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Mario & Luigi: Sibling Rivalry – Defeating Bowser Made Easy

Mario & Luigi: Sibling Rivalry - Defeating Bowser Made Easy

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Bowser stands out as one of the most formidable bosses in Mario & Luigi: Brothership. Defeating him requires not only patience but also a solid strategy. It’s essential to understand his capabilities, including his attack patterns and whether he will summon allies. Below is a comprehensive overview of what to anticipate during this intense encounter.

In Mario & Luigi: Brothership, you’ll face various bosses, each presenting unique challenges. Bowser, however, is particularly tough because he tries to distract you, limiting the advantages you’d find in other battles. The fight can go long, quickly depleting your Battle Plugs, so balancing your offense and defense is crucial.

How to Gear Up for the Bowser Battle (Top Battle Plugs, Equipment, and Accessories)

Choosing the Right Items for This Encounter


Given Bowser’s fight mechanics, you’ll find yourself relying less on your Hammer and Jump attacks than usual. Many effective Battle Plug combos won’t work well here, making defensive combos more appealing, especially those that work with the Deluxe Auto Battle Plug.

Healing will likely be a necessity during this battle, and it’s vital to avoid wasting turns on healing. Defensive combos help you heal without losing your attack opportunities. The more you can attack Bowser while minimizing his counterattacks, the better your chances will be.

If your Auto Mushroom runs out, consider swapping it for other Auto Defense Battle Plugs. The Auto 1-Up is an excellent alternative since it fully restores health if you get knocked out. Although you might deplete these charges, they should last for most of the encounter.

Other useful Battle Plugs include:

  • Temperature Guard
  • Easy-Peasy Counters
  • Damage Shield
  • Surefooted Guard
  • Charge Bank
  • Performance Bonus

For gear, the Connie Mittens and IDLE Scarf are your best options. They increase survivability, allowing you more opportunities to land hits on Bowser without getting knocked out.

The Quick-Charge Brooch may not be beneficial during the fight, but it’s essential for recharging items for the next battle. Fortunately, your larger Battle Plugs should recharge during this encounter since you won’t be using them extensively.

Boosting your HP or enhancing your defensive stats will also be quite advantageous. After you’ve gathered your gear and accessories, you’re ready to tackle Bowser himself.

How to Defeat Bowser

Bowser’s Attack Patterns and How to Evade Them

Bowser has three primary attacks along with a minion summon and can withstand significant damage, making him quite the resilient opponent. His signature moves are:

  • Flamethrower
  • Mano a Mano
  • Raging Shells
  • Bowser’s Horde

To your advantage, you can turn his summoned minions against him. If he calls forth Koopas, Paratroopas, or Goombas, send them back his way. This tactic inflicts damage on Bowser while leaving you open to critical hits. However, beware of Bob-ombs and Spinies—they will cause damage if you attempt to send them back.

His other attacks can be tricky, as not all can be dodged or countered. Below is a breakdown of which moves can be evaded or countered:

Move Can Be Dodged? Can Be Countered?
Raging Shells No Yes
Mano a Mano Yes No
Flamethrower Yes No

While dodging the Flamethrower attack is possible, it can be difficult. The best strategy is to jump onto a steel ball thrown in front of you to gain some height and avoid the flames. For the Mano a Mano attack, wait until he spins in the air, releases flames, or twists his body to the left before jumping.

You’ll need to counter the shell attack by timing your hammer swing just right to deflect the shells and Bowser away from you. If you successfully send him away, he will be stunned for a brief moment.

Though it might seem intuitive to focus on Bowser’s minions, **you should prioritize single-target Bros. Attacks** to take Bowser down swiftly. Let your Auto Battle Plugs manage healing while you concentrate on hurting Bowser as much as possible. His minions can inadvertently assist in damaging him, so keep them around for additional chaos.

Use whatever powerful single-target attack you have that maximizes your chances for landing an “EXCELLENT.” If Luigi has the Jump Helmet, it’s particularly effective against Bowser.

Rewards for Defeating Bowser

What You Gain from the Battle

Bowser looking down with Mario & Luigi present in Brothership

Upon defeating Bowser, you will be rewarded with 11,000 experience points and 1,000 gold. Although there won’t be any specific item drops, the experience gained from this fight greatly outweighs any shortcomings. Be prepared, as you’ll immediately transition into yet another intense boss battle right after!

Video Credits: Nintendo Unity/YouTube


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    Emily is a digital marketer in Austin, Texas. She enjoys gaming, playing guitar, and dreams of traveling to Japan with her golden retriever, Max.