Super Mario Odyssey Capture Guide: Cappy, Captures & Exploration

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Super Mario Odyssey Capture Guide: Cappy, Captures & Exploration

Super Mario Odyssey's defining mechanic is Mario's ability to use Cappy to capture certain enemies, objects and animals. Nintendo officially describes Captures as a core way to move through kingdoms, solve traversal problems and uncover Power Moons.

Meet Cappy

Cappy is Mario's hat-shaped companion.

Nintendo explains that Mario can throw Cappy onto certain targets and take control of them.

What Can Be Captured?

Nintendo broadly describes Captures as applying to certain:

• Enemies.
• Objects.
• Animals.

Not Everything Is Capturable

If Cappy hits something and Mario does not take control of it, that target may not support Capture.

Cap Throw

Cap Throw is one of Mario's core new moves.

Nintendo states that Cappy can be thrown to hit enemies and objects.

Capture With Cappy

When a compatible target is hit correctly, Mario can take control of it.

Captured targets may have movement or abilities Mario normally does not possess.

Use the Capture's Strength

Do not treat every Capture as simply another way to attack.

Captures are often designed around:

• Movement.
• Reaching new areas.
• Interacting with the environment.
• Finding hidden collectibles.

Power Moons

Nintendo identifies Power Moons as the collectibles used to power the Odyssey airship.

Many Captures help Mario reach or uncover Power Moons.

Look for Environmental Clues

If a Capture appears near:

• A high ledge.
• A narrow route.
• An obstacle Mario cannot normally cross.
• An unusual environmental object.

the Capture may be part of the solution.

Cap Jump

Nintendo also documents Cap Jump.

Mario can throw Cappy and bounce off him to reach places that normal jumping may not reach.

Cap Throw and Cap Jump Work Together

Captures are not Mario's only Cappy-based movement option.

Use Cap Throw and Cap Jump even when there is nothing nearby to capture.

Classic Mario Moves Still Matter

Nintendo confirms that Mario keeps familiar movement techniques such as:

• Jump.
• Wall Jump.
• Triple Jump.
• Ground Pound.
• Backward Somersault.

Combine Old and New Movement

Super Mario Odyssey is built around combining traditional Mario movement with Cappy abilities.

Explore Vertically

Captures often let you reach areas above, below or beyond the normal route.

Do not look only at the path directly in front of Mario.

Use Captures to Search for Secrets

Nintendo describes the game as being packed with hidden collectibles and secrets.

If an area seems unusually large or has an obvious unreachable feature, search for:

• A Capture target.
• A Cap Jump route.
• A hidden path.
• A nearby environmental interaction.

Different Kingdoms Encourage Different Captures

Each kingdom introduces its own environments and traversal problems.

Do not expect one Capture type to solve every situation.

Learn What Each Capture Does

When you encounter a new Capture:

1. Test its movement.
2. Test its main action.
3. Look for nearby terrain designed around it.
4. Check whether it can reach places Mario cannot.

Do Not Rush Past New Captures

A Capture introduced in one area is often there because the surrounding environment gives you a reason to use it.

Local Co-op

Super Mario Odyssey also supports two-player local cooperative play.

Nintendo states that Player 1 controls Mario while Player 2 controls Cappy.

Co-op Can Change Exploration

Because Cappy is controlled independently by the second player, communication can help with movement and interactions.

Capture Practice Routine

1. Throw Cappy at compatible targets.
2. Learn the Capture's movement.
3. Test its special action.
4. Look for nearby Power Moon opportunities.
5. Combine Captures with Mario's normal movement.
6. Revisit areas once you better understand Cappy's abilities.

Common Capture Mistakes

• Assuming every enemy is capturable.
• Using Captures only for combat.
• Ignoring vertical routes.
• Forgetting Cap Jump.
• Moving on before learning what a new Capture can do.

Bottom Line

Super Mario Odyssey's Capture system is primarily an exploration tool. Use Cappy to control compatible enemies, objects and animals, learn what each Capture changes about Mario's movement and combine those abilities with Cap Throw, Cap Jump and classic Mario techniques to uncover Power Moons and hidden areas.