List of Super Mario Bros. 3 glitches

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These are the glitches found in Super Mario Bros. 3

Fireless Bowser

It is possible to remove Bowser's ability to spit fire. It works in the NES version and the Super Mario All-Stars version, but not Super Mario Advance 4 remake.

The player must use a P-Wing before entering Bowser's Castle. After climbing the stairs protected by Roto-Discs, the player must duck, then fly onto the ? block, and stand up; the player will glide through the wall. (This isn't necessary for the trick to work, but makes it easier to keep Mario's P-Wing activated.) The player must fly through the lava chamber and, when presented with the four corridors at the end, take the one guarded by the Thwomp. The player must then fly through the hall of statues and enter Bowser's chamber.

Once the player has entered Bowser's chamber, the player should fly straight up to the left. The player will pass over the wall. When the player reaches the end of the wall, they must stop. If they keep going, the player will land in Bowser's alternate room and fight him there. Instead, the player must return to the chamber they came from. Next, the player has to walk to the right, and Bowser will spawn. He will make belching motions at Mario, but will be unable to produce fire.

Pipe Bug

This works in the NES version, but not Super Mario All-Stars or Super Mario Advance 4.

This is a glitch from level 3-9. In it, the player plays with the Ice Blocks on the right side of the Pipe as follows: Mario ducks, getting rid of the bottom 3 ice blocks on the right side of the pipe, but keeping the ice block on the far top. Then he should duck and jump and he will suddenly go down the side of the Pipe. Fire Mario can still shoot fireballs, but Mario won't be able to get out of the pipe. The player can just scroll left and right, but Mario won't appear. Moreover, the player won't return to the map screen until 5 minutes after time runs out.

Small to Fiery

This works in the NES and Super Mario All-Stars versions. Whether it works in Super Mario Advance 4 is a meaningless question because a Fire Flower changes small Mario to Fire Mario normally in Super Mario Advance 4.

This glitch is in level 5-7. The player starts 5-7, and Mario should be Super Mario. Mario should jump into a block to make a Fire Flower without getting it right away. Instead, Mario collects the first coin to the right of the flower and it starts to flash. Then, a Micro-Goomba hits Mario so that he can downgrade to small, and he grabs the flower, and he becomes Fire Mario immediately.

Somersault Glitch

This glitch can be performed in 6-10. The player starts 6-10 with Starman Power (from the inventory) with no Frog Suit. Mario somersaults onto the Vine. He will still somersault even when he loses his Starman Power.

Hammer Sliding

This glitch can be found in World 6-10. The player follows the route until they reach a pipe with the Hammer Suit in it. If Mario enters the secret room and breaks the ? with the Hammer Suit, he will go up to the top of the hill, and he will still slide even with the Hammer Suit on.

Fly through the wall

This works in the NES and Super Mario All-Stars versions, but not Super Mario Advance 4.

The player has to go to Bowser's Castle. After passing the Donut Lifts, the player will have to take the upper route. The player will follow the route until Mario/Luigi reaches the door at the end. Instead of entering it, the player must fly to the Bowser statue just before it and ducks. The player ducks on top of the Bowser statue, and after doing so the player has to fly through the wall. This will make the player end up in the room that would have been reached if the player had taken the lower route found after the Donut lifts.

Invisible Bricks

This glitch works in the Tower in World 5. First, the player must start the level with a P-Wing. The player should fly to the area full of bricks. (There should be two Micro-Goombas there too) The player should then fly to the pipe and then go above it. Then keep going right until they get over the pipe into an area behind it. There is also a brick with a 1-Up back here. Over to the left, the player should see a wall of bricks. Mario should then fly over to them and whip them with his tail to make a spot to stand on. The player should then make Mario fly upwards off the screen for a while, he/she will start seeing "invisible" blocks being broken at the very bottom of the screen.

Glitchy Tiles

This glitch only works in the NES or virtual console versions. Sometimes when playing World 1-4, There is a glitchy tile left on the screen. Mario is not able to interact with this nor does it affect gameplay.

Hitting a block at the bottom of the screen

In world 1-1, there are some Paratroopas. Mario needs to jump on one of them when they are at the highest point of the bounce. Mario will go offscreen and will not come back. He is actually in the bonus area although the screen didn't scroll there. If he hits the block that has the 1-up mushroom, the block is visible on the bottom side of the screen while it's being hit.

Walking in the Air

In any shifty sand pool (better in 8-2), using a Super Leaf, fly. While fly, between the quicksand and get out. Mario will walk in the sky.