Nipper Plant

     

Nipper Plant
Super Mario Bros. 3 artwork
Chronological information
First game	Super Mario Bros. 3 (1990)
Latest game	Paper Mario: The Origami King (2020)
Game appearances	Super Mario Bros. 3 Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars Yoshi's Story Super Mario All-Stars Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 Mario Kart Arcade GP Super Princess Peach Yoshi's Island DS Super Mario All-Stars 25th Anniversary Edition Mario & Luigi: Dream Team Yoshi's New Island Yoshi's Woolly World Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World Mario Tennis Aces Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Yoshi's Crafted World Paper Mario: The Origami King
Biological information
Species	Piranha Plant
Subspecies	Sad N. Plant Nipper Spore Nipper Dandelion Fiery Walking Piranha
Association
Related	Piranha Bud Muncher Petit Piranha
Leader	Petey Piranha

Nipper Plants (also called Walking Piranhas, Walking Piranas, White Piranhas, Baby Piranha Plants, Chompweeds, or simply Nippers) are a recurring enemy in the Mario and Yoshi franchises. For the former franchise, Nipper Plants first appear in Super Mario Bros. 3, and for the latter, they debut in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island.

Profile

Physical description

Nipper Plants are infant Piranha Plants, typically consisting of a dark green stem and a large, white head. In both of Super Mario Bros. 3's remakes, Super Mario All-Stars and Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3, Nipper Plants are a light pink color.

Behavior

In most games, Nipper Plants usually stand idly and jump up at Mario, Yoshi or Peach whenever they approach. Some of them can hop around making landing harder. Some Nipper Plants are also capable of moving around on their own, and they can bite a character upon contact with them. In the Yoshi games, it is shown that Nipper Plants are born from Nipper Spores, which bloom into Nipper Plants upon hitting the ground. After sometime, it is assumed that Nipper Plants evolve into Piranha Buds and then later into Piranha Plants. Nipper Plants are mostly vulnerable to the same attacks as a Piranha Plant.

In Super Mario Bros. 3

A Nipper Plant

Nipper Plants make their debut in Super Mario Bros. 3. In this game, they are first seen in Sky Land, they are usually seen sitting idly until Mario (or Luigi) approaches at which point, they hop upwards in an attempt to nip at the plumbers. As the Nipper Plants are facing upward as they attack, stomping on them is hazardous and will harm the plumbers so don't do it. Nipper Plants however can be easily defeated with the effects of a Fire Flower, Tanooki Suit (tail attack only), Super Leaf, Hammer Suit, or a Starman. Defeating a Nipper Plant earns the player 100 points.

Two relatives of Nipper Plants make an appearance, the Fiery Walking Piranha which spits fireballs similarly to a Venus Fire Trap and the Munchers, which appear along the ground in large groups, do not move, and cannot be defeated.

In Yoshi franchise

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island / Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3

Nipper Plants in the Cave.

Nipper Plants are semi-common enemies most commonly found underground. Unlike most games, a Yoshi can destroy a Nipper Plant by stomping on it, Nipper Plants can also be beaten by swallowing them or tossing eggs at them. In this game, it is also shown that they are born from Nipper Spores. Naval Piranha also has the power to spawn Nipper Spores which turn into Nipper Plants upon hitting the ground. Unlike most games, Nipper Plants don't jump up at Yoshi and rather just follow a set path similar to a Goomba.

Yoshi's Story

Yoshi near some Nipper Plants.

Nipper Plants return as enemies, acting the same as before. They once again don't attack a Yoshi directly but rather just follow a set path. A Nipper Plant can be defeated with stomps, swallows, egg tosses. Nipper Plants are once again seen being sprouted from Nipper Spores. Nipper Plants can be found in a wide array of levels throughout the game.

Yoshi's Island DS

Yoshi near a couple Nipper Plants in the cave.

Nipper Plants retain their behavior from earlier Yoshi games. In this game, they are commonly found in caverns and various levels of World 2. Just as before, they don't leap up to attack Yoshi and instead follow set paths making them vulnerable to stomps. They can also be beaten with eggs or swallows. Just as before, Nipper Plants can be spawned from Nipper Spores but the Spores themselves can also be spawned from Nipper Dandelions which can be blown in the air by the occasional wind or a Windbag. The spores of a Nipper Dandelion can be swallowed by Yoshi to empty the Dandelion. Nipper Plants are also seen during the boss fight with Big Bungee Piranha, during the battle, the colossal Piranha Plant will spit out Nipper Spores that turn into Nipper Plants as a form of an egg supply during the battle. Nipper Plants also make an appearance in the Museum where they can be found in the Botanical Enemy Exhibit. To earn the Nipper Plant in the Museum, you will need to hit one with an egg (as you would with most other enemies). Hitting a Nipper Spore with an egg will earn the Nipper Dandelion it's spot in the Museum (which is located in the neighboring sector).

Yoshi's New Island

A Nipper Plant hopping in the caves.

Nipper Plants retain their behavior from the past games, although they are slightly less common. Nipper Plants are first seen in Cave of the Nipper Plants and just as before, don't jump up to bite Yoshi so as a result, they can be beaten with stomps. They can also be beaten with egg throws or swallows as well. They also appear in the forms of Nipper Spores as well.

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

A Yarn Nipper Plant.

Nipper Plants are semi-common enemies, retaining the same behavior as before, and mainly follow a set. As a result, aren't particularly aggressive. Nipper Plants can be beaten with stomps, swallows, or by tossing an egg at them. They are somewhat common early on the game but appear less towards the end.

Yoshi's Crafted World

A New Nipper Plant

Nipper Plants behave identically as in previous Yoshi games. Just as before, they don't jump up to nip at Yoshi and merely follow set paths. They can be beaten with stomps swallows, or by tossing an egg at them. Nipper Plants are slightly more common in this game. They are seen in levels such as Jumping to Victory.

In Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

They make a reappearance, now being named Chompweed. They appear in the Pipe Vault, where instead of fighting Mario, Chompweeds jump up and steal a few coins from Mario if he gets too close. Unused game data of Chompweeds exist, suggesting that they would have appeared as enemies at one point.

In Mario Kart Arcade GP

Nipper Plants appear in the tracks Bananan Ruins and Castle Wall, spectating in the background. Unlike the larger Piranha Plants, they don't appear as hazards.

In Super Princess Peach

Peach near a Nipper Plant.

Nipper Plants return as enemies, behaving similarly as in Super Mario Bros. 3. They hop around, but as soon as Peach approaches, they hop upward as a means to prevent her from being able to jump on them, they can be annoying especially in large numbers but they can be beaten by whacking them with Perry. Nipper Plants can mostly be found in Ladida Plains and Hoo's Wood. They are also seen during the boss fight with Boss P. Plant where he occasionally spits out Nipper Plants to aid him during the battle, a crying variety called the Sad N. Plant also appears in this game, the Sad N. Plants are constantly crying and hop everywhere.

In Mario & Luigi: Dream Team

A Nipper Plant

Nipper Plants appear in Dreamy Driftwood Shore as background enemies. In battle, a Piranha Plant may spit Nipper Spores in the background with each one becoming a Nipper Plant once they land, the Nipper Plants can attack Mario by spitting fireballs at him which he must deflect with his Hammer to knock back at one of the Piranha Plants. In some cases, a Piranha Plant will spit a fireball at the Nipper Plants' direction at which point, the Nipper Plants will bounce to one another it making it bigger in the process until finally launching it at Mario who must counter it back. Due to being in the background, Nipper Plants cannot be battled with normal attacks however, they can be defeated with the use of a Taunt Ball, additionally, they can be defeated by destroying the Piranha Plant that spawned them.

In Mario Tennis Aces

A Nipper Plant seen near a Muncher.

Nipper Plants are seen hopping around in the background near some Munchers in the Forest Monster mission during the battle with Petey Piranha, they don't have much effect on the gameplay however and mainly serve their role as audience members.

In Paper Mario: The Origami King

An Origami Nipper Plant

Nipper Plants have an origami variant featured as an enemy, Origami Nipper Plants. In the Musée Champignon description for Nipper Plants, they are mentioned to be able spit fire however they don't possess such an ability in-game. In battle, Nipper Plants attack by biting at Mario, if Nipper Plants are facing upwards, they cannot be jumped on without a type of Iron Boots, Hammers however can always be used to bring down a Nipper Plant.

Trivia

• Nipper Plants are among one of the few recurring Piranha Plant enemies that have yet to appear in the New Super Mario Bros. series.
• Nipper Plants were planned to appear in Super Mario World but were cut out.

Gallery

To view Nipper Plant's image gallery, click here.