Decoding the Plumber: What D&D Class is Mario?

Mario, the iconic video game mascot, is more than just a plumber who jumps on turtles. He’s a complex character with a surprising range of abilities. So, if we were to translate the Mushroom Kingdom’s champion into the world of Dungeons & Dragons, what class would he be?

The most accurate answer is a multi-class character leaning heavily into Monk, with a secondary dip into Fighter (Champion subclass). He relies on acrobatic skill, martial arts, agility, and raw physical ability to overcome challenges. While he occasionally uses tools, the core of his skillset aligns beautifully with the Monk class. The addition of the Fighter (Champion) subclass accounts for his incredible endurance, fortitude and natural athleticism.

The Monk: A Foundation of Agile Combat

Let’s dive into why the Monk is the primary class:

Unarmored Defense: Mario rarely wears armor, relying on his agility to dodge attacks. This aligns perfectly with the Monk’s Unarmored Defense, which uses Wisdom and Dexterity to calculate AC.
Martial Arts: Mario’s combat style is primarily hand-to-hand. He punches, kicks, and ground pounds his way through enemies. The Monk’s Martial Arts feature enhances these unarmed strikes, increasing damage and allowing for bonus action attacks.
Ki Points: Think of Mario’s various power-ups (Super Mushroom, Fire Flower, Super Star) as Ki. He expends Ki (a limited resource) to perform special moves like Flurry of Blows (rapid punches), Patient Defense (dodging), and Step of the Wind (enhanced jumping and movement).
Acrobatics and Athletics: Mario’s incredible jumping ability is a hallmark of the Monk class. Both Acrobatics and Athletics are key skills for a Monk, allowing them to traverse difficult terrain, avoid traps, and perform impressive feats of agility.
Deflect Missiles: With uncanny timing, Mario can occasionally deflect projectiles. Monks possess the deflect missiles feature that uses the Monk’s reaction to deflect or catch ranged weapon attacks.

The Fighter (Champion): The Heart of a Hero

While the Monk class captures much of Mario’s agility and combat prowess, it doesn’t fully explain his raw physical endurance. That’s where the Fighter (Champion) subclass comes in:

Improved Critical: The Champion’s Improved Critical feature means Mario can land critical hits more often, reflecting his ability to deliver devastating blows at opportune moments.
Remarkable Athlete: This ability grants advantage on Strength (Athletics) and Dexterity (Acrobatics) checks, further enhancing Mario’s jumping and traversal skills.
Second Wind: Representing Mario’s ability to bounce back from near-death situations, Second Wind provides a burst of healing during combat.

A Multiclass Build: Combining the Best of Both Worlds

A balanced multi-class build could look something like Monk 12/Fighter (Champion) 8. This gives Mario the core Monk abilities while adding the resilience and critical hit potential of the Champion Fighter. The number of level allocations can be varied depending on the player.

This build emphasizes:

Agility and Unarmed Combat: Prioritizing Dexterity and Wisdom to maximize AC, attack rolls, and Ki abilities.
Endurance and Resilience: Supplementing with Constitution to increase hit points and survivability.
Strategic Use of Ki: Managing Ki points effectively to unleash powerful attacks and evasive maneuvers.

Why Not Other Classes?

Rogue: While Mario possesses a certain level of stealth, it isn’t a primary aspect of his gameplay.
Barbarian: Mario is known for his cool composure rather than uncontrolled rage.
Wizard/Sorcerer: Magic is not core to his character, he only uses Magic when using a power-up.

Ultimately, the Monk/Fighter (Champion) multi-class build best reflects Mario’s signature abilities and fighting style, creating a compelling and accurate representation of the Mushroom Kingdom’s greatest hero in the world of D&D.

Mario FAQs: Level Up Your Knowledge

Here are 15 frequently asked questions about Mario, further exploring his background, abilities, and place in video game history:

1. What category of games is Mario?

Mario games primarily fall into the platformer genre, with two main sub-genres: side-scrolling and three-dimensional platformers.

2. What race is Mario?

While often assumed to be Italian due to his accent, there’s no definitive answer to Mario’s race. Some evidence suggests a Japanese origin, referencing Masayuki Uemura’s work on the Famicom console.

3. What is Mario’s full name?

According to an official announcement made by Shigeru Miyamoto, Mario’s full name is Mario Mario.

4. What character is Mario?

Mario is the main character of the Mario franchise and the mascot of Nintendo. He originally appeared as “Jumpman” in Donkey Kong (1981).

5. Who is Mario’s girlfriend?

Originally, Pauline was Mario’s girlfriend in Donkey Kong. However, Princess Peach is now generally considered his main love interest.

6. Is Mario a male or female?

Mario is a male character, often embodying traditionally masculine traits.

7. Is Wario Mario’s dad?

No, Wario is not related to Mario. According to Super Mario Land 2’s backstory, Wario is Mario’s childhood acquaintance.

8. What are the Mario levels called?

Mario levels are generally referred to as levels, stages, or courses, filled with enemies and obstacles.

9. Is Mario considered RPG?

While primarily a platformer, the Mario franchise also includes RPG (Role Playing Game) elements and sub-series like Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi.

10. What species is Mario and Luigi?

According to an official Nintendo character guide from over 20 years ago, Mario is confirmed to be a member of the “homo nintendonus” species, not traditionally human.

11. Who is Mario’s old girlfriend?

Pauline (initially known as Lady) was Mario’s original love interest in Donkey Kong, before Princess Peach.

12. What is Mario’s weakness?

Mario’s weakness is a below-average range, which gives him trouble against characters with long disjointed range.

13. Who is older, Luigi or Mario?

Luigi is portrayed as the younger fraternal twin brother and sidekick of Mario.

14. Is Waluigi a good guy?

Waluigi is not necessarily a good guy. His name is a portmanteau of Luigi’s name and the Japanese adjective warui (悪い) meaning “bad”, implying a mischievous and cunning nature.

15. Is Wario Italian or German?

Nintendo considered making Wario a German character before he developed into an Italian character like Mario.

Beyond the Game: Exploring the Educational Value of Games

The appeal of Mario and other video games extends beyond simple entertainment. Games can be powerful tools for learning and development. The Games Learning Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the field of game-based learning, explores how games can be designed and used to foster creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Check out Games Learning Society on GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more about the power of games in education. Games can be used to teach real-world skills.

Through analyzing characters like Mario, we gain insight into character development and how to build compelling and well-rounded characters.

What class is Mario?