Before starting your run, it's recommended that you enable debug mode by pressing X, B, R, B, Y, L on the title screen.
Remove the memory card before pressing start on the title screen. Timing starts when you accept a file name.
All Crystal Stars (Optimal)
[section=Prologue]
Lord Crump ➢ Mario: Jump x2 ➢ Superguard Crump's jump attack ➢ Mario: Jump x2 Level = 1.09
Note: It's always faster to fail the Action Command for the 2nd jump
Goombella joins your party Break Zess T.'s contact lens
Toad Bros. Bazaar ➢ Order the contact lens ➢ Buy 4 Fright Masks ➢ Buy 4 Fire Flowers
If you plan on hitting a Save Block to save at any point, it is faster to hit the Save Block and say no so that Goombella doesn’t explain saving to you. Otherwise, it’s faster to let her explain it.
Robbed by Bandit (don't chase him to get the coins back, you make it up later) Meet Frankly Decline the Action Command tutorial (menu up for the first option, then mash B for the second)
Goomba Trio ➢ Fright Mask (up 1) Level = 1.10
Get the Star Piece behind the giant yellow block Get the Black Key and Plane Curse Perform Blooper Skip
[section=Petal Meadows]
Perform Bridge Skip (or check the bush to reveal a pipe and hit the switch in the background) Get the Fire Flower from the block Talk to Mayor Kroop E-mail on the way to the gate (don’t check it yet, it is faster to do so later)
Check the first bush after Petalburg for a Star Piece (might save some frames to get it on the way back) Get the POW Block from the block near the Spiky Goomba
Bald Clefts ➢ Mario: POW Block (mash A) Level = 1.20
Get the POW Block from the bush near the Paragoomba
Bristles ➢ Mario: POW Block (mash A) Level = 1.34
Get the Fire Flower from the block near the Koopa Troopa Super Fun Quirk Quiz 65 (1, 3, 4, 2, 3 [if necessary: 1, 2])
Get Multibounce from the red block Go right for the Sun Stone
Fuzzies ➢ Mario: Fire Flower (mash A) Level = 1.50
Go back left for the Moon Stone
Fuzzies ➢ Mario: Fire Flower (mash A) Level = 1.66
Gold Fuzzy ➢ Mario: Jump x2 ➢ Goombella: Headbonk x2 ➢ Guard Fuzzy horde ➢ Superguard Gold Fuzzy ➢ Mario: Jump x2 on Gold Fuzzy (Fire Flower [mash A] if you missed the Superguard, there's a backup in the sewers) ➢ Goombella: Fire Flower (mash A) Level = 1.88
Go back to Petal Meadows Koops joins your party Go to Hooktail Castle
[section=Hooktail Castle]
Get Power Bounce from the red block in the first hall Don't read Kolorado’s dad's letter (mash B to pick the second option)
Red Bones ➢ Mario: Fire Flower (mash A) ➢ Koops: Fire Flower (mash A) Level = 2.21 // FP = 10
Do Lock Jump and Flip Skip to get to the Star Piece and Castle Key Go all the way to the right and get the Black Key from the chest Get the Paper Curse Get Attack FX R
Open the Badge menu (D-Pad right) while unspinning from Paper Mode (so that the animation finishes in the pause menu) ➢ Equip Attack FX R (A) ➢ Equip Power Bounce (down 1 -> A) ➢ Check the e-mail so that you don’t get text explaining e-mails again (B x2 -> left 1 -> A -> down 1 -> A x3)
Backtrack to Red Bones room and get the Castle Key Go back to the room with the Save Block and ride the green block up to unlock the door In the upper hallway, hit first “!” block Use Koops to hit 2nd “!” block
Note: You can jump to the window without hitting the second block. It saves 8 seconds. However, if you mess up and fall below, you waste about 30 seconds. However, you can clip out of bounds in paper mode at the bottom-right corner of the room, which will place you back up to the upper hallway.
Grab the Life Shroom with Koops while riding the big green block up
Ms. Mowz cutscene Get the Castle Key
Go through the locked door Get the last Castle Key Go through the big locked door and head to Hooktail
You should have the following badges equipped: ➢ Attack FX R ➢ Power Bounce
Hooktail ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x9 ➢ Koops: Shell Toss ➢ Guard Hooktail's fire ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x8 ➢ Koops: Shell Toss ➢ Hooktail cutscene (pick the first option [if you say no, it is faster to say no the next two times as well]) ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x8 ➢ Koops: Shell Toss Level = 2.52
[section=Pre-Chapter 2]
Peach Segment ➢ Enter the shower area and leave immediately to open the door (you don’t have to take a shower) ➢ Visit TEC
Bowser Segment ➢ Walk to the end of the hall
Grab Mega Rush P Peach e-mail before the bridge in Petal Meadows Optional: Get the Mushroom near the Hooktail Castle entrance if you want to copy the file for Jump Storage later Hammer the tree to the left of the sewers pipe for the Star Piece You can speed swap to skip waiting for the last platform to move to the pipe
If you used 2 Fire Flowers on Gold Fuzzy, get the Fire Flower from the left block in the sewers near where the Spiky Goomba was
Go back to the Thousand-Year Door
Take the pipe to the sewers and go left to Dazzle Get the Star Piece behind the pillar behind Dazzle Talk to Dazzle and trade in 5 Star Pieces for Item Hog (down 6) Go to Boggly Woods
[section=Boggly Woods]
Go right for the Shadow Sirens cutscene
Optional: Jump on or get First Struck by the last Pale Piranha to get to 1 HP if you want to copy the file for Jump Storage
Go to the Great Tree Talk to Punio by the door Talk to Punio again Leave the Great Tree for the Flurrie cutscene
Get P-Down, D-Up P from the hidden block (7th stump from the right) Raise the Plane Panel
Optional: Save and quit in Flurrie’s house, then copy the file Talk to Flurrie Leave Flurrie’s house for the Shadow Sirens cutscene
If you copied the file, use the Mushroom or Life Shroom while entering Paper Mode (can Sort Glitch) Get Quake Hammer from the block on the way to the Shadow Sirens
Shadow Sirens ➢ Mario: Jump x2 on Marilyn (right 1) ➢ Koops: Power Shell ➢ Superguard Vivian and Marilyn, guard Beldam ➢ Mario: Earth Tremor (4 bars if you hit both Superguards, full otherwise) ➢ Koops: Power Shell Level = 2.88
Grab the Necklace Tree Clip Go back to Flurrie’s house Flurrie joins your party Go back to the Great Tree
If you are in Danger and want to do the event overflow on the blue cage, use the Life Shroom (can Sort Glitch) E-mail on the screen with the Great Tree in the background Blow away the secret entrance and enter the Great Tree
[section=The Great Tree]
X-Nauts ➢ Mario: Fright Mask (up 1) Level = 2.89
Go to the top of the tree (where the cells are) Enter the storage room
X-Naut ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x4 (x9 if the X-Naut has HP Plus or HP Plus P) Level 2.94
Get the Red Key
You can perform event overflow on the blue cage to skip a trip down to the narrow passageway room (wait in the pause menu for ~90+ seconds)
Unlock the red cage to free the Puni Elder
Get the Power Punch from the bush below the cage room on the way back to the entrance Get the 10 Punies and the Puni Orb
If you did the event overflow, go back up to the cages (make sure Punio is not following you, get the Punies stuck on the pipe below the cage room)
Shuffle or use "weird jumps" to keep the Punies in the bubble room
10 Jabbi fight (do this now, even if you already have 100 Punies)
If you didn’t do the event overflow: Get the Blue Key from the chest, drop down in the narrow passageway room to lose the Punies (skip this if you’re blowing the Punies across the bubble room), and get the Thunder Rage on the way back up to the cage room
Hammer the block under the badge block and jump across. You can get Damage Dodge P for 75 extra coins if it goes left.
100 Jabbi fight (or do Jabbi Hive Skip if you’re cool) Cage Skip Water Switch Skip (or hit the switch with Koops to lower the water)
Go down the pipe and place the Puni Orb in the next two spots to reveal the Crystal Star Leave the punies at the pillar and start the escape
X-Nauts ➢ Swap to Koops if he’s not already out ➢ Fright Mask (up 1) Level = 2.95
Go get the Super Boots Break the floor panel and grab Charge Take the red door back down to the basement re-trigger the escape
X-Nauts ➢ Mario: Jump x2 on the front X-Naut (or on the back one if the front one has HP Plus or HP Plus P) ➢ Koops: Fright Mask (up 1) Level = 3.00 // BP = 6
If you did the event overflow: Drop down in the bubble room for the Thunder Rage on the way back to the entrance
Magnus Von Grapple ➢ Koops: Power Punch (down 1) on Mario ➢ Mario: Spin Jump (hit both Action Commands) ➢ Guard or Superguard Magnus' stomp ➢ Mario: Spin Jump (hit both Action Commands) ➢ Koops: Swap to Goombella ➢ Magnus detaches X-Fists ➢ Mario: Spin Jump (hit both Action Commands) ➢ Goombella: Swap to Flurrie (or Koops if you're using the Don Pianta Jump Storage for the Ultra Hammer) ➢ Guard 1 fist (2 if Mario has 9HP) ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x6 (x5 if you Superguarded) on Magnus Level = 3.32
[section=Pre-Chapter 3]
Peach Segment ➢ Visit TEC for dancing (just walk around the door until it opens, need to hit 10 out of the 16 dance cues correctly)
Bowser Segment ➢ Beat 1-1 (161 is best possible time, 160 if you get the meats)
Peach e-mail outside Great Tree Go to the Thousand-Year Door
Lovely Howz of Badges (second option to sell) ➢ Sell Damage Dodge P if you got it (down 1) ➢ Sell Quake Hammer (down 1) ➢ Sell P-Down, D-Up (down 1) ➢ Sell Attack FX R (down 3) ➢ You should just have Charge, Item Hog, Mega Rush P, Power Bounce, and Multibounce left at this point ➢ Buy Power Rush (first option to buy, second option for non-sales, scroll down for Power Rush; or get it from the counter if it's on sale)
If you are using the Don Pianta Jump Storage for the Twilight Town pipe, perform Ultra Hammer Early via Flurrie Superslide off the inn
Toad Bros Bazaar ➢ Buy the Contact Lens
Buy Mega Rush and Boo’s Sheet from Charlieton (if you want to buy other stuff to increase your odds for later checks, you need 128 coins if you have neither Mega Rush nor the Boo’s Sheet, 49 coins if just Mega Rush, 104 coins if just Boo’s Sheet, or 44 coins if both)
If you’re using the Don Pianta Jump Storage for the Ultra Hammer, go to the train station to reset Charlieton if you didn’t get Mega Rush first try (don’t reset just for the Boo’s Sheet)
Westside Goods ➢ Buy 1 Dried Shroom ➢ Get a Mushroom from shop points ➢ Buy 1 Dizzy Dial ➢ Answer anything for first question, “Yellow” for second (3rd option)
Get Jump Storage from the Don Pianta cutscene
If you already got the Ultra Hammer, go to the sewers and Super Jump to get rejected by the Twilight Town pipe
If you don’t have the Ultra Hammer yet, Super Jump to the Ultra Hammer chest
Go to Rogueport Harbor and talk to Francesca (choose the first dialogue option) If you are not in Peril for whatever reason, fall in the water until you are
If you don't have Mega Rush yet, farm Charlieton until you do (you need 114 coins if no Mega Rush nor Boo’s Sheet, 39 coins if just Mega Rush, 90 coins if just Boo’s Sheet, or 30 coins if both)
Westside Goods ➢ Store (third option) or sell (second option) the Dizzy Dial, Mushroom. Dried Shroom, and any Charlieton items other than the Boo’s Sheet (mash A or down 1 x3+) (if you already lost the Life Shroom, keep one item other than the Boo’s Sheet to fill inventory)
Go back to Don Pianta and get the Blimp Ticket E-mail on the way to the blimp
Open the Badge menu in the background ➢ Equip Mega Rush (A) ➢ Equip Power Rush (down 1 -> A [one more down input for every extra badge from Charlieton]) ➢ Equip Mega Rush P (down 3 -> A) ➢ Swap to Goombella
[section=Glitzville]
Souvenir Shop ➢ Buy 1 Power Punch ➢ Buy 4 Point Swaps (only buy 3 if you got the Boo's Sheet from Charlieton)
Enter the Glitz Pit Go into the lower lobby doors Head backstage through the left door and walk around to Grubba's office Do not sign up to be a fighter (pick the second option after Grubba shows you around)
Perform Bookcase Jump Head through the vent to trigger a later point in the chapter Use an Ultra Hammer spin to break the vent on the right side and exit Check the desk drawer and read the paper Chase Grubba to the arena
Make sure Goombella is out
You should have the following badges equipped: ➢ Mega Rush ➢ Power Rush ➢ Mega Rush P ➢ Power Bounce
Macho Grubba ➢ Mario: Jump x2 ➢ Goombella: Point Swap (top) on Goombella ➢ Grubba powers up ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x4 ➢ Goombella: Headbonk x2 Level = 3.66
[section=Pre-Chapter 4]
Peach Segment ➢ Visit TEC ➢ Ride the elevator up ➢ Enter the first door on the right ➢ Check the second locker from the left and change into an X-Naut ➢ Exit, go right, and talk to Grodus ➢ Change back into Peach and exit the room
Bowser Segment ➢ Check the bush on the far right (the one with the Puni Elder)
Leave Glitzville Swap to Flurrie in the background, or to Koops if you are going to Double Jump to the Twilight Town pipe Peach e-mail before the sewer grate in West Rogueport Fall down into Rogueport Sewers
If you didn’t get rejected by the Twilight Town pipe yet, Double Jump or Super Jump to the pipe now
Head down the pipe on the right side of the room Use Paper Mode to fall through the bars Use Flurrie to reveal the pipe leading to the Pit of 100 Trials entrance Go down the pipe and exit to the right Stand on the pedestal in front of the Thousand-Year Door
E-mail leaving Frankly's house (try to get Jump Storage from it, get Koops stuck on the fence near the sewers pipe) TALK TO DARKLY You can check Charlieton for the Boo's Sheet if you don't have it, but it's really not necessary (item menus will assume you don't check him here) Super Jump or Double Jump up to the platform Enter the pipe to Twilight Town
[section=Twilight Town & Creepy Steeple]
Go right and talk to the gatekeeper Return to the mayor's house to see him turned into a pig Talk to the shop manager's wife
Return to the gatekeeper (you can try to get Jump Storage from the pig cutscene, get Koops stuck on the fence at the bottom)
If you don't have Jump Storage, get the Shop Key by shooting Koops under the fallen log Get the Black Key in the shed
If you got Jump Storage, perform Shop Key Skip by Super Jumping from the tree near the shop If you didn’t do Shop Key Skip, use the Shop Key to unlock the back room in the shop
Unlock the Black Chest to get the Tube Curse
Take the Life Shroom and Boo’s Sheet
Exit the shop normally, or Flurrie Superslide on the back room door to fall out of bounds and back to the Twilight Trail entrance
E-mail outside the shop Use Tube Mode to move through the next three screens (swap to Flurrie while accelerating) Use Flurrie to blow away the haystack
Walk through the next two screens, using Flurrie to open a path in the tree trunk Use Flurrie to reveal a floor panel on the following screen Push the rock in the background and proceed to Creepy Steeple
If you are not in Peril, drop down into the well and take damage from the Buzzy Beetle, then run away
If you copied the file, you can get Jump Storage from it to Super Jump to the Steeple Key
Use Tube Mode to bypass the gate and enter Creepy Steeple (swap to Koops while accelerating, or Goombella if you’re Super Jumping to the key)
Push the statue to the right and fall down to free the Boos (pick the first option) Take the spring back up and talk to the Boo (pick the second option) Go through the bottom door and hit the red switch once using Koops Use Koops to grab the Steeple Key at the top Enter the upper door and hit the red switch twice using Koops (hammer it once if you Super Jumped to the key) Go up the stairs and unlock the tower Swap to Goombella and climb the spiral staircase
Doopliss ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x7 ➢ Goombella: Headbonk x2 Level = 3.90
Backtrack to Twilight Town Run away from Doopliss Check the leftmost bush on the far left side of Twilight Town to find the Superbombomb Show the Superbombomb to Vivian Vivian joins your party Run away from Doopliss again and backtrack to Creepy Steeple
Drop into the well If you're not in Peril, take damage from the one Buzzy Beetle that doesn't notice you in the second room Get Power Plus (left chest), the Letter "p", and the Steeple Key Take the spring back to the main area
Spell out Doopliss' name (ランペル) ➢ Up, left, up x2, A ➢ Down x2, right, down, A ➢ Left, down, left, A ➢ Up x4, left, A ➢ Right x5, down x3, A
Chase Doopliss back to Creepy Steeple Enter the upper door Hit the red switch once Climb to the top of the tower
Doopliss ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x7 Level = 4.15 // BP = 9
[section=Pre-Chapter 5]
Peach Segment ➢ TEC Quiz (2, 1, 3, 2, 3)
Bowser Segment ➢ Beat 2-1 (154 is the fastest possible time)
Open the Badge menu before getting Double Dip P ➢ Equip Multibounce (up 1 -> A) ➢ Unequip Power Bounce (up 1 -> A) ➢ Unequip Mega Rush P (up 1 -> A) ➢ Equip Power Plus (L -> A)
Peach e-mail exiting the Twilight Town door Head to Fahr Outpost to get Double Dip P
Go down the pipe on the right side of the sewers screen Fall through the bars in Paper Mode and head right Break the gray block and open the right pipe to Keelhaul Key
[section=Keelhaul Key]
Head right and get the Thunder Rage on top of the cliff Perform Bobbery Early
You should have the following badges equipped: ➢ Power Plus ➢ Mega Rush ➢ Power Rush ➢ Multibounce
Embers ➢ Mario: Thunder Rage (up 3, or up 2 if you don’t have the Life Shroom from Hooktail Castle) ➢ Yoshi: Thunder Rage (mash A) Level = 4.39
Hammer the tree to knock Bobbery down Get 2 Coconuts on the screen to the left Give the Coconut to Flavio (mash A) for the Chuckola Cola
Get the Inn Coupon hiding behind the bush before the bridge (can grab it from the front of the bush, you should have full inventory now)
Take the Chuckola Cola back to Bobbery Bobbery joins your party Perform Pirate's Grotto Early
[section=Pirate's Grotto]
Perform Gate Handle Early (jump toward the Boat Panel while in Tube Mode) Place the Gate Handle to open the floodgate (and set your sequence) Do not hit the blue switch at the top of the cliff Use Koops to hit the red switch and raise the lift for the Grotto Key Head back down to the bottom of the cliff and unlock the door Take the loading zone below the Parabuzzies to set the sequence, then immediately leave Pirate’s Grotto
Get First Struck by a Bullet Bill on the way out to get closer to Peril (make sure you have at least 2 HP from here) ➢ You can let the second Bullet Bill attack, it will not affect anything aside from one scenario and will not be included in future level tracking
Go to the first Keelhaul Key screen and get Jump Storage from the floor panel Star Piece or Whacka Bump (toss the Inn Coupon)
Get y-speed by unspinning from Paper Mode on the slope near the Grotto exit, then Super Jump over the wall to take the loading zone
Jump in the water to spawn at the Boat Panel Hit the two switches in the background to save the shipwrecked Toads If you are not at 1 HP, fall in the water until you are Get on the Black Skull and enter Cortez’ room
Cortez ➢ Mario: Spin Jump (hit both Action Commands) ➢ Mario: Spin Jump (hit both Action Commands) ➢ Mario: Spin Jump on Cortez (left 2) (hit both Action Commands) Level = 4.75
You may want to save when prompted in case you fall in the water
Use Bobbery to blow up the wall and find the exit Get Jump Storage from a Whacka Bump (toss the Inn Coupon or other Whacka Bump) Super Jump as before to get to the southeast loading zone and skip the cutscene Take the blue pipe back to the sewers Open the left pipe to Poshley Heights
[section=Poshley Sanctum]
Open the Badge menu ➢ Unequip Power Plus (down 1 -> A) ➢ Equip Item Hog (down 4 -> A [or R -> up 3 -> A with one less up input for every extra badge from Charlieton])
Go one screen to the left and get Jump Storage from the Inn Coupon near the pasta stand (don’t keep the coupon) Enter Poshley Sanctum and Super Jump to the switch on the left
Recommended: Swap to Goombella so that she heals from the level up (in case of failed run-aways, if you lose a Life Shroom you can’t toss the item for Jump Storage)
You should have the following badges equipped: ➢ Mega Rush ➢ Power Rush ➢ Item Hog ➢ Multibounce
Reference the above image for the number of Dark Boos in each fight
Dark Boos (2) ➢ Mario: Multibounce (up 1) Level = 4.95
If you have an item drop already, you can do a failed Jump on a set of 1 Boo and avoid fighting any more Boos. This will make you level up on Bowser though, so you will have to do the alternate strats. However, you will also avoid leveling up on the Palace Skip Ember, so you will save ~10 seconds for every time you don't get an item there. (Level = 5.05 if you do this // BP = 12).
If you didn't get an item from the first Boo (or don't want to level up on Bowser):
Dark Boos (4) ➢ Mario: Multibounce (up 1) Level = 5.47 // BP = 12
Open the Badge menu (skip this if you're not fighting any more Boos) ➢ Equip Power Plus (down 1 -> A)
First Strike the rest with Spin Jumps
Dark Boos (1) ➢ First Strike Spin Jump (hit both Action Commands) Level = 5.56
From this point on, stop fighting Boos once you get an item
If you fight any more Boos from this point on, you will level up on Bowser (unless you do the strat listed below)
If you didn't let the second Bullet Bill attack, you can fight a set of 1 Boo next if you want to avoid leveling up on Bowser. You will still get the extra level up on Shadow Queen, though.
Dark Boos (2) ➢ First Strike Spin Jump (hit both Action Commands) ➢ Mario: Spin Jump (hit both Action Commands) Level = 5.74
Dark Boos (1) ➢ First Strike Spin Jump (hit both Action Commands) Level = 5.83
Dark Boos (2) ➢ First Strike Spin Jump (hit both Action Commands) ➢ Mario: Spin Jump (hit both Action Commands) Level = 6.01 // BP = 15
If you get an item drop, you can do Star Shot ➢ Delayed Goombella Buffer into the item (make sure a Dark Boo can hit you) ➢ Toss the item for Jump Storage after running from the battle ➢ Super Jump to a side and use Koops to grab the Garnet Star
If you didn’t get an item, just get the Garnet Star normally
Leave the Sanctum
[section=Pre-Chapter 7]
Peach Segment (if you didn’t do Star Shot) ➢ Visit TEC
Bowser Segment (if you didn’t do Star Shot) ➢ Beat 3-1 (156 is best possible time, but requires a cycle that might be impossible on console without dying in the level first; 155 is fastest without this cycle, 154 without damaging through the second firebar)
Go down the grate to west sewers
Open the Badge menu
If you leveled up once in Poshley Sanctum: ➢ Equip Power Plus if you didn't in Poshley Sanctum (down 1 -> A) ➢ Unequip Multibounce (up 1 -> A) (R -> A if you just equipped Power Plus [up 2 -> A if you got any extra badges from Charlieton]) ➢ Unequip Item Hog (up 3 -> A [R -> up 1 -> A if you got two extra badges from Charlieton]) ➢ Equip Charge (up 1 -> A) ➢ Equip Power Bounce (R -> up 1 -> A [one less up input for every extra badge from Charlieton])
If you leveled up twice in Poshley Sanctum: ➢ Unequip Multibounce (up 1 -> A) ➢ Equip Power Bounce (up 1 -> A) ➢ Equip Charge (up 3 -> A)
Perform Teleporter Room Early
[section=X-Naut Fortress]
Note: If you get First Struck by a Z-Yux or X-Naut PhD, you can guard it to get to 7 HP and save a turn on Magnus 2.0 to mitigate the timeloss
Go two rooms to the right and read the red note to advance the game sequence to Chapter 7 Enter Grodus' office to the right and get the Card Key Take the second elevator to the left to Sublevel 1 (down 1) Enter the access code (014029) 66th Annual Quirk Quiz (3, 4, 2, 3, 1 [if necessary: 3, 4]) Get the Elevator Key
Take the elevator back to Sublevel 2 (down 1) Get the Card Key in the tile room to the left Take the second elevator to the right to Sublevel 3 (mash A)
Go to the left end of the hall and get the Card Key at the end of the tile room Get Jump Storage from the HP Drain in this room (toss a Whacka Bump, Coconut, Star Shot item, or Jammin’ Jelly)
Go right and use the 3 Card Keys Recommended: Use Bobbery to hit the conveyor belt switch (to prevent a game crash when entering the boss arena) Super Jump to the final Card Key
Make sure you are at 6, 7, or 10 HP and at least 7 FP ➢ You can use a Whacka Bump, Coconut, or Jammin’ Jelly to fix this if necessary
Swap to Bobbery in the background Hit the stair switch with Bobbery Use the Card Key to enter the final room
You should have the following badges equipped: ➢ Power Plus ➢ Mega Rush ➢ Power Rush ➢ Charge ➢ Item Hog if you leveled up twice in Poshley Sanctum (not necessary until Palace Skip) ➢ Power Bounce
Magnus von Grapple 2.0 ➢ Mario: Charge (down 2) ➢ Bobbery: Swap to Vivian ➢ Guard Magnus’ drill attack (unless you are at 7 HP) ➢ Mario: Defend (skip this turn if you’re already in Peril) ➢ Vivian: Swap to Flurrie ➢ Guard Magnus’ drill attack ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x5 ➢ Partner: Swap to Yoshi ➢ Magnus detaches X-Punches ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x5 on Magnus (left 1) Level = 5.44, 5.95, 6.04, 6.13, 6.22, or 6.40 (upgrade BP if you level up here)
[section=Pre-Chapter 8]
Bowser Segment ➢ Go into Poshley Sanctum
Go to Sublevel 4 (down 1) and talk to TEC Head to Sublevel 2 (mash A) and go two rooms to the left Take the teleporter back to Rogueport Sewers E-mail to the left of the teleporter room If you didn’t level up on Magnus 2.0, you may want to use the Whacka Bump or Coconut to heal Go to the Thousand-Year Door and enter the Palace of Shadow
[section=Palace of Shadow]
Go through the first three rooms Get All or Nothing and go through the spike room (Bottom - Top or Bottom - Top) Get the Boo’s Sheet from the invisible block in the middle of the spinning fire bars near the Phantom Ember
Dark Bones ➢ Mario: Supernova (up 1) ➢ Yoshi: HP Drain (down 1) on Dark Bones (right 2) Level 6.37, 6.88, 6.97, 7.06, 7.15, or 7.33 (upgrade BP if you level up here)
Get the Palace Key If you only have 8 items, get the Ultra Shroom in the next room Run between the Bombshell Bills
Open the Badge menu (while entering Paper Mode for a cannon skip if you’re doing any) (skip this if you still have Item Hog equipped) ➢ Equip Item Hog (R -> up 2 -> A [one less up input for every extra badge from Charlieton])
Get the Jammin' Jelly before the endless hallway
Endless Hallway ➢ Down - Down - Up - Up - Down - Up - Down
Head down the hall on the right to the room before Gloomtail Recommended: Save the game before killing the Phantom Ember First Strike (hammer) the left Phantom Ember for an item drop
Phantom Ember ➢ First Strike Hammer ➢ Mario: Failed Hammer Level = 6.49, 7.00, 7.09, 7.17, 7.26, or 7.44 (upgrade BP if you level up)
Perform Palace Skip ➢ If you get it with the encounter, Jump on the Phantom Ember before running away to get to 8 HP ➢ If you will level up on Bowser AND have 3 Boo's Sheets, keep the Jammin' Jelly (this will happen if you are Level 6.59 or lower or if you are Level 7.10 or higher) (also keep it if you need to restore FP)
If you have less than 10 FP: Use the Jammin’ Jelly (Sort Glitch if you will level up on Bowser AND have 3 Boo's Sheets)
If Mario has less than 7 HP: Use a healing item to restore HP (Sort Glitch a Life Shroom if necessary; the amounts you need for complete safety are listed below)
Hit the red switch and use Yoshi to reach the Palace Key Hover to the right for the Life Shroom and Shooting Star
Note: If you toss a Life Shroom, the one at the top will always be tossed regardless of which one you selected
You need the following number of Life Shrooms to be completely safe for final fights: ➢ If you won’t level up on Bowser AND have 3 Boo’s Sheets: 2 Life Shrooms ➢ If you won’t level up on Bowser but only have 2 Boo’s Sheets: 3 Life Shrooms ➢ If you will level up on Bowser AND have 3 Boo's Sheets: 1 Life Shroom ➢ If you will level up on Bowser but only have 2 Boo's Sheets: 2 Life Shrooms
Inventory should be as follows (order will vary due to Sort Glitch, Life Shrooms, and Charlieton) ➢ Shooting Star ➢ Boo’s Sheet ➢ Boo’s Sheet ➢ Life Shroom (or Jammin' Jelly right below the Shooting Star if you will level up on Bowser) ➢ Point Swap (you need 3 Point Swaps if you will level up on Bowser AND only have 2 Boo's Sheets, otherwise you only need 2) ➢ Point Swap ➢ Power Punch ➢ Boo’s Sheet (or Life Shroom right below the Shooting Star [or Point Swap with the others] if you don't have the Boo's Sheet from Charlieton/train) ➢ Life Shroom ➢ Fire Flower
Note: Recall that item menus assume you did NOT check Charlieton at all after Glitzville. If you checked him and got the Boo's Sheet after Chapter 3, you may want to be more careful with item menus.
Use the spring to get back up If you are not at 7-8 HP, fall on the spikes to get to 8 HP Use the plane panel to reach the locked door
Open the Badge menu before Grodus ➢ Unequip Item Hog (R -> up 2 -> A [one less up input for every extra badge from Charlieton]) ➢ If you only defeated two sets of Dark Boos in Poshley Sanctum, unequip Charge (up 1 -> A) ➢ Equip All or Nothing (L -> A) ➢ If Yoshi has less HP than Mario, swap to a partner (not Bobbery) with at least as much (ignore this if you will level up on Bowser AND have 3 Boo's Sheets)
Enter the throne room
You should have the following badges equipped ➢ All or Nothing ➢ Power Plus ➢ Mega Rush ➢ Power Rush ➢ Charge (unnecessary until Shadow Queen) (might not be equipped depending on leveling) ➢ Power Bounce
[section=Grodus, Bowser, and Shadow Queen (3 Boo's Sheets, No Bowser Level-up)]
If you are Level 6.59 or lower OR are Level 7.10 or higher and/or only have 2 Boo's Sheets, skip to a later section
Grodus ➢ Yoshi: Fire Flower (up 1, or up 2 if you got a Fire Flower after completing Chapter 1 and still have the Life Shroom from Hooktail Castle) ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x1 (0 damaging) ➢ Do not guard Grodus’ lightning (unless Mario is at 7 HP) ➢ Yoshi: Shooting Star (mash A) ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x7 (6 damaging) Level = 7.40 or 7.49
Bowser and Kammy Koopa ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x7 (6 damaging) on Kammy ➢ Yoshi: Defend ➢ Bowser breathes fire (Life Shroom) ➢ Yoshi: Point Swap (down 2, or up 2 if you lost the Life Shroom from Hooktail Castle) on Mario ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x6 (5 damaging) ➢ Guard Bowser’s bite (to avoid the poison animation) ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x6 (5 damaging) Level = 7.90 or 7.99
Get the Jammin’ Jelly from the chest near the Save Block (at the bottom of the stairs)
Open the Badge menu before Shadow Queen ➢ Unequip All or Nothing (A) ➢ Equip Double Dip P (down 1 -> A) ➢ Use the Jammin’ Jelly on Bobbery ➢ Swap to Bobbery
The following badges should be equipped: ➢ Double Dip P ➢ Power Plus ➢ Mega Rush ➢ Power Rush ➢ Charge ➢ Power Bounce
Shadow Queen ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x5 (if you’re confident in Bomb Squad spacing, you can use a Boo’s Sheet now and Power Bounce x5 + Defend/swap next turn to skip the hands’ attacks during invincible phase) ➢ Bobbery: Bomb Squad (down 1) (try to space the bombs apart)
True Form ➢ If you triggered this phase on turn 2, Bomb Squad detonates now ➢ Mario: Failed Jump ➢ Bobbery: Boo’s Sheet (top) on Mario (Defend if you used a Boo's Sheet on turn 1) ➢ If this phase is not over yet, Failed Jump + Defend until it is
Crystal Star cutscene
Shadow Queen ➢ Mario: Charge (down 2) ➢ Bobbery: Double Dip (Boo's Sheet [top or down 1] on Mario + Nothing [B -> A]) ➢ Guard all attacks ➢ Bobbery: Double Dip (Point Swap [top or down 1] on Mario + Power Punch [A] on Mario) ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x6 on Shadow Queen ➢ Guard all attacks ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x5 on Shadow Queen (x6 if HP was stolen) ➢ Bobbery: Boo’s Sheet (top or down 1) on Mario (do not Double Dip) ➢ Shadow Queen’s charge attack (guard only matters if Bobbery has exactly 14 HP) ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x5 on Shadow Queen (x6 if HP was stolen twice) Level = 7.91 or 8.00 (upgrade FP if you level up)
Mash through the epilogue Timing ends on the circular fade to black before the credits start (first fully black frame)
[section=Grodus, Bowser, and Shadow Queen (2 Boo's Sheets, No Bowser Level-up)]
If you are Level 6.59 or lower OR are Level 7.10 or higher, skip to a later section
If you have 3 Boo's Sheets and won't level up on Bowser, go back to the previous section
Grodus ➢ Yoshi: Fire Flower (up 1, or up 2 if you got a Fire Flower after completing Chapter 1 and still have the Life Shroom from Hooktail Castle) ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x1 (0 damaging) ➢ Do not guard Grodus’ lightning (unless Mario is at 7 HP) ➢ Yoshi: Shooting Star (mash A) ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x7 (6 damaging) Level = 7.40 or 7.49
Bowser and Kammy Koopa ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x7 (6 damaging) on Kammy ➢ Yoshi: Defend ➢ Bowser breathes fire (Life Shroom) ➢ Yoshi: Point Swap (up 3 or up 2) on Mario ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x6 (5 damaging) ➢ Guard Bowser’s bite (to avoid the poison animation) ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x6 (5 damaging) Level = 7.90 or 7.99
If you're not confident in Bomb Squad spacing, you can get the Ultra Shroom from the chest near the Heart Block (at the top of the stairs) for some safety
Get the Jammin’ Jelly from the chest near the Save Block (at the bottom of the stairs)
Open the Badge menu before Shadow Queen ➢ Unequip All or Nothing (A) ➢ Equip Double Dip P (down 1 -> A) ➢ Use the Jammin’ Jelly on Bobbery ➢ Swap to Bobbery
The following badges should be equipped: ➢ Double Dip P ➢ Power Plus ➢ Mega Rush ➢ Power Rush ➢ Charge ➢ Power Bounce
Shadow Queen ➢ Bobbery: Bomb Squad (try to make sure to space the bombs apart and away from your party) ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x4 ➢ Shadow Queen's lightning (Life Shroom if she targets Mario) ➢ Bobbery: Defend or swap to Vivian (not sure if it's possible for Bomb Squad to trigger all 3 textboxes, may want to Defend in case this happens) ➢ Mario: Jump x2 if Mario was targeted, Jump x1 otherwise
True Form ➢ Bomb Squad detonates ➢ Bobbery: Defend (or Ultra Shroom [top] on Mario if Bomb Squad only triggered one textbox) (swap to Bobbery if he is not out) ➢ Mario: Failed Jump ➢ If Bomb Squad only triggered one textbox: guard all attacks, then Failed Jump + Defend
Crystal Star cutscene
Shadow Queen ➢ Mario: Charge (down 2) ➢ Bobbery: Double Dip (Boo's Sheet [top or down 1] on Mario + Nothing [B -> A]) ➢ Guard all attacks ➢ Bobbery: Double Dip (Point Swap [down 2-3 or down 1] on Mario + Power Punch [A] on Mario) ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x6 on Shadow Queen ➢ Guard all attacks ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x5 on Shadow Queen (x6 if HP was stolen) ➢ Bobbery: Boo’s Sheet (top or down 1-2) on Mario (do not Double Dip) ➢ Shadow Queen’s charge attack (guard only matters if Bobbery has exactly 14 HP) ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x5 on Shadow Queen (x6 if HP was stolen twice) Level = 7.91 or 8.00 (upgrade FP if you level up)
Mash through the epilogue Timing ends on the circular fade to black before the credits start (first fully black frame)
[section=Grodus, Bowser, and Shadow Queen (3 Boo's Sheets, Bowser Level-up)]
If you are Level 7.00 - 7.09, go back to a previous section
If you only have 2 Boo's Sheets and will level up on Bowser, skip to the next section
Grodus ➢ Yoshi: Fire Flower (up 1, or up 2 if you got a Fire Flower after completing Chapter 1 and still have the Life Shroom from Hooktail Castle) ➢ Mario: Swap to Bobbery (down 2) (you can also swap to Vivian or Flurrie if either is at full HP) ➢ Do not guard Grodus’ lightning (unless Mario is at 7 HP) ➢ Partner: Shooting Star (mash A) ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x7 (6 damaging) Level = 6.89, 7.57, 7.66, or 7.84
Bowser and Kammy Koopa ➢ Bobbery: Boo's Sheet (down 1-2) on Mario ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x7 (6 damaging) on Kammy ➢ Bowser breathes fire ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x6 (5 damaging) ➢ Bobbery: Jammin' Jelly (mash A or down 1) ➢ Bowser bites invisible Mario ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x6 (5 damaging) Level = 7.41, 8.07, 8.16, or 8.34 // HP = 15 (you can also upgrade BP, but 15 BP is enough)
If you're not confident in Bomb Squad spacing, you can get the Ultra Shroom from the chest near the Heart Block (at the top of the stairs) for some safety
Open the Badge menu before Shadow Queen ➢ Unequip All or Nothing (A) ➢ Equip Double Dip P (down 1 -> A) ➢ Equip Charge if you unequipped it before Grodus (R -> up 3 -> A [one less up input for every extra badge from Charlieton]) ➢ Swap to Bobbery
The following badges should be equipped: ➢ Double Dip P ➢ Power Plus ➢ Mega Rush ➢ Power Rush ➢ Charge ➢ Power Bounce
Shadow Queen ➢ Mario: Failed Spin Jump (to use 2 FP) ➢ Bobbery: Bomb Squad (down 1) (try to make sure to space the bombs apart and away from your party) ➢ Shadow Queen's lightning (guard doesn't matter if Bomb Squad spacing is good) ➢ Bobbery: Double Dip (Point Swap [down 1-3] on Mario + Nothing [B -> A]) ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x5
True Form ➢ Bomb Squad detonates ➢ Bobbery: Defend (or Ultra Shroom [top] on whomever Shadow Queen targeted if Bomb Squad only triggered one textbox) ➢ Mario: Failed Jump ➢ If Bomb Squad only triggered one textbox: guard all attacks, then Failed Jump + Defend
Crystal Star cutscene
Shadow Queen ➢ Mario: Charge (down 2) ➢ Bobbery: Double Dip (Boo's Sheet [top or down 1-2] on Mario + Nothing [B -> A]) ➢ Guard all attacks ➢ Bobbery: Double Dip (Point Swap [top or down 1-2] on Mario + Power Punch [A] on Mario) ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x6 on Shadow Queen ➢ Guard all attacks ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x5 on Shadow Queen (x6 if HP was stolen) ➢ Bobbery: Boo’s Sheet (top or down 1-2) on Mario (do not Double Dip) ➢ Shadow Queen’s charge attack (guard only matters if Bobbery has exactly 14 HP) ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x5 on Shadow Queen (x6 if HP was stolen twice) Level = 7.42, 8.08, 8.17, or 8.35
Mash through the epilogue Timing ends on the circular fade to black before the credits start (first fully black frame)
[section=Grodus, Bowser, and Shadow Queen (2 Boo's Sheets, Bowser Level-up)]
If you are Level 7.00 - 7.09 and/or have 3 Boo's Sheets, go back to a previous section
Grodus ➢ Yoshi: Fire Flower (up 1, or up 2 if you got a Fire Flower after completing Chapter 1 and still have the Life Shroom from Hooktail Castle) ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x1 (0 damaging) ➢ Do not guard Grodus’ lightning (unless Mario is at 7 HP) ➢ Yoshi: Shooting Star (mash A) ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x7 (6 damaging) Level = 6.89, 7.57, 7.66, or 7.84
Bowser and Kammy Koopa ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x7 (6 damaging) on Kammy ➢ Yoshi: Defend ➢ Bowser breathes fire (Life Shroom) ➢ Yoshi: Point Swap (down 2-3) on Mario ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x6 (5 damaging) ➢ Guard Bowser's bite (to avoid the poison animation) ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x6 (5 damaging) Level = 7.41, 8.07, 8.16, or 8.34 // HP = 15 (you can also upgrade BP, but 15 BP is enough)
If you're not confident in Bomb Squad spacing, you can get the Ultra Shroom from the chest near the Heart Block (at the top of the stairs) for some safety
Open the Badge menu before Shadow Queen ➢ Unequip All or Nothing (A) ➢ Equip Double Dip P (down 1 -> A) ➢ Equip Charge if you unequipped it before Grodus (R -> up 3 -> A [one less up input for every extra badge from Charlieton]) ➢ Swap to Bobbery
The following badges should be equipped: ➢ Double Dip P ➢ Power Plus ➢ Mega Rush ➢ Power Rush ➢ Charge ➢ Power Bounce
Shadow Queen ➢ Mario: Failed Spin Jump (to use 2 FP) ➢ Bobbery: Bomb Squad (down 1) (try to make sure to space the bombs apart and away from your party) ➢ Shadow Queen's lightning (guard doesn't matter if Bomb Squad spacing is good) ➢ Bobbery: Double Dip (Point Swap [down 2-4] on Mario + Nothing [B -> A]) ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x5
True Form ➢ Bomb Squad detonates ➢ Bobbery: Defend (or Ultra Shroom [top] on whomever Shadow Queen targeted if Bomb Squad only triggered one textbox) ➢ Mario: Failed Jump ➢ If Bomb Squad only triggered one textbox: guard all attacks, then Failed Jump + Defend
Crystal Star cutscene
Shadow Queen ➢ Mario: Charge (down 2) ➢ Bobbery: Double Dip (Boo's Sheet [top or down 1] on Mario + Nothing [B -> A]) ➢ Guard all attacks ➢ Bobbery: Double Dip (Point Swap [down 1-3] on Mario + Power Punch [A] on Mario) ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x6 on Shadow Queen ➢ Guard all attacks ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x5 on Shadow Queen (x6 if HP was stolen) ➢ Bobbery: Boo’s Sheet (top or down 1-2) on Mario (do not Double Dip) ➢ Shadow Queen’s charge attack (guard only matters if Bobbery has exactly 14 HP) ➢ Mario: Power Bounce x5 on Shadow Queen (x6 if HP was stolen twice) Level = 7.42, 8.08, 8.17, or 8.35
Mash through the epilogue Timing ends on the circular fade to black before the credits start (first fully black frame)
