Mastering the New Challenges: Defeating Secret Bosses in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Remake

The eagerly awaited revival of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is here at last. This updated version of the beloved Gamecube classic is loaded with all the puzzles, secrets, and quirky mechanics that fans have come to adore. If you're new to the game, worry not; we're here to help you navigate through its more perplexing aspects. While the remake doesn't introduce a vast amount of all-new content, it does add a couple of tough post-game bosses that are sure to challenge even the most seasoned players. Here's how you can face off against these formidable foes and some tips on how to defeat them.

Note: This guide contains post-game SPOILERS for Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door.

If you haven't finished the main story yet, you might want to stop reading now. For those who are ready, let's dive in without further ado.

Prince Mush: The Original Champion

How to Face Prince Mush

Prince Mush, the original champion of the Glitz Pit before Rawk Hawk took over, is now a fightable character aiming to reclaim his title. In order to challenge Prince Mush, you need to complete the main story and roll the credits. Prince Mush will be waiting in the hallway near the save block and locker rooms of the Glitz Pit. Approach him and accept the challenge. Then head to one of the GBA-shaped terminals to engage in an exhibition match with him.

Strategies for Defeating Prince Mush

Prince Mush might not look intimidating, but don’t let his appearance fool you; he comes prepared with 96 HP, 6 Attack, and 6 Defense. He has two main stances: one where he hops up and down, and another where he shimmies back and forth. You can only inflict damage when he's hopping. When he’s shimmying, spend your time healing or using attack-boosting items like the Power Lift or Charge ability.

If you successfully execute a Superguard, Prince Mush will be stunned for a turn, offering a prime opportunity to strike. Once his HP drops to around half, he will power up significantly, entering a "Super Saiyan" mode which boosts his attack power. During this phase, he gains a new combo attack where he assaults from all directions, dealing substantial damage with each hit. Timing your Superguards during this combo is crucial as it will stun him, giving you another chance to attack.

Furthermore, he has a move where he splits into three duplicates. Striking the “real” Mush will return him to normal. This latter phase is challenging, but stocking up on Life Shrooms and perfecting your Superguard timing will ultimately lead to victory.

Whacka: The Hidden Power

How to Encounter Whacka

The second secret boss in the remake is none other than Whacka. To find Whacka, head to the Pit of 100 Trials, located to the west of the underground room housing the Thousand-Year Door. Slip through the gate on the east side, bounce up to the paper airplane platform, and glide to the door leading to the Pit of 100 Trials.

To fight Whacka, you must first complete the entire Pit of 100 Trials and defeat Bonetail. After this, you’ll need to do it all over again. You can pay 300 coins to skip to floor 50, but the rest of the pit must be navigated manually. Upon reaching floor 100 the second time, Bonetail is replaced by Whacka. Engage him to start the battle.

Strategies for Defeating Whacka

Whacka stands as a formidable opponent with 108 HP, 10 Attack, and 1 Defense. Each time you attack him, he drops a “Whacka Bump” – a small bun that he can either consume to regain HP or throw at you as an attack. The Bumps come in yellow and red variants, with red being more powerful. To prevent Whacka from creating too many Bumps, use attacks that don’t inflict lots of individual hits.

Aside from that, focus on Superguarding against his attacks and stock up on Life Shrooms to weather the storm. The fight is lengthy due to Whacka's high HP and his ability to heal, but persistence and strategy will see you through.

Conclusion

And there you have it—the path to taking down two of the toughest characters in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Prince Mush and Whacka both offer unique challenges requiring skill, strategy, and a bit of patience. Armed with the right tactics, you'll be able to claim victory and enjoy the satisfaction of conquering these formidable foes.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is available now on Nintendo Switch, bringing new life to a classic game that both new and returning players can enjoy. Happy gaming!