Paper Mario Wiki
Register
Advertisement

Not to be confused with King Croacus I.

“Trash is garbage, no matter how you dress it. This world is made for BEAUUUUUTY!”

King Croacus IV, Super Paper Mario

King Croacus IV is one of the antagonists and a chapter boss in Super Paper Mario. He is the main boss in Chapter 5 and overall the tenth boss of the game.

History[]

Before Super Paper Mario[]

King Croacus IV is the only ruler that is not part of the royal family. King Croacus IV was originally the regent under King Croacus III. King Croacus III became the ruler at one year of age, and was a very sickly child at that time. So, King Croacus IV (not a king yet) did most of the work for the third ruler. At age 88, King Croacus III died, possibly due to him being so sick. King Croacus IV was a magnificent ruler according to his Floro Sapiens servants. He had experience as the regent under King Croacus III, so he could handle the job. Unfortunately, the near-by Cragnon race started to pollute the water. The Cragnons (except for the “Green Cragnon Crowd”) thought that they should return the garbage to the Earth by throwing it into their waters. But, this water was the food source of the Floro Sapiens. By only being able to drink the polluted water, King Croacus IV became insane. King Croacus IV started a war on the Cragnons as revenge for polluting their water. King Croacus invented the Floro Sprout, which could brainwash the person it was planted into. The Floro Sapiens would capture Cragnons from the Land of Crag, bring them to the Floro Caverns and plant Floro Sprouts into them, making them Floro Cragniens. These mindless servants would serve the Floro Kingdom as slaves, usually digging for gems which King Croacus IV loves so much.

Super Paper Mario[]

By the time that the Heroes of Light appear on Mount Crag, the Cragnons tell them that the Floro Sapiens are capturing them. The heroes send out to destroy the Floro Sapiens, following a group of them down to the Floro Caverns. At the end of Chapter Five, after obtaining a dead Floro Sprout from a defeated O'Cabbage, they are able to find King Croacus IV. King Croacus knows of what harm the heroes have done to his Floro Kingdom and he also has obtained the sixth Pure Heart. Over the rule of their kingdom and the Pure Heart, they fight. The Heroes of Light defeat King Croacus IV after a long fight, who temporarily wilts. The Floro Sapiens explain to Mario about what the Cragnons’ pollution had done to his health. Flint Cragley and his crew overhear their conversation, and Flint promises to tell the Cragnons to stop polluting the water. The Cragnons and the Floro Sapiens make a truce and live together again as allies. As thanks to the heroes for their assistance in them making peace, they receive the sixth Pure Heart. King Croacus IV survives and returned to sanity, likely ruling the Floro Kingdom in a civilized manner again.

Strategy[]

The battle with King Croacus IV consists of two phases.

First Phase[]

During the first phase, King Croacus IV will fight in a giant flower-like form. He mainly attacks by slamming one of his three boxed flower heads down at Mario and co. He can also attempt to do contact damage by either using his primary head or his spiked vine neck. There are two possible strategies that can be used against Croacus. The first is using Thoreau to grab one of boxed flower heads and throw them at Croacus. Croacus can also shield himself with a rose petal cover. The second (and most difficult) is performed by jumping on one of the boxed flower heads. Wait for them to lift up and jump on King Croacus's head when exposed. Alternatively, Cudge and/or Bowser's fire breath can be used.

Second Phase[]

After King Croacus IV has been hit up to four times by one of his flower heads (20 HP has been depleted), he detaches his main head and attacks Mario and co. In this form, he attacks by either creating three spinning blades that fly in multiple directions, or fly around aimlessly and attempt to damage the player through contact. The strategy remains the same, use Thoreau to grab the blades and throw them at King Croacus when he is exposed or jump on his head while using Carrie.

Trivia[]

  • King Croacus IV is one of the only chapter bosses in Super Paper Mario (aside from Fracktail, Mimi and Mr. L) to be a misunderstood antagonist, reforming after his defeat.
  • King Croacus IV is very similar to Lovely, a recurring enemy from the Kirby franchise, more specifically the Kirby Right Back at Ya! rendition of the character.
    • Both have a flower-theme.
    • Both can attack with spinning blades and can block attacks with their flower petals.
    • Both are not inherently evil and reform after being defeated.
  • King Croacus IV shares similar qualities with the two chapter 5 bosses from the games preceding Super Paper Mario, Lava Piranha and Cortez.
    • Similarities with Lava Piranha:
      • Both are plant-like bosses.
      • Both bosses have more then one head (specifically the first form of King Croacus IV).
      • Both bosses have a serpent-like designs.
      • Both bosses have two forms.
    • Similarities with Cortez:
      • Both bosses are disembodied heads.
      • Both bosses can use sharp objects in their head forms (Cortex: Swords, King Crocus IV: Flower Blades).
      • In their respective battles, both bosses start of in a serpent-like form, but later end the fight with just their heads.
      • Both bosses reform (side with Mario) after the battle.
  • Despite having a female-like face and appearing to wear cosmetics, King Croacus IV is actually a male. His obsession with beauty likely led him to begin wearing makeup, giving Croacus the appearance of a more feminine character.
Advertisement