How to Beat Bosses

Bosses

Welcome to the Bosses section of our Paper Mario: Sticker Star guide! Here, you'll find detailed strategies for overcoming every major boss encounter in the game. Remember, preparation is key – always stock up on powerful stickers and consider your Thing Stickers carefully before challenging these formidable foes.

World 1: Gooper Blooper (1-6 Blooper Bay)

The first major challenge awaits you at the end of Blooper Bay. Gooper Blooper is a multi-tentacled menace that requires a specific approach.

• Recommended Stickers:
• Jump Stickers: Plenty of Shiny Jumps or even a Mega Jump for direct damage.
• Hammer Stickers: Standard Hammers are useful, but a Shiny Hammer can deal significant damage to its tentacles.
• Thing Sticker: The Scissors Thing Sticker is absolutely crucial for this fight. You can find it in 1-4 Goomba's Fortress, in the room with the giant Goomba statue.
• Strategy:
1. Gooper Blooper will start by attacking with its four tentacles. Your primary goal is to remove these.
2. Use your Jump and Hammer Stickers to attack the tentacles. Each tentacle has its own HP.
3. Once all four tentacles are removed, Gooper Blooper will expose its main body. This is your window of opportunity!
4. Immediately use the Scissors Thing Sticker. This will cut off all of Gooper Blooper's tentacles permanently, preventing them from regrowing.
5. After the tentacles are gone, focus all your remaining powerful Jump and Hammer Stickers on Gooper Blooper's main body.
6. Gooper Blooper will occasionally spray ink, which can obscure your view and make timing action commands harder. Just keep attacking through it.
7. Repeat the process of attacking the main body until Gooper Blooper is defeated.

World 2: Tower Power Pokey (2-5 Drybake Stadium)

This towering cactus boss can be tricky if you don't know its weakness. Its segments make it resilient to most attacks.

• Recommended Stickers:
• Jump Stickers: Standard and Shiny Jumps are good for hitting the top segment.
• Hammer Stickers: Less effective against its main body, but can clear smaller enemies.
• Thing Sticker: The Baseball Bat Thing Sticker is essential. You can find it in 2-1 Drybake Desert, hidden behind a sand dune near the beginning of the level.
• Strategy:
1. Tower Power Pokey starts with multiple segments. Direct attacks will only damage the top segment.
2. It will occasionally summon smaller Pokeys to assist it. Deal with these quickly using multi-target stickers if you have them, or single-target attacks.
3. The key to this fight is the Baseball Bat Thing Sticker. Use it when Tower Power Pokey is fully assembled.
4. The Baseball Bat will knock off all of Tower Power Pokey's segments, leaving only its head vulnerable.
5. Once its head is exposed, unleash your strongest Jump Stickers.
6. Tower Power Pokey will eventually reassemble itself. If you haven't defeated it yet, you'll need to use another Baseball Bat Thing Sticker to knock its segments off again.
7. Repeat the process until the Tower Power Pokey is defeated. Make sure you have at least two Baseball Bat stickers if you struggle with damage output.

World 3: Petey Piranha (3-6 Whammino Mountain)

Petey Piranha is a classic Mario foe, and in Sticker Star, he's just as hungry as ever. He's got a nasty habit of eating your stickers!

• Recommended Stickers:
• Jump Stickers: Your primary damage dealers. Shiny Jumps are highly recommended.
• Hammer Stickers: Useful for stunning him or dealing damage when he's on the ground.
• Thing Sticker: The Fan Thing Sticker is critical. You can find it in 3-1 Leaflitter Path, in a hidden area accessible by using the Secret Door in the first screen.
• Strategy:
1. Petey Piranha will often fly around, making him immune to Hammer attacks. Use Jump Stickers when he's airborne.
2. His most annoying attack is when he inhales, attempting to suck up your stickers. If he successfully eats a sticker, it's gone for the rest of the battle!
3. When Petey Piranha starts inhaling, immediately use the Fan Thing Sticker. This will blow him back, stun him, and make him fall to the ground.
4. While he's stunned on the ground, unleash your most powerful Jump and Hammer Stickers. This is your main damage phase.
5. Petey Piranha will eventually recover and fly again. He might also spit out enemies or launch projectiles.
6. Keep an eye on your sticker inventory. If you're running low on powerful stickers, consider using a weaker attack to save your best ones for when he's stunned.
7. Repeat the Fan + attack strategy until Petey Piranha is defeated.

World 4: Mizzter Blizzard (4-6 Bowser's Snow Fort)

Mizzter Blizzard is a chilling foe who can freeze Mario solid. You'll need to melt his defenses to stand a chance.

• Recommended Stickers:
• Jump Stickers: Good for direct damage.
• Hammer Stickers: Less effective against his icy form.
• Thing Sticker: The Hair Dryer Thing Sticker is absolutely vital. You can find it in 4-2 Snow Rise, in a hidden cave behind a snowdrift that needs to be peeled.
• Strategy:
1. Mizzter Blizzard is initially encased in ice, making him highly resistant to most attacks.
2. He will attack with various ice-based moves, including freezing Mario, which prevents you from using action commands.
3. The first thing you need to do is use the Hair Dryer Thing Sticker. This will melt his icy armor, making him vulnerable to all attacks.
4. Once he's melted, unleash your strongest Jump and Hammer Stickers.
5. Mizzter Blizzard will eventually re-freeze himself. You'll need to use another Hair Dryer Thing Sticker to melt him again.
6. He may also summon smaller ice enemies. Deal with these quickly to avoid taking extra damage.
7. Repeat the Hair Dryer + attack strategy until Mizzter Blizzard is defeated. Ensure you have enough Hair Dryer stickers (at least two, preferably three) to last the fight.

World 5: Wiggler (5-6 Rumble Volcano)

This normally friendly caterpillar has been corrupted and is causing volcanic eruptions. You'll need to calm him down, segment by segment.

• Recommended Stickers:
• Jump Stickers: Excellent for hitting his segments.
• Hammer Stickers: Can also hit segments, but Jumps are generally better for aerial targets.
• Thing Sticker: The Faucet Thing Sticker is crucial. You can find it in 5-2 Shy Guy Jungle, in a hidden area accessed by peeling a wall.
• Strategy:
1. Wiggler starts with multiple segments. Each segment has its own HP.
2. Your goal is to attack and defeat each segment individually. Use your strongest Jump Stickers for this.
3. After you defeat a segment, Wiggler will become enraged, and his attacks will become more powerful.
4. He will also cause volcanic eruptions, sending fireballs across the screen.
5. When Wiggler is enraged, use the Faucet Thing Sticker. This will douse him with water, calming him down and making him vulnerable again.
6. Once he's calmed, continue attacking his remaining segments.
7. Repeat the process of defeating a segment, using the Faucet when he enrages, and then attacking the next segment.
8. After all segments are defeated, Wiggler's head will be the final target. Focus all your remaining powerful stickers on his head to finish the fight.
9. Make sure you have several Faucet stickers, as you'll need one for each time he enrages (which is after every segment is defeated).

World 6: Bowser (6-6 Bowser's Sky Castle)

The final showdown! Bowser is a multi-stage boss fight that will test all your skills and sticker management.

• Recommended Stickers:
• Powerful Jump Stickers: Mega Jumps, Hopslipper, and any Shiny Jumps you have.
• Powerful Hammer Stickers: Mega Hammers, Baahammer, and Shiny Hammers.
• Multi-Target Stickers: If you have any, they can be useful in certain phases.
• Healing Stickers: Mushroom, Super Mushroom, or even a Life Shroom if you're feeling cautious.
• Thing Stickers: This is where it gets complex. You'll need a variety.
• Oven: Found in 6-1 Gauntlet. Essential for the first phase.
• Refrigerator: Found in 6-2 Bowser's Castle. Essential for the second phase.
• Battery: Found in 6-3 Goomba's Fortress (revisited). Essential for the third phase.
• Jackhammer: Found in 6-4 Shy Guy Jungle (revisited). Essential for the fourth phase.
• Megaflash Stickers: If you've been collecting them, these are incredibly powerful for the final phase.
• Strategy:
1. Phase 1: Fiery Bowser
   • Bowser will be breathing fire and attacking with powerful flame-based moves.
   • Use the Oven Thing Sticker. This will heat him up even more, causing him to become overheated and vulnerable.
   • While he's overheated, unleash your strongest Jump and Hammer Stickers.
   • He will eventually recover. Repeat the Oven + attack strategy until he transitions to the next phase.
2. Phase 2: Icy Bowser
   • Bowser will now be covered in ice, using ice attacks and being resistant to most damage.
   • Use the Refrigerator Thing Sticker. This will freeze him solid, making him brittle and vulnerable.
   • Attack with your most powerful stickers while he's frozen.
   • He will eventually break free. Repeat the Refrigerator + attack strategy.
3. Phase 3: Electric Bowser
   • Bowser will be crackling with electricity, dealing electric damage and possibly stunning Mario.
   • Use the Battery Thing Sticker. This will overcharge him, causing him to short-circuit and become vulnerable.
   • Hit him with your strongest stickers during this vulnerability window.
   • Repeat the Battery + attack strategy until he moves to the next phase.
4. Phase 4: Rock Bowser
   • Bowser will be encased in rock armor, making him incredibly tough to damage.
   • Use the Jackhammer Thing Sticker. This will shatter his rock armor, leaving him exposed.
   • Unload your most powerful stickers on him while his armor is broken.
   • Repeat the Jackhammer + attack strategy.
5. Phase 5: Final Bowser
   • After all the elemental phases, Bowser will be in his regular, but still very powerful, form.
   • This is where you use any remaining Megaflash Stickers you've saved up. They deal immense damage.
   • Continue to use your strongest Jump and Hammer Stickers.
   • Bowser will still hit hard, so be prepared to use healing stickers if necessary.
   • Keep up the relentless assault until the Koopa King is finally defeated!