DMA channel usage in SMW

This is a list of all the uses for DMA/HDMA channels in SMW and what they are used for.

For DMA channels, the channel corresponds to a bit of $420B. For HDMA channels, the channel corresponds to a bit of $0D9F, which is SMW's mirror for $420C, the register used for HDMA on the SNES.

• Channel 0:
  • (DMA) Used for transferring data from the OAM mirror RAM ($0200) to the actual OAM address.
• Channel 1:
  • (DMA) Used for uploading Layer 3 tilemap data.
  • (DMA) Used for uploading Layer 1 tilemap data on the overworld (?).
• Channel 2:
  • (DMA) Used for uploading the background palette to CGRAM.
  • (DMA) Used to upload data to SP4 in some special levels (?).
  • (DMA) Used for uploading the player graphics.
  • (DMA) Used for uploading other dynamic tiles in SP1 (?).
• Channel 3:
  • Not used in SMW. This channel is commonly used for custom HDMA effects.
• Channel 4:
  • Not used in SMW. This channel is commonly used for custom HDMA effects.
• Channel 5:
  • (HDMA) Used during the ending enemy presentation, and that seems to be its only use in SMW. This channel is commonly used for custom HDMA effects.
• Channel 6:
  • (HDMA) Used during the ending enemy presentation, and that seems to be its only use in SMW.
• Channel 7:
  • (HDMA) Used for the level end windowing circle.
  • (HDMA) used for the windowing HDMA that the dark room spotlight creates.
  • (HDMA) Used during the ending enemy presentation.