Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door/Chapter 8: The Thousand-Year Door

Trial of Shadows
Palace of Shadow:

''The Palace of Shadow will put all of your skills and partnerships to the test. It also seems to be a hot spot among Mario’s enemies-you’ll face no fewer than five boss battles by the end.''

Use the quote as a warning. You will face 5 bosses here (and 1 mini-boss), one of which you face right after the other. If you feel you’re prepared, then by all means, go through the door.

Enemies:


 * Bombshell Bill Blaster (doesn’t attack directly) - 10 HP, 4 DEF
 * Bombshell Bill - 3 HP, 6 ATK, 2 DEF
 * Chain Chomp - 7 HP, 6 ATK, 5 DEF
 * Dark Bones - 20 HP, 5 ATK, 2 DEF
 * Dark Wizzerd - 10 HP, 5 ATK, 2 DEF
 * Dry Bones - 8 HP 5 ATK, 2 DEF
 * Dull Bones - 1 HP, 2 ATK, 1 DEF
 * Phantom Ember - 10 HP, 5 ATK, 0 DEF
 * Red Bones - 5 HP, 3 ATK, 1 DEF
 * Swoopula - 9 HP, 4 ATK, 0 DEF

This is it, the final dungeon. Please take in mind that this is the biggest in the game. So, if your not careful, you could find yourself low on items by the end (Don’t worry though, there’s still some healing items I here albeit not too  many). So, only use them in an emergency. It is also a good idea to level up high before coming here, like getting your hp and fp up to 60, and enough bp to equip badges that increase power, defense, and prevent status effects for both you and your partner. Also get all your partners up to ultra rank. Now that that’s out of the way, go forward through the door at the end of the hall (listening to the kick-ass  dungeon theme if you wish to). In the next room there’s a Stop Watch to the north. The three Swoopulas here can drain HP from you. In the next room, the item box has a shooting star. You’ll find some Dry Bones, Swoopulas, and B. Bill Blasters (along with Bombshell Bills of course). Use Supernova or Art Attack to take them out fast.

Once in the next room DO NOT MOVE. Now, walk very slowly. Some spike will come out of the ground when you step near them, so avoid those. The All or nothing badge found here is very helpful later on. There are some Swoopulas here, but don’t let them distract you. Attack them when they are very close to you. In the next room, there are the classic fire bars waiting for you on the bridge. Save your game and avoid them as you cross. There’s a Boo’s Sheet in an invisible block directly above the small brown platform in the center if you want one. Switch to Vivian as you go down the stairs. Infinite rows of fire come towards you as you cross the bridge. Jump over the low ones and use her to hide from the higher ones.

Go into the door on the other side. It’s quiet in here. TOO quiet... anyway, go to the end of the room and examine the dark bones guarding the door. Once you do, it’s déjà vu all over again. A bunch of Dry Bones suddenly comes raining down upon the room (just like in Hooktail castle). But this time, the Dark Bones runs away from you, so it’s more difficult to catch him this time. When you do get to him, you fight.

Mini-Boss
(1 Dark Bones and 4 Dry Bones)

Dark Bones:

Goombella’s Tattle: ''That’s a Dark Bones. It’s the baddest of the Bones gang. When its HP goes down to 0, it collapses into a pile, but it’ll eventually rise again. Fire and explosions will put a permanent end to it getting back up, though. Its HP is high so it’s hard to take it down. Like any other Bones, it sometimes builds friends if it feels outnumbered. It’s a tough enemy. You better take it and it’s buddies out all at once.''


 * Max HP: 20
 * ATK: 5
 * DEF: 2
 * Difficulty:***
 * Attack: Bone Throw
 * Mulit-Bone Throw
 * Regroup (builds more Dry Bones)
 * Resurrect (comes back to life after several turns)

These guys hit hard so use items or special attacks that can take them all out at once (Bobbery’s Bob-ombast and Vivian’s Feiry Jinx can help permanently get rid of Dry Bones). Once their gone, take out the Dark Bones fast before it can regroup.

Once they run away, get the key and open the door. There’s an ultra shroom in the item box. A couple of B. Bill Blasters stands at the top of the some stairs in this hallway as well as some phantom embers. Defeat the enemies and go through the door at the end of the hall. There’s nothing special in this room. There are just some enemies and a few items. When you’re done go to the next room. The next few rooms have no enemies. That’s because they’re almost the same. It’s like a maze here. If you go through the wrong door, you’ll get warped to the previous one. Only go through the doors that have the torch (they will always be on the right side of the room. So, here’s the correct order:  bottom, bottom, top, top, bottom, top, and bottom. You’ll soon find yourself in  an open area (sort of).

Big Brother
Go through the palace garden and defeat the two chain chomps guarding the save point and health block. They have high defense so use Piercing Blow if you have that badge. When you beat them, use the health block and save point before moving on. Go through the door at the other end. Defeat the enemies while going through the series of long hallways (you’ll also come in contact with the dark  wizzerd here. The wizzerds are probably the most frustrating enemy in the  game.). Once you reach the end, save and enter (It’d be a good idea to equip the Feeling Fine badge). You’ll face the older sibling of an old boss.

Boss Fight
Gloomtail:

Goombella’s tattle: ''That’s Gloomtail. I think he’s Hooktail’s brother. I see the family resemblance... He’ll bite or stomp you, and he may also breathe poison on you. Great. When his HP gets low, he may throw in some other attacks as well. Wouldn’t surprise me. Especially watch out for his megabreath move, ‘cause the word is, it’s GNARLY! He also stores power for some attacks, so use Vivian to hide to avoid those."''


 * HP: 80
 * ATK: 8
 * DEF: 2
 * Difficulty:****
 * Attacks:
 * Stomp
 * Chomp
 * Poison Breath (can poison you and your partner
 * Charge (warning for Megabreath)
 * Megabreath
 * Earthquake

This guy is no pushover, unlike his younger sister. ALWAYS use Vivian’s Veil when he charges up. If you get caught in the megabreath that follows you WON’T be happy, I can guarantee that. Use items in an emergency. His earthquake attack does 10 HP of damage, so make sure you always have above 13 HP when you  use veil. He’ll go down after a while.

Gloomtail spits out a treasure chest. Open it to get the Star key. Go to the right and look for a cracked space near the bottom of the right wall. Have Bobbery blow it up and go through the hallway. On the other end are two item blocks that contain an Ultra shroom and a Jammin’ Jelly. Go back to the palace garden. Save and heal at the corresponding blocks. Go to one of the Chomp statues and throw Bobbery into their mouth. When he explodes, the pipe will be unblocked. Go inside it and hit the nearby switch. Go back and do the same with the other statue. Now go south of the central bridge between save and health blocks and use the boat panel to sail to the other side of the moat. Dock at the opposite panel and go inside the building.

Triple Threat
You’ll have to collect the eight palace keys found in each room. Although you can obtain these in any order, I’ll be getting them in order (sort of).

Start by going in the bottom left door. Hit the left red ! block first, three times and then the right one, twice. A chest will appear in a somewhat creepy manner. There’s nothing dangerous inside, so open it for your first palace key. Only seven more to go...

Anyway, leave the room and go in the lower right corner. Go in the center and use Flurrie to blow away the invisible barrier and reveal the next treasure chest.

Next, go in the room in the upper right corner and just walk through the wall. Nothing special, just walk through and hit the switch for your third palace key.

Ignore the final door down here for now and go upstairs to the second floor. Go inside the lower left door. Inside, you’ll find the entire bones family lying on the ground. You’re supposed to beat them in order from weakest to strongest. Just beat the weakling followed by their leaders: Dull Bones, then Red Bones, then Dry Bones, and finally Dark Bones. If you battle the wrong one, just run away (I mean, a few coins won’t make that much of a difference anyway, especially now). When they’re dead (again), hit the blue switch and get the key from the chest.

Now we’re halfway there, so leave the room. Go to the lower right door and go in the center of the room. Use Vivian to hide into the shadows. The invisible block will appear as long as you are hidden. Memorize the place, reemerge, and hit the invisible block. Get your key and leave.

Next, go to the room in the upper right corner. Inside, you have to blow up the wall, so throw Bobbery near the center of it and he’ll make a hole in it. Get the key from the chest and go back to the main room.

The last two rooms are linked so go into the room in the upper left corner. If you destroy a block here, it will destroy the opposite colored block in the room below (If you smash a gray block, one of the red blocks in the lower room will disappear). Bash the gray block on the right pedestal and go to the room downstairs in the upper left corner. Destroy the two gray blocks here then return to the upper room. Hit the switch and grab the key from the chest. Smash the remaining gray block and return to the upper left corner room downstairs. Hit the switch here and get the key.

Now that you have all eight keys, go to the very top of the stairs and watch the short scene. Put the star key in the pedestal and put the keys into the pillars that appear (in any order). Watch another scene and leave the building. Go back through the moat and save and heal (if need be). When you get near the door, you’ll find yourself in another boss fight.

Boss Fight
(The New Shadow Sirens: Beldam, Marilyn, and Doopliss)

Beldam:

Goombella’s Tattle: ''That’s Beldam. She’s the leader of the Shadow Sirens. Her special move is a blizzard blast. If it hits you, you’ll totally freeze. She has lots of other tricks up her sleeves, too. I wonder what that plan was that she mentioned? What do you think they’re up to?''


 * HP: 30
 * ATK: 5
 * DEF: 0
 * Difficulty:***
 * Attacks:
 * Blizzard Blast (makes your party frozen)
 * Short-Range Chill
 * Status Change (does various status affects to anyone on the field)

Marilyn:

Goombella’s Tattle: ''That’s Marilyn. She’s Beldam’s sister, another one of the Shadow Sirens. She’ll attack you directly or use lightning. She also saves up energy for a big attack sometimes. So long as you avoid the brunt of her attacks, she shouldn’t be too tough...''


 * HP: 40
 * ATK: 7
 * DEF: 0
 * Difficulty:***
 * Attacks: Handclap
 * Charge
 * Lightning Blast (does 14-plus damage after charge)

Doopliss:

Goombella’s Tattle: ''That’s Doopliss. He’s a shapeshifter, and even turned into you once, Mario! He may turn into one of us and attack. When he does, he’ll have our abilities! Hey, how do you think he became one of the Shadow Sirens? Isn’t that...weird? How do you think he stands Beldam’s abuse? You think he’s all right in the head?''


 * HP: 40
 * ATK: 6
 * DEF: 0
 * Difficulty:***
 * Attacks:
 * Ghastly Headbutt
 * Copycat (changes into Mario or your current partner)
 * (any of you or your partners basic attacks)

Bet you didn’t expect this, did you? As always, take care of Beldam first. She can freeze you, so that makes her dangerous. Next, Marilyn still has her Lightning Blast, so get rid of her next. Doopliss... is basically the same guy you fought in Chapter 4. The only thing is that his attack is raised and he uses copycat more often. But, since the attack uses his turn, it makes him more vulnerable, so take care of him last.

When you’re done, they’ll be on the ground unconscious. Save, heal, and move on. Go back to the series of long hallways that lead you to Gloomtail.

Tired Yet?
Tired yet? We’re just getting started. As you can see, the hallway has changed. So go down the new set of stairs. Defeat the dark wizzerds (use your spring jump to get the item block) and use Flurrie to blow away the fake part of the wall at the very right end of the hall. Go left behind where the wall was. At the top of the hidden stairs, use Yoshi to float to the other end. Go inside the door. Don’t hit the switch to the right yet. Instead, hold Koops’ shell to the left of it and go up the stairs to your left. Stand near the gap at the top and let go. Quickly jump across the platform that appears and to the other end. Go down the stairs and get the Repel Cape (if you wish to) found at the bottom. Go out the door. Go up the nearby stairs and through the door. Make your way up the sort-of narrow set of stairs and hit the small green block. Go back to the room to the right and stand on the yellow block. Use Yoshi to cross the gap to the other side. Go up the stairs and jump off the ledge. Hit the small purple block and quickly get on the larger one before it rises. At the top, use Yoshi again to get across the gap. Hit the small red block and hold Koops’ shell next to it. Get on the larger red block and let go. Jump into the right opening as the block lowers. Roll into a tube and jump over the gap in the opening (or you could use Yoshi again). Go into the door.

In the next room, stand on the upper yellow lines on the carpet. Use your spring jump to get to the poles. Shimmy across and jump off at the end. This time, go to the lower yellow lines and use your spring jump again. Shimmy to the end and jump off. Go into the door and defeat the phantom ember and dark wizzerd to the left. You can get the shooting star in the chest if you have room left. Go to the top of the stairs and throw Bobbery off the ledge. Watch out for the chain chomp as you quickly go across the ledge that appears. The stars on the wall here are important, memorize the order they are in. Go to the top of the stairs to the left and save your game. Go right and jump on the platform at the bottom of the wheel. Have Koops get the palace key and jump down. Go back to the door at the top of the stairs, unlock it, and go through. Use your spring jump to get the life shroom in the nearby block. Go up the stairs and roll into a tube. Use it to jump up the stairs. From right to left, hit the red blocks in the order of the stars on the previous room's wall (make sure to defeat the dark wizzerd first). Go back to the previous room and go back to the wheel. As you can see, it started moving. At the top of the wheel, there’s a life shroom if you need one. Go to the ledge to the right and go down the stairs.

Go in the door and have Flurrie blow the cover off the big block. Smash it with your ultra hammer move and spin jump through the wooden panel. Jump on the coin block and jump again for a Point Swap (you’ll only get 1 coin if you hit the lower coin block). Go out the nearby door. Carefully cross the narrow walkway and enter the door to your right.

Use the airplane panel to the door in the middle of the room (not at the door at the very end). Defeat the chain chomp at the bottom of the stairs and hit the red block it was guarding. Quickly switch to Yoshi and ride him up the stairs and get across the gap as fast as possible. Get the key out of the chest and go back to the previous room. Jump down the ledge and defeat the Phantom Embers and use the spring at the left side of the hall. Use the panel to fly all the way to the end of the hall (it might take practice if you’re not good at flying). Heal and save before moving on (also, have on your best badges). It’s about to get ugly.

Saving the World (again)
Climb to the top of the stairs!

Boss Fight
Sir Grodus:

Goombella’s Tattle: ''That’s Grodus! He’s the head of the X-Nauts who kidnapped Peach. But...when he has Grodus Xs surrounding him, his defense will go up by that number.He may also use electricity, fire, and time-stopping magic. That doesn’t sound good! Still, he’s a totally weird guy. Why’s he so intense and serious all the time? I guess we don’t have time to worry about that. Let’s beat him and find Peach!''


 * HP: 50
 * ATK: 7
 * DEF: 1
 * Difficulty:****
 * Attacks:
 * Thunderstorm
 * X-Create (makes 2 Grodus Xs at a time)
 * Flame-thrower (attacks you and partner)
 * Payback (makes himself able to counter direct attacks for 2 turns)

Grodus X (is created by Grodus during battle):

Goombella’s Tattle: ''That’s a Grodus X. It protects Grodus. This guy is no problem on his own, but Grodus’s Defense goes up for each of them. When he has four surrounding him, we won’t be able to damage him at all. So let’s dish out some hurt to them while we pound on Grodus. Got it?''


 * HP: 3
 * ATK: 4
 * DEF: 0
 * Attacks:
 * Ram

He may look easy because he only has 50 HP, but he's pretty hard. The Grodus Xs make him tough. It is very useful to go into this fight when you're about to level up, so you can heal before the next fight. You get about 30 star points when you defeat Grodus, so fight him when you have 70. Start off by getting rid of the Grodus Xs. Use attacks that attack all enemies at once. Once their gone, pound on Grodus. His attacks are powerful, but if you have high HP and guard well, it won’t matter that much. Art Attack is also very useful here as well as Supernova (although Art attack is better since you will  face another boss after this). Continue to get rid of any Grodus Xs that appear as well as attacking Grodus. Soon, he will fall like the many video game villains before him.

It’s not over yet.

Boss Fight
(Bowser and Kammy Koopa)

Bowser:

Goombella’s Tattle: ''That’s Bowser, genius. You’ve only fought this guy like, a bazillion times. He’ll keep kidnapping Peach, and you’ll keep fighting him, until the end of time, I think. In addition to his fire breath, he jumps on you and bites. If you get jumped on, you’ll be unable to use a command for a while. Oh, and his bite sometimes poisons you as well. I don’t know what Bowser’s doing here, but we gotta defeat him quick!''


 * HP: 70
 * ATK: 7
 * DEF: 2
 * Difficulty:****
 * Attacks:
 * Poison Bite
 * Flame Breath
 * Bowser’s Jump

Kammy Koopa:

Goombella’s Tattle: ''That’s Kammy Koopa. She’s an old evil witch who’s always helping Bowser out. She uses her magic to raise her Attack and Defense or get electrified or invisible. When her HP gets low, she may also use magic to restore HP. Her magic is totally annoying, so take her out before you focus on Bowser. Still, you gotta feel for her, having to hang out with Bowser all the time... Or do you think Bowser has a harder time enduring her?''


 * HP: 50
 * ATK: 5
 * DEF: 0
 * Difficulty:***
 * Attacks:
 * Magi-projectile
 * Heal
 * Stat change (raises her ATK, DEF, and can make her invisible or electrified)
 * Enlarge (makes Bowser bigger)

Take care of Kammy first, her magic can make this battle harder than it should be, but heal if you're low on HP. Trust me, a giant Bowser is something you DON’T want to fight, especially since you just beat Grodus. If you jump on her, she’ll fall from her broom and will stay on the ground temporarily. When you get rid of her, focus the rest of your attacks on Bowser. He’s not that tough without Kammy around. You just have to guard well. Continue the punishment and you’ll beat Bowser (yet again).

After the scene, follow Grodus into the tunnel. Get the ultra shroom from the chest and use the health block. Go all the way down the stairs and open the other treasure chest for a Jammin’ Jelly. Save your game and make sure you have the following badges equipped (if you have them and if you have enough badge  points):

In no order...


 * Piercing Blow
 * Power Smash
 * Power Jump
 * Power Bounce
 * Pretty Lucky
 * Damage Dodge (the more the better)
 * Defend Plus (the more the better)
 * Close Call
 * Feeling Fine
 * All or Nothing (if you’re good at action commands)
 * Charge and/or Charge P (useful if you don’t have anything else to do for your turn)
 * Flower Saver (once again, the more the better)
 * Last Stand
 * (If you have any points left to spare, use them on the P versions of your badges, or any other useful ones)

When your ready, head inside. Watch the scene. If you answer yes to her question, you’ll get a Game Over (and will have to go through the cutscene again.) answer no and the battle begins.

Final Boss
Shadow Queen:

Goombella’s Tattle: ''Omigosh, what happened? I can’t believe Peach just got possessd! That’s AWFUL! Now she’s...the shadow Queen. The demon that destroyed this town 1,000 years ago. She’ll unleash big lightning attacks. She’ll also use magic to raise Attack and Defense, or to absorb HP... She might even try to drag us into darkness... I don’t feel good about attacking Peach, but we have to do SOMETHING! Don’t think of it as Peach! We just have to fight to the end! C’MON!!!''


 * HP: 150 (Hand’s HP: 5; Dead Hands’ HP: 8)
 * ATK: 7
 * DEF: 1
 * Difficulty:*****
 * Attacks:
 * Dark Lightning
 * Power Lift (raises ATK and DEF)
 * Drag into darkness (attacks multiple times)
 * Hand Slap
 * Drain (drains HP and gives it to Shadow Queen)
 * Multi-Hand Stampede
 * Poisonbreath, Confuse breath, immune breath)

Remember, you should at least have 60HP, 35FP, and 53BP. Make sure you are level 25 or above. You should have lots of items with you, such as: ultra shroom, jammin jelly, jelly ultra, life shroom, etc.Once you enter the Shadow Queen's room, she will give you a chance to back out and be her servant. Don't become her servant! The game will automatically end and everyone was doomed. You will game over and start over from the last place you saved. Say "Refuse this witch" and let the battle begin!

This fight is slightly similar to the last boss (Bowser) in the original Paper Mario. Start off with Power Lift and attack with everything you got (except don’t use items). After a while, she’ll transform and you won’t be able to damage her at all. Keep guarding and attack her for the next three turns and you’ll trigger a cutscene.

After the cutscene, you’ll be completely healed (but so will the Shadow Queen. At least you can actually damage her. Once again, start off with Power Lift and attack her and her hands. When you destroy them she’ll switch to the Dead Hands after another turn. She’ll change back to the two hands when you destroy the Dead ones. Although, the two hands are more  dangerous because they can drain your HP or FP and give it to the Shadow Queen and since their separate, they give her two extra turns to attack. The Feeling Fine badge will protect whoever has it equipped against her dangerous breath attack. Also, use Vivian to hide in the shadows when she charges up. This battle is hard, but if you use your items correctly, and use your best special attacks (it might also take some luck depending on your level) you’ll be able to beat her.

When you defeat her, watch the ending cut scene. Congratulations, you beat Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door.

Aftermath
Rogueport:

Save your game after the credits roll. Go back to the menu and start up your file again. You’ll see Mario return to Rogueport. You’ll have all of your items and stats as you had them before. Unfortunately, any lost HP and/or FP from your last battle will still be there. Heal at the inn and return to your favorite badge setup. You can talk to the people here. Most of them have changed their dialog and character.

Here’s the last message on the bulletin board:

When the light fades from Rogueport, a hero emerges, inscribing his name in legend.

Afterwards, go to the trouble center and take on the last three of them.


 * Client: Doe T. (Boggly Woods)
 * Title: Roust these cads!
 * Reward: 20 coins

This is a simple task. Equip the First Attack badge if you have it (it will make things easier) and go to the first screen in Boggly Woods. Talk to the toad and defeat the enemies (jump on them or hammer them if you have the First  Attack put on to kill them instantly). When they're all dead, the toad will give you your reward.


 * Client: Bub (Poshley Heights)
 * Title: Help me make up.
 * Reward: 3 coins

You’ll need one of the three following items to solve this problem: A Shroom Cake (mix a Mushroom + a Cake Mix), Keel Mango, or a Fright Mask. Go to Poshley Heights (you can talk to Lady Bow (from Paper Mario 1) near the fountain) and  talk to Bub to the left of the sanctum. Choose the item you bought and give it to him. Give the present to Sylvia (the lady Bob-omb next to Goldbob at Poshley train station) and go back and talk to Bub. No matter what item you gave him, he’ll give you the same reward, THREE STINKIN’ COINS!


 * Client: Swob (Fahr Outpost)
 * Title: Erase that graffiti!
 * Reward: Snow Bunny

This is the last trouble. It’s also the longest and probably the hardest. Stock up and go to the Pit of 100 Trials. Go all the way to Level 50 (the enemies aren’t that hard) and use Bobbery to blow up the graffiti on the left wall. Get the Strange Sack in the chest (it doubles your item space) and get out of there  (unless you feel lucky). Go back to Fahr Outpost and talk to the Bob-omb to the right of the cannon statue. He’ll give you your reward. Congratulations, you’re now the #1 Problem Solver in Rogueport (well, not technically, but still).