Items and Objects

Power-Ups

Super Mushroom

Super Mushrooms transform Small Mario into Super Mario. Small Mario often finds these Power-Ups inside of ? Blocks. However, if Super Mario were to hit the same ? Block, a more advanced Power-Up would likely pop out. That’s just how it goes!

Mini Mushroom

These rare Power-Ups transform Mario into Mini Mario. Only a handful of levels contain Mini Mushrooms, so try to remember where you find them!

Fire Flower

Fire Flowers can be found in many levels by hitting ? Blocks. These Power-Ups transform Mario into Fire Mario—a very powerful form!

Ice Flower

In some levels, ? Blocks will give you Ice Flowers. Collect these Power-Ups to transform into Ice Mario—a versatile form that allows Mario to freeze his enemies solid with iceballs!

Super Acorn

These magical Acorns transform Mario into Flying Squirrel form—one of the most useful forms in the game. Flying Squirrel Mario can cling to walls, glide through the air, and soar up high with his flying squirrel jumps. There’s no better way to travel!

P-Acorn

These rare Power-Ups can only be obtained by catching Nabbit during special events. (See “The Basics” chapter’s “Catching Nabbit” section for details.) P-Acorns transform Mario into Power Squirrel form, which allows him to remain airborne indefinitely by performing unlimited flying squirrel jumps. Up, up, and away!

Penguin Suit

The Penguin Suit is a rare Power-Up that can be found only by visiting red-roofed Toad Houses along Superstar Road. Slip one on to transform into Penguin Mario—an iceball-tossing, belly-flopping, underwater ace!

Propeller Suit

Like the Penguin Suit, the Propeller Suit can be obtained only by winning Toad’s minigames on Superstar Road. Don this suit to transform into Propeller Mario. You’ll then be able to zip through stages with astounding upward mobility!

Super Star

Super Stars are uncommon Power-Ups that temporarily grant Mario incredible power. Mario is largely invincible while enjoying the benefits of a Super Star, and will defeat any enemy he touches, including powerful enemies like the Dragoneel.

Coin

Coins are the most common of all items—you’ll find them everywhere. Collect 100 Coins to score a 1-Up!

Hidden Coin

Hidden Coins are shadowy outlines that change into regular Coins after Mario touches them. Dash past Hidden Coins to expose them, then turn around and grab ’em!

Star Coin

Every stage has three Star Coins for you to collect. These tantalizing prizes are usually cleverly hidden, so search high and low for them!

Red Ring

Most stages feature either a Red Ring or a Green Ring. When you touch a Red Ring, eight Red Coins will appear nearby. Hurry and collect them all before they vanish, and you’ll score a special item—usually a Power-Up or a 1-Up Mushroom!

Green Ring

If a level doesn’t feature a Red Ring, then it likely contains a Green Ring. Touch a Green Ring, and a small, spinning cluster of Green Coins will appear nearby. Collect those Green Coins, and then a second cluster will appear. Keep collecting those clusters until you’ve grabbed all five—a special item will be your prize!

Fruit

If you see Fruit hanging from trees while exploring a stage, you know that Yoshi must be around somewhere. Yoshi just loves Fruit—feed him five pieces, and he’ll reward you with a handy item!

1-Up Mushroom

Collect 1-Up Mushrooms to earn extra lives. 1-Up Mushrooms are commonly hidden inside unassuming, hard-to-reach Brick Blocks. Mario must often approach these Brick Blocks from a specific angle to hit them and collect the 1-Up Mushroom. (For example, sometimes Mario must discover a hidden passage that leads to the Brick Block.) Toad also awards 1-Up Mushrooms when you visit his green-roofed houses.

3-Up Moon

These special items give you three 1-Ups when collected, but they only appear when one player uses the gamepad. To score 3-Up Moons, the gamepad player must first tap the 3-Up Moon Blocks that can only be seen on the gamepad screen.

This will make the 3-Up Moon Block visible to the other players, who must then be quick to hit the 3-Up Moon Block before it vanishes. One 3-Up Moon for each player will then pop out!

Block

Blocks are among the most common objects that Mario encounters. You’ll find Blocks everywhere—bump them from below with a jump, or hit them from above with a ground pound, and see if anything special pops out!

? Block

These special Blocks always contain some sort of item. It could be a mere Coin, but more often, it’s a valuable Power-Up! Hit every ? Block you see—it’s worth the effort.

Coin Block

If you bump a Brick Block and a Coin comes out, keep on jumping up and hitting it—you’ve just discovered a Coin Block! The faster you bump these unassuming Blocks, the more Coins you’ll score. Some Coin Blocks only give you one Coin, though. Coin Blocks become solid Blocks when they’ve no more Coins to give.

Roulette Block

These rare Blocks give you random items. You might score a 1-Up or a Power-Up, depending on when you hit the Roulette Block. Whatever you get, you’re always a winner!

POW Block

These unique Blocks generate powerful earthquakes when hit or thrown, defeating all nearby enemies and often causing Coins (and sometimes Star Coins!) to fall from above.

Vine Block

Bump one of these Blocks from below to make a Beanstalk grow up into the sky. You’d better climb up and see where it leads! If you ground pound a Vine Block, the Beanstalk will grow downward instead—this is usually not very helpful!

Note Block

Mario can bounce off Note Blocks and then soar high into the sky. Some Note Blocks contain items, so give them all a good bump!

Donut Block

Beware of these dangerous Blocks! They quickly fall under Mario’s weight, potentially causing our hero to plummet. Don’t linger on Donut Blocks unless you wish to drop, and jump from falling Donut Blocks before it’s too late!

Super Guide Block

If you’re struggling on a stage and have been defeated numerous times, the Super Guide Block might appear. Hit this special Block and then Luigi will show you how to get through the stage! He won’t reveal any secrets, mind you—but at least you’ll learn how to reach the Goal Pole in one piece.

P Switch

Hit a P Switch to temporarily change all nearby Coins into Brick Blocks, and all nearby Blocks into Coins. This is often helpful, because the temporary Brick Blocks usually help you reach areas you otherwise couldn’t explore. Sometimes Blue Coins appear when you hit a P Switch as well—you won’t receive anything special if you collect them all, but that shouldn’t stop you from trying!

? Switch

You never know what might happen when you hit a ? Switch, but it’s always worth the effort! Activating ? Switches usually causes some sort of temporary change in the vicinity. Go ahead and hit ? Switches and see what happens!

Warp Pipe

Pipes appear all over the place, but only some of them are Warp Pipes. These special Pipes will ferry Mario to secret areas when he enters them. Simply stand atop a Pipe and crouch to see if you can enter it. If you can, then you’ve just discovered a Warp Pipe!