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{{image|more=yes|Sprite of Dark Fawful's shattered form in the remake (with and without the Dark Star).}}
{{character infobox
{{character infobox
|image=[[File:MLBISBJJDarkStarCore.png]]<br>Sprite of Dark Star Core from ''[[Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey]]''.
|image=[[File:MLBISBJJDarkStarCore.png]]<br>Sprite of the Dark Star Core from ''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey''
|first_appearance=''[[Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story]]'' ([[List of games by date#2009|2009]])
|first_appearance=''[[Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story]]'' ([[List of games by date#2009|2009]])
|latest_appearance=''[[Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey]]'' ([[List of games by date#2018|2018]])
|latest_appearance=''[[Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey]]'' ([[List of games by date#2018|2018]])
}}
}}
The '''Dark Star Core''' is [[Mario]] and [[Luigi]]'s final boss of ''[[Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story]]''. It consists of the remains of [[Dark Fawful]] after [[Bowser]] weakened him, combined with the [[Dark Star]] itself. In this form, Dark Fawful has greater powers, along with an altered appearance featuring red glass eyes, changeable appendages, and the Dark Star attached to his head in place of his hair/antenna.
The '''Dark Star Core''' is [[Mario]] and [[Luigi]]'s final boss of ''[[Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story]]'' and ''[[Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey]]''. It consists of the remains of [[Dark Fawful]] after [[Bowser]] weakened him, combined with the [[Dark Star]] itself. In this form, Fawful's appearance is altered further; he has become a dark blob with red glass eyes along with his usual grin, and the Dark Star is attached to his head via a black antenna. He also gains even greater powers, notably the ability to change his appendages.
 
==History==
==History==
[[File:Dark Star Core fleeing.png|left|thumb|Dark Fawful fleeing Bowser after his defeat.]]
[[File:Dark Star Core fleeing.png|left|thumb|Dark Fawful fleeing Bowser after his defeat.]]
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During the final battle with Dark Bowser, Dark Fawful reveals his presence when Dark Bowser is knocked out, reviving him and turning him giant. After Bowser punches the enlarged Dark Bowser, however, he spits out Dark Fawful, who is then inhaled by Bowser and lands inside his body, where he manifests into the Dark Star Core to battle Mario and Luigi.
During the final battle with Dark Bowser, Dark Fawful reveals his presence when Dark Bowser is knocked out, reviving him and turning him giant. After Bowser punches the enlarged Dark Bowser, however, he spits out Dark Fawful, who is then inhaled by Bowser and lands inside his body, where he manifests into the Dark Star Core to battle Mario and Luigi.


Eventually, Mario and Luigi triumph over the Dark Star Core, and Bowser then lands the final blow on Dark Bowser, ultimately defeating him and saving the kingdom. Dark Fawful appears before the Mario Bros. one final time as a dark, battered, unstable blob, and gives one last psychotic smile before exploding, intending to take the pair with him; instead, the explosion negates the effects of the [[Vacuum Mushroom]] and expelling Mario, Luigi, Starlow and the [[Toad (species)|Toad]]s from Bowser's body.
Eventually, Mario and Luigi triumph over the Dark Star Core, and Bowser then lands the final blow on Dark Bowser, ultimately defeating him and saving the kingdom. Dark Fawful appears before the Mario Bros. one final time as a dark, battered, unstable blob, and gives one last psychotic smile before exploding, intending to take the pair with him; instead, the explosion negates the effects of the [[Vacuum Shroom]] and expelling Mario, Luigi, Starlow and the [[Toad (species)|Toad]]s from Bowser's body.


==Battle==
==Battle==
During the final battle of the game, Bowser has to make Dark Bowser collapse by dealing 1000 [[Heart Point|HP]] of damage. Dark Fawful (now with the Dark Star attached to his head) will then fully revive Dark Bowser and cause him to transform into a giant, similar to what had happened to Bowser four times previously in the game. If Bowser attacks giant Dark Bowser's stomach, Dark Fawful will be spat out by the beast and try to flee: Bowser then has to inhale Dark Fawful and let Mario and Luigi battle him. When in [[Bowser's body]], if Bowser fails to inhale Dark Fawful, Dark Bowser will inhale him and Bowser will have to deplete his HP off again. Once inside Bowser's body, Dark Fawful will become giant sized.
During the final battle, Bowser must deal at least 1000 [[Heart Point|HP]] damage to Dark Bowser (1260 in the game's [[Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey|3DS remake]]). Upon this, Dark Bowser will collapse, and Dark Fawful, revealed in Dark Bowser's body, will revive Dark Bowser to his full HP. Upon his revival, Dark Bowser will grow in size, after which his stomach will be able to be targeted. If Bowser punches Dark Bowser in the stomach, Dark Bowser will cough up The Dark Fawful Bug and it will run off screen. Bowser then has to [[Vacuum Block|inhale]] the Dark Fawful Bug but upon beginning to do so, Dark Bowser will attempt to do the same. If Bowser successfully inhales Dark Fawful, Mario and Luigi take over the fight. If Dark Bowser inhales the Dark Fawful Bug, his fight continues on with Bowser. If Bowser does not use his vacuum ability, the Dark Fawful Bug will run back into view and jump back into Dark Bowser. If Dark Bowser is KO'd again before Dark Fawful and the Dark Star Core are inhaled by either party, Dark Fawful will run back onscreen and revive Dark Bowser to his full HP before running away again, with Dark Bowser remaining at normal size.


This form of Dark Fawful consists of 6 parts: His glasses, three appendages, and the Dark Star Core located on his head. The Dark Star Core is located on the top screen and is initially unreachable. To damage the core, the brothers first have to shatter Dark Fawful's eyes, making him cover them with his two hands and leaving his legs vulnerable (Dark Fawful will retract his left and right legs if either of his eyes remain, preventing them from taking damage). Then the brothers have to destroy all three of his legs (the legs can regrow after a couple of turns), a feat most easily done using the [[Snack Basket]] technique. Dark Fawful will now fall to the ground and shatter, leaving the Dark Star Core itself vulnerable. The brothers have to damage the core as much as possible before it revives Dark Fawful and escapes Bowser's body, forcing the above process to be repeated.
Inside Bowser, Dark Fawful and the Dark Star Core grow in size. Dark Fawful has two glasses and three appendages. The Dark Star Core is located at the top of Fawful's antenna, which cannot be reached until the Mario Bros. destroy his appendages. If at least one or two of Dark Fawful's glasses are not shattered, he will retract two or one of his appendages. However, the remaining appendage(s) will be left open for attack, allowing the Bros. to get past the appendages even if the glasses are not shattered. His appendages regrow after a few turns if they have been destroyed.


[[File:Dark Star Core Explosion.PNG|200px|thumb|right|The instant the Dark Star Core gets defeated.]]
Once all three of his appendages are destroyed, Dark Fawful will fall to the floor and shatter, leaving the Dark Star Core in range of Mario and Luigi's attacks. While shattered, They must deal 1560 damage to the core (2070 in the remake) in a few turns before it revives Fawful, sucks him up, and leaves Bowser's body and returns to Dark Bowser's, essentially requiring the player to repeat the above cycle until sufficient damage has been dealt to the Dark Star Core to result in victory.
Dark Fawful's attacks vary depending on whether or not his legs are still present. Sometimes he picks up the Mario Bros. and uses the Dark Star to shoot rings of stars at them. He will move both the Dark Star and his arms up and down at various heights before shooting the rings; depending on where they are, jumping will either have the bros. avoid the attack, accomplish nothing, or actually propel the bros ''into'' the stars if the Dark Star is right above them. A second attack involves Dark Fawful transforming into a limbless form that then proceeds to chase the brothers. The Dark Star will try to ram the bros in the meantime, but not before appearing overhead with a colored aura which is either green or red and thus capable of portraying  which brother will have to jump. After a while, the Mario Bros. will fall into a white portal and the fight will continue. The last attack Dark Fawful uses sees the loon plant his arms in the ground and send energy orbs down them: the bros. must hammer the energy orbs to avoid a shockwave attack which can knock the victim over, and occasionally a larger orb will be sent down which - if struck - will fly back at Dark Fawful, briefly putting the arm it was travelling on out of commission.


After Dark Fawful himself shatters, the Dark Star will use two new attacks. The first is a tremendous laser similar to that used by the Dark Star's first form which will deal major damage if the bros. fail to grab Starlow before it is used. Its second attack involves creating an enormous dark arrow which spins above the bros. heads before finally descending, forcing the bros. to jump over it: eventually the Dark Star will make the arrow even larger and fire it at a bro: the targeted brother must send the arrow back at the Dark Star with their hammer or else they will take heavy damage and likely be made [[dizzy]]. Also, while in this state, the Dark Star is immune to ground-based attacks such as [[hammer]]s and Snack Basket. In the [[Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey|remake]], the beginning of the arrow attack is different. The Dark Star will create black orbs of different sizes and make them spin around it. The brothers will then have to jump over them as they pass by; taking damage from an orb will cause it to disappear. Eventually, the Dark Star will absorb the remaining orbs to create an arrow with them and fire it at a bro.
[[File:Dark Star Core Explosion.PNG|200px|thumb|The instant the Dark Star Core gets defeated in the original game.]]
Dark Fawful has three attacks if at least one of his appendages remain. In his first attack, he will pick up Mario and Luigi, Mario with his right hand and Luigi with his left, putting the two on separate sides, while the Dark Star Core detaches from its antenna and begins to shoot star rings at the Bros. Fawful will move both of his hands up and down and the Dark Star Core does the same. Depending on both the Bros. and the core's height, the Bros. must either jump or remain still to avoid the star rings, which can be used 3-5 times. The second attack involves the Dark Star Core darkening the arena. Dark Fawful appears in front of the Bros. as a giant head and chases them to the left, while the Core will attempt to ram into the Bros. It will fly across the top screen and a red or green glow will indicate which Bro the Core is aiming for, after which it will fly across the bottom screen into the Brother previously foreshadowed, which can be dodged via jumping. Being hit by this attack twice will cause the Bro. to be crushed by Fawful and take heavy damage. The Core's speed becomes faster every time it attempts to ram, and it does so about 6-9 times before the attack ends and the Bros. are warped back to the main area. The final attack involves Dark Fawful rooting both his hands in front of each Bro, sending energy orbs at random down each arm. The Bros. must use their hammers to destroy each orb before it reaches them, which could result in tripping. Occasionally, a larger orb appears, and if hit by the Bros'. hammers, will be launched back at Fawful's arm, putting it out of commission until the attack ends.


[[File:Darkfawfulexplode.png|180px|thumb|right|The Dark Star Core about to explode.]]
[[File:Darkfawfulexplode.png|180px|thumb|Dark Fawful about to explode.]]
When the Dark Star Core is damaged enough, it will be defeated along with Dark Fawful. This will cause Dark Bowser to become unstable.  
After Dark Fawful shatters, the Dark Star Core will have two new attacks. For the first attack, it will charge up a deadly laser that deals major damage, similar to the previous battle with the [[Dark Star]] in the Airway. The Bros. must grab Starlow to avoid the attack, only letting go of her once it has finished. For its second attack, the Dark Star Core creates a long energy spear and spins it above the Bros. heads either clockwise or counterclockwise. After spinning the arrow for a while, it will drop it on the ground, forcing the Bros. to jump each time it passes under their feet. The Core may trick the Bros. into jumping early by lowering the spear slightly before raising it up again. If the Bros. do not sustain too much damage, the Core follows up by conjuring a larger arrow and launching it at a Bro. It can be telegraphed by its shadow, and countered back at the Core with the hammer.
 
The 3DS remake makes a few visual and technical changes to the battle with the Core. If the Bros. try to attack Dark Fawful's legs before destroying his glasses, he will now retract all of his legs and cling to the ceiling, making it impossible to damage his legs without destroying the glasses. The speed of the Dark Star Core itself during its ramming attack has also been generally lowered, and the spear attack while Dark Fawful is shattered has been drastically altered. The Dark Star Core instead summons multiple black orbs of different sizes that circle around Dark Fawful's body. the Bros. must jump over the orbs as they pass, although some can fly over the Bros. to damage them if they jump. If one of the Bros. is hit by an orb, that orb will shatter. After this, the Dark Star Core will suck in any remaining orbs to create an arrow to fire it at a Bro, which, like the original game, can be countered with the hammer. Like all bosses in the remake, The Core will gain the [[Fury]] status when its HP drops below half.
 
When the Dark Star Core is damaged enough, it will be defeated along with Dark Fawful. In the 3DS remake, it will have its own unique defeat animation in which a massive explosion will occur. This will cause Dark Bowser to become unstable.
{{br}}
{{br}}


==Stats==
==Stats==
===''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story''===
===''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story''===
{{:Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story bestiary|transcludesection=Dark Star Core|align=horizontal|image=[[File:Dark_Star_Core.gif]]}}
{{:Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story bestiary|transcludesection=Dark Star Core|align=horizontal|}}
{{:Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story bestiary|transcludesection=Glasses|align=horizontal}}
{{:Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story bestiary|transcludesection=Glasses|align=horizontal}}
{{:Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story bestiary|transcludesection=Appendage|align=horizontal}}
{{:Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story bestiary|transcludesection=Appendage|align=horizontal}}
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===''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey''===
===''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey''===
{{:Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey bestiary|transcludesection=Dark Star Core|image=[[File:Dark_Star_Core_Star_sprite_MLBISBJJ.gif]]|align=horizontal|}}
{{:Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey bestiary|transcludesection=Dark Star Core|image=[[File:Dark_Star_Core_Star_sprite_MLBISBJJ.gif]]|align=horizontal|}}
{{:Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey bestiary|transcludesection=Glasses|image=[[File:Dark_Star_Core_head_sprite_MLVCBABJ.gif]]|align=horizontal|}}
{{:Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey bestiary|transcludesection=Glasses|image=[[File:Dark Star Core head sprite M&LBIS+BJJ.gif]]|align=horizontal|}}
{{:Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey bestiary|transcludesection=Appendage|align=horizontal|}}
{{:Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey bestiary|transcludesection=Appendage|align=horizontal|}}
{{br}}
{{br}}
==Gallery==
<gallery>
DarkStarCoreSpriteWithoutFawful.png|The Dark Star Core's base appearance without Dark Fawful
M&LBIS Dark Star Core.png|The Dark Star Core's shattered form without the Dark Star on its head
SMKun 41 Dark Star Core.jpg|The Dark Star Core in ''[[Super Mario-kun]]''
</gallery>


==Names in other languages==
==Names in other languages==
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|Ita=Occhiali
|Ita=Occhiali
|ItaM=Glasses
|ItaM=Glasses
|FraA=Lunette
|FreA=Lunette
|FraAM=Glass
|FreAM=Glass
|FraE=Verre
|FreE=Verre
|FraEM=Glass
|FreEM=Glass
|Ger=Brille
|Ger=Brille
|GerM=Glasses
|GerM=Glasses
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|SpaE=Tentáculo
|SpaE=Tentáculo
|SpaEM=Tentacle
|SpaEM=Tentacle
|FraE=Patte
|FreE=Patte
|FraEM=Foot
|FreEM=Foot
|Ger=Beine
|Ger=Beine
|GerM=Legs
|GerM=Legs
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|SpaAM=Dark Star Core
|SpaAM=Dark Star Core
|SpaE=Nucléovitz
|SpaE=Nucléovitz
|SpaEM=From ''núcleo'' (core) and ''Grácovitz'' ([[Fawful]]'s European Spanish name).
|SpaEM=From "núcleo" (core) and "Grácovitz" ([[Fawful]]'s European Spanish name)
|Ita=Nucleo Stella Oscura
|Ita=Nucleo Stella Oscura
|ItaM=Dark Star Core
|ItaM=Dark Star Core
|FraA=Noyau Étoile obscure
|FreA=Noyau Étoile obscure
|FraAM=Dark Star Core
|FreAM=Dark Star Core
|FraE=Astre Noir (noyau)
|FreE=Astre Noir (noyau)
|FraEM=Dark Star (core)
|FreEM=Dark Star (core)
|Ger=Krankkern
|Ger=Krankkern
|GerM=''Kern'' (core) and ''Krank'' (fried) ([[Fawful]]'s German name).
|GerM=From "Krankfried" ([[Fawful]]) and "kern" (core)
}}
}}


==Trivia==
==Trivia==
*The position Fawful finds himself in in the final battle is a direct parallel to situation he forced on Mario & Luigi, both being inside a vessel and giving them aid from within, which is made more obvious by the fact that both vessels are Bowsers.
*When one of Fawful's eyes is damaged, the Dark Star Core closes one of its eyes as well, showing that both Fawful and the Dark Star feel pain at the same time.
*It is not entirely clear whether Fawful or the Dark Star is in control of their combined form as Fawful still acts the same as he always has and seemingly is able to control the Core to use its powers (seen by him charging it to heal Dark Bowser, grow big or shroud the arena in darkness). At the same time the Core clearly isn't just a tool for Fawful, also acting more as a separate entity supporting him and still fighting even when he is downed. It is also able to forcibly reabsorb Fawful and leave Bowser, much to Fawful's visible dismay, showing that it has at least some control over him.
*When one of Fawful's eyes are damaged, the Dark Star Core closes one of its eyes as well, showing that when Fawful feels pain, the Dark Star does also.
*The Dark Star Core is similar to [[Cackletta]]'s spirit form, as they were both villainous [[Beanish]] who were turned into undead forms after losing a battle, then fused with Bowser's essence to become twisted versions of him and were fought and killed inside him.
*Despite being commonly referred to as the Dark Star Core, this form as a whole doesn't actually have a name as the Dark Star Core is just the name of the form's core and Fawful in his entirety cannot be targeted, only his legs and glasses.
*The Dark Star Core's overworld sprite while having four legs resembles a [[Dark Satellmite]]'s body structure.
*The Dark Star Core's overworld sprite while having four legs resembles a [[Dark Satellmite]]'s body structure.
*The position of the Dark Star attached to Fawful's head by an antenna of black electricity may be a nod to the bulbous antenna Fawful gains for the final battle against him in ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga]]'', supported by [[Dark Mechawful]]s having a star antenna in place of the normal [[Mechawful]]'s bulbous antenna.
*The Dark Mechawfuls fought near the end of the game also likely foreshadow Fawful's core form as they have star antennas that can shoot stars and lasers and when beaten lose their body and become little more than a head with two claw-like arms that can only be fought by the Bros. after being inhaled by Bowser.
*In the remake of Bowser's Inside Story a few things are changed about the battle with the Dark Star Core: Fawful will grab the ceiling and retract his legs if the player tries to use a multi-hit attack while his eyes are still intact, the arrow attack is replaced with dark orbs although the exploding missile part still remains and he only uses the chase attack after the second time he's inhaled. More minor changes include his chase attack form having arms, a few of his voice clips being removed and the Core not reforming him before leaving.
{{M&LBIS}}
{{M&LBIS}}
[[Category:Forms]]
[[Category:Forms]]

Latest revision as of 10:14, October 28, 2024

It has been requested that more images be uploaded for this article. Remove this notice only after the additional images have been added. Specific(s): Sprite of Dark Fawful's shattered form in the remake (with and without the Dark Star).

Dark Star Core
Sprite of the Dark Star portion of the Dark Star Core from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey.
Sprite of the Dark Star Core from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey
First appearance Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story (2009)
Latest appearance Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey (2018)

The Dark Star Core is Mario and Luigi's final boss of Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story and Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey. It consists of the remains of Dark Fawful after Bowser weakened him, combined with the Dark Star itself. In this form, Fawful's appearance is altered further; he has become a dark blob with red glass eyes along with his usual grin, and the Dark Star is attached to his head via a black antenna. He also gains even greater powers, notably the ability to change his appendages.

History[edit]

Dark Fawful, now a ball of dark energy, fleeing from Bowser in Peach's Castle.
Dark Fawful fleeing Bowser after his defeat.

Following his defeat at Bowser's hands in the Conference Hall, Dark Fawful collapses into a small, insect-like blob and flees the room; Bowser follows him into the throne room just in time to see Dark Bowser inhale the weakened Dark Fawful, completing the Dark Star's new form. At some point between this and the final battle, the Dark Star merges with Dark Fawful to become the Dark Star Core; while they are not seen until then, it is implied that Dark Fawful assisted Dark Bowser in dueling Bowser on the way to the pinnacle of Peach's castle.

During the final battle with Dark Bowser, Dark Fawful reveals his presence when Dark Bowser is knocked out, reviving him and turning him giant. After Bowser punches the enlarged Dark Bowser, however, he spits out Dark Fawful, who is then inhaled by Bowser and lands inside his body, where he manifests into the Dark Star Core to battle Mario and Luigi.

Eventually, Mario and Luigi triumph over the Dark Star Core, and Bowser then lands the final blow on Dark Bowser, ultimately defeating him and saving the kingdom. Dark Fawful appears before the Mario Bros. one final time as a dark, battered, unstable blob, and gives one last psychotic smile before exploding, intending to take the pair with him; instead, the explosion negates the effects of the Vacuum Shroom and expelling Mario, Luigi, Starlow and the Toads from Bowser's body.

Battle[edit]

During the final battle, Bowser must deal at least 1000 HP damage to Dark Bowser (1260 in the game's 3DS remake). Upon this, Dark Bowser will collapse, and Dark Fawful, revealed in Dark Bowser's body, will revive Dark Bowser to his full HP. Upon his revival, Dark Bowser will grow in size, after which his stomach will be able to be targeted. If Bowser punches Dark Bowser in the stomach, Dark Bowser will cough up The Dark Fawful Bug and it will run off screen. Bowser then has to inhale the Dark Fawful Bug but upon beginning to do so, Dark Bowser will attempt to do the same. If Bowser successfully inhales Dark Fawful, Mario and Luigi take over the fight. If Dark Bowser inhales the Dark Fawful Bug, his fight continues on with Bowser. If Bowser does not use his vacuum ability, the Dark Fawful Bug will run back into view and jump back into Dark Bowser. If Dark Bowser is KO'd again before Dark Fawful and the Dark Star Core are inhaled by either party, Dark Fawful will run back onscreen and revive Dark Bowser to his full HP before running away again, with Dark Bowser remaining at normal size.

Inside Bowser, Dark Fawful and the Dark Star Core grow in size. Dark Fawful has two glasses and three appendages. The Dark Star Core is located at the top of Fawful's antenna, which cannot be reached until the Mario Bros. destroy his appendages. If at least one or two of Dark Fawful's glasses are not shattered, he will retract two or one of his appendages. However, the remaining appendage(s) will be left open for attack, allowing the Bros. to get past the appendages even if the glasses are not shattered. His appendages regrow after a few turns if they have been destroyed.

Once all three of his appendages are destroyed, Dark Fawful will fall to the floor and shatter, leaving the Dark Star Core in range of Mario and Luigi's attacks. While shattered, They must deal 1560 damage to the core (2070 in the remake) in a few turns before it revives Fawful, sucks him up, and leaves Bowser's body and returns to Dark Bowser's, essentially requiring the player to repeat the above cycle until sufficient damage has been dealt to the Dark Star Core to result in victory.

The Dark Star Core exploding in battle during its defeat.
The instant the Dark Star Core gets defeated in the original game.

Dark Fawful has three attacks if at least one of his appendages remain. In his first attack, he will pick up Mario and Luigi, Mario with his right hand and Luigi with his left, putting the two on separate sides, while the Dark Star Core detaches from its antenna and begins to shoot star rings at the Bros. Fawful will move both of his hands up and down and the Dark Star Core does the same. Depending on both the Bros. and the core's height, the Bros. must either jump or remain still to avoid the star rings, which can be used 3-5 times. The second attack involves the Dark Star Core darkening the arena. Dark Fawful appears in front of the Bros. as a giant head and chases them to the left, while the Core will attempt to ram into the Bros. It will fly across the top screen and a red or green glow will indicate which Bro the Core is aiming for, after which it will fly across the bottom screen into the Brother previously foreshadowed, which can be dodged via jumping. Being hit by this attack twice will cause the Bro. to be crushed by Fawful and take heavy damage. The Core's speed becomes faster every time it attempts to ram, and it does so about 6-9 times before the attack ends and the Bros. are warped back to the main area. The final attack involves Dark Fawful rooting both his hands in front of each Bro, sending energy orbs at random down each arm. The Bros. must use their hammers to destroy each orb before it reaches them, which could result in tripping. Occasionally, a larger orb appears, and if hit by the Bros'. hammers, will be launched back at Fawful's arm, putting it out of commission until the attack ends.

Dark Fawful right before he explodes inside Bowser's body.
Dark Fawful about to explode.

After Dark Fawful shatters, the Dark Star Core will have two new attacks. For the first attack, it will charge up a deadly laser that deals major damage, similar to the previous battle with the Dark Star in the Airway. The Bros. must grab Starlow to avoid the attack, only letting go of her once it has finished. For its second attack, the Dark Star Core creates a long energy spear and spins it above the Bros. heads either clockwise or counterclockwise. After spinning the arrow for a while, it will drop it on the ground, forcing the Bros. to jump each time it passes under their feet. The Core may trick the Bros. into jumping early by lowering the spear slightly before raising it up again. If the Bros. do not sustain too much damage, the Core follows up by conjuring a larger arrow and launching it at a Bro. It can be telegraphed by its shadow, and countered back at the Core with the hammer.

The 3DS remake makes a few visual and technical changes to the battle with the Core. If the Bros. try to attack Dark Fawful's legs before destroying his glasses, he will now retract all of his legs and cling to the ceiling, making it impossible to damage his legs without destroying the glasses. The speed of the Dark Star Core itself during its ramming attack has also been generally lowered, and the spear attack while Dark Fawful is shattered has been drastically altered. The Dark Star Core instead summons multiple black orbs of different sizes that circle around Dark Fawful's body. the Bros. must jump over the orbs as they pass, although some can fly over the Bros. to damage them if they jump. If one of the Bros. is hit by an orb, that orb will shatter. After this, the Dark Star Core will suck in any remaining orbs to create an arrow to fire it at a Bro, which, like the original game, can be countered with the hammer. Like all bosses in the remake, The Core will gain the Fury status when its HP drops below half.

When the Dark Star Core is damaged enough, it will be defeated along with Dark Fawful. In the 3DS remake, it will have its own unique defeat animation in which a massive explosion will occur. This will cause Dark Bowser to become unstable.

Stats[edit]

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

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story enemy
Dark Star Core
Shattered form of Dark Star Core HP 1,560 (2,340) POW 204 (510) DEF 131 (197) SPEED 154 (231)
Coins 0 (0) Level 32 Fire Normal Burn? Immune
Role Boss Battled by Mario and Luigi 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
Glasses
The Dark Star Core's full body during its boss battle in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. HP 250 (375) POW 93 (233) DEF 104 (156) SPEED 154 (231)
Coins 0 (0) Level 32 Fire Normal Burn? Immune
Role Support Battled by Mario and Luigi 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
Appendage
The Dark Star Core's full body during its boss battle in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. HP 156 (234) POW 93 (233) DEF 104 (156) SPEED 154 (231)
Coins 0 (0) Level 32 Fire Normal Burn? Immune
Role Support Battled by Mario and Luigi 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 Star Core
Dark Star Core (Dark Star part) HP 2070 POW 205 DEF 147 SPEED 150 Experience 0
Fire Normal Jump Normal Hammer Normal Battled by Mario & Luigi 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
Glasses
Dark Star Core (Fawful's head part) HP 250 POW 93 DEF 104 SPEED 154 Experience 0
Fire Normal Jump Normal Hammer Normal Battled by Mario & Luigi 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
Appendage
HP 156 POW 93 DEF 104 SPEED 154 Experience 0
Fire Normal Jump Normal Hammer Normal Battled by Mario & Luigi 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

Gallery[edit]

Names in other languages[edit]

Glasses[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese メガネ[?]
Megane
Glasses
French (NOA) Lunette[?] Glass
French (NOE) Verre[?] Glass
German Brille[?] Glasses
Italian Occhiali[?] Glasses
Spanish (NOA) Anteojos[?] Glasses
Spanish (NOE) Gafas[?] Glasses

Appendage[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese あし[?]
Ashi
Foot or Leg
French (NOE) Patte[?] Foot
German Beine[?] Legs
Italian Tentacolo[?] Tentacle
Spanish (NOA) Pata[?] Paw or Leg
Spanish (NOE) Tentáculo[?] Tentacle

Dark Star Core[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese ダークスターコア[?]
Dāku Sutā Koa
Dark Star Core
French (NOA) Noyau Étoile obscure[?] Dark Star Core
French (NOE) Astre Noir (noyau)[?] Dark Star (core)
German Krankkern[?] From "Krankfried" (Fawful) and "kern" (core)
Italian Nucleo Stella Oscura[?] Dark Star Core
Spanish (NOA) Núcleo Estrella Oscura[?] Dark Star Core
Spanish (NOE) Nucléovitz[?] From "núcleo" (core) and "Grácovitz" (Fawful's European Spanish name)

Trivia[edit]

  • When one of Fawful's eyes is damaged, the Dark Star Core closes one of its eyes as well, showing that both Fawful and the Dark Star feel pain at the same time.
  • The Dark Star Core's overworld sprite while having four legs resembles a Dark Satellmite's body structure.