20 Basic Video Game Skills That Are Secretly Broken

7. Attack FX R - Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

Badges are special items from Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door that offer powerful upgrades when equipped. These include, but are not limited to, badges that increase your stats, grant full protection from all ailments, and grant unique moves that pack a lot of punch.

This is why, when players come across the “Attack FX R” badge, a badge that does nothing more than make cricket noises when you attack, their first reaction is often to immediately forget about it.

After all, with so many amazing options, why would you waste your time on a gag item?

Well, because the ability of this one gag item in particular is secretly capable of downing a really powerful boss.

Attack FX R can be obtained in the castle of the dragon, Hooktail, and this is no coincidence. As you discover through dialogue, Hooktail is secretly afraid of crickets, and when you equip the Attack FX R badge, the noises it produces will scare her, lowering her attack and defense by 1 with each cricket chirp.

Despite Hootail being an incredibly tough and powerful boss, the cricket noises can reduce her difficulty to a minimum, allowing you to win the fight with ease.