Goombella, la partenaire Goomba de Paper Mario, coiffée de son casque d'archéologue

Paper Mario Partners: Allies from the Two Cult Classic RPGs

1376 words | Reading time : 6 minute(s)

GuidePaper MarioPartners

Eight companions on Nintendo 64, seven on GameCube — one per chapter. This guide lists the allies of the first two Paper Mario games, each one gifted with a power in battle and another in exploration. It covers the seven partners of The Thousand-Year Door, including the optional Ms. Mowz, the eight from the first entry, and the case of Vivian, the defector who became a player favorite.

In the first two Paper Mario games, Mario never sets out alone: chapter after chapter he recruits partners (known as Paper Mario partners) who fight at his side and each unlock a unique power, in exploration as much as in battle.

From Goombella to Bobbery, this cast quickly became the trademark of the paper saga. Here is how the system works, the full line-up of both casts, and why it slowly faded away after The Thousand-Year Door.

Contents

An ally in every chapter, two powers apiece

The idea is crystal clear: every new chapter brings its own partner. Once recruited, the ally follows Mario at all times and stands out through a double talent: a field power to make headway through the scenery, and an attack all its own in battle.

In battle, you only control one partner at a time, but you can swap freely during your turn to adapt your strategy. Each one has its strengths: healing, intel, piercing damage or long-range strikes.

Another reassuring safety net: a partner never dies for good. If one goes down, it is simply knocked out for a few turns and then revived, never lost for good. In The Thousand-Year Door, you can even rank each ally up to power up its attacks.

The Thousand-Year Door: seven colourful partners

Released on GameCube in 2004 and then remastered on Switch on 23 May 2024, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door lines up seven partners, one of them optional:

  • Goombella: an archaeology student who sizes up enemies and scenery to hand out intel and tips.
  • Koops: a shy Koopa who hurls his shell to strike from afar and hit switches out of reach.
  • Flurrie: a wind spirit whose gusts sweep obstacles aside and reveal hidden passages.
  • The little Yoshi: named by the player, he lets Mario gallop along and glides over chasms.
  • Vivian: she hides Mario in her shadow to make him invisible and slip under obstacles.
  • Bobbery: this old sea dog of an admiral blows himself up to shatter cracked walls.
  • Ms. Mowz: an optional partner, this mouse sniffs out badges and hidden items.

Paper Mario on Nintendo 64: eight companions

The very first Paper Mario, released on Nintendo 64 (2000 in Japan, 5 October 2001 in Europe), already laid the groundwork with eight partners:

  • Goombario: the Goomba superfan of Mario, who dishes out info on every enemy you meet.
  • Kooper: he throws his shell to grab items and trigger far-off mechanisms.
  • Bombette: a pink Bob-omb who blows up cracked walls.
  • Parakarry: this flying Koopa carries Mario over holes and gaps.
  • Lady Bow: the ghostly lady turns Mario invisible and gets him through certain obstacles.
  • Watt: a baby spark who lights up dark areas and strikes right through enemy defence.
  • Sushie: this Cheep Cheep ferries Mario across the water.
  • Lakilester: a rebel Lakitu who floats Mario over spikes and lava.
The eight Paper Mario partners gathered around a star
Eight companions on Nintendo 64, one per chapter or very nearly.

Vivian, the defector turned fan favourite

No partner embodies the depth of the system better than Vivian. You first meet her in the enemy camp, alongside two shadow sirens who bully her without let-up.

Moved by Mario's kindness, she defects to join his team. That arc, her gentleness and her shadow power have made her one of the best-loved partners in the whole saga.

The 2024 Switch remake even had a whole new generation of players discover her, confirming her status as a cult character of The Thousand-Year Door.

Puzzles built around their talents

The real genius of the system is that every field power is there to solve specific puzzles. Flurrie blows to reveal invisible passages, Bobbery detonates cracked walls, and Koops hits distant switches with a single shell throw.

The level design therefore pushes you to juggle constantly between allies, with every area quietly hinting at which talent to use. Partners are not mere bonuses, but genuine keys to progress.

One technical detail that is often forgotten: in The Thousand-Year Door, partners have their own HP and take hits just like Mario. On Nintendo 64, on the other hand, they have no life bar: the rare attacks aimed at them only take them out of action for a few turns.

Why the system faded out after

As early as Super Paper Mario (2007), the formula changed course. Recruitable partners gave way to the Pixls, plain tool-like entities that grant abilities without any real teammate personality.

The break was then confirmed: Sticker Star and Color Splash dropped partners entirely, with the series swinging towards action and puzzles at the expense of classic RPG mechanics.

It is this shift that makes the first two entries a one-of-a-kind parenthesis. The Origami King (2020) did bring a few allies back, but in a lighter role, far from the double-power companions of 2001 and 2004.

The partner system at a glance

First entry (Nintendo 64) 2000 (Japan), 5 October 2001 (Europe)
The Thousand-Year Door GameCube 2004, Switch remake 23 May 2024
Partners (N64 entry) 8
Partners (Thousand-Year Door) 7, with Ms. Mowz optional
Partners' own HP Yes on GameCube, no on N64
Cult defector Vivian
End of the system Super Paper Mario and the Pixls (2007)

🍄 Want to keep the adventure going? Check out our Mario figurines in the shop.

FAQ

  • How many partners does The Thousand-Year Door have?
    Seven in all, including Ms. Mowz, an optional partner you can miss entirely if you never take the trouble to recruit her.
  • Who is the optional partner in The Thousand-Year Door?
    Ms. Mowz, the mouse who sniffs out hidden items. You cross paths with her several times before you can finally sign her up as an optional ally.
  • Can partners die in battle?
    No. They are only knocked out for a few turns and then revived. On GameCube they have their own HP, whereas on Nintendo 64 they take no numbered damage.
  • Why did partners disappear from the series?
    Super Paper Mario replaced them with the Pixls, then Sticker Star and Color Splash removed them altogether, as the series moved towards action and puzzles. The Origami King later brought back a lighter form of allies.
  • Is Twink a Paper Mario partner?
    No, that is a common mix-up. Twink is the little star who helps Peach during the adventure, not a battle ally. The electric partner in the N64 entry is called Watt.
↑ Back to top
Back to blog