Johnny Sunken Ship Boss Guide

Learn the best strategies to defeat Johnny and his Bandana Blues in Super Mario RPG (2023). Get tips on his attacks, weaknesses, and rewards.

Alright, let's talk about the Johnny fight in the Sunken Ship! This one can be a little tricky if you don't know what's coming, but don't worry, I've got your back. It's not just about hitting hard; there's a bit of a dance to this one.

Stats / Weaknesses:

• Bandana Blue: HP 150. Weak to Fire, Lightning, Fear, Poison, Sleep, Mute.
• Johnny: HP 820. Weak to Fear, Mute, Poison. Resists Sleep.

Phases:

1. Phase 1 (Johnny + Bandana Blues): Johnny uses weaker attacks like Trident Jab. The Bandana Blues also use basic jabs. Your goal here is to deal damage while managing the henchmen.
2. Phase 2 (Johnny's Duel): Once Johnny is below half HP and all Bandana Blues are defeated, he'll trigger a one-on-one duel with Mario. He buffs himself with 'Get Tough' (turning red) and uses much stronger attacks like Skewer, Diamond Saw, and Fire Saber. Mario can only heal with items during this phase.

Strategy:

• Dealing with the Bandana Blues: These guys might seem like just cannon fodder, but they're important. They have low HP (150 each) and are weak to elemental attacks like Fire and Lightning. Mallow's Thunderbolt is super effective here. However, and this is key, if you defeat *all* of them, Johnny gets mad and challenges Mario to a solo fight.
• The Duel Decision: If you're feeling confident and are around Level 12 or higher, you *can* try to defeat the Bandana Blues to trigger the duel. Johnny buffs himself with 'Get Tough' and becomes much more dangerous. During this duel, Mario can only heal with items, so it's a test of your item management and timing.
• If You Want to Avoid the Duel (or are struggling): Your best bet is to focus your attacks on Johnny as much as possible. Try to defeat the Bandana Blues gradually, or even ignore them if you can manage the damage they're dealing. The longer you can keep at least one Bandana Blue alive, the longer you delay the duel, giving you more opportunities to heal and chip away at Johnny's HP.
• Johnny's Tougher Attacks: When it's just you and Johnny, watch out for his 'Skewer' (a stronger jab), 'Diamond Saw' (heavy damage, like you saw against Bundt), and 'Fire Saber' (moderate damage). These attacks can hit hard, and timing your blocks is crucial since you can't rely on party healing.
• Exploiting Weaknesses: While Johnny isn't weak to any elements Mario can use, he *is* vulnerable to Fear, Mute, and Poison. Unfortunately, Mario can't inflict these himself. During the duel, your best offensive move is a perfectly timed Super Jump, which can deal over 100 damage and quickly end the fight if you land a few.
• Rewards: After you finally take down Johnny, you'll get 90 Experience Points (plus about 80 Exp split from the Bandana Blues), and 50 Coins. The most important reward is the fifth Star, which lets you progress further into the game.

Don't get discouraged if you lose a few times! This fight is all about learning Johnny's patterns and deciding whether to face him solo or keep his goons around. Good luck!