Waluigi

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Waluigi was conceived specifically to serve as the bitter rival to Luigi and Wario's partner in Mario Tennis. His name combines "Luigi" with the Japanese word "warui," meaning bad, establishing him as a "bad Luigi." While early American materials introduced him as Wario's younger brother, his relationship has since become ambiguous; Charles Martinet described them simply as "two nice, evil guys who found each other." His design balances Wario's stoutness with a lean frame, drawing inspiration from the Doronbo Gang in the Yatterman series. A key moment in his lore occurred in Mario Strikers Charged, where he performed a celebratory "crotch chop" taunt intended to represent the letter "W," which director Mike Inglehart noted made Waluigi "a bit edgier than Wario." (Note: In the original Super Mario Strikers, his taunt is a leg-sweep kick, not a crotch chop.) Despite a lack of deep backstory beyond his need for approval and love for Princess Daisy, critics view him as a cult hero who embodies self-pity.

In Their Own Story

In Mario Tennis Aces, Waluigi and Wario initiate story events by offering Mario a racket called Lucien that possesses Luigi and threatens the kingdom. During gameplay, Waluigi performs unique trick shots, including one where he moonwalks and another involving spinning while flaunting a rose. In Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix, he serves as the main antagonist, stealing Music Keys to hypnotize the world with his dancing. His journey through sports titles includes performing a "Slim Stinger" in Mario Golf: Super Rush and summoning water in games like Mario Hoops 3-on-3, a move IGN's Rob Burman found baffling. In Mario Kart Tour, he even appeared as a bus driver and, during an October 2021 Halloween event, debuted as a vampire variant wearing a top hat and cape. His streak of annual appearances ended in 2023, marking the first year since his debut that he did not appear in any game.

Reader's Guide

Waluigi is playable across Mario sports titles, most Mario Party games, and the entire Mario Kart series except Mario Kart 7. In sports games like Mario Tennis Aces, he functions as a defensive character capable of covering wide areas. His unique mechanics include spinning into his "Γ" symbol shape in Mario Power Tennis and producing a rose as a recurring victory accessory in Mario Party 8. For players navigating the Mario Party series, he joined starting with Mario Party 3, which featured his own board, Waluigi's Island, filled with traps; he has appeared in every subsequent title except Mario Party Advance. In soccer titles like Super Mario Strikers and Mario Strikers: Battle League, he acts as a team captain and defensive player who can kick the ball while leaving a trail of thorns. To succeed against him or play as him, focus on his agility and ability to cheat or disrupt opponents rather than relying on straightforward athletic prowess.

Did You Know?

• Waluigi's name is a portmanteau of 'Luigi' and the Japanese word 'warui,' meaning bad.
• He was voiced by Charles Martinet from his debut in 2000 until 2022, when Martinet stepped back to become Mario Ambassador.
• His signature hat symbol is an inverted yellow 'L', decided by supervisor Yōichi Kotabe as a direct inversion of Luigi's design.
• Waluigi has appeared in over 50 video games but has never starred in his own game or a mainline Mario title.
• In Mario Strikers Charged, his celebratory taunt involves thrusting his hips to form the letter 'W' with both hands—a move often called a 'crotch chop.' In the original Super Mario Strikers, his taunt is a leg-sweep kick