Courage Shell

A Courage Shell is an item found in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door and Super Paper Mario. In Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door, using one can boost Mario's or his partner's Defense by 3 points for two turns. Courage Shells can be bought in Petalburg and can also be stolen from Paratroopas. They can also be cooked up by Zess T. by cooking up a Mr. Softener and Point Swap together.

In Super Paper Mario, it reduced damage players took by half. To make it more effective, players had to play a Minigame similar to Koops' Shell Shield. The effect can last anywhere from 25 (minimum) to 40 (maximum) seconds. In this game, if one gave a Shell Shock to Saffron the cook, she would bake a Courage Shell. However, if one gives the Courage Shell to Saffron, she will bake a Mistake. Courage Shells can be purchased from Howzit's shop in Flipside for 10 coins. Various enemies can also drop Courage Shells.

Interestingly, the name "Courage Shell" applied earlier to a piece of armor available to Bowser in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. In this game, the Courage Shell could be bought in Monstro Town and was one of many "shell" armors that Bowser could buy and wear.