Fireball
It has been requested that this article be rewritten and expanded to include more information. Reason: Paper Mario series
- This article is about the projectile used as a weapon by Fire Mario and various enemies. For other uses, see Fireball (disambiguation).
- "Fire Orb" redirects here. For the fire-elemental Orb in Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition, see Orb (Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition).
| Fireball | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Artwork of a Fireball from Super Mario 3D World | |||
| First appearance | Mario Bros. (1983) | ||
| Latest appearance | Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition (2024) | ||
| |||
A Fireball (also written as Fire Ball) or Ball of Fire[1] is a common projectile in the Super Mario franchise. Typically, a character can shoot fireballs only if they acquire a Fire Flower. Some enemies can shoot fireballs without the use of a power-up. In some spin-off games, Mario and Luigi can shoot fireballs from their hands without using a Fire Flower. In most games, fireballs are capable of being thrown even underwater. Ice Balls can be seen as a parallel to fireballs.
History[edit]
Mario Bros.[edit]
- Main article: Fireball (obstacle)
Fireballs first appear as obstacles in Mario Bros., where they randomly appear on the stage, moving and bouncing off the edges of the screen.
Super Mario series[edit]
Super Mario Bros. / Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels / Super Mario Bros. Deluxe[edit]
Fireballs make their debut as projectiles in Super Mario Bros., where Mario and Luigi can shoot these fireballs only if they acquire a Fire Flower. They are affected by gravity and bounce only on the ground. If they hit a block sideways or from the underside, they will usually explode. Most enemies can be defeated by one fireball, and Bowser can be defeated by five. Hitting Bowser and his fakes with five fireballs will defeat them and give 5,000 points; the latter seven will also reveal the common enemy that was in disguise.
Super Mario Bros. 2 / Super Mario Advance[edit]
Fireballs only appear in Super Mario Bros. 2 as enemy projectiles. Pansers shoot two fireballs at a time (gray/green ones shoot them straight up, while the others shoot them toward the player in an arc). Red and Green/Gray Birdos spit fireballs; the former also shoots eggs, but the latter does not, forcing the use of Mushroom Blocks to defeat them. Autobombs also shoot fireballs at players if Shyguys are on them.
Super Mario Bros. 3 / Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3[edit]
Fireballs return in Super Mario Bros. 3, being usable projectiles again. Though Mario and Luigi are not the only ones that can shoot fireballs, as Venus Fire Traps, Fire Brothers, and Fiery Walking Piranhas can also shoot fireballs from their mouths; these fireballs can be blocked if the Mario Bros. crouch while wearing a Hammer Suit.
Due to palette limitations in the NES version of the game, Mario and Luigi's fireballs appear green inside Toad Houses and cyan during Koopaling fights.
In Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3, the Orange Switch makes any enemies defeated by Fire Mario's fireballs become coins, as in Super Mario World.
Super Mario World / Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2[edit]
Fireballs appear in Super Mario World where they are used as a weapon. When enemies are hit by fireballs, they become coins. Additionally, Yoshi can breathe fireballs if he eats a Red Shell and Red Yoshi can also breathe fireballs if he eats a Koopa Shell. The fireballs that Yoshi spit out look like Lava Bubbles and destroy most enemies. Jumping Fire Piranha Plants spit fireballs at the peak of their jumps, and Volcano Lotuses release four at a time.
Super Mario 64 / Super Mario 64 DS[edit]
In Super Mario 64, flame throwers and Fly Guys spit fireballs at Mario when he is near them. The lava and volcano of Lethal Lava Land also spew fireballs at certain intervals.
Fireballs also appear in Super Mario 64 DS as a stream of Fire Breath with Yoshi's Power Flower ability. They are also found by swallowing flame throwers, Fly Guys and campfires.
New Super Mario Bros.[edit]
Fireballs return in New Super Mario Bros., where they have the same function as in the previous game, when Fire Mario shoots fireballs. In the Mario vs. Luigi game mode, fireballs can stun a brother and knock a big star from him, but can defeat a brother in Mini form.
Super Mario Galaxy[edit]
Fireballs reappear in Super Mario Galaxy as Fire Mario's projectiles; however, the form has a time limit, and though he can shoot more than two fireballs at a time, he cannot do so underwater. Kamella and Magikoopas also shoot fireballs from their wands (the former also spawns Green Shells), and King Kaliente and Roctos spit them and coconuts (the latter of which can be hit back at them).
New Super Mario Bros. Wii[edit]
Fireballs appear in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, appearing when Fire Mario shoots them. Fire Bros. also throw fireballs, and Fire Piranha Plants spit them out, melting any Ice Block in their way. Yoshi can also spit a giant Fireball (like in Super Mario World) by eating a fireball launched by a character with a Fire Flower power up, or from a Fire Piranha Plant. This giant fireball transforms all enemies encountered into coins.
Super Mario Galaxy 2[edit]
Fireballs return in Super Mario Galaxy 2, acting as they did in its predecessor, though Magikoopas instead spawn Goombas. Prince Pikante also shoots fireballs and coconuts in his battle.
Super Mario 3D Land[edit]
Fire Mario reappears in Super Mario 3D Land, acting as it does in the 2D Super Mario games. The fireballs thrown bounce off walls and fizzle out after two seconds. Fire Piranha Plants also spit fireballs.
New Super Mario Bros. 2[edit]
Fireballs return in New Super Mario Bros. 2 and behave as they always have. There is an extra gimmick where Fire Mario can shoot fireballs into certain pipes and coins and other items (like Mega Mushrooms) can come out the other end.
New Super Mario Bros. U[edit]
Fireballs reappear in New Super Mario Bros. U, acting as they did in New Super Mario Bros. Wii.
Super Mario 3D World / Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury[edit]
Fireballs reappear in Super Mario 3D World and its Nintendo Switch port Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, and behave like they did in Super Mario 3D Land; they can also go through Clear Pipes and destroy any spiked balls within them. Fire Bros. also throw fireballs, which can go through Clear Pipes and be destroyed by players' fireballs.
In the Bowser's Fury campaign of Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, fireballs that make contact with the water surrounding Lake Lapcat will be put out.
Super Mario Maker / Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS[edit]
Fireballs return in Super Mario Maker and Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS due to the return of the Fire Flower item and enemies such as Fire Piranha Plants. Yoshi can also swallow fireballs from enemies that shoot them, or get fireballs from fire obstacles such as Fire Bars or Burners. Additionally, the Fire Koopa Clown Car, an object released via a software update on December 22, 2015, has the ability to shoot fireballs from its mouth, and Fire Flowers give it a triple spread-shot. A charge can create larger fireballs, which can destroy blocks.
Super Mario Maker 2[edit]
Fireballs make a comeback in Super Mario Maker 2, retaining their behavior in its predecessor. Fire Bros. also return, though only in the Super Mario 3D World style; a new Sledge Bro-like variation also debuts, the Heavy Fire Bro. Red Yoshis also return in the Super Mario World and New Super Mario Bros. U styles, and spit fireballs instead of licking, unlike in Super Mario World; their fireballs work like those of the Fire Koopa Clown Car; these cannot be charged up, however.
DIC cartoons[edit]
The Super Mario Bros. Super Show![edit]
Fireballs appear in The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! They are used by Fire Mario (known as Super Mario in the show). The episode, "The Fire of Hercufleas" introduces the Great Balls of Fire, very powerful fireballs that can damage a wall.
The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3[edit]
Fireballs also appear in The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3. Once again, they are used by Fire Mario. The episode, "Princess Toadstool for President" includes the song, "Great Balls of Fire," which is a real song. Fireballs are also produced by Fire Chomps and Fire Snakes.
Super Mario World television series[edit]
Fireballs reappear in the Super Mario World television series. They are used by Fire Mario and Bowser Statues.
Mario Kart series[edit]
Super Mario Kart[edit]
Fireballs make their debut in the Mario Kart series in Super Mario Kart, where Bowser would drop these items and touching them would make the driver spin out. Unlike other laid down items such as Banana Peels, however, they move around a bit on the course.
Mario Kart: Double Dash!![edit]
Fireballs reappeared in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, where they are the Special Items of Mario (and Petey Piranha and King Boo, due to their ability to have any special item). Luigi's is a Green Fireball, but it acts the same. When the special item is used, five fireballs will be launched into the racetrack, hitting other drivers and causing their karts to spin-out. These fireballs are capable of ricocheting off walls. However, after a short amount of time, the launched fireballs will fizzle out.
Mario Kart Arcade GP series[edit]
The Fireball appears as an item in Mario Kart Arcade GP, Mario Kart Arcade GP 2, and Mario Kart Arcade GP DX, in which it is one of Mario and Luigi's special items. The Fireball is one of the few items that can be thrown both forwards and backwards depending on the player's input. When thrown, the Fireball bounces across the track and ricochets off walls, exactly as it does in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!. However, only one Fireball is launched instead of five.
In Mario Kart Arcade GP DX, Fire Mario's special item is the Double Fireball, which allows him to throw two Fireballs rather than one.
Mario Kart DS[edit]
Fireballs appear in Mario Kart DS on the track DS Mario Circuit, where two Fire Piranha Plants can be seen spitting them out onto the road acting as an obstacle for the racers to dodge.
Mario Kart Wii[edit]
Fireballs also appeared in Mario Kart Wii, where they could only be seen in the 2nd Competition of March 2009. Here, Dry Bowser would spit out fireballs to attack the player. He would either fire three fireballs backwards or one fireball forward, depending on the player's racing position.
Mario Kart 7[edit]
Fireballs appear in Mario Kart 7 where they are used as a special weapon. They can only be used if the Fire Flower item, which allows the racers to shoot fireballs forwards and backwards, is acquired. A racer hit with a fireball loses a single coin. The item lasts until ten fireballs are thrown or for ten seconds.
Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe[edit]
Fireballs appear in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, where they have the same use and effect as in Mario Kart 7.
Mario Kart Tour[edit]
Fireballs appear in Mario Kart Tour, where they have the same use as in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!. Unlike in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, however, three fireballs (four when Fire Flower+ is active) are launched instead of five and fireballs orbit the player's kart prior to being launched. Fire Piranha Plants also shoot fireballs at drivers. A fireball also appears in one of Fire Bro's Jump Boost animations, albeit only with an aesthetic purpose.
Fireballs can be destroyed by hitting them with an item or by driving into them while powered-up, granting bonus points in the process. The action of destroying a fireball thrown by another driver is displayed on-screen as "Item destroyed!", while the same action done to fireballs thrown by Fire Piranha Plants is displayed as "Ball of Fire".
Club Nintendo comics[edit]
In the Club Nintendo comic "Super Mario: Verloren in der Zeit", Fire Mario uses a Fireball to defeat a Tyrannosaurus rex.
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars[edit]
| Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars move | |
|---|---|
| |
| Fireball | |
| Used by | Mario |
| Type | Magic |
| Magic power | 20 |
| Effect | Damage |
| Element | Fire |
| Target | One enemy |
| Damage reduced | N/A |
Fireballs appear in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars as a fire-based special attack that Mario learns when he reaches Level three, under the name of Fire Orb in the original. The move is called Fireball in the remake. The attack allows Mario to shoot small fireballs at one enemy. To do more damage than usual, the player should push 
repeatedly while Mario is unleashing fireballs. Fireball uses five FP and has a Magic Power of twenty points. This attack is useful in the first fight against Croco in Bandit's Way. When used against an enemy made of fire, the Fireball attack does no damage.
Mario can learn two more powerful versions of Fireball during the course of the game: Super Fireball and Ultra Fireball.
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble![edit]
Fireballs appear only as hazardous obstacles shot by Karbines and Kroc in Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! The fireballs shot by Kroc are similar to those shot by Karbines, except Kroc shoots from the foreground, whilst Karbines do so in the background.
Super Smash Bros. series[edit]
- SmashWiki article: Fireball
Fireballs appear as the standard special move used by both Mario and Luigi throughout the Super Smash Bros. series. The fireballs here only deal a small amount of damage, unlike with games of the Super Mario franchise. Super Smash Bros. Brawl also makes the fireballs travel for a shorter distance before they vanish. Mario's Fireballs are red and affected by gravity (meaning they bounce against the ground), while Luigi's Fireballs are green and shoot straight no matter what, unless it ricochets off of something in front of Luigi. Kirby can also use the Fireball move once he has sucked up Mario or Luigi, and the color and performance of the Fireball are according to which Mario Brother he has sucked up. In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, Yoshi can spit single fireballs in his Final Smash form.
In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, the first custom variant of Mario's Fireball is Fast Fireball, in which the fireball travels directly forward at high speed but does not cause knockback and deals less damage. The second is Fire Orb, which fires a larger but slower fireball that moves similarly to the standard Fireball but can hit multiple times. The custom variants for Luigi's Fireball are Bouncing Fireball, which behaves like Mario's standard Fireball, and Ice Ball, which moves more slowly but can freeze opponents.
In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, both Mario Brothers' Fireballs remain unaltered, aside from visual improvements, including brighter, flashier particle effects, as well as the appearance of smoke. However, Mario's Fireballs can now hit multiple times when used near opponents, just like the Fire Orb custom variant from the previous game.
Mario & Luigi series[edit]
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga / Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions[edit]
In Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga and its remake, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions, Mario throws his fireballs upon using Fire Bros. Bros. Attack in the battle. Mario is also given his fire technique known as Firebrand, which acts like fireballs, lighting all the Torches so that some location can be accessible for the Bros.
In the tutorial battle with Bowser, Bowser only attacks Mario using his Fire Breath. As Rookie, he also spits fireballs alongside throwing hammers, similar to how he attacked in the original Super Mario Bros. Bowletta, a transformation between Cackletta and Bowser, also tries to breathe heavily and, after a few seconds, tries to breathe massive fire to defeat the Mario Bros. which can be done by dodging. Additionally, fireballs also appear during the final battle with Cackletta.
Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time[edit]
In Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, the Bros. Flowers, based on the normal Fire Flowers, is one of the Bros. Items that allows Mario, Luigi, and their baby counterparts to throw fireballs at the enemies during the battle. Blazing Shroobs, found in Thwomp Caverns, the Shrooboid Brat and Elder Shrooboid can also attack using fireballs. If the wrong brother hits the Adult Shine Block, a fireball will appear and force the babies to restart from the beginning of the room.
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey[edit]
In Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story and its remake, Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey, Mario and Luigi can obtain the Fire Flower Special Attack that allows them to throw fireballs at enemies.
Mario & Luigi: Dream Team[edit]
In Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, the Fire Flower returns as a Bros. Attack, which once again allows Mario and Luigi to throw fireballs at the enemies. The Luiginary Flame Luiginary Attack also involves the use of fireballs to damage all enemies, and the Fire Bros. also attack by using fireballs.
Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam[edit]
In Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam, the Fire Flower once again returns as a Bros. Attack which makes the bros throw fireballs at all enemies. These fireballs deal critical damage to Paper enemies.
Mario Baseball series[edit]
Mario Superstar Baseball[edit]
The Fireball is Mario's Star Skill in Mario Superstar Baseball. When pitched with, the Fireball sets the ball on fire and is thrown as a fastball with extremely high velocity and very little movement. Compared to Luigi's equivalent Green Fireball, it has slightly higher velocity and lower movement, matching Mario's specialties as a pitcher. When batted with, the Fireball also sets the ball on fire, hitting it as a fast, low line drive to the outfield. Players who attempt to catch the ball are burned, stunning them for a short time.
In Challenge Mode, players must purchase the Red Fireball item in order to use this skill.
Mario's Fireball icon is the same as Luigi's colored red, even keeping the L in the cap.
Mario Super Sluggers[edit]
Fireballs reappeared in Mario Super Sluggers. Like in Mario Superstar Baseball, it is used as Mario's Star Pitch, though Luigi is given a different Star Pitch. Just like in the predecessor, Mario will throw the baseball at a fast speed, which makes it harder for batters to properly hit it. However, unlike some other Star Pitches, the ball will still be able to travel a far distance if the player hits it with good timing. This makes it possible to get home runs with this Star Pitch since it does not affect how far the ball can go when hit.
Wario Land: Shake It![edit]
Fireballs only appear as uncommon enemy attacks. Volcannons shoot them from their erupting tops, and the Shake King can drop waves of fireballs during his battle.
Profiles[edit]
Super Mario Bros. 3[edit]
- Wii Virtual Console manual description: Press
to throw fireballs. (You must pick up a Fire Flower first.)
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars[edit]
- Menu description:
- Flower Used 5
- Mg. Power 20
- Fire orb! Push "Y" repeatedly!
Super Mario RPG (Nintendo Switch)[edit]
- Battle menu description: Fire away! Push
repeatedly!
Gallery[edit]
Mario's Fireball in Super Smash Bros. Melee
Luigi's Fireball in Super Smash Bros. Melee
Mario's Fireball in Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Mario's Fireball in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Mario's Fireball in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Luigi's Fireball in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Mario's Fireball
Fast Fireball
Fire Orb
Luigi's Fireball
Bouncing Fireball
Ice Ball
Luigi's Fireball in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Mario Kart Tour
Folding screen for celebrate the Super Mario Bros. 30th Anniversary and the 400th anniversary of the Rimpa school's founding, based on Fujin Raijin-zu Byobu
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ファイアボール[?] Faiabōru |
Fireball | |
| Chinese (simplified) | 火球[?] Huǒ Qiú |
Fire Ball | |
| Chinese (traditional) | 火焰球[?] Huǒyàn Qiú |
Flame Ball | |
| Dutch | Vuurbal[?] | Fireball | |
| French | Boule de feu[?] | Fireball | |
| German | Feuerball[?] | Fireball | |
| Italian | Palla di fuoco[?] | Fire ball | |
| Fiamme danzanti[?] | Dancing flames | Mario Kart: Double Dash!! | |
| Korean | 파이어볼[?] Paieobol |
Fireball | |
| Portuguese | Bola de fogo[?] | Fire ball | |
| Romanian | Bilă de foc[?] | Fire ball | McDonald's Romania 2017 Happy Meal box, Super Mario promotion |
| Russian | Огненный шар[?] Ognennyy shar |
Fiery ball | |
| Spanish | Bola de Fuego[?] | Fire Ball | |
| Swedish | Eld[?] | Fire |
Ball of Fire[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ひのたま[?] Hinotama |
Fireball | |
| Chinese (simplified) | 火焰球[?] Huǒyàn qiú |
Flame ball | |
| Chinese (traditional) | 火球[?] Huǒ Qiú |
Fireball | |
| French | Boule enflammée[?] | Flaming ball | |
| German | Flammenball[?] | Flame ball | |
| Italian | Palla infuocata[?] | Fiery ball | |
| Korean | 불덩어리[?] Buldeong'eori |
Fireball | |
| Portuguese | Bola ígnea[?] | Igneous ball | |
| Spanish | Bola ígnea[?] | Igneous ball |
References[edit]
- ^ Mario Kart Tour in-game name of the Fire Piranha Plant projectiles
- Projectiles
- Hazardous objects
- Donkey Kong Country Returns enemies
- LEGO Super Mario objects
- Mario Kart Arcade GP items
- Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 items
- Mario Kart Arcade GP DX items
- Mario Kart: Double Dash!! items
- Mario Super Sluggers
- Mario Superstar Baseball
- Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis
- Star Pitches
- Super Mario Kart items
- Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars moves
- Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
- Super Smash Bros. special moves
- Super Smash Bros. Brawl special moves
- Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U special moves
- Super Smash Bros. Melee special moves
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate special moves
- The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3
- The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!
- Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 enemies
- Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3
- Yoshi's Island DS
- Yoshi's Story
