Empty Block

It has been requested that this article be rewritten and expanded to include more information. Reason: be more specific for the Paper Mario, Mario & Luigi, and Mario Kart series sections

Template:Item-infobox An Empty Block (sometimes referred to simply as a Block^[1] or a Steel Block^[2]) is a type of block in the Mario franchise that usually appears when Mario, Luigi, and their friends hit a ? Block, an item-holding Brick Block, or a Coin Block, though they sometimes are naturally already in an "empty" state.

History

Super Mario series

Super Mario Bros. / Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels

Empty Blocks debut in Super Mario Bros. and recur in Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels. In these games, they are colored to match the level's theme, like Brick Blocks and ? Blocks.

Super Mario Bros. 3

After an absence in Super Mario Bros. 2, Empty Blocks return in Super Mario Bros. 3; both these blocks and ? Blocks are yellow (brown in remakes) in this game. Big Empty Blocks also debut in this game, being the result of hitting Giant ? Blocks; they also form part of the level designs of Worlds 4-2 and 4-5.

Super Mario Land

Empty Blocks return in Super Mario Land, acting as in prior games. They also occur naturally empty, mostly as bonus room terrain.

Super Mario World

In Super Mario World, Empty Blocks have small, closed, angry eyes in their sides' centers, rather than their usual holes. If the player hits a blue Switch Block, all Empty Blocks turn into coins and vice versa for a short time.

Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins

In Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins, Empty Blocks, looking like they do in Super Mario World, appear in the same capacity as in prior games.

New Super Mario Bros. series

Empty Blocks return in the New Super Mario Bros. games, working as they did previously; they are color-coded according to their environment, as in Super Mario Bros. They can now be broken by Mega Mario (in New Super Mario Bros. and New Super Mario Bros. 2) or stronger enemies, such as Broozers (in all games), King Bills (in New Super Mario Bros. Wii and New Super Mario Bros. U), and Super Bowser (in New Super Mario Bros. Wii).

Big Empty Blocks also return in red and orange Toad Houses in New Super Mario Bros. (as a result of hitting their respective blocks), World 6-5 in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, and Soda Jungle in New Super Mario Bros. U; Long Empty Blocks return in New Super Mario Bros. 2.

Super Mario Galaxy / Super Mario Galaxy 2

Empty Blocks appear in a 3D Super Mario game for the first time in Super Mario Galaxy, and they return in Super Mario Galaxy 2; however, they are always found naturally empty, as Brick Blocks always shatter when hit, even if they contain items, and ? and Coin Blocks vanish once used up.

Giant Empty Blocks also appear in the Supermassive Galaxy in Super Mario Galaxy 2, where they are part of the stage's level design.

Super Mario 3D Land

Empty Blocks return in Super Mario 3D Land, working as they do in the 2D games. Giant Empty Blocks are also found in hidden rooms accessed via Warp Pipes (as well as in World 6-3) and are often put together to form sculptures that create 3D illusions.

Long Empty Blocks also debut in this game, as a result of hitting Long ? Blocks.

Super Mario 3D World

Normal-sized and long Empty Blocks return in Super Mario 3D World, acting as they do in prior games. Certain ? Blocks also produce lines of Empty Blocks when hit, similar to face blocks from Super Mario 3D Land; giant versions of these blocks (though with a normal-sized "?" mark) also appear and make Giant Empty Blocks.

Super Mario Maker / Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS / Super Mario Maker 2

Empty Blocks return in Super Mario Maker, Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS, and Super Mario Maker 2, working as they do in the New Super Mario Bros. games. In Super Mario Maker 2, giant Empty Blocks also appear in the Super Mario 3D World style, as ! Blocks take the role that Mega ? Blocks did in the actual game.

Super Mario Odyssey

Only normal Empty Blocks reappear in Super Mario Odyssey. They can be found naturally empty in 8-bit sections.

Paper Mario series

Empty Blocks appear in all Paper Mario games, working as in the main series. Giant Empty Blocks return in Mondo Woods in Paper Mario: Color Splash.

Super Smash Bros. series

Empty Blocks also appear on Mario-themed stages in the Super Smash Bros. series.

Super Smash Bros. Melee

They first appear in Princess Peach's Castle in Super Smash Bros. Melee, if the red, blue, or green ! Blocks are touched or hit (or if items are turned off).

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, ? Blocks on Mushroomy Kingdom become these if hit or jumped into from below, and they are refilled when the stage loops; they are made of wood with metal borders, and like the rest of the stage, they look more realistic.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U

In 3D Land in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Mario Maker in both the 3DS and Wii U versions, they act the same as in Brawl but have their respective appearances; Empty Blocks are instead refilled after a while on the latter stage.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate brings back not only the aforementioned stages, but also the Mushroom Kingdom stage from Super Smash Bros.; in this version of the stage, the pass-through platforms are made of Empty Blocks, rather than Hard Blocks like in the original version. Empty Blocks are also embedded into the brick wall at the left side of the stage, and they are also used as the paths and ledges fighters walk and grab on.

The hazardless versions of the stages also have all ? Blocks naturally empty.

Mario & Luigi series

Empty Blocks appear in the Mario & Luigi series, acting the same as in the 2D games.

Mario Kart series

Empty Blocks also appear in the Mario Kart series, usually as part of a track's wall or boundaries.

Mario Kart 7

In Mario Kart 7, they appear as parts of platforms that can be driven on in Piranha Plant Slide.

Mario Party 9

In the Mario Party 9 minigame Fungi Frenzy, ? Panels turn into panels resembling Empty Blocks after they are ground-pounded.

Gallery

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

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
German	Benutzter Block^[?]	Used Block
Spanish	Bloque vacío (Super Mario 3D Land) Bloque (Super Mario Galaxy)^[?]	Empty block Block

Trivia

In the Super Mario Mash-Up Pack in Minecraft, Bedrock is replaced by Empty Blocks.

References

^ Super Mario Galaxy manual, page 18.
^ Walsh, Doug, and Joe Epstein (2017). Super Mario Odyssey Prima Collector's Edition, page 22.

[1] Super Mario Galaxy manual, page 18.

[2] Walsh, Doug, and Joe Epstein (2017). Super Mario Odyssey Prima Collector's Edition, page 22.

[1]

[2]

[Edit] Blocks
Carryable blocks	Crate • Crazed Crate • Glow Block • Grab Block • Ice Block • Mushroom Block • Propeller Block • Stone • White Block
Color Blocks	Bomb Block (Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis) • Fire Block • Magnetic Block • Pink Block
Destructible blocks	Block (Super Mario 64) • Blue block (Wario Land 4) • Blue block (Wario: Master of Disguise) • Bob-omb Block • Bonfire Block • Breakable block • Brick Block • Brick wall • Brown block • Candy Block • Crate • Crystal Block • Domino block • Doughnut block • Enemy Block • Fiery block • Flame block • Fury Block • Ice Wall • Itodama Block • Jewel block • Mega Block • Metal Block • Pinball digital counter • Red block (Wario: Master of Disguise) • Rock Block • Rotating Block • Snow sculpture • Snowman Block • Soft rock • Soft sand • Stone Block • Watermelon block • Yellow Block
Dice Blocks	0-1 Dice Block • 1-10 Dice Block • 1-2-3 Dice Block • 1-2-3 Slow Dice Block • 4-5-6 Dice Block • Bowser Dice Block • Brawny Dice Block • Bronze Dice Block • Custom Dice Block • Cutie Dice Block • Cursed Dice Block • Double Dice • Flutter Dice Block • Friendly Dice Block • Gold Dice Block • Greedy Dice Block • Halfway Dice Block • Jumpy Dice Block • Minus Block • Plus Block • Reverse Dice Block • Risky Dice Block • Silver Dice Block • Slow Block • Slow Dice Block • Speed Block • Speedy Dice Block • Star Block • Super Bowser Dice Block • Super Dice Block • Triple 7 Dice Block • Triple Dice • Warp Dice Block • Wondrous Dice Block
Item blocks	! Block • ? Block • 3-Up Moon Block • 4-Bros. Random Block • 99 Block • Adult Shine Block • Assist Block • Attack Piece Block • Bead jar • Bonus ? Block • Bonus block • Bros. Block • Camera Block • Cap Block • Chance Cube • Chance wheel • Coin Block • Coin Box • Egg Block • Flying ? Block • Gold Block • Hidden Block • Hidden Block (Mario Party series) • Hidden Character Block • L Block • M Block • Mega ? Block • Nozzle box • P Block (Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam) • Rally Block • Random Block • Recovery Block • Red Coin Block • Roulette Block • Roulette Coin Block • Shell block • Shine Block • Sliding block • Small Shine Block • Spiked ? Block • Square cloud • Super Block • Time Block • Warp Block (Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time)
Platform/floor blocks	Arrow Block (Wario World) • Assembly Block • Atchi Muite Block • Backflip Block • Bike Pads • Blinking Block • Block (Pyoro) • Bomb Block (Wario Land: Shake It!) • Boost Block • Cascading Stone • Cloud Block • Countdown Platform • Dash Block • Donut Block • Drop Block • Dropdown Countdown Lift • Dropping lift • Electricity Block • Expansion Block • Face block (platform) • Flip block • Fūsen Block • Ground • Hourglass Block • Ice Block • Ice Snake Block • Invisible/flashing block • Lift Block • Light-Up-Lift • Long Jump Block • Marimba Block • Marshmallow Block • Moving block • Music Block • Nebaneba Block • Note Block • Pause Block • Power Meter Block • Push-Block • Rotating Block • Sand block • Skull Platform • Slow Block • Snake Block • Spike Block • Spin Block (Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga) • Spin Block (New Super Mario Bros.) • Spring-Up • Squishy block • Starting blocks • Stretch Block • Super Note Block • Surprise Ball • Tile • Track Block • Trampoline Block • Triangular Block • Vanishing Block • Vanishing platform
Switch Blocks	! Switch • ? Switch • 3-2-1 Block • Arrow block • Blue Coin Block • Cap Switch • Certainty Switch • Character Switch • Control Block • Face Block (switch) • Gray P Switch • Kamek Block • Laser Block • Light-Switch • Luigi Block • ON/OFF Switch • P Panel • P Switch • Pole Block • Simu-Block • Star Switch • Switch (Wario Land II) • Switch Block (Super Mario 3D World) • Tatami Block • Timer switch
Toggleable blocks	! Block • Color Block • Dotted-Line Block • Flip-Flop Block • Kaeru Block • P Block • Red Block • Shake block • Switch Block (Mario & Wario) • Timer Block • Uncertain Block
Power-ups	Cannon Box • Coin Box • Command Block • Copy Block • Gold Block • Light Box • Propeller Box • Unfurl Block • Vacuum Block
Living blocks	Blitty • Blockhopper • Blokkablok • Brock (Brickle · Britchard · Britta · Broque Madame · Broque Monsieur) • Broggy • Dark Block • Fake Block • Ghost Block • Hot-Hot Rock • Message Block • Partrick • Pile Driver Micro-Goomba
Miscellaneous	2D block • Anywhere POW • Arrow Cloud • Aurora Block • Block Buster • Bowser Jr. Block • Checkpoint block • CLEAR • Coin counter • Empty Block • Hard Block • Magnet Block • Mystery Box • POW Block • Race Block • Red POW Block • Save Block • Shop Block • Spike Trap • Star Block • Super Guide Block • Super Warp Block • Unbreakable block • Warp Block • Warp Box • Yoshi Block

[Edit] Super Mario Bros. / Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels / Super Mario Bros. Deluxe
Characters	Playable	Mario • Luigi
Characters	Unplayable	Mushroom King • Mushroom retainer • Princess Toadstool • Boo² • Yoshi²
Worlds	Super Mario Bros.	World 1 • World 2 • World 3 • World 4 • World 5 • World 6 • World 7 • World 8 • Hard Mode
	The Lost Levels	World 1 • World 2 • World 3 • World 4 • World 5 • World 6 • World 7 • World 8 • World 9 • World A • World B • World C • World D
	Misc.	Coin Heaven • Minus World • Sub-area • Warp Zone
Items		1 up Mushroom • Coin • Fire Flower • Magic Mushroom • Poisonous Mushroom^1,2 • Red Coin² • Starman • Yoshi Egg²
Objects		? Block • 3-2-1 Block² • Ax • Balance Scale • Beanstalk • Brick Block • Bridge • Buzzy shell • Cloud • Coral • Door¹ • Dotted-Line Block² • Face Block² • Fireworks • Flagpole • Flimsy Lift • Hidden Block • Horsehair plant • Jumping board • Koopa shell • Lift • Pipe • POW Block³ • Small cloud • Staircase • Super Mushroom • Super Spring^1,2 • Water • Wind¹
Forms		Fiery Mario • Invincible Mario • Regular Mario • Super Mario
Enemies and obstacles		Bloober • Bottomless pit • Bowser's Brother^1,2 • Bullet Bill • Buzzy Beetle • Cheep-cheep • Enemy clone³ • Fire-Bar • Hammer Brother • Koopa Paratroopa • Koopa Troopa • Koopa's fire • Lakitu • Lava • Little Goomba • Piranha Plant • Podoboo • Sky Blooper^1,2 • Spike Trap² • Spiny • Spiny's egg • Turtle Cannon
Bosses		Bowser • Fake Bowser
Miscellaneous		Gallery (The Lost Levels · Deluxe) • Glitches (The Lost Levels) • Media • Pre-release and unused content • References in later media • Staff (Deluxe) • Super Mario Bros.: Mario Syndrome
Related games		All Night Nippon: Super Mario Bros. • BS Super Mario Collection • Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. • Super Mario All-Stars (+ Super Mario World · Limited Edition) • Super Mario Bros. 35 • Super Mario Bros. Special • VS. Super Mario Bros.
¹ Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels ² Super Mario Bros. Deluxe ³ Super Mario Bros. 35

[Edit] Super Mario Bros. Special
Protagonists	Mario • Mushroom retainer • Princess Peach
Worlds	World 1 • World 2 • World 3 • World 4 • World 5 • World 6 • World 7 • World 8
Items	1 up Mushroom • Clock • Coin • Fire Flower • Hachisuke • Hummer • Lucky Star • Magic Mushroom • Starman • Wing
Enemies	Bloober • Bullet Bill • Buzzy Beetle • Cheep-cheep • Chokichoki • Fire-Bar • Hammer Brother • Koopa Paratroopa • Koopa Troopa • Lakitu • Little Goomba • Nakaji • Piranha Plant • Podoboo • Sigebou • Spiny • Spiny's egg • Tarusar • Tsurara • Turtle Cannon
Boss	Bowser
Miscellaneous	Ax • Beanstalk • Coin Heaven • Coral • Fireworks • Flagpole • Horsehair plant • Jumping board

[Edit] Super Mario Bros. 3 / Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3
Protagonists		Mario • Luigi • Princess Toadstool • Toads • Kings
Bosses		Boom Boom • Big Boo^a • Fake Bowser^a • Koopalings (Larry Koopa • Morton Koopa Jr. • Wendy O. Koopa • Iggy Koopa • Roy Koopa • Lemmy Koopa • Ludwig von Koopa) • Bowser
Items		1-Up Mushroom • 3-Up Moon^a • Advance Coin^a • Anchor • Blue Coin • Boomerang^a • Cape Feather^a • Card • Coin • e-Coin^a • Fire Flower • Frog Suit • Goomba's Shoe • Hammer • Hammer Suit • Lakitu's Cloud • Magic ball • Magic Wand • Magic Whistle • Music Box • P-Wing • Poison Mushroom^a • Starman • Super Leaf • Super Mushroom • Tanooki Suit • Vegetable^a
Objects	Main game	? Block • Beanstalk • Big Block • Bolt Lift • Brick Block • Buzzy Beetle Shell • Cloud Block • Cloud Lift • Coin Block • Coral • Directional Lift • Donut Lift • Empty Block • Flimsy Lift • Frozen Coin • Giant Green Shell • Giant Red Shell • Goal • Green Shell • Hidden Block • Ice Block • Jump Block • Lift • Magic Door • Magic Note Block • Magical ball • Mega ? Block • Mushroom Coin^a • P Warp Door • Quicksand • Red Shell • Rotary Lift • Semisolid Platform • Spiny Shell • Switch Block • Track • Treasure box • Warp Door • Warp Pipe • White Block • Wood Block
Objects	World-e^a	!-Switch • Axe • Balance Lift • Bubble • Control Coin • Dotted-Line Block • Goal Pole • Flipper • Giant Gate • Grass • Jumping Board • Key • Key Door • Power Meter Block • Rock Block • Rotating Block • Roulette Block • Seesaw • Snake platform • Soft sand • Stretch Block • Triangular Block • Vanishing Block
Forms		Small Mario • Super Mario • Fire Mario • Raccoon Mario • Frog Mario • Tanooki Mario (Statue Mario) • Hammer Mario • Invincible Mario • Caped Mario^a
Switch Cards^a		1UP Kinoko ga 3UP Moon ni kawaru! • Blue Green Switch • Luigi Power Up!! • Orange Switch • Sugu ni mantan! Power Meter!! • Teki Power Up! Tokuten x2!! • Timer yukkuri!
Worlds		Grass Land • Desert Land • Water Land • Giant Land • Sky Land • Ice Land • Pipe Land • Dark Land • Warp Zone • World-e^a
Locations		e-Coin Castle^a • Enemy Course • Panel (N-Mark Spade Panel • Spade Panel • Start Panel) • Toad House • Treasure Ship
Enemies	Main game	Angry Sun • Baby Cheep • Big Bertha • Bloober • Bloober baby • Bloober with kids • Bob-omb • "Boo" Diddly • Boomerang Brother • Boss Bass • Bullet Bill • Buster Beetle • Buzzy Beetle • Chain Chomp • Cheep-Cheep • Colossal Koopa Paratroopa • Dry Bones • Fiery Walking Piranha • Fire Brother • Fire Chomp • Firesnake • Giant Koopa • Goomba • Grand Goomba • Hammer Brother • Hot Foot • Jelectro • Koopa Paratroopa • Koopa Troopa • Kuribo's Goomba • Lakitu • Lava Lotus • Micro-Goomba • Missile Bill • Muncher • Para-Beetle • Para-Goomba • Pile Driver Micro-Goomba • Piranha Plant • Piranhacus Giganticus • Podoboo • Ptooie • Rocky Wrench • Scattering Bloober • Sledge Brother • Spike • Spiny Cheep-Cheep • Spiny • Spiny Egg • Stretch • Thwomp • Venus Fire Trap • Walking Piranha
Enemies	World-e^a	Amazing Flyin' Hammer Brother • Big Boo • Bony Beetle • Bowser Statue (Super Mario World) • Bumpty • Chargin' Chuck • Flurry • Goomba (Super Mario World) • Hoopster • Hothead • Jumping Piranha Plant • Lil Sparky • Magikoopa • Monty Mole • Para-Goomba (Super Mario World) • Porcupo • Rip Van Fish • Spike Top • Thwimp • Wiggler
Obstacles		Bowser Statue • Candy ring • Cannon • Cannonball • Diagonal cannon • Falling spike^a • Fire-Bar^a • Giant cannon • Giant cannonball • Lava • Pit • Quartet-cannon • Rocket Engine • Roto-Disc • Spike • Tornado • Turtle Cannon
World-e mini-games^a		Blue Mushroom House • Orange Mushroom House • Red Mushroom House
Miscellaneous		Game Over • Extra life • P-Meter • Time Limit
Further info		Completion • e-Reader^a • e-Reader cards^a • Gallery (Super Mario Advance 4) • Glitches (Super Mario Advance 4) • Media • Pre-release and unused content (Super Mario Advance 4) • Quotes • References • Staff • Unwinnable state
^a Exclusive to Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3