Super Mario Odyssey heavily features a capture system, which allows Mario to control certain creatures and objects. He does so through his companion, Cappy. While not every type of capture is necessary to progress through the story, some are highly useful when players need to find additional moons or defeat enemies.
The current record for the minimum number of captures used in a playthrough is three, with two being Spark Pylons and one being Bowser. These cannot be considered useful but instead necessary. For beginner Super Mario Odyssey players, however, many captures are essential to completing the game. Some are specific to certain bosses, but others have more wide-reaching capabilities.
Pokio
One of the most prominent captures in Bowser's Kingdom is Pokio, the small bird creature that jabs its beak at targets. Once captured, Pokios are an invaluable resource, helping players to climb walls, deflect bombs, and fight other enemies attempting to defeat them.
Pokios are also an important part of the RoboBrood battle at the end of the kingdom. Defeating this enemy with Mario alone is extremely difficult, but with a Pokio's assistance, it is much more manageable. It can only climb certain walls, but these are present all over Bowser's Kingdom, and they are useful throughout a large portion of it.
Sherm
The tank-like Sherms have the unique ability to attack enemies from a distance. These projectiles can destroy obstacles and opponents alike, even blocking incoming distance attacks. They are also necessary for the Mecha Wiggler fight, a boss battle in the Metro Kingdom.
This is considered, by some, to be the best kingdom in the game, and Sherms contribute to this greatly. In addition, they are present in many kingdoms, giving them a lot of utility in Super Mario Odyssey. They cannot jump, being restricted to the platform on which they are initially captured. Despite this, they are incredibly useful in many situations.
T-Rex
Able to defeat any enemy that gets in its way, the T-Rex is perhaps the strongest capture in the game. This comes at the cost of only being accessible for short periods of time. This time can be used wisely, though, as the T-Rex can break many obstacles around it. One of the most popular skips in the game involves the T-Rex.
In the Cascade Kingdom, the T-Rex can jump on a trampoline, and if Mario exits the capture at the highest point and dives forward, he can enter the fight with Madame Broode. This allows him to surpass a long area that he would normally have to traverse. If players are looking to complete this section quickly, utilizing the T-Rex to its full potential is a must.
Bullet Bill
A staple of the Super Mario, Bullet Bills continue to have a prominent role in Super Mario Odyssey. Capturing one allows the player to travel across large distances of the map and destroy blocks that either stand in Mario's way or contain Moons.
Without Bullet Bills, many large gaps would be much more difficult to traverse. They can also be used to defeat enemies that could cause Mario harm. Although Bullet Bills can only be captured for a short period of time before they explode, the distance they can cover makes them a valuable asset.
Chain Chomp
Chain Chomps are present in only a few places in Super Mario Odyssey, but they play important roles in those areas. In the Cascade Kingdom, Chain Chomps are necessary to break certain blocks that contain Moons and access to other areas. Madame Broode, the boss of the kingdom, has a Chain Chomp of her own, which players must capture to defeat her. She is also an enemy in the Moon Kingdom, where players can use the same strategy to defeat her.
Appearing in Super Mario Bros. 3, one of the best Mario games in the franchise, Chain Chomps are one of the most famous types of enemies in Super Mario history, so it is appropriate that they should play an important role in this game.
Glydon
Being able to glide over expansive distances, Glydon allows the player to access many Moons that would otherwise be incredibly difficult to obtain. Glydon appears in many kingdoms, and his role is always the same.
If he jumps from a high point, he can glide across a large portion of the map, giving a view of the landscape and connecting Mario with other high-altitude locations. While he cannot fly, Glydon nevertheless gives players opportunities that are not available through any other captures.
Gushen
With the amount of water present in the Seaside Kingdom, it is important to be able to travel around it efficiently. Gushens allow players to do this. The creatures spray water and propel themselves around the kingdom, doing so both vertically and horizontally. Although carrying themselves vertically will eventually cause them to run out of water, they can replenish themselves upon making contact with the sea.
These creatures are important for accessing certain highly-placed Moons. They are also essential for defeating Mollusque-Lanceur, a boss in the Seaside Kingdom.
Uproot
One of the most heavily featured creatures in the Wooded Kingdom is the Uproot, which extends its legs and rises to heights that would be difficult to reach otherwise. It is also instrumental in defeating the Torkdrift, the flower-stealing boss that is a part of the kingdom's story section.
There are many Moons in the Wooded Kingdom that Uproots are designed to reach, from those located in secret areas in small tunnels to Moons contained in breakable nuts located in high places. Uproots can also avoid many enemies by jumping over them, making them useful captures in several ways.
Cheep Cheep
While Gushens traverse the sea from above, Cheep Cheeps do so underneath the water. This is important because Mario has a limited amount of time he can hold his breath underwater, only being assisted by occasional air bubbles. Cheep Cheeps remedy this problem by being able to breathe underwater. They also move much faster than Mario in this environment.
Many hidden Seaside Kingdom Moons that are often missed can be more easily accessed by using a Cheep Cheep. The lovable fish are a common feature of Super Mario Odyssey and make gameplay in water-based areas much more efficient.
Hammer Bro
An especially useful capture in the Luncheon Kingdom, Hammer Bro is a master at breaking obstacles in Mario's way. There are several points in this kingdom where Hammer Bros are necessary to access certain features, such as Moons or levers that grant easy access to new areas.
While they do not have the same projectile capability as Sherms, Hammer Bros still have the ability to attack from a reasonable distance, throwing hammers at oncoming enemies and stopping them before they get too close.