Handfake

A Handfake is a strange creature shaped like a hand but made of black ooze encountered in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. These monsters live on Star Hill and the Star Shrine, an area high above the Mushroom Kingdom. In battle, a Handfake will hold signs with pictures of various enemies on them. Depending on which enemy picture is on the sign determines how the Handfake will attack. These signs can be destroyed, causing the Handfake to bring a different picture into battle. The signs are all based on character artwork from Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World. Its name is a pun on "handshake."

Goomba
If a Handfake holds up a Goomba sign, the ooze monster will attack by throwing the sign at the back of one of the Mario Bros. The Handfake may throw more than one Goomba sign, one right after the other. The Mario Bros. must jump to avoid these attacks. The player should check when he throws it if it is going to hit upwards; Mario or downwards; Luigi.

Paratroopa
When the Handfake holds a Paratroopa sign, the ooze creature will attack by hitting a Mario Bro. with the sign. However, before attacking, the Handfake will twirl the Paratroopa sign a number of times. The number of twirls equals the number of times the Handfake will pull back the sign before attacking. After pulling back the appropriate number of times, the Mario Bro. should jump to avoid or counter the Handfake's attack.

Bob-omb
If the Handfake holds up a Bob-omb sign, the enemy will throw the sign high up in the air. If the sign is right side up when falling, the Bob-omb sign will fall on top of Mario. If the sign is upside-down, it will fall on Luigi. The Bob-omb sign can be deflected with a Hammer swing. However, after hit, the sign may fall back down, possibly changing targets. Thus the Baby Bros. may have to block the sign multiple times. If the Bob-omb sign hits a Mario Bro., the sign will explode causing damage and possibly dizziness.

Bowser
When a Handfake holds up the Bowser sign, the strange creature can summon either a Boo or a Fly Guy carrying a cardboard flame cut-out on a string. The Boo or Fly Guy will then hit one of the Mario Bros. with the "flame", damaging him. The Mario brothers could jump to avoid this attack. Boo means he is attacking Mario, Fly Guy means Luigi. Sometimes they will be in front of the opposite brother, and will switch right before attacking.

Trivia

 * The artwork on the signs used by Handfake for each enemy is from a classic Super Mario Bros. game. The Goombas' and Paratroopas' are from Super Mario Bros., the Bob-ombs' are from Super Mario Bros. 3, and Bowser's is from Super Mario World.