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Super Mario Yoshi

Missile Bills, (also called Bull's-Eye Bills, Heat-Seeking Bullet Bills, or simply Red Bullet Bills), are the homing missile variation of Bullet Bills which first appear in Super Mario Bros. 3. As their alternative name Heat-Seeking Bullet Bill implies, Missile Bills shoot straight unless Mario or another character appears within their sight range, upon which the Missile Bill locks onto the character and follows them. Like Bullet Bills, Missile Bills are explosive.

In Super Mario series[]

Super Mario Bros. 3[]

Missile Bill SMB3 NES sprite
Missile Bill NES

Missile Bills are enemies encountered in a few levels such as World 4-5. They behave similarly to regular Bullet Bills being shot out of Bill Blasters however unlike the regular Bullet Bills, instead of continuing along the path upon sight of Mario/Luigi, they will rapidly u-turn and attempt to hit him, they will do this up to two times, if they miss twice, the Missile Bill will continue along it's path like a regular Bullet Bill. Missile Bills can easily be defeated from a stomp or the effects of either a Super Leaf, Starman, Hammer Suit, or a Tanooki Suit. Defeating a Missile Bill earns the player 100 points. Like Bullet Bills, Missile Bills are invulnerable to the effects of a Fire Flower. Unlike a regular Bullet Bill, Missile Bills appear to be a more bronze-orange color.

Super Mario Sunshine[]

MissileBill SMS

A Missile Bill in Super Mario Sunshine

They reappear in Super Mario Sunshine after a thirteen year absence, they change from black to purple and appear in Pinna Park. They are shot out of Monty Mole's cannon and can be defeated by being jumped on or when Mario uses F.L.U.D.D. to attack. They can destroy the baskets on Pinna Park containing Blue Coins which is the only method to gain the Blue Coins and to destroy the baskets. Missile Bills can also be gold in this game and release coins when jumped on. They are used in the final battle against Bowser and Bowser Jr. where Bowser Jr. throws some at Mario and may also send out a blue Missile Bill that either releases a 1-Up Mushroom or a Water Bottle.

Super Princess Peach[]

While Missile Bills are absent in Super Princess Peach, a similar type of Bullet Bill named Mad Bullet Bill makes an appearance.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii[]

Missile Bills chase the Mario Crew

The Mario Crew escapes a fusillade of Missile Bills.

Missile Bills act similar as they do in Super Mario Bros. 3, except for the fact that they can change the direction they go in and they can lock in on Mario or his allies, additionally, they now make a beeping sound upon detecting the heroes, a trait that was carried into many later games. They only appear in World 9-3 where subspecies, Missile Banzai Bills are also found. They continuously chase Mario and co. unless they are far enough from it or when jumped on. Other ways a Missile Bill can be defeated include the use of the Starman or by tossing objects at them. Stomping on Missile Bills is also useful for reaching higher ledges/Pipes and their homing ability makes the positioning heaps easier than with a regular Bullet Bill, freezing them with the effects of an Ice Flower or Penguin Suit can also freeze them in place to be used as a stepping stone to reach said ledges/Pipes.

New Super Mario Bros. U/New Super Luigi U/New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe[]

Roy Koopa Fires Missile Bill

Roy Koopa firing a Missile Bill.

Missile Bills also appear in New Super Mario Bros. U as well as New Super Luigi U and New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe. In these games, they are rather rare enemies only appearing during the boss fight with Roy Koopa in both Roy's Conveyor Castle and Roy's Ironclad Castle. After a hit, Roy Koopa will start shooting Missile Bills alongside regular Bullet Bills from his portable Bill Blaster. The Missile Bills behave as they did in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, locking in on and homing in on Mario and his allies however this time, if the Missile Bill takes too long to hit the heroes, it will start flashing before exploding similar to a Flame Chomp.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker[]

Missile Bill Target Time

Missile Bills setting their target on Toadette.

Missile Bills return in Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker as well as both it's ports on the Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo Switch. They are commonly seen in levels such as Rock Block Badlands. Unlike previous games, the cannons Missile Bills are fired from are now red which distinguishes them from the regular Bill Blasters (which are obviously black). Whenever a Missile Bill sees Captain Toad or Toadette, they home in on them in hopes of hitting them, a Missile Bill can only be defeated by luring them into running into a wall or by tossing a Turnip at them or by using a Super Pickax on them. In this game, Missile Bills are completely red at all times which pretty much set the standard for their look in most future appearances.

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

Missile Bill Airship Fleet

Mario successfully dodges the Missile Bill attack on the Airship.

Missile Bills return in Super Mario Maker as well as it's two sequels. In these games, like Bullet Bills, they aren't placeable enemies on their own but a Bill Blaster can be shaken to become a Red Bill Blaster used for firing Missile Bills. In all styles, Missile Bills behave as they do in the modern games (homing in on a target rather than chucking u-turns upon missing). Their attack methods can be used to reach high ledges. Missile Bills can be defeated with stomps or the effects of a Starman.

Missile Bills appear in all of the game's styles except for the Super Mario 3D World style where they are replaced by Cat Bullet Bills.

Super Mario Run[]

Missile Bill Run

A Missile Bill underneath Mario's Cloud platform.

Missile Bills appear again in Super Mario Run this time only appearing in Bullet Bill Barrage. In this game, Missile Bills attack Mario from behind and then zoom forward whether or not Mario is in front of them. Like the Bullet Bills, Mario cannot vault over the Missile Bills and will take damage upon contact, precise landings on a Missile Bill can defeat them however.

In Mario Party series[]

Mario Party 8[]

Missile Bill Hail

Many Missile Bills locking in on Mario in the Mario Party 8 minigame Superstar Showdown

Missile Bills appear in Mario Party 8 during the third round of the boss minigame against Bowser, Superstar Showdown, Bowser's Koopa Clown Car uses them as weapons alongside fireballs and regular Bullet Bills. The Missile Bills move much faster than the regular Bullet Bills which can make stopping them slightly more challenging than before.

Mario Party 9[]

Billistics Tower

See the Bullet Bill with a red glow? That's a Missile Bill.

Missile Bills appear again in Mario Party 9 in the minigame Billistics. During the minigame, Bullet Bills are being shot at the players atop the sky fortress, as the minigame progresses, Missile Bills will also start being launched at the players and these home in on players which make them a far bigger threat than the regular Bullet Bills. As the timer starts to get closer to 0, more Missile Bills start showing up.

In Yoshi franchise[]

Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3[]

Although Missile Bills don't appear in Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3, a similar Bullet Bill called the Biting Bullet Bill appears. They are also unused enemies in the original Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island.

Yoshi's Woolly World/Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World[]

Yoshi VS Missile Bill

Yoshi near a Missile Bill.

Missile Bills return in Yoshi's Woolly World and Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World. In these games, they appear in Knot-Wing the Koopa's Sky Fort. They are launched from Red Bill Blasters and home in on Yoshi just as they do in the mainline Mario games. Yoshi can beat a Missile Bill by stomping on one. Missile Bills can also explode if they fly in the air for too long and they flash to signify this, they are also seen during the boss fight against Knot-Wing the Koopa, where Knot-Wing can fire them from the Bill Blaster on his back.

Trivia[]

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