Boss: Papyrus

Learn how to beat Papyrus in Undertale! This guide covers his bone attacks, blue soul mechanics, and how to spare him for a Pacifist ending.

Stats / Weaknesses:

• ATK: 8
• DEF: 2
• Special Attack: Uses bones, including blue ones that require you to stop moving.
• Weakness: Can be spared repeatedly.

Phases:

1. Phase 1: Basic Bone Attacks
   Papyrus starts with simple, easy-to-dodge white bones. Pay attention to the colors; you need to stop moving when bones are blue.
2. Phase 2: Blue Soul Mechanics
   Papyrus will turn your SOUL blue, forcing you to stay on the ground and jump over bones. Bones will come from both sides. Push UP to jump; holding it longer makes you jump higher. You'll need to time your jumps to clear small gaps between bones and avoid falling. Maintain a rhythm and anticipate the jumps. Don't jump too high when bones move fast, and watch out for pyramid-like bone formations.
3. Phase 3: Ultimate Attack and Sparing
   To initiate his strongest attacks, you need to try sparing him. Keep sparing him repeatedly. Eventually, a dog will steal his special attack, but he'll follow up with a massive bone attack that requires you to jump very high to clear all the bones.

Strategy:

• Sparing is Key: The main way to win is by sparing Papyrus. Keep choosing the 'Spare' option throughout the fight.
• Blue Bone Timing: When bones are blue, you MUST stop moving. White bones require you to jump by pushing UP.
• Blue SOUL Control: When your SOUL turns blue, you're grounded. Focus on precise jumping to navigate the bone patterns.
• Flirt or Insult: If you flirt with Papyrus, he'll ask you on a date after the battle. Insulting him leads to a hangout instead. Both are ways to progress towards sparing him.
• The Stick: You can throw your stick at him, but it doesn't really help.
• No Real Loss: You can't truly lose. If your HP drops to 1, Papyrus will capture you in his shed, but you can escape. If you lose enough times, he'll just let you pass.
• Post-Battle: After sparing him, offer to be friends to cheer him up. He'll give you directions to the Barrier and mention King Asgore. You can return to Snowdin for a date with Papyrus, which is necessary for a Pacifist ending, or move on to the next area.