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{{about|species derived from Piranha Plant|the enemy in [[Donkey Kong Country Returns]]|[[Muncher (Donkey Kong Country Returns)]]|the sample level in [[Super Mario Maker]]|[[Muncher (level)]]}}
{{about|species derived from Piranha Plant|other uses|[[Muncher (disambiguation)]]}}
{{species infobox
{{species infobox
|title=Muncher
|image=[[File:NSMBU Muncher Artwork.png|250px]]<br>Artwork of three Munchers from ''[[New Super Mario Bros. U]]''
|image=[[File:NSMBU Muncher Artwork.png|250px]]<br>Artwork of three Munchers from ''[[New Super Mario Bros. U]]''
|first_appearance=''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]'' ([[List of games by date#1988|1988]])
|latest_appearance=''[[Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition]]'' ([[List of games by date#2024|2024]])
|variant_of=[[Piranha Plant]]
|variant_of=[[Piranha Plant]]
|variants=[[Chomp-Muncher]]
|variants=[[Chomp-Muncher]]
|comparable=[[Nipper Plant]]
|relatives=[[Nipper Plant]]
|first_appearance=''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]'' ([[List of games by date#1988|1988]])
|comparable=[[Plant Chomper]]
|latest_appearance=''[[Super Mario Bros. Wonder]]'' ([[List of games by date#2023|2023]])
}}
}}
'''Munchers''' are a near-invincible [[List of species|species]] of [[Piranha Plant]]. Unlike [[Nipper Plant]]s, Munchers are usually colored black and are immobile. Munchers act like [[Spike (obstacle)|spikes]], as touching them would damage [[Mario]] and [[Luigi]]. However, both [[Yoshi (species)|Yoshis]] (except in the ''New Super Mario Bros.'' games) and the [[Goomba's Shoe]] can walk on them without harm. In a few levels, they spring from thin pipes. The only way for [[Mario]] or [[Luigi]] to cross a patch of Munchers by himself is by acquiring a [[Super Star]], though Munchers are unaffected by [[Invincible Mario]] himself, or by carefully [[jump]]ing to the gaps between Muncher patches. Only a [[P Switch|Switch Block]] (in ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]''), a [[POW Block]], a [[Spiny Shell (red)|Spiny Shell]], or a big [[Goomba's Shoe|Goomba's Stiletto]] (all in ''[[Super Mario Maker]]'') can defeat a Muncher.
'''Munchers''' are [[List of enemies|enemies]] introduced in ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]''. They are an immobile, nearly invincible variety of [[Piranha Plant]]s. Munchers resemble [[Nipper Plant]]s more closely, and they are usually colored black. They often appear in groups covering part of the ground, acting like [[Spike (obstacle)|spikes]].
 
==History==
==History==
===''Super Mario'' series===
===''Super Mario'' series===
====''Super Mario Bros. 3''====
====''Super Mario Bros. 3''====
{{multiframe|[[File:Munchers 2.png|129px]]|Munchers from the ''[[Super Mario All-Stars]]'' version of ''Super Mario Bros. 3'' (top) and from ''Super Mario World'' (bottom).|size=129|align=left}}
{{multiframe|[[File:Munchers 2.png|129px]]|Munchers from the ''[[Super Mario All-Stars]]'' version of ''Super Mario Bros. 3'' (top) and from ''Super Mario World'' (bottom).|size=129|align=right}}
[[File:SMB3 Muncher.jpg|thumb|Artwork of Munchers from ''Super Mario Bros. 3''.]]
[[File:SMB3 Muncher.jpg|thumb|left|Artwork from ''Super Mario Bros. 3'', showing the original design of Munchers]]
Munchers first appear in ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]'' and are first encountered in [[World 5-3 (Super Mario Bros. 3)|World 5-3]] where they appear in large numbers. [[World 6-10]] features frozen Munchers, which can be identified by the black [[Ice Block]] in which they are encased. As [[Princess Peach|Princess Toadstool]] warns to Mario in her letter leading into the world, they are harmless when frozen and act like platforms, but if the player uses a [[fireball]], the Muncher will become active again. If [[Mario]] or [[Luigi]] hits a [[P Switch|Switch Block]], all regular Munchers will briefly turn into [[coin]]s; if Mario or Luigi tail whips one, the Muncher will become an [[Empty Block]] (except in the GBA version, where they are unaffected). If the player has [[Goomba's Shoe]], they can walk along them without taking damage.
Munchers appear in ''Super Mario Bros. 3''. They are rendered as damage-causing foreground tiles, since the [[Family Computer]] and [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] hardware allows for up to only eight sprites per scanline. Munchers remain animated while the game is paused, comparably to [[Jelectro]]s. Munchers are depicted in their artwork as black with orange leaves, but in the game itself, they can come in other colors depending on the level. In the [[Super Mario All-Stars|first]] and [[Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3|second remakes]], Munchers have green leaves with orange or blue heads, depending on the level. They are first encountered in [[World 5-3 (Super Mario Bros. 3)|World 5-3]]. Hitting a [[P Switch|Switch Block]] turns all Munchers into [[coin]]s while the effects are actively. Using a [[Goomba's Shoe]] allows the player to walk along the Munchers without taking damage. Munchers transform into [[Empty Block]]s when tail-whipped, though not in the second remake.


[[File:SMB3 Blue Muncher.png|thumb|200px|A blue Muncher]]
There are frozen Munchers in [[World 6-10]], and they are identifiable from the outline and reflection of the [[Ice Block]] that they are encased in. Frozen Munchers can be walked on but become active when hit by a [[fireball]], something alluded to by [[Princess Peach|Princess Toadstool]] at one point.<ref>{{cite|quote=Greetings, be careful in the Ice World. The creatures trapped in the ice will come to life if warmed. I have enclosed a jewel that helps protect you.|author=Princess Toadstool|title=''Super Mario Bros. 3''|date=1990|publisher=Nintendo|language=en}}</ref>
In this game, Munchers are damage-causing foreground tiles rather than sprites, due to a limit of eight sprites per scanline on the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]]. In their official art, they are black with orange leaves, but in the game itself, they can come in other colors depending on the level, sometimes having blue leaves, due to the inconsistencies between the limited four palettes available for foreground tiles on the NES in different levels. In ''[[Super Mario All-Stars]]'' and ''[[Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3]]'', they have green leaves with heads that are either dull orange or indigo depending on the location.


Munchers that pop out of [[small pipe]]s also appear in the [[World 7-Piranha Plant 1|first]] and [[World 7-Piranha Plant 2|second]] {{world|7|piranhaplant}} stages of [[Pipe Land]]. Additionally, in any version of the game, Munchers remain animated even when the game is paused, as they are tiles on the foreground layer comparable to [[Jelectro]]s.
A different kind of Muncher, which has blue leaves in the original and pops out of [[small pipe]]s, appears in the [[World 7-Piranha Plant 1|first]] and [[World 7-Piranha Plant 2|second]] {{world|7|piranhaplant}} stages of [[Pipe Land]]. They emerge and recede in an alternating pattern, and unlike Piranha Plants, they are unaffected by Mario touching the pipe; in fact, due to being animated foreground tiles, they are even unaffected by the game being paused. This type is actually made up of two foreground objects with a separate four-frame animation (with the last frame of each being held for several moments), a harmful one for when it emerges and opens its mouth, and a harmless one for when it recedes and disappears. This can be seen by the fact that Mario can touch them without taking damage while they are moving into the pipes, but not when they are coming out. Also, the glitch causing Munchers to become Empty Blocks when tail-whipped does not work for this type in any version.
{{br|left}}


====''Super Mario World''====
====''Super Mario World''====
Munchers appear again in ''[[Super Mario World]]'', where they behave just like they did previously, including acting like objects. However, [[Cape Mario|Caped Mario]] cannot turn them into blocks as Raccoon and Tanooki Mario could. As before, being [[Invincible Mario]] can allow the player to walk on the Munchers without being harmed; also, [[Yoshi (species)|Yoshi]] can walk on them safely. Touching a Muncher from the side or bottom while riding on Yoshi, however, damages Mario directly without causing Yoshi to run away, removing Mario's power-up if he has one or causing him to lose a life if he does not. This unique behavior is only seen in [[Vanilla Dome 3]], as there are a few Munchers that can be touched from the sides.
Munchers appear in ''[[Super Mario World]]''. They were redesigned to not have eyes as well as having their stem changed to yellow and their head to an oval shape. They are largely the same as before, but Munchers cannot be turned into Empty Blocks through any means. It is possible for [[Gray P Switch]]es to turn Munchers into coins, something never seen because they do not appear together in any of the game's levels. Besides [[Invincible Mario]], Munchers can also be walked on harmlessly by [[Yoshi (species)|Yoshi]], but even then, Munchers still damage Mario on contact, shown in [[Vanilla Dome 3]] particularly.
 
In this game, they have a slightly different appearance: their eyes are absent, their stem is yellow instead of orange, and their head is oval-shaped instead of round.
 
[[Gray P Switch]]es can turn Munchers into coins; however, this behavior goes unused since no levels in the game have both.


====''New Super Mario Bros. Wii''====
====''New Super Mario Bros. Wii''====
[[File:NSMBW Muncher Plant Screenshot.png|200px|thumb|Normal and frozen Munchers in ''New Super Mario Bros. Wii''.]]
[[File:NSMBW Muncher Plant Screenshot.png|thumb|Screenshot from ''New Super Mario Bros. Wii'', showing both regular and frozen Munchers]]
[[File:Muncheridle.gif|thumb|120px|Model animation of a Muncher from ''New Super Mario Bros. Wii''.]]
Munchers appear in ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]''. They are encountered only in [[World 9-7 (New Super Mario Bros. Wii)|World 9-7]], with all of them appearing inside of ice blocks that cover most of the floor. Munchers can be thawed from the ice if hit by a [[fireball]]. Munchers cannot be frozen again, including from one of [[Ice Mario]]'s [[Ice Ball|ice balls]].
In ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]'', Munchers only appear in [[World 9-7 (New Super Mario Bros. Wii)|World 9-7]], and even then, they only appear in ice blocks. However, they cover most of the floor, and the level is filled with [[Fire Piranha Plant|Venus Fire Trap]]s, whose fireballs can burn the ice the Munchers are in, exposing them to the players. The players can also melt them if they have a [[Fire Flower]]. Once they are thawed out, they cannot be frozen again, even if they are hit with a iceball from an [[Ice Flower]].


Hacking the game reveals that unlike in ''Super Mario World'', Yoshi can no longer safely walk on Munchers or [[Spike Trap]]s in this game.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnUMLLINtX0&t=381s]</ref> This behavior is unused in the game proper since no level has both of them.
Hacking the game reveals that unlike in ''Super Mario World'', Yoshi cannot safely walk on Munchers or [[Spike Trap]]s.<ref>{{cite|url=www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnUMLLINtX0&t=381s|title=New Super Mario Bros Wii - All Castles with Yoshi|author=ProsafiaGaming|date=February 4, 2018|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=May 18, 2024|language=en|timestamp=06:21}}</ref> This behavior is unused in the game proper since no level has both of them.


====''New Super Mario Bros. U'' / ''New Super Luigi U'' / ''New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe''====
====''New Super Mario Bros. U'' / ''New Super Luigi U'' / ''New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe''====
[[File:NSMBU E3 4-Player Spinning-Star Sky.png|left|thumb|Munchers in ''[[New Super Mario Bros. U]]''.]]
Munchers appear in ''[[New Super Mario Bros. U]]'', ''[[New Super Luigi U]]'', and their [[New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe|port]]. Munchers retain their appearance from ''New Super Mario Bros. Wii'' and behave the same way as they do in other games, aside from no longer being encased in ice blocks. In ''New Super Mario Bros. U'', Munchers are found in [[Spinning-Star Sky]] and [[Thrilling Spine Coaster]]. In ''[[New Super Luigi U]]'', Munchers appear in the levels [[Lemmy's Lights-Out Castle]], [[Cooligan Shrooms]], and [[Wiggler Rodeo]].
Munchers, no longer in ice blocks, appear in ''[[New Super Mario Bros. U]]'', ''[[New Super Luigi U]]'', and their [[New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe|Nintendo Switch port]]. Munchers retain their appearance from ''New Super Mario Bros. Wii'' and behave the same way as they do in other games. In ''New Super Mario Bros. U'', Munchers are found in [[Spinning-Star Sky]] and [[Thrilling Spine Coaster]]. In ''[[New Super Luigi U]]'', Munchers appear in the levels [[Lemmy's Lights-Out Castle]], [[Cooligan Shrooms]], and [[Wiggler Rodeo]].


====''Super Mario Maker'' / ''Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS'' / ''Super Mario Maker 2''====
====''Super Mario Maker'' / ''Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS'' / ''Super Mario Maker 2''====
Munchers reappear in ''[[Super Mario Maker]]'', [[Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS|its Nintendo 3DS version]], and ''[[Super Mario Maker 2]]''. They can be placed in courses normally, but they can also be made huge by dragging a Super Mushroom onto them, or be made to spawn from [[Lakitu]]s, [[Warp Pipe]]s, [[? Block]]s, [[Brick Block]]s, or [[Bill Blaster]]s.
Munchers are course elements in every style of ''[[Super Mario Maker]]'', [[Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS|its port]], and ''[[Super Mario Maker 2]]''. They are rendered as sprites instead of objects. Munchers were given uniquely designed ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' sprites for the first time, and the ''Super Mario World'' style alters their original sprite to give them yellow lips or teeth, as well as a blue shading. Munchers can be placed anywhere in courses, and they retain their usual function. Munchers are affected by gravity, so they fall if not on top of any ground. Munchers can defeat most enemies just by falling onto them. Shaking a Muncher produces only a purple-black cloud of smoke at first, but shaking it repeatedly produces [[fly (Mario Paint)|flies]]; as of [[Super Mario Maker#Version 1.20|version 1.20]] of the original ''Super Mario Maker'' and later games, [[King Watinga]] emerges if the Muncher is shook after the flies have emerged. A Muncher can become larger by dragging a [[Super Mushroom]] on it. Munchers can be made to spawn from [[Lakitu]]s, [[Warp Pipe]]s, [[? Block]]s, [[Brick Block]]s, or [[Bill Blaster]]s. Contact with a Muncher on any side damages Mario, unless he is wearing a Goomba's Shoe, during which only hitting a Muncher with Mario's head will damage him. Mario can also use [[Buzzy Shell]]s to bounce them up from below. Munchers can be defeated by a [[POW Block]], a fast fly down while [[Cape Mario]], a ground pound from a big [[Goomba's Shoe|Goomba's Stiletto]], and the [[Spiny Shell (red)|Spiny Shell]] from below. Yoshi can walk safely across Munchers in any style. Munchers are heavy enough to press a [[P Switch]] without needing to be enlarged with a Super Mushroom, and also defeat any enemy (including [[Bowser]]) should they fall over it.
 
Munchers in these games are treated as sprites instead of objects, acting the same as Piranha Plants but smaller and harder to defeat. Shaking them has no apparent effect other than producing a purple-black cloud of smoke, but shaking them repeatedly will produce [[fly (Mario Paint)|flies]], which the player can swat to initiate the [[Gnat Attack]] minigame. In 1.20 onwards, shaking it after the flies have emerged will cause [[King Watinga]] to pop out, and swatting him will trigger a harder version of Gnat Attack.
 
In this game, Munchers are damaging to the touch on every side, unless Mario is wearing a Goomba's Shoe, during which only hitting a Muncher with Mario's head will damage him. Mario can also use [[Buzzy Shell]]s to bounce them up from below. Munchers can be defeated by a [[POW Block]], a fast fly down while [[Cape Mario]], a ground pound with a giant Goomba's Shoe, and the [[Spiny Shell (red)|Spiny Shell]] from below. Yoshi can once again walk safely across Munchers, even in the ''New Super Mario Bros. U'' style. Munchers are heavy enough to press a [[P Switch]] without needing to be enlarged with a Super Mushroom, and also defeat any enemy (including [[Bowser]]) should they fall over it.
 
Also, as Munchers are absent from ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'', new sprites are made for this style. In the ''[[Super Mario World]]'' style, a new sprite was made instead of using the original one: they have yellow lips or teeth, and have a blue shading.
 
The Munchers in this game are affected by gravity, and fall down if they are not on top of any ground. They can also operate like solid blocks in that they take out most enemies just by falling onto them.


====''Super Mario Run''====
====''Super Mario Run''====
Munchers appear again in ''[[Super Mario Run]]'', acting as they do in other games. Yoshi can walk freely on Munchers whereas the other characters cannot.
Munchers appear in ''[[Super Mario Run]]''. They act the same as before. Yoshi is the only player character who can walk on Munchers without taking damage.


====''Super Mario Bros. Wonder''====
====''Super Mario Bros. Wonder''====
Munchers appear in ''[[Super Mario Bros. Wonder]]'', primarily in the stage [[Muncher Fields]], lining most of the floor, walls, and ceilings while functioning the same as in other games. Yoshi can once again walk safely across Munchers. They can be defeated by throwing a [[Red POW Block]] at them.
Munchers appear in ''[[Super Mario Bros. Wonder]]''. They are encountered mainly on [[Muncher Fields]]. Munchers line most of the floor, walls, and ceilings, though behave identically as before otherwise. The playable Yoshis can walk across Munchers safely. Munchers can be defeated from being hit by a [[Red POW Block]].


===''Nintendo Adventures Books''===
===''Nintendo Adventure Books''===
Munchers appear as scenery in ''[[Double Trouble (book)|Double Trouble]]'', where it's mentioned [[Roy Koopa]] has parked the [[Airship|Doomship]] above a patch of them in the [[Mushroom Kingdom]]. In ''[[Leaping Lizards]]'', some Munchers are a part of the first International Mushroom Games event, the obstacle course. If Roy's [[magic carpet|flying carpet]] is sabotaged by a [[Rocky Wrench]], he will fall into a patch of the plants, though the Munchers leave him alone due to deeming his tough hide unappetizing.
Munchers appear as scenery in ''[[Double Trouble (book)|Double Trouble]]'', where it is mentioned that [[Roy|Roy Koopa]] has parked the [[Airship|Doomship]] above a patch of them in the [[Mushroom Kingdom]]. In ''[[Leaping Lizards]]'', some Munchers are a part of the first International Mushroom Games event, the obstacle course. If Roy's [[magic carpet|flying carpet]] is sabotaged by a [[Rocky Wrench]], he will fall into a patch of the plants, though the Munchers leave him alone due to deeming his tough hide unappetizing.


In ''[[Pipe Down!]]'', if Mario and Luigi follow Princess Toadstool out of her castle and to the [[Koopahari Desert]], they have to zig-zag through patches of Munchers. The plants make a similar cameo in ''[[Dinosaur Dilemma]]'', where they can be spotted prowling the Valley of the Koopas by Mario and Yoshi.
In ''[[Pipe Down!]]'', if Mario and Luigi follow Princess Toadstool out of her castle and to the [[Koopahari Desert]], they have to zig-zag through patches of Munchers. The plants make a similar cameo in ''[[Dinosaur Dilemma]]'', where they can be spotted prowling the Valley of the Koopas by Mario and Yoshi.
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===''Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3''===
===''Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3''===
[[File:MuncherWL.png|frame|right]]
[[File:MuncherWL.png|frame|right]]
Munchers also appear in ''[[Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3]]''. They retain their original black coloration and are found early in the game. There is no distinction between how they inflict damage on [[Wario]] and how they inflicted damage on other heroes in past ''Super Mario'' games. Munchers are stationary and populate the ground in long arrays of specimens. They cannot be knocked out in any way.
Munchers appear in ''[[Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3]]''. They retain their original black coloration and behavior. Munchers are invulnerable, stationary, and populate the ground in long arrays. They are encountered in earlier stages.


===''Mario Kart 8'' / ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''===
===''Mario Kart 8'' / ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''===
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===''Mario Tennis Aces''===
===''Mario Tennis Aces''===
[[File:MTA Munchers.jpg|thumb|Several Munchers at the Ancient Altar in ''Mario Tennis Aces'']]
[[File:MTA Munchers.jpg|thumb|Several Munchers at the Ancient Altar in ''Mario Tennis Aces'']]
Munchers appear in ''[[Mario Tennis Aces]]'', where they are found in the background of the [[Piranha Plant Forest|Ancient Altar]] while the player battles [[Petey Piranha]].
Munchers appear in ''[[Mario Tennis Aces]]''. They are located in the background of the [[Piranha Plant Forest|Ancient Altar]] while the player battles [[Petey Piranha]].


===''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''===
===''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''===
In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'', Munchers are mentioned briefly by [[icaruspedia:Viridi|Viridi]] during [[List of Palutena's Guidance conversations|Palutena's Guidance]] dialogue for [[Piranha Plant]].
Munchers are mentioned briefly by {{iw|icaruspedia|Viridi}} during [[List of Palutena's Guidance conversations|Palutena's Guidance]] dialogue for [[Piranha Plant]] in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''.


==Profiles and statistics==
==Profiles and statistics==
===''[[Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten]]''===
===''[[Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten]]''===
{{PEGMCE profile
{{PBMCD profile
|name=ブラックパックン (JP) / Muncher (EN)
|name=ブラックパックン (JP) / Muncher (EN)
|shusshin=フラワー族
|artwork=[[File:Muncher Perfect.png|200px]]
|seikaku=いやしん坊
|shuzoku=フラワー{{ruby|族|ぞく}}
|tojo_gemu=3、ワールド
|seikaku=いやしん{{ruby|坊|ぼう}}
|desc='''<big>落ちるのを持ちかまえてる</big><br>
|tojo_gemu=3、ワールド
くぼみなどでマリオを待ちかまえている、無敵のパックン。攻撃はしてこないが、無敵マリオでも倒すことはできない。くぼみに落ちないように慎重にジャンプしよう。<ref name=Daijiten>Shogakukan. 1994.「パーフェクト版 マリオキャラクター大事典」 (''Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten''). [https://i.imgur.com/EVcDzB9.jpeg Page 191].</ref>
|desc='''<big>{{ruby|落|お}}ちるのを{{ruby|持|ま}}ちかまえてる</big><br>
|origin=Flower clan
くぼみなどでマリオを{{ruby|待|ま}}ちかまえている、{{ruby|無敵|むてき}}のパックン。{{ruby|攻撃|こうげき}}はしてこないが、{{ruby|無敵|むてき}}マリオでも{{ruby|倒|たお}}すことはできない。くぼみに{{ruby|落|お}}ちないように{{ruby|慎重|しんちょう}}にジャンプしよう。<ref name=Daijiten>{{cite|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|date=November 20, 1994|isbn=4-09-259067-9|title=「パーフェクト版 マリオキャラクター大事典」 (''Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten'')|page=[https://i.imgur.com/EVcDzB9.jpeg 191]}}</ref>
|tribe=Flower clan
|disposition=Greedy
|disposition=Greedy
|game_appearances=3, World
|game_appearances=3, World
Line 103: Line 89:
SMGPB5 Activity2.png|''[[Super Mario Game Picture Book 5]]: Princess Peach's Birthday''
SMGPB5 Activity2.png|''[[Super Mario Game Picture Book 5]]: Princess Peach's Birthday''
Muncher SMB3 All-Stars.png|''[[Super Mario All-Stars]]'' (''Super Mario Bros. 3'')
Muncher SMB3 All-Stars.png|''[[Super Mario All-Stars]]'' (''Super Mario Bros. 3'')
Muncheridle.gif|''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]'' model animation
NSMBU Muncher Render.png|''[[New Super Mario Bros. U]]''
NSMBU Muncher Render.png|''[[New Super Mario Bros. U]]''
NSMBU E3 4-Player Spinning-Star Sky.png|''New Super Mario Bros. U''
SMM-SMB-Muncher.png|''[[Super Mario Maker]]'' (''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' style)
SMM-SMB-Muncher.png|''[[Super Mario Maker]]'' (''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' style)
SMM-SMB-Mucher-1.png|''Super Mario Maker'' (''Super Mario Bros.'' style)
SMM-SMB-Mucher-1.png|''Super Mario Maker'' (''Super Mario Bros.'' style)
Line 114: Line 102:
==Names in other languages==
==Names in other languages==
{{foreign names
{{foreign names
|Jap=ブラックパックン<ref>''Super Mario Bros. 3'' Japanese instruction booklet. Page 41.</ref>
|Jap=ブラックパックン<ref>{{cite|title=スーパーマリオブラザーズ3 (''Sūpā Mario Burazāzu Surī'') instruction booklet|page=41|date=1988|publisher=Nintendo|language=ja}}</ref>
|JapR=Burakku Pakkun
|JapR=Burakku Pakkun
|JapM=Black Piranha
|JapM=Black Piranha
Line 126: Line 114:
|FreEM=Onomatopoeia for crunching
|FreEM=Onomatopoeia for crunching
|Dut=Muncher
|Dut=Muncher
|Ger=Mampfer
|Ger=Mampfer<ref>{{cite|author=Menold, Marcus, Claude M. Moyse, and Andreas G. Kämmerer, editors|title=''Der offizielle Nintendo Spieleberater "Super Mario World"''|language=de|location=Großostheim|publisher=[[Nintendo|Nintendo of Europe GmbH]]|date=1993|page=19}}</ref>
|GerM=Muncher
|GerM=Muncher
|Ita=Sgranocchio
|Ita=Sgranocchio
Line 146: Line 134:
<references/>
<references/>


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{{Piranha Plants}}
{{Piranha Plants}}
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{{SMB3}}

Latest revision as of 01:46, December 8, 2024

This article is about species derived from Piranha Plant. For other uses, see Muncher (disambiguation).
Muncher
NSMBU Muncher Artwork.png
Artwork of three Munchers from New Super Mario Bros. U
First appearance Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988)
Latest appearance Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition (2024)
Variant of Piranha Plant
Variants
Relatives
Comparable

Munchers are enemies introduced in Super Mario Bros. 3. They are an immobile, nearly invincible variety of Piranha Plants. Munchers resemble Nipper Plants more closely, and they are usually colored black. They often appear in groups covering part of the ground, acting like spikes.

History[edit]

Super Mario series[edit]

Super Mario Bros. 3[edit]

Munchers 2.png
Munchers from the Super Mario All-Stars version of Super Mario Bros. 3 (top) and from Super Mario World (bottom).
Artwork of three Munchers for Super Mario Bros. 3
Artwork from Super Mario Bros. 3, showing the original design of Munchers

Munchers appear in Super Mario Bros. 3. They are rendered as damage-causing foreground tiles, since the Family Computer and Nintendo Entertainment System hardware allows for up to only eight sprites per scanline. Munchers remain animated while the game is paused, comparably to Jelectros. Munchers are depicted in their artwork as black with orange leaves, but in the game itself, they can come in other colors depending on the level. In the first and second remakes, Munchers have green leaves with orange or blue heads, depending on the level. They are first encountered in World 5-3. Hitting a Switch Block turns all Munchers into coins while the effects are actively. Using a Goomba's Shoe allows the player to walk along the Munchers without taking damage. Munchers transform into Empty Blocks when tail-whipped, though not in the second remake.

There are frozen Munchers in World 6-10, and they are identifiable from the outline and reflection of the Ice Block that they are encased in. Frozen Munchers can be walked on but become active when hit by a fireball, something alluded to by Princess Toadstool at one point.[1]

A different kind of Muncher, which has blue leaves in the original and pops out of small pipes, appears in the first and second World 7-Piranha Plant stages of Pipe Land. They emerge and recede in an alternating pattern, and unlike Piranha Plants, they are unaffected by Mario touching the pipe; in fact, due to being animated foreground tiles, they are even unaffected by the game being paused. This type is actually made up of two foreground objects with a separate four-frame animation (with the last frame of each being held for several moments), a harmful one for when it emerges and opens its mouth, and a harmless one for when it recedes and disappears. This can be seen by the fact that Mario can touch them without taking damage while they are moving into the pipes, but not when they are coming out. Also, the glitch causing Munchers to become Empty Blocks when tail-whipped does not work for this type in any version.

Super Mario World[edit]

Munchers appear in Super Mario World. They were redesigned to not have eyes as well as having their stem changed to yellow and their head to an oval shape. They are largely the same as before, but Munchers cannot be turned into Empty Blocks through any means. It is possible for Gray P Switches to turn Munchers into coins, something never seen because they do not appear together in any of the game's levels. Besides Invincible Mario, Munchers can also be walked on harmlessly by Yoshi, but even then, Munchers still damage Mario on contact, shown in Vanilla Dome 3 particularly.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii[edit]

Screenshot from New Super Mario Bros. Wii, showing both regular and frozen Munchers

Munchers appear in New Super Mario Bros. Wii. They are encountered only in World 9-7, with all of them appearing inside of ice blocks that cover most of the floor. Munchers can be thawed from the ice if hit by a fireball. Munchers cannot be frozen again, including from one of Ice Mario's ice balls.

Hacking the game reveals that unlike in Super Mario World, Yoshi cannot safely walk on Munchers or Spike Traps.[2] This behavior is unused in the game proper since no level has both of them.

New Super Mario Bros. U / New Super Luigi U / New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe[edit]

Munchers appear in New Super Mario Bros. U, New Super Luigi U, and their port. Munchers retain their appearance from New Super Mario Bros. Wii and behave the same way as they do in other games, aside from no longer being encased in ice blocks. In New Super Mario Bros. U, Munchers are found in Spinning-Star Sky and Thrilling Spine Coaster. In New Super Luigi U, Munchers appear in the levels Lemmy's Lights-Out Castle, Cooligan Shrooms, and Wiggler Rodeo.

Super Mario Maker / Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS / Super Mario Maker 2[edit]

Munchers are course elements in every style of Super Mario Maker, its port, and Super Mario Maker 2. They are rendered as sprites instead of objects. Munchers were given uniquely designed Super Mario Bros. sprites for the first time, and the Super Mario World style alters their original sprite to give them yellow lips or teeth, as well as a blue shading. Munchers can be placed anywhere in courses, and they retain their usual function. Munchers are affected by gravity, so they fall if not on top of any ground. Munchers can defeat most enemies just by falling onto them. Shaking a Muncher produces only a purple-black cloud of smoke at first, but shaking it repeatedly produces flies; as of version 1.20 of the original Super Mario Maker and later games, King Watinga emerges if the Muncher is shook after the flies have emerged. A Muncher can become larger by dragging a Super Mushroom on it. Munchers can be made to spawn from Lakitus, Warp Pipes, ? Blocks, Brick Blocks, or Bill Blasters. Contact with a Muncher on any side damages Mario, unless he is wearing a Goomba's Shoe, during which only hitting a Muncher with Mario's head will damage him. Mario can also use Buzzy Shells to bounce them up from below. Munchers can be defeated by a POW Block, a fast fly down while Cape Mario, a ground pound from a big Goomba's Stiletto, and the Spiny Shell from below. Yoshi can walk safely across Munchers in any style. Munchers are heavy enough to press a P Switch without needing to be enlarged with a Super Mushroom, and also defeat any enemy (including Bowser) should they fall over it.

Super Mario Run[edit]

Munchers appear in Super Mario Run. They act the same as before. Yoshi is the only player character who can walk on Munchers without taking damage.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder[edit]

Munchers appear in Super Mario Bros. Wonder. They are encountered mainly on Muncher Fields. Munchers line most of the floor, walls, and ceilings, though behave identically as before otherwise. The playable Yoshis can walk across Munchers safely. Munchers can be defeated from being hit by a Red POW Block.

Nintendo Adventure Books[edit]

Munchers appear as scenery in Double Trouble, where it is mentioned that Roy Koopa has parked the Doomship above a patch of them in the Mushroom Kingdom. In Leaping Lizards, some Munchers are a part of the first International Mushroom Games event, the obstacle course. If Roy's flying carpet is sabotaged by a Rocky Wrench, he will fall into a patch of the plants, though the Munchers leave him alone due to deeming his tough hide unappetizing.

In Pipe Down!, if Mario and Luigi follow Princess Toadstool out of her castle and to the Koopahari Desert, they have to zig-zag through patches of Munchers. The plants make a similar cameo in Dinosaur Dilemma, where they can be spotted prowling the Valley of the Koopas by Mario and Yoshi.

In Flown the Koopa, a patch of Munchers can be found in the desert surrounding a tree inhabited by Cheep Cheeps, and will swarm Luigi if he tries to get his and his friends lost International Dino-Flying Derby tickets out of the tree; more of the plants can be found by the Mario Bros. in the swamp containing Magikoopa's Fortress.

Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3[edit]

Muncher

Munchers appear in Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3. They retain their original black coloration and behavior. Munchers are invulnerable, stationary, and populate the ground in long arrays. They are encountered in earlier stages.

Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe[edit]

Although Munchers do not directly appear in Mario Kart 8 or Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, several appear along the bottom adverts in some courses for Green Service.

Mario Tennis Aces[edit]

Three Munchers and a Nipper Plant in the shadows at the Ancient Altar
Several Munchers at the Ancient Altar in Mario Tennis Aces

Munchers appear in Mario Tennis Aces. They are located in the background of the Ancient Altar while the player battles Petey Piranha.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]

Munchers are mentioned briefly by Viridi during Palutena's Guidance dialogue for Piranha Plant in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Profiles and statistics[edit]

Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten[edit]

ブラックパックン (JP) / Muncher (EN)
Two Munchers from Super Mario Bros. 3.
Original text (Japanese) Translation
種族しゅぞく フラワーぞく Tribe Flower clan
性格せいかく いやしんぼう Disposition Greedy
登場とうじょうゲーム 3、ワールド Game appearances 3, World
ちるのをちかまえてる

くぼみなどでマリオをちかまえている、無敵むてきのパックン。攻撃こうげきはしてこないが、無敵むてきマリオでもたおすことはできない。くぼみにちないように慎重しんちょうにジャンプしよう。[3]

Waiting for something to fall

The invincible Piranha waits for Mario in pits and other places. They do not attack, but even Invincible Mario cannot defeat them. Jump carefully to avoid falling into the pits.

Gallery[edit]

For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Muncher.

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese ブラックパックン[4]
Burakku Pakkun
Black Piranha
Chinese 黑吞食花[?]
Hēi Tūnshí Huā
Black Piranha Plant
Dutch Muncher[?] -
French (NOA) Miamiam[?] Contracted form of "miam-miam" (onomatopoeic term meaning "yum-yum")
French (NOE) Scrounch[?] Onomatopoeia for crunching
German Mampfer[5] Muncher
Italian Sgranocchio[?] First-person present conjugation of sgranocchiare ("to munch")
Korean 블랙뻐끔[?]
Beullaek Peokkeum
Black Piranha
Portuguese (NOE) Trincas[?] Second-person present conjugation of trincar ("to chomp")
Russian Жевалка[?]
Zhevalka
Masculine past conjugation of жевать (zhevat, "to munch"), combined with the diminutive suffix -ка (-ka)
Spanish (NOA) Tulipán Piraña[?] Piranha Tulip
Spanish (NOE) Mordiscador[?] Nibbler

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Greetings, be careful in the Ice World. The creatures trapped in the ice will come to life if warmed. I have enclosed a jewel that helps protect you." – Princess Toadstool (1990). Super Mario Bros. 3. Nintendo (English).
  2. ^ ProsafiaGaming (February 4, 2018). New Super Mario Bros Wii - All Castles with Yoshi (06:21). YouTube (English). Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  3. ^ November 20, 1994. 「パーフェクト版 マリオキャラクター大事典」 (Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten). Shogakukan. ISBN 4-09-259067-9. Page 191.
  4. ^ 1988. スーパーマリオブラザーズ3 (Sūpā Mario Burazāzu Surī) instruction booklet. Nintendo (Japanese). Page 41.
  5. ^ Menold, Marcus, Claude M. Moyse, and Andreas G. Kämmerer, editors (1993). Der offizielle Nintendo Spieleberater "Super Mario World". Großostheim: Nintendo of Europe GmbH (German). Page 19.