Editing Skeleton Key

{{item infobox
|image=[[File:SMPJ Skeleton Key Artwork.png|125px]]<br>Artwork from ''Super Mario Party Jamboree''
|first_appearance=''[[Mario Party 2]]'' ([[List of games by date#1999|1999]])
|latest_appearance=''[[Super Mario Party Jamboree]]'' ([[List of games by date#2024|2024]])
|effect=Opens a gate
}}
{{quote|I truly enjoyed the time we shared. I miss the way the inside of your pocket smells.|Skeleton Key|Mario Party Superstars}}

The '''Skeleton Key''' is a [[key]] in the [[Mario Party (series)|''Mario Party'' series]]. It is named after an {{wp|Skeleton key|actual kind of key}} used on some types of locks. The Skeleton Key can unlock special doors throughout the various boards, usually for opening up secret paths or shortcuts. To use a Skeleton Key, a player must reach a door and choose to use it. Its dialogue characterizes it as enjoying its holder's company, showing relief when the user refuses to unlock a door, and feeling sorrowful when used. 

Skeleton Keys are replaced by [[Mini Mushroom]]s in ''[[Mario Party 4]]'', which allow access to new paths via [[Gate (Mario Party 4)|gates]].

==History==
===''Mario Party 2''===
[[File:MP2 Skeleton Key.png|frame|left]]
In ''[[Mario Party 2]]'', the Skeleton Key has a golden bow on its head and is [[Luigi]]'s favorite item.  It is always for sale at [[Item Shop (Mario Party series)|Item Shops]]. The exception to this rule are the shops in [[Bowser Land]] where Baby Bowser forces players to buy a particular item, though he can force a player to buy a Skeleton Key. The only way to discard an unwanted Skeleton Key is by using it on a door, even if the player does not wish to travel through it.

===''Mario Party 3''===
[[File:MP3 Skeleton Key.png|frame|left]]
In ''[[Mario Party 3]]'', the Skeleton Key was redesigned to have big black eyebrows instead and continues to be Luigi's favorite item. It is always for sale at [[Item Shop (Mario Party series)|Item Shops]], regardless of whether or not [[Toad]] or [[Koopa Kid]] is running it. Unlike ''Mario Party 2'', it is possible for players to "use" a Skeleton Key on their turn like a normal item, which gives them the option to throw it away.

===''Mario Party Superstars''===
In ''[[Mario Party Superstars]]'', the Skeleton Key returns with its ''Mario Party 2'' design. It can be discarded the same way as in that game if the player has no use for it.

===''Super Mario Party Jamboree''===
In ''[[Super Mario Party Jamboree]]'', the Skeleton Key returns again with its ''Mario Party 2'' design.<ref>{{file link|Super Mario Party Jamboree Box NA.jpg|''Super Mario Party Jamboree'' boxart}}</ref> It is one of eight items that can be selected to start a game using Pro Rules, but only on [[Western Land]] and [[King Bowser's Keep]], as they are the only boards with gates. 

In Party-Planner Trek, [[Kamek]] owns a Skeleton Key in King Bowser's Keep, which is given to the player to use on a gate. This particular key, however, has a request to make before it can be used: it has a dream to ride the red pipe one more time. After temporarily making the [[Goomba]] that is in front of it move, the player and the Skeleton Key go through the red pipe, fulfilling its dream and finally allowing it to be used on the gate, with it saying that it knew that they would come to the gate eventually.

If the player obtains a Skeleton Key, and keeps it for the remainder of the game without using it, they will get the "Friends Forever" achievement.

==Price==
{|class="wikitable sortable"
The following is a price list showing how much the Skeleton Key costs within the [[Item Shop (Mario Party series)|Item Shop]] in each game.
!Game
!Price
!Notes
|-
|''Mario Party 2''
|10 Coins
|12 Coins if purchased in [[Bowser Land]].
|-
|''Mario Party 3''
|5 Coins
|
|-
|''Mario Party Superstars''
|3 Coins
|Only available in [[Space Land]], [[Horror Land]] and [[Woody Woods]].
|-
|''Super Mario Party Jamboree''
|3 Coins
|Only available on [[Western Land]] and [[King Bowser's Keep]] in Koopa's Shops.
|}

==Profiles==
===''Mario Party 2''===
*'''Manual description:''' ''"Use this Item to open Locked Gates on the ADVENTURE BOARDS. This can only be used when you are in front of a Locked Gate."''<ref>{{cite|date=2000|title=''Mario Party 2'' Instruction Booklet|url=https://cdn02.nintendo-europe.com/media/downloads/games_8/emanuals/nintendo_8/Manual_Nintendo64_MarioParty2_EN.pdf|format=PDF|publisher=Nintendo|language=en|website=Nintendo of Europe|page=14|accessdate=October 25, 2024}}</ref>

===''Mario Party 3''===
*'''Manual description:''' ''"The Skeleton Key unlocks gates to certain paths on the boards. It's a must for shortcut lovers."''<ref>{{cite|date=2001|title=''Mario Party 3'' Instruction Booklet|url=https://ia601206.us.archive.org/27/items/Nintendo64GameManuals/MarioParty3u.pdf|format=PDF|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en|website=Internet Archive|isbn=|page=22|accessdate=October 25, 2024}}</ref>

===''Mario Party Superstars'' / ''Super Mario Party Jamboree===
*'''In-game description:''' ''"Open a gate. Can only be used when you're next to a gate."''

==Gallery==
<gallery>
SkeletonKey SuperMarioKun.jpg|''[[Super Mario-kun]]''
MarioParty2Art3.png|''Mario Party 2''
Skeleton Key MP2.png|''Mario Party 2''
Skeleton Key mini-game sprite MP2.png|''Mario Party 2''
Skeleton Key Dialogue Portrait MP2.png
Skeleton Key MP3.png
Skeleton Key Item player panel sprite.png
Skeleton Key mini-game sprite MP3.png
Skeleton Key Dialogue Portrait MP3.png
MP3 Skeleton Key Artwork.jpg|''Mario Party 3''
Item MPS Skeleton Key.png|''[[Mario Party Superstars]]''
MPS Skeleton Key.png|''Mario Party Superstars''
Sticker Skeleton Key - Mario Party Superstars.png|''Mario Party Superstars''
SMPJ Skeleton Key.png|''[[Super Mario Party Jamboree]]''
</gallery>

==Names in other languages==
{{foreign names
|Jap=アカズキーちゃん
|JapR=Akazukīchan
|JapM=Pun on「開かず」(''akazu'', "can't open"), "key", and「赤ずきんちゃん」(''Akazukin-chan'', "{{wp|Little Red Riding Hood}}")
|JapN={{nw|''Mario Party 2'' / ''Mario Party Superstars''}}
|Jap2=キーマン
|Jap2R=Kīman
|Jap2M=Key Man
|Jap2N=''Mario Party 3''
|ChiS=开不开钥匙
|ChiSR=Kāi bù kāi yàoshi
|ChiSM=Can't open the key
|ChiT=開不開鑰匙
|ChiTR=Kāi bù kāi yàoshi
|ChiTM=Can't open the key
|Dut=Hoofdsleutel
|DutM=Means "main key" or "head key"
|FreA=Passe-partout
|FreAM=Skeleton Key
|FreAC=<ref>{{cite|author=Polo|date=November 10, 2021|url=youtube.com/watch?v=PM0C0Yf_UiE|title= JE SUIS DEVENU UN PRO SUR MARIO PARTY SUPERSTARS EN LIGNE !|timestamp=12:29|publisher=YouTube|language=fr|accessdate=September 25, 2024}}</ref>
|FreE=Clé squelette
|FreEM=Skeleton Key
|FreEC=<ref>{{cite|author=Guillaume & Kim|date=October 30, 2021|url=youtube.com/watch?v=6K9CbvOJW3o|title= MARIO PARTY SUPERSTARS EPISODE 2 : STATION SPATIALE (NINTENDO SWITCH) |timestamp=22:55|publisher=YouTube|language=fr|accessdate=September 25, 2024}}</ref>
|FreE2=Clé Squelette
|FreE2M=Skeleton Key
|FreE2N=''Mario Party 2'', ''Mario Party 3''
|Ger=Generalschlüssel
|GerM=Master Key
|GerC=<ref>{{cite|author=Domtendo|date=November 4, 2021|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZAB3_dd-C4|title= MARIO PARTY SUPERSTARS 🎲 #13: Astronomische Party im Space Land |timestamp=7:44|publisher=YouTube|language=de|accessdate=September 25, 2024}}</ref>
|Ger2=Skelett-Schlüssel
|Ger2M=Literally means "Skeleton Key"
|Ger2N=''Mario Party 2'', ''Mario Party 3''
|Ita=Schelechiave
|ItaM=Skele-key
|ItaN=''Mario Party 2''
|Ita2=Chiave
|Ita2M=Key
|Ita2N=''Mario Party Superstars''
|Kor=게이트 키
|KorR=Geiteu Ki
|KorM=Gate Key
|Por=Chave mestra
|PorM=Master Key
|Rus=Мастер-ключ
|RusR=Master Klyuch
|RusM=Master Key
|SpaA=Llave maestra
|SpaAM=Master Key
|SpaE=Llave maestra
|SpaEM=Master Key
|SpaEN=Since ''Mario Party Superstars''
|SpaE2=Llave Skeleton
|SpaE2M=Skeleton Key
|SpaE2N=''Mario Party 2''
|SpaE3=Llave Esqueleto
|SpaE3M=Skeleton Key
|SpaE3N=''Mario Party 3''
}}

==References==
<references/>

{{MP2}}
{{MP3}}
{{MPS}}
{{SMPJ}}
[[Category:Keys]]
[[Category:Animate objects]]
[[Category:Mario Party 2 items]]
[[Category:Mario Party 3 items]]
[[Category:Mario Party Superstars items]]
[[Category:Super Mario Party Jamboree items]]
[[de:Skelett-Schlüssel]]
[[it:Schelechiave]]