Li'l Cinder
| Li'l Cinder | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Artwork from Super Mario Galaxy 2 | |||
| First appearance | Super Mario Galaxy (2007) | ||
| Latest appearance | Super Mario 3D All-Stars (2020) | ||
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Li'l Cinders,[1] originally known as Lava Bubbles,[2] are enemies in Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2. Their name directly references "cinder," which is a small part of any highly combustible material. They have an ice counterpart called Li'l Brrs. They slowly chase Mario (or Luigi) upon spotting him and attempt to ram into him to inflict damage. If Mario touches a Li'l Cinder, he catches fire and starts running around uncontrollably while losing a wedge of his life meter.
History
Super Mario Galaxy
Lava Bubbles first appear in Super Mario Galaxy, where they sometimes spawn from lava pools. Mario can use a spin attack nearby or shoot a Star Bit to put out the flame surrounding a Lava Bubble, making it fall on the ground vulnerable and blackened. In this state, the enemy attempts to escape Mario by weakly and unpredictably hopping away and seeks a pool of lava to regenerate its flame. While in its cold state, the Lava Bubble can be kicked or jumped on to defeat it, producing a coin. However, Lava Bubbles produce nothing upon defeat in Daredevil Comet conditions. Lava Bubbles are completely immune to Fire Mario's fireballs, with their bodies simply absorbing the flame. They are the most common enemy in the Melty Molten Galaxy.
Appearances
marks missions where they are completely absent.
marks missions where they are loaded and may be visible, but cannot be encountered directly.
| Domes | Galaxies | Missions |
|---|---|---|
| Bedroom | Freezeflame Galaxy | 
|
| Garden | Melty Molten Galaxy |  
|
Super Mario Galaxy 2
Li'l Cinders are much more prolific in Super Mario Galaxy 2. In some of Bowser's stages, they can be summoned by Magikoopas. If Mario rolls a snowball into a Li'l Cinder, he instantly defeats it.
Appearances
- marks missions where they are completely absent.
- marks missions where they are loaded and may be visible, but cannot be encountered directly.
| Caved, emerges when approached | ||
|---|---|---|
| Worlds | Galaxies | Missions |
| World 2 | Bowser's Lava Lair |  
|
| World 3 | Freezy Flake Galaxy | 
|
| World 4 | Bowser's Gravity Gauntlet |
|
| World 6 | Battle Belt Galaxy |
|
| World S | Mario Squared Galaxy |
|
Gallery
The Li'l Cinder's in-game model
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | メラメラ[?] Meramera |
Japanese onomatopoeia for something flaring up; shared with Flaret | |
| French | Mélaméla[?] | Same as Japanese name | |
| German | Feuer-Flamy[?] | Fire Flamy | |
| Italian | Vampy[?] | From vampata ("blaze") | |
| Spanish (NOA) | Roca Volcánica[?] | Volcanic Rock | |
| Spanish (NOE) | Mera[?] | From Japanese name |
References
- ^ Browne, Catherine (May 23, 2010). Super Mario Galaxy 2: PRIMA Official Game Guide. Roseville: Random House Inc. ISBN 978-0-30746-907-6. Page 27.
- ^ Black, Fletcher (November 9, 2007). Super Mario Galaxy PRIMA Official Game Guide. Prima Games (American English). ISBN 978-0-7615-5643-5. Page 185, 280–285, 287, 290–292.
