Handfake

Partners in Time enemy
Handfake
Location(s)	Star Hill, Star Shrine
Role	Common
Battled by	Anyone
HP	134
POW	126
Defense	89
Speed	55
Experience	155
Level	23
Coins	15
Item drop	Mix Flower – 15% None – 0%
Notice Stats in parentheses are from the Japanese and European versions (if they differ from the original American release).

A Handfake is a creature shaped as a hand but made of black ooze. Its name is a pun on "handshake." They live on Star Hill and the Star Shrine in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. In battle, a Handfake holds signs with pictures of various enemies on them (Goomba, Paratroopa, Bob-omb, and Bowser). The enemy picture on the sign determines how the Handfake will attack. These signs can be destroyed, causing the Handfake to bring a different sign into battle. The signs are all based on character artwork from Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World. Handfakes take critical damage from fire attacks.

Signs

Goomba

If a Handfake holds up a Goomba sign, it attacks by throwing the sign at the back of one of the Mario Bros. The Handfake can throw more than one Goomba sign in the same turn. The Mario Bros. must jump to avoid these attacks.

Paratroopa

When the Handfake holds a Paratroopa sign, it attacks by hitting a Mario Bro. with the sign. Before attacking, however, the Handfake twirls the Paratroopa sign a number of times. The number of twirls equals the number of times the Handfake will pull back the sign before attacking. After it pulls back the appropriate number of times, the Mario Bro. must jump to avoid or counter the Handfake's attack.

Bob-omb

If the Handfake holds up a Bob-omb sign, it throws the sign high. If the sign is right side up when falling, the Bob-omb sign will fall on top of Mario. If the sign is upside-down, it will fall on Luigi. The Bob-omb sign can be deflected with a Hammer. However, after hit, the sign can fall again, possibly changing targets. Thus, the Baby Bros. may have to block the sign multiple times. If the Bob-omb sign hits a Mario Bro., the sign explodes, causing damage and possibly dizziness.

Bowser

When a Handfake holds up the Bowser sign, it can summon either a Boo or a Fly Guy carrying a cardboard flame cut-out on a string. The Boo or Fly Guy then hits one of the Mario Bros. with the "flame". The Mario brothers can jump to avoid this attack. A Boo means Mario is being attacked, and a Fly Guy means Luigi is being attacked; sometimes, they float in front of the opposite brother and switch right before attacking.

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	シルエットハンド[?] Shiruetto Hando	Silhouette Hand
German	Mogelhand[?]	Cheat Hand
Italian	Falsamano[?]	Handfake
Korean	손귀신[?] Son'gwisin	Hand spirit
Spanish	Manoplof[?]	From "mano" (hand) and "plof" (Spanish onomatopoeia equivalent to "plop")

Trivia

• Although Handfakes are only encountered in the past, the Bowser sign still shows the look of the present day Bowser.