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You’ve battled your way acrossBrothership’soceansin the return of the Mario & Luigi franchise,re-linking the islands of Concordia. Four Great Lighthouses later—plus a Bowser’s Castle dungeon—it’s time tobring down Zokket and the Extension Corps.
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After climbing to the top of flying Fortress Zokket, there’s just one teensy complication: the Extension Corps kidnapped Bowser Jr.! The Koopa King barges in on your showdown to save his kid, and gets hammered by the Glohmatic Quad-Ray.
Before you can take on Zokket you’ll need tobeat the brainwashing out of Glohm Bowserin a boss fight.
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Preparing For The Fight
The end of Fortress Zokket features the classically ominous combo ofsave block and recovery block just before the boss fight.Use this cue to double-check your stash of items and equip suitable Battle Plugs.
ensure you’re leveled up enough, too. The Adventure Log recommends hitting level 35 before this fight, and that’s a pretty reasonable suggestion.
Fellow sidequest completionists won’t have any trouble reaching level 35 by this point—playing through everything the game offers keeps you a smidgen above the recommended level throughout the Main Story.
Countering the Glohm Status Effect
Glohm Bowser is the first boss to make significant use ofBrothership’snew status effect. If one of the brothers gets Glohmed,you won’t be able to use Bros. Attacks or Luigi Logic.Your regular attacks are weakened too, without your Bro’s help.
The power of Glohm can be offset with Battle Plugs.
Battle Plug
Description
Auto Ampberry
Automatically use an Ampberry at the start of your turn to remove the Glohm status effect from either Bro.
Boomerang Items
After you use an item, it returns to your inventory.
Automatically use a Refreshing Herb at the start of your turn to remove a status effect. Only has a 50% chance of removing Glohm.
Entering the Glohm Bowser fight with anti-Glohm plugs equipped helps avoid spending a turn to use a recovery item. The Auto Item series of Battle Plugs triggers even if you’re Glohmed.
Since Ampberries can’t be bought in stores,talk with Dr. Vulko on Shipshape Island to get supplied.This is why the Boomerang Items plug is handy—it really helps keep your inventory full!
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Glohm Bowser blends new attacks with a few from your first fight with him on Wayaway Island. Fortunately, this time around, he’s not supported by a horde of minions!
Since the brainwashed Koopa King is floating in the air, make sure to avoid Hammer attacks and Bros. attacks, which only target grounded enemies. Once you’ve dealt a bit of damage, Glohm Bowsercreates a purple spot on the ground beneath him.
This is a patch of Glohm which grows every few turns.Once the Glohm reaches Mario and Luigi, you’ll take damage at the start of every turn and have a chance to get Glohmed.Not ideal.
To prevent the Glohm’s spread, use Jump attacks repeatedly to stun Glohm Bowser and knock him out of the air. Doing so cancels the effect,and also makes the boss vulnerable to Luigi Logic.
Luigi Logic
This boss fight’s Luigi Logic minigame can be triggered oncean airship with Shy Guys on it shows up.The airship will shoot cannonballs at you, but Luigi Logic lets you commandeer the vessel.
However, if Glohm Bowser isnotstunned, he’ll yank the airship back down and prevent the damage-dealing minigame. Make sure he’s on the ground!
Once in the air, you’re playing a brief shooter minigame. Even a single hit brings down the airship, so be sure to dodge Glohm Bowser’s attacks while pounding away with your cannon.
Unlike other boss fights, Luigi Logic doesn’t end with a dazed Glohm Bowser. Once you’ve dealt enough damage to trigger Phase Two, the minigame ends automatically, and Glohm Bowser lands.
In Phase Two, there’s no airship and no Luigi Logic. Just Mario and Luigi beating up a turtle like the good ol' days.
Like in the previous fight on Wayaway Island, once Glohm Bowser’s health is low, his attacks hit harder and come in longer sequences. WhileBrothership’sdodge and counter QTEs aren’tSoulsbourne boss difficulty,verify to keep alert until it finally comes back around to your turn.
The best way to stack damage on Glohm Bowser is with Bros. Attacks.Mario’s Hatch Me If You Can, and Luigi’s Jump Helmetare both great at easily dealing a lot of damage to a single flying target. Bomb Derby and Yoo Hoo Cannon are even stronger, but only if you can get an Excellent attack consistently.
There’s no shame in using the Auto EXCELLENT plug if there’s a Bros. Attack you struggle with! Combined with Bros. Boost, it’s a good way to put down a ton of consistent damage. Auto EXCELLENT counts towards the Bros. Attack challenge requirements, too.
On your slower Bro’s turn—typically Luigi—be sure to swap back to defensive Battle Plugs before Glohm Bowser’s attack gauntlet continues. I’ve foundNotdroppin and Auto 1-Up are lifesavers,especially when you’re clinching out the end of a boss fight.
Keep your attacks up, and eventually you’ll knock out Bowser and force him to come to his senses. Even with a brainwashing power-up, the Koopa King can’t defeat that pesky Mario!
