Bob-omb

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The different Bob-ombs from SMB2, SMB3, SMW, and PM

Bob-ombs are moving bombs that first appeared in Super Mario Bros. 2, and later appeared in almost every Mario game since then. The traditional color for them is black, but they can also be red, blue, or even green. They feature either wind-up keys in their backs, fuses, or both.

The Bob-ombs are used as weapons in Mario Kart, Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, Super Mario Strikers, and are Waluigi's weapon of choice. Their appearance, intelligence, and ally/enemy status differs widely from game-to-game.

Appearances

Bob-ombs were first introduced in Super Mario Bros. 2, and had arms. Some were hidden under red grass, and would explode roughly 2 seconds after being pulled out. Super Mario Bros. 2 and The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! was the only appearance in which Bob-ombs had arms.

Bob-omb was the only enemy from Super Mario Bros. 2 to be featured in Super Mario Bros. 3. In this game, the Bob-ombs had wind-up keys on their backs and where blue. All they do is walk back and forth, unless hit, in which they explode. Like Koopa Troopas, they could also be carried and tossed when knocked out. In later worlds, cannons on tanks and Airships continuously spawned them in great quanities.

Bob-ombs, and their more powerful counterparts, Rob-ombs, also appeared in Super Mario RPG, and were the subject of many mini-games in the Mario Party series, such as Bob-omb Barrage, Bob-omb Breakers, Reverse-a-Bomb, and Hot Bob-omb.

In Super Mario World, some Bob-Ombs parachute from the sky or float around inside bubbles. They are completly black, had no wind-up or fuse, and are edible to Yoshi's.

A Bob-omb from Super Mario 64.

In Super Mario 64, the pink Bob-omb Buddies were introduced in the painting world Bob-omb Battlefield. The Bob-omb Buddies were at war with the normal, black Bob-ombs, and instantly allied themselves with Mario when he appeared. Bob-omb buddies were capable of speech and helped Mario by providing cannons for him. The evil black Bob-ombs either tried to chase Mario down and explode when they saw him, or they manned cannons and shot water balls at him. Mario could pick the Bob-ombs up and throw them, but they would explode if held too long. The game's first boss was the Big Bob-omb, also known as the King Bob-omb, who sported a golden crown and an enormous moustache. He appeared again in Super Mario 64 DS. The black Bob-ombs had no wind-up keys in the original Super Mario 64, but that was changed once Super Mario 64 DS was made.

In Paper Mario, a pink Bob-omb named Bombette joined Mario and assisted him by blowing up cracks in walls. A large group of Bob-ombs work in the Koopa Bros. Fortress, and some became allies and moved to Koopa Village.

The sequel, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, also featured a Bob-omb partner, named Admiral Bobbery. The other Bob-ombs in this game helped Mario reach the X-Nauts' moon base by launching him out of a giant cannon. The game also introduced a large enemy Bob-omb known as Bulky Bob-omb (and the more powerful counterpart, Bob-ulk). If not defeated quickly, they would explode and deal a lot of damage. Since the enemy Bob-ombs in both games would attack by exploding (killing themselves in the process), they are considered robots, instead of the sentient ally Bob-ombs that can somehow survive exploding.

In Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, Bob-ombs could be fought on the seashore of the Beanbean Kingdom, and in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, Bob-omb reappears along with Lethal Bob-omb, a more powerful version. On Star Hill, in the boss battle against Commander Shroob, his fellow Support Shroobs tote around a giant purple Bob-omb with Shroob eyes called Shroob-omb. If the Mario Bros. get struck by it when the Shroobs toss it at them, or if it rolls at them if the middle or back Support Shroob is left, another one is brought in.

A digital version of Bob-ombs appeared in Super Mario Sunshine. They are only found in Pinna Park and Noki Bay, thrown by Monty Moles as weapons. If sprayed or jumped on, it will do a countdown on its face from three when it is about to explode. Unlike previous Bob-ombs, these ones were more weapon-like and didn't explode on contact.

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A lit Bob-omb seen in Super Smash Bros. Melee.

Bob-ombs have also appeared in Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour, where golf balls impacting on a Bob-omb cause it to explode, sending the ball out in the opposite direction. They also have appeared in Super Smash Bros., Super Smash Bros. Melee, Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, Mario Kart DS, Super Mario Strikers, and the Mario Party series as items.

In Mario Party, Bob-ombs play a large role on the Wario's Battlefield Board by firing characters in cannons. They return in Mario Party 3 continuing to assist Wario as his partner.

Bob-omb's allegience to Wario may be more or less a reference to one of Wario's games, which featured Bomberman. Bomberman is Hudson's mascot. Hudson was a company that assisted with the Mario Party series.

Other Appearances

Bob-ombs have even appeared in various Legend of Zelda games, such as The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening and The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap. If you strike them with your sword once, they will run frantically around the room in a diagonal pattern, ricocheting off of walls and objects until they explode. If you manage to strike them again, they stop moving and explode.

The Bob-Omb featured in the Super Mario Bros. movie.

The Bob-omb also appeared in the Super Mario Bros film. Unlike its gaming counterpart, it was not sentient and would only move if wound up. It could also walk up walls and was immensely more powerful than in the games (so much so that the mere sight of a Bob-omb caused mass panic and even made King Koopa duck and cover). In an obvious display of product placement, Bob-omb's feet were festooned with Reebok shoes, visible for a split second before he exploded.

Sub-Species

• Bulky Bob-omb: A much stronger Bob-Omb. After 4 turns it will explode. The power of their bomb attack is 8.

• Bob-ulk: The strongest Bob-Omb. After 4 turns it will explode. The power of their bomb attack is 16!

• Bob-omb Buddy: A friendly type of bob-omb that will open cannons for Mario in Super Mario 64.

• Kab-Omb: A Bob-Omb that can be ignited, exploding into fireworks.

• Para-bomb: Parachuting Bob-ombs

• Bubble Bob-omb: A Bob-omb trapped in a bubble

• Rob-omb A Bob-omb with purple shoes from Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars.

Notable Bob-Ombs

• Admiral Bobbery - Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
• Big Bob-omb - Super Mario 64
• Bombette - Paper Mario
• General White - Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
• Goldbob - Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
• Jerry - Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
• Lucky - Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
• Master Crash - Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
• Pa-Patch - Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

Paper Mario Stats and Tattle Information

• HP: 3
• Attack: 1
• Defense: 0
• Location: Koopa Bros. Fortress
• Tattle: Bob-ombs are pretty temperamental, and they get steaming mad when you attack 'em. You'd better not Jump on 'em when they're angry or they'll blow up in your face. In fact, stay away entirely. Attack 'em from a distance with items like Hammers. Or you could send in other things, like shells. If they attack when angry, they'll charge in and explode. So you'd better take care of them before they blow!

Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door Stats and Tattle Information

Regular Bob-Omb

• HP: 4
• Attack: 2
• Defense: 1
• Locations: Glitzville, Pit of 100 Trials (Levels 21-29)
• Tattle Number: 86
• Tattle Log: A round bomb soldier that gets furious when damaged and attacks by charging and then exploding.
• Tattle: That's a Bob-omb. It attacks by blowing itself up. Yeah. Reeeeeeeal smart. A Bob-omb will get totally mad if you damage it. They have like, super-short fuses. When it gets mad, it'll charge and explode on its next turn. THAT attack... really hurts. Oh, and if it's mad, it'll blow up at the slightest contact. So don't attack directly! Attack it from a step away with a hammer or hit it with something hard, like a shell.

Bulky Bob-omb

• HP: 6
• Attack: 2
• Defense: 1
• Locations: Pirate's Grotto, Pit of 100 Trials (Levels 31-39)
• Tattle Number: 87
• Tattle Log: A big pink Bob-omb that explodes after 4 turns. That explosion is big, so take it out before then.
• Tattle: That's a Bulky Bob-omb. I think it's like other Bob-ombs... but it's huge! It's weird... It never attacks, but once its fuse is lit, it'll blow up on its own eventually. I don't mind it taking itself out of the battle, but that explosion hurts us, too! Oh, and when it powers up, that Attack power is 8, so watch out! Fire and explosions light its fuse, so I guess setting it off early is one strategy... You can run, too, but if you're gonna fight, beat it before it goes off!

Bob-ulk

• HP: 10
• Attack: 4
• Defense: 2
• Locations: Pit of 100 Trials (Levels 91-99)
• Tattle Number: 88
• Tattle Log: A really, really big Bob-omb that explodes after 4 turns. Take it out before then or you'll be peeling your lips off the ceiling!
• Tattle: That's a Bob-ulk. That's... easily the biggest Bob-omb I've ever seen! It won't attack, but once its fuse is lit, it'll explode after a while. So the problem is... how to beat it before it goes off. I mean, its bomb attack has a power of 16! That's no joke. Seriously, watch out for that. Just go all out to beat it. Pull out all the stops. Or you could just set it off early with fire or explosions. Your call.