Action command

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An action command asks for a timed input during a turn-based attack, and a good one strengthens it. In Paper Mario the Jump takes one press of A in the last 4 updates¹ of its count, and a good press earns a second stomp¹; the hammer is held left and let go inside a window of 11 updates² at the end of its charge, which doubles its damage².

Games

Game	Year	How	Note
Paper Mario	2000	Timed press	the Jump takes one press of A in the last 4 updates of its count, and a good press earns a second stomp; a press before the window voids it
Paper Mario	2000	Hold and release	the hammer is held left and let go in an 11-update window at the end of a 51-update charge; a good release doubles the basic hammer's damage

Every claim about this mechanic, by game (2)

Paper Mario 2000	In the US version of Paper Mario, the jump action command (`action_command_jump`) is one press of A timed to the stomp, and runs only once Mario has learned action commands (not `AC_MODE_NOT_LEARNED`). The basic Jump (`EVS_UseMove_Basic`, the script for menu level 0) computes the jump's length as `(distance - 20) / 10.588 + 15` from Mario to the target, gives that count to `PlayerBasicJumpToGoal`, and passes the same count to the command as `prepareTime`, at difficulty `AC_DIFFICULTY_STANDARD` (index 3 of 8). Each update the command counts `prepareTime` down until it is no more than the window size, `actionCmdTableJump[difficulty]`, which is 4 at standard in a table running 7 down to 0; it then sets the window timer to that size and counts it down to 0. A press of A while `prepareTime` is still counting sets `wrongButtonPressed`, and the window then takes no press; the update in which the count reaches the window size runs that early-press test before falling through into the window, so a press there is early too, and a press counts only while the timer runs from 3 to 0, 4 updates at standard (computed), the last of the command's updates. When the partner isn't acting, `adjust_action_command_difficulty` lowers the difficulty index by 3 for each Dodge Master badge equipped, clamped at 0, so one badge widens the window to 7 updates (computed). A good press makes the basic Jump's first stomp a nice hit, and the script then bounces Mario into a second stomp; each stomp passes a damage of 1. A missed press ends the move after the first.	Code
Paper Mario 2000	In the US version of Paper Mario, the hammer action command (`action_command_hammer`) is a hold and release of the stick to the left. When action commands are learned and the Berserker badge isn't equipped, the hammer script (outside the tutorial and auto-success) waits up to 45 updates for the stick to be held left, then starts the command with a duration of 51 (45 plus 6) at `AC_DIFFICULTY_STANDARD`, whose table value `actionCmdTableHammer[3]` is 8 without a Dodge Master badge. The command's timer counts up from 0 each update. Its look-back count is the table value minus the updates left (`duration - stateTimer`) plus 3, at least 0: while it is 0, a stick not held left fails the command at once (`ACTION_RESULT_EARLY`), and once it is above 0 the command succeeds if any of that many latest entries of the held-button buffer has the stick not held left. That opens the release window at timer 41 and keeps it through timer 51, 11 updates (computed); the command marks ready (`HES_TimingReady` and its sound) at timer 42, one update after the window opens (computed). A stick still held when the timer passes 51 fails. With the basic hammer, a success passes a damage of 2 and a failure 1 (comments in the script call them "good input dmg" and "bad input dmg").	Code

References

^ a b cIn the US version of Paper Mario, the jump action command (action_command_jump) is one press of A timed to the stomp, and runs only once Mario has learned action commands (not AC_MODE_NOT_LEARNED). The basic Jump (EVS_UseMove_Basic, the script for menu level 0) computes the jump's length as (distance - 20) / 10.588 + 15 from Mario to the target, gives that count to PlayerBasicJumpToGoal, and passes the same count to the command as prepareTime, at difficulty AC_DIFFICULTY_STANDARD (index 3 of 8). Each update the command counts prepareTime down until it is no more than the window size, actionCmdTableJump[difficulty], which is 4 at standard in a table running 7 down to 0; it then sets the window timer to that size and counts it down to 0. A press of A while prepareTime is still counting sets wrongButtonPressed, and the window then takes no press; the update in which the count reaches the window size runs that early-press test before falling through into the window, so a press there is early too, and a press counts only while the timer runs from 3 to 0, 4 updates at standard (computed), the last of the command's updates. When the partner isn't acting, adjust_action_command_difficulty lowers the difficulty index by 3 for each Dodge Master badge equipped, clamped at 0, so one badge widens the window to 7 updates (computed). A good press makes the basic Jump's first stomp a nice hit, and the script then bounces Mario into a second stomp; each stomp passes a damage of 1. A missed press ends the move after the first.Codepmret/papermariorevised

How we know

28Difficulty1D actionCmdTableJump = { 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0 };

src/battle/action_cmd.c line 28 at 1104f1f · upstream ↗

41enum ActionCommandDifficulty {
42    AC_DIFFICULTY_EASIEST,
43    AC_DIFFICULTY_VERY_EASY,
44    AC_DIFFICULTY_EASY,
45    AC_DIFFICULTY_STANDARD,

src/battle/action_cmd.h lines 41–45 at 1104f1f · upstream ↗

101s32 adjust_action_command_difficulty(s32 difficultyLevel) {
102    if (!(gBattleStatus.flags1 & BS_FLAGS1_PARTNER_ACTING)) {
103        difficultyLevel -= is_ability_active(ABILITY_DODGE_MASTER) * 3;
⋮
106    if (difficultyLevel < AC_DIFFICULTY_EASIEST) {
107        difficultyLevel = AC_DIFFICULTY_EASIEST;

src/battle/action_cmd.c lines 101–114 at 1104f1f · upstream ↗

1578s32 is_ability_active(s32 ability) {
⋮
1598    for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_COUNT(playerData->equippedBadges); i++) {
⋮
1607            case ABILITY_DODGE_MASTER:
1608                if (badgeMoveID == MOVE_DODGE_MASTER) {
1609                    ret++;

src/inventory.c lines 1578–1610 at 1104f1f · upstream ↗

57    if (battleStatus->actionCommandMode == AC_MODE_NOT_LEARNED) {
58        battleStatus->actionQuality = 0;
59        return ApiStatus_DONE2;
⋮
63    acs->prepareTime = evt_get_variable(script, *args++);
64    acs->difficulty = evt_get_variable(script, *args++);
65    acs->difficulty = adjust_action_command_difficulty(acs->difficulty);

src/battle/action_cmd/jump.c lines 57–65 at 1104f1f · upstream ↗

130            successWindow = battleStatus->actionCmdDifficultyTable[acs->difficulty];
⋮
135            if ((battleStatus->curButtonsPressed & BUTTON_A) && !acs->autoSucceed) {
136                acs->wrongButtonPressed = true;
137                battleStatus->actionResult = ACTION_RESULT_EARLY;
⋮
140            if ((acs->prepareTime - successWindow) > 0) {
141                acs->prepareTime--;
142                break;
⋮
145            acs->stateTimer = battleStatus->actionCmdDifficultyTable[acs->difficulty];
⋮
155                if (acs->stateTimer == 0) {
156                    break;
⋮
168            if (battleStatus->actionQuality < 0) {
169                if (((battleStatus->curButtonsPressed & BUTTON_A) && !acs->wrongButtonPressed) || acs->autoSucceed) {
⋮

src/battle/action_cmd/jump.c lines 130–188 at 1104f1f · upstream ↗

75EvtScript N(EVS_JumpSupport_CalcJumpTime) = {
⋮
85    Sub(LVar6, 20)
86    DivF(LVar6, Float(10.588))
87    AddF(LVar6, 15)
88    Set(LVarA, LVar6)

src/battle/common/move/JumpSupport.inc.c lines 75–88 at 1104f1f · upstream ↗

309EvtScript N(EVS_JumpSupport_ApproachAndJump) = {
⋮
313    ExecWait(N(EVS_JumpSupport_CalcJumpTime))
314    Call(action_command_jump_start, LVarA, AC_DIFFICULTY_STANDARD)
⋮
318    Call(PlayerBasicJumpToGoal, LVarA, PLAYER_BASIC_JUMP_0)

src/battle/common/move/JumpSupport.inc.c lines 309–318 at 1104f1f · upstream ↗

40    Call(GetMenuSelection, LVar0, LVar1, LVar2)
41    Switch(LVar1)
42        CaseEq(0)
43            ExecWait(N(EVS_UseMove_Basic))

src/battle/move/jump/attack.c lines 40–43 at 1104f1f · upstream ↗

75    Call(GetPlayerActionQuality, LVar0)
76    Switch(LVar0)
77        CaseGt(false)
⋮
79            Call(PlayerDamageEnemy, LVar0, DAMAGE_TYPE_JUMP, 0, 0, 1, BS_FLAGS1_INCLUDE_POWER_UPS | BS_FLAGS1_NICE_HIT)
80        CaseDefault
⋮
82            Call(PlayerDamageEnemy, LVar0, DAMAGE_TYPE_JUMP, 0, 0, 1, BS_FLAGS1_INCLUDE_POWER_UPS | BS_FLAGS1_TRIGGER_EVENTS)
83    EndSwitch
84    Switch(LVar0)
85        CaseOrEq(HIT_RESULT_HIT)
86        CaseOrEq(HIT_RESULT_NO_DAMAGE)
87            // missed action command, end the script here
88            ExecWait(N(EVS_JumpSupport_G))
⋮

src/battle/move/jump/attack.c lines 75–95 at 1104f1f · upstream ↗

107    Call(action_command_jump_start, 24, AC_DIFFICULTY_STANDARD)
⋮
110    Call(PlayerBasicJumpToGoal, 24, PLAYER_BASIC_JUMP_3)
111    Wait(1)
⋮
113    Call(PlayerDamageEnemy, LVar0, DAMAGE_TYPE_JUMP, 0, 0, 1, BS_FLAGS1_TRIGGER_EVENTS | BS_FLAGS1_NICE_HIT | BS_FLAGS1_NO_RATING)

src/battle/move/jump/attack.c lines 107–113 at 1104f1f · upstream ↗

1545    battleStatus->curAttackElement = *args++;
1546    battleStatus->curAttackEventSuppression = *args++;
1547    battleStatus->curAttackStatus = *args++;
1548    battleStatus->curAttackDamage = evt_get_variable(script, *args++);

src/battle/dmg_player.c lines 1545–1548 at 1104f1f · upstream ↗

1028    if (gBattleStatus.flags1 & (BS_FLAGS1_NICE_HIT | BS_FLAGS1_SUPER_HIT)) {
1029        if (hitResult == HIT_RESULT_HIT) {
1030            hitResult = HIT_RESULT_NICE;

src/battle/dmg_player.c lines 1028–1031 at 1104f1f · upstream ↗

Checked against the evidence by its author, an AI model, 2026-10-22.

Revised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-10-22.

In the claim ledger

^ a b cIn the US version of Paper Mario, the hammer action command (action_command_hammer) is a hold and release of the stick to the left. When action commands are learned and the Berserker badge isn't equipped, the hammer script (outside the tutorial and auto-success) waits up to 45 updates for the stick to be held left, then starts the command with a duration of 51 (45 plus 6) at AC_DIFFICULTY_STANDARD, whose table value actionCmdTableHammer[3] is 8 without a Dodge Master badge. The command's timer counts up from 0 each update. Its look-back count is the table value minus the updates left (duration - stateTimer) plus 3, at least 0: while it is 0, a stick not held left fails the command at once (ACTION_RESULT_EARLY), and once it is above 0 the command succeeds if any of that many latest entries of the held-button buffer has the stick not held left. That opens the release window at timer 41 and keeps it through timer 51, 11 updates (computed); the command marks ready (HES_TimingReady and its sound) at timer 42, one update after the window opens (computed). A stick still held when the timer passes 51 fails. With the basic hammer, a success passes a damage of 2 and a failure 1 (comments in the script call them "good input dmg" and "bad input dmg").Codepmret/papermario

How we know

29Difficulty1D actionCmdTableHammer = { 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4 };

src/battle/action_cmd.c line 29 at 1104f1f · upstream ↗

13API_CALLABLE(N(IsBerserkerEquipped)) {
14    script->varTable[0] = gBattleStatus.actionCommandMode;
15    script->varTable[1] = 15;
⋮
17    if (is_ability_active(ABILITY_BERSERKER)) {
18        script->varTable[0] = AC_MODE_NOT_LEARNED;

src/battle/common/move/HammerSupport.inc.c lines 13–23 at 1104f1f · upstream ↗

257    Call(N(IsBerserkerEquipped))
258    IfNe(LVar0, false)
⋮
264                Loop(45)
265                    Wait(1)
266                    Call(CheckButtonDown, BUTTON_STICK_LEFT, LVar0)
267                    IfNe(LVar0, false)
268                        BreakLoop
⋮
273        Add(LVarD, 6)
274        Call(action_command_hammer_start, 0, LVarD, AC_DIFFICULTY_STANDARD)

src/battle/common/move/HammerSupport.inc.c lines 257–274 at 1104f1f · upstream ↗

17        CaseEq(0)
18            Set(LVarD, 45)// action command duration
19            Set(LVarE, 1) // bad input dmg
20            Set(LVarF, 2) // good input dmg
21            ExecWait(N(EVS_UseMove_Impl))

src/battle/move/hammer/attack.c lines 17–21 at 1104f1f · upstream ↗

95    Call(GetPlayerActionQuality, LVar0)
96    Switch(LVar0)
97        CaseGt(false)
⋮
107            Call(PlayerDamageEnemy, LVar0, DAMAGE_TYPE_SMASH, SUPPRESS_EVENTS_HAMMER, 0, LVarF, BS_FLAGS1_INCLUDE_POWER_UPS | BS_FLAGS1_TRIGGER_EVENTS | BS_FLAGS1_NICE_HIT)
108        CaseDefault
⋮
118            Call(PlayerDamageEnemy, LVar0, DAMAGE_TYPE_SMASH, SUPPRESS_EVENTS_HAMMER, 0, LVarE, BS_FLAGS1_INCLUDE_POWER_UPS | BS_FLAGS1_TRIGGER_EVENTS)

src/battle/move/hammer/attack.c lines 95–118 at 1104f1f · upstream ↗

99    acs->prepareTime = evt_get_variable(script, *args++);
100    acs->duration = evt_get_variable(script, *args++);
101    acs->difficulty = evt_get_variable(script, *args++);
102    acs->difficulty = adjust_action_command_difficulty(acs->difficulty);

src/battle/action_cmd/hammer.c lines 99–102 at 1104f1f · upstream ↗

207            if (acs->prepareTime != 0) {
208                acs->prepareTime--;
209                return;
⋮
212            acs->stateTimer = 0;
⋮
216            acs->state = AC_STATE_ACTIVE;

src/battle/action_cmd/hammer.c lines 207–216 at 1104f1f · upstream ↗

256            if (acs->stateTimer == (-(inputWindow + 1) + acs->duration)) {
257                battleStatus->actionProgress = 3;
258                hud_element_set_script(acs->hudElemIDs[HIDX_WAIT], &HES_TimingReady);

src/battle/action_cmd/hammer.c lines 256–258 at 1104f1f · upstream ↗

268            inputWindow = battleStatus->actionCmdDifficultyTable[acs->difficulty] - (acs->duration - acs->stateTimer) + 3;
269            if (inputWindow < 0) {
270                inputWindow = 0;
⋮
273            // has the stick been release too early?
274            if (!(battleStatus->curButtonsDown & BUTTON_STICK_LEFT)
275                && inputWindow == 0
276                && acs->autoSucceed == 0
277                && battleStatus->actionCommandMode < AC_MODE_TUTORIAL
278            ) {
279                battleStatus->actionQuality = AC_QUALITY_FAILED;
280                battleStatus->actionResult = ACTION_RESULT_EARLY;
⋮
287            bufferPos -= inputWindow;
⋮

src/battle/action_cmd/hammer.c lines 268–303 at 1104f1f · upstream ↗

308            if (battleStatus->actionCommandMode < AC_MODE_TUTORIAL || acs->stateTimer != acs->duration) {
309                acs->stateTimer++;
310                if (acs->duration < acs->stateTimer) {
311                    if (battleStatus->actionQuality == 0) {
312                        battleStatus->actionQuality = AC_QUALITY_FAILED;

src/battle/action_cmd/hammer.c lines 308–313 at 1104f1f · upstream ↗

292    battleStatus->pushInputBuffer[battleStatus->inputBufferPos] = battleStatus->curButtonsPressed;
293    battleStatus->holdInputBuffer[battleStatus->inputBufferPos] = battleStatus->curButtonsDown;
⋮
295    battleStatus->inputBufferPos++;
296    if (battleStatus->inputBufferPos >= ARRAY_COUNT(battleStatus->pushInputBuffer)) {
297        battleStatus->inputBufferPos = 0;

src/battle/16C8E0.c lines 292–298 at 1104f1f · upstream ↗

Checked against the evidence by its author, an AI model, 2026-10-22.

Checked by a second AI model, 2026-10-22.

In the claim ledger

Sources

Code

pmret and papermario contributors. 2026. “papermario: a decompilation of Paper Mario (pmret/papermario).” Commit 1104f1f. pmret/papermario @ 1104f1f · licence, all uses

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