Chapter 5: The Key to the Palace

Chapter 5: The Key to the Palace

Welcome to Chapter 5! This chapter takes us to the pirate-infested waters of Keelhaul Key. Be prepared for some swashbuckling adventure and tricky puzzles.

Arriving at Keelhaul Key

1. After the events of Chapter 4, head back to Rogueport Harbor.
2. Speak with Flavio, who is now ready to set sail. He'll be near the docks.
3. Board Flavio's ship, the "SS Flavio," and prepare for a cinematic journey to Keelhaul Key.
4. Upon arrival, you'll find yourself on the beach of Keelhaul Key.

Exploring Keelhaul Key and Finding the Skull

Your immediate goal is to locate the Skull, a crucial item for progressing. The island is full of hidden paths and pirate encounters.

• Beach Exploration:
  • Head right along the beach. You'll encounter various enemies like Embers and Putrid Piranhas.
  • Look for a small cave entrance on the right side of the beach. Enter it.
  • Inside the cave, you'll find a small puzzle involving a switch. Hit the switch to open a path.
  • Continue through the cave, battling any enemies in your way.
• Jungle Path:
  • Exit the cave into a jungle area. The paths here can be a bit winding.
  • Keep an eye out for hidden blocks and items. Use your partners' abilities to uncover secrets.
  • You'll eventually come across a large, open area with a prominent skull-shaped rock formation.
• Obtaining the Skull:
  • Approach the skull rock formation. You'll notice a small indentation.
  • Use your partner, Ms. Mowz, if you have her, to sniff out any hidden items nearby. While not strictly necessary for the Skull, it's good practice.
  • The Skull is located within this area, often requiring you to use Koops' shell toss ability to hit a distant switch or break a specific block to reveal it.
  • Once you have the Skull, it will be added to your inventory.

The Pirate's Grotto Entrance

With the Skull in hand, you can now access the main pirate hideout.

1. Return to the beach where you first landed.
2. Locate the large, imposing door on the cliff face, which has a skull-shaped indentation.
3. Approach the door and interact with it. Mario will automatically place the Skull into the indentation.
4. The door will open, revealing the entrance to the Pirate's Grotto.

Navigating the Pirate's Grotto

The Grotto is a multi-layered dungeon filled with traps, puzzles, and stronger pirate enemies.

• First Area:
  • Upon entering, you'll be in a large cavern. Battle the various Bandits and other pirate-themed foes.
  • Head to the right. You'll encounter a series of platforms and gaps. Use Yoshi's Flutter Jump to cross them easily.
  • Look for a hidden passage or a breakable wall. Use Bombette to clear any obstacles.
• Water Puzzle:
  • You'll reach a room with a large body of water and several switches.
  • The goal here is to manipulate the water levels to access different areas.
  • Hit the switches in the correct order to raise or lower the water. Experiment with each switch.
  • One path will lead to a small island with a Star Piece.
  • Another path will lead to a higher ledge. Use your paper boat ability to cross the water when the level is appropriate.
• Key Hunting:
  • Deep within the Grotto, you'll need to find a specific key to unlock a door.
  • This key is often guarded by a tougher enemy or hidden behind a breakable wall.
  • Look for a chest containing the Grotto Key.
  • Once you have the key, backtrack to the locked door you encountered earlier in the Grotto.

Confronting the Pirate King

The Grotto Key will lead you to the final confrontation of the chapter.

1. Unlock the door with the Grotto Key.
2. Proceed through the newly opened path. You'll likely encounter more challenging enemies here, such as stronger Bandits or even some Elite Bandits.
3. You will eventually reach a large chamber where you'll find the Pirate King, Cortez.
4. Prepare for a boss battle!

Boss Battle: Cortez

Cortez is a formidable foe with multiple forms. Here's a breakdown of his attacks and strategies:

• Phase 1: Ghostly Form
  • Cortez will float around, summoning various ghostly weapons (swords, anchors, cannons).
  • His attacks can inflict various status effects. Be ready with items like Refresh Shrooms or Life Shrooms if needed.
  • Focus your attacks on Cortez himself. Piercing attacks (like Mario's Jump or Koops' Shell Toss) are effective.
  • When he summons weapons, they can be attacked to reduce his overall defense or prevent powerful attacks.
• Phase 2: Skeletal Form
  • After taking enough damage, Cortez will transform into a large, skeletal pirate.
  • In this form, he has higher attack power and can hit multiple targets.
  • He might also summon smaller skeletal minions. Take them out quickly to avoid being overwhelmed.
  • Use your strongest attacks and Superguard/Guard his incoming attacks to minimize damage.
  • Consider using Star Powers like Sweet Treat for healing or Power Lift to boost your attack.
• Phase 3: Spirit Form
  • Cortez will revert to a more ethereal form, often becoming immune to physical attacks for a turn or two.
  • During this phase, he'll drain your HP and FP.
  • This is a good time to use items to recover or charge up Star Power.
  • When he becomes vulnerable again, unleash your most powerful Special Moves and partner attacks.

After defeating Cortez, he will yield the next Crystal Star, concluding Chapter 5!