- Not to be confused with Cannonballer, an item in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time with the appearance of a regular cannon.
Cannons are a recurring object in the Mario franchise and related media. They first appear in Super Mario Bros. 3.
Description[]
Cannons are often used to shoot out projectiles, most commonly cannonballs and Bob-ombs. In certain games, a Cannon is large and wide enough for a character to enter and be shot out of.
In Super Mario series[]
Super Mario Bros. 3[]
Cannons are featured in various capacities. They appear in the airship, tank, and boat levels, all featuring them as obstacles that have to be avoided. Some of the cannons are in a fixed position and shoot cannonballs straight ahead, similarly to how Turtle Cannons shoot out Bullet Bills. Some of these grounded cannons are mortars that eject Bob-ombs at short distances.
Aside from regular fixed cannons, there are four-barreled quartet-cannons that fire in two directions at a time, then rotate at a 45 degree angle. There are also double-barreled diagonal cannons, which can fire out of either end. Lastly, there are horizontal giant cannons, which are attached to tanks and can shoot out Giant Cannonballs.
Super Mario World[]
Cannons only appear in the form of Pipe Cannons.
Super Mario 64[]
Super Mario 64 screenshot of a Cannon emerging upon being entered by Mario
There are blue-colored cannons that appear in ten courses and a secret course. The main purpose of these cannons is to reach high or distant areas that cannot be reached through other means. Each usable cannon in a course is operated by a certain Bob-omb Buddy. However, each course's cannons are not usable at first, due to being covered by a metal hatch with a picture of a Bob-omb Buddy on it. In order for a course's cannons to become usable, Mario has to find the Bob-omb Buddy who operates the cannons within the course so that it can activate them. When this occurs, the view briefly shows a close-up of the cannon's metal hatch sliding away, revealing a square hole that Mario can go into to enter the cannon. The view then shifts back over to Mario and Bob-omb Buddy.
When Mario enters a cannon, it emerges from its hole, rotates, and points in a certain direction. The screen is then shown from the perspective of the cannon, so a black border surrounds the circular view in the center. A targeting reticle is in the center, indicating the aim of the cannon. Once the cannon is locked onto its target, the player must press 
to fire. The cannon should be aimed slightly higher than the desired area, as the height of Mario's trajectory tends to gradually decrease after he is launched from the cannon due to the Cannon firing him in an arc. Mario does not take falling damage if he is fired from a cannon, regardless of how far his descent is. If Mario collects a Wing Cap before entering a cannon, he can fly around as Wing Mario shortly after being launched from the cannon.
The perspective while inside of a Cannon in Super Mario 64; this particular Cannon is in Bob-omb Battlefield, and it can blast Mario up to the floating island.
Bob-omb Battlefield has a few Cannons. They cannot be unlocked until after completing its first mission, Big Bob-omb on the Summit, due to the Bob-omb War between the Bob-ombs and Bob-omb Buddies. Even after the Bob-omb Buddy activates all of the Cannons, one of them is always operated by a Bob-omb, and Mario can never access it due to the cannon shooting water bombs.
Various missions require Mario to shoot from a Cannon. One of the earliest instances of this is in the original Super Mario 64, in which the third Bob-omb Battlefield mission Shoot to the Island in the Sky involves Mario having to use a cannon to shoot himself up to a floating island, where a ! Block containing the mission's Power Star is found. In the Whomp's Fortress mission Blast Away the Wall, Mario has to shoot out of a cannon to break the topmost section of a nearby wall, which the hidden Power Star is then released from.
There is also a cannon in the Castle Grounds, just outside Princess Peach's Castle. Unlike the other usable cannons, this cannon is covered by a small metal grate instead of a metal hatch, and it is not operated by a Bob-omb Buddy. The cannon can be unlocked and used only after Mario has collected all 120 Power Stars. This cannon can be used to get onto the roof of the Castle, where Yoshi and a hidden Wing Cap are found.
Super Mario Sunshine[]
The only type of cannon that appears are specific red, round ones, most of which are utilized by Monty Moles. The gameplay mechanic of entering a cannon to aim and launch out of was not retained from Super Mario 64. However, in Delfino Plaza, once Pinna Park is accessible, Mario is required to enter a certain red Cannon so that it can blast him over to Pinna Park. This Cannon aims and launches Mario to there on its own.
Super Mario 64 DS[]
The cannon of Jolly Roger Bay in Super Mario 64 DS
Cannons retain the same role as in the original Super Mario 64. However, because there are now a total number of 150 Power Stars, the grate covering the Cannon in Castle Grounds does not disappear until said number of Stars are collected. One of Luigi's green Rabbits are on the castle's rooftop, essentially changing the reason for its use. The 
is used to launch a character out of a cannon.
New Super Mario Bros.[]
This is the first game to introduce Warp Cannons, each of which blast Mario or Luigi to a certain different world. This is also the first game with upright Pipe Cannons, which Mario or Luigi can enter to blast straight upward.
Super Mario Galaxy[]
A model of a cannon in Super Mario Galaxy
Cannons similar to those in Super Mario 64 make an appearance. A difference from before is that the Wii Remote is used for aiming while inside of a cannon. The player can press 
to launch Mario or Luigi out of a Cannon. Another difference from before is that when Mario or Luigi is shot from a Cannon, he continues to travel in a straight line, and there is also the risk of Mario or Luigi losing a life because he does not fall until he hits a surface.
It is possible to pan the camera while inside of a cannon by holding down 
and moving the controller away from the screen. However, this is impossible in the Super Mario 3D All-Stars version because the Nintendo Switch does not have a Sensor Bar equivalent.
Aside from the usable Cannons, there are also Cannons that shoot out Cannonballs, serving as obstacles.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii[]
The game retains the Warp Cannons and Pipe Cannons from New Super Mario Bros. while also including a larger variety of Cannons. In particular, this includes the cannon types from Super Mario Bros. 3: the upward and downward-pointed cannons and mortars that fire cannonballs and Bob-ombs; the rotating quartet-cannons; and horizontal giant cannons all make a reappearance.
The regular cannons in World 8-
have a unique behavior in which they routinely rotate their barrel to the other direction before firing again.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii introduces one unique variety of Cannon, more specifically a quartet-cannon. It is a large rotating cannon pipe that fires Giant Cannonballs out of three cannons, and one of the Cannons does not launch any Giant Cannonballs and instead contains a pipe which can be entered.
Super Mario Galaxy 2[]
Super Mario Galaxy 2 screenshot of a Cannon
Cannons exclusively appear in Bowser Jr.'s Boom Bunker, and function similarly as in Super Mario Galaxy. In the Throwback Galaxy, a Sling Star appears in place of the Cannon in Whomp's Fortress.
Super Mario 3D Land[]
Cannons appear in several courses, functioning similarly as in other 3D Super Mario installments. They have a black body and light blue outlines. However, a Cannon can now be controlled by moving the Nintendo 3DS around, just like the binoculars. Just before starting an airship level, there is a scene where Toad is standing next to a Cannon, which either Mario or Luigi enter to blast over onto the airship itself.
New Super Mario Bros. 2[]
Both Warp Cannons and Pipe Cannons make a reappearance. Aside from this, there are also mortars that launch out Para-bombs, instead of Bob-ombs like in previous games. Warp Cannons had their functionality changed to instead blast Mario or Luigi straightforward, forcing them to complete a short area level where they have to dash to the end in order to reach the other side.
New Super Mario Bros. U / New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe[]
Near the end of a castle level, just before the airship where Koopaling is fought, is a series of stairs leading up to a boss cannon. Any playable characters present can enter the cannon to blast over to the Koopalings' airship and battle the Koopaling found there. In a sense, these cannons are comparable to those in Super Mario 3D Land.
There are also a few returning types of cannons, including Pipe Cannons, regular cannons, and giant cannons. A difference from before is that, aside from levels, Pipe Cannons also appear in the world map, where they are used for quick travel between already unlocked worlds. The normal cannons and giant cannons appear in the level The Mighty Cannonship.
Super Mario 3D World / Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury[]
Just before starting a Tank course, there is a scene in which the playable characters enter a Cannon next to a Sprixie to blast over to the course itself, much like the starting scene of airship courses in Super Mario 3D Land.
Cannons also return as obstacles, in which they shoot cannonballs as usual. Such cannons prominently appear in Cosmic Cannon Cluster. If a Brick Block is destroyed under a cannon, it changes into a Cannon Box, which the player's character can wear to attack enemies and destroy cracked walls.
Super Mario Maker / Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS[]
Cannons are a course part in all four game styles. They retain their usual function of shooting Cannonballs, but the Cannons can now be set in one of eight directions. The game also introduces the Red Cannon variation, which can shoot the faster-moving Red Cannonballs. A Super Mushroom can be applied to a Cannon to increase its size, now making it capable of shooting Giant Cannonballs. A Cannon can only be destroyed from a big Stiletto.
Super Mario Run[]
Cannons return as obstacles, although they are now timed to fire cannonballs at specific moments while on-screen. Cannons spawn in not only single sets, but also double and triples, giving characters more space to bounce off of when faced by a barrage of cannonballs.
Super Mario Maker 2[]
Both Cannons and Red Cannons return as course parts, retaining their role from Super Mario Maker. However, neither of them appear in the Super Mario 3D World style.
In Donkey Kong (Game Boy)[]
Regular cannons appear in the Desert world, where they resemble real-world ones from the Middle Ages, and the Airplane world, where they appear to be made of steel. Although different in design, both types of cannons attack by firing out bullets.
In later Airplane levels, there are cannons that have a different function of charging up energy balls and routinely changing their aim of fire, shooting diagonally and upwards as well. If Mario gets hit by any of their projectiles, he loses a life.
In Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars[]
The game introduces Pot Cannons, the only type of Cannon to appear, and Mario can use them to reach higher areas.
In Mario Party series[]
Mario Party 4[]
Four cannons appear in the 1-vs-3 minigame Hide and Go BOOM!, as the hiding spots of the three players. The fourth player lights the fuse to fire the cannons to send them flying.
Mario Party 7[]
A cannon is featured as part of the Cannon Orb, exclusively appearing in Pagoda Peak.
Mario Party 8[]
Cannons appear in a few boards. On the board DK's Treetop Temple, a character can pay five coins to use a cannon to blast to a space somewhere at the top of the map. On the board Goomba's Booty Boardwalk, Pirate Goombas use cannons to blast any characters who land on the corresponding ? Space back to the start.
Mario Party DS[]
The cannon figure in Mario Party DS
Cannons appear in the board Bowser's Pinball Machine, where they are scattered on sides of the board. If a character lands on a space next to a cannon, they jump into it, then their corresponding player has to draw a line in the direction they want the character to land. Following this, the cannon blasts out the character, who lands onto a bumper, which they they bounce off of and land onto the space next to it.
One of the collectible items is a board feature of a cannon from Bowser's Pinball Machine. It can be unlocked by launching out of a cannon at Bowser's Pinball Machine three times.
Mario Party 9[]
Cannons appear in the boss minigame Chain Chomp Romp, where they are stationed near the Chain Chomp. In every turn, the characters each have to select a mine cart to travel over to one of the cannons while avoiding the path directly to Mega Chain Chomp. Once every character has reached a different cannon, they each use their cannon to shoot a cannonball at the Chain Chomp, damaging it. Some turns have a larger gold cannon, which shoots out a larger-sized golden cannonball that deals slightly more damage to Chain Chomp than a regular cannonball.
Mario Party: Island Tour[]
Cannons appear in the minigame Cannonball!. Here, the characters have to aim to travel the farthest by firing themselves out of their respective cannon.
Cannons have a role in the boss minigame King Bob-omb's Court of Chaos, where in every turn, the player has limited time to assemble a conveyor lane to either a cannon (which uses its design from Super Mario 3D Land) or a gold cannon. Upon doing so, their character can then place a bomb onto the trail leading to either type of cannon, and once the bomb reaches the cannon, it loads into it and blasts out at King Bob-omb. Shooting a bomb from the gold cannon deals more damage to King Bob-omb than if done from the regular cannon, similarly to Mario Party 9.
Mario Party: The Top 100[]
Cannons appear in the returning minigame Hide and Go BOOM!, retaining their role from Mario Party 4.
In Mario Kart series[]
The first instance of a Cannon appearing in a Mario Kart game is Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, which features the Donkey Cannon in DK Mountain. Since then, they have appeared in at least one course in every game.
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In Mario & Luigi series[]
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga / Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions[]
Bowser asking for Mario and Luigi to help him out of the cannon in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
Only one cannon makes an appearance, and it has a role in the game's story.
After the Koopa Cruiser crashes, Bowser gets stuck in a large cannon in Stardust Fields. Bowser asks for Mario and Luigi to help release him, although they are unable to. Tolstar then tells the Mario Bros. that he can free Bowser if they collect 100 Beanbean coins, only to later betray them when they get the amount. Bowser is ultimately freed by Sergeant Starshade when he lights the fuse of the cannon, launching Bowser, who ends up crashing into Hoohoo Mountain. Following this, the Cannon disappears, no longer obstructing the path.
Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time[]
One of the Bros. Items is a Cannon named Cannonballer.
In Paper Mario series[]
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door[]
In the Fahr Outpost area, there is a cannon named the big bomb cannon, and Mario is required to use it in order to shoot up to the Moon.
Paper Mario: Color Splash[]
Cannons appear on the Violet Passage captain's ship, where Mario has to use them to fire Cannonballs in order to get through the Violet Passage.
In Mario Pinball Land[]
There is a cannon behind every trapdoor in the sunken ship of the Frosty Frontier Stage and in Porcupuffer's rematch room in the Fiery Stage. Hitting a trapdoor causes its cannon to shoot a cannonball bomb into the area. Two cannons also appear in the Bob-omb minigame from Toad's tent in the Fun Fair, shooting Bob-ombs onto the playfield when the Blue Switch is activated.
Aside from regular cannons, the game introduces a unique type of cannon, the Sky Cannon.
In Yoshi Topsy-Turvy[]
Cannons are usable objects that appear in various levels. Yoshi can enter a cannon by jumping into it from the top and use it as a method of traveling to another area. The player can tilt the system to affect the direction in which the cannon tilts accordingly. After a few seconds, the cannon fires automatically.
In Mario Hoops 3-on-3[]
In the Pirate Ship court, one of the gimmicks is cannons that shoot explosive cannonballs onto the field.
In Mario vs. Donkey Kong series[]
Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis[]
A screenshot of a cannon in Boss Game 2 in Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis
Cannons appear in boss fights against Donkey Kong, such as Boss Game 2. To launch Minis from them, the player must use the Stylus to move the handle to aim, then fire by tapping the "Shoot" button.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again![]
Cannons retain their function from Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem![]
Aside from being used by the Minis to fight Donkey Kong, Cannons are common objects in regular levels. Cannons first appear in Cannon Cove, where they are the stage's main feature. There are two types of Cannons, and one type can be aimed in several directions while the other type can only fire in a single direction while moving horizontally or vertically, similarly to moving Barrel Cannons in the Donkey Kong Country series.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars[]
Here, the multidirectional cannons from Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! make a reappearance, functioning identically as before. The game introduces Cannon Kongs, a type of monkey robot that has a cannon as its torso.
In Wario: Master of Disguise[]
There are three types of cannons, one of which is a golden cannon named Blamses, a popular attraction, and the other two types of cannons are Sphinx Jr. and K9 Cannon.
In Mario Sports Mix[]
Cannons are featured in the party game Bob-omb Dodge. Here, the characters have to dodge the Bob-ombs shot out from the cannons. Aside from this, Warp Cannons appear in the Flower Cup Tournament, and can be used to unlock alternate routes.
In Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker[]
Cannons are used by Captain Toad and Toadette to reach areas in various levels. The game also introduces another type of cannon, the Turnip Cannon.
In Mario Golf: Super Rush[]
For his Special Shot animation, King Bob-omb shoots from a cannon to launch his golf ball farther. This cannon shares a design with the cannons of in the New Super Mario Bros. U game style of Super Mario Maker and Super Mario Maker 2.
Crossover appearances[]
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Nintendo DS)[]
A cannon in Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games for Nintendo DS
In Adventure Tours mode, a cannon appears in an area after its snow spirit has been rescued. Following this, Mario or Sonic can enter the cannon to blast off to the next area of Winter Island. These cannons are colored black, and they have orange, triangular markings lined around the opening. The cannons are also mounted onto an orange stand.
Flavor text[]
- New Super Mario Bros. 2 website: Finding a secret exit in a course can lead to a Warp Cannon, where you are blasted from a huge cannon and sprint automatically towards the goal! In order to succeed, all you need to do is time your jumps. Sounds easy, right?
Trivia[]
- In Super Mario Maker, the editor icons for all styles except the New Super Mario Bros. U style depict a sprite of a cannon aimed diagonally, even though the sprite used in the levels themselves is actually the horizontal or vertical cannon sprite rotated 45 degrees.
