Action Gauge and Chains in Super Mario RPG explained

Among the basic things to master in Super Mario RPG, to avoid being left behind in combat, the action gauge and chains definitely are the ones that most gamers should prioritize. But how do they work? We'll explain everything you need to know about the action gauge and chains in Super Mario RPG.

These are new features for combat added in the remake on the Switch, so you might also be confused despite being quite familiar with the original game on Super Nintendo.

But fear not, as we are here to help you make sense of it all. Read on to master how do the action gauge and chains work in Super Mario RPG.

How do the action gauge and chains work?

What you need to know about the Action Gauge, is that it fills up while you execute Action Commands. Also no, even if you fail them, the gauge doesn't go back, so no worries. Once the gauge is full, then you are free to use a Triple Move or, if you prefer, a Toad Assist.

After you manage to execute several successful Action Commands in a row, you'll start a chain. Once a Chain is being initiated, that's when your Ally Buffs will kick in.

Unfortunately, if you should fail one Action Command, then the chain will break. Not only that, it will reset directly to zero. That's a bummer. On the plus side, when allies or enemies miss their target, or even when enemies target the whole party, the Chain will not break.

After you finish a battle, the Chain count will still not be reset. Finally, one more thing to keep in mind, is that whenever the Chain hits a multiple of 10, Mario will get an extra buff that will also boost the action gauge.

That's really all you need to know on mastering the action gauge and chains in Super Mario RPG. For more tips and tricks, check out our other guides on how to beat Croco and how to heal.