POW Block

The POW Block is a reoccurring item in the Mario series. It appears with similar effects in each game. When it is struck, it knocks over all of the enemies on screen that are currently touching the ground or a platform. The POW Block has a limited number of uses and shrinks with each hit it receives.

Mario Bros.
POW Blocks mark their first appearance in Mario Bros.. The POW Block causes all enemies on a platform on the screen to be knocked onto their backs. POW Blocks can be hit only three times before they disappear. Each time the POW Block gets hit, it will flatten a little bit each time.

Super Mario Bros. 2
The POW Block reappears in Super Mario Bros. 2 as an item that is able to be picked up and thrown at enemies and the ground. When they are thrown, they cause an earthquake that kills the enemies on the ground.

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
The POW Block reappears in The Cave of Lakitus, appearing twice in the twenty-sixth level of the game.

Paper Mario series
The POW Block is also one of the many items featured in the Paper Mario games. It is a purchasable item from some early stores in all of the games, although usually it is the second store that sells it. POW Block is an item that deals two damage to all of the enemies on the ground and on the ceiling in Paper Mario and The Thousand-Year Door. In Super Paper Mario, oddly enough, the POW Block causes minor damage to all enemies that are on the screen, including flying enemies as well.

Mario Power Tennis
A POW Block will move across the net on the Mario Classic Court. If a player hits the POW Block, the opponents on the other side of the net will be stunned for a short amount of time.

Mario Kart series
In Mario Kart Arcade GP 2, the POW Block appears as a special item for Waluigi. When used, it causes an opponent to be stunned for a short amount of time.

In Mario Kart Wii, the POW Block effects all racers in front of the item holder. When used, it causes an effect similar of that to a Banana Peel. A way to avoid spinning out is to shake the Wii Wheel before the POW Block wears up.