Pirate's Grotto

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Pirate's Grotto
Mario and Admiral Bobbery entering Pirate's Grotto.
First appearance Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (2004)
Latest appearance Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Nintendo Switch) (2024)
Greater location Keelhaul Key
Ruler Cortez
Inhabitants Bullet Bills, Bulky Bob-ombs, Embers, Parabuzzies, Lava Bubbles

Pirate's Grotto is the fourth major dungeon in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. It is a long area which Mario and his team must go through to find the Pirate King Cortez and receive the Sapphire Star. Before Mario and his teammates can reach Cortez, they have to rescue a bunch of stranded Toads, along with Francesca and Frankie.

The Pirate's Grotto is a huge series of caverns and streams on the edge of Keelhaul Key. In some areas waves roll by, and debris from ships can be seen in the background. Every area shows sign that pirates have been there; bottles, wood planks, crates, barrels, etc. Cortez's ship, the Black Skull is docked here. The Boat Mode transformation is learned here.

Enemies

Main article: List of enemy formations in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door § Pirate's Grotto

Items

In the Nintendo Switch remake, additional items can be purchased from a Toad merchant in the area west of the location where the Black Skull sits.

Item Location Location Image Location Image (Remake)
Black Key Black Key In the leftmost screen in the south area; dropped by an Ember that appear after talking to the black chest. Mario getting the Black Key from an Ember in Pirate's Grotto of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Mario getting the Black Key from an Ember in Pirate's Grotto of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door for Nintendo Switch.
Coin Coin Nintendo Switch 6 on the Boat Mode panel in the waterfall area. N/A Mario near 6 Coins on the Boat Mode panel in the waterfall area in Pirate's Grotto of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door for Nintendo Switch.
5 hidden behind the elevated ground in the east of the area with the partially sunken ship. N/A Mario near 5 Coins hidden behind the elevated ground in the east of the area with the partially sunken ship in Pirate's Grotto of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door for Nintendo Switch.
2 hidden behind the elevated ground with the gear to put Gate Handle in, found in the lower part of the waterfall area. N/A Mario near 2 Coins hidden behind the elevated ground with the gear to put Gate Handle in, found in the lower part of the waterfall area in Pirate's Grotto of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door for Nintendo Switch.
5 hidden behind the elevated ground with the Plane Mode panel in the area where Toad sailors, Frankie and Francessca were trapped. N/A Mario near 5 Coins hidden behind the elevated ground with the Plane Mode panel in the area where Toad sailors, Frankie and Francessca were trapped in Pirate's Grotto of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door for Nintendo Switch.
Couple's Cake Couple's Cake In the storeroom in the left of the north area; dropped by Goom Goom when Mario takes on his trouble. Mario getting a Couple's Cake from Goombella in Pirate's Grotto of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Mario getting a Couple's Cake from Goombella in Pirate's Grotto of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door for Nintendo Switch.
Defend Plus P Defend Plus P (International and Switch)
Damage Dodge P Damage Dodge P (Japanese GameCube)
In the big stair room in the right of the north area, there is a river to the north of the stairs. To the right of the river source is a chest box with this badge. Accessible using Boat Mode. Only treasure chest in Pirate's Grotto of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Last treasure chest in the Pirate's Grotto in the remake of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door for the Nintendo Switch.
Gate Handle Gate Handle In the leftmost screen of the entrance area; on top of a ship floating in the south. Mario near the Gate Handle in Pirate's Grotto of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Mario near the Gate Handle in Pirate's Grotto of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door for Nintendo Switch.
Grotto Key Grotto Key In the storeroom in the left of the north area; on top of the north ledge. Mario near the Grotto Key in Pirate's Grotto of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Mario near the Grotto Key in Pirate's Grotto of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door for Nintendo Switch.
P-Down, D-Up P-Down, D-Up In the leftmost screen of the south area; behind a chest in the sunken ship with the black curse box. Mario near the P-Down, D-Up badge in Pirate's Grotto of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Mario near the P-Down, D-Up badge in Pirate's Grotto of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door for Nintendo Switch.
Ruin Powder Ruin Powder In the entrance scene; behind the southwest barrel. Mario getting a Ruin Powder from behind a barrel in Pirate's Grotto of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Mario getting a Ruin Powder from behind a barrel in Pirate's Grotto of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door for Nintendo Switch.
Sapphire Star Sapphire Star On the Black Skull (Cortez's ship), it is given to Mario after he defeats Cortez. Mario getting the Sapphire Star in Pirate's Grotto of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Mario getting the Sapphire Star in Pirate's Grotto of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door for Nintendo Switch.
Shine Sprite Shine Sprite (×5) In the spike room in the left of the first areas; on top of the far side of the ship floating in the left. Mario next to the Shine Sprite near the entrance of the Pirate's Grotto in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Mario next to the Shine Sprite near the entrance of the Pirate's Grotto in the remake of the Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door for the Nintendo Switch.
In the storeroom in the left of the north area; on top of the barrels in the high place on the left. Mario next to the Shine Sprite in the storeroom with a ! switch in Pirate's Grotto in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Mario next to the Shine Sprite in the storeroom with a ! switch in Pirate's Grotto in the remake of the Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door for the Nintendo Switch.
In the big stair room in the right of the north area; above the last few stairs. Accessible with a hidden block. Mario next to the Shine Sprite above water in the Great Tree. Screenshot of Mario at a Shine Sprite location in Pirate's Grotto, in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door.
In the room with boats and barrels in the middle of the south area; high in the northeast corner. Accessible with a hidden block below. Mario next to the Shine Sprite in the floating barrel room of Pirate's Grotto in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Mario next to the Shine Sprite in the floating barrel room of Pirate's Grotto in the remake of the Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door for the Nintendo Switch.
In the room with spikes and waves in the right of the south area; to the right of the north entrance. Requires Koops. Mario next to the Shine Sprite above water in the Pirate's Grotto in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Mario next to the Shine Sprite above water in the Pirate's Grotto in the remake of the Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door for the Nintendo Switch.
Star Piece (Paper Mario series) Star Piece (×4) In the spike room in the left of the first areas; on a small island in the south. Mario getting the Star Piece above a small plaform in the first spike room of Pirate's Grotto in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Mario getting the Star Piece above a small plaform in the first spike room of Pirate's Grotto in the remake of the Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door for the Nintendo Switch.
In the storeroom in the left of the north area; inside a barrel in the high place on the left. Mario getting the Star Piece in a barrel in the barrel room of the Pirate's Grotto in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Mario getting the Star Piece in a barrel in the barrel room of the Pirate's Grotto in the remake of the Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door for the Nintendo Switch.
In the waterfall room of the north area; under a panel near the door to the right of the waterfall source. Mario getting the Star Piece under a hidden panel in the waterfall room of the Pirate's Grotto in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Mario getting the Star Piece under a hidden panel in the waterfall room of the Pirate's Grotto in the remake of the Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door for the Nintendo Switch.
In the Buzzy Beetle room in the right of the north area; under a panel at the center of the room. Mario getting the Star Piece under a hidden panel on the first floor in the room with three winged koopas in the Pirate's Grotto in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Mario getting the Star Piece under a hidden panel on the first floor in the room with three Parabuzzies in the Pirate's Grotto in the remake of the Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door for the Nintendo Switch.
Super Mushroom Super Mushroom Nintendo Switch In a chest inside the derelict ship housing the black chest. N/A First treasure chest in the Pirate's Grotto in the remake of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door for the Nintendo Switch. Also contains Black Chest with the Boat Mode curse.

Hidden ? Blocks

Main article: List of hidden blocks in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Item Description Block un/revealed (Nintendo GameCube) Block un/revealed (Nintendo Switch)
Coin Coin In the area with the second Save Block, at the second step from the top, Mario must use Koops to hit the hidden ? Block underneath the Shine Sprite. Screenshot of Mario at a hidden ? Block location in Pirate's Grotto, in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door.Screenshot of Mario using Koops to reveal a hidden "stepping stone" ? Block in Pirate's Grotto, in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Screenshot of Mario at a hidden ? Block location in Pirate's Grotto, in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door.Screenshot of Mario at a Shine Sprite location in Pirate's Grotto, in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door.
Coin Coin Block In the area just before the corridor with Bill Blasters, there's a Shine Sprite on the right side. There's a hidden ? Block underneath it that Mario can reveal by hitting it with his Hammer. Screenshot of Mario at a hidden ? Block location in Pirate's Grotto, in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door.Screenshot of Mario using his Hammer to reveal a hidden "stepping stone" Coin ? Block in Pirate's Grotto, in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Mario at a hidden ? Block location in Pirate's Grotto, in the remake of the Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door for the Nintendo Switch.Mario using his Hammer to reveal a hidden "stepping stone" Coin ? Block in Pirate's Grotto, in the remake of the Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door for the Nintendo Switch.
Nintendo Switch version only
Item Description Image Image (block revealed)
Coin Coin In the area with the second Save Block, at the second step from the top, Mario must use hammer to hit the two hidden blocks that lead to the Shine Sprite, which can then be obtained by simply jumping. Screenshot of Mario at a hidden ? Block location in Pirate's Grotto, in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Screenshot of Mario at a Shine Sprite location in Pirate's Grotto, in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door.
Super Mushroom Super Mushroom In the second lower stone platform near the Black Skull on the ground. This hidden block disappears after completing Chapter 5 due to the Black Skull breaking the bridge leading it. Screenshot of Mario at a hidden ? Block location in Pirate's Grotto, in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Screenshot of Mario at a hidden ? Block location in Pirate's Grotto, in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

Characters

Profiles

RogueportPetalburgPetal MeadowsHooktail CastleThe Great TreeBoggly WoodsPirate's GrottoKeelhaul KeyTwilight TownTwilight TrailFahr OutpostCreepy SteepleMoonX-Naut FortressGlitzvillePoshley SanctumRiverside StationPoshley HeightsA map of Rogueport and the surrounding areas visited during Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door.
Click an area to open the relevant article.
  • Tattles
    • "This is the entrance to Pirate's Grotto. There's gotta be something good in there. Considering how hard it is to get in, there sure as heck BETTER be!"
    • "We're inside Pirate's Grotto. Looks like we can go down from here... Aside from jump pads, there's not much else here."
    • "Yikes! Talk about unsteady footing! You could totally wipe out easily here. Oh, and watch out for those spikes that pop out, OK? They... would probably hurt. At least they pop out with predictable timing. We can figure out a way across."
    • "There's a Bill Blaster (GCN) / couple of Bill Blasters (Switch) at the end of this corridor. Someone really wants to keep us out! You know what? Who cares! CAN'T STOP US, SUCKERS! Let's get going, Mario."
    • "We're inside Pirate's Grotto. Pirates must have built the bridges and sluice gate here. There's also a waterfall flowing from above. Careful not to lose your footing."
    • "It's totally weird to walk around down here... I mean, PIRATES lived here... The scourge of the seas... I wonder where their souls are wandering now..."
    • "This is a storage area... Looks like the pirates left tons of stuff here. The switch in front there lifts and lowers cargo. Maybe Bobbery could alter the timing of when the switch gets activated."
    • "We're inside Pirate's Grotto. Uh... You can probably tell, but this room looks empty."
    • "Watch out for those spikes! Yeah, the thing about spikes is...they really hurt. Forget using an ally's power here... Trust yourself and let's roll! You know what I mean!"
    • "Jumping around on barrels and sinking ship fragments... This is pretty gnarly. So let's take it easy and not get too careless, OK?"
    • "We're inside Pirate's Grotto. This is a looooong corridor. There's a Bill Blaster (GCN) / There are two Bill Blasters (Switch) at the end of this corridor, too. They don't want us here!"
    • "We're inside Pirate's Grotto. There's a sunken ship here. Something good inside? (GCN) / Maybe there's something good inside? (Switch) 'Cause that's how it always is in video games...right?"
    • "We're inside one of the abandoned ships. There's a black chest here. Now that I mention it...why do we keep running into these black chests? Weird."
    • "We're inside Pirate's Grotto. Lots of sunken ships floating around here, huh? Hey, by the way, Mario, you can cancel Boat Mode or Plane Mode by pressing B. I'm like, the tip MASTER! That's a super-convenient one, too, so don't forget!"
    • "This is the deepest part of Pirate's Grotto. One part of this area's covered in fog. Seems like maybe all of the ships that capsized near here ended up in this cavern. I wonder if Cortez's ship was the first to end up down in these caverns..."
    • "This is the inside of Cortez's ship. Cortez must be inside that next room, huh?"
    • "This is Cortez's room, all right. I guess you'd call this the captain's cabin. Sure is a lot of treasure in here... You could live many lives of luxury with this... And I'll tell you, lots of this stuff has archaeological value, as well... You think maybe we could pocket a little bit without Cortez noticing?"
  • Map description: A cave where pirates once hid out. It's quite spacious inside, and even has sea-water flowing into it. It's filled with the ruined shells of wrecked ships and other flotsam.

Gallery

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese かいぞくのどうくつ[?]
Kaizoku no Dōkutsu
Pirate's Cave
Chinese 海盜洞窟[?]
Hǎidào Dòngkū
Pirate Cave
Dutch Piratenspelonk[?] Pirate Cave
French Grotte Pirate[?] Pirate's Grotto
German Piratenhöhle[?] Pirates Cave
Italian Grotta dei pirati[?] Pirate's grotto
Korean 해적동굴[?]
Haejeok Dong'gul
Pirate's Cave
Spanish (NOE) Cueva de los Piratas[?] Pirates' Cave original
Cueva de los piratas[?] Pirates' cave remake