Follow World 4 in order, then return for the secret chapter and the routes opened by Beep-0’s new exploration ability.
In this world
- Lava Pit — preparation
- Chapter 4-1: If It Rains It Pours Lava
- Chapter 4-2: When the Going Gets Tough
- Chapter 4-3: …The Tough Get Going
- Chapter 4-4: In Full Gear
- Chapter 4-5: Bowser Jr.’s Lair
- Chapter 4-6: Reunited
- Chapter 4-7: Spawny Snatched!
- Chapter 4-8: Castle Guards
- Chapter 4-BOSS: Bowser’s Castle
- Secret Chapter 4-S: Clandestine Cave
- After the game
Lava Pit — preparation
Watch the marked pyroclast impact zones before ending movement. Burn can force a character to run out of cover or trigger reaction fire. The strongest Supporters, Bucklers and Smashers also punish a formation that remains packed together.
Keep a healer or defensive option available. Mario’s M-Power combines well with Luigi’s range or Rabbid Mario’s area damage; Rabbid Luigi offers control and Vamp Dash. Choose skills for the actual objective and reset Power Orbs when an escort or Reach Area battle needs mobility more than another damage upgrade.
Chapter 4-1: If It Rains It Pours Lava
Use the outer routes and elevated positions to obtain clean angles on the Lava Ziggies and Hoppers. Activate buffs while allies are still within range, then spread out before firing. Keep the final positions outside the displayed lava impact fields.
In the defeat-count fight, eliminate the required number of reachable enemies. Allow a pyroclast to weaken an enemy when it is safe, but do not enter the same impact zone just to finish it early. Concentrate the final attacks on injured targets instead of chasing fresh reinforcements across the ring.
Chapter 4-2: When the Going Gets Tough
Keep the first encounter’s Smashers at a controlled distance. Check their chase range before every weapon or reaction hit; a chain of several hits can pull one much farther than a single movement. Dashes and disabling effects offer a safer way to weaken a nearby threat.
The next objective is a Reach Area run down the arena. Use Luigi’s Itchy Feet and available Team Jump upgrades, with Mario and the Rabbid maintaining useful stepping positions. Only remove the enemies blocking a necessary landing, pipe exit or finish. Leave the reinforcements behind once a hero can reach the goal.
Chapter 4-3: …The Tough Get Going
The separated platforms make unnecessary travel costly. Let a long-range hero finish Hoppers from high ground while the others manage enemies near the pipes. In the defeat-count mission, concentrate on targets that can actually be removed that turn.
For the Reach Area encounter, use both sides of the pipe network to flank Bucklers or avoid them. Defeat a Peek-a-Boo when it controls the last safe section, then move the runner through. Do not spend a complete turn attacking a frontal shield when an outer route can bypass it.
Chapter 4-4: In Full Gear
The factory combines narrow platforms with Supporters, Valkyries and Smashers. Remove a Supporter before spreading damage across the whole group. Pull or push a Valkyrie away from protected allies, then finish a target you can reach without leaving the healer exposed.
Use the pipe network to handle the outer Peek-a-Boos while keeping the central Smasher away from fragile heroes. Plan reaction attacks carefully: a successful Steely Stare shot can still be harmful if it triggers another chase into Luigi. End the turn with separated, protected positions rather than clustering everyone at one pipe exit.
Chapter 4-5: Bowser Jr.’s Lair
In the opening arena, defeat the Supporter and flank the Bucklers using opposite sides of the cross-shaped route. Spend the weapon actions on exposed sides rather than firing into a shield.
Mecha Jr. is supported by two Valkyries. It behaves like a Smasher after a weapon hit, but cannot be damaged by Dashes or Stomp movement attacks. It also draws heroes closer with Magnet Dance and sends explosive Sentries toward them. Do not carry a normal-Smasher Dash plan into this fight.
Spread out, interrupt the support formation and use long-range damage while keeping the resulting chase short of the shooter. A planned reaction chain can help, but every extra hit changes the mech’s position. Heal after its area pressure and focus the boss when a safe damage opening appears. Winning frees Spawny and recruits Yoshi.
Chapter 4-6: Reunited
Escort Spawny through the two battlefields. Like the other escort characters, he cannot use Team Jumps. Keep him on a walking-and-pipe route, apply Itchy Feet with him in range and clear the next covered stopping point before he moves.
A healer is useful for the long route. Remove Supporters and Peek-a-Boos that can hit Spawny’s next position, then handle the enemies near the finish when he approaches. Do not split the whole team too far ahead or clear every enemy behind him while the escort waits. Use Peach’s Protection when the intended recipient is in range; Rabbid Peach’s Shield is personal protection.
Chapter 4-7: Spawny Snatched!
Clear the first battlefield by removing dangerous high-ground enemies and obtaining side angles on the Bucklers. Control Smashers before they can reach the team, and take the pipe routes instead of crossing open ground unnecessarily.
Bwario and Bwaluigi then appear together. Bwario uses close-range explosives and Freeze, while Bwaluigi can disrupt movement with Honey. Focus one until it falls, favoring Bwaluigi when its movement lock threatens your positioning. Keep heroes apart against area attacks and use protective or weakening techniques before the main enemy turn. The objective ends after both bosses are defeated.
Chapter 4-8: Castle Guards
This long chapter contains several encounters before the Lava Queen joins Bwario and Bwaluigi. Check the team’s equipment before entering and use any available recovery between arenas. Supporters should not remain free to undo a whole attack turn.
In the short central battles, combine Dashes with weapon attacks and finish exposed enemies. Use high ground against Hoppers and the outer pipes to bypass Bucklers. Keep a controlled escape distance from Smashers rather than relying on a reaction chain to finish them automatically.
Against the three bosses, remove the Supporter and concentrate on one boss at a time. Bwaluigi’s disruptive shots are a useful early priority; separate Bwario from the team before it attacks. The Lava Queen threatens a damaging jump landing, so keep the heroes spread out and address her once the other immediate threats are reduced. Remaining ordinary enemies need not all fall when the boss objective is complete.
Chapter 4-BOSS: Bowser’s Castle
MegaDragonBowser has three 1,600-HP phases. Bring upgraded weapons, M-Power and reliable recovery. Much of the arena’s cover can break, so check which metal blocks will remain useful for the final phase.
In phase one, four Valkyries support the boss. He uses fire attacks, reaction fire, a pull and a damaging landing shockwave. Spread the team, weaken or remove the supporting formation and attack from safe angles. Avoid moving into his active reaction line without a plan for the Burn effect.
In phase two, he flies around the arena and four Bucklers appear. Watch the marked fireball zones, flank the Bucklers and use range to keep damaging Bowser. Finish necessary healing before depleting the second health bar, rather than entering the final phase already close to defeat.
In phase three, four Smashers appear and Bowser shields himself. Lure his spinning shell charge into an indestructible metal block. Put the intended target on the far side so the charge’s line crosses the block; simply waiting behind any cover does not guarantee the stun. The impact breaks the block, stuns him and opens a damage turn. Use M-Power and concentrated attacks during that opening while controlling the Smashers. Repeat with another remaining metal block if needed.
After the victory, load the completed save to continue exploring. Beep-0’s Dig ability and the secret chapter become available.
Secret Chapter 4-S: Clandestine Cave
Return to Uphill Lava Trail after obtaining Dig. Follow the route back from the starting point, clear the diggable obstruction and move the three blocks into their marked recesses. Enter the opened secret passage.
The first battle brings back Bwario, Bwaluigi and the Lava Queen with Supporters. Remove the healer controlling your initial target, then focus the bosses individually. Use M-Power and safe area damage early, with a healer or control character preventing the enemy turn from overwhelming the group.
The second encounter combines the earlier midbosses. Defeat a reachable threat rather than damaging all five equally. Blizzy’s low HP and reaction fire make it a useful early target, but a boss blocking your safe position may need priority. Calavera has a directional shield, Sandy has a temporary damage shield and Mecha Jr. cannot be Dashed; apply the correct counter to each. Collect the rewards and remaining chests after the clear.
After the game
Return across all four worlds with Move, Lift, Smash and Dig to collect the remaining chests and secret chapters. Complete the forty regular world Challenges, then use the replay options to improve story ratings. The additional Ultra Challenge Pack is separate paid content, not a requirement for finishing the base campaign.
Yoshi’s Super Chance guarantees weapon criticals and their Super Effects for affected allies, while Mario’s M-Power increases damage. Use these buffs before allies leave their radius. A powerful combination still needs a safe final position and a plan for recovery when an enemy survives.
Collectibles and Challenges
All collectible and weapon chests · All ten world Challenges