Editing Lava Piranha

The '''Lava Piranha''' is a large [[Fire Piranha Plant|Venus Fire Trap]] capable of living in [[lava]]. It serves as the boss of Chapter 5 in ''[[Paper Mario]]'', and is the master of the [[Putrid Piranha]]s found in the area.

Despite only one individual appearing in the game, [[Goombario]] and [[Koopa Koot]] refer to the Lava Piranha as a species. Given its Japanese name, this is likely referring to Venus Fire Traps in general, with Goombario expressing slight surprise one could even survive in lava in that version.<ref name=fire/> In the English version, however, he treats the ability to survive in lava as a defining trait of the species, but still keeps the slightly surprised wording.

The Lava Piranha is the ruler of [[Mt. Lavalava]] on [[Lavalava Island]]. It resides in a small lava pool at the bottom of the volcano. Upon approaching the pool, the Lava Piranha emerges to confront [[Mario]] for the fifth [[Star Spirit]], [[Misstar]], whom [[Bowser]] ordered it to guard.

In the first phase of its battle, its attacks consist of its [[Lava Bud]]s spitting [[Petit Piranha]]s at Mario as projectiles and its main head spitting a [[fireball]] at Mario. In order to damage the boss, Mario and his partner must target its main head, as attacking the Lava Buds will only deal damage to them. However, depleting the [[Heart Point|HP]] of a Lava Bud will temporarily disable it for a few turns before it recovers.

After Mario seemingly defeats the Lava Piranha, it suddenly re-emerges from the lava with its HP fully recovered and its head and Lava Buds now on fire. In the second phase, its Lava Buds will summon Petit Piranhas as independent enemies that will fly into Mario and explode while the Lava Piranha itself attacks by breathing a powerful stream of fire that deals 7 damage to Mario. Using ice or water-based attacks, such as the [[Snowman Doll]] or [[Sushie]]'s [[Squirt (move)|Squirt]] or [[Tidal Wave]] moves, will stun the Lava Piranha and/or its Lava Buds for two full turns. Upon its true defeat, it flails around before collapsing and sinking back into the lava, relinquishing the Star Spirit.

The Lava Piranha makes an appearance in the credits of the game, where it is seen poking its head out from behind Lavalava Island, alternating with [[Raphael the Raven|Raphael Raven]].

==Notes==

*The Lava Piranha resembles [[Naval Piranha]] from ''[[Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island]]''. Both are large [[Piranha Plant]]s with multiple head-like buds, are covered in thorns, and inhabit a body of liquid. The [[Petit Piranha]]s summoned by the Lava Piranha also resemble the [[Nipper Spore]]s summoned by Naval Piranha.

*If the player uses the [[Double Dip]] badge and then uses an [[Egg Bomb|Egg Missile]] on the Lava Piranha, the game will crash.