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Mario vs Luigi

This page documents how to play MvsL hacks and objects that work in MvsL.

Modding MvsL is significantly more difficult than modding Singleplayer levels. If you're just getting started with modding the game, you might want to start here

FaQ

How do I play Mario vs Luigi hacks?
  • The easiest way to play an MvsL hack on real hardware is by using “Multi-cart”
    • This requires that you own two flashcards (such as an R4 Card).
    • To set this method up, simply put the same ROM on both flashcards. Then, in the game, choose the option to “Compete with another New Super Mario Bros. Owner” and play MvsL as you normally would.
  • If you do not have access to two flashcards, then you have two, more difficult, options remaining
    • Your first option is to try and use a hacked NDS firmware that bypasses Download Play's signature check
      1. Download firmware.nds and put it on your flashcard.
      2. Open this ROM on the DS you will launch Download Play from.
      3. Now, eject the flashcard from the DS you just ran the ROM on. (This will not cause your DS to freeze)
      4. Finally, put the flashcard back in the other DS.
      5. Once you have done this, you can run the ROM of the MvsL hack and select “Play with someone who doesn't own New Super Mario Bros”
        • If the firmware ROM does not work on your flashcard, try this one instead.
    • Your final option is to use normal DS Download Play with “DLP Mode” in NSMBe 5
      1. Open a clean (unedited) ROM
      2. Open it in NSMBe
      3. After you open the ROM, go to Tools and check “Enable DLP-friendly mode”
      4. Now, you can make whatever changes you want to the ROM
      5. When you're done, you can play with another DS through DS Download Play like you normally would using the “Play with someone who doesn't own New Super Mario Bros” option
  • If the game hangs at the Nintendo logo, you might have missed a step. Double check you did everything and try again with another clean ROM
  • If the DS freezes with a black screen after you select a level it can mean one of two things:
    • Your flashcard is not compatible with this method
    • There's something wrong with the level that is making the game freeze
My level crashes, what do I do now?
  • If you are not using any Code Hacks, then here are some things to consider
    1. Have you changed any object banks? This causes MvsL to crash so you need to change the object banks back to whatever the level had originally.
    2. Double-check that you are not using an object that has been confirmed to crash MvsL. There is a table later on this page that shows what objects are compatible with MvsL.
    3. Have you changed the number of Battle Stars that are in the level? Changing the number of Battle Stars in a level can cause MvsL to crash, and you will need to restore the original amount of Battle Stars the level had.
My level crashes, but I'm using Code Hacks!
  • Even with Code Hacks, not all objects work in MvsL. Take a look at the table at the end of the page to see if all of the objects you're using are compatible with MvsL.
My level makes us de-sync, what's going on?
  • Because of the nature of how multiplayer works in this game, the Random Number Generator seed is only synchronized once when the connection is established. Only inputs are sent from one console to another, so the code must account for both player actors. If code does not account for each player, the games will become de-synced. For example, if an enemy was coded to imply get the values of a player on the local console, it will read different data on each console. This causes the enemy to act differently on each DS, thus causing a de-sync.

    Implementation example:
    // Enemy reads only the position of its own console player
    playerPositionX = Game::getPlayer(Game::localPlayerID)->position.x;
    // Now the position that was read is different between both consoles
    // for this enemy and he will behave differently for each console!
    // This is very bad!
    
    // A solution would be to get the position of the closest player
    playerPositionX = enemy->getClosestPlayer(nullptr, nullptr)->position.x;
    // This way, it gets the closest player instead of its console player

Object Compatibility (Vanilla)

  • These objects will work in MvsL regardless of if you are using code hacks
  • Most of the objects in this list are objects that are already used in MvsL

Object ID Actor Name
23 Pipe Piranha Plant (Facing up)
24 Pipe Piranha Plant (Facing down)
25 Pipe Piranha Plant (Facing right)
26 Pipe Piranha Plant (Facing left)
27 Bill Blaster (Bullet Bill launcher)
28 Bob-omb
71 Stonewall moving up & down
72 Stonewall moving left & right
95 Spin Block
148 Goomba
149 Koopa Troopa
210 MvsL Big Star

Object Compatibility with Code Hacks

  • This spreadsheet is based on the MvsL Hacking Starter Pack
  • There are 4 kinds of compatibility
    • Works: This object completely works in MvsL
    • Partial: Some parts of this object do not work in MvsL. The notes column will mention what doesn't work
    • N/A:  The object does not load but it also does not crash the game
    • Crash: The object crashes the game when loaded. See the notes for possible workarounds.

Object ID Object Name Compatibility Notes
0 Crash Object (Player Actor) Crash Needs the clone code hack
1 Crash Object (Player Actor) Crash Needs the clone code hack
2 Crash Object (Player Actor) Crash Needs the clone code hack
3 Crash Object (Player Actor) Crash Needs the clone code hack
4 Crash Object (Player Actor) Crash Needs the clone code hack
5 Crash Object (Player Actor) Crash Needs the clone code hack
6 Crash Object (Player Actor) Crash Needs the clone code hack
7 Crash Object (Player Actor) Crash Needs the clone code hack
8 Crash Object (Player Actor) Crash Needs the clone code hack
9 Crash Object (Player Actor) Crash Needs the clone code hack
10 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
11 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
12 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
13 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
14 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
15 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
16 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
17 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
18 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
19 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
20 Defunct Actor 22 N/A If using the Actor Spawner code hack it works
21 Mega Goomba Works If using Boss Particle code hack
22 Hammer Brother from map N/A MvsL is missing a world map so...
23 Pipe Piranha Plant (facing up) Works   
24 Pipe Piranha Plant (facing down) Works   
25 Pipe Piranha Plant (facing right) Works   
26 Pipe Piranha Plant (facing left) Works   
27 Bill Blaster (Bullet Bill launcher) Works   
28 Bob-omb Works   
29 Princess Peach Works   
30 Monty Tank Works If using Boss Particle code hack
31 Cheep Cheep Works   
32 Goal Pole's Flag Works   
33 Trampoline (portable springboard) Crash   
34 Red Ring Crash   
35 Final Bowser Controller Crash   
36 Thwomp Works   
37 Spiny Works   
38 Boo Works   
39 Castle boss controller Partial Some of the options crash the game, you can use a switch instead.
40 Lakitu (unused object) Works   
41 Bowser bridge switch Works Loads, but graphics are not loaded correctly
42 Chain Chomp/Log Works   
43 Chain Chomp (unused object) Works   
44 Fire Snake (unused Actor 46) Works   
45 Respawnable Hidden Block Works   
46 Event controller - activates Spiked Ball when touched by Snake Block Works   
47 Lakithunder Works   
48 Aquatic bubble current (up) Works   
49 Aquatic bubble current (down) Works   
50 Aquatic bubble current (right) Works   
51 Aquatic bubble current (left) Works   
52 Buzzy Beetle Works   
53 Dry Bones Works   
54 Lava Bubble (Podoboo) Works   
55 Bullet Bill Spawner Works   
56 Fire Bar Works   
57 Coin Works   
58 Bowser Works   
59 Hammer Brother Works   
60 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
61 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
62 Big Bowser (unused object) Works   
63 Dry Bowser Works   
64 Whomp Works   
65 Cheepskipper Works   
66 P Switch Works Graphics are not loaded correctly
67 Sushi (shark) Works   
68 Lift moving up and down Works   
69 Lift moving left and right Works   
70 Rotating log lift (unused actor) Works   
71 Stonewall moving up and down Works   
72 Stonewall moving left and right Works   
73 Wobbly metal lift Works   
74 Wobble Rock Works   
75 Seesaw lift Works   
76 Scale lift Works   
77 Flimsy Lift (falls once touched) Works   
78 Lift moving one way once stood on Works   
79 Three-platform rickshaw lift (rotates in place by self) Works   
80 Lift spawner Works   
81 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
82 Rotating rectangle lift Works   
83 Self-activating block Works   
84 Zoom Works   
85 Flip fence (duplicate object) Works   
86 Rotating triangle lift Works   
87 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
88 Brick Block containing P Switch Works P-Switch graphics are not loaded correctly
89 Snailicorn Works   
90 Wiggler Works   
91 Track-controlled lift Works   
92 Unagi (eel) Works   
93 Arrow signboard Works   
94 Swooper Works   
95 Spin Block Works   
96 Seaweed Works   
97 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
98 Camera vertical scrolling N/A   
99 Four-platform rickshaw lift Works   
100 Vertical camera offset (unused actor) N/A   
101 Event controller - view enter Works   
102 Spiked Ball Works   
103 Dorrie Works   
104 Tweester (Tornado) Works   
105 Whirlpool Works   
106 Red Coin Crashes   
107 ? Switch Works Graphics are not loaded correctly
108 ! Switch Works Graphics are not loaded correctly
109 Amp Works   
110 Brick Block containing !-Switch Works !-Switch graphics are not loaded correctly
111 Floating log Works   
112 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
113 Cheep Chomp Works   
114 Burner (Small) Works   
115 Large Spiked Ball Works   
116 Skeeter (Water Bug) Works Causes a desync however
117 Map Flying ? Block N/A   
118 Burner Works   
119 Swinging lift (pendulum-like) Works   
120 Grounded Piranha Plant Works   
121 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
122 Big Grounded Piranha Plant Works   
123 Grounded Fire Piranha Plant Works   
124 Large grounded Fire Piranha Plant Works   
125 Defunct Actor 229 N/A   
126 Drawbridge lift Works   
127 Big four-platform rickshaw lift Works   
128 Warp Cannon Works   
129 Boss Key Location Works   
130 Jumping Cheep Cheep Works   
131 Checkpoint - vertical Works Does the animation but doesn't set anything
132 Checkpoint Works Does the animation but doesn't set anything
133 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
134 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
135 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
136 Pokey Works   
137 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
138 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
139 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
140 Boss Key Works   
141 Swelling ground Works   
142 Tightrope Works   
143 Spiked ? Block (unused actor 251) Crashes   
144 Spiked ? Block Crashes   
145 Spiked ? Block (unused actor 253) Crashes   
146 Ground-pound panel Works   
147 Bump from below platform Works   
148 Goomba Works   
149 Koopa Troopa Works   
150 Koopa Paratroopa Works   
151 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
152 Event trigger block Crash   
153 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
154 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
155 Special exit controller (warp entrance) Crash Sometimes just corrupts graphics and does nothing
156 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
157 Fire Brother Partial Causes a desync
158 Boomerang Brother Partial Causes a desync
159 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
160 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
161 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
162 Mushroom Platform lift Works   
163 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
164 Event controller - "AND" Works Works    
165 Event controller - "OR" (If X OR Y, do Z) Works   
166 Event controller - "RANDOM" Works   
167 Event controller - chainer (If X, do Y) Works   
168 Event controller - "IF" (uses zones) Works   
169 Spin Block (unused Actor 255) N/A Doesn't spawn
170 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
171 Spin Block (unused Actor 256) N/A Doesn't Spawn
172 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
173 Swinging/able rope Works   
174 Mushroom Platform lift Works   
175 Bouncy bricks (Unused) Works   
176 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
177 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
178 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
179 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
180 Climbing Koopa Works   
181 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
182 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
183 Lakitu spawner Works   
184 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
185 Cheep Cheep random spawner Works   
186 Paragoomba Works   
187 Balance lift Works   
188 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
189 Pipe Cannon Works Desynchronizes the game
190 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
191 Hanging Bouncing ? Block Works   
192 Coin Spawner (unused actor) Crash   
193 Big Dry Bones Works   
194 Big Thwomp Works   
195 0 Stick to bottom length activator left Works   
196 0 Stick to bottom length activator right Works   
197 Tile Creator/Destroyer (Tile God) Crash   
198 In air vertical scroll stop left N/A   
199 In air vertical scroll stop right N/A   
200 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
201 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
202 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
203 Unused Purple Mushroom Platform Lift Works   
204 Fire Snake Works   
205 Flame Chomp Spawner Works   
206 Ghost house goo Works   
207 Big Cheep Cheep Works   
208 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
209 Sledge Brother Works Causes a desync however
210 MvsL Battle Star Works Who would've thought
211 Blooper Works   
212 Blooper Nanny (unused actor 144) Works   
213 Blooper Nanny that w/ Baby Bloopers Works   
214 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
215 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
216 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
217 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
218 Auto-scrolling controller Works If the players spawn in the same position after respawning it stops working
219 Spike Top Works   
220 Bowser Jr. Works   
221 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
222 Mini Goomba Works   
223 Flip fence Works   
224 Big flip fence Works   
225 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
226 Scuttlebug N/A   
227 Moneybag Works   
228 Roulette Block Crash   
229 Petey Piranha Works   
230 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
231 Water Works   
232 Hanging ? Block Works   
233 Swinging/able pole Works   
234 Lava Partial Causes a desync, line the top with lava tiles
235 Star Coin Crash   
236 Rotating square lift Works   
237 Broozer Works   
238 Purple Mushroom Platform lift Works   
239 Yellow/Orange Mushroom Platform Works   
240 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
241 Bill Blaster Turret Works   
242 Blue Mushroom Platform Works   
243 Roof Spiny Works   
244 Bouncy Mushroom Platform Works   
245 Corked Pipe + foot pump Crashes   
246 Floating barrel Works   
247 Sushi spawner (shark spawner) Works   
248 Balloon Boo Works   
249 Track-controlled wall-jump lift Works   
250 Crowber Works   
251 Big Unagi Crash   
252 Banzai Bill Blaster Works   
253 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
254 Kab-omb Works   
255 Jungle FG Effect (Unused Actor) Works   
256 Rotating carry-through-wall turntable-like lift Works   
257 Coin trail Cheep Cheep Works   
258 Spike Bass (unused object) Works   
259 Poisoned Water Partial Causes desync
260 Fast Spike Pillar - Down Works   
261 Fast Spike Pillar - Up Works   
262 Fast Spike Pillar - Left Works   
263 Fast Spike Pillar - Right Works   
264 Mega Ground Pound's sky drops + Crash   
265 Phantom Hand (Pointing hand) Works   
266 Invisible Lava Bubble (unused actor) Works   
267 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
268 Underwater bounce bubble Works   
269 Giant Wiggler Works   
270 Smashed pipe object Works   
271 Crowber spawner Works   
272 Snowy branch Works   
273 Snow Spike Works   
274 Sinking-snow pile Works   
275 Blockhopper Partial Desyncs
276 Scroll and Mario stop sideways Works   
277 Arrow sign Works   
278 Groundpound-able ghost house goo Works   
279 Flipper (one-way gate) Works   
280 Horizontal camera offset N/A Not sure how this object works
281 Squiggler Works   
282 Swinging/able vine Works   
283 Spike Bass spawner Works   
284 Splunkin (pumpkin) Works   
285 Scuttlebug spawner N/A   
286 Event controller - multi-chainer Works   
287 Enemy-in-Pipe Generator Works   
288 Nothing N/A Technically works due to it being nothing
289 Platform Block (expandable block) Works Doesn't respawn if it turns into bricks and you collect a battle star.
290 Flying ? Block Crash Black screen
291 Brick Block containing ? Switch Works ? Switch graphics are not loaded correctly
292 Event Activated Door Works   
293 Touching ground vertical scroll stop left Works   
294 Touching ground vertical scroll stop right Works   
295 Mummipokey Works Use a P-Switch
296 Lift moving left and right Works   
297 Stonewall moving left and right Works   
298 Stonewall moving u, d, l, r Works   
299 Snake Block Works   
300 Haunted lift Works   
301 Toadsworth Works Only freezes Mario for a few seconds, and Luigi can roam freely. Background chooser will break because of BMG differences.
302 Toad House block Doesn't work Garble graphics.
303 Ball 'n' Chain Works   
304 Spike Pillar - down Works   
305 Final Castle Create Loop N/A I have no idea how this works.
306 Final Castle Wrong Path N/A I have no idea how this works.
307 Spike Pillar - up Works   
308 Spike Pillar - left Works   
309 Spike Pillar - right Works   
310 Fog FG effect Partial Graphics are not loaded correctly
311 Snow FG effect 1 Works   
312 Rise or lower while/once on Mushroom Platform lift - mechanical Works   
313 Snow FG effect 2 Works   
314 Snow FG effect 3 Works   
315 Cloud FG effect Partial Graphics are not loaded correctly
316 Water FG effect 1 Works   
317 Water FG effect 2 Works   
318 Fire FG effect 1 Works   
319 Fire FG effect 2 Works   
320 Fire FG effect 3 Works   
321 Light FG Effect 1 N/A   
322 Light FG Effect 2 Works   
323 Squishy cloud platform Works Both players can interact with it at the same time
324 Grassland Clouds FG effect Partial Graphics are not loaded correctly
325 Small Grassland Clouds FG effect Partial Graphics are not loaded correctly