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{{articleabout|the final boss from ''[[Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story]]''|the boss from ''[[Super Paper Mario]]''|[[Shadoo|here]]}}
{{Distinguish|Black Bowser|Darkmess Bowser|Fury Bowser}}
{{bisenemy
{{about|the final boss from ''[[Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story]]''|the boss from ''[[Super Paper Mario]]''|[[Shadoo]]}}
|title='''''[[Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story|Bowser's Inside Story]]'' Enemy'''
{{character infobox
|image=[[File:DarkBowserAni.gif]]
|image=[[File:MLBISBJJDarkBowser.png]]<br>Sprite of Dark Bowser from ''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey''
|location=[[Princess Peach's Castle|Peach's Castle]]
|species=[[Koopa (Bowser's species)|Koopa]]/[[Star (species)|Star]]
|hp=1,000
|first_appearance=''[[Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story]]'' ([[List of games by date#2009|2009]])
|power=344
|latest_appearance=''[[Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey]]'' ([[List of games by date#2018|2018]])
|defense=187
|latest_portrayal=[[Kenneth W. James|Kenny James]] ([[List of games by date#2009|2009]]–present)
|speed=37
|experience=0
|coins=0
|items=None
|gear=None
|related=[[Dark Star]], [[Dark Fawful]], [[Bowser]], [[Dark Star Core]]
}}
}}
{{quote|Soon [[Mushroom Kingdom|this kingdom]] will vanish along with all who dwell within. And [[Bowser|you]], too, will sleep eternally in the dark power's embrace!|Dark Bowser|Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story}}  
{{quote|Soon [[Mushroom Kingdom|this kingdom]] will vanish along with all who dwell within. And [[Bowser|you]], too, will sleep eternally in the dark power's embrace!|Dark Bowser|Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story}}
'''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 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]].


'''Dark Bowser''' is [[Bowser]]'s final boss in ''[[Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story]]''. He has all the powers Bowser has, along with many dark powers. He is far more evil than the original Bowser; while Bowser simply desires to take over the [[Mushroom Kingdom]], Dark Bowser wants to destroy it outright.
==History==
[[File:Dark Bowser Pieces.PNG|thumb|left|200px|The pieces of Dark Bowser]]
While the [[Dark Star]] was gathering DNA from the [[Airway (Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story)|Airway]] inside [[Bowser's body]], [[Mario]] and [[Luigi]] pursue it to try to stop it before it could complete a profile of Bowser's body. It manages to get his [[Punch]], [[Fire Breath]], [[Body Slam (Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story)|Body Slam]], and presumably even more moves before Mario and Luigi could fight it.  


==History==
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.
===''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story===
 
[[File:ShadowBowser.png|thumb|left|200px|[[Bowser]] battling '''Dark Bowser''', who's fully powered by [[Dark Fawful]].]]
The newly completed Dark Bowser leaves the room, in the process opening the way to the secret tower of Peach's Castle. Bowser pursues him, and when he confronts his dark form, the two Bowsers both execute flame breath attacks that clash with each other, initiating the prologue to the final battle. Bowser eventually overwhelms Dark Bowser, who retreats higher into the tower in his inflammed [[spike ball (move)|spike ball]], forcing Bowser into the same position in the process. Bowser, with the help of Mario and Luigi in the [[Chest Station]], is able to defeat his dark form in a shell collision match, but the dark being manages to retreat again.
[[File:DBowser Battle.png|frame|right|Dark Bowser's battle pose]]
 
When the evil [[Dark Star]] entered [[Bowser's body]], it began absorbing pieces of his DNA. [[Mario]] and [[Luigi]] tried to stop it, even defeating it in battle, but the dark artifact had already collected enough DNA to form a shadowy clone of Bowser. However, the clone was not quite complete; when Dark Bowser emerged from its template's body, it had a ghostly appearance, missing its legs and being engulfed in a shimmering purple aura.
Just above the arena is the roof of the tower. Bowser follows a path to an arena, where Dark Bowser waits with a still unconscious Peach (who is now inexplicably outside of him). Dark Bowser, commenting on the dark power needing to be freed, unleashes a dark hurricane over the Mushroom Kingdom. In the original version, [[Broque Monsieur]], the [[Koopa Paratroopa Trio]] and some [[Toad (species)|Toad]]s and [[Goomba]]s trapped in bubbles are shown circling around the arena. [[Starlow]] attempts to encourage Bowser and reveal Mario and Luigi and her true identity, but the windstorm is too loud for him to hear her. Dark Bowser and Bowser then fire their Flame Breath at each other, initiating the final battle.
 
Once Mario and Luigi defeat the [[Dark Star Core]] inside Bowser, Dark Bowser becomes unstable. This allows Bowser to finish him off with a "KO [[punch]]". Dark Bowser, after saying his last words to Bowser, explodes, releasing the dying Dark Star, which flies above [[Peach's Castle]] and explodes, reverting the kingdom back to normal.
{{br|left}}
 
==General information==
===Physical description===
Dark Bowser has all of the original Bowser's physique and build, but is detailed very differently. All of his scales and shell are colored dark blue, and his snout, plastron/underbelly, horns and spikes are noticeably paler than Bowser's. His eyes are identical to the [[Dark Star]]'s own, but he seems to entirely lack Bowser's eyebrows. The rings around his spikes and horns are colored black, and the most noticeable difference between Bowser and Dark Bowser is that Dark Bowser has a black mohawk in place of Bowser's hair. His sprites also have dark orbs float across his body.
 
In his incomplete state, he retains his details, but appears as a ghostly figure with a purple coloration (without his eyes), whilst pulsating a brighter purple. His animations are also distinctive in that his idle sprite has misplaced pixels to give an effect resembling video noise, and his talking animations have a noticeable jitter to them. He also entirely lacks legs and a tail until he is fully complete.
 
===Speech===
While Dark Bowser is incomplete, his speech is halted and can only speak one sentence at a time. However, upon his completion, he starts to speak fully and does not use contractions.
 
In the Japanese version, his speech is halted and written entirely in katakana while he is incomplete. When Dark Bowser inhales Dark Fawful and is completed, he begins to speak in more natural Japanese, with kanji and no pauses.
 
Aside from text dialogue, Dark Bowser's roars and grunts are provided by [[Kenneth W. James|Kenny James]], who also voices the original Bowser.
 
===Powers & abilities===
[[File:Dark Bowser Fire.png|thumb|Dark Bowser breathing fire at Bowser.]]
While incomplete, the only powers Dark Bowser is shown to possess are floating, punching and inhaling. Once he inhales Dark Fawful after he is reduced to a bug-like form and turns complete, Dark Bowser showcases even more powers that are similar to the original Bowser's; exhaling/shooting fire out of his mouth, curling up into a [[spike ball (move)|spike ball]], etc. Dark Bowser also has the ability of spreading darkness throughout large areas of land, seen before the final boss fight with him, which also traps any residents inside dark bubbles.
 
During the final battle, Dark Bowser has the ability to create boulders, cages and energy balls as the means to attack Bowser. With the help of Dark Fawful, who is inside him, Dark Bowser can recover any and all damages given to him, seen once Bowser reduces his HP to zero, and even grow larger (with his belly being his only weak spot, which makes him cough up Dark Fawful and revert him back to normal size). Also, Dark Bowser makes use of dark variations of Bowser's own minions, sending them after Bowser when he turns giant.
 
However, if the Dark Star Core takes too much damage, Dark Bowser will become weakened and unstable, which is what ultimately allowed Bowser to finish him off during their fight.


The spectral Dark Bowser begins searching the [[Peach's Castle|castle]] for the last fragment of its power: [[Dark Fawful]], ironically conducting his own search for the Dark Star. After Bowser defeats Dark Fawful, the latter adopts a tiny buglike form that is inhaled by Dark Bowser to restore his full power.
==Battle==
[[File:ShadowBowser.png|thumb|left|200px|[[Bowser]] battling Dark Bowser, who is fully powered by [[Dark Fawful]]]]


With his form complete, Dark Bowser retreats to a secret tower in the castle, but Bowser pursues him. An exchange of fireballs forces both to curl up into a spike ball and attempt to ram each other into submission. Bowser overwhelms his dark doppelganger, who retreats to the top of the tower with Princess [[Peach]] in tow. From here, Dark Bowser engulfs the whole Mushroom Kingdom in dark clouds, even pushing Bowser back with his sheer evil power.
Dark Bowser has three attacks that he can use while in his regular form.


However, the encouragement of [[Starlow|Chippy]] and the [[Mario Bros.]] strengthens Bowser's resolve; he defies Dark Bowser and engages him in a final battle. The Koopa King forced his shadowy copy to regurgitate Dark Fawful before inhaling it himself and allowing the Mario Bros. to defeat it. With its core destroyed, Dark Bowser becomes unstable, and Bowser finishes it off with a series of powerful punches. Defeated, Dark Bowser dissolved, and the Dark Star rose into the air and exploded, restoring the Mushroom Kingdom to normal.
* His first attack involves tossing a giant boulder into the air and blasting it to pieces with a fireball. The pieces will then begin to rain down from the sky around Bowser, and he must use his [[shell defense]] to avoid taking damage. At the same time, Dark Bowser will be charging up a blast of dark fire breath, and Bowser must find an opportunity to punch one of the falling rocks that land in front of him at Dark Bowser before he finishes charging up. When the rock lands in his mouth, the attack's energy recoils and he inflicts damage on himself from the inside. If Bowser fails to punch a rock back at Dark Bowser, he will take damage from the flames.


===Battle===
* Dark Bowser can also repeatedly punch Bowser. Bowser must counter with his own punch, making their fists clash and negating any intended damage. Countering a punch will cause Dark Bowser to curl up into a [[spike ball (move)|spike ball]] and try and crush Bowser from above, which can be blocked with shell defense. When Dark Bowser lands on the ground, there is a brief window to counter with a punch before he returns to his spot.
Dark Bowser has few attacks, but they all have multiple stages and potentially devastating damage.


One attack sees Dark Bowser throwing a boulder into the air and blasting it with a dark fireball, causing burning rocks to fall from the sky in one of three positions. To avoid damage, Bowser must use his shell to deflect the rocks falling towards him (the middle position). At the same time, however, Dark Bowser is charging up a massive fire blast that cannot be dodged-to stop it, Bowser must punch one of the rocks falling in the right-hand position. If successful, the rock flies into Dark Bowser's mouth, causing his fire breath to backfire and dealing some damage.
* Another attack traps Bowser in a cage and raises it into the sky. Dark Bowser will then charge up an energy ball to launch at Bowser, who must repeatedly punch the cage with 14 punches to destroy the lock before the energy ball hits him. Bowser has just enough time to free himself and drop back to the ground before the energy ball strikes. Alternatively, Bowser can also use his shell defense to cause the cage to swing, and he must time his crouches at the peak of the swing to increase the swing intensity. Eventually, the wire will snap and Bowser lands on top of Dark Bowser's head, dealing some damage. In the remake, punching the cage now causes it to swing and land on Dark Bowser after it breaks.
[[File:Darkbowserfire.JPG|250px|thumb|Dark Bowser and Bowser clash with their fire breath.]]


Another attack involves Dark Bowser [[punch]]ing Bowser repeatedly. To stop the attack, Bowser must counter with his own punch, creating a shock wave that blows the combatants away from each other. After this, Dark Bowser will jump into the air, curl into a spiked ball, and try to land on Bowser. The Koopa King must retract into his shell to avoid taking damage-if the player is quick enough, he can punch Dark Bowser when the latter uncurls.
{{multiframe
|[[File:Darkminions.png]]<br>[[File:MLBISBJJDarkMinions.png]]
|The "Dark Minions" seen in the Dark Bowser fight in between versions.
|align=right
|size=240
}}
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. In this giant form, his only move is 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 (if quick enough, the second slam can be avoided by simply walking).


Dark Bowser's third attack traps Bowser in a cage of dark lightning, hanging in the air. Bowser must escape the cage before Dark Bowser can hit him with a massive energy ball. To escape, Bowser can repeatedly punch the cage's lock or swing the cage off its hinges with repeated uses of his shell defense-the latter requires precise timing, but also gives Bowser a free hit on Dark Bowser if he escapes.
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 inhale the core, Bowser will have to drain his HP 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, it 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.


===Giant Dark Bowser===                                                                                     
If Bowser does not attack Dark Bowser's stomach within 2 turns after he turns giant, he will shrink back to normal and the process must be repeated. Similarly, If Bowser defeats Dark Bowser while he's giant, or defeats Dark Bowser when Dark Fawful is outside his body, Dark Fawful will still heal him and the process will also repeat. When the Dark Star Core has lost enough HP, Dark Bowser will start attacking more times in a single turn.
When his HP is depleted, Dark Bowser collapses. Unfortunately, Dark Fawful heals him completely, making the dark doppelganger grow larger in the process. In this form, his only attack is to toss a mixed ball of "Dark Minions" at Bowser, pushing him back a great distance before exploding into its component creatures. To continue the fight, Bowser must make his way back to the battlefield, fending off Dark Bowser's horde of minions, including:


*Dark [[Goomba]]s: Run straight ahead, trying to ram Bowser. Defeat with a punch.
In the [[Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey|remake]], Dark Bowser's health increased slightly from 1000 to 1260. For his cage attack, punching the cage now causes it to swing, and upon punching the cage enough times will break the lock, causing Bowser to land on Dark Bowser's head. He is now able to use 2 attacks in a turn from the very start of the battle.
*Dark [[Koopa Troopa]]s: Charge at Bowser within their shells. Punch them to knock them into any other grounded enemies behind them.
{{br}}
*Dark [[Thwomp]]s: Hover overhead and drop on Bowser when he approaches. Use his shell to block the hits.
*Dark [[Bob-omb]]s: Quickly run at Bowser and explode. Defeated with a punch, possibly catching enemies behind them in the explosion.
*Dark [[Bullet Bill]]s: Fly at Bowser from one of two heights. Low-flying ones can be punched away, and high-flying ones can be dodged by ducking into his shell.


When Bowser has almost returned to the battlefield, Dark Bowser drops from off screen in spike ball form. Bowser must hide under his shell to avoid the blow, repeating the defense when Dark Bowser attempts to slam him again.
==Statistics==
===''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story''===
{{:Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story bestiary|transcludesection=Dark Bowser|align=horizontal|image=[[File:DarkBowserAni.gif]]}}
{{:Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story bestiary|transcludesection=Belly|align=horizontal|}}


After surviving the onslaught of Dark Minions, Bowser must punch Dark Bowser in the stomach, forcing the latter to spit up [[Fawful]] and return to his normal size. On his next turn, Bowser must inhale the buglike former [[Beanish]], fighting against Dark Bowser's attempt to do the same. Successfully inhaling Fawful pulls him into Bowser's body, where the Mario Brothers must fight him to destroy the Dark Star Core. Only upon Dark Fawful's defeat can Bowser give his shadowy doppelganger the final blow.
===''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey''===
{{:Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey bestiary|transcludesection=Dark Bowser|align=horizontal|image=[[File:Dark Bowser DX.gif]]}}
{{:Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey bestiary|transcludesection=Belly|align=horizontal|image=[[File:Giant Dark Bowser.gif]]}}


==Quotes==
==Quotes==
{{main|List of Quotes in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story#Dark Bowser}}
*"''[[Bowser|Your]] body, I have copied... Your power, I have copied...''"
*"''Not enough... Not enough...power...''"
*"''Not enough dark power... Power has been drained...''"
*"''I am not complete...''"
*"''Who... Who will give...the dark power... Her... No...''"
*"''That voice... Yes... I know that voice... That is [[Fawful|the being]] who drained me of my power...''"
*"''Where... Dark power... Being who drains... Where... Where...''"
*"''There...''"
*"''FWAHAHAHA! Awake at last! The dark power is complete!''"
*"''I have copied all that is you. You are no longer necessary.''"
*"''The [[Dark Star|dark power]] slept so long, and now it wakes... It must be freed... BEHOLD!''"
*"''Still here? Has the dark power not yet crushed your puny hopes? Soon [[Mushroom Kingdom|this kingdom]] will vanish along with all who dwell within. And [[Bowser|you]], too, will sleep eternally in the dark power's embrace!''"
*"''Huuh huuh huuh... Haah haah haargh... I have fallen...To come so far...so far...to lose...''"
*"''Dark...Even with the dark power completed...The unthinkable happened...''"
 
==Gallery==
<gallery>
SMKun 41 Dark Bowser.jpg|''[[Super Mario-kun]]'' Volume 41 page 69
SMK 41 Page 86.jpg|''Super Mario-kun'' Volume 41 page 86
</gallery>


==Names in Other Languages==
==Names in other languages==
{{foreignname
{{foreign names
|Jap=ダーククッパ
|Jap=ダーククッパ
|JapR=Dāku Kuppa
|JapR=Dāku Kuppa
|JapM=Dark Koopa; "Koopa" being Bowser's Japanese name.
|JapM=Dark Bowser
|Spa=Bowser Oscuro
|Spa=Bowser Oscuro
|SpaM=Dark Bowser
|SpaM=Dark Bowser
|Ita=Bowser Oscuro
|Ita=Bowser Oscuro
|ItaM=Dark Bowser
|ItaM=Dark Bowser
|FraE=Bowser Noir
|FreE=Bowser Noir
|FraEM=Dark Bowser
|FreEM=Black Bowser
|FraA=Bowser Sombre
|FreA=Bowser Obscur
|FraAM=Dark Bowser
|FreAM=Dark Bowser
|Ger=Finster-Bowser
|Ger=Finster-Bowser
|GerM=Dark Bowser
|GerM=Dark Bowser
|Kor=다크쿠파
|KorR=Dakeu Kupa
|KorM=Dark Bowser
}}
}}


==Trivia==
==Trivia==
*While Dark Bowser is incomplete, he speaks extremely slowly, speaking fully when he absorbs Dark Fawful and completes his body. In the Japanese version, his speech is halted and written completely in katakana until he inhales his core, at which point he speaks with kanji and no pauses.
*Dark Bowser is the third final boss in the [[Mario & Luigi (series)|''Mario & Luigi'' series]] that is a different form of Bowser, the first two being [[Bowletta]] and [[Shrowser]], and the fourth and fifth being [[Dreamy Bowser]] and [[Shiny RoboBowser]]. However, he is the only one who is not actually Bowser, instead being the Dark Star taking on the appearance of Bowser, due to Bowser himself being playable in the game.
*In his giant form, Dark Bowser's only physical difference from his normal form is that his hair sticks up slightly higher.
*In unused text relating to his defeat, Dark Bowser repeats variations on the phrase "I concede this time…", possibly indicating that at an earlier time in development, the Dark Star would not have been completely destroyed.<ref>https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Nae6szIGGbLlbO8nA7xgUfyBKr9cgl6ADIqp09MmMZY/edit</ref>
*Dark Bowser is the third final boss that Bowser has a direct hand in defeating, after [[Smithy]] and [[Super Dimentio]] from ''[[Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars]]'' and ''[[Super Paper Mario]]'', respectively (although using Bowser for either of these battles was optional). The Mario Bros. also defeated [[Elder Princess Shroob]], from ''[[Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time]]'', by deflecting Bowser's [[fireball]]s up at her (Bowser was unknowingly possessed by the alien princess and she was using him to try and defeat the Mario Bros.).
 
*Bowser's fight with Dark Bowser is reminiscent of the final battle in ''[[Paper Mario]]'', as both take place on a large circular arena above [[Princess Peach]]'s castle.
==References==
*In the North American version, while Dark Bowser's mouth is plugged with a boulder, he will grow and shake, whereas in the Japanese version, he just grows.
<references/>
*Like [[Chakron]], Dark Bowser offers no [[Experience Point|EXP]] on defeat. This instance is justified by his being the final boss of the game.
 
*Dark Bowser, along with the [[Dark Star Core]], is the only boss that can be fought multiple times on the same save file. There is no [[Save Block]] after defeating Dark Bowser, so the [[player]] can fight the final battle over and over again.
{{Koopas}}
*Dark Bowser continues the ''Mario and Luigi'' series' trend of a final boss that a fusion of Bowser and the main antagonist, being preceded by [[Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga|''Superstar Saga'']]'s [[Bowletta]] (Bowser's body possessed by the spirit of [[Cackletta]]) and [[Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time|''Partners in Time'']]'s [[Shrowser]] (Bowser's body being controlled by the remains of [[Elder Princess Shroob]]).
{{M&LBIS}}
**However, Dark Bowser is also the first final boss that does not directly possess Bowser's body-the Dark Star cloned his form from pieces of Bowser's DNA.
[[Category:Bowser lookalikes]]
*This is the second time the evil spirit of the main antagonist was fought inside Bowser's body. The first time was in [[Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga]] against [[Cackletta's Soul]] inside of Bowletta's mouth, as proven by the teeth and the flames. The second time is against the [[Dark Fawful Bug]] in Bowser's stomach. He is the remains of Dark Fawful. Also, in both of these battles the Mario Bros. are fighting the real final boss (Bowser is only fighting a construct of the Dark Star, while the Mario Bros. battle the fused remains of Fawful and the Dark Star itself).
<br clear=all>
{{ML:BIS}}
[[Category:Bosses]]
[[Category:Mario & Luigi Series Bosses]]
[[Category:Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story]]
[[Category:Clones]]
[[Category:Clones]]
[[Category:RPG Bosses]]
[[Category:Final bosses]]
[[Category:Final Bosses]]
[[Category:Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story bosses]]
[[Category:Villains]]
[[Category:Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story characters]]
[[Category:Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story Bosses]]
[[Category:Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey characters]]
[[Category:One time villains]]
[[Category:Super Mario-kun characters]]
[[Category:Characters]]
[[de:Finster-Bowser]]
[[Category:RPG Characters]]
[[it:Bowser Oscuro]]

Latest revision as of 20:02, September 26, 2024

Not to be confused with Black Bowser, Darkmess Bowser, or Fury Bowser.
This article is about the final boss from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. For the boss from Super Paper Mario, see Shadoo.
Dark Bowser
Sprite of Dark Bowser from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey
Sprite of Dark Bowser from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey
Species Koopa/Star
First appearance Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story (2009)
Latest appearance Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey (2018)
Latest portrayal Kenny James (2009–present)
“Soon this kingdom will vanish along with all who dwell within. And you, too, will sleep eternally in the dark power's embrace!”
Dark Bowser, Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story

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 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.

History[edit]

The Dark Star split into Dark Bowser's pieces.
The pieces of Dark Bowser

While the Dark Star was gathering DNA from the Airway inside Bowser's body, Mario and Luigi pursue it to try to stop it before it could complete a profile of Bowser's body. It manages to get his Punch, Fire Breath, Body Slam, and presumably even more moves before Mario and Luigi could fight it.

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 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.

The newly completed Dark Bowser leaves the room, in the process opening the way to the secret tower of Peach's Castle. Bowser pursues him, and when he confronts his dark form, the two Bowsers both execute flame breath attacks that clash with each other, initiating the prologue to the final battle. Bowser eventually overwhelms Dark Bowser, who retreats higher into the tower in his inflammed spike ball, forcing Bowser into the same position in the process. Bowser, with the help of Mario and Luigi in the Chest Station, is able to defeat his dark form in a shell collision match, but the dark being manages to retreat again.

Just above the arena is the roof of the tower. Bowser follows a path to an arena, where Dark Bowser waits with a still unconscious Peach (who is now inexplicably outside of him). Dark Bowser, commenting on the dark power needing to be freed, unleashes a dark hurricane over the Mushroom Kingdom. In the original version, Broque Monsieur, the Koopa Paratroopa Trio and some Toads and Goombas trapped in bubbles are shown circling around the arena. Starlow attempts to encourage Bowser and reveal Mario and Luigi and her true identity, but the windstorm is too loud for him to hear her. Dark Bowser and Bowser then fire their Flame Breath at each other, initiating the final battle.

Once Mario and Luigi defeat the Dark Star Core inside Bowser, Dark Bowser becomes unstable. This allows Bowser to finish him off with a "KO punch". Dark Bowser, after saying his last words to Bowser, explodes, releasing the dying Dark Star, which flies above Peach's Castle and explodes, reverting the kingdom back to normal.

General information[edit]

Physical description[edit]

Dark Bowser has all of the original Bowser's physique and build, but is detailed very differently. All of his scales and shell are colored dark blue, and his snout, plastron/underbelly, horns and spikes are noticeably paler than Bowser's. His eyes are identical to the Dark Star's own, but he seems to entirely lack Bowser's eyebrows. The rings around his spikes and horns are colored black, and the most noticeable difference between Bowser and Dark Bowser is that Dark Bowser has a black mohawk in place of Bowser's hair. His sprites also have dark orbs float across his body.

In his incomplete state, he retains his details, but appears as a ghostly figure with a purple coloration (without his eyes), whilst pulsating a brighter purple. His animations are also distinctive in that his idle sprite has misplaced pixels to give an effect resembling video noise, and his talking animations have a noticeable jitter to them. He also entirely lacks legs and a tail until he is fully complete.

Speech[edit]

While Dark Bowser is incomplete, his speech is halted and can only speak one sentence at a time. However, upon his completion, he starts to speak fully and does not use contractions.

In the Japanese version, his speech is halted and written entirely in katakana while he is incomplete. When Dark Bowser inhales Dark Fawful and is completed, he begins to speak in more natural Japanese, with kanji and no pauses.

Aside from text dialogue, Dark Bowser's roars and grunts are provided by Kenny James, who also voices the original Bowser.

Powers & abilities[edit]

Dark Bowser breathing fire at Bowser at the top of Peach's Castle
Dark Bowser breathing fire at Bowser.

While incomplete, the only powers Dark Bowser is shown to possess are floating, punching and inhaling. Once he inhales Dark Fawful after he is reduced to a bug-like form and turns complete, Dark Bowser showcases even more powers that are similar to the original Bowser's; exhaling/shooting fire out of his mouth, curling up into a spike ball, etc. Dark Bowser also has the ability of spreading darkness throughout large areas of land, seen before the final boss fight with him, which also traps any residents inside dark bubbles.

During the final battle, Dark Bowser has the ability to create boulders, cages and energy balls as the means to attack Bowser. With the help of Dark Fawful, who is inside him, Dark Bowser can recover any and all damages given to him, seen once Bowser reduces his HP to zero, and even grow larger (with his belly being his only weak spot, which makes him cough up Dark Fawful and revert him back to normal size). Also, Dark Bowser makes use of dark variations of Bowser's own minions, sending them after Bowser when he turns giant.

However, if the Dark Star Core takes too much damage, Dark Bowser will become weakened and unstable, which is what ultimately allowed Bowser to finish him off during their fight.

Battle[edit]

Bowser versus the final boss, Dark Bowser.
Bowser battling Dark Bowser, who is fully powered by Dark Fawful

Dark Bowser has three attacks that he can use while in his regular form.

  • His first attack involves tossing a giant boulder into the air and blasting it to pieces with a fireball. The pieces will then begin to rain down from the sky around Bowser, and he must use his shell defense to avoid taking damage. At the same time, Dark Bowser will be charging up a blast of dark fire breath, and Bowser must find an opportunity to punch one of the falling rocks that land in front of him at Dark Bowser before he finishes charging up. When the rock lands in his mouth, the attack's energy recoils and he inflicts damage on himself from the inside. If Bowser fails to punch a rock back at Dark Bowser, he will take damage from the flames.
  • Dark Bowser can also repeatedly punch Bowser. Bowser must counter with his own punch, making their fists clash and negating any intended damage. Countering a punch will cause Dark Bowser to curl up into a spike ball and try and crush Bowser from above, which can be blocked with shell defense. When Dark Bowser lands on the ground, there is a brief window to counter with a punch before he returns to his spot.
  • Another attack traps Bowser in a cage and raises it into the sky. Dark Bowser will then charge up an energy ball to launch at Bowser, who must repeatedly punch the cage with 14 punches to destroy the lock before the energy ball hits him. Bowser has just enough time to free himself and drop back to the ground before the energy ball strikes. Alternatively, Bowser can also use his shell defense to cause the cage to swing, and he must time his crouches at the peak of the swing to increase the swing intensity. Eventually, the wire will snap and Bowser lands on top of Dark Bowser's head, dealing some damage. In the remake, punching the cage now causes it to swing and land on Dark Bowser after it breaks.
Darkminions.png
Dark Bowser's minions from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey.
The "Dark Minions" seen in the Dark Bowser fight in between versions.

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. In this giant form, his only move is tossing a mixed ball of dark versions of Bowser's minions (Goombas, Koopa Troopas, Thwomps, Bob-ombs, and Bullet Bills) 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 (if quick enough, the second slam can be avoided by simply walking).

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 inhale the core, Bowser will have to drain his HP 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, it 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.

If Bowser does not attack Dark Bowser's stomach within 2 turns after he turns giant, he will shrink back to normal and the process must be repeated. Similarly, If Bowser defeats Dark Bowser while he's giant, or defeats Dark Bowser when Dark Fawful is outside his body, Dark Fawful will still heal him and the process will also repeat. When the Dark Star Core has lost enough HP, Dark Bowser will start attacking more times in a single turn.

In the remake, Dark Bowser's health increased slightly from 1000 to 1260. For his cage attack, punching the cage now causes it to swing, and upon punching the cage enough times will break the lock, causing Bowser to land on Dark Bowser's head. He is now able to use 2 attacks in a turn from the very start of the battle.

Statistics[edit]

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story[edit]

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story enemy
Dark Bowser
Dark Bowser HP 1,000 (1,500) POW 344 (860) DEF 187 (281) SPEED 37 (56)
Coins 0 (0) Level 35 Fire Normal Burn? Immune
Role Boss Battled by Bowser Location(s) Peach's Castle Dizzy? Immune
Stat down? Half KO? Immune Experience 0 Item drop
Notice: The second set of numbers next to the enemy's HP, POW, DEF, SPEED and Coins are stat increases from the Challenge Medal accessory; a 50% increase for HP, DEF, SPEED and Coins earned, and a 150% increase for POW.
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story enemy
Belly
Dark Bowser's giant form, in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. HP 1 (2) POW 999 (999) DEF 999 (999) SPEED 999 (999)
Coins 0 (0) Level 35 Fire Normal Burn? Immune
Role Support Battled by Bowser Location(s) Peach's Castle Dizzy? Immune
Stat down? Half KO? Immune Experience 0 Item drop
Notice: The second set of numbers next to the enemy's HP, POW, DEF, SPEED and Coins are stat increases from the Challenge Medal accessory; a 50% increase for HP, DEF, SPEED and Coins earned, and a 150% increase for POW.

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey[edit]

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey enemy
Dark Bowser
Dark Bowser Remake HP 1260 POW 360 DEF 380 SPEED 37 Experience 0
Fire Normal Jump Normal Hammer Normal Battled by Bowser Coins 0
Burn Immune Dizzy Immune Stat down 0,5x Speed down 0,5x Item drop None - 0%
None - 0%
Level           32 Location(s) Peach's Castle
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey enemy
Belly
Dark Bowser Remake HP 1 POW 999 DEF 999 SPEED 999 Experience 0
Fire Normal Jump Normal Hammer Normal Battled by Bowser Coins 0
Burn Immune Dizzy Immune Stat down 0,5x Speed down 0,5x Item drop None - 0%
None - 0%
Level           32 Location(s) Peach's Castle

Quotes[edit]

  • "Your body, I have copied... Your power, I have copied..."
  • "Not enough... Not enough...power..."
  • "Not enough dark power... Power has been drained..."
  • "I am not complete..."
  • "Who... Who will give...the dark power... Her... No..."
  • "That voice... Yes... I know that voice... That is the being who drained me of my power..."
  • "Where... Dark power... Being who drains... Where... Where..."
  • "There..."
  • "FWAHAHAHA! Awake at last! The dark power is complete!"
  • "I have copied all that is you. You are no longer necessary."
  • "The dark power slept so long, and now it wakes... It must be freed... BEHOLD!"
  • "Still here? Has the dark power not yet crushed your puny hopes? Soon this kingdom will vanish along with all who dwell within. And you, too, will sleep eternally in the dark power's embrace!"
  • "Huuh huuh huuh... Haah haah haargh... I have fallen...To come so far...so far...to lose..."
  • "Dark...Even with the dark power completed...The unthinkable happened..."

Gallery[edit]

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese ダーククッパ[?]
Dāku Kuppa
Dark Bowser
French (NOA) Bowser Obscur[?] Dark Bowser
French (NOE) Bowser Noir[?] Black Bowser
German Finster-Bowser[?] Dark Bowser
Italian Bowser Oscuro[?] Dark Bowser
Korean 다크쿠파[?]
Dakeu Kupa
Dark Bowser
Spanish Bowser Oscuro[?] Dark Bowser

Trivia[edit]

  • Dark Bowser is the third final boss in the Mario & Luigi series that is a different form of Bowser, the first two being Bowletta and Shrowser, and the fourth and fifth being Dreamy Bowser and Shiny RoboBowser. However, he is the only one who is not actually Bowser, instead being the Dark Star taking on the appearance of Bowser, due to Bowser himself being playable in the game.
  • In unused text relating to his defeat, Dark Bowser repeats variations on the phrase "I concede this time…", possibly indicating that at an earlier time in development, the Dark Star would not have been completely destroyed.[1]

References[edit]