There are a handful of features from Super Mario Party that have endured intoSuper Mario Party Jamboree, and one of them is the ability to obtain a buddy to help you as you roll around your game board. But this time around, buddies in Super Mario Party Jamboree work a bit differently.

Not only will you need to battle all the other players to earn the right to have said buddy, but you’ll also only have them for three turns. They can be stolen by any opponent who passes you, though, so be careful about where your foes are!

Daisy, Toadette, Rosalina, and Bowser Jr. playing DK’s Konga Line in Super Mario Party Jamboree.

How To Get Jamboree Buddies

Potential Buddies Spawn Randomly Throughout The Game

Though itworks differently from other games at its core, the buddy mechanic is a returning featurefrom Super Mario Party, the first Mario Party title for the Nintendo Switch. This time, instead of getting a buddy when you land on a set space and keeping them for the whole game, things have changed quite a bit.

To get a buddy in Super Mario Party Jamboree, you’ll need towait until someone shows upon the game board, which is shown at the beginning of the turn on which it happens. This will be a random character that spawns someplace on your map every few turns, and when this happens, you havethree turns to get to their locationbefore they disappear for the rest of the game.

Toadette getting an advantage in a Jamboree Buddy game while Pauline, Daisy, and Waluigi look at her in Super Mario Party Jamboree.

Play Minigames To Earn Your Jamboree Buddy

Once you reach a buddy in Super Mario Party Jamboree, don’t think you get that friend just because you got there first, though! When one player reaches where the buddy ison the game board, everyone will need tocompete in a four-player minigameto earn the right to have said buddy.Every character in Super Mario Party Jamboreehas aunique minigameyou’ll need to win to claim them as your board partner.

The player who reaches the buddy’s space gets an advantageat the beginning of the buddy minigame, which is often extra points added to their total, a special item that helps them get ahead somehow, or a speed boost if you’re playing a racing buddy minigame. That said, having the advantage doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to win – you’ll still need to fend off all your opponents first!

Pauline buying two items from Koopa’s shop in Rainbow Galleria with Rosalina as her Jamboree Buddy in Super Mario Party Jamboree.

When the minigame ends, the buddy goes with whoever won their minigame, no matter who first triggered said game.The buddy remains on the board following that characterfor three turns, disappearing at the beginning of the fourth turn after their minigame. This count of three turns begins when the buddy minigame is played, not when the buddy first appears on the game map.

But just because you won the buddy minigame and claimed this specific Super Mario Party Jamboree buddy doesn’t mean they’re yours to keep for the full three turns!Opponents steal your buddy when they walk past youon the game board, so it’s best to keep an eye out for who’s around when making moves with a buddy!

Landing on the same space as a player who has a buddy doesnotsteal their buddy. You need topassthem to pilfer the pal!

What Do Buddies Do In Super Mario Party Jamboree?

Like their minigames, each character in Super Mario Party Jamboree has aunique buddy abilityto help the player they’re following get ahead in some way. This can be by gifting you free coins or items, cutting the prices of items at shops, helping you roll higher numbers, and more. You’ll receive some kind ofbuddy perk at the start of your turnfor the entire duration your buddy is by your side, which we will detail more below.

Not only do you get the unique perk for each of theten characters available as buddiesin the game, but you’ll also have the option tobuy two itemswhen you have a buddy with you. This includes things like stars, items from stores around the game board, and requests for Boo to steal from your opponents, so it’s helpful to pop by one of these locations when you have a buddy with you.

The list of things that double when you have a Jamboree Buddy in Super Mario Party Jamboree are:

For the most part, it definitely pays to have Jamboree Buddy with you as you play Super Mario Party Jamboree! You’ll not only be able to do most things twice, but you’ll find there are plenty of buddies that offer perks on these specific spaces, too. For example, Peach halves the price of stars when she’s with you, while Daisy allows you to get any item at half-price. These bonuses stack, too, so grab Jamboree Buddies whenever you can!

All Jamboree Buddies And Their Abilities

In the table below, you’ll find a complete overview of every character in Super Mario Party Jamboree and what their buddy ability is when they join you in the game.

Starting Player Bonus

Bowser Jr.

Set a half-coin steal trap on any space you land on.

+3 points

Given 3 red coins immediately.

Donkey Kong

Moves to you a random spot on the board before each turn.

Easier time matching the rhythm.

Luigi

Easier time rolling higher numbers, replacing lower rolls with higher ones.

+10 points (via a golden gift in the first game)

Rosalina

Get a random cheap item at the start of each turn.

Copy an item from any opponent you pass.

Yoshi’s Mountain Race

3 apples in front of you at the start of the race.

Though you’re definitely able to win Super Mario Party Jamboree without the use of a buddy throughout, they make your path to victory a heck of a lot clearer!