Skills (Tetris Battle Gaiden)

スキル (Skill or Su-ki-ru) is a gameplay feature in Tetris Battle Gaiden.

In this Tetris title, there are a total of 40 different skills. Skills can be used by pressing up on the d-pad.

Skill Levels[]

Each character has access to 4 different skills which can be used when a certain number of crystals are collected after clearing lines. Their potential varies or suits a character's playstyle.

Level 1s cost 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 crystals.
Level 2s cost 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 crystals.
Level 3s cost 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 crystals.
Level 4s cost 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 crystals.

*The cost values above reflect the power settings in the Options menu.

Skills Overview I (Playable Characters)[]

Halloween[]

H1 is フライ Fry, H2 is ダーク Dark, H3 is バンパイア Vampire and H4 is ボム Bomb.

H1 completely fills the user's bottom 3 lines. After placing their next piece, the skill clears the user's bottom 3 lines and sends 3 garbage lines to the opponent. Crystal blocks are erased and stone blocks are preserved. A2 and W3 are immune to this skill.
- H2 obscures the opponent's playfield except for a cone of light below the falling piece. Lasts until the opponent places 3 pieces.
H3 steals every crystal the opponent has in stock and allows the user to keep all crystals stolen.
H4 destroys random blocks of any type in the opponent's stack.

Mirurun[]

M1 is ミルルン Mirurun, M2 is ハンテン Inversion, M3 is ペンタリス Pentaris and M4 is スリトテ sirteT.

M1 removes the user's bottom 4 lines from their stack.
M2 turns the opponent's control functions upside-down until they place 3 pieces.
M3 adds 5 lines to the bottom of the opponent's stack.
M4 switches the positions of normal blocks and gaps in the opponent's stack.

Shaman[]

S1 is モーゼ Moses, S2 is カイテン Rotation, S3 is ノロイ Curse and S4 is イノリ Prayer.

S1 splits the user's stack in two, creating a 4-column gap. Some blocks of any type will be lost.
S2 increases the rotation rate of the opponent's next 3 pieces and rotates them continuosly while fast-dropping.
S3 makes the user's next 5 pieces send a total of 5 stone lines to the opponent. If said pieces clear any lines, more stone lines will be sent as garbage. The A1 skill can counter this one.
S4 uses any other character's level 4 skill randomly. It may backfire on the user.

Aladdin[]

A1 is シーソー See-saw, A2 is シールド Shield, A3 is ファックス Fax and A4 is リモコン Remote.

A1 sends the contents of the user's bottom 2 lines to the opponent's stack, adding to its bottom. Any type of blocks can be sent.
A2 grants immunity to garbage lines until the user places 7 pieces. It is also immune to H1 and G1.
A3 makes a copy of the user's stack and sends it to the opponent.
A4 allows the user to freely control the opponent's next 2 pieces while still controlling their own.

Princess[]

P1 is ソル Sol, P2 is ミラー Mirror, P3 is マヒ Paralysis and P4 is コピー Copy.

P1 allows the user to remove the contents of 3 adjacent columns of their stack. Has a 3-second timer and can be aimed.
P2 backfires the opponent's next skill. The effect lasts until the user places their next 10 pieces.
P3 disables rotations for the opponent's next 3 pieces.
P4 makes a copy of the opponent's stack and sends it to the user.

Bits[]

B1 is スターダスト Stardust, B2 isフィーバー Fever, B3 is ギャング Gang and B4 is マンボ Mambo.

B1 works randomly, removing 0 to 9 lines from the top of the user's stack.
B2 repeats the current piece (one discarded when activating B2) 10 times for both players. The user may act after 7 have been placed.
B3 steals all crystal blocks from the opponent's stack, leaving gaps. The user stores 1 crystal per every 2 columns a thief successfully steals from.
B4 randomly creates high columns and separate gaps in the opponent's stack.

Ninja[]

N1 is ヨセ Gather, N2 is マヤカシ Deception, N3 is ダイナシ Web and N4 is メデューサ Medusa.

N1 pushes all blocks in the user's stack to one side.
N2 randomizes the opponent's next 4 falling pieces.
N3 makes any cleared lines by the opponent disable gravity for the lines above until they place their next 6 pieces.
N4 turns every normal block in the opponent's stack into hard blocks.

Wolfman[]

W1 is カット Cut, W2 is ヌー Nu , W3 is ナカヨシ Buddies and W4 is ドトン Earth Style.

W1 removes the user's top 4 lines from their stack.
W2 disables fast-dropping for the opponent's next 3 pieces.
W3 depletes the user's stack by the number of garbage lines received until the opponent places their next 7 pieces.
W4 allows the user's next 4 pieces to cascade every normal block in their stack when lines are cleared.

It is much easier for players to distinguish a skill by the character/user's first letter + its level.

Skills Overview II (Bosses)[]

Dragon[]

D1 is プレス Press, D2 is セレクト Select, D3 is ルーレット Roulette, D4 is チェンジ Change.

D1 piles up the blocks in the user's stack and removes its bottom 3 lines.
D2 allows the user to freely select their next 4 falling pieces by using the L or R buttons.
D3 randomizes the opponent's controls for their next 3 pieces.
D4 simply swaps the contents of both stacks.

Grand Princess[]

G1 is ハイパーフライ Hyper-fry, G2 is リバース Reverse, G3 is ダブルス Doubles and G4 is クリアー Clear.

G1 completely fills the user's bottom 4 lines. After placing the next piece, the skill clears your bottom 4 lines and sends 4 garbage lines to the opponent. Crystal blocks are collected and stone blocks are erased. A2 and W3 are immune to this one.
G2 reverses movement and rotation controls. Lasts until the opponent places 4 pieces.
G3 doubles the amount of garbage lines sent by the user's next 8 pieces. It is useless against A2 and W3.
G4 stops the user from being defeated by removing their entire stack.

During the 'ELORG' screen, press: B, B, X, X, A, Y, A, Y, up, left. If done correctly, the text will turn blue. At the character select screen, hold L and press A to choose Dragon or hold R and press A to choose Grand Princess. Hold L/R until the match begins.

Trivia[]

Many skills in Battle Gaiden reference cultural or worldly elements such as The Grim Reaper, vintage vampire movies, cabaret dancers, dial-up sounds, a printer/fax, gangsters, a laser designator reticle with its countdown timer and beam, the opening of the Red Sea, police sirens, a Cha Cha Cha maraca instrumentalist wearing a sombrero and poncho, vikings, a Djinn using a remote controller similar to an Atari 2600 controller, Medusa and Shinto priests.