Super Mario RPG: How To Defeat The Axem Rangers

Welcome to our boss guides for Super Mario RPG on Nintendo Switch and SNES.

After defeating Czar Dragon in Barrel Volcano, you'll have to take back the sixth Star Piece from the Axem Rangers, a team of warriors who work for Smithy. You'll be fighting five enemies at once here, so the Axem Rangers can pose a bit of a challenge. We're getting close to the end of the game, after all.

In this guide, we're giving you the best strategy to take down the Axem Rangers and the cannon.

How to beat the Axem Rangers

Recommended party: Mario, Geno, Mallow - swap Geno for Peach if needed

Each Axem Ranger has its own weakness, but you should focus on taking Pink out first, as the pink Axem Ranger is the healer of the group. Use Geno Boost on Mario and take her down with physical attacks.

The other four are each weak to a different element — Black is weak to electricity, Red is weak to ice, Yellow is weak to jumps, and Green is weak to ice. With Mario, Mallow, and Geno in your party, you’ll be able to hit them with all these attacks.

Exploit these weaknesses to take them down one by one — Mallow's Snowy will make short work of Green and do damage to the others, while Shocker will take care of Black. Mario can Jump on the Yellow while Mallow takes care of the others. The Red will be the last one standing, so take it out however you want.

After each Axem Ranger has been taken care of, Red will activate the cannon. It will unleash an incredibly powerful Breaker Beam that will eat up most of your health, so make sure you’re healing on a regular basis.

With the Lazy Shell equipped, Mario’s physical attack might even do more than Mallow’s Shocker even though the cannon is weak to electricity! When the cannon finally explodes, you’ll win the fight.

For more help on getting through Super Mario RPG, check out our full Super Mario RPG guide for everything you need.