Catch Card

Catch Cards are cards that Mario, Peach, Bowser, and Luigi can collect in the game Super Paper Mario. There are different types of Catch Cards, and they all have a certain character's picture, stats and such. Also, getting one will double the damage done to that enemy. For example, getting a Squiglet card will deal more damage to them. The damage increases successively for each card collected. For example, collecting two Squiglet cards multiplies damage done to Squiglets by three, collecting three multiplies it by four, and so on. The maximum number of Catch Cards that can be held for one individual enemy or character is 99. Having this many cards multiplies the damage done to that enemy by 100.

In the item description for Catch Cards, it is said that it captures the enemy's soul if it works. However, many Catch Cards exist for main characters in the game, with some having multiple cards (i.e. Peach has three), so obviously not all cards contain a soul.

Catch Cards can be bought blank, which looks like a simple blue card, or as a Caught Card. As a blank card, the heroes can carry it with them and use it to capture any enemy of their choosing, provided the Catch Card succeeds in capturing the enemy. The enemy will then turn into a collectible card.

In the Card Shops, one can also buy Caught Cards, cards that already have enemies on them, reducing the need to trek through the various worlds capturing enemies. However, the downside is that the Caught Cards are either random or more expensive than simply buying a blank Catch Card.

There are two Card Shops in the game, one each on the first floor of Flipside and Flopside. Flipside's shop, Catch a Dream, sells Catch Cards for 20 Coins each, as well as random Caught Cards for 10 Coins each. The player chooses one of eight Card Bags that contains the card. However, the exact card the player will get is a mystery until the money is paid.

Flopside's shop, Fondest Hopes, sells Catch Card SPs, which almost always work, except on bosses. They look like a pink palette swap of the original Catch Card and cost 100 Coins each. Their selection of Caught Cards changes frequently, and allows the player to choose which card he or she wishes to buy, as long as it's in stock. However, the cards are expensive and often exceed fifty or even 100 Coins.

Catch Cards do not always have enemies on them. Important characters such as Merlon, Bestovius, the Pixls, and even Mario's partners from Paper Mario and Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door have their own cards as well. Since Catch Cards do not work on them, their cards must either be found or purchased in a Card Shop. Collecting these cards have no effect other than bragging rights.

Catch Cards are also valued based on their rarity. Normal enemy cards are bronze and have one star on the Card Collection screen. Most bosses and character cards are known as Super Cards. They are silver and have two stars. Exceedingly rare cards, such as the Amazy Dayzee and the Pixls, are referred to as Special Cards. Their design is gold and they boast three stars on the Card Collection screen. The rarer the card, typically the more coins it is worth when one buys or sells it.

If the player desires, he or she can opt to sell cards back to the shops, with each shop paying the same amount. As may logically be expected, rarer cards sell for more coins.

There are a total of 256 Catch Cards in the game.

Trivia

 * Despite being a Super Card, Mr. L's Catch Card is only worth 20 coins if bought at a card shop, and only 10 if sold.

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