Battle of the recurring Mario RPG villains (2-0-0)

[The_Almighty_Wholesome]

Popple vs Jr. Troopa

These two incompetent villains are recurring villains in these Mario games with multiple recurring battles (Popple in Superstar Saga + Dream Team and Jr. in Paper Mario) So they’re going to duke it out

Rules:
-Both are 6-C
-Speed is equalized
-Both have all equipment and at their prime
-Battle takes place on Moo Moo Farms from Mario Kart

Oh, sure, you guys are real tough, teaming up on me! Don't think you can beat me just 'cause I'm alone. It's my solo debut on the battle lines, see?: 2

Look at that piece of work! I've been taking a little magic course on the side! And now, you're gonna be my final exam! Yeah! I've gotta win this time!:

O’Chunks (another recurring villain in Super Paper Mario) destroys them both/Incon:

 

[The_Almighty_Wholesome]

Bump (Bumped a lot of threads early, sorry)

 

[The_Almighty_Wholesome]

Bump

 

[The_Almighty_Wholesome]

Bump

 

[koopa3144]

So Popple can probably yank Jr. Troopa's wand off him and use it for himself which would give him a pretty big advantage.

 

[The_Almighty_Wholesome]

So Popple can probably yank Jr. Troopa's wand off him and use it for himself which would give him a pretty big advantage.

Yup, he can also range him out by throwing hammers (as shown in M+L SS + Bowsers Minions) and other projectiles if Jr. Troopa decides to fly.

 

[The_Almighty_Wholesome]

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[The_Almighty_Wholesome]

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[The_Almighty_Wholesome]

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[The_Almighty_Wholesome]

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[The_Almighty_Wholesome]

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[The_Almighty_Wholesome]

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[Foxthefox1000]

I'd go with Popple.

He can poison Troopa and underground mobility makes him basically able to avoid anything serious Troopa could do. And as discussed before, the wand that gives Troopa most of his offensive stuff can just be taken away from him.

 

[ZespeonGalaxy]

Might vote for popple hmm

 

[Imaginym]

Question: Does Jr. Troopa have his wand present at the start?

In the final battle against him, he starts in his "base" form ("Base" in so far as it resembles how he was in the first battle.), but IIRC, the staff only becomes present after he Transforms.

Can he conjure his staff by transforming? Is it present before he takes his magic using form?

 

[The_Almighty_Wholesome]

Question: Does Jr. Troopa have his wand present at the start?

In the final battle against him, he starts in his "base" form ("Base" in so far as it resembles how he was in the first battle.), but IIRC, the staff only becomes present after he Transforms.

Can he conjure his staff by transforming? Is it present before he takes his magic using form?

No, as you’ve stated in his final battle it only becomes present if he transforms/conjures it so it would be when he sees fit to transform or if he take a proper amount of damage. And since we’re using the prime versions of the characters and be faithful to what they do in their respective games. However Popple is a much more experienced melee fighter so Jr. Troopa might find trouble there.

I'd go with Popple.

He can poison Troopa and underground mobility makes him basically able to avoid anything serious Troopa could do. And as discussed before, the wand that gives Troopa most of his offensive stuff can just be taken away from him.

Might vote for popple hmm

Can I count these as votes or wait?

 

[ZespeonGalaxy]

No, as you’ve stated in his final battle it only becomes present if he transforms/conjures it so it would be when he sees fit to transform or if he take a proper amount of damage. And since we’re using the prime versions of the characters and be faithful to what they do in their respective games. However Popple is a much more experienced melee fighter so Jr. Troopa might find trouble there.



Can I count these as votes or wait?

Count mine as a vote, tyvm in advanced!

 

[The_Almighty_Wholesome]

Count mine as a vote, tyvm in advanced!

Of course, counted!

 

[The_Almighty_Wholesome]

Bump

 

[Imaginym]

No, as you’ve stated in his final battle it only becomes present if he transforms/conjures it so it would be when he sees fit to transform or if he take a proper amount of damage. And since we’re using the prime versions of the characters and be faithful to what they do in their respective games. However Popple is a much more experienced melee fighter so Jr. Troopa might find trouble there.

Yeah, I only brought it up because of this earlier argument:

So Popple can probably yank Jr. Troopa's wand off him and use it for himself which would give him a pretty big advantage.

I don't know if:

A. The wand teleports to him from somewhere when he changes to magic form.
B. He pulls it out from somewhere. (Hammerspace? His shell?)
C. He conjures it when he enters magic form.

In case A, entering that form, in theory, could let it retrieve the wand if it's stolen.
In case B, stealing it is indeed devastating.
In case C, Popple could steal it, but Jr. Troopa may be able to conjure a new wand to use for himself; Both could end up with one.

& also, do we know if the magic can be used with the wand alone?
Didn't Jr. Troopa say he was taking magic lessons? What if it requires the learned knowledge to use the magic?

& also it means Jr. Troopa might start by going for melee instead of magic, if his behaviour is like his final battle form where he only goes magic form after some damage, IIRC. (As opposed to in Shiver Fields, where he leads with transforming from base into Magic Form.)

 

[The_Almighty_Wholesome]

I don't know if:

A. The wand teleports to him from somewhere when he changes to magic form.
B. He pulls it out from somewhere. (Hammerspace? His shell?)
C. He conjures it when he enters magic form.

Given how his fighting style is in his final encounter, I’d lean on option C, as he’s actively transforming to get into this state as subtly hinted at in the profile. Though I can’t say for 100% that’s exactly what’s happening since it’s never stated how he summons the wand at all, that’s my best GUESS and what evidence is pointing towards. Though might as well provide options for what happens in each scenario.

In case A, entering that form, in theory, could let it retrieve the wand if it's stolen.
In case B, stealing it is indeed devastating.
In case C, Popple could steal it, but Jr. Troopa may be able to conjure a new wand to use for himself; Both could end up with one.

A - Precisely, Popple wouldn’t be capable of permanently stealing the wand, though that’s if Jr. Troopa doesn’t decide to change strategies and go into another transformation

B - Yeah Troopa’s screwed on using magic and will have to rely on other tactics

C - It’s funny to think of them both spamming magic at each other aimlessly but yes I agree completely. And I do find this the most likely case of reasoning for how the wand works so this would most likely be the case

& also, do we know if the magic can be used with the wand alone?
Didn't Jr. Troopa say he was taking magic lessons? What if it requires the learned knowledge to use the magic?

Very good point. The magic might not work as effectively for Popple though the wand might be essential to use the magic Troops learned. (Although if Option C is correct, then that wouldn’t be an issue for him)

& also it means Jr. Troopa might start by going for melee instead of magic, if his behaviour is like his final battle form where he only goes magic form after some damage, IIRC. (As opposed to in Shiver Fields, where he leads with transforming from base into Magic Form.)

Precisely. Plus Popple would likely stop using the wand once he realized it wasn’t getting him anywhere.

Overall, I think even if Troopa can summon a wand then Popple can steal another one and it will deter Troopa to specifically flying and/or melee attacking. To which Popple is far more skilled in given he’s taken on the Bros in Superstar Saga and Dream Team, plus he fought and influenced/lead foes to fight Bowser’s Minions. Whereas Jr. Troopa fought Mario + Partners 6 times in their journey getting stronger and having a variety of abilities sure, but overall has less experience fighting a wide variety of foes.

Popple: Mario, Luigi, Wiggler (Dream Team), Bowser’s Army (which consists of multiple foes with a variety of abilities) whilst leading an army of wannabe partners with him + being in 2 of Mario’s journeys > Jr. Troopa Mario + Partners in one journey (Well I mean he technically completely one shotted Koopa bros but that’s beside the point as Popple should be way stronger than Koopa bros anyways)

Also Popple is arguably wittier than Troopa? (I mean both lack some common sense but) Skilled thief, fights against Bowser’s Minions twice whilst encouraging random ass enemies to defend him, competently fights against the Bros, witty enough in combat to see the need to team up, and gets the bros to take out Wiggler first before attacking in Dream Team > Mastered magic and flight in a short amount of time, competently fights Mario and the gang, but is not smart enough to use flight to swim across the ocean………

 

[Imaginym]

Given how his fighting style is in his final encounter, I’d lean on option C, as he’s actively transforming to get into this state as subtly hinted at in the profile. Though I can’t say for 100% that’s exactly what’s happening since it’s never stated how he summons the wand at all, that’s my best GUESS and what evidence is pointing towards. Though might as well provide options for what happens in each scenario.

A - Precisely, Popple wouldn’t be capable of permanently stealing the wand, though that’s if Jr. Troopa doesn’t decide to change strategies and go into another transformation

B - Yeah Troopa’s screwed on using magic and will have to rely on other tactics

C - It’s funny to think of them both spamming magic at each other aimlessly but yes I agree completely. And I do find this the most likely case of reasoning for how the wand works so this would most likely be the case

Very good point. The magic might not work as effectively for Popple though the wand might be essential to use the magic Troops learned. (Although if Option C is correct, then that wouldn’t be an issue for him)

Precisely. Plus Popple would likely stop using the wand once he realized it wasn’t getting him anywhere.

Overall, I think even if Troopa can summon a wand then Popple can steal another one and it will deter Troopa to specifically flying and/or melee attacking. To which Popple is far more skilled in given he’s taken on the Bros in Superstar Saga and Dream Team, plus he fought and influenced/lead foes to fight Bowser’s Minions. Whereas Jr. Troopa fought Mario + Partners 6 times in their journey getting stronger and having a variety of abilities sure, but overall has less experience fighting a wide variety of foes.

Popple: Mario, Luigi, Wiggler (Dream Team), Bowser’s Army (which consists of multiple foes with a variety of abilities) whilst leading an army of wannabe partners with him + being in 2 of Mario’s journeys > Jr. Troopa Mario + Partners in one journey (Well I mean he technically completely one shotted Koopa bros but that’s beside the point as Popple should be way stronger than Koopa bros anyways)

Also Popple is arguably wittier than Troopa? (I mean both lack some common sense but) Skilled thief, fights against Bowser’s Minions twice whilst encouraging random ass enemies to defend him, competently fights against the Bros, witty enough in combat to see the need to team up, and gets the bros to take out Wiggler first before attacking in Dream Team > Mastered magic and flight in a short amount of time, competently fights Mario and the gang, but is not smart enough to use flight to swim across the ocean………

The only other advantages I can think of are:

A. Jr. Troopa's heals might be less finite than Popple's Mushrooms. (Although, in the absence of other metrics, it's 10 HP out of 60, so only one sixth.)
B. His spike might be unpleasant to deal with. But it's only present in one of his forms, & Popple is no stranger to non-contact attacks.

Also, Jr. Troopa ain't that smart. IIRC, he's done stuff like dive into the water on Pleasant Path for reasons beyond me. IDK if he somehow missed Mario while Mario was standing still, or if it was just some show of bravado.
He's also gotten lost & terrified within Forever Forest, but given Jr. Troopa's seeming immaturity & FF's history & reputation, hard to blame him about that. Poor sense of navigation, I guess?


The only way Jr. Troopa wins this if he can exhaust Popple's supply of Mushrooms without running out of his heals, & I doubt he has the smarts or patience to do that, especially when it only works in Magic Form; Even if he can switch back, any time he's taking hits without realizing he needs to recover is time he's falling behind, supposing Popple is healing.

& even if he isn't losing in a damage race (Magic projectiles aside.), there is the apparent skill gap to deal with.


I guess I'll vote Popple.

 

[The_Almighty_Wholesome]

The only other advantages I can think of are:

A. Jr. Troopa's heals might be less finite than Popple's Mushrooms. (Although, in the absence of other metrics, it's 10 HP out of 60, so only one sixth.)
B. His spike might be unpleasant to deal with. But it's only present in one of his forms, & Popple is no stranger to non-contact attacks.

Also, Jr. Troopa ain't that smart. IIRC, he's done stuff like dive into the water on Pleasant Path for reasons beyond me. IDK if he somehow missed Mario while Mario was standing still, or if it was just some show of bravado.
He's also gotten lost & terrified within Forever Forest, but given Jr. Troopa's seeming immaturity & FF's history & reputation, hard to blame him about that. Poor sense of navigation, I guess?


The only way Jr. Troopa wins this if he can exhaust Popple's supply of Mushrooms without running out of his heals, & I doubt he has the smarts or patience to do that, especially when it only works in Magic Form; Even if he can switch back, any time he's taking hits without realizing he needs to recover is time he's falling behind, supposing Popple is healing.

& even if he isn't losing in a damage race (Magic projectiles aside.), there is the apparent skill gap to deal with.


I guess I'll vote Popple.

Vote counted!

 

[The_Almighty_Wholesome]

Bump