This article is about the fireball enemies. For other uses of "bubble", see Bubble (disambiguation). For the enemy also known as a "Lava Bubble", see Li'l Cinder.
Podoboos first appeared in Super Mario Bros., as fireballs that would jump out of the lava in simple patterns in an attempt to burn Mario whenever the plumber tried to jump over them. In this game, they only appear in castles and are completely invincible. They debut in level World 2-4.
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels[]
In Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, Podoboos reappear and act as they did in Super Mario Bros., and are still primarily found in castles. However, a single Podoboo can also be found in World 9-4 between the katakana characters "ト" and "ウ" in the word "アリガトウ" (arigatō, meaning "thank you" in Japanese) that is formed by blocks. It is possible to defeat Podoboos in World A-4 by kicking a Red Shell at them.
Super Mario Bros. 3[]
Like many other enemies from the previous games, Podoboos appear in Super Mario Bros. 3. In World 5-Fortress 2, there are also some Podoboos that jump out of lava on the ceiling. Podoboos can be defeated with Statue Mario, Hammer Mario's hammer, or a Starman.
Super Mario World[]
Super Mario World marks the first time that they were referred to as "Lava Bubbles", as can be seen in the player's guide for the game. It is also the first time Lava Bubbles are shown to have eyes. They again appear in castle levels, where they act the same as in their previous appearances — they simply jump out of the lava in an attempt to burn Mario. However, diagonally travelling Lava Bubbles named Zigzag Podoboos are found outside the lava at all times, bouncing around the rooms of castles. This behavior is similar to Boo Buddy Snakes in Ghost Houses and the red fireballs found in the Mario Bros. game. When this type touches lava, it sinks and does not come back out.
The former type of Lava Bubble assists Larry Koopa in battle, while the latter type assists Lemmy Koopa and Wendy O. Koopa in their battles, with one appearing in Lemmy's room and two appearing in Wendy's.
Sparkies appear again in Super Mario 64 and its remake,[9] where they are rare and primarily appear in Lethal Lava Land, which is themed after them according to the course's Japanese name. They jump out of the lava horizontally and bounce on the bridges, then they come back to the lava. They are indestructible, and if Mario touches one, it causes him to uncontrollably run and lose three wedges of health, like all other fiery enemies or obstacles. In the battle with Bowser in Bowser in the Sky, he spits some blue (green in the remake) fireballs that split into three like-colored Sparkies which immediately bounce across the stage. Both types disappear after a few seconds. In the remake, Yoshi can eat a Sparky, causing him to spit out fire, similar to his ability in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island.
In Super Mario Galaxy, Lava Bubbles[10][11][12] are small and appear in a non-standard cyan color. Rather than hopping in and out from lava, they bounce along its surface and along the ground, following Mario. They can only be defeated by shooting a Star Bit at them, releasing one coin. They initially appear during the third phase of King Kaliente's battle in the Good Egg Galaxy, where he spawns them around his arena. They later appear in Bowser Jr.'s Lava Reactor, appearing both in the stage itself and in the fight against the blackened King Kaliente, who spawns them sooner than before. Finally, they appear occasionally in the Melty Molten Galaxy, guarding a Silver Star in Burning Tide and guarding Star Chips in Through the Meteor Storm.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii[]
Three Lava Bubbles from New Super Mario Bros. Wii.
In New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Lava Bubbles appear in many boss castles, acting like they did in New Super Mario Bros.. They are also commonly found in World 8 as an enemy. They have eyes in this game, having a similar appearance to the Super Mario World Lava Bubbles. Additionally, the Lava Bubbles can be defeated by using an Ice Flower's or Penguin Suit's Ice Balls, or by running into one while using a Star. They first appear in Roy's Castle in World 2 right at the beginning; they continue to appear in the castles of World 5, World 6 and World 8. They are also found as enemies in the World 8 Enemy Course.
Through exploits, it is revealed that Yoshi can eat a Lava Bubble, but like Green and Red Shells, cannot swallow them, spitting it out as a large fireball akin to the type that he would swallow from Fire Piranha Plants.[13].
Super Mario Galaxy 2[]
Standard orange Lava Bubbles appear in Super Mario Galaxy 2 as obstacles in galaxies with lava, as well as in Bowser's galaxies. Just as in previous installments, Lava Bubbles jump out of the lava trying to hit Mario (or Luigi, as the case may be). Also, in Bowser's Gravity Gauntlet, in a place in which there are many lava pits, there are Lava Bubbles that jump from one lava pit into another nearby lava pit. The blue Lava Bubbles from the first Super Mario Galaxy also appear in this game, solely in the battle against King Kaliente in the Boss Blitz Galaxy.
Super Mario 3D Land[]
Three Lava Bubbles appearing in Super Mario 3D Land.
Lava Bubbles return in Super Mario 3D Land, where they mainly appear in castle stages, and, like in previous games, they act as obstacles that jump out of the lava in order to hit Mario or Luigi. In this game, Lava Bubbles can only be defeated while the Bros. are under the effects of a Star or an Invincibility Leaf.
New Super Mario Bros. 2[]
Lava Bubbles reappear in the Nintendo 3DS title New Super Mario Bros. 2, again inhabiting castles, and attacking in the same way. However, this time, Lava Bubbles have the capability of jumping out of lava pits in a diagonal pattern.
New Super Mario Bros. U[]
Lava Bubbles reappear in the Wii U title New Super Mario Bros. U, where they act just as they have in previous Super Mario games.
New Super Luigi U[]
Lava Bubbles make a return in New Super Luigi U, where they have the same abilities as in the original game, New Super Mario Bros. U. However, a sideways flying variation appears, which leap from one lava pool to another. Additionally, Takemoto, the director of this game, officially confirms that this enemy is called a Lava Bubble in a Miiverse post.
Super Mario 3D World / Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury[]
Vertically leaping Lava Bubbles appear in Castle levels in Super Mario Run. Otherwise indestructible, they can only be defeated when the player is under the effect of a Super Star. Each supplies players with a +3 coin bonus when in Toad Rally. A derived species called Poison Bubble also appears. Instead of leaping from lava, this creature leaps out from poisonous swamps.
Super Mario Odyssey[]
A Lava Bubble being controlled by Mario.
Lava Bubbles reappear in Super Mario Odyssey, where they are found in the Luncheon Kingdom and the Darker Side. along with a secret area in the Lost Kingdom and the Cookatiel rematch in the Mushroom Kingdom. Their eye color does not change when they are captured by Mario; they instead gain his nose, eyebrows, and mustache. When being controlled by Mario and Cappy, Mario can only travel through lava. When in lava, Mario can jump by pressing B, and dash by pressing Leftstick and Y. If Mario jumps on a Magmato, a puddle of lava is formed, allowing Mario to traverse on the ground. Jumping in pots causes them to heat up, releasing a Power Moon. Touching the ground while controlling a Lava Bubble causes it to disappear. Lava Bubbles also appear in an 8-bit section in the Cloud Kingdom. There are also objects seen in the Luncheon Kingdom and the Darker Side known as lava cannons that will launch Mario to another area of the kingdom when jumped into as a Lava Bubble.
Super Mario Maker 2[]
In Super Mario Maker 2, Lava Bubbles return with their properties from Super Mario Maker. They additionally appear in the new Super Mario 3D World style, where they will not leap if the player is wearing a Goomba Mask. Moreover, they can now be attached to parachutes.
火花怪 Huǒhuā Guài 火焰泡泡 (since Super Mario Maker 2) Huǒyàn Pàopào
Fire Spark Monster
Fire Bubble
Dutch
Lava Bubble
Lava Bubble
French
Podoboo Sparky Bulle de lave Ectopodoboo (Super Mario Galaxy)
Podoboo Sparky Lava Bubble
- - From "Podoboo" and "ectoplasm"
German
Hothead Lava Blub (first three Paper Mario games)
From the German word "Hitzkopf" From English word "lava" and "blubbern" (to bubble)
Italian
Podoboo (Super Mario Bros.) Fiammetto (most games) Bolla di Lava (Super Mario World, Mario Sports Mix)
- Lava Bubble
- From "fiamma" (flame) and the diminutive suffix "-etto" -
Japanese
バブル 溶岩バブル (The Legend of Zelda series) Baburu Yōgan Baburu
Bubble Lava Bubble
Korean
버블 Beobeul
Bubble
Portuguese (Brazil)
Bolha de lava
Lava Bubble
Portuguese (Portugal)
Bolha de Lava
Lava Bubble
Russian
Пузырь лавы Puzyr' lavy
Lava bubble
Spanish
Bola de Fuego Podoboo
Fire Ball Podoboo
Spanish (American)
Burbuja de Lava
Lava Bubble
Spanish (European)
Gota de Lava Burbuja Lava (Paper Mario and Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door) Podoboo
Lava Drop Lava Bubble Podoboo
Trivia[]
One of the Japanese Super Mario character encyclopedias postulates that Lava Bubbles may be the manifestation of the resentment of the Koopa Troop.[14]
World 6-1 • World 6-2 • World 6-3 • World 6- • World 6-4 • World 6-5 • World 6-6 • World 6-7 • World 6- • World 6-8 • World 6-9 • World 6-10 • World 6- • World 6-
World 7-1 • World 7-2 • World 7-3 • World 7-4 • World 7-5 • World 7- • World 7- • World 7-6 • World 7-7 • World 7-8 • World 7-9 • World 7- • World 7- • World 7-
Slip Slidin' Away • Lil' Penguin Lost • Big Penguin Race • Frosty Slide for 8 Red Coins • Snowman's Lost His Head • Wall Kicks Will Work (N64)/Mario's Super Wall Kick (DS) • Switch Star of Cool, Cool Mountain (DS)
Big Boo's Haunt
Go on a Ghost Hunt • Ride Big Boo's Merry Go Round • Secret of the Haunted Books • Seek the 8 Red Coins • Big Boo's Balcony • Eye to Eye in the Secret Room • Switch Star of the Basement
Hazy Maze Cave
Swimming Beast in the Cavern • Elevate for 8 Red Coins • Metal-Head Mario Can Move! (N64)/Metal-Head Wario Can Move (DS) • Navigating the Toxic Maze • A-Maze-Ing Emergency Exit • Watch for Rolling Rocks • Underground Switch Star
In the Talons of the Big Bird • Shining Atop the Pyramid • Inside the Ancient Pyramid • Stand Tall On the Four Pillars • Free Flying For 8 Red Coins (5th Star, N64) (7th Star, DS) • Tox Box Switch Star (DS) • Pyramid Puzzle
Snowman's Big Head • Chill with the Bully • In the Deep Freeze (N64) • Yoshi's Ice Sculpture (DS) • Whirl from the Freezing Pond • Shell Shreddin' for Red Coins (N64) • Snowman's Silver Star (DS) • Into the Igloo • Red Coins in the House (DS)
Wet-Dry World
Shocking Arrow Lifts! • Top o' the Town • Secrets in the Shallows and Sky (N64)/5 Secrets in the Shallows and Sky (DS) • Express Elevator--Hurry Up! • Go to Town for Red Coins (N64)/Go to Town for the Red Coins (DS) • Quick Race Through Downtown! • Soaked Silver Stars (DS)
Tall, Tall Mountain
Scale the Mountain • Mystery of the Monkey Cage • Scary 'Shrooms, Red Coins • Mysterious Mountainside • Breathtaking View from Bridge (Star 5, N64)/Breathtaking View from the Bridge (Star 7, DS) • Blast to the Lonely Mushroom (Star 6, N64) (Star 5, DS) • 5 Secrets of the Mountain
Roll into the Cage (N64) • Luigi in the Cage (DS) • The Pit and the Pendulums (N64) • The Pendulum Switch Star (DS) • Get a Hand • Stomp on the Thwomp •Timed Jumps on Moving Bars • Stop Time for Red Coins • Tick Tock Silver Stars
Rainbow Ride
Cruiser Crossing the Rainbow • The Big House in the Sky • Coins Amassed in a Maze • Swingin' in the Breeze • Tricky Triangles! • Somewhere over the Rainbow • Switch Star of the Manor
Bob-omb Sudden Death • Bob-omb Trampoline • Jumping Sudden Death • Jumping Brothers • Lakitu Launch • Vs. Mario's Slides • Vs. Pair-a-Gone • Vs. Trampoline Time
Dino Piranha • A Snack of Cosmic Proportions • King Kaliente's Battle Fleet • Dino Piranha Speed Run* • Purple Coin Omelet* • Luigi on the Roof
Honeyhive Galaxy
Bee Mario/Luigi Takes Flight • Trouble on the Tower • Big Bad Bugaboom • Honeyhive Cosmic Mario/Luigi Race* • The Honeyhive's Purple Coins* • Luigi in the Honeyhive Kingdom
Pull Star Path • Kamella's Airship Attack • Tarantox's Tangled Web • Pull Star Path Speed Run* • Purple Coin Spacewalk* • Yoshi's Unexpected Appearance
Rolling Green Galaxy
Rolling in the Clouds
Battlerock Galaxy
Battlerock Barrage • Breaking into the Battlerock • Topmaniac and the Topman Tribe • Topmaniac's Daredevil Run* • Purple Coins on the Battlerock* • Battlerock's Garbage Dump • Luigi under the Saucer
Hurry-Scurry Galaxy
Shrinking Satellite
Bowser's Star Reactor
The Fiery Stronghold
Sling Pod Galaxy
A Very Sticky Situation
Beach Bowl Galaxy
Sunken Treasure • Passing the Swim Test • The Secret Undersea Cavern • Fast Foes on the Cyclone Stone* • Beachcombing for Purple Coins* • Wall Jumping up Waterfalls
Bubble Breeze Galaxy
Through the Poison Swamp
Ghostly Galaxy
Luigi and the Haunted Mansion • A Very Spooky Sprint • Beware of Bouldergeist • Bouldergeist's Daredevil Run* • Purple Coins in the Bone Pen* • Matter Splatter Mansion
Bunnies in the Wind • The Dirty Tricks of Major Burrows • Gusty Garden's Gravity Scramble • Major Burrows's Daredevil Run* • Purple Coins on the Puzzle Cube* • The Golden Chomp
Freezeflame Galaxy
The Frozen Peak of Baron Brrr • Freezeflame's Blistering Core • Hot and Cold Collide • Frosty Cosmic Mario/Luigi Race* •Purple Coins on the Summit* • Conquering the Summit
Dusty Dune Galaxy
Soaring on the Desert Winds • Blasting through the Sand • Sunbaked Sand Castle • Sandblast Speed Run* • Purple Coins in the Desert* • Bullet Bill on Your Back • Treasure of the Pyramid
Honeyclimb Galaxy
Scaling the Sticky Wall
Bowser's Dark Matter Plant
Darkness on the Horizon
Bigmouth Galaxy
Bigmouth's Gold Bait
Gold Leaf Galaxy
Star Bunnies on the Hunt • Cataquack to the Skies • When It Rains, It Pours • Cosmic Mario/Luigi Forest Race* • Purple Coins in the Woods* • The Bell on the Big Tree
Sea Slide Galaxy
Going after Guppy • Faster Than a Speeding Penguin • The Silver Stars of Sea Slide • Underwater Cosmic Mario/Luigi Race* • Purple Coins by the Seaside* • Hurry, He's Hungry
Toy Time Galaxy
Heavy Metal Mecha-Bowser • Mario/Luigi Meets Mario • Bouncing Down Cake Lane • Fast Foes of Toy Time* • Luigi's Purple Coins* • The Flipswitch Chain
Bonefin Galaxy
Kingfin's Fearsome Waters
Bowser Jr.'s Lava Reactor
King Kaliente's Spicy Return
Sand Spiral Galaxy
Choosing a Favorite Snack
Deep Dark Galaxy
The Underground Ghost Ship • Bubble Blastoff • Guppy and the Underground Lake • Ghost Ship Daredevil Run* • Plunder the Purple Coins* • Boo in a Box
Dreadnought Galaxy
Infiltrating the Dreadnought • Dreadnought's Colossal Cannons • Revenge of the Topman Tribe • Topman Tribe Speed Run* • Battlestation's Purple Coins* • Dreadnought's Garbage Dump
Matter Splatter Galaxy
Watch Your Step
Melty Molten Galaxy
The Sinking Lava Spire • Through the Meteor Storm • Fiery Dino Piranha • Lava Spire Daredevil Run* • Red-Hot Purple Coins* • Burning Tide
Missions marked with an asterisk (*) are exclusively available while a Prankster Comet is in orbit. Missions marked with two asterisks (**) are only available when receiving a letter from Mailtoad.
* - Exclusive to New Super Mario Bros. U • ** - Exclusive to New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe • *** - Exclusive to New Super Luigi U † - Level before the world
Binoculars • Boulder • Bowser Statue • Cactus • Jizo • Letter • Manhole • Meat • Mini Rocket • Picture Match Part • Pole • Puzzle Part • RC Car • Spark pylon • Taxi • Tree • Zipper
• ⋆-Enemy, boss, or stat exclusive to the main game. • ⋆⋆-Enemy, boss, or stat exclusive to Minion Quest: The Search for Bowser. • ⋆⋆⋆-Enemy variants differ in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions.
Visit Koopa And Para-Koopa (World 2-1) • The Baseball Boys (2-2) • What's Gusty Taste Like? (2-3) • Bigger Boo's Fort (2-4) • Watch Out For Lakitu (2-5) • The Cave Of The Mystery Maze (2-6) • Lakitu's Wall (2-7) • The Potted Ghost's Castle (2-8) • Hit That Switch!! (2-★)
Welcome to Monkey World! (3-1) • Jungle Rhythm (3-2) • Nep-Enut's Domain (3-3) • Prince Froggy's Fort (3-4) • Jammin' Through The Trees (3-5) • The Cave Of Harry Hedgehog (3-6) • Monkey's Favorite Lake (3-7) • Naval Piranha's Castle (3-8) • Hit That Switch!! (3-★)
GO! GO! MARIO!! (4-1) • The Cave Of The Lakitus (4-2) • Don't Look Back! (4-3) • Marching Milde's Fort (4-4) • Chomp Rock Zone (4-5) • Lake Shore Paradise (4-6) • Ride Like The Wind (4-7) • Hookbill The Koopa's Castle (4-8) • The Impossible? Maze (4-★)
Scary Skeleton Goonies! (6-1) • The Cave Of The Bandits (6-2) • Beware The Spinning Logs (6-3) • Tap-Tap The Red Nose's Fort (6-4) • The Very Loooooong Cave (6-5) • The Deep Underground Maze (6-6) • KEEP MOVING!!!! (6-7) • King Bowser's Castle (6-8) • Ultimate Castle Challenge (6-★)
Rock 'n' Fall • High-Speed Cart Race • In the Clouds • Six Face Sal's Fort • Friend or Foe? • Slip Slidin' Away • Teeth-Chattering Chill Zone • Castle of Big Guy the Stilted • Hurry and Throw! • Let There Be Light! • Roulette
Rompin', Stompin' Chomps • Goonie Heights • Spear Guys' Village Found! • The Fort of Moltz the Very Goonie • The Cave That Never Ends • Find the Number Ball! • Superhard Acrobatics • At Last, Bowser's Castle! • Yoshi's Island Easter Eggs • Quit it Already, Tap-Tap! • Slot Machine
Bowser's Villa 8-1 • Bowser's Villa 8-2 • Bowser's Villa 8-3 • Bowser's Villa 8-4 • Bowser's Villa 8-5 • Bowser's Villa 8-6 • Bowser's Villa 8-7 • Bowser's Villa 8-8 • Bowser's Villa 8-9
