Action command

"We're still missing something. Oh yeah—infobox!"
	This article is missing an infobox. You may remove this template once an infobox has been added to the article.

Mario preforming the Action Command dealing more damage.

The Action command (also known as Timed Hits or Timed Attacks) is a term used to describe the action where the player can hit a button to deal more damage to an enemy or lessen damage taken. The A button is usually involved in using the Action command and is very common in the role-playing games.

In Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

In Super Mario RPG, there are five types of timed hits in total. 1-Level Hits, 2-Level Hits, 3-Level, Multi-Level Hits and Control Pad Action Hits. In each level hit, the player must time an action command that amount of times for the action command to work. For example 2-level hits take two button presses. 2 and 3-level hits aren't too common.

Multi-Level Hits are common. Attacks that use them must be timed four or more times. These are also used when an attack repeats four or more times, but every repeat must be timed. Examples are Super Jump and Star Rain.

In another action command, the player is given a heads up at the top of the screen on what to do.

Here, the player starts by pressing up on , then rotating the held direction counterclockwise.

Finally, mashing to fill up a bar, the more full the bar is, the more damage the attack will do.

Star Meter

Almost all of Geno's spells use this. Three stars build-up at the bottom of the screen on their own (the player does not determine their appearance as it is automated). Depending on when the player starts holding Y and when they release it, the spell's power is determined. For example, holding Y throughout all three stars causes Geno Beam to do only basic damage with no additional strength. To get the most out of this, the player should release the Y button the instant the third star appears.

In Paper Mario series

The Action command is present in all of the Paper Mario games. Paper Mario introduces the Action command in this series; however, Mario can only learn it once he gets the Lucky Star item from Twink. Once he does, Twink demonstrates how to use the Action command including how to Guard against enemy attacks to lessen damage. Using the Action command in this game requires the simple press of the to deal more damage or Guard against others. The Action command for the Hammer is different as the player must hold back on the control stick () until the star lights up.

In Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, the Action command remains the same except now, this game introduces one for the Superguard. By pressing at the right moment, Mario can nullify an enemy's attack and, if it's a direct attack, can deal back 1 point of damage back to them. However, the Superguard is much more difficult to pull off and should only be used as a last resort.