Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a spectacular return to form for side-scrolling Mario, with levels featuring an incredible variety of secrets to uncover. To help you out this time around, Mario and friends can equip Badges that provide a variety of helpful perks. Some Badges offer small benefits, like giving you an extra power-up. Others can completely change the way you play the game, offering new moves or perks to get you out of tight spots.
If you want to know how to unlock every Badge in Super Mario Bros. Wonder, check out our guide here.
What is the best Badge in Super Mario Bros. Wonder?
In truth, the best badge in Super Mario Bros. Wonder can occasionally change depending on the situation. Whether you’re chasing down a specific secret or just trying to clear a level, you may find that seemingly useless badges are incredibly helpful if you use them right. Still, if you’re just exploring levels and don’t know what you’re getting into, some Badges are generally better than others.
To help you out, here’s every badge in Super Mario Bros. Wonder, ranked from worst to best.
24: Invisibility
Nope. Nope. Nope. This badge can walk right off a cliff. Even using it when the game demands it strains my tolerance. It’s not even a fun way to make the game harder, just avoid.
23: Spring Feet
It is kind of cheating to put the Expert Badges here, since they’re basically designed to make the game harder. Still, Spring Feet technically offers a beneficial effect, but it pales in comparison to basically any of the Action Badges you can find.
22: Sound Off?
This is a fun Easter Egg badge. If you put in the effort to get it, you really should use it for a level or two. But does it do anything to actually change the game? No.
21: Add ! Blocks
This one might be more helpful than I’m giving it credit for. However, I never actually noticed any ! blocks when I played with this one, and you’re better off using that badge slot on something you know will help you out. This is not required to get all the secrets in the game.
20: Rhythm Jump
Coins are so easy to come by that Rhythm Jump doesn’t offer much benefit. If you’re just trying to earn 1-Ups, you’re better off equipping another Badge that could save you from losing a life instead. It’s a fun gimmick though, I’ll give it that.
19: Coin Reward
Once again, coins are so easy to come by that Coin Reward doesn’t make much of a case for itself. That said, since you do earn this badge so early, you might do okay equipping this one until you get a badge you know you’d like to use.
18: Jet Run
Jet Run ranks higher than the other Expert badges since it does offer some value. If you’re participating in Friend Races, this one will give you a substantial leg up over your competition. That said, this one really isn’t practically useful if you’re just playing the main game.
17: Fast Dash
Basically a more balanced and useful Jet Run. That said, while it’s clearly intended for use on World 4, it’s not quite as useful as other badges, even on the sand.
16: Auto Super Mushroom
This one isn’t too bad if you lose a life mid-course and want a leg up once you respawn. This one’s functionally useless if you don’t need a Mushroom though.
15: All Fire Power
Since you’ll find power-ups near the start of basically every level and check point, this comes out wholesale better than Auto Super Mushroom. Still hard to justify using your Badge slot for this, but it does serve a purpose.
14: All Bubble Power
See above. May help you find secrets if you need the extra air from jumping off bubbles.
13: All Drill Power
Again, see above. Drill Power technically leads to more secrets, so it gets a slight nod above Bubble.
12: All Elephant Power
All Elephant Power ranks above the other options since there’s at least one secret exit in World 1 that’s much easier to find with this equipped. Otherwise, standard rules apply.
11: Coin Magnet
While Coin Magnet has the same issues that Rhythm Jump and Coin Reward do, this one’s optimal for Bonus stages. Not quite as appealing outside of that context, but you will make use of it.
10: Dolphin Kick
Dolphin Kick is absolutely the best badge you can equip in underwater levels. However, outside of that context, it functionally does nothing for you. You’ll use this one quite a bit around the Petal Isles.
9: Floating High Jump
This badge functionally turns you into Luigi from Super Mario Bros. 2. The extra jump height certainly is helpful, but it’s a bit underwhelming compared to the other Badge options you’ll have by this point.
8: Safety Bounce
Safety Bounce is a bit of a weird one to recommend. For newer players, this one’s a must since it can literally save your life. However, advanced players will want more active badges equipped to both uncover secrets and save themselves from being in danger to begin with. Easily one of the best Boost Badges though, especially if you don’t like how the Action Badges change the way you play the game.
7: Timed High Jump
This gives you the classic triple jump from Super Mario 64. A good pick for those who enjoy this more athletic ability, but other Badges are a bit more reliable to use.
6: Parachute Cap
One of your first badges you’ll ever get, and it serves its purpose. While you probably won’t find extra secrets with this thing on, it can potentially help you get flag pole completion on levels and save you from dicey situations. Not a bad one to have!
5: Wall-Climb Jump
Wall-Climb Jump gives you a free vertical kick upwards when you cling onto walls. This is a great way to get extra height, helping you both reach the top of flag poles and uncover secrets. You will find a badge that’s basically better wholesaler than this, and this badge does make wall jumps harder in some contexts. Still, for how early you can find this badge, it’s a great one to equip.
4: Sensor
The best Boost Badge. Super Mario Bros. Wonder has some well hidden secrets, and having the Sensor Badge equipped can really help out if you’re trying to find them all. I wouldn’t recommend using this one all the time, as some stages simply have straightforward secrets that you don’t need help to find. But if there’s ever anything you’re missing, Sensor will make your life so much easier.
3: Crouching High Jump
Crouching High Jump is functionally another Super Mario Bros. 2 reference, but this one’s quite a bit easier to use. If you just need to gain a lot of height, this is an easy way to do it. Additionally, unlike Wall-Climb Jump, this won’t mess with your muscle memory once you unequip it. A great badge until you find one of the two badges below.
2: Grappling Vine
Grappling Vine is a multi-faceted Badge that’s well worth your Badge slot. Not only does it let you clear massive horizontal distances with ease, you can scale walls simply by wall-kicking off and continuously grappling yourself back on. Additionally, you can cling to flag poles to get flag pole completion as well. Just an overall powerful badge that you’ll be glad to have on hand.
1: Boosting Spin Jump
Boosting Spin Jump is the best overall badge in Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and it’s not even close. This Badge functionally turns your R button spin into a second jump, which is universally useful. Whether you’re clearing horizontal or vertical distances, Boosting Spin Jump is almost always your best and easiest option to pull it off. You can even boost into the underside of blocks to hit several of them at once without recoiling back down to the ground. You’re almost always best off having the Boosting Spin Jump equipped.
Now, just because Boosting Spin Jump is the best badge in the game, does that mean you should always use it? Heck no! Dolphin Kick is still king in water levels, Sensor helps you find items, and even All Elephant Power supersedes Boosting Spin Jump in at least one case. Always look out for what you need most in Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and don’t be afraid to experiment. Except if it involves using the Invisibility Badge. Don’t use that one.
