Bullet Bill: Difference between revisions

|latest_appearance=''[[Super Mario RPG (Nintendo Switch)|Super Mario RPG]]'' ([[Nintendo Switch]]) ([[List of games by date#2023|2023]])

|variants=[[Banzai Bill]]<br>[[Blazer]]<br>[[Bombshell Bill]]<br>[[Bouncing Bullet Bill]]<br>[[Bull's-Eye Bill]]<br>[[Bullet Biff]]<br>[[Bullet Bill Patch]]<br>[[Cat Bullet Bill]]<br>[[Gold Bullet Bill]]<br>[[King Bill]]<br>[[Mad Bullet Bill]]<br>[[Missile Meg]]<br> [[Seeker Bullet Bill]]<br>[[Sniper Bill]]<br>[[Tail Bullet Bill]]<br>[[Torpedo Ted]]<br>[[Woollet Bill]]

|relatives=[[Bill Blaster]]

|comparable=[[Bloomp]]<br>[[Cannonball]]<br>[[Digga]]

|notable=[[Big Bullet Bill]]

'''Bullet Bills''' are anthropomorphic, bullet-like projectiles with arms and common enemies in the [[Super Mario (franchise)|''Super Mario'' franchise]]. They are horizontally shot out of [[Bill Blaster]]s, coupled with a firing sound effect to indicate their presence, and fly in a straight line, going through walls. Some Bullet Bills additionally approach from off-screen without the presence of a Bill Blaster, though a firing sound effect is still heard. Bullet Bills are immune to fireballs; in most games, Bullet Bills can be defeated by jumping on them. Ever since ''[[Super Mario 64]]'', some Bullet Bills have the ability to home in on Mario as a missile, similarly to [[Bull's-Eye Bill]]s. In some series, mostly the [[Mario Kart (series)|''Mario Kart'' series]], Bullet Bills have been portrayed as items, either as projectiles themselves or are used to take advantage of their speed by either riding on them or transforming into one. While they have been primarily portrayed as obstacles, some games depict them as individual characters.

====''Super Mario Bros.'' / ''Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels''====

Bullet Bills first appear in [[World 5-1 (Super Mario Bros.)|World 5-1]] of ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' They are usually shot from a [[Bill Blaster|Turtle Cannon]], though are sometimes shot from off-screen, and fly in a straight line, through walls. To defeat a Bullet Bill, the player has to either jump on them or use a [[Super Star|Starman]]. A kicked [[Koopa Troopa]] or [[Buzzy Beetle]] shell can defeat Bullet Bills that come from off-screen but harmlessly goes through ones shot from the Turtle Cannons. They are immune to fireballs from [[Fire Mario|Fiery Mario]]. Since Bullet Bills do not stop moving while they are still onscreen until they are defeated, if Mario reaches the flagpole while a Bullet Bill is still onscreen and then touches it, the Bullet Bill immediately disappears (this would later inspire how in later games, certain enemies near the end of a level immediately disappear and turn into coins if the level is successfully completed while they are still onscreen). Stomping on a Bullet Bill is always worth 200 points as the "point combo" rule for stomping from one Goomba, Koopa Troopa, or Buzzy Beetle onto another does not apply to Bullet Bills.

In ''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels]]'', Bullet Bills behave exactly the same but the Turtle Cannons are more strategically-placed than in its predecessor. In ''[[Super Mario All-Stars]]'', a [[fake Bowser]] is a Bullet Bill in disguise in [[World C-4]]. Since Bullet Bills share the same color palette as Goombas, they appear gray in World 6-3 of ''Super Mario Bros.'' and blue in World A-2 from ''Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels''. Turtle Cannons appear in [[World 9-1 (Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels)|World 9-1]]; although they do not fire any Bullet Bills, they would theoretically be black with gray details, due to them sharing their palette with [[Blooper]]s.

''[[Super Mario World]]'' introduces Bullet Bills that are fired diagonally from four corners and vertically shot Bullet Bills. Their appearance is near-identical to that of the previous games. Bullet Bills are first encountered in [[Vanilla Dome 4]] where they are fired off-screen. In [[Cheese Bridge Area]], they are encountered in a zone led from a Warp Pipe. Bullet Bills emitted from Turtle Cannons are first encountered in [[Sunken Ghost Ship]], in addition to the only underwater level that features Bullet Bills. In the [[Special Zone]], [[Outrageous]] prominently features many Turtle Cannons that emit Bullet Bills. ''Super Mario World'' also features the debuts of derived Bullet Bill species such as [[Torpedo Ted]], which are Bullet Bills that are launched from [[torpedo tube]]s underwater. The larger [[Banzai Bill]]s also appear for the first time and appear before regular Bullet Bills. Additionally, when the [[Special Zone]] is completed, horizontal-moving Bullet Bills turn into '''Pidgit Bills''', which function identically but look like flying [[Pidgit]]s. In ''[[Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2]]'', vertically and diagonally-fired Bullet Bills are also changed to this design, and they flap their wings rather than maintain a static image like ordinary Bullet Bills.

|[[File:Bullet Bill SM64.png|160px]][[File:SM64DS Bullet Bill WF.png|160px]]|A Bullet Bill, as it appears in ''Super Mario 64'' (left) and ''Super Mario 64 DS'' (right).|size=320

In their first 3D appearance, Bullet Bills are found in only one location in ''[[Super Mario 64]]'': in the level [[Whomp's Fortress]]. Their appearance is similar to that of a Banzai Bill. After Mario defeats the [[Whomp King]], a Blaster appears at the top of the fortress. The Bullet Bills shot out home in on Mario and spin backwards upon contact with him; however, they explode after hitting a wall or reaching their maximum distance. Bullet Bills cannot be defeated in this game, and if Mario gets hit by one, he loses three wedges of [[Health Meter|health]].

This is the first platforming ''Super Mario'' game where Bullet Bills cannot be jumped on.

For ''[[Super Mario Sunshine]]'', the appearance of Bullet Bills is greatly altered. One of the major changes includes the fact that the Bullet Bills in this game are smiling in a manner akin to [[Torpedo Ted]]s, as opposed to the ones from ''Super Mario 64'', which have a shark-like row of teeth like [[Banzai Bill]]s. In addition, the Bullet Bills in this game have an overall more robotic appearance, including a metallic exterior and google-eyes. They constantly make a quick radar beeping as they fly. Bullet Bills appear with different colors and behaviors at various points in the game, coming in black, purple, [[Gold Bullet Bill|gold]], and blue. Most types of Bullet Bills release two [[coin]]s when squirted by [[F.L.U.D.D.|FLUDD]], except Golden Bullet Bills, which instead release eight coins.

 

 

Later in the same course, black, purple, and golden Bullet Bills appear fired by [[Monty Mole]] in [[The Beach Cannon's Secret]]. All of them travel in a long, downward arc, exploding when they hit the ground, with black and gold only differing in rarity and coin reward. '''Purple Bullet Bills''',<ref>Hodgson, David S J, Bryan Stratton, and Stephen Stratton. ''Super Mario Sunshine'' Prima's Official Strategy Guide. Page 19.</ref> which have blinking red nosecones, follow Mario on a horizontal plane if they approach him, similar to the Bullet Bills in ''[[Super Mario 64]]'', though with a tight-but-lengthy u-turn if they miss comparable to the [[Bull's-Eye Bill|Missile Bill]]s in ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]''. They are used for breaking open the baskets that hold [[Blue Coin]]s found across the beach. In the game's demo reel, viewable by waiting on the "press start" screen, both black and purple Bullet Bills are shown with blinking red noses as well as solid red eyes with white pupils, suggesting the design was changed slightly very late in development.

 

In the first episode of [[Noki Bay]], [[Uncork the Waterfall]], a single inactive black Bullet Bill makes a small cameo laying dormant in the platform connecting the cannon to the giant cork.

At the end off the game during the fight against [[Bowser]] and [[Bowser Jr.]], the latter shoots Bullet Bills that are also known as '''special Purple Bullet Bills'''<ref>Hodgson, David S J, Bryan Stratton, and Stephen Stratton. ''Super Mario Sunshine'' Prima's Official Strategy Guide. Page 19.</ref> or '''Guided Bullet Bills''',<ref>Bogenn, Tim, and Doug Walsh. ''Super Mario Sunshine'' BradyGames Official Strategy Guide. Page 133.</ref> which come in black and blue, the former having a blinking nosecone (aside than the first one launched) and the latter being solid-colored. These ones follow Mario more persistently when they get a lock on him, though due to the amount that are launched at once as the fight goes on, each has a fairly short and narrow line-of-sight, and they can also change their altitude to get on his level. These can be defeated by jumping on them, with the blue ones giving a [[1-Up Mushroom]] or [[Water Bottle]] if beaten this way. They are also immediately destroyed by Bowser's [[Fire Breath]].

[[File:6-1 NSMB.png|200px|thumb|[[Luigi]] defeating Bullet Bills in World 6-1 of ''New Super Mario Bros.'']]

[[File:SMG Megaleg Head Bullet Bills.png|thumb|A Bullet Bill chases Mario in ''Super Mario Galaxy'']]

[[File:NSMBW Bullet Bills Screenshot.png|thumb|200px|Bullet Bills in World 7-4 of ''New Super Mario Bros. Wii'']]

Bullet Bills reappear as enemies in ''[[Super Mario 3D Land]]''. Similar to 2D ''Super Mario'' games, [[stomp]]ing on one or hitting one with a [[boomerang]] defeats it instantly, making this the first 3D ''Super Mario'' game in which this is possible. After [[Tanooki Mario]] tail whips a Bullet Bill, it changes its angle after a spin and keeps flying. Some Bullet Bills have [[Raccoon Mario|striped tail]]s and are called [[Tail Bullet Bill]]s. Like in the other 2D games, Bullet Bills are impervious to fireballs and only go in one direction.

[[File:BulletBillSM3DW.jpg|thumb|Bullet Bills from ''Super Mario 3D World'']]

Bullet Bills return in ''[[Super Mario 3D World]]'' and its [[Nintendo Switch]] port ''[[Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury]]''. Similar to the Tail Bullet Bills in ''Super Mario 3D Land'', a [[Cat Bullet Bill]] based on the [[Cat Mario]] transformation also appear. They feature black and white cat ears and a tail, as well as being colored black on top and white on the bottom. These Bullet Bills chase after Mario, similar to a Missile Bill.

[[File:Img mashiko 02.gif|thumb|left|[[Mary O.]] hammering a loose nail on a [[Bill Blaster]]]]

[[File:CartoonBill.jpg|thumb|Three Bullet Bills from ''The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!'' episode "[[Robo Koopa (episode)|Robo Koopa]]"]]

In ''[[The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3]]'', Bullet Bills make two small appearances in the episodes "[[Reptiles in the Rose Garden]]" and "[[Mush-Rumors]]," where they are fired from the [[Bowser's Airship|Doom Ship]]. In the latter they are fired alongside other munitions during the Koopa family's attack on a group of "aliens," who are actually a human family made up of [[Norman]], [[Bud and Missy's mother|his wife]], and their children [[Missy]] and [[Bud]].

In the [[Mario Kart (series)|''Mario Kart'' series]], Bullet Bills<ref>「VSマッチ専用の敵キャラ、キラー。ヤツが勝敗を決めることも。」Nintendo Official Guidebook of ''Super Mario Kart''. {{media link|SMK NOG Killer.png|Page 126}}.</ref> appear as both obstacles and items.

 

Bullet Bills also appear as an item that can be received by players in 6th place or lower. Upon activating, the player's entire kart transforms into a Bullet Bill, which rockets down the track on auto-pilot at very high speeds (although the player still has a very small degree of steering control). The Bullet Bill is invincible, which allows the player to knock over any course obstacles and other drivers in the way, similar to the [[Chain Chomp]] from ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]''; players damaged by a collision with the Bullet Bill also lose any item in their possession. Players under the effects of a [[Super Star|Star]] or a [[Boo]] are not be damaged if a Bullet Bill runs into them, although the former does get nudged out of the way. The duration of the Bullet Bill depends on the player's current position, with it lasting longer if the player is near or at last place, and it lasting only a few seconds if the player is leading the race. Upon expiring, the player reverts to their normal kart. The main downside of the Bullet Bill is that it can sometimes expire at the wrong moment, such as before a sharp bend, or while the auto-pilot is steering the player on the edge of the track, which can result in the player falling off the course right after reverting to their normal kart. In addition, the player cannot receive any items while they are transformed into a Bullet Bill.

Bullet Bills reappear as an item in ''[[Mario Kart Wii]]''. They can only be received by players in 8th place or lower in this game. The best chance of getting this item is in 12th place, with a 25 percent (10 out of 40) chance of getting it in said position. They behave the same way as they do in ''Mario Kart DS''. Players under the effects of a [[Mega Mushroom]] can be knocked back by this item. It is one of six items wherein only one can be in play at a time (the other five being the [[Thunder Cloud]], [[Spiny Shell (blue)|Spiny Shell]], [[Blooper]], [[POW Block]], and [[Lightning]]). Once a Bullet Bill is used, another Bullet Bill cannot be obtained until the current one is exhausted.

Bullet Bills reappear as an item in ''[[Mario Kart 7]]'', behaving similarly to the way they do in ''Mario Kart Wii''. In addition, the Bullet Bill now slows down when it is about to expire, thus reducing the likelihood of players falling off the course if it expires at an awkward location on the track. The warning sound from ''Mario Kart Wii'' can be heard when a Bullet Bill appears on the Touch Screen. Like ''Mario Kart DS'', Bullet Bills in this game can only be received by players in 6th place or lower.

 

Bullet Bills make a cameo appearance in ''[[Mario Kart Arcade GP DX]]'', where in one of the courses they fly overhead as the player approaches the finish line. However, they do not affect gameplay.

Bullet Bills reappear as an item in ''[[Mario Kart 8]]'' and [[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe|its port]]. In these games, Bullet Bill's eyes glow in the dark, as seen in courses without light, such as [[Twisted Mansion]]. Additionally, in ''Mario Kart 8'' (as well as early versions of ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''), it is impossible to use the rear-view mirror while using a Bullet Bill; however, as of version 2.3.0 of ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe'', this is no longer the case.

The following gliders increase the chance of getting Bullet Bills and points for hitting racers under the effects of one.

In the 1993 ''[[Super Mario Bros. (film)|Super Mario Bros.]]'' film, miniature, non-explosive Bullet Bills appear as the fuel cartridges of the [[Thwomp Stomper]]s used by [[Mario (film character)|Mario]], [[Luigi (film character)|Luigi]] and [[Big Bertha (film character)|Big Bertha]]. A neon sign advertising a bar called "Bullet Bill's" can also be seen prominently displayed in the [[Koopa Square]] in [[Dinohattan]] throughout the film. [[Princess Daisy (film character)|Daisy]] can be seen wearing various Bullet Bills in the film's ending when she interrupts Mario, Luigi and [[Daniella]]'s meal.

 

 

Bullet Bills are enemies in a few levels of ''[[Yoshi's Safari]]''. They come at [[Mario]] head on and are shot down with one hit from the [[Super Scope]]. The Turtle Cannons are not visible, the bill's come from somewhere off screen. In this game the Bills come at the player head on, a perspective rarely seen of them.

===''Yoshi's Island'' series===

Bullet Bills appear as enemies in ''[[Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island]]'', where they are colored green instead of black, and feature facial expressions as well. This game also introduces [[Bouncing Bullet Bill]]s, which bounce and ricochet off walls after being fired. The [[Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3|Game Boy Advance version]] also adds [[Bull's-Eye Bill|Missile Bill]]s that home in on Yoshi while biting upon being shot out of their cannons. Any of the Bullet Bills in this game can be defeated by the way most enemies can be defeated. If Yoshi catches a Bullet Bill with his tongue, it can be spit out and flies away from Yoshi like it has been shot out of a cannon, or Yoshi can eat one to produce an egg.

During ''Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island''{{'}}s development, the Bullet Bill was colored its usual black and was intended to bite as it moved.<ref>TCRF. [[tcrf:Development:Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island/Sprites#killer.CGX|Development:Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island/Sprites#killer.CGX]]. ''The Cutting Room Floor''. Retrieved November 12, 2021.</ref>

Bullet Bills return in the sequel, ''[[Yoshi's Island DS]]'', where they were changed to black to be consistent with their appearance in ''Super Mario'' games. Bullet Bills also return in ''[[Yoshi's New Island]]'', performing the same actions as in previous ''Yoshi's Island'' games and retaining their design from games in the ''Super Mario'' series, like with ''Yoshi's Island DS''.

===''Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars''===

[[File:SMRPG BulletBill.jpg|thumb|100px|left|A Bullet Bill as it appears in ''Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars'']]

In ''[[Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars]]'', [[Apprentice (Snifit)|Apprentice]]s, [[Snifster]]s, [[Bill Blaster|Blaster]]s, and [[Big Blaster]]s use Bullet Bills as a way to attack. Usually, touching one in the overworld prompts a battle with Blasters or Big Blasters, though a room in the [[Sunken Ship]] has them shot by normal [[cannon]]s and simply push Mario to a lower floor. This game also introduces [[Blazer]]s, an alternate variety of Bullet Bills, which are used by Blasters and Big Blasters to defeat a party member in one hit and cannot be blocked. [[Smithy]] uses a similar variety called [[Magnum]]s.

In [[Super Mario RPG (Nintendo Switch)|the remake]], Bullet Bills retain their original design, having arms and a mouth.

===''Yoshi's Story''===

[[File:Yoshis Story Bullet Bill.png|thumb|120px|A Bullet Bill in ''Yoshi's Story'']]

[[File:BulletBillYS.gif|frame|left]]

In ''[[Yoshi's Story]]'', Bullet Bills follow the same pattern as in other games. However, this game introduces tongues for the mechanical irritants. The Blasters of this game are slightly different in appearance and the Bullet Bills are golden in color.

===''Game & Watch Gallery'' series===

{{multiframe|[[File:BulletBill-GWGallery3DKJr.png]] [[File:BulletBill-GWGallery4DKJr.png]]|size=200|align=left|A Bullet Bill in the Donkey Kong Jr. remakes in ''Game & Watch Gallery 3'' (left image) and ''Game & Watch Gallery 4'' (right image)}}

In ''[[Game & Watch Gallery 3]]'' and ''[[Game & Watch Gallery 4]]'', Bullet Bills make an appearance in the Modern mode of ''[[Donkey Kong Jr. (Game & Watch)|Donkey Kong Jr.]]'' Their role is the same in both games, as they attempt to stop [[Donkey Kong Jr.]] as he attempts to free his father. Additionally, in ''Game & Watch Gallery 4'', Bullet Bills appear in the Modern version of ''[[Fire Attack]]'', where they attempt to destroy a statue belonging to [[Wario]].

===''Super Smash Bros.'' series===

[[File:SSB Bullet Bill model.png|thumb|64px|In ''Super Smash Bros.'']]

Bullet Bills first appear in ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'', where one of [[smashwiki:Master Hand|Master Hand]]'s attacks is to fire pairs of Bullet Bills from his fingers, though later games replace them with regular bullets. The Bullet Bills shot by Master Hand are gold and resemble their design in the early ''Yoshi'' platformers.

''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'' is the only ''Super Smash Bros.'' game where Bullet Bills do not appear. However, the [[Trophy (Super Smash Bros. series)|trophy]] of the Banzai Bill enemy from [[Princess Peach's Castle (Super Smash Bros. Melee)|Princess Peach's Castle]] erroneously identifies it as "Bullet Bill" when the language is set to English. This was fixed in later NTSC revisions and the PAL version to match the Japanese text.

[[File:Bullet Bill SSB4 3DS.jpg|thumb|left|The Bullet Bill enemy in ''Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS'']]

Bullet Bills have appeared in a few of the series' single-player campaigns. In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'', Bullet Bills are enemies in [[smashwiki:Adventure Mode: The Subspace Emissary|The Subspace Emissary]], where they are affiliated with Bowser's forces and the [[smashwiki:Subspace Army|Subspace Army]]. Here, Bullet Bills launch straight from right to left, like with most of their appearances in the ''Super Mario'' franchise, although they appear larger than in most of their other appearances and cannot be stomped on. Bullet Bills do sometimes home in on the character, similarly to [[Bull's-Eye Bill]]s, and can be temporarily deflected. In a cutscene, silver Bullet Bills are seen pursuing [[Diddy Kong]] and [[Donkey Kong]], but explode after being defeated by the [[Kong]]s' attacks. In ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS]]'', Bullet Bills are an enemy in the [[smashwiki:Smash Run|Smash Run]] mode, where they slowly fly toward the player to try and hit them and inflict damage.

[[File:SSB4 WiiU BulletBill Item.jpg|thumb|The Bullet Bill item in ''Super Smash Bros. for Wii U'']]

In ''Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS'' / ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U|Wii U]]'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'', Bullet Bills are also featured as an item. When a player picks up a Bullet Bill, they attack by ramming into opponents at full speed. Players explode if they hit a solid wall, including ceilings and floors, and the resulting explosion deals even further damage to players and has a blast radius.

In ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'', in addition to returning as items, a Bullet Bill also appears as one of the drawings drawn by [[smashwiki:Nikki|Nikki]]. After it is fully drawn, it launches off, damaging any opponent in its path. A Bullet Bill also appears in the game as a Novice-class Attack-type primary [[Spirit (Super Smash Bros. Ultimate)|spirit]]. Once it reaches level 99, it can be enhanced to a [[Banzai Bill]]. In [[smashwiki:Adventure Mode: World of Light|World of Light]], the spirit is encountered on the [[smashwiki:Light Realm|Light Realm]] map; the puppet fighters are four small [[Captain Falcon]]s fought on the [[Mushroom Kingdom (Super Smash Bros.)|Mushroom Kingdom]] stage, with Bullet Bill items spawning throughout the battle.

In ''[[Mario Party 2]]'', Bullet Bills appear in the minigame [[Bombs Away (minigame)|Bombs Away]] where a Bowser ship fires them. Here, unlike cannonballs, they always land on the island, forcing the player to time their jumps right to avoid being stunned by the explosion.

 

In ''[[Mario Party 3]]'', Bullet Bills are featured in the minigame [[Crazy Cogs]]. The solo player must rotate the cog the three players are standing on so they hit the three players as they continuously bombard the cog. They also make a cameo in [[Pump, Pump and Away]]. The minigame [[Ridiculous Relay]] also features Bullet Bills as obstacles alongside [[Paragaloomba]]s, and also features a Bullet Bill-like boat. [[Aces High]] has the players riding gliders with Bullet Bills attached to the underside, with them also being usable to attack the other players.

[[File:MPAmushstadium.png|frame]]

{{quote2|Hey, stay outta my way! I'm trainin'! Don't you know who I am? I'm Bullet Bill!|Bullet Bill|[[Mario Party Advance]]}}

A Bullet Bill appears in ''[[Mario Party Advance]]'' as a track and field athlete at the [[Mushroom Stadium]]. The Bullet Bill's quest involves challenging him to a race. He is also a huge fan of the [[Kamek Krew]], owning all of their albums and even letting them perform at his stadium.

 

When he is first met in Mushroom Stadium, the player challenges him to a race for a [[Gaddget]], and once beaten he will hand over the [[Mini Soccer]] Gaddget. Sometime after, the Kamek Krew asks the player to find a stadium where they can perform; the player can ask Bullet Bill if he'll rent out his stadium. At first he is hesitant, but once the player mentions that the Kamek Krew made the request, he eagerly obliges and mentions that they can perform in his stadium free of charge. He then goes off to make the preparations, but not before telling the player to tell the Kamek Krew he said "howdy". By the end of the game, it is mentioned that he finished second in the world sprint trials.

[[File:MP8 Red Bullet Bill.png|thumb|left|Bullet Bills in the ''Mario Party 8'' minigame, Superstar Showdown]]

[[File:MP9 4-Player Billistics.png|thumb|Bullet Bills are the focus of the ''Mario Party 9'' minigame, Billistics]]

Bullet Bills appear in a few minigames in ''[[Mario Party: Island Tour]]''. They also appear as items in the [[Perilous Palace Path]] board where they are known as [[Backwards Bill]]s. When used it knocks a selected player back five spaces.

===''Paper Mario'' series===

====''Paper Mario''====

Normal Bullet Bills reappear in ''[[Paper Mario]]'' in the [[Koopa Bros. Fortress]], being shot out by Bill Blasters shortly before the [[Koopa Bros.]] are fought. They attack by ramming into Mario, destroying themselves in the process. If a Bullet Bill bumps into Mario on the overworld, it makes the [[First Strike]] on him.

 

Gold Bullet Bills known as [[Bombshell Bill]]s are also introduced in ''Paper Mario'' and are shot from [[B. Bill Blaster]]s. They are found in [[Bowser's Castle]]. These attack the same way as regular Bullet Bills, but they have more HP, do more damage, and have 1 defense.

 

[[file:PMTTYD Bullet Bill Sprite.png|thumb|40px]]

In ''[[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door]]'', Bullet Bills appear as enemies in the [[Pirate's Grotto]], where they are once again shot by [[Bill Blaster]]s. Bombshell Bills and their Blasters also appear in the [[Palace of Shadow]]. Bullet Bills home in on Mario to damage him, destroying themselves by doing so. Because of this, they also die if they miss or are [[Superguard]]ed.

 

Bullet Bills only appear once in [[The Bitlands]] at [[Bowser]]'s castle in ''[[Super Paper Mario]]''. There are two Bill Blasters mounted on each of the fortresses that continuously shoot them—however, if the player returns to the chapter after completing it, there is only one; the other is mounted on the fortress that gets destroyed. A simple stomp destroys them. The player can also use [[Thoreau]] to pick up the Bullet Bill and throw it at the Bill Blaster.

====''Paper Mario: Sticker Star''====

Like with the previous game, Bullet Bills only appear in one level, [[Bowser Jr.'s Flotilla]], in World 6 in ''[[Paper Mario: Sticker Star]]''. In this level, there are two Bill Blasters mounted at the platforms on the airship's exterior. However, unlike previous iterations, they cannot be battled; instead, they fly at Mario and damage him upon contact. They can be defeated by hammering them or jumping on them. Touching a Bullet Bill causes Mario to lose 2 [[Heart Point|HP]]. They were originally able to be battled, as evidenced by the text dump.<ref>[https://tcrf.net/Paper_Mario:_Sticker_Star#Enemies Paper Mario: Sticker Star § Enemies]. ''The Cutting Room Floor''. Retrieved November 12, 2018.</ref>

====''Paper Mario: Color Splash''====

While regular Bullet Bills from previous ''Paper Mario'' games do not appear in ''[[Paper Mario: Color Splash]]'', they appear in their sprite forms in an underground area based on ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]'', in the [[Green Energy Plant]] level. They are blasted from a Bill Blaster and drop multi-colored paint when stomped on.

====''Paper Mario: The Origami King''====

Bullet Bills do not appear as enemies in ''[[Paper Mario: The Origami King]]'', though they make brief appearances. They can be seen in the background of the [[Buzzy Beetle]] statue room in [[Bowser's Castle]], and are fired from [[Bowser]]'s airship at the [[Paper Plane Squadron]] before [[Mario]] fights them. One Bullet Bill appears as a Collectible Treasure, which can be found inside one of the [[? Block]]s at the south-western corner of the room with [[Boomerang Bro]]s. in [[Origami Castle]].

Bullet Bills appear in ''[[Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour]]'' being shot out of Bill Blasters resembling the Monty Mole's cannons from ''Super Mario Sunshine'' atop towers. They land into the water but are purely for aesthetic purposes. In ''[[Mario Golf: World Tour]]'', Bullet Bills can be used as item shots; they increase the player's maximum driving distance and also cause the ball to travel in a straight line, ignoring wind and player stats. In ''[[Mario Golf: Super Rush]]'', Bowser Jr. rides a Bullet Bill for his [[Special Dash]] in a similar fashion to ''[[Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games]]''.

In ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga]]'' and ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions]]'', Bill Blasters in [[Stardust Fields]] fire Bullet Bills at Mario and Luigi to attack, which can be dodged or [[Counterattack|countered]] with a jump. [[Mecha-Blooper]]s, which are found in the [[Seabed]] and [[Gwarhar Lagoon]], also use Bullet Bills to attack. The game also features a new subspecies called the [[Sniper Bill]], a Bullet Bill that uses a [[Super Scope]] as a weapon which fires a smaller Bullet Bill. It is found in [[Bowser's Castle]]. In the original [[Game Boy Advance]] game, landing on the Sniper Bill after jumping causes no damage.

Bullet Bills make a few appearances in the [[Mario Tennis (series)|''Mario Tennis'' series]]. In ''[[Mario Power Tennis]]'', near the climax of the opening cinematic, Bowser launches a Bullet Bill from his balloon, only for Mario to knock it away with his tennis racket, which strikes Wario and Waluigi. One of the Special Games, [[Mecha-Bowser Mayhem]], features Bullet Bills are launched by [[Mecha-Bowser]]. In ''[[Mario Tennis Aces]]'', Bullet Bills appear in the adventure mode level [[Defeat Bowser's Minions!]], found at the Castle Gates. They are fired from two Bill Blasters when the player battles a [[Whomp]], and can be blocked by Mario's tennis racket to cause them to damage the Whomp. Getting hit by a Bullet Bill causes Mario to lose ten seconds on the timer.

===''Mario Baseball'' series===

[[File:Killer Ball.png|thumb|Bowser using a Bullet Bill in his Killer Ball move in ''Mario Superstar Baseball'']]

Bullet Bills appear in both games of the [[Mario Baseball (series)|''Mario Baseball'' series]]: ''[[Mario Superstar Baseball]]'' and ''[[Mario Super Sluggers]]''. In both games, Bowser uses the Bullet Bill for pitching in his [[Star Skill]], [[Killer Ball]], as well as for batting in ''Mario Superstar Baseball''. While pitching, a Bullet Bill is launched at the batter. It goes slow at first, but when it gets close to the batter, it flies in a loop, then zoom pass the batter, making it harder for them to hit.

Exclusively in ''Mario Superstar Baseball'', [[Bowser Jr.]] can use a Bullet Bill in his Star Skill, [[Killer Jr. Ball]]. Bowser Jr.'s Bullet Bill wears a bandana similar to his, unlike Bowser's. While batting, when Bowser or Bowser Jr. hit the ball, they launch a Bullet Bill across the field which, if caught, pushes the catcher far back. Upon hitting the ground, the Bullet Bill turns back into a regular ball. In the Challenge Mode, purchasing a Bullet Bill at the item shop allows Bowser to perform Killer Ball. In ''Mario Super Sluggers'', Bowser instead uses [[Breath Swing]] while batting, and Bowser Jr. instead uses [[graffiti]] in his two Star Skills, [[Graffiti Ball]] and [[Graffiti Swing]].

In ''Mario Super Sluggers''{{'}}s final cinematic, Wario and Waluigi sabotage a cannon that is being used for a Bob-omb Derby contest at Mario Stadium by inserting a Bullet Bill into the cannon, which launches prematurely and aims directly toward Mario. Bowser emerges out of nowhere and uses his own bat to hit the Bullet Bill, which takes Wario and Waluigi with it, sending the duo blasting off before setting off a chain reaction of fireworks.

Bullet Bills have appeared in various games of the [[Mario & Sonic (series)|''Mario & Sonic'' series]]. In the [[Nintendo DS]] version of ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Nintendo DS)|Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games]]'', Bullet Bills are enemies in [[Airship (minigame)|Airship]]. In the [[Wii]] version of ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Wii)|Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games]]'', Bullet Bills make their first appearance in an Olympic event, [[Dream Snowball Fight]], where they periodically appear in the area and knock down characters when they hit them, but can be turned around by hitting them with snowballs. In the Story Mode of the [[Nintendo 3DS]] version of ''[[Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games (Nintendo 3DS)|Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games]]'', Bowser Jr. uses a Bullet Bill to travel between areas, and there is an obtainable [[List of badges in Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games (Nintendo 3DS)|badge]] of a Bullet Bill from the badge machine. In ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games]]'', Bullet Bills are featured prominently in the [[Bullet Bill Sledge Race]] event, where each sled is pulled by a pair of harnessed Bullet Bills. In the Nintendo 3DS version of ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (Nintendo 3DS)|Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games]]'', Bullet Bills appear in [[Boxing Plus]], as an item that can deplete the opponent's Guard Gauge, as well as [[Rhythmic Gymnastics Plus]], where they occasionally fire from offscreen to show upcoming buttons for the player to input.

Though Bullet Bills do not appear in the Nintendo DS version of ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Nintendo DS)|Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games]]'', a [[Big Bullet Bill]] appears as a rival in [[Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Nintendo DS)#Adventure Tours story|Adventure Tours]] mode, where it is faced in [[Cubyrinth]]. Big Bullet Bill is also a rival in [[Skeleton (Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games for Wii)|Skeleton]] in Single Festival and [[Bobsleigh (Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games for Wii)|Bobsleigh]] in Team Festival.

{{br|left}}

===''The Super Mario Bros. Movie''===

 

===Unused appearances===

====''Yoshi''====

Hidden within the data of the [[Game Boy]] version of ''[[Yoshi (game)|Yoshi]]'' is an unused Bullet Bill that would have functioned similarly to the [[Goomba]]s, [[Blooper]]s, [[Boo]]s, and [[Piranha Plant]]s in both that game and the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] version.<ref>[https://tcrf.net/Yoshi_(Game_Boy) Yoshi (Game Boy) - The Cutting Room Floor)]. ''TCRF''. Retrieved October 20, 2021.</ref> It is fully functional, though it turns into garbage graphics when it settles on a plate.

[[File:KabulaBulletBill.png|frame|left]]

===''Skylanders: SuperChargers''===

===''Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle''===

Though Bullet Bills do not appear in ''[[Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle]]'', the Rocket [[List of weapons in Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle#Bullenator|Bullenator]] is modeled after one.

==General information==

===Physical appearance and traits===

Bullet Bills are black anthropomorphic {{wp|missile}}-like creatures. They have eyes with black pupils/irises and engines at their backsides, thus allowing them to travel in the air. In most games, they can be defeated by simply [[jump]]ing on them, though other games make them more resilient. Like other enemies, Bullet Bills have had varying appearances. In the earlier ''Super Mario'' games, Bullet Bills had a slightly brown hue, though this was due to color limitations. Bullet Bills were inspired by shark mouth {{wp|nose art}} on fighter planes<ref>[https://www.ndw.jp/mario-220913-2/ "Shigeru Miyamoto on the origin of the names of Mario and his friends"]. ''[[Nintendo DREAM]]''. February 2010 volume. Retrieved April 22, 2023.</ref> and older artwork shows them with both arms and mouths, which are depicted variously in early sprites and models. To date, they appear with both arms and a visible mouth in the Game & Watch ''Super Mario Bros.'', the DIC Entertainment cartoons, ''Super Mario Bros. Print World'', the PC release of ''Mario's Time Machine'', ''Yoshi's Safari'', ''Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars'', and ''Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga''. In ''Super Mario Kart'', ''Super Mario 64'', and ''Yoshi's Story'', they lack arms but have an open mouth with sharp teeth and an angry expression, resembling [[Banzai Bill]]s. In ''Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins'', ''Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island'', and ''Yoshi's Island DS'', Bullet Bills display a grin instead, as well as a green color scheme in the second of these. In ''Super Mario Sunshine'', they have a slimmer shape in the vein of [[Torpedo Ted]]s, in addition to having a smile, fuller eyes, and rocket-like fins in the back. In the ''Nintendo Comics System'' and ''Mario Party Advance'', Bullet Bills are shown to be sentient and possess the ability to speak.

In most games, Bullet Bills simply fly around without targeting a victim, usually being launched from [[Bill Blaster]]s. However, the ''Super Mario Galaxy'' games give Bullet Bills the ability to home in on their opponents, while their eyes turn red. In the ''Super Smash Bros.'' games, Bullet Bills can also home in on their opponents, though only a few of them do this. In some cases, they can spin while flying. In ''Super Mario Odyssey'', Bullet Bills appear as [[Capture|capturable]] enemies; this game reveals that, Bullet Bills can fly at three different speeds, and can self-destruct after a certain period of time. In the ''Paper Mario'' games, Bullet Bills use a kamikaze attack, thus resulting in explosions. In ''Puzzles and Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition'', Bullet Bills are associated with the Dark attribute, boast higher ATK, and attack on every turn. The ''Mario & Sonic'' games depict Bullet Bill (and more specifically, [[Big Bullet Bill]]), as a Speed rival. This is supported by the ''Mario Kart'' series, which makes Bullet Bill a high-speed item with automatic turning capabilities. A billboard advertisement in ''Mario Kart Wii''{{'}}s [[Moonview Highway]] course addresses Bullet Bill as the "King of Speed".

==List of appearances==

{|class="wikitable sortable"width=100%

|[[Nintendo Entertainment System]]

|[[VS. System]]

|Nintendo Entertainment System

|''[[All Night Nippon: Super Mario Bros.]]''

|[[Family Computer Disk System]]

|Nintendo Entertainment System

|Nintendo Entertainment System

|[[Game Boy]]

|Game Boy

|Nintendo Entertainment System

|[[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]]

|Super Nintendo Entertainment System

|Game Boy

|Super Nintendo Entertainment System

|Super Nintendo Entertainment System

|Super Nintendo Entertainment System

|Super Nintendo Entertainment System

|Super Nintendo Entertainment System

|[[Nintendo 64]]

|Nintendo 64

|Game Boy Color

|Nintendo 64

|Game Boy Color

|Nintendo 64

|Nintendo 64

|[[Game Boy Advance]]

|[[Nintendo GameCube]]

|Nintendo GameCube

|Game Boy Advance

|Game Boy Advance

|Nintendo GameCube

|Nintendo GameCube

|Game Boy Advance

|Game Boy Advance

|Game Boy Advance

|Nintendo GameCube

|Nintendo GameCube

|Nintendo GameCube

|[[Nintendo DS]]

|Nintendo DS

|Game Boy Advance

|Game Boy Advance

|Nintendo GameCube

|Nintendo DS

|Nintendo GameCube

|Nintendo DS

|Nintendo DS

|Nintendo DS

|Nintendo DS

|Nintendo 3DS

|[[Nintendo 3DS]]

|Nintendo 3DS

|Nintendo 3DS

|Nintendo 3DS

|Nintendo 3DS

|Nintendo 3DS

|Nintendo 3DS

|Nintendo 3DS

|Nintendo 3DS

|Nintendo 3DS

|Nintendo 3DS

|Nintendo 3DS

|Nintendo 3DS

|Nintendo 3DS

|[[Nintendo Switch]]

|Nintendo 3DS

|Nintendo Switch

|Nintendo 3DS

|[[Nintendo 3DS#New Nintendo 3DS/New Nintendo 3DS XL|New Nintendo 3DS]]

|''[[Minecraft|Minecraft: Bedrock Edition]]''

|Nintendo Switch

|Nintendo Switch

|Nintendo 3DS

|Nintendo Switch

|Nintendo Switch

|Nintendo 3DS

|Nintendo Switch

|Nintendo Switch

|Nintendo Switch

|Nintendo Switch

|Nintendo Switch

SMB Bullet Bill Dot Artwork.png|''[[Super Mario Bros.]]''

|ChiS=弹头杀手<ref>{{cite|author=无敌阿尔宙斯|date=August 28, 2013|url=tieba.baidu.com/p/2560204606|title=神游 超级马力欧世界 敌人官译|publisher=Baidu Tieba|language= zh-hans|accessdate=February 2, 2017|archive=web.archive.org/web/20170227153847/https://tieba.baidu.com/p/2560204606|deadlink=y}}</ref>

|ChiS2=炮弹刺客 <small>(international releases for games since ''Super Mario Party'')</small>

|ChiS2R=Pàodàn Cìkè

|ChiS2M=Bullet Assassin

|ChiS3=炮弹先锋<ref>{{cite|url=www.nintendoswitch.com.cn/new_super_mario_bros_u_deluxe/pc/mode/index.html|title=新 超级马力欧兄弟U 豪华版|publisher=Nintendoswitch.com.cn|accessdate=December 15, 2019}}</ref> <small>(China release for Nintendo Switch games)</small>

|ChiS3M=Bullet Vanguard

|ChiTR=Pàodàn Cìkè

|Dut=Bullet Bill

|FinM=Bullet + ''Lasse'', a Finnish given name

|Fre=Bill Balle

|Fre2=La balle menaçante<ref>{{cite|title=''Super Mario Bros.''/''Duck Hunt'' Canadian instruction booklet|page=32}}</ref><ref>{{cite|title=''[[Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia]]''|page=27}}</ref> <small>(''Super Mario Bros.'' and ''Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels'')</small>

|Fre2M=The menacing bullet

|Fre3=Balle menaçante<ref>{{cite|title=''Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia''|page=19}}</ref> <small>(''Super Mario Bros.'')</small>

|Fre3M=Menacing bullet

|Ger=Kugelwilli<br>Kugel-Willi

|Ger2=Raketen Willi<ref name=German>{{cite|title=Nintendo 64 ''Yoshi's Story'' Spieleberater|page={{media link|Yoshi's Story German Guide Enemies.png|19}}}}</ref>

|Ger2M=Rocket Willi

|Ita=Bullet Bill <small>(''Super Mario Bros.'' instruction booklet)</small>

|Ita2=Pallottolo Bill

|Ita2M=Bullet Bill; from ''pallottola'' ("bullet") in masculine form

|Ita3M=From ''pallottola'' ("bullet")

|Ita4=Pallottola Bill<ref>{{cite|title=[[List of New Super Mario Bros. Wii trading cards|''New Super Mario Bros. Wii'' - Album ufficiale]]|page=7}}</ref>

|Spa=Bill Bala

|SpaM=Bullet Bill

|Spa2=Koopa Misil <small>(DIC cartoons)</small>

|Spa2M=Missile Koopa

*In ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening]]'' development assets, a Bullet Bill sprite can be found around the game's cameos.<ref>TCRF. [[tcrf:Development:The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (Game Boy)/Early and Unused Graphics|Development:The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (Game Boy)/Early and Unused Graphics]]. ''The Cutting Room Floor''. Retrieved April 12, 2022.</ref>