Editing Dark Bowser

'''Dark Bowser''' is the form the [[Dark Star]] takes after absorbing enough of [[Bowser]]'s DNA, who acts as Bowser's final boss in ''[[Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story]]'' and its [[Nintendo 3DS]] remake, ''[[Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey]]''. His voice is a slowed-down version of Bowser's, and he has all the powers the original has, along with many dark variations as well. He is fought alongside [[Mario]] and [[Luigi]]'s final boss, the [[Dark Star Core]].

The brothers battle the Dark Star and manage to defeat it, but at this point, the Dark Star has absorbed every piece of DNA that it needed, so it leaves Bowser's body and transforms into Dark Bowser, albeit in a ghost-like state because the Dark Star was missing DNA from Bowser's legs. After trying to absorb dark power by inhaling an unconscious [[Princess Peach]], to no avail, Dark Bowser searches [[Peach's Castle|her castle]] for dark power to complete the missing info. He finds [[Dark Fawful]] searching for the half of the Dark Star's power he had not absorbed. After Bowser defeats Fawful (which results in him devolving into a bug-like form), Dark Bowser inhales him, thus completing himself, and becoming solid in the process.  

Another attack involves him punching Bowser repeatedly. Bowser must counter with his own punch, making their fists clash and negating any intended damage. Afterward, Dark Bowser will jump into the air as a [[spike ball (move)|spike ball]] and try to land on Bowser. Bowser must duck in his shell to protect himself. He can then counterattack by quickly throwing a punch at Dark Bowser after Bowser ducks.  

After taking enough damage, Dark Bowser will fall to the ground; he is then fully healed by the ingested Dark Fawful and will grow larger. He will always follow this up (assuming Bowser did not make Dark Bowser's HP fall to 0 via counter-attacking) by tossing a mixed ball of dark versions of Bowser's minions ([[Goomba]]s, [[Koopa Troopa]]s, [[Thwomp]]s, [[Bob-omb]]s, and [[Bullet Bill]]s) at him. The ball pushes Bowser back several meters, after which he must walk back through the minions while dodging or countering their attacks (punching the Goombas, Koopa Troopas, Bob-ombs and low-altitude Bullet Bills, and ducking under the high-altitude Bullet Bills and Thwomps). When near to the battlefield, Dark Bowser again curls up into a spike ball and tries to slam into him from above. Bowser must defend with his shell, then do it again as Dark Bowser prepares the next spike ball slam. Bowser can avoid the second attack just by walking. This is changed in the remake, however; the player has to duck for the second attack as well.

When it is his turn, Bowser has to attack his stomach so that he spits up the [[Dark Star Core]] and causing Dark Bowser to shrink back to normal size. Bowser must then inhale Dark Fawful; Dark Bowser will try to counteract with his own inhaling technique. If he fails to do so, Bowser will have to start this process all over again. Once he has successfully inhaled Dark Fawful, the Mario Brothers must fight the dark being inside his body. If Mario and Luigi fail to defeat Dark Fawful and Dark Star Core within several turns, he will escape and return back into Dark Bowser's body, forcing the process to be repeated. Only upon Dark Fawful's defeat can Bowser give his shadowy doppelganger the final blows. Once defeated, Dark Bowser dissolves, leaving only the Dark Star, which rises into the air and explodes, restoring the Mushroom Kingdom to normal.

SMK 41 Page 86.jpg|''[[Super Mario-kun]]''

|Jap=ダーククッパ

|JapR=Dāku Kuppa

|JapM=Dark Bowser

==Trivia==