Koopatrol

Koopatrols (named Armored Koopas in Mario Pinball Land ) are elite soldiers of the Koopa Troop that made their debut in Paper Mario, and have appeared in two of its sequels, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door and Super Paper Mario. Their name is a portmanteau of "Koopa" and "Patrol". These warriors are the high-ranking guards of Bowser's Castle, and most Koopa Troopas dream of becoming Koopatrols. They appear in physique similar to Koopa Troopas, but they wear intimidating spiky armor, including spiked helmets which protect them from being jumped on. However, they'll flip over (or retreat into its shell in Super Paper Mario) like normal Koopas if a badge or Pixl that allows jumping on spiked enemies is used on them.

Paper Mario
During the events of Paper Mario, Koopatrols could be found patrolling Bowser's Castle, as well as Princess Peach's Castle, after Bowser stole the peaceful castle and uprooted it into the thermosphere. They have a difficult time keeping Peach in her room, and can come off as quite conversational. One will also appear in Shy Guy's Toy Box if Peach picks it as one of the answers to Bowser's questions of things Mario hates. Also if Peach is spotted or if she walks into a door being guarded by a Koopatrol, the player is forced back to the room where she is supposed to be in. The Koopatrols also throw Peach onto the ground if this happens. Koopatrols attack Mario by Shell Tossing him; however, unlike Koopa Troopas, they can also charge up their attack power which causes an attack power of 10. Like all enemies of course, Charging takes up a turn. They can also summon more Koopatrols by dancing.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Koopatrols were later found in Rogueport Sewers during the events of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door after Mario and his team clear Chapter 5. They also appear in Bowser's Castle at the end of Chapter 1. A stronger type of Koopatrol, the Dark Koopatrol, is also found in this game in Glitzville and the Pit of 100 Trials.

Super Paper Mario
Koopatrols appear again in Super Paper Mario, where they, along with most of the Koopa Troop were brainwashed by Nastasia into working for Count Bleck, and served as guards in Castle Bleck. They can also be found in Rooms 19 and 86 of the Flipside Pit of 100 Trials.

Koopatrols attack by ramming into the player. Their attacks are sudden and difficult to anticipate. There is another kind of Koopatrol that lives in the Flopside Pit of 100 Trials called a Dark Koopatrol. It is the strongest Koopa enemy in the whole game.

Mario Pinball Land
Koopatrol appear as enemies in Bowser's Castle during the events of Mario Pinball Land. In their only 3-D appearance, the Koopa soldiers have loads of defense and can only be defeated by being bashed into a wall, which crushes them.

Super Princess Peach
Koopatrols also make a cameo appearance in Super Princess Peach as statues on the Bowser's Villa map. At the left side of the map, a statue can be seen holding a sword while at the right side, the statue holds a spear. Every once in a while, two red pupils will appear in the statue's eyes, search its surroundings, then vanish.

Notable Koopatrols

 * Spiky John
 * Spiky Tom
 * The Koopinator (Dark Koopatrol)

Related species

 * Dark Koopatrol
 * Terrapin

Trivia

 * Koopatrols, Goomboss, and the 7 Star Spirits are the only characters that debuted in the Paper Mario series to reappear in a 3D Mario game.