Dark Star X

Dark Star X
Artwork shown before the battle in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey
Species	Star
First appearance	Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story (2009)
Latest appearance	Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey (2018)

Dark Star X is the sixth boss class located in the Gauntlet, which is inside the Challenge Node in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. It is the second-strongest boss in the game (after Bowser X). To start, 2500 coins must be paid to battle Dark Star X. It fights along with Dark Satellmite X's. The bros. have up to 12 turns to destroy Dark Star X. If the player defeats it, they will unlock Class 7, where they will fight all previous classes, including the Dark Star X, and Bowser X.

During the battle, Dark Star X is similar to the original Dark Star, only stronger and with the opposite color scheme. In the DS version, it is red with blue eyes, while in the 3DS remake, it is yellow with pink eyes.

Some changes are that the Dark Satellmites X's energy beams travel and Kamikaze attacks move faster, just as the Dark Star's clones do; there are also always seven clones (or nine, with sufficient damage) and they disappear earlier. When the bros' shadows come to life, they always split in two, something the original Star only did when it had been weakened.

If fought under the recommended level 40, the ramming attack after the laser and the ultimate vacuum will often defeat the bros instantly, even if they are at full HP.

Battle

Dark Star X's trophy

In battle, the Dark Star X can not usually be damaged. To expose its vulnerability, the Mario Bros. must destroy the Dark Satellmite Xs that surround it. With sufficient damage, the Dark Satellmites X will use a Kamikaze attack that consists of throwing a bomb at one Mario brother, and throwing their own body at the other. Ordinarily, both will miss, but either brother can attack the projectile launched at him. If the bomb is attacked, it will explode, doing damage to either Mario or Luigi. If the Satellmite X is attacked, it will be knocked flying into the Dark Star X. After being hit in such a way twice, the Star will become vulnerable and immobile for a turn and a half (allowing the Bros. to attack three times).

Attacks

One of the Dark Star X's attacks consists of it splitting into seven (or nine, with sufficient damage) as a thick fog fills the battlefield. Each Dark Star X then flies slowly at Mario or Luigi, vanishing into the fog as it draws near. Mario and Luigi must then counter this attack by using their hammers on the hidden fake Dark Stars exactly 2 seconds after they disappear.

In another attack, the Dark Star X will shine a bright light at Mario and Luigi, causing their shadows to come to life. The shadows will then move in a circle around the Dark Star X, which will attack them with beams of electricity. The Mario Bros. must jump to avoid the electricity that the Dark Star X shoots, as any damage done to the shadows will hurt the real Mario Bros. as well.

The Dark Star X may also send red and green energy balls into the air. It will then fly through these balls in order, sending them at the correspondingly colored Mario Bro. They may be avoided by jumping. Sometimes, the Dark Star X will fly through in reverse order, forcing the Bros. to jump in the opposite order.

When the Dark Star X is immobilized, it will shoot out a simple laser at Mario or Luigi, depending on who attacked it last.

After receiving sufficient damage, the Dark Star X will use a laser attack that fills up the entire touch screen. Starlow will appear just before this attack activates, suggesting that Mario and Luigi grab on to her. When they do so, Starlow will fly up in the air (top screen) therefore avoiding the attack. After the attack is through, the Dark Star X will look up and attempt to ram into Starlow. The Bros. must release their hold on Starlow to avoid making contact with the Dark Star. This attack deals massive damage and may also inflict the Poison status. This attack is faster than in the normal Dark Star battle.

Just before it is defeated, the Dark Star X will use a vacuum attack on both Mario and Luigi. This must be countered by pressing and repeatedly or the brothers will take massive damage. After it uses this attack, the Dark Star X is defeated.

Statistics

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story enemy
Dark Star X
	HP	4,030 (6,045)	POW	304 (760)	DEF	164 (246)	SPEED	135 (203)
	Coins	0 (0)	Level	40	Fire	Normal	Burn?	Immune
	Role	Gauntlet boss	Battled by	Mario and Luigi	Location(s)	The Gauntlet	Dizzy?	Immune
	Stat down?	Normal	KO?	Immune	Experience	0	Item drop	None
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

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey enemy
Dark Star X
	HP	3420	POW	223	DEF	164	SPEED	135	Experience	0
	Fire	Normal	Jump	Normal	Hammer	Normal	Battled by	Mario & Luigi	Coins	0
	Burn	Immune	Dizzy	Immune	Stat down	1x	Speed down	1x	Item drop	None - 0% None - 0%
Level           38	Location(s)	The Gauntlet

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	ダークスターX[?] Dāku Sutā X	Dark Star X
French	Astre Noir X[?]	Black Star X
German	Finsterstern X[?]	Dark Star X
Italian	Stella Oscura +[?]	Dark Star +
Spanish	Estrella Oscura X[?]	Dark Star X

Trivia

• Despite the fact that the Dark Star was given a new boss theme in the remake, Dark Star X still uses the standard boss theme.