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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →The best badges in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door depend on how you fight and how many Badge Points (BP) you can spend. For a flexible mid-to-late-game setup, prioritize badges that match your attack habits: Quick Change for frequent partner swaps, Power Plus for Mario-heavy offense, and Flower Saver when you rely on FP-powered moves. Defensive, high-risk, and information badges can be better fits for other players.
This guide covers the GameCube original and the Nintendo Switch remake. Their badge libraries are not identical: the reference lists 85 badges in the original and 87 in the remake, and some effects differ by version. Check the in-game badge description and BP cost for your edition before committing a build. Super Mario Wiki’s badge reference documents the version distinctions.
How to choose the best badges
Badges compete for BP, so judge each one by what it gives up as well as what it adds. A damage boost is valuable if that character attacks often; a partner or resource badge pays off only if your party and FP use support it. The right setup also changes with game progress, partner rotation, and your comfort with action commands or taking risks.
The recommendations below are practical picks, not a universal ranking. Exact BP costs and availability can vary by badge and edition; consult the relevant in-game description and the linked reference for the version you play. StrategyWiki’s badge guide explains badge mechanics and general use.
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- Join Mario on a timeless paper-adventure to uncover the mystery of the Thousand-Year Door. Master badges and timing-based attacks to impress the audience in a theatrical twist on turn-based RPG combat. Customize your approach to deep and rewarding RPG challenges with swappable partners and badges. 4. Experience an engaging story full of hijinks and witty dialogue
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10 useful badges and who benefits from them
1. Quick Change — for players who rotate partners
Quick Change lets you switch partners during combat without spending the turn, according to the guide reference. That flexibility is most valuable when you regularly choose a partner for a specific enemy, attack, or situation. It takes BP that could go toward direct offense, so it is less compelling if you usually keep the same partner active. Confirm its BP cost in your edition.
2. Power Plus — for Mario-focused offense
Power Plus increases Mario’s damage. It is a straightforward offensive choice if Mario’s attacks make up much of your damage, but its BP competes with badges that improve partner attacks, conserve FP, or provide utility.
3. Power Plus P — for partner-led damage
Power Plus P increases a partner’s damage, not Mario’s. Choose it when partner attacks are a central part of your strategy; otherwise, its BP may be better spent on a badge that benefits the character you use most.
4. Power Bounce — for action-command specialists
Power Bounce is an active attack option whose payoff depends on executing action commands and having FP available. It suits players who can use the move reliably and want to turn that execution into damage. It is not an automatic pick if you prefer simpler attacks or need to reserve FP for other moves.
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5. Power Smash — for a focused FP-powered attack
Power Smash offers another way to spend FP for damage. Its usefulness depends on the enemy matchup and your resource budget, so weigh the attack against the other moves you could use with that FP. It is a more direct alternative to building around repeated action-command hits.
6. Flower Saver — for frequent Mario skill use
Flower Saver reduces the FP cost of Mario’s attacks, subject to the game’s minimum-cost rules. It can make repeated FP-powered moves easier to sustain. Its value is lower if you rarely use those moves, and the FP savings do not remove the need to manage your resource budget.
7. Flower Saver P — for frequent partner skill use
Flower Saver P reduces the FP cost of partner attacks, also subject to minimum-cost rules. It is the partner-side counterpart to Flower Saver: consider it when partner moves are a regular part of your plan, rather than assuming it benefits Mario.
8. Power Rush and Power Rush P — for deliberate Danger builds
These badges provide a +2 attack boost for Mario or a partner, respectively, while the relevant character is in Danger. The damage increase comes with a risk tradeoff: you must remain at low HP, so these are specialized options rather than safe default recommendations. Use them only if you are intentionally building around that state and can manage the danger.
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Rank #3
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- Join Mario on a timeless paper-adventure to uncover the mystery of the Thousand-Year Door
- Master badges and timing-based attacks to impress the audience in a theatrical twist on turn-based RPG combat
- Customize your approach to deep and rewarding RPG challenges with swappable partners and badges
- Experience an engaging story full of hijinks and witty dialogue
9. Chill Out, Pretty Lucky, or Close Call — for different kinds of defense
These badges offer defensive or evasion-oriented benefits, but their triggers and effects are not interchangeable. Pick according to the protection you want and the conditions described in your game’s badge details. They are worth considering if staying safer matters more to you than maximizing damage.
10. Peekaboo — for enemy-state information
Peekaboo reveals enemy HP, helping you estimate how much damage is needed and decide which target to prioritize. It does not directly increase damage or reduce incoming harm; its value is clearer planning, especially if you prefer knowing enemy health rather than estimating it.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Build around your play style and BP
- Frequent partner swaps: Consider Quick Change if you regularly select different partners during fights.
- Mario-heavy offense: Favor Power Plus or Flower Saver when Mario’s attacks are your main source of damage.
- Partner-heavy offense: Look at Power Plus P or Flower Saver P if partner attacks drive your strategy.
- Action-command confidence: Power Bounce can reward reliable execution, while Power Smash is another FP-powered damage option.
- Risk tolerance: Power Rush and Power Rush P suit a deliberate low-HP strategy, not a cautious general-purpose build.
- Safer or more informed fights: Choose among defensive badges based on their distinct effects, or use Peekaboo to see enemy HP.
As your BP allowance and available badges change, revisit the tradeoff: a badge that is excellent for a developed build may crowd out more useful options earlier in the game. Badge availability and some behavior differ between the GameCube and Switch versions, so use the reference for orientation and the in-game description for your edition.
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