Star Piece (Paper Mario series)

Star Pieces are collectible items in the Paper Mario series. They are found in hidden locations throughout the games, and some are even found underground, in which case a Spin Jump or Mario's Ultra Hammer is used to collect them. Star Pieces can be used to trade for various badges. There are 160 in Paper Mario and 100 in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. In Paper Mario, they are used for trading with Merlow for badges. 64 of the 160 pieces in this game are held by Chuck Quizmo. In Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, they are used for trading with Dazzle in Rogueport Sewers. The fortune teller Merluvlee can tell Mario where the star pieces are.

Star Pieces make a cameo appearance in the minigame Frozen Frenzy in Mario Party 5. The player who collects the most wins the minigame.

Paper Mario


In Paper Mario, Star Pieces are scattered throughout the Mushroom Kingdom, and collected by characters and used for trading too. Characters also give them to each other as thank-you gifts, usually for returning or giving an item wanted. Goombaria mentions that they are good-looking ("Look at the pretty glitter!"), which implies that characters collect them because they look good. Kolorado also mentions that when he found a Star Piece when searching Dry Dry Ruins he immediately picked it up. Mario can also collect them, but the only practical use in the game is to trade badges from Merlow. There are just enough collectible Star Pieces to buy all the badges Merlow has. The number of Star Pieces collected so far is shown on a board in Mario's House.

In total, there are 160 Star Pieces collectible for Mario, among which:
 * 63 are scattered throughout the world and available in the field, though some of them need special partners or equipments to get;
 * 15 in total can be obtained by doing favors for Koopa Koot;
 * 3 can be purchased from Rip Cheato;
 * 64 are used as rewards for Chuck Quizmo's quizzes;
 * 15 more are owned by ordinary characters and can be obtained by giving or returning an item they want, usually a letter. These characters include Chuck Quizmo, Fice T., Goombaria, Goompa, Igor, Kolorado, Koopa Koot, Mayor Penguin, Merlon, Merlow, Minh T., Mort T., the Postmaster, Rip Cheato, Russ T., and the Wandering Nomadimouse.

Some of the overworld Star Pieces are underground. These need at least Super Boots or Ultra Hammer to get. When performing a Spin Jump, Tornado Jump, or an Ultra Hammer smash around it, a square panel from the ground flips, and the Star Piece pops out. However, if jumped or smashed right above, the panel will only shake without popping out the Piece. They can be detected by the I Spy Badge. After Mario equips the Super Boots, a Boo appears in the room and ready to tell Mario about these Star Pieces.

Merluvlee, who lives in a house near Shooting Star Summit, can give predictions of the whereabouts of the Star Pieces. She can predict only the overworld 63.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door


In Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, there are 100 Star Pieces, all of which are overworld and can be predicted by Merluvlee. Some of these are underground and require Super Boots to get. The difference is that in the sequel, the underground panels can no longer be flipped with the Ultra Hammer. In addition, none of the characters uses them as gifts. Mario can still use them to trade badges. There are just enough Star Pieces to buy all the badges.

The number of Star Pieces Mario has collected is displayed on a notice board near the entrance of the Pit of 100 Trials.

Merluvlee's predictions

 * ''I see...a Star Piece. You take on a new form on the glowing panel in Rogueport Harbor and go left. You then look in the shadow of the barrel in this new place to find it.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. It lies to the left of the stairs leading from Rogueport Harbor to the square. It pops out of a strange panel that flips when you Spin-Jump near it.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. It is in Rogueport Square. You go through the alley under the catwalk... You walk to the wall... You then go right, toward where some crates lie... It pops out of a strange panel that flips when you Spin-Jump near it.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. It is in Rogueport Square. Near the path to the east side... It is right among the crates there.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. It is in Rogueport Square. You go through the alley under the catwalk... You then go to the left and enter the house... It is in the shadow of the mat there.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. It is in Rogueport Square. On the roof of Zess T.'s house... It is on the far side of the roof on the left.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. It is in Rogueport Square. Just before the exit to Rogueport Harbor... It pops out of a strange panel that flips when you Spin-Jump near it.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. It is in east Rogueport. Just in front of the Goomba archaeologist's house... It pops out of a strange panel that flips when you Spin-Jump near it.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. It is in east Rogueport. Just before the exit to the main square... You go into the strange wall and go deep into the shadow of the house... It is on top of a crate.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. It is in east Rogueport. You use Yoshi to cross the canal and climb to the roof... You make your way across the roof to the left... It is behind the first chimney.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. It is in east Rogueport. You turn sideways to go between two houses... It is behind a barrel.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. It is in east Rogueport. You use Yoshi to cross the canal and climb to the roof... It pops out of a strange panel that flips when you Spin-Jump near it.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. It is in west Rogueport. In front of the door to the Pianta Parlor... It pops out of a strange panel that flips when you Spin-Jump near it.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. It is in west Rogueport. You find the low wall there... It is behind the low wall on the right.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. It is in west Rogueport. To the front and diagonally away from the store... It is behind a garbage can.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. It is in west Rogueport. It is behind the tall pipe...
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. It is in north Rogueport. On the left side of the train platform. Near the Toad girl... It pops out of a strange panel that flips when you Spin-Jump near it.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. It is in north Rogueport. Near the pipe to the blimp landing pad... It is behind the pipe.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. It is below Rogueport. You leave here and cross that nearby obstacle... It is behind the fallen column on the right.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. It is below Rogueport. Just to the right of this building... Behind the column...
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. It is below Rogueport. Left of the leftmost building... Behind a column there.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. It is below Rogueport. Inside the second building from the left... Before Wonky... It pops out of a strange panel that flips when you Spin-Jump near it.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. It is below Rogueport. In the sunken area of where you first go underground... It pops out of a strange panel that flips when you Spin-Jump near it.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. It is below Rogueport. In the room with the pipe to the Great Tree. It pops out of a strange panel that flips when you Spin-Jump near it.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. It is below Rogueport. In the place where you first encountered the little one... Near the pipe there.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. It is far below Rogueport. In the great door's room... There, before the door... It pops out of a strange panel that flips when you Spin-Jump near it.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. It is far below Rogueport. To the left of the room with the great door... Where the pipe to the Pit of 100 Trials is... It is behind the stairs to the entrance.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. It is in west Rogueport. Underneath the place where you turn sideways to drop... You enter the pipe on the left and go right to find it.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. It is in west Rogueport. Underneath the place where you turn sideways to drop... In an unseen place near the two platforms that sink when you stand on them...
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. It is below Rogueport. You leave this building and go right... When you see water, you do a Spring Jump to the bar above and go enter a pipe... When you exit, you go left until you find a room with a hammock... It rests there.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. It is below Rogueport. Just in front of the black chest... It pops out of a strange panel that flips when you Spin-Jump near it.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. In the meadows leading to the relaxed town... The area where you see the castle... You hit a tree near the pipe to get it.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. In the meadows... You enter the pipe before the bridge and go to the right to find it.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. Beyond the relaxed village... You check the first clump of grass you see...
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. In the relaxed village... The area with the inn... Near the flower-headed guy... It pops out of a strange panel that flips when you Spin-Jump near it.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. In the relaxed village... Near the flowers by the gatekeeper... It pops out of a strange panel that flips when you Spin-Jump near it.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. Inside the big castle... Where there are many cells... Inside the leftmost cell... It pops out of a strange panel that flips when you Spin-Jump near it.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. Inside the big castle... In the big room where the switch moves the stairs... Up high... But you can't get to it from that room... You come in from another room... You go to where there are many windows and no floor, and just fall through... You land on a bit of wall and go right to get it.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. Inside the big castle... In the big room where the switch moves the stairs... Up high... But you can't get to it from that room... You come in from another room... You go to where there are many windows and find the open one... You jump out of it and go all the way to the right...
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. Inside the big castle... In the big room where the switch moves the stairs... You use the shell to get on the purple block to go up... You go right to find it there.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. Inside the big castle... In the room with the glowing panel... Invisible from below... You use the shell to get on the yellow block and go up... You cross the panel to get to the far side and walk all the way to the right.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. In a thick forest... Near a panel that glows with your approach... In a spot reached by following the narrow treelined path all the way to the left...
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. In a deep, thick forest... Where you can see the wind-user's house... You hit the third tree from the left.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. In a deep, thick forest... Where you can see the wind-user's house... Near the pipe on the left...
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. In the wind-user's house... In the room with the bed... To the left of the dresser... It pops out of a strange panel that flips when you Spin-Jump near it.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. Inside the Great Tree... Above the bubble room... Before the pipe that goes up. It pops out of a strange panel that flips when you Spin-Jump near it.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. Inside the Great Tree... In the middle of the blue cell. It pops out of a strange panel that flips when you Spin-Jump near it.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. Inside the Great Tree... By the twisty narrow path... You check the grass below and to the left.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. Inside the Great Tree... Just before the trap room... Behind the pipe going up...
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. Inside the Great Tree... In a room past the far-right pipe in the lowest room. You check the second clump of grass from the left.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. Inside the Great Tree... In the room with the four pillars carved with symbols. Behind the pipe...
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. In the city in the clouds... Behind the juice shop... It is in the back on the left.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. In the city in the clouds... Behind the phone box...
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. In the city in the clouds... In front of the arena... Behind the plant to the right of the entrance...
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. In the city in the clouds... On the juice shop roof... Behind the jump pad...
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. In the city in the clouds... Far in front of the arena... Before the star... It pops out of a strange panel that flips when you Spin-Jump near it.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. In the city in the clouds... In the first-floor lobby... To the left of the ring door... It pops out of a strange panel that flips when you Spin-Jump near it.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. In the city in the clouds... In the promoter's room... Behind the decorative plant behind the sofa...
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. In the city in the clouds... In the promoter's room... Inside the desk drawer...
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. In the city in the clouds... In the middle of the first-floor storage room. It pops out of a strange panel that flips when you Spin-Jump near it.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. In the city in the clouds... In the right-hand, second- floor storage room... Behind a box...
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. In the twilit village... Where the inn is... In the clump of grass just to the left of the tree in the front...
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. In the twilit village... Where the inn is... Behind the house on the left...
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. In the twilit village... Where the shop is... Behind the tree on the right and in the front...
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. Beyond the twilit village... On the path to the woods... Behind the fallen tree...
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. Beyond the twilit village... Beyond the fallen tree... Behind the pipe...
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. Outside the steeple... Near the broken gate by the entrance... Behind a low wall...
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. Inside the scary steeple... In the room with the staircase that changes... In the space just between the far door and the near door... It pops out of a strange panel that flips when you Spin-Jump near it.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. Inside the scary steeple... In the room that you must roll up to enter... Between the old sofa and the chair...
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. Inside the scary steeple... On the upper level of the basement room with torches... Behind the column on the far right...
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. Inside the scary steeple... Near the door in the room with the parrot... It pops out of a strange panel that flips when you Spin-Jump near it.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. On a southern island... You go right from the pier until you get near the rock. It pops out of a strange panel that flips when you Spin-Jump near it.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. On a southern island... Behind the rock in front of the inn...
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. On a southern island... Where the shop and inn are... On the beach where the waves are lapping...
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. On a southern island... In the jungle just beyond the inn and shop... You check the far-left clump of grass...
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. On a southern island... In the dangerous jungle. Beyond the Nibbles pond... Behind the tangled root of the big tree there...
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. On a southern island... Near the stones that look like Red and Blue 'Stache. Behind the stone in the front...
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. In the Pirate's Grotto... Deep in the cave with two floating boats... On a narrow plank on the left side of the boat on the right...
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. In the Pirate's Grotto... Above the big waterfall... Where the glowing panel is... Near the path that goes on to the right... It pops out of a strange panel that flips when you Spin-Jump near it.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. In the Pirate's Grotto... Where there are lots of barrels on the left side... You climb onto something, rise to a high place, and find it in a barrel.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. In the Pirate's Grotto... In the middle of a room with three winged beasts. It pops out of a strange panel that flips when you Spin-Jump near it.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. On a beautiful, shiny train... Near the panel of gauges in the engineer's car... It pops out of a strange panel that flips when you Spin-Jump near it.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. On a beautiful, shiny train... Near the hand strap in cabin number 4... It pops out of a strange panel that flips when you Spin-Jump near it.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. On a beautiful, shiny train... I see it shining with Chef Shimi in the dining car... You fulfill his request, and he gives it to you.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. On a beautiful, shiny train... I see it shining with the waitress in the dining car... You fulfill her request, and she gives it to you.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. On a beautiful, shiny train... It is in the drawer in cabin number 8.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. At a fueling station where the train frequently stops... In a room full of gears... Behind the gear in the right rear of the room...
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. In the town of wealth... By the house with a rose hedge before the station... You enter through the gap in the manicured hedge... Find it in the back.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. In the town of wealth... At the bottom of the stairs in front of the station... It pops out of a strange panel that flips when you Spin-Jump near it.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. In the town of wealth... At the house in front of the station that has a pool... Behind the deck chair...
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. In the town of wealth... In the garden of the house next to the hotel... Behind the hedge...
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. On the cold village path... To the left of the pipe that leads below Rogueport... It pops out of a strange panel that flips when you Spin-Jump near it.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. In the cold village... As you enter the village... Behind the front wall...
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. In the cold village... Inside the house far to the right... Behind the stacked boxes...
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. In the cold village... Close to the left side of the cannon... It pops out of a strange panel that flips when you Spin-Jump near it.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. On the cold village path... To the right, away from the pipe to Rogueport. It is in a clump of grass next to the tree in the front-right.
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. On the path to the pipe that leads from the cold village to underground Rogueport... Behind the wall in the front-right...
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. Near the pipe on the moon... Just beyond a large crater... Behind a small stone...
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. Inside the moon fortress... In a room with a crane... On top of a high platform...
 * ''I see...a Star Piece. Inside the moon fortress... In a place with a low ceiling... On the far-left side of the room...

Trivia

 * Star Pieces resemble Revives from the Pokémon series. There is also a valuable item called Star Piece.
 * At the end of Paper Mario, when Mario is going to attend Princess Peach's party, it seems that the developers didn't want to let the player collect any more items by closing all the facilities in Toad Town, but they left the Star Pieces in Toad Town unchanged, so the Star Pieces are the only items Mario can collect at this time.
 * Before collecting any Star Pieces in Paper Mario, the menu description will say, "Wondering what this is for? Secret!"