Defense

Your ultimate guide to defeating Grodus in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Learn his weaknesses, strategies, and how to manage his powerful attacks.

Alright, let's talk about the upcoming battle! You're going up against Grodus, and he's got a couple of tricks up his sleeve. Beldam likes to mess with your stats and can freeze you, Marilyn hits like a truck when she charges up, and Doopliss just copies your party members. It's a tough one, but we've got a plan.

After winning the battle, head through the door.

You'll find yourself in a place that's changed a lot. Head down the staircase. There are some Dark Wizzerds down here, as well as a Thunder Rage in a block. Go to the right and blow off the wallpaper with Flurrie, then go through it and up the staircase.

Walk slowly and, when you can see just a little bit of Mario, switch to Yoshi and Flutter Jump across. Go through the doorway.

The red ! block in here temporarily makes a ledge extend from a higher wall. Go to the block's right, face right, hold [X], go to the point where the ledge extends, release [X], and go across. Go down some stairs and grab the block with the somewhat-useless Repel Cape and enter the next room.

This room has moving blocks like Hooktail's Castle, but in a more complicated way. One such block blocks your way to the right, so head up the stairs to the left.

This room has blocks which, like in Hooktail's Castle, move the bigger blocks. Hit the green one and return to the previous room.

Now that the blockage is gone, cross the gap with Yoshi's Flutter Jump. The second gap is too large, so head below and activate the purple switch. You can go there yourself, or use Bobbery. Once the block is raised, run across and jump to the right. Use Yoshi to cross the gap in the narrow tunnel, then go to the next room.

This room mostly consists of a large spike pit. There is a pipe overhead, so Spring Jump to shimmy across it. Repeat as needed until you reach the doorway. Go through it.

To the far left is a chest that contains a Shooting Star, but it is guarded by several Dark Wizzerds. Go up the stairs to get to another point where a ledge extends from the wall. Drop Bobbery into the gap to activate the switch, then cross over the ledge. Memorize the star pattern on the wall, head up the staircase, then to the right onto some weird ferris wheel. Go onto the lower platform and use Koops to get the Palace Key. Drop back to the star pattern, go up the stairs, and unlock the door to the left. Go through it.

The block contains a Life Shroom, which you may or may not need. Head up the stairs and you'll see seven stars arranged in a line, with ! blocks underneath them. Each ! block makes the star light up or turn off. Turn them on to make this pattern:

* * * * * * *
(on) (off) (on) (on) (off) (on) (off)

This makes the ferris wheel in the previous room start to turn. Go back to it.

Save the game, then head onto the ferris wheel. Stay on a platform until you can get to the other side. Once you're across, go down the staircase and through the doorway.

In the center of the room is an invisible blockage. Use Flurrie to blow away some invisible wallpaper. Smash the block underneath with an Ultra Hammer, then Spin Jump through the floorboards. The block has a Point Swap. Anyway, go through the doorway.

You're now back in the hallway, just past the spike pits that you crossed over by shimmying on pipes. Get past the largest one by carefully walking, with Slow Go equipped, across the narrow walkway. Enter the next room.

This room is simple for now. Use the Plane Panel to get to the ledge with the doorway. Go through said doorway.

This room is ANOTHER room with an extending ledge. This time, hit the ! block, get on Yoshi, and run like the wind to the ledge. Cross it and grab the Palace Key. Return to the previous room.

Fall down and use the springboard to the far left. Here's a little tip: use the enemies to get your Star Points into the 90's. You'll thank me later. Anyways, use the springboard and then use the Plane Panel. While flying, you can grab two items (Life Shroom and Shooting Star). After finishing any other business, enter the next room.

This room is just a large room with a Save and Heart Block. Use both of them and change your badge equipment around, making sure ALL Power and Defense raising badges are equipped - with major emphasis on those. Have at least some of each equipped before entering the next room.

This room seems to be a throne room of some sort. Head up the small staircase. Grodus appears once you reach the top! He introduces himself (Mario and his partners never met him, remember?) and reveals his plan to take all of the Crystal Stars in one fell swoop! Battle time!

BOSS: Grodus

• Max HP: 50
• Attack: 7

BOSS: Grodus X

• Max HP: 3
• Attack: 4