Brawlhalla is a free-to-play fighting game for up to 8 players with an ever-expanding roster of characters. Mako was a character added in patch 4.07 who resembles a vicious shark capable of wielding either a mighty greatsword or a pair of Katars. There are five different skins players can unlock for Mako to turn him into a hammerhead shark, or an orca.
Not only does this fighter look great, but he also has some powerful attacks and combos that can devastate opponents. Players who are new to Brawlhalla may find Mako a difficult legend to start with, but once his abilities have been mastered, he can be one of the more powerful brawlers in the game.
10 Learn & Memorize His Movements
The characters in Brawlhalla each have a range of regular attacks and stronger, signature moves they can utilize in combat. Each attack, especially signatures, will move the character in a certain direction; thus, it is vital to know how a character moves and where they will end up after performing certain attacks.
Any player who wants to master Mako should take him to the training arena and experiment with his signature attacks. Get a feel for how they make him move, and what uses they will have in combat.
9 Use The Down Signature For Edgeguarding
Mako's attacks have great utility as they are both powerful, and capable of covering a large distance across the map. To make the most of this character, it can help to understand some common, key strategies, which is why Mako isn't one of the best legends for Brawlhalla beginners.
One tactic that Mako excels at is edgeguarding, with many of his signature attacks either catapulting the enemy into the air or firing them sideways off the edge of the map. The down signature attack on the greatsword is especially useful when performed on the edge, preventing other players from getting back on the stage once they have been knocked off. To use this signature, simply perform a heavy attack while grounded and pressing the down button.
8 Katars Are Faster...
Players can equip this character with either a Greatsword or a set of Katars, both of which have their benefits and drawbacks. It's easy to alter a weapon's skin with the plethora of mods available for Brawlhalla, but their move sets remain unchanged.
The Katars are great for players who value speed. Mako's three signatures with these weapons execute fast, lethal attacks. While they lack the power of the Greatsword, these weapons are still more than capable of catapulting enemies of the edge of the map when used as part of the right combos.
Signature Moves For This Weapon
- Down Sig: Pressing heavy attack and down will make Mako spin rapidly in a vortex, which can be steered in any direction. Mako cannot move while charging this attack.
- Neutral Sig: Perform a heavy attack while pressing no directional buttons. Mako will vanish into a pool of water and erupt out delivering a static uppercut.
- Side Sig: Doing a heavy attack while pressing left or right will cause Mako to dive into the terrain and dash across the map in the respective direction. Charging this attack can carry the character most of the way across the arena.
7 ...But The Greatsword Is Stronger
While the Katars are great for speed and maneuverability, the greatsword is the weapon of choice for players who want raw damage and power. Many attacks with this weapon deal significant damage, and the signatures are great for knocking players off the edge of the map.
The one drawback of the greatsword is that players will need to time their attacks in order to make the most of them. When using this weapon, it is recommended for players to hold back and wait for the opportunity to knock their opponent off the map with a devastating signature.
Signature Moves For This Weapon
- Down Sig: This move will make Mako jump into the air and pound his sword into the ground, releasing a shockwave that will damage opponents on both sides. As mentioned above, this attack is perfect for keeping players off the stage once they have been knocked off.
- Neutral Sig: This attack will make Mako dive into the stage before rocketing diagonally into the air. Once the enemy is airborne, Mako will slash them back down with his sword.
- Side Sig: As with the Katars, this attack will make the character dive into the stage and shoot forward in the direction being pressed. When charged, this attack will easily cover the length of the arena.
6 Avoid Playing Off-stage Against Axes
While Mako is a very powerful legend, he isn't invulnerable, and there are a lot of ways other characters can punish his attacks if the player is not careful. Brawlers with guns, like Laura Croft, can keep their distance and try to interrupt his moves with ranged attacks.
Another weapon that does well against Mako is the axe. These blades have some very powerful attacks which, like the greatsword, are capable of knocking an unsuspecting player straight off the map. When facing an opponent with an axe, avoid fighting them off stage as their strong spinning attacks will make it difficult for Mako to get back on the platform without being hit and knocked out.
5 Use Recovery To Juggle Opponents
As a shark, Mako has several attacks that make him dive below the map into a pool of water. Both neutral signatures on the Katars and greatsword will make him do this, and erupt back out of the ground to throw opponents into the air.
Recoveries are special attacks performed by executing a neutral heavy attack in mid-air. This move carries the player further up than a regular jump, making it very useful for getting back onto the stage. Mako can also use these attacks to juggle opponents he has sent flying with his other signatures, making them easier to knock off the edge.
4 Don't Spam Attack
Brawlhalla is a unique fighting game in many respects. That said, it still follows the golden rule of most fighting games, which is that most beginners will start by mashing the attack buttons, and anyone who wants to master the game will need to stop doing this.
Button mashing will not only make characters uncoordinated and difficult to control, but it can also leave them vulnerable to an enemy counterattack. Mako's combos work best when executed with precision and careful planning, so players need to watch their opponents and keep dodging until the opportunity to strike presents itself.
3 Some Katar Attacks Have Active Inputs
The Katars are the more maneuverable of Mako's two weapons. Most of their attacks can be executed very fast, leaving the enemy little time to respond or dodge.
The best feature of Mako's katars is that some of their signatures active inputs, meaning the player can steer those attacks left or right after they have been executed. Both the side and down signatures for Mako have this ability, meaning the player can negate their opponent's dodges by navigating the attack left or right to chase after their foe.
2 Side Signatures Are Great For Reaching The Edge
Players just starting Brawlhalla should never panic just because their character has been knocked off the stage. Well-timed jumps, dashes, and recovery attacks provide numerous ways for a character to get back into the arena if they have been sent flying off the edge.
Getting back onto the platform is easier for Mako than for many other characters, due to his powerful side signatures that can cover incredible distance. This works better with the Greatsword, but even with the Katars, players who have been catapulted off-stage can use their side Signature to rocket back to the wall, where they can jump back onto the platform.
1 Fight With Lights, Finish With Signatures
While signatures are a character's most powerful attacks, they are far from the only option. It is a common mistake among new players to ignore light attacks completely, but knowing when to use them is vital to getting better at the game.
Many of Mako's signature moves are most powerful against opponents who are close to the edge. If the player overly relies on signatures, they risk leaving themselves open to enemy attacks. As such, it is best to use light attacks when battling enemies on the platform, and execute the signatures when foes are in the perfect position to be finished off.