The Cape is a piece of yellow clothing worn by Mario or another character while they are in their Cape form, gained from touching a Cape Feather. The Cape first appears in Super Mario World, and has often been associated with the ability to glide while in midair, but aside from this, the cape notably appears as Mario's side special move in every Super Smash Bros. installment since Super Smash Bros. Melee.
In Super Mario series[]
Super Mario World[]
Here, Mario or Luigi gain a cape upon touching a Cape Feather, therefore turning them into their Caped form. While the main ability of the cape is allowing Mario or Luigi to glide in midair, they can also use it to attack enemies by spinning into them. If Mario or Luigi spin their cape on a Koopa Shell, it gets flipped over.
The cape returns in the remake Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2, having the same role as before. In addition, Mario and Luigi are each seen using a cape while in their Cape form in the cutscene shown when booting up the game.
Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3[]
The cape only made appearances through e-Reader-related functionality. It could be used by Mario or Luigi if the player scans a certain e-Reader card to add the Cape Feather into their item inventory. Aside from this, the World-e level Sea to Sky is the only level to feature the Cape Feather and in turn the cape. The cape is used in the same way as in Super Mario World.
In Yoshi's Island series[]
In Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, its remake Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3, and Yoshi's Island DS, if Baby Mario touches a Super Star, he becomes Superstar Mario, which is similar to Invincible Mario from the Super Mario series but gives Baby Mario a cape just like the one worn by Cape Mario. Baby Mario does not use the cape to glide in midair or spin into enemies, but rather as a small parachute. Given that Superstar Mario is a temporary power-up, Baby Mario can only wear the cape temporarily.
In Super Smash Bros. series[]
Mario using his Cape move in Super Smash Bros. Brawl
The Cape is one of the weaker side special moves as it deals little damage and no knockback. It can deflect projectiles and turn opponents around to face the other direction.
In Mario Baseball series[]
In both Mario Superstar Baseball and Mario Super Sluggers, although the cape does not physically appear, it is shown in the logo for the Mario Heroes team.
In other media[]
In the comic series Super Mario Adventures, a cape is used by the protagonists on various occasions. The cape is first used by Peach to escape from Bowser's Castle and from the tormenting of the Koopalings. It is is later used by Toad to look for assistance in order to help himself, Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, and Peach return home to Peach's Castle after Bowser and his forces have been defeated.
