Culex Rematch Guide

This is a strategy guide for the Culex rematch in Super Mario RPG Remake. It explains Culex's weaknesses, countermeasures, recommended parties, and equipment, so please use it as a reference for how to defeat him.

Related Monsters
Culex	Culex (Rematch)

Culex Rematch Weaknesses

Culex (3D)

	HP	9999
	EXP	732
	Appearance Map	Monstown

Fire Crystal (3D)

	HP	3500
	EXP	0
	Appearance Map	Monstown

Water Crystal (3D)

	HP	2800
	EXP	0
	Appearance Map	Monstown

Earth Crystal (3D)

	HP	4200
	EXP	0
	Appearance Map	Monstown

Wind Crystal (3D)

	HP	1800
	EXP	0
	Appearance Map	Monstown

How to Unlock Culex / Challenge Conditions

Defeat the normal Culex

To fight Culex (3D), you first need to defeat the normal Culex. Obtain the 'Shiny Stone' through the Moleville trading event, open the sealed door in Monstown, and the first battle will begin behind the door.

Defeat all rematch bosses

Progress through the post-game events and defeat all bosses that become available for a rematch. After defeating all of them, enter the sealed door in Monstown to start the rematch with Culex.

Culex Rematch Strategy and Countermeasures

Prepare Items

He uses powerful group attacks and moves that seal specific commands, so Peach's healing alone may not be enough. Prepare as many recovery and attack items as possible.

Recommended Items

Focus on a defense-oriented equipment setup

There are many enemies and many powerful group attacks, so if your defense is low, you won't be able to fight properly. Prioritize equipping gear with high defense/magic defense or effects that reduce elemental damage.

Use a KeroKeroCola on the first turn

Culex will always use 'Meteor', a group attack that deals damage equal to 1 less than the character's max HP, at the start of the battle. Have the first character to act use a KeroKeroCola to heal the entire party's HP.

Fully heal when the count is 1

When Culex's count reaches 0, he will use Meteor again. This will be unbearable damage if your HP is low, so fully heal when the count becomes 1.

Keep buffs active at all times

Applying defense and attack buffs will greatly stabilize the battle. If buffs are removed by Shredder, be ready to reapply them immediately.

Always defeat the Crystals first

If you defeat the main body while Crystals remain, he will consume a Crystal to revive and fully restore his HP. Always defeat all Crystals before defeating Culex himself.

It's recommended to defeat Crystals one by one

It's tough to fight a long battle with many Crystals active. To reduce the number of enemy attacks quickly, it's recommended to focus fire on them one by one.

Be careful about the order of defeating Crystals

In the rematch, when a Crystal is defeated, it will grant specific buffs to all enemies. Depending on the effect, it might be better to postpone defeating certain Crystals.

Order	Enemy	Brief Explanation
1	Wind	- Low HP, so easy to defeat - Status ailment attacks are troublesome - Defeating it increases all enemies' speed
2	Earth	- Dangerous due to many unblockable non-elemental attacks - Defeating it increases all enemies' defense
3	Fire	- All attacks are Fire-elemental, so can be mitigated with equipment - Defeating it increases all enemies' attack - High HP, takes time to defeat
4	Water	- Defeating it increases all enemies' magic attack and magic defense - Has the second lowest HP after Wind, but troublesome if defeated, so save for last

His attack pattern changes when he's alone

When all Crystals are destroyed, the main body's number of actions increases, and its count move changes. The count move becomes an attack that deals 9999 damage to a single target, so be prepared to revive anyone who is defeated.

Setting the difficulty to Breezy is also an option

If you set the difficulty to Breezy, some accessories will allow you to nullify elemental damage, significantly reducing the risk of being defeated. If you really want to win, consider changing the difficulty.

Recommended Party and Equipment

Recommended Party

It's recommended to have Geno apply attack & defense buffs, then attack with Mario and Geno. Peach should focus on healing. In a pinch, use items or 3-person moves to overcome the situation.

Recommended Equipment

Armor

1. Lazy Shell

   Defense+127

   Magic Defense+127

   Highest durability. Also provides immunity to all status ailments and reduces elemental damage.

   ---

   EffectAttack -50, Magic -50, Speed -50
   Prevents all status ailments
   Reduces all elemental damage by 70% (100% on Breezy difficulty)
2. Super Suit

   Defense+50

   Magic Defense+50

   Strongest armor. Equip on Mario if you have it.

   ---

   EffectAttack +50, Magic +50, Speed +30
   Prevents all status ailments
   Reduces all elemental damage by 70% (100% on Breezy difficulty)

Accessories

1. Safety Ring

   Defense+5

   Magic Defense+5

   Speed+5

   Excellent for nullifying all status ailments and reducing elemental damage.

   ---

   EffectPrevents all status ailments and instant death
   Reduces all elemental damage by 70% (100% on Breezy difficulty)
2. Jumper's Scarf

   Attack+30

   Defense+30

   Magic Attack+30

   Magic Defense+30

   Speed+30

   Mario's best accessory. Excellent stat boosts.

   ---

   EffectPrevents instant death attacks
3. Jinx Belt

   Attack+27

   Defense+27

   Speed+12

   Excellent stat boosts.

   ---

   EffectPrevents instant death attacks
4. Booster's Charm

   Attack+7

   Defense+7

   Magic Attack+7

   Magic Defense+7

   Speed-5

   Excellent for stat boosts and elemental damage reduction.

   ---

   EffectReduces all elemental damage by 50%

Culex Rematch Special Moves

Main Body's Attacks

	Meteor An attack that reduces all allies' HP to 1. Used at the start of battle and when the count reaches 0.
	Final Claw Deals 9999 damage to a single target. Used after all Crystals are destroyed and the count reaches 0.
	Command Seal Randomly seals Mario and allies' A, X, or Y buttons.
	Shredder Removes all buffs applied to Mario and allies.
	Flame Stone Drops a giant fireball, dealing Fire-elemental magic damage to a single target.
	Glimmering Meteor Swarm Drops a meteor shower, dealing non-elemental magic damage to all targets.
	Dark Star Uses Dark Star to deal non-elemental magic damage to a single target.

Crystal Attacks

Fire Crystal

	Vigor Wave Unleashes a wave of spirit, buffing all enemies' attack. Used when Fire Crystal's HP reaches 0.
	Fireball Shoots a fireball, dealing Fire-elemental magic damage to a single target.
	Flame Unleashes flames, dealing Fire-elemental magic damage to a single target.
	Wall of Flame Engulfs the field in intense flames, dealing Fire-elemental magic damage to all targets.
	Light Saber Uses Light Saber to deal Fire-elemental magic damage to a single target.
	Flare Uses Flare to deal Fire-elemental magic damage to all targets.

Water Crystal

	Magic Wave Unleashes a magic wave, buffing all enemies' magic attack and magic defense. Used when Water Crystal's HP reaches 0.
	Frigid Creates a blizzard, dealing Ice-elemental magic damage to all targets.
	Diamond Cutter Shoots a Diamond Cutter, dealing non-elemental magic damage to a single target.
	Ice Rock Drops a block of ice, dealing Ice-elemental damage to a single target.
	Flash Freeze Uses pillars of ice to deal Ice-elemental magic damage to all targets.

Earth Crystal

	Tenacity Wave Unleashes a wave of determination, buffing all enemies' defense. Used when Earth Crystal's HP reaches 0.
	Sandstorm Creates a sandstorm, dealing non-elemental magic damage to all targets and inflicting Fear.
	Blast Causes an explosion, dealing non-elemental magic damage to a single target.
	Steam Explosion Causes a steam explosion, dealing non-elemental magic damage to all targets.
	Storm Creates a tornado, dealing non-elemental magic damage to a target.
	Boulder Roll Rolls numerous rocks, dealing non-elemental magic damage to all targets.

Wind Crystal

	Swiftness Wave Unleashes a wave of agility, increasing all enemies' speed. Used when Wind Crystal's HP reaches 0.
	Static Discharge Unleashes an electric shock that covers the entire field, dealing Thunder-elemental magic damage to all targets.
	Static E Uses Static E to deal Thunder-elemental magic damage to a single target.
	Lightning Ball Shoots a ball of lightning, dealing Thunder-elemental magic damage to a single target.
	Electric Shock Unleashes an electric shock, dealing Thunder-elemental magic damage to a single target.
	Cherry Blossom Blizzard Whips up a cherry blossom blizzard, dealing non-elemental magic damage to all targets and inflicting Mushroom status.
	Rainbow Bubble Launches a giant soap bubble, dealing non-elemental magic damage to all targets and inflicting Sleep status.

Flavor Text

Culex (3D)

1. 

   You shall know true pain!
   The power of end-game content!!

   You defeated the strongest enemy!
   Thank you for playing until the very end!!
   Development Staff

Fire Crystal (3D)

1. 

   The boss has become quite
   respectable, hasn't he?

   A crystal that governs the power of fire.
   It is dissatisfied with its master,
   who uses the flames of justice for evil.

Water Crystal (3D)

1. 

   That's why...
   I hate the surface world, it's so dry!

   A crystal that governs the power of water.
   The healing waters that support life
   require a damp environment.

Earth Crystal (3D)

1. 

   I didn't particularly need
   to become 3D, though~.

   A crystal that governs the power of earth.
   It slumbers long in the depths of the earth,
   amplifying and then releasing vibrations.

Wind Crystal (3D)

1. 

   Hyu~ruri~ Hyu~rara~~
   Hyururarara~~~~~.

   A crystal that governs the power of wind.
   The sound of the wind tearing through the air
   echoes throughout the world.