Blue Shell

This article is about the normal Koopa Troopa shell. For the blue version of the Spiny Shell which appears as a Mario Kart item, see Spiny Shell (blue).

Blue Shell
Artwork from New Super Mario Bros.
First appearance	Super Mario World (1990)
Latest appearance	Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey (2018)

Blue Shells, also known as Blue Koopa Shells, are blue Koopa Troopa shells that first appear in Super Mario World. While occasionally worn by Koopa Troopas, they are more prevalent as items that Mario or Luigi can use.

History

Super Mario series

Super Mario World

Blue shells first appear in Super Mario World, either alone or on the back of a Koopa Troopa. As with other colors of shells, jumping on a Koopa Troopa will cause the shell to be removed, where it can then be held or thrown. When Yoshi eats one, he will grow wings and gain the ability to fly for a limited time, at the end of which he will swallow the shell. Blue Yoshi can gain this ability by eating a shell of any color. Yoshis can also spit the shell back out, in which case it will behave like a Green Shell, flying out at high speed and defeating enemies in its way. If the player attempts to launch the shell back at a blue Koopa without a Shell, it will stop the shell and kick it back at the player. If a green or red Koopa without a Shell comes in contact with the Blue Shell (or kicks it right-side up if upside down), it will then jump in it and become that colored Koopa.

According to the Japanese Shogakukan guide for the game Yoshi, Blue Shells from Super Mario World are filled with refreshing mints and have an herbal scent.

New Super Mario Bros.

Blue shells appear again in New Super Mario Bros., this time as a power-up. It turns Mario or Luigi into Shell Mario or Shell Luigi respectively upon contacting it. By using the Blue Shell, the player gains the ability to shell dash. While ducking or shell dashing, Shell Mario or Shell Luigi are invulnerable to almost anything, except for boss attacks and falling into a pit, poison, or lava. They can also Ground Pound on Spinies to send them spinning in their shells, similarly to a Koopa Troopa when kicked. Additionally, the power-up allows them to swim faster and with more precision, similar to the Frog Suit from Super Mario Bros. 3.

The item can be collected by defeating a wandering Hammer Bro, stomping the Blue Koopa Troopa found in the Ice Stage of the Mario vs. Luigi mode, hitting a Flying ? Block, visiting a Red Toad House, or in a Roulette Block. However, it cannot be found in any of the normal ? Blocks in the game.

The New Super Mario Bros. Player's Guide has an icon for Blue Shells in the legend for level maps, but it goes unused, as Blue Shells are not found in normal ? Blocks.

Super Mario Galaxy

In Super Mario Galaxy, if Cosmic Mario picks up a Koopa Shell during his race in the Sea Slide Galaxy, it will turn into a blue-colored shell.

Super Mario 3D World

Though the Blue Shell itself is not seen in Super Mario 3D World, the player can jump on a Koopa Troopa and steal its shell. A similar form of shell dashing exists in this game, but only with this held item and not as a power-up form. When shell dashing as Toad or Rosalina, the shell's color turns dark or light blue respectively, similar to the Blue Shell's New Super Mario Bros. appearance.

Mario Strikers series

A Blue Shell from Mario Strikers Charged

In Super Mario Strikers and Mario Strikers Charged, Blue Shells appear as items; in the latter game they are cyan and frosted with ice instead. They can be collected in a pack of three. When used, all three are fired at the opposing players, but do not home in like the Red Shell does. If a Blue Shell hits a player, they will instantly freeze in that spot, rendering them unable to move. The effects wear off after a few seconds. The shells are able to hit and freeze both the player's and opponent's team members. They will continue bouncing around the stage until they either hit a player or disappear after a set amount of time.

A more effective version of this item is the Giant Blue Shell, which appears individually, and is able to run over players while continuing to move.

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey

The Blue Shell appears in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story and its 3DS remake as an item found in the overworld and once in the Energy Hold in Bowser's Body. By striking shell blocks, Mario can go in Blue Shells and turn into Shell Mario. Luigi can then hit Mario using his hammer to make Mario retract into the shell, spinning straight forward. This can be used to hit blocks in areas that Mario and Luigi cannot directly enter. Because the shell is so heavy, Mario cannot jump while wearing it. If he attempts to jump, he tosses the shell off of his body and it disappears. This serves a similar purpose to Kooper and Koops's field abilities in the Paper Mario series.

Unused appearances

Mario Kart 7

A model of a Blue Shell exists in Mario Kart 7's game files.

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	青コウラ[?] Ao Kōra	Blue Shell
	こうら (New Super Mario Bros.) Kōra	Shell
Chinese	龟壳 Guīké	Shell
French	Carapace Bleue[?]	Blue Shell
German	Blauer Panzer[?]	Blue Shell
Italian	Guscio Blu[?]	Blue Shell
Spanish	Caparazón azul[?]	Blue Shell

Profiles and statistics

Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook – Yoshi's Egg

青
気分爽快ミント味のこうら。のどにさわやかで、八ーブの香りがする。大都会の雑踏などでこのこうらを食べると、あまりの爽快さに空をも飛んでしまうという。

Blue
A fresh-feeling, mint-filled shell. It's refreshing in the throat, and has a herbal scent. It is said that if you eat this shell in a big city crowd, you'll fly in the sky from the sheer exhilaration.

Gallery

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  Super Mario Strikers

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  Super Mario Strikers

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  New Super Mario Bros.

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  New Super Mario Bros.

See also

• Penguin Suit