Bob-omb

This article is about the recurring walking bomb species. For the character from Paper Mario: The Origami King, see Bob-omb (Paper Mario: The Origami King). For the character from Mario Party Advance, see Bob-omb (Mario Party Advance). For other bombs found in the Mario franchise, see Bomb.

“Nobody's life should be all work, right? I need free time to make my mark in the world. BOOM!”

—Bob-omb, Paper Mario

Bob-ombs (originally formatted as Bob-Ombs) are living, moving mechanical bombs with eyes, feet, and a wind-up key on the back. They are generic enemies who first appeared in Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic, a non-Mario game which was later remade as Super Mario Bros. 2 and have appeared in nearly every Mario game since then. Their appearance, intelligence, and status with Mario differ widely from game to game. They are usually a bluish-black, but some variations are pink or red. They also flash red and sometimes make beeping sounds if they are about to explode.

History

Super Mario series

Super Mario Bros. 2

Bob-Omb in Super Mario Bros. 2.

Bob-Ombs (unhyphenated as Bob Omb in the cast roll) first appeared in the Mario franchise in the game Super Mario Bros. 2, where they are a semi-common enemy that worked for Wart; they first appear in World 3-3. They chase the player for a short while before exploding, dealing damage to anyone nearby. However, Mario, Luigi, Toad and Princess Toadstool are also able to pick up, carry and throw Bob-Ombs (though Bob-Ombs explode even when held). They are often dropped from the sky by Albatosses, and also emerge indefinitely from certain jars. Certain Bob-Ombs can be found under grass tufts from World 5 onwards, which explode even quicker. Unlike in future games, Bob-Ombs in Super Mario Bros. 2 have arms, and they also lack the wind-up key. In the NES version, both their arms and hands are red, and their fuses are not visible, but in the Super Mario All-Stars version, BS Super Mario USA and Super Mario Advance, their hands are beige and their fuses are visible.

In Japanese, this incarnation is known as 「ボブ」 (Bobu, "Bob"); however, the Super Mario Bros. 3 instruction booklet strongly implies that the enemy was previously seen in Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic.

Super Mario Bros. 3

Bob-ombs appear again in Super Mario Bros. 3, marking the first instance of an enemy or character from Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic being integrated into the mainline Super Mario games beyond Super Mario Bros. 2. Here, if Mario stomps on one, it becomes stationary and capable of being carried and kicked. However, it explodes after a few moments, even if Mario is carrying it. Also, they lack the arms they had in the previous game. Some are simply found walking and have rotating keys on their backs, while others are shot from mortars and lack keys. The keyless Bob-ombs will explode after a few seconds, even if they haven't been stomped first. They also walk slightly faster and are slightly smaller. Originally, Bob-ombs were black in this game, but remakes changed the keyed ones to blue, and the keyless ones to purple.

A tail hit from Raccoon Mario or Tanooki Mario defeats a Bob-omb immediately rather than making it stationary for a while, which is different in Super Mario World. Bob-ombs are completely immune to fire in this game, unlike later games, where fire typically lights their fuses.

Super Mario World

Artwork of two Bob-ombs in Super Mario World.

Bob-ombs can once again be seen working for Bowser in Super Mario World. In this game, Bob-ombs walk quickly back and forth before they flash pink and then explode. Like Goombas and green Koopa Troopas, they fall off edges instead of changing direction before they fall off, as red Koopa Troopas do. If Mario or Luigi jumps on the Bob-omb or hits it with a Cape before it explodes, it becomes stationary and lifeless and can be picked up and carried until it explodes after a few seconds. Some Bob-ombs also appear floating in bubbles. These bombs resume their normal activities if the bubble is popped by a touch from the player. The bubble-encased Bob-ombs only appear in one level: Forest of Illusion 3. Parachuting Bob-ombs, known as Para-bombs, also make their debut. The Bob-ombs of this game use the same sprites as the ones shot from mortars in Super Mario Bros. 3, though their behavior has elements of both types from the same game. The sprites are also not upgraded for the 16-bit system, similar to those of Ninjis.

When Yoshi eats a Bob-omb in this game, he simply swallows it, like most other enemies. If stomped on, it is instantly destroyed, and cannot be used as a weapon. Yoshi is also able to eat the bubble-covered Bob-ombs.

Mario and Luigi can also enter a Warp Pipe while carrying a Bob-omb. However, once this has been done, the Bob-omb does not detonate for the remainder of the level.

Super Mario 64 / Super Mario 64 DS

A Bob-omb from Super Mario 64.

A Bob-omb's in-game model in Super Mario 64.

Bob-ombs are common enemies in Super Mario 64 and Super Mario 64 DS. They first appear in Bob-omb Battlefield. Bob-omb attack patterns in this game are different and more aggressive than before. When a Bob-omb spots Mario, Luigi, Wario, or Yoshi, it lights its fuse and then rushes towards the player from behind, attempting to damage them when it explodes. Bob-ombs can be defeated by being kicked or picked up from behind and thrown. This causes them to explode away from the player, leaving behind a coin. Explosions caused by the bombs can also damage other enemies within the blast. After Mario walks away from the area, the Bob-ombs will then respawn.

A pink variant of Bob-ombs called the Bob-omb Buddy also appears in the game. Unlike other Bob-ombs, they are friendly and give Mario helpful hints. They open cannons and, exclusively in DS, can detect red coins and character caps. A large, purple variant of Bob-ombs named Chuckyas also debut in this game. In Super Mario 64 DS only, Bob-ombs can appear from the sky in certain missions and courses, and also appear when a character hits a red ? Block without their cap on and certain other blocks while playing as Mario, likely so Mario will not be able to use flight as a shortcut.

The boss of Bob-omb Battlefield is a giant Bob-omb, appropriately named King Bob-omb. In Super Mario 64 DS, he can also throw normal Bob-ombs. Bob-ombs are one of the only enemies in these two games to respawn sometime after they are defeated. They also appear in the minigame Bob-omb Squad as a Para-bomb and Sort or 'Splode alongside Bob-omb Buddies.

Super Mario Sunshine

Artwork of a Bob-omb from Super Mario Sunshine.

Bob-ombs, also called Bomb-ombs (or Bomb-Ombs) and Neji Bombs, appear in Super Mario Sunshine, but much differently than in any other game. They are black orbs with a digital interface, and feet resembling those of a wind-up toy. After a certain amount of time, its screen displays a countdown from three, exploding at zero. However, if Mario sprays them with F.L.U.D.D. they turn blue and freeze, and they can then be picked up and thrown by Mario. They can still explode in this form.

They appear in three areas: first in Pinna Park and later in Noki Bay. Both times, they are under the control of Monty Mole, who throws the bombs from his tank once Mario gets too close for the mole to shoot Bullet Bills. To defeat the Monty, the player must spray water on the Bob-ombs and then pick them up and throw them at the tank. The player must do this three times, after which the Monty Mole is defeated. The third time they appear is in "Episode 5: King Boo Down Below" of Sirena Beach. They would sometimes appear when King Boo spins the slots to the enemy pictures.

Oddly, if the player picks up one of these Bob-ombs and then gently places it down instead of throwing it, the Bob-omb will spontaneously leap forward through the air and explode upon impact.

New Super Mario Bros.

Bob-ombs reappear in New Super Mario Bros.. They act as they do in Super Mario Bros. 3, and walk back and forth trying to damage the player. If Mario stomps them, they become stationary and explode after a few seconds. Before they explode, Mario can pick them up and throw them. Their explosions can destroy almost all types of blocks, sometimes allowing the player to access Star Coins. They appear in Worlds 4-5 and 7-5, and in the battle with Monty Tank in World 6-Castle A Bob-omb variant called Kab-omb makes its first appearance in this game, only appearing in World 8-8.

They also appear in some of the minigames which were reused from Super Mario 64 DS.

Super Mario Galaxy

Artwork of a Bob-omb from Super Mario Galaxy.

A Bob-omb in Super Mario Galaxy.

Bob-ombs later appear in Super Mario Galaxy. Here, they come out of the Bob-omb Dispensers in the ground. They appear in two different varieties: ones that have legs and can walk around, which are less common, and ones that do not have legs and do not move on their own. If the ones that walk see Mario, they start chasing him and then soon explode, similar to the ones in Super Mario 64. Mario can pick the stationary Bob-ombs up by simply touching them; however, the ones that walk have to be hit with a spin first. When picked up, the Bob-ombs start to light up and flash and must be thrown with another shake of the Wii Remote before they explode. They can be used to destroy many things, including cages and Chomps. However, the explosions Bob-ombs make can still hurt Mario. The fuse on the Bob-omb lasts for ten seconds.

The Bob-ombs are used prominently in two Bob-omb Blasting mini-games: one in the Battlerock Galaxy and one in the Dreadnought Galaxy. They are used when a Gearmo asks Mario to get rid of a bunch of trash piles for him. It must be done within a time limit of thirty seconds, however, and the prize for winning is a Power Star.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii

Bob-ombs appear once again as generic enemies in New Super Mario Bros. Wii. In this game, they usually endlessly spawn from Warp Pipes and walk around aimlessly until they explode. They make their first appearance in World 3-Castle. In this game, their fuses light when they are hit by a fireball coming from either Fire Mario or a Venus Fire Trap, and they instantly explode if they hit lava or a flame from a Rocket Engine. Like in other games, jumping on a Bob-omb or hitting one with a Fire Flower simply immobilizes it. Shooting one with a fireball from Fire Mario causes a coin to appear, and an additional coin appears for every time it is shot up to five times.

Bob-ombs can also appear during the World 8-Tower World 8-Fortress boss fight with Magikoopa. If he hits one of the platforms with his magic, it may turn into a lit Bob-omb.

Super Mario Galaxy 2

Bob-ombs re-appear in Super Mario Galaxy 2, where they act the same way as they did in Super Mario Galaxy. However, only the ones with legs appear in this game. The Bob-omb Buddies also make an appearance in the Throwback Galaxy, where they continue to be allies of Mario.

Super Mario 3D Land

Bob-ombs in World 7-4.

Bob-ombs appear in Super Mario 3D Land. Like in the other 3D Mario games, contact with Bob-ombs does not harm Mario. Stomping on one makes it stop chasing Mario and hide its legs; it explodes soon afterwards. Shooting a Bob-omb with a fireball makes it explode immediately. Due to the Super Leaves being blown all across the Mushroom Kingdom, a new kind of Bob-omb called a Tail Bob-omb appears in this game. Rocky Wrenches may sometimes throw Bob-ombs instead of wrenches in some of the levels.

New Super Mario Bros. 2

Bob-ombs reappear again in New Super Mario Bros. 2, where they act the same way as in previous games. Parabombs also appear in various levels.

New Super Mario Bros. U / New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe

Bob-ombs, as well as Parabombs, reappear in New Super Mario Bros. U and New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe. In the second and final fights with Bowser Jr., he throws Bob-ombs at Mario.

Super Mario 3D World

Bob-ombs return as enemies in Super Mario 3D World, only appearing in a few courses like Bob-ombs Below, Super Block Land, and Bowser's Bob-omb Brigade. They can be attacked to transform them into regular bombs, which can be thrown. In this game, Baddie Boxes only release Bob-ombs.

Super Mario Maker / Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS

Bob-ombs reappear in Super Mario Maker and Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS. They can be shaken to light their fuse. Due to them not appearing in the Super Mario Bros. game style, they were given new sprites. They have been given more detailed sprites in the Super Mario World style than they originally appeared. By jumping on them, they stay still and their fuse ignites, and after a few seconds, they explode. They can also be made bigger or made to fly. They can destroy Hard Blocks, Ice Blocks, ? Blocks and Brick Blocks. When a Bob-omb explodes near coins, the coins fall out of the air and disappear after a few moments. Bob-ombs in this game can also be ignited by Yoshi, fire-related objects, being crushed, and other Bob-ombs.

Super Mario Run

In Super Mario Run, Bowser throws Bob-ombs a Mario during his battle in Bowser's Bob-ombing Run. When Mario jumps on one, it flies forward. When Mario hits Bowser with three Bob-ombs, he is defeated. They also appear in Airship Plunder, where they can be kicked to destroy crates.

Super Mario Maker 2

Bob-ombs also appear in Super Mario Maker 2. In absence of the shaking function, lit Bob-ombs are now added by holding a regular version and tapping the lit variant. As with many enemies and items, Bob-ombs can be given a parachute to become Parabombs. Unlike the majority of enemies, Bob-ombs do not exhibit any unusual behavior in the Ground courses during night.

DIC cartoons

Bob-ombs make occasional appearances in the DIC cartoons. In all of them, they resemble their design in Super Mario Bros. 2, but with white limbs and red, perpetually angry eyes.

The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!

A Bob-Omb from The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! episode, "The Bird! The Bird!".

Bob-Ombs appear in The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, where they make common appearances by being thrown by Albatosses, Mouser, and sometimes King Koopa. In "Rolling Down the River" a variant known as the "Black Pit Bob-Omb" appears, where it is used to create a large black pit in an attempt to stop the Ding Bell. In "Stars in Their Eyes", after Mario's spaceship crashes onto Mouser and squishes him, he throws some flat Bob-Ombs at Mario, Luigi, Princess Toadstool, and Toad. In "Toad Warriors", Bob-Ombs were used as weapons by State Troopas. In "The Unzappables", King Koopa (under the alias, "Al Koopone") bowls a limbless Bob-Omb to blow up the vault door, causing a bunch of gold coins to fall across the bank. In "Flatbush Koopa" several Bob-Ombs were used to blow up the Brooklyn Bridge, as King Koopa had briefly conquered Flatbush at the time.

The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3

A Bob-omb from The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 episode, "7 Continents for 7 Koopas".

Bob-ombs reappear in The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3, where they appear in some episodes. In "Never Koop a Koopa", King Koopa sends in a large amount of Bob-ombs at Mario and Princess Toadstool in an attempt to destroy them. In "Reign Storm" while the Mario Bros. announce their new dam, King Koopa secretly places a Bob-omb right next to it, causing the dam to collapse. In "Mush-Rumors", the Doomship launches several of them, which fall in the water in an attempt to destroy a Real World family. In "The Ugly Mermaid", King Koopa launches a Bob-omb at Mertropolis's protective dome, causing a brief flood, which was eventually stopped by Mario. A single Bob-omb appears in "7 Continents for 7 Koopas" where it has a brief speaking role. It guards Princess Toadstool to prevent her from escaping. It was eventually tricked into setting off its fuse and was tossed into the Koopa Clogger, causing the forcefield that was created by it to disappear. In "Recycled Koopa", Bob-ombs are used as ammunition for the Doom Ship while Koopa chases the heroes after they steal Hip's Magic Wand to clean Princess Toadstool's garden of all the garbage they dumped into it, as well as by the army of Koopa Zombies when Koopa sends them after the brothers during his attack on New York City.

Super Mario World television series

Wizenheimer holding a Bob-omb in Super Mario World television series episode, "Ghosts 'R' Us".

In the Super Mario World television series, Bob-ombs appear in a few episodes. In "Born to Ride," Yoshi is forced by the Dino Riders to throw a Bob-omb. In "Ghosts 'R' Us," Wizenheimer threatens the group with a Bob-omb if they do not enter the Warp Pipe leading to the dungeon. In "The Night Before Cave Christmas," Koopa attempts to give Bob-ombs to the Koopalings as "presents" that will explode upon the box being opened, but is discovered beforehand by Oogtar.

Super Mario Bros. film

The Bob-omb from the Super Mario Bros. film.

In the live-action movie Super Mario Bros., a Bob-omb appears after Mario and Luigi escape the de-evolution chamber. As they are fleeing from Koopa's Goombas, Luigi notices that some fungus appears to be offering them the explosive, but Mario drags him away before he can accept it. Later, after they leave the Boom Boom Bar, the fungus again offers them the Bob-omb. This time, Luigi manages to grab it before he and Mario escape.

Later, near the end of the film, while facing Koopa on the catwalk, Mario pulls out the Bob-omb, which causes mass amounts of panic amongst the city's inhabitants. Realizing the power the object possesses, he winds up the key and places it on the ground, but before it can get to Koopa, it falls through a crack in the ground. However, unbeknownst to both of them, the Bob-omb continues its journey after it falls. It walks through the lower section of the city (scaring off the inhabitants there), up a wall, and along the underside of the catwalk. As Mario and Luigi are blasting Koopa with Devolution Guns, the Bob-omb finally reaches Koopa and explodes right underneath him.

The appearance of the Bob-omb is similar to that in the games, though there are some differences. For instance, the wind-up key appears on the side rather than on its back, its eyes are smaller and more circular than their in-game appearances, and its feet have three toes on it. Additionally, the Bob-omb walks like a wind-up toy, and before the Bob-omb explodes from underneath Koopa, the Reebok brand name as well as the Union Jack (often used on their brand name products) can be seen on the underside of the feet.

Early concept artwork showed that the Bob-omb was going to have black arms and legs, white gloves, and white sneakers, while also having pupils on its eyes, and a mouth.

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

Bob-omb render from Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars.

Bob-ombs also appeared in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, where they first appeared in Coal Mines. Here, they are mere enemies roaming around Moleville's local mining mountain, although they are featured quite prominently in the battle with Punchinello. In said battle, Punchinello would summon three Bob-omb-type enemies (including new species, Microbombs and Mezzo Bombs) for every three defeated, each getting larger and more powerful every "stage" or Punchinello's remaining health. Towards the end of his battle, a seemingly insane Punchinello tried his Bob-omb-summoning act one more time by creating a huge Bob-omb, although this piece of ammunition only ended up squishing him and allowing Mario and his party to collect the Star Piece he was guarding and save Dyna & Mite. In battle, Bob-ombs had average stats and no special attacks, however, when threatened, they could explode in a kamikaze attempt to cause one ally a lot of damage. Later in Super Mario RPG, a stronger, purple shoe-clad variety of Bob-omb appeared in Booster Tower.

Yoshi franchise

Yoshi

Bob-ombs will show up in Yoshi in the A-type mode if the player has hatched a certain number of eggs (50-59 on NES and 60-69 on Game Boy) before getting a Game Over. If the player fails to make a Yoshi appear in the bonus game, a Bob-omb will be in its place. Their graphics are actually reused from Super Mario World's Parabombs.

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island

Bob-ombs were supposed to appear in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island before being removed from the game.

Yoshi's Story

In Yoshi's Story, Bob-ombs appear during Page 5-4: Shy Guy's Ship, where they are fired by Pirate Guy ships' cannons. They also appear during Yoshi's battle with Baby Bowser at the end of the game, where Baby Bowser would attack the hero by throwing Bob-ombs at him from the back of his large green "pet." Yoshi could use these Bob-ombs against him by licking them up and throwing them at the ceiling of the room, causing large stalactites from the ceiling to fall onto Baby Bowser, eventually knocking him off the back of his pet so that Yoshi could battle him hand-to-hand.

Bob-ombs in this game are uncharacteristically defeated instantly if stomped.

Game & Watch Gallery series

Bob-ombs have made a decent number of appearances in the Game & Watch Gallery titles. The way they operate, however, differs between titles.

A Bob-omb may pop out of an egg in Game & Watch Gallery's remake of Fire. If a Bob-omb makes it to the carriage, it explodes inside it, causing the Mario Bros. and the patients to flee; this results in a miss.

In Game & Watch Gallery 2's version of Parachute, a Bob-omb may be fired from the cannon. Mario has to avoid getting it, or else he is forced into the water, where a Cheep Cheep is lurking. The player gets a miss if this occurs.

They also appear in the remake of Ball. In this game, getting a Bob-omb results in an instant Game Over.

A Bob-omb also appears in Game & Watch Gallery 3's Egg. If the Yoshi eats one, the player gets a miss, regardless of whether Mario is present or not.

In Game & Watch Gallery 4, Bob-ombs once again appear in Fire, retaining their role from the remake in the first game. They also appear in Fire Attack, where they attempt to destroy Wario's statue.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong series

Mario vs. Donkey Kong

Bob-ombs appear in Mario vs. Donkey Kong. They appear out of small mortar-like objects, jumping away from Mario. When they notice him, they start flashing before eventually stopping and exploding. They can be picked up to destroy a certain type of block.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis

A Bob-omb in Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis

Bob-ombs reappear in Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis. They only appear in the minigames, and if the player touches them, five points are deducted. They also appear in the staff credits. Bob-omb Fish, which are fish enemies resembling Bob-ombs, also appear as enemies when building with the Special Kit 3. When they detect Mini Donkey Kong, they float upside down above the water and explode after a while.

Super Smash Bros. series

Bob-omb artwork from Super Smash Bros.

A Bob-omb in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

Bob-ombs are common items found in the Super Smash Bros. series. They can be picked up and thrown at other characters to create an explosion, thus inflicting great damage or also knocking them out instantly. However, if they stay on the ground long enough, Bob-ombs stand up and walk around the stage by themselves and eventually stop and remain in their current spot to explode afterwards. If a Sudden Death takes too long to finish, Bob-ombs appear and fall on the stage. Occasionally, Party Balls drop multiple Bob-ombs onto the battlefield when they are opened.

In addition to being an item throughout the series, Bob-ombs have also made appearances as trophies and a spirit. In Super Smash Bros. Melee, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, the player can obtain a Bob-omb trophy when it appears at random in single-player modes, such as Vs. Mode, Home-Run Contest or the Lottery. In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, a Bob-omb appears as an Advanced-class support spirit that occupies one support slot. When used on a fighter, it equips them with a Bob-omb item at the start of a battle. The spirit's puppet fighters are three black Kirbys with increased movement speed, fought on the Mushroom Kingdom stage. Aside from the Spirit Board, the Bob-omb spirit can also be obtained from Sheldon's Place for 1,000 Spirit Points.

Paper Mario series

Paper Mario

Bob-ombs appear both as allies and enemies in Paper Mario. A few can first be found in Koopa Village. These Bob-ombs explained to Mario and his partners that they had been kidnapped and enslaved by the Koopa Bros.. When Mario reaches the Koopa Bros. Fortress he finds (and is attacked by) several Bob-ombs employed by Bowser. These Bob-ombs have two basic attacks: the first is simply to ram themselves into Mario, and the other is to light themselves, walk up to Mario, and explode right next to him. It appears that Bob-ombs can explode at will and as many times as they want outside of battle.

Mario later falls into a prison full of Bob-omb rebels. Mario manages to free the remainder of the enslaved Bob-ombs, one of which is a pink female Bob-omb named Bombette who joins his party. Some Bob-ombs in this game are shown to be able to explode, and then simply regenerate themselves. Also notable, only Bob-ombs that are allies of Mario can do this.

It is also notable that during the parade, four Bob-ombs appear on the Koopa Brothers' float and explode, then show one of their hands. This is the first time Bob-ombs have been seen with arms and hands after Super Mario Bros. 2. Paper Mario also shows that friendly variants of Bob-ombs are available in colors other than pink (like the Bob-omb Buddies), such as red, green, and blue.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

A Bob-omb from the Fahr Outpost

Normal Bob-ombs are rare enemies in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. A group of them called the Bob-omb Squad (led by Master Crash) can first be encountered in Glitzville. Later on, Bob-ombs may be fought in the Pit of 100 Trials. Their battle tactics in this game are completely unchanged from their Paper Mario strategies.

Although normal Bob-ombs, as enemies, are rare in this game, Bob-ombs are commonly found as NPCs, with most of them living in Rogueport as sailors. A large group of peaceful Bob-ombs live in the Fahr Outpost, where they are the main inhabitants of the region. Most of these Bob-ombs living in populated areas are friendly towards Mario. This includes an aged Bob-omb named Admiral Bobbery, who becomes one of Mario's partners. Bob-ombs are also used during Mario's ride to the Moon with Grande Boom, as the cannon can only fire through the use of the Bob-ombs' explosions.

The Bob-omb variants Bulky Bob-omb and Bob-ulk are introduced in this game, being more dangerous versions of their regular counterparts.

Super Paper Mario

This is the only game in the Paper Mario series where Bob-ombs make little to no appearances. The only Bob-ombs that are featured in the game at all are Bombette and Bobbery from the previous titles, which appear as Catch Cards. They also appear very briefly at the beginning of the game, where they, along with the other partners from the previous games, are in photographs at Mario's house.

Paper Mario: Sticker Star

Bob-ombs in Goomba Fortress

Bob-ombs return in Paper Mario: Sticker Star and are among the few enemies who retain their past Paper Mario appearance with no changes. They are quite rare, however, only appearing in Goomba Fortress, Bowser's Snow Fort and Bowser Jr.'s Flotilla. They are first seen sleeping on top of the tower, when a Goomba wakes them up using a trumpet. The Bob-ombs hop into cannons and are blasted away. Parabombs start falling from the sky, but if land safely, they become normal Bob-ombs. In the second Parabomb segment, some gates can be knocked down using Bob-ombs.

Blowing away the gates is accomplished by having a Bob-omb, either on the same side as Mario or on the opposite side of the gate, chase Mario. Eventually, they stop moving and explode after a few seconds. If timed correctly, they blow up the gate. If Mario is too close to the explosion, he takes one point of damage from the explosion.

In battle, Bob-ombs have the same attacks as they did in the first two games. If a First Strike is landed on it before battle or if the enemy is damaged during battle, its fuse becomes lit, and it explodes the next time it comes in contact with Mario. They may occasionally drop a Bomb sticker after a battle. Shiny Bob-ombs are also introduced in this game. Bowser Jr. also uses a stack of two or three of them as a weapon in battle.

Paper Mario: Color Splash

Bob-omb sprite from Paper Mario: Color Splash

Bob-ombs return in Paper Mario: Color Splash as enemies present in Fort Cobalt, Redpepper Crater, and Black Bowser's Castle. Their fuses are lit as soon as the battle starts, and even hammer attacks can damage Mario. The Fire Flower can be used to detonate them without damaging Mario, and the explosion also damages other enemies or immediately detonates other Bob-ombs. In Redpepper Crater, their fuses can be lit from fireballs thrown by Fire Bros. In Black Bowser's Castle, Bob-ombs are used to destroy crates and ignite Mega Bob-ombs in order to destroy the black paint factory in the castle.

Paper Mario: The Origami King

“This is what every Bob-omb hopes for—a chance to change something for the better. To make an impact.”

—Bob-omb, Paper Mario: The Origami King

Mario meeting Bob-omb

A Bob-omb, nicknamed Bobby, appears in Paper Mario: The Origami King as a partner. Unlike other Bob-ombs in the Paper Mario series, Bob-omb is a mass-produced Bob-omb but does not have a visible fuse. Lots of other Bob-ombs appear later in the game where they board Bowser's airship, and are used as the main cannon's ammunition. They are one of the only few enemies not to have an origami version, though concept art shows they were planned to appear as Folded Soldiers. A Paper Macho version appears in Hotfoot Crater known as Paper Macho Bob-omb, which parachute down like Parabombs.

Mario Golf series

Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour

A Bob-omb in Bowser Badlands

A Bob-omb appears in the opening clip of Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour. Bowser uses it to try to attack Wario and Waluigi from his Koopa Clown Car for giving him a black eye, but after Mario's golf ball bounces off of Wario and Waluigi, it hits Bowser's hand, making him drop the Bob-omb and causing it to explode. In the Bowser Badlands golf course, large Bob-ombs can be found half-buried around the course. If the ball hits one, it momentarily explodes and sends the ball flying elsewhere.

Mario Golf: World Tour

More of these Bob-ombs appear in Mario Golf: World Tour on the Bowser's Castle course, also as tee markers. Bob-ombs can also be used as item shots; using one causes the player's shot to be hit at full power in rough terrain. Also, Bob-ombs make a cameo in Kamek's Double Bogey animation; Kamek accidentally conjures Bob-ombs that cause a big explosion.

Mario & Luigi series

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga / Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions

Bob-ombs are semi-common enemies in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga. They appear in Beanbean Fields, and sometimes assist Paratroopeas and Tanoombas as well. If a Bob-omb spots Mario or Luigi in the overworld, it lights its fuse and begins to run around frantically. Its attack pattern is similar to that of the Paper Mario Bob-ombs; however, they always attempt to blow up their targets, and they can relight their fuses at will. This attack can cause a bro to become dizzy, although it can be countered with a well-timed hammer near the approaching foe (as hitting them also triggers the explosion). When defeated, they occasionally drop a Nut or a Red Pepper.

In Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions, Bob-ombs appear as enemies and allies in Minion Quest: The Search for Bowser. They first appear in the level "The Hoohoo Melee Brigade". They are Melee troopers and attack by ramming into enemies. They can perform the special attack Kaboom Bash, which allows them to charge into an enemy and explode. They are weak against Broozers. A Bob-omb is also used in the Captain Command Pass the Bob-omb, where the opposing captains toss a lit Bob-omb back and forth before it explodes on one of them.

Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time

Bob-ombs appear in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. Here, they are found in Gritzy Desert and the Gritzy Caves. They can ram to attack the Mario Bros., but can sometimes trick them by running toward one bro, then looking the other way and attacking the opposite bro. After they take at least twenty-three damage or after using a Bro Flower or Mix Flower, they either run and explode into a brother or walk back and forth and explode into a chosen brother, which can be avoided by a Hammer (a jump if babies are not present). Both attacks can cause dizziness. A new variant of Bob-omb appears later in the game, called Lethal Bob-omb. Both variations only take one damage from fire and ice. Also, a large Shroob version, called Shroob-omb, is used by Commander Shroob and is programmed to take only one damage from every attack used on it.

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

Bob-ombs make a reappearance in the game Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Bowser first discovers Bob-ombs in his castle. They appeared to be rounded up in a cage by Fawful and were abandoned. When Bowser frees the Bob-ombs, he gains a new attack called Bob-omb Blitz. Also, in Bowser's Castle, Bob-ombs are found inside of the Jailgoon suits aside from Goombas in others. Bob-ombs also make a second appearance when Mario and Luigi fight Junker. Bob-ombs are one of the enemies that may appear when Junker empties a Junker Can. Also, after turning thin again, Bowser starts literally burning fat, and the fire lights several bins filled with Bob-ombs, and the explosion blasts Bowser into the Tunnel. They are also present in the underground of Bowser's Castle and near the roof of Peach's Castle, being obstacles that the brothers and Bowser must pass by leaping over them. Bob-ombs also appear out of the rocks held by Pendrils when they are smashed with a hammer as Mario and Luigi. Also, during the Blizzard Midbus battle, one Bob-omb sticks out of the massive snowball he uses to attack. Bowser must punch this to avoid having the snowball rolled into him, as well as damaging Blizzard Midbus once done. When his health is halved, he occasionally covers it. Bob-ombs are also among the enemies used by Dark Bowser after being healed by Fawful; they must be deflected by punching them, causing them to explode and defeat any enemies within the blast radius.

Three new species of Bob-ombs are also introduced: Fawful Bob-ombs when fighting the Tower of Yikk in Blubble Lake as giant Bowser, Alarm Bob-omb fought in Fawful's castle, and Dark Fawful Bombs as rare enemies that are held by Dark Fawful Guys in Fawful's castle.

In Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey, Bob-ombs appear as enemies and recruitable allies in the Bowser Jr.'s Journey mode. King Bob-omb also appears as a boss. Also, two of them are seen with two Fly Guys trying to stop Bowser Jr. and Kamek from reaching Larry and Lemmy.

Mario & Luigi: Dream Team

Several Bob-ombs appear in Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, mainly Mega Bob-ombs that are used to activate switches in the second area of Neo Bowser Castle. After defeating Antasma, Mario and Luigi work their way up the castle's central tower where the Elite Trio send down regular Bob-ombs and Mega Bob-ombs to slow the brothers down. In the final battle, Dreamy Bowser can conjure Dream Stone powered versions of Bob-ombs, called Dreamy Bob-ombs to attack. One or two Pelicrumps hold one Bob-omb at a time and if Mario does not defeat the Pelicrump with the Bob-omb inside, the Pelicrump drops the Bob-omb on Mario, causing him unavoidable damage. Additionally, Bowser Jr. can summon a Bob-omb to attack during his boss battle; it revolves around the Mario bros and explodes if jumped on.

Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam

While regular Bob-ombs do not appear as regular enemies in Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam, their paper versions do. However, regular Bob-ombs appear in the battle with King Bob-omb, where they charge into the player and explode if they are not countered properly and also appear in the Dry Bowser boss fight when he uses his inhaling attack. In the Lemmy, Iggy, and Morton battle, regular Bob-ombs also appear when Lemmy throws them in his attack. The Bob-omb thrown will aim for either Mario or Luigi, and when Lemmy gets hit with a Bob-omb in his hand, he will deal some more damage. However, he must be the last Koopaling standing for the attack to happen. Papercraft versions of Bob-ombs also appear in the Papercraft Bowser Jr. boss fight.

Super Princess Peach

Bob-ombs also appear in Super Princess Peach. Here, they act as in previous games. If Princess Peach jumps on one of them or grabbed one with Perry, it starts its fuse and explodes after some time. Bob-ombs are needed to defeat Bowser in his giant form (by using Perry to pick them up and hit them in Bowser's face). Other species of the Bob-omb under the Vibe Scepter's spell are the Glad Bob-omb and Glad Parabomb.

Mario Baseball series

Bob-ombs appear in Mario Superstar Baseball. Where they only appear in the mini-games Bob-omb Derby, where the player must hit the Bob-ombs into the air for various points, and in Piranha Panic, the player can throw one at a Piranha Plant to earn three points.

In Mario Super Sluggers, they are used as items on the outfields in the game. They also return in the mini-games Bob-omb Derby and Piranha Panic as well as the new ones, Ghost K and Bowser Pinball. Also, Wario's Star Swing involves him pulling out a Bob-omb and hitting it towards the field. In the ending movie, Bob-ombs are blasted out of a batting cage in Mario Stadium where Mario and Donkey Kong blast them into the air and they explode into fireworks.

Mario Kart series

The Bob-omb icon from Mario Kart Arcade GP DX

Bob-ombs (sometimes referred to as simply Bombs) are items that first appeared in Mario Kart: Double Dash!! If this item is thrown backwards, it explodes after three seconds. When thrown forwards, the Bob-omb waits until another driver veers near it and explodes by them. In subsequent titles, the Bob-omb is a regular item.

Mario Kart 64

In Mario Kart 64, there are Mini Bomb Karts which resemble Bob-ombs. Additionally, both Mario Kart Wii and Double Dash!! have some courses that include Bob-omb Cars, which are similar to Mini Bomb Karts and very similar to Bob-ombs.

Mario Kart: Super Circuit

In Mario Kart: Super Circuit, a single Bob-omb appears at the awards ceremony at the end of a Grand Prix alongside other characters. In Battle Mode, once a player has lost all of their balloons, they turn into a Bob-omb and explode upon contact with another player.

Mario Kart: Double Dash!!

The Bob-omb icon from Mario Kart: Double Dash!!

In Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, a Bob-omb is a special item exclusively for Wario and Waluigi, as well as Petey Piranha and King Boo, who can receive any other character's special item. Once the Bob-omb is thrown, its fuse lights and it explodes after a few seconds. Driving near or into one causes it to explode instantly, sending the racers in the air. A battle mode called "Bob-omb Blast" has characters acquire nothing but Bob-ombs from the Item Boxes, and the two racers in the kart can carry up to five Bob-ombs at a time, allowing a maximum of ten Bob-ombs to be held. Once thrown, the Bob-ombs explode as soon as they hit the ground and damage anyone in the blast radius except for the person who threw the Bob-omb (the Bob-ombs and their explosions are color-coded to match the players). Each player's Bob-omb comes in different colors with their colored explosion based on the player order. Player one has red Bob-ombs, player two has blue Bob-ombs, player three has green Bob-ombs, and player four has yellow Bob-ombs.

Mario Kart DS

Bob-ombs reappear in Mario Kart DS, this time as an item anyone can get. They behave the same way as they do in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!. They can be obtained by racers placed between 2nd and 5th place, while they can also be obtained in 1st during online VS races.

Mario Kart Wii

Different Bob-omb colors in Mario Kart Wii.

In Mario Kart Wii, Bob-ombs act similarly to their appearance in Mario Kart: Double Dash!! and Mario Kart DS. They can be obtained between 2nd and 6th place. When playing in either a Team Race or Battle Mode, they explode with either red or blue colors, depending on the team.

Mario Kart 7

In Mario Kart 7, once the Bob-omb is thrown, it follows the nearest character and explodes after a short time. Bob-ombs in this game can be obtained in 3rd, 4th or 5th.

Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

As well as returning as an item, in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe a plug in the style of a Bob-omb, with its fuse as the plug, appears as part of the logo for the sponsor company Bob-omb Plugs. Bob-ombs as items can be obtained between 1000 and 3300 units from the leader, due to the new item system in those games. Bob-omb Blast also makes its return in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as part of the new Battle Mode. In this mode, Bob-ombs explode with unique colors depending on which character or team uses it. Characters or teams hit by a blast of the same color will not take damage.

Mario Kart Tour

Bob-omb returns again in Mario Kart Tour. Like in previous games, Bob-ombs can be thrown either forward or backwards. Also, if a player continues to hang on to this item, they can get driven into by another driver, causing the Bob-omb to explode, resulting in both players slowing down. The game also includes Double Bob-ombs, which are simply two Bob-ombs that are thrown at once. A giant Bob-omb variant called Giga Bob-omb is also introduced as the special item of King Bob-omb and Shy Guy (Gold).

The following gliders increase the chance of getting Bob-ombs and points for hitting racers with one.

Special skill	Normal	Super	High-End
Bob-omb Plus	—	+20 points	+30 points

Mario Party series

Bob-ombs are featured throughout the Mario Party games, mostly being featured in mini-games.

Mario Party

On the original Mario Party's board Wario's Battle Canyon, the Bob-ombs and Bob-omb Buddies are fighting; it is the players' goal to collect stars and end the struggle. The two Bob-omb species also serve as the players' method of transportation between each area; in one part of every area (minus the center) on the board, there are Bob-ombs and Bob-omb Buddies manning cannons. They launch the players to another part of the board for ten coins. At the end of each game on the board, it shows the Bob-ombs and Bob-omb Buddies have made peace.

The four-player minigame Hot Bob-omb has the players tossing a Bob-omb amongst each other until it explodes; the player with the Bob-omb at that moment loses. The players also use a Bob-omb as the ball in the minigame Bombsketball.

Mario Party 2

Mario Party 2 features Bob-ombs in Mystery Land. By paying ten coins at one of the Bob-omb-shaped shrines, a Bob-omb UFO takes the player to another section of the board. Additionally, at the end of the board, the treasure turns out to be a Bob-omb Buddy, who is warped aboard a spaceship with other Bob-omb Buddies.

A Bob-omb is also one of the four racers in Day at the Races. It runs fast, but occasionally trips and falls over. Hot Bob-omb from the first game is also present in Mario Party 2.

Mario Party 3

In Mario Party 3, Bob-ombs appear as one of the partners in Duel Mode, as well as being Wario's default partner. Its health and attack are both one, and its salary is three coins. When attacking, they bypass the opponent's partners and attack them directly; however, doing so causes the player to lose it.

Bob-ombs are also featured in the minigame Crowd Cover, in which the picture can be of a Bob-omb, meaning that the crowd on the picture is composed of them. When they leave over time and when the minigame is over, they detonate one by one.

Mario Party 4

Bob-ombs are only present in three minigames in Mario Party 4. The first is Reverse-a-Bomb, in which the players must attempt to reverse the flow of the conveyor belts so that the Bob-ombs on them travel to the other team. The second is Bob-omb X-ing, in which the player must dodge the Bob-ombs walking into the intersection for as long as possible. Finally, they appear in Bob-omb Breakers, in which they occasionally appear. Surrounding a Bob-omb by other blocks results in it exploding and destroying all the blocks around it, giving the player points. A Bob-omb is also the host for Battle Minigames, appearing whenever someone lands on a Battle Space.

Mario Party 5

The Bob-omb Capsule is found like capsules. The player can obtain in Mario Party 5. It must be landed on or passed three times to activate it, and the opponent who does so loses twenty coins. Additionally, in Super Duel Mode, two of the possible vehicle parts are Bob-omb Cannon and Bob-omb Wall.

In Dodge Bomb, the player's objective is to toss Bob-ombs at the other players while avoiding ones tossed by them. They are also present watching the players play Defuse or Lose.

Mario Party 6

The Bob-omb Orb reappears for Mario Party 6. However, its effect changes from the previous game. It is now a roadblock orb; whenever an opponent passes by one, it detonates and reduces the number of spaces they have left to travel in half.

Some of the possible cards in the minigame Odd Card Out are of Bob-ombs. They may also be found in the minigame Treasure Trawlers. If a player pulls up a Bob-omb, it explodes and temporarily stuns them. Bob-ombs can also be found in the boxes in Money Belt; opening a box with one results in the player being stunned. The player may also send Bob-ombs after the other three in the minigame Shoot Yer Mouth Off.

Mario Party 7

The Bob-omb Orb once again appears in Mario Party 7, though exclusive to the board Pagoda Peak and having its effect changed again. This time, whenever a player lands on it, the Bob-omb explodes, sending them to a lower space. On the board Neon Heights, a Bob-omb is in one of the chests that the player can open. Picking the chest containing it sends the player back to the start, although if Bowser puts a Dark Star in a chest it will replace the Bob-omb until someone gets the Dark Star. One of the possible Bowser Time events on Grand Canal also involves Bob-ombs; they are used to destroy the bridges, which are replaced with new ones that have only Bowser Spaces.

The minigame La Bomba involves the single player trying to drop Bob-ombs down onto the ground to eliminate the other three when they detonate. They are also among the cards present in Cardinal Rule. The eight-player minigame Bob-ombic Plague features the players throwing a Bob-omb back and forth until it detonates on three of them, similar to Hot Bob-omb from Mario Party 2.

Mario Party Advance

In Mario Party Advance, many Bob-ombs, led by the King Bob-omb, have the job of protecting Shroom City as the Bob-omb Mafia, their base being in the basement of the Mushroom Condo. Two individual Bob-ombs also appear: a Bob-omb Buddy named Bob-omba, and a regular Bob-omb that goes by his species name.

They also appear in the minigame Bob-OOOM!, which involves using Bob-ombs to destroy Bowser statues.

Mario Party 8

Bob-ombs only appear in minigames in Mario Party 8. In Cardiators, a Bob-omb is one of the possible cards the player can select; it falls into the opponent's hands and explodes, dealing five damage. The minigame Bob-ombs Away involves three players attempting to drop Bob-ombs down onto the single-player. A Bob-omb is also among the racers in the extra minigame Moped Mayhem.

Mario Party DS

In Mario Party DS, Bob-ombs appear in the minigame Goomba Wrangler. Collecting one results in the player losing several of the collected Goombas. Additionally, they also appear in the minigame Bob-omb Breakers, being a port of the minigame from Mario Party 4.

Mario Party 9

Bob-ombs once again return in Mario Party 9. They are featured in Bob-omb Factory, where a Bob-omb occasionally lands on the player's vehicle and detonates after traveling ten spaces. The captain at the time of the explosion loses half of their Mini Stars.

Bob-ombs are also featured in the minigames Bomb Barge and Bombard King Bob-omb. In the former, Bob-ombs continuously fall onto the player's raft. Players must avoid them or be stunned temporarily. In the latter, players must choose a Bob-omb to lob at King Bob-omb. In Logger Heads, the Whittle occasionally puts Bob-ombs onto the tree stump, and they explode when hit, stunning the players who aren't protected.

Mario Party: Island Tour

Bob-ombs appear in Mario Party: Island Tour in the minigame Bob-omb Aplomb. Here, the players must kick them off their rock platform before they can explode. Bob-ombs also appear as tiles in the minigames Match Faker and Tap Dash, and as a constellation in the minigame Starring Artist.

Mario Party 10

Bob-ombs reappear once again in Mario Party 10 in the minigame Bob-omb Combo, where a player tosses a Bob-omb in a large field of on walking Bob-ombs and try to blow up the most Bob-ombs out of their opponents to win. They also appear as obstacles in Bob-omb Bogey that deduct fifty points from the player's total if they hit one, and as a selectable enemy in Meanie Match.

Super Mario Party

Bob-ombs appear in Super Mario Party as non-playable characters. They appear in King Bob-omb's Powderkeg Mine when a player passes the conveyer belt at the top of the board. If someone passes one, it will join them as an “ally”. It stays for three turns, rolling a dice block that either rolls nothing or subtracts 1 from their overall dice roll. They also appear on the same board when landing on certain Event Spaces, in which they will let players who land on it ride a minecart to the opposite side of the board.

Bob-ombs also appear in various minigames, including Absent Minded, Rattle and Hmmm, and Lit Potato, the last of which involves multiple Bob-ombs being passed around multiple players and their allies in a circle.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games

Bob-ombs appear as enemies in Snow Machine Fight in the Nintendo DS version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, where they slowly walk around and explode a short amount of time after being hit by a snowball and deal damage to any characters caught in the explosion.

Mario Sports Mix

Bob-ombs as seen in the Mario Sports Mix party game Bob-omb Dodge

In Mario Sports Mix, Bob-ombs make a return as an item from the ? Panel. Also, the party game Bob-omb Dodge involves players trying to avoid explosions that the Bob-ombs make from the cannons. They tend to vary in size.

Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition

Bob-ombs appear as enemies in Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition. They're Light attribute characters, and their skill increases the ATK of all Light attribute teammates by 2x, but it also lowers the player's HP to one.

When fought as enemies, Bob-ombs have very high defenses, which reduces any attribute damage that they take from a single attack to 1 HP. However, their HP is very low, and they take 4-6 turns to attack the player. But when they do attack, their attack is usually fatal.

The player can transform a Bob-omb into Bob-omb & Lakitu by using four Lakitu Coins on it.

Mario Sports Superstars

Bob-ombs appear in Mario Sports Superstars in the Road to Superstar mode, a game mode that appears to play like Breakout, serving as a feature of the mode.

Dr. Mario World

Bob-ombs appear in Dr. Mario World as assistants. Their stage mode skill increases the player's score by 400 points. Their versus mode skill grants a 4% chance that the player's skill meter fills instantly whenever their opponent uses a skill. These numbers can be increased by obtaining duplicate Bob-ombs in Staffing.

Other appearances

The Legend of Zelda series

A Bombite in Link's Awakening DX (left) and the Switch remake (middle, right)

Bob-ombs appear in various Legend of Zelda games, such as The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords and The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap. If Link strikes them with his sword, they sit for a few seconds with a burning fuse, then explode. A similar enemy called a Bombite appears in The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, but it has different behavior.

Minecraft

In the Super Mario Mash-Up Pack in Minecraft, Bob-ombs appear on a painting of Bob-omb Battlefield.

Lego City Undercover

A Bob-omb in Lego City Undercover

A Bob-omb can be built in the Wii U and Nintendo Switch versions of Lego City Undercover in order to unlock Chan Chuang as a playable character.

General information

Appearance

Bob-ombs have always resembled bombs with a few differences. The main difference is that they have white eyes, feet, and occasionally arms. They are traditionally colored black, but they can also be seen in red, blue, or even green. In most games, they feature wind-up keys on their backs and fuses, though these are lacking in a few old games. The fuse is usually surrounded by a gray or blue plug. Curiously, in Super Mario Bros. 2 and during the Paper Mario ending parade, Bob-ombs are shown to have arms. In some games, Bob-ombs are seen to have yellow-orange feet and legs, but others in Super Mario Sunshine have feet resembling that of a wind-up toy. Upon closer observation, it can be seen that a Bob-omb's feet and legs are a segmented exterior of a potential endoskeleton.

Allegiance and culture

Bob-ombs are usually affiliated with the Koopa Troop, and it is assumed that they take orders from King Bob-omb, one of Bowser's high ranking minions. However, whether King Bob-omb is the true king of all Bob-ombs is never explained. In recent years, the games have introduced peaceful Bob-omb communities that have no affiliation with Bowser whatsoever, and their homeland in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is known as Fahr Outpost, an isolated town located in a far-off icy land. The town is ruled by a Mayor, and all Bob-ombs take orders from him or General White. These Bob-ombs are generally peaceful but seem to dislike outsiders and prefer to keep to themselves. However, by the end of the game, they become more welcoming. The Fahr Outpost Bob-ombs' culture seems to resemble that of Russia, from the clothing right down to the accents.

Also, in more than a few instances, Bob-ombs were often depicted warring each other, with it often being split between Bob-omb Buddies and Black Bob-ombs.

Roles

Bob-ombs serve multiple roles in various games. In their most common appearances, they are enemies who explode upon being irritated, although they sometimes chase after Mario upon seeing him, exploding in a few seconds. Bob-ombs can also be used as weapons, particularly in the Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. series. Bob-ombs are also involved in several mini-games in the Mario Party series. In Paper Mario: The Origami King, it is implied that Bob-ombs "die" when they explode; but many Bob-ombs in the earlier games, including the partners Admiral Bobbery and Bombette, seem to regenerate after exploding.

The first time a Bob-omb is friendly is in Super Mario 64, when Pink Bob-ombs help Mario by opening cannons. They later appear as friendly (though some are also enemies) in the Paper Mario series.

Bob-ombs also have been used as items in several Mario sports titles. In Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, they are Wario and Waluigi's signature item. When thrown, they stand still for a moment before exploding, throwing any nearby drivers into the air. If the radius is fading, it only causes a spinout. In Mushroom City and Mushroom Bridge, Bob-omb Cars can be seen, and if a player accidentally drives into one, it will explode like the Bob-ombs that Wario and Waluigi use as Special Items. In Mario Kart DS, Bob-ombs return similarly, as they did in Double Dash!!, but this time, it can be used by any character instead of being a special one. Curiously, in the remake version of Mushroom Bridge, Bob-omb Cars do not appear. The Bob-ombs also return in Mario Kart Wii as a regular item and an obstacle in Moonview Highway as a Bob-omb Car.

In Super Mario Strikers and its sequel, Mario Strikers Charged, Bob-ombs are items, and they do almost the same as they did in the Mario Kart series. Here, Bob-ombs can be obtained alone or in a set of three. Also, a giant form of a Bob-omb, called a Mega Bob-omb, sometimes appears, acting like a normal Bob-omb, but its explosion radius is roughly four times larger, plus it sends out a shockwave, harming anyone near it. In Mario Power Tennis, the Bob-ombs appear as an item in the minigame Chain-Chomp Challenge and are also part of the audience in the Wario Factory Court.

Profiles and statistics

Main article: List of Bob-omb profiles and statistics

Nearly every Bob-omb bio touches upon their signature behavior of exploding, though some bios also make allusions to their fuses and wind-up keys.

Gallery

For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Bob-omb.

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  Super Mario Bros. 2
  (Nintendo Power)

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  Super Mario Bros. Print World

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  Yoshi's Story

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  Mario Party 3

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  Mario Kart: Double Dash!!

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  Mario Kart 8

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	ボブ (Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic / Super Mario USA) Bobu ボム兵 Bomuhei Nejibomb (internal)	Bob Bomb Soldier, translated as "BombTrooper" in the Japanese version of Super Smash Bros.; officially either romanized as "Bomhei" or "Bombhei" Screw Bomb (Super Mario Sunshine)
Chinese	炸弹兵 (Simplified) 炸彈兵 (Traditional)[?] Zhàdàn Bīnɡ	Bomb Soldier
Dutch	Bob-omb[?]	-
German	Bob-omb Bombe (Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga)[?]	- Bomb
Italian	Bob-omba Bobomba (in some earlier games)[?]	From "bomba" (bomb)
Korean	폭탄병[?] Poktanbyeong	Bomb Soldier, translation of the Japanese name.
Portuguese	Bob-bomba[?]	From "bomba" (bomb)
Romanian	Bob-ombă (The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3) Bombiță (Super Mario World animated series)[?]	Bob-omb Diminutive of "bombă" (bomb)
Russian	Боб-омб[?] Bob-omb	Transliteration of the international name
Spanish (NOA)	Bob-omba[?]	From "bomba" (bomb)
Spanish (NOE)	Bob-omb Bomba (Mario vs. Donkey Kong)	- Bomb