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Super Mario Paper Mario Mario & Luigi
This article is about the normal Koopa Troopa shell. For the Mario Kart item, see Blue Spiny Shell.

Blue Shells, also known as Blue Koopa Shells is a type of Koopa Shell that first appears in Super Mario World. Aside from its debut appearance, Blue Shells are not often worn by Koopa Troopas.

In Super Mario series[]

Super Mario World[]

Blue shells first appear in Super Mario World, where they are usually found after jumping on a blue Koopa Troopa, although standalone ones exist as well. When a Yoshi eats one, he will grow wings and be able to fly for a limited time, at the end of which the Yoshi will swallow it. Blue Yoshi can use this ability from any shell color. Like other Koopa Shells, the Blue Shell can be launched when the Koopa Troopa wearing it is jumped on. It can also be held and thrown.

New Super Mario Bros.[]

NSMB Blue Shell

The Blue Shell is now a power-up item that transforms Mario or Luigi into their Shell form. Blue Shells can sometimes be collected from a Hammer Bro, Flying ? Block, Mushroom House, or a Roulette Block. There is also the elusive Blue Koopa Troopa featured in only the Snow level of Mario vs. Luigi, and it can be defeated for its Blue Shell. Ducking in a Blue Shell protects Mario or Luigi from most threats except fire, spikes, and being crushed; it also prevents certain enemies from noticing them.

If Shell Mario or Luigi run at a certain speed, they automatically withdraw into the Blue Shell and roll along the ground, a move known as a Shell Dash. Rolling in a Blue Shell serves mostly the same function as a rolling Koopa Shell, particularly in that Mario or Luigi can break Brick Blocks in their path or defeat most enemies by rolling into them. Whenever Mario or Luigi bounce into an object while rolling, they begin moving in the opposite direction. Mario or Luigi move slightly slower while wearing a Blue Shell, due to the added weight of the Blue Shell, which travels slower than Koopa Shells in general.

There are no ordinary ? Blocks that give Blue Shells. They can only be found in Red Flying Question Blocks, Roulette Blocks, Flying Question Blocks, and Toad Houses. In the game's files is an unused Hanging Question Block which can contain Blue Shells. Similarly, the Nintendo Official Player's Guide has an icon for Blue Shells in the map legend, but it goes unused because Blue Shells are not found in any of the ? Blocks.

In Paper Mario[]

Kooper from Paper Mario utilized a blue Koopa shell, which was initially stolen by Fuzzies before being retrieved by Mario. Although the next playable Koopa Troopa character, Koops in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, doesn't possess a blue shell himself, his father Koopley does, as did Kolorado's father. The Blue Koopa shell is capable of resisting stomach acids from within a dragon's stomach tract for a long time, as evidenced by Koopley surviving being eaten by Hooktail by staying in his shell.

In Mario Strikers series[]

In Super Mario Strikers and Mario Strikers Charged, Blue Shells appear as items. They are usually collected in a pack of three. When used, they will be fired at the opposing players, however, they do not home in, like the Red Shell does. If the Blue Shell happens to hit a player, they will instantly freeze in one spot. This will render them unable to move, and, thus, unable to get the ball. The effects wear off after a few seconds. Unfortunately, these shells can freeze both the user's teammates, or the user. If the shells fail to hit anyone, they will continue bouncing around the stage until they either hit a player, or just wear out on their own. A more effective version of this item is the Giant Blue Shell.

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

The Blue Shell appears in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, as an item found in the overworld and once in the Energy Hold in Bowser's Body. Mario can go in Blue Shells (and turn into Shell Mario from New Super Mario Bros.) by striking Blue Shell blocks. Luigi can then hit Mario using his hammer, and this will make Mario go into the shell, spinning straight forward. This can be used to hit blocks in areas that Mario and Luigi can't directly go into. To toss the Blue Shell, Mario must jump. It behaves similarly to Kooper and Koops's abilities in the Paper Mario series.

Trivia[]

  • Though the Blue Shell itself does not appear in Super Mario 3D World, players using Toad/Rosalina can jump on a Koopa Troopa and steal their shell and when using it, the shell color turns dark blue (Toad) or light blue (Rosalina) very much like the Blue Shell in New Super Mario Bros.
  • In Super Mario Galaxy, if the player races Cosmic Mario in Sea Slide Galaxy, Cosmic Mario will have a Blue Shell if he manages to pick up a Koopa Shell.

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