Mario Tennis Aces Guide

Mario Tennis Aces Guide

Basic controls break down into three parts. This sounds elementary, but stick with me the goal here is less button mashing and more precision movements. The default control scheme is brilliant, but you have to use it correctly. The moment I started the game I wanted to remap the controls and was a little overwhelmed by all the moves, but after 10 hours of playing I wouldn’t change a thing Each time the ball comes your way you have 3 split-second decisions you have to make. Due to the fast-paced nature of this game, all of this becomes a blur, so if you are struggling fire up the practice mode against the computer and work on these fundamentals.

1. Movement
2. Swing/Shot type
3. Ball Direction

Movement

• With each shot that comes your way focus on moving without hitting your swing button until you are in the position to hit the ball.
• Get in position before each swing. This is all dependent upon ball speed and where your opponent hits the ball
• If you are seeing Star Points then that’s where you need to be.
• You will have more powerful shots if you can be in position and charging your shot before the ball reaches you

Swing/Shot Type

• When you are in the position to take your shot tap the swing of your choice
• You do not have to hold the button down to charge it you only have to tap it once you are in position
• If your opponent hits any shot and you see the Star Point move to that location and tap the button of your choice and you will begin charging your shot.
• Tap it twice for a little extra power on your shot, but the ball will fall closer to the center of the court
• You do not have to hold the button down to charge your shot. (in the beta)
• Do not tap twice on Lob Shots or Drop Shots it will trigger your trick shot and can cause you to miss the ball
• You can also double tap with Charge Shots
• The faster you get to the Star Point and charge your shot the more energy you gain.
• Each Shot type and their color
  • Slice-Blue shot: B button (Pro Controller)
    • Slower Shot that that doesn’t bounce as much and curves to the side a lot
    • If your opponent hits a fully charged Slice return it with a Topspin for less knock-back
  • Topspin- Red Shot: A button (Pro Controller)
    • Faster Shot that bounces higher
    • If your opponent hits a fully charged Topspin return it with a Slice for less knock-back
  • Flat- Purple Shot: Y button (Pro Controller)
    • A shot that is faster than Topspin or Slice
    • If your opponent hits a fully charged Flat shot return it with a Flat shot for less knock-back
  • Drop Shot-White Shot: Press Down on the Left Stick and the X Button
    • A shot that falls near the net, aimed to fall at the front of the net
    • Do not charge this shot if you want to see it land near the front and out of reach of your opponent
    • This shot is most effective after a series of power shots that move your opponent to the back of the court, the Drop Shot will drop the ball near the front making it difficult to reach
    • The best counter for the Drop Shot is a Trick Shot if you are near the back of the court and you see the ball with a white tail activate a Trick Shot to get to the ball before it drops.
  •  Lob-Yellow Shot: Press Up on the Left Stick and the X button 
    • A shot that goes far into the court to get the ball over your opponent’s head
    • This shot is most effective after a Drop Shot or for an opponent that likes to crowd the net and play near the front. Any time your opponent is near the net use the Lob to hit the ball over their head
    • The best counter for a Lob is the Trick Shot or hold R to activate Zone Speed (slow-mo)

• • Trick Shot-Tilt Up, Down, Left, or Right on the Right Stick to activate
    • Trick Shots allow you to leap toward a distant ball and greatly increase your energy. However, it’s a risky shot. If your timing is late, you may lose the point or some energy. The greater the risk, the greater the reward!
    • This shot will quickly close the distance for a ball that is otherwise out of reach.
    • The Trick Shot works not only for balls out of reach to your left or right but also those that are in front of behind.
  • Zone Shot
    • If you build your energy until the gauge is at least yellow and then press the R Button while on a rotating Star Point, you can pinpoint exactly where you want to hit the ball on the opponent’s side of the court by pressing a shot button to unleash a Zone Shot
    • The fuller your energy gauge is the longer you will have to aim
    • Use this on opponents that have low energy bars and place the shot as far from them as possible. Low energy and long distance will keep the opponent from blocking with Zone Speed and likely result in a point for you
    • Learning to pull the Zone Shot off quickly can catch your opponent off guard, the longer you are in the air aiming gives them more time to react
    • Zone Shots can be blocked, but blocking too early will weaken your racket.
    • Three early blocks will result in a broken racket
    • Zone Speed can counter Zone Shots.
    • Waiting until the last second to return a Zone Shot will reward you with a block and no loss of strength to your racket
  •  Special Shot- Press the L Button when energy gauge is full
    •  A Special Shot is the ultimate tennis shot, but it also consumes a lot of energy
    • If you try and return one but your block fails, your racket will instantly break
    • Remember that you can always try to return the ball, even if it is far away
    •  To block a Special Shot you need to active Zone Speed and wait until the ball is about to hit you then press your swing button
    • If your energy gauge is full you can also activate your Special Shot to block your opponents Special Shot, it will have knock-back so getting back to your good location can be tricky
    • Save your Special Shot to finish off an opponent or to save yourself if you can’t get to a shot that is out of reach

Strategy

• Serving
  • When serving move all the way to outside and aim your serve as far outside on your opponent’s side. If they don’t move toward the outside prior to your serve they will not be able to reach the ball. If they hit on the move there is a chance they will hit the ball out of bounds.
  • Mix up your serves from inside to outside keep your opponent guessing
  • Practice hitting Nice serves. When the ball is at it’s highest point is when you hit it for the most power can speed
•  On the Court
  • Look for your opponent’s tendencies
    • If they like crowding the net and playing up front hit a Lob over their head if they hit the Trick Shot and return it follow up with Drop Shot.
    • Same is true if they are playing the back of the court. Hit a Drop Shot and watch them scramble to return it
    • If you find your self in a rally that is left to right and right to left mix it up and return a shot straight back
    • Do not be predictable, don’t allow them to see any of your tendencies
    • Fill your gauge quickly by using Trick Shots, Charge Shots, and returning shots from Star Points
    • Make sure to return max charged shots with the correct shot to lessen the amount of knockback
    • Pay attention to your opponent’s location on the court and capitalize on every opportunity, punish your opponent whenever possible
    • This game is about precision movements remember Move first, Decide your shot type, and then place the ball it where you want.
    • With anything you want to master you must practice, practice and practice