Defense: 2 (5)

Learn the best strategies for defeating the tough boss Bonetail in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, including tips on using partners and items effectively.

Alright, so you've made it to Bonetail in the Pit of 100 Trials! This guy can be a real pain, but don't worry, I've got a couple of strategies that should help you take him down. We'll cover a couple of different approaches, so you can pick the one that best suits your playstyle and available items.

Strategy 1: Repeated Attacking (Best with Quick Change)

This strategy focuses on building up Mario's power and using Goombella's support. On your very first turn against Bonetail, have Mario use Power Lift to boost his attack. Then, have Goombella use Rally Wink every single turn. For Mario's attacks, you'll want to stick with either Power Bounce or Piercing Blow. Whenever Bonetail's powered-up status wears off, just repeat the Power Lift. If you find yourself needing to heal up, Sweet Feast is your best bet. Sometimes, using Soft Stomp can also give you an edge.

Strategy 2: Mini-Bonetail, Beefy Mario

This approach involves debuffing Bonetail while powering up Mario. Either Yoshi or Mario can use an attack that lowers Bonetail's Defense. Mario can use Shrink Stomp, which reduces both Attack and Defense by two. If you use Power Lift before these moves, they become even more effective. Charging up your attacks and using items like Power Punch can boost Mario's damage output significantly – we're talking about potentially 10 more damage per hit, or around 13 more damage overall when combined with Attack-raisers!

Once you've set up this situation, have Mario repeatedly use Power Bounce while your partner (Yoshi or whoever got the boost) uses their strongest attack. These buffs won't last forever, but you should be able to deal enough damage to finish Bonetail off.

General Tips for Both Strategies:

• Don't panic about dying until your HP drops to around 10-15. At that point, use Sweet Feast to recover.
• If you have any Life Shrooms, they can save you from a Game Over, but still be careful!
• After you finally defeat Bonetail, make sure to open the chest he was guarding. You'll get the Return Postage badge!
• Once you have your reward, just exit the Pit of 100 Trials through the pipe. You've earned it!