is reduced by 70%, rather than removed completely. | Hidden underwater room in Sunken Ship |
| Flower Ring | All | – | Halves FP costs in battle. | Seaside Town Frog Coin merchant |
| Signal Ring | All | Speed +10 | Alerts you to hidden treasure when equipped. | Mushroom Kingdom item-shop basement tutorial |
| Troopa Medal | All | Speed +20 | Raises damage dealt by 50%. | Paratroopa cliff-climb record |
| Trueform Pin | All | Defense +4 Mg.Defense +4 | Prevents Mushroom and Scarecrow. | Kero Sewers chest monster; later shops |
| Wake-Up Pin | All | Defense +3 Mg.Defense +3 | Prevents Sleep and Mute. | Mushroom Castle guest room; later shops |
| Zoom Shoes | All | Speed +10 Defense +5 Mg.Defense +5 | Speed and defense bonus. | Booster Tower Room Key chest; later shops |
| Echo Signal Ring | All | Speed +10 | Pinpoints hidden treasure. | Nimbus Land after the royal rescue |
| Enduring Brooch | All | — | Survive one otherwise fatal hit per battle. | Extra-Fancy Bundt rematch |
| Teamwork Band | All | — | Improves Action Gauge charging. | Mario-Style Jinx rematch |
Important equipment quests
Seed, Fertilizer, Jinx Belt and Ghost Medal · Frog Coin shops · Main walkthrough