How to Beat the Third Bowser in Super Mario 64

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The third bowser is also the last boss in Super Mario 64. If you are having some trouble beating him, and you'd like to know how, then keep reading this article.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

With 70 stars

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    It is on the third floor of the castle, in the same type of door that the first two bowser battles were in, and on the same floor as Tick Tock Clock, Rainbow ride, and the secret level Wing Mario Over the Rainbow.
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    You have to get behind him, grab his tail, spin him around using the control stick on your controller, and throw him into a bomb located on the side of the arena.
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    He'll most likely spin around to keep track of you so that he can attack in your direction, but don't be alarmed.
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    His most commonly used attack is his fire breath. When he does this attack, he faces one direction and keeps facing that direction as he breathes the fire. This is the perfect opportunity for you to maneuver around him and grab his tail with B.
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    Remember that the more speed you gain, the farther he'll fly. However, it'll be harder to aim if you move too fast. This is perfected with practice.
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    If he falls off, he'll come back up, and break a piece off of the side of the arena. Watch for the shockwaves that will also be on the ground, and try avoiding them by jumping over them. This is easier if you are farther away from where Bowser lands.
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    Know that after the second time you succeed in throwing him into a bomb, parts of the stage will collapse and form a star shape. Don't worry, it's still possible to defeat him at this point.
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    Mario will then be wearing a wing cap. Now, enjoy the ending sequence and celebrate beating the final boss of Super Mario 64!
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Without 70 Stars

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    This time, you will have to scroll a message from Bowser. While you technically don't have enough stars to access the final Bowser, the door will still open for you, however the stairs are supposedly endless.
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    You can do this by performing the backwards long jump move.
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    If you have successfully done the glitch, you should now be at the top of the stairs, and notice the painting of Bowser, as well as a hole you can jump in to access the final level.
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  • Question
    What if the 2nd method does not work?
    Acyclist
    Top Answerer
    Try placing Mario against the right of the staircase (from your screen's perspective) then repeat method 2. It takes some practice.
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  • Question
    Can you do the 2nd method on the Switch?
    Mario GalaxyFan1947
    Community Answer
    The short answer is no, because it's a Shindou port and in the Shindou version, backwards long jumps are patched but you can do it in the Nintendo switch online.
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      Tips

      • Outside of the warp pipe, where you enter the battle, there's a 1-up hidden behind a pillar. It can be seen using the camera. Grab this if you happen to be running low on lives.
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      • If you'd like a secret star, then collect all of the eight red coins that are scattered throughout the level.
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      Warnings

      • Avoid touching the bombs around the arena with Mario. This will most likely cause you to fall off the side of the arena.
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