Luiginoid Formation
A Luiginoid Formation[1] is a Luiginary Work in Mario & Luigi: Dream Team. It is a giant constellation shaped like Luigi's head. When Dreamy Luigi enters it, the stars transform into a large number of Luiginoids. The Luiginoids can become one of three forms or shapes, each with different moves to use to traverse the overworld. Some of these moves are called Luiginary abilities or Luiginary Attacks. Luiginoid Formation is described by Prince Dreambert as being a "legendary" Luiginary Work, able to create copies of the dreamer. While the Luiginoids and Mario discover the abilities, Prince Dreambert names and describes them.
Luiginoid Formations float in the background. Once encountered by Mario and Dreamy Luigi, they follow the Bros. After entering the work, it vanishes as the stars become Luiginoids. However, leaving the work turns all the Luiginoids back into stars.
Each of the three shapes are massive, and this size can be used to easily collect coins. However, this size comes with some disadvantages. The shapes often cannot fit into small passageways, restricting their use. If the Luiginoids touch any hazards, like spikes, they all fall off the map, and Mario and Dreamy Luigi respawn with the latter outside the Luiginoid Formation.
All enemies that come into contact with the Luiginoids are instantly defeated without battling them. This also permanently removes them from the overworld.
At first, the Luiginoids only have access to the "stack" form, but later locations have the Bros. learn two other forms and moves for each. The player can freely swap between all learned forms by cycling forward with , but always start out as the stack. The cycle is: Stack → Cone → Ball → Pile → Stack. If there is not enough space to form the stack, then Dreamy Luigi will return to Mario. (After learning how to crouch as a stack, the Luiginoids start in that position if there is not enough vertical space for the stack to stand. Trying to switch to other shapes in a space too small for them will keep the Luiginoids in the prior shape.)
The real Luigi stretches when the Luiginoid Formation is used, though this is possibly only meant as reference to the "stack" form.
Stack
The initial shape learned is the "stack", first used in Dreamy Dozing Sands. A stack of Luiginoids is formed and Mario stands on top. It can push certain boxes in the Bros. path. While in this form, the Bros. are able to perform the following techniques:
Jump
Pressing makes the stack jump. Mario and the stack can use this to reach platforms or activate switches too high to reach, or break blocks above their heads.
Lean Over
While the stack left idle on a ledge, it leans over, stopping at a wall. This can activate switches placed diagonally on walls. If there is nothing to lean against, the stack loses its balance. If left in that state for too long, the Luiginoids will fall over and disperse in the same way they do when hit by a hazard. The player can push the in the opposite direction to stand back up, even if they are unbalanced.
Certain switches in the game cause bombs to fall. Standing up when the bomb gets close enough can be used to bat the bombs forward.
Ground Pound
While the stack is midair, can be used to Ground Pound. This Luiginary ability causes the Luiginoids fall quickly, breaking through blocks. This is learned later in Dreamy Dozing Sands, at the Dreampoint where the Dream Stone was. The impact knocks over the real Luigi's Cap on the Touch Screen.
Crouch
Pressing makes Mario flatten the stack. Out of all the states the Luiginoid Formation has, a crouching stack is the shortest. While the stack is flattened, Mario and the Luiginoids will be able to move through low ceilings, and can still push boxes. Walking in this state is slower compared to normal. Pressing reverts the stack to normal, should there be enough space. This is learned at the same Dreampoint as the Ground Pound, but later on.
After learning how to crouch, the Luiginoids will start off crouching instead of standing if the stack shape is entered in places too small to stand in.
Spring Jump
While the stack is crouching, and there is enough space above the stack, pressing causes the stack to spring back up by using Spring Jump. The stack leaps many times higher than normal and breaks blocks above it. It can break Nightmare Chunks in one hit. However, sideways movement is reduced during a Spring Jump. Touching a ceiling in this state makes the stack bounce off, moving back down starting at the same speed it had as it hit the ceiling. Spring Jump is learned alongside crouching.
Cone
Pressing turns the stack into the Cone form, which looks like an inverted cone, with Mario on top. This form is first used in Dreamy Mount Pajamaja. While in this form, Bros. are able to perform the following techniques.
Hover Spin
The Hover Spin is a Luiginary Attack. Pressing makes the cone jump while spinning, which falls slower than a normal jump. Pressing while midair makes the cone rise a bit, allowing it to stay in the air for longer. Mario jumps from the cone when reusing Hover Spin while airborne, and he can hit ? Blocks above him. Pressing during the Hover Spin makes the cone drop quickly.
Hover Spin can be affected by swirling winds. Ones that point upward lift the Luiginoids to the top. Winds pointing sideways instead push the Luiginoids in their direction. The force is strong, so usually the player will wind up far way from the swirling wind in question.
Using Hover Spin while against giant nuts causes the nuts to spin, moving them up or down the attached bolt depending on the bolt. This generally moves the nut out of the way, though there are some other uses for them.
The real Luigi rocks back and forth as the Hover Spin is used.
Luiginary Tornado
Pressing starts Luiginary Tornado, where all the Luiginoids spread out whirling around the screen. Mario spins as well, and can freely fly in the area the Luiginoids are spinning around with the . This move can blow away various objects, including those in the foreground and background. Certain crates in the game are lifted up by the wind. If Mario pushes them, they fly forward and can be used to activate switches. Pressing will return Mario and all the Luiginoids to their original location. This is learned later on in Dreamy Mount Pajamaja, while at the Dreampoint on the Summit.
(Even in this state, any Luiginoid touching a hazard knocks over all the Luiginoids.)
Ball
Pressing turns the cone into the ball shape, sometimes referred to as the Luiginary Ball. Mario balances on top. This form is learned in the section of Dream's Deep accessed from Dreamy Pi'illo Castle, but only later in the game. This shape is the fastest of all three shapes, and can pick up more speed by rolling down slopes. Though it cannot jump, it can roll off ramps or use momentum and an incline to launch directly upward. It is able to perform the following techniques:
Hookshot
The Hookshot allows Mario and the Luiginoids to use Hookshot points to advance, Pressing has a Luiginoid hold Mario in the air and start walking back and forth across the top half of the ball. They bounce off walls, if one is close enough to restrict movement. A second press has the ball unwind to launch Mario outward in the specified direction. If the string reaches its maximum length or hits a wall, it rolls back up into the ball. If Mario reaches a Hookshot point, Mario will grab on and the Luiginoids will curl up with Mario at the Hookshot point instead.
While hanging from a Hookshot point, the can be used to swing the ball left and right. Pressing makes Mario let go, and the ball will fall down based on its current momentum. After landing, Mario pops out of the ball and the player regains control. While some Hookshot points are static, others move around and can therefore carry the ball to different places.
Certain Hookshot points have a wheel shape. On these, the ball will automatically rotate around. When is pressed, the wheel will stop and a Luiginoid will spring out of the ball in the direction the ball is facing. If it does not hit a Hookshot point, the ball retracts and the wheel resumes spinning. If it does hit, the ball is pulled to the next Hookshot point. This can be used repeatedly, chaining Hookshots to move across wide spaces. There is some auto-correction involved while using this move, making hitting Hookshot points more likely.
This move is a reference to the Hookshot from the Legend of Zelda series, and the move works almost the same as the aforementioned item.
Ball Hammer
The Ball Hammer uses the ball as a powerful weapon. Pressing causes Mario to swing the ball around and around, through the background and foreground. The motion alone can break objects near Mario, including Nightmare Chunks in a single blow. If the ball collides with a wall while swung, the move is cancelled. Some breakable objects act as walls, but Ball Hammer damages them even with the initial swing. While swinging Mario can move up and down with . Pressing stops Ball Hammer. Pressing again will throw the ball forward, in the direction Mario was facing when starting the move. It flies forward while ignoring gravity, breaking blocks and Nightmare Chunks in its path. It only stops after flying off the edge of the screen or colliding with a wall, prompting it to return to Mario almost immediately.
The real Luigi rocks back and forth while using this move, but with a wider range of motion compared to Hover Spin. Additionally, a impact causes Luigi to stop and lean far in the direction of the object that the ball struck.
Pile
To dismiss the Luiginoids and return to normal movement, the player must press to have the Luiginoids collapse into a pile. (They can also use to cycle past the last known form.) In this state, the player is unable to move. Pressing either or makes the Luiginoids jump back into the Luiginoid Formation and has Dreamy Luigi return. Pressing again returns the Luiginoids to stack form.