Lava Bubble
- This article is about the recurring enemies in the Super Mario franchise. For the enemies from Super Mario Galaxy formerly known as "Lava Bubbles", see Li'l Cinder.
- Not to be confused with Lava Babble, Lava Blubble, Lava Ball, Lava Drop, or Fire Bubble.
| Lava Bubble | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Artwork from Super Mario Run | |||
| First appearance | Super Mario Bros. (1985) | ||
| Latest appearance | Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park (2026) | ||
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- “Fire EVERYWHERE!”
- —Sparky, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Lava Bubbles[1][2] (also called Podoboos,[3][4] fireballs,[5] flames,[6] or simply Bubbles)[7] are living fireballs that emerge from lava. They are commonly depicted as a large fireball with two black eyes or also as only a large fireball. Lava Bubbles appear mainly in the Super Mario series, where they can be destroyed using a Super Star or certain projectiles such as Ice Balls, and they have also appeared in Mario Party series, the Mario Kart series, and the Paper Mario series. They are one of the most recurring and oldest enemies in the franchise, having debuted in Super Mario Bros.
History[edit]
Super Mario series[edit]
Super Mario Bros.[edit]
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 he 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[edit]
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[edit]
Podoboos appear in Super Mario Bros. 3, functioning as they do in the original Super Mario Bros. In World 5-Fortress 2, there are some upside-down Podoboos which jump out of lava on the ceiling. In addition, Podoboos can be defeated with Statue Mario, Hammer Mario's hammer, or a Starman.
Super Mario World[edit]
Super Mario World marks the first time that they were referred to as "Lava Bubbles"[1], as well as the first time Lava Bubbles are depicted with eyes. They again appear in castle levels, though in addition to the standard Lava Bubbles that jump out of lava, diagonally-traveling Lava Bubbles can be found bouncing around the rooms of castles, not tied to pools of lava. 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, briefly displaying a glitched sprite.
Lava Bubbles also appear as support while fighting some of the Koopalings. Three standard Lava Bubbles are featured during the battle with Larry, and the diagonal Lava Bubbles can be found in the battles with Lemmy and Wendy; one while fighting Lemmy, and two while fighting Wendy.
Super Mario 64 / Super Mario 64 DS[edit]
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Podoboos appear for the first time in 3D in Super Mario 64 and its remake.[8] They are encountered primarily in Lethal Lava Land, which is a course named after them in Japanese, as well as featuring a stylized Podoboo in its painting. Podoboos in Super Mario 64 and its remake do not have the eyes that they have in Super Mario World, instead featuring a simplistic flame body. They jump out of the lava horizontally, and bounce on the bridges, before returning to the lava. They are indestructible, and if Mario touches one, it causes him to uncontrollably run and lose three wedges of health, like 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 Podoboos which immediately bounce across the stage. Both types disappear after a few seconds.
In the remake, Yoshi can eat a Podoboo, causing him to spit out fire, similar to his ability in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island.
New Super Mario Bros.[edit]
Podoboos are encountered in World 1-
Castle, World 4-Castle, World 6-
Tower, World 6-Castle, World 8-Castle, World 8-5, World 8-Tower, and World 8-
Bowser's Castle of New Super Mario Bros. Their behavior is derived from Super Mario Bros., while their appearance is from Super Mario 64 DS.
Super Mario Galaxy[edit]
Lava Bubbles[9][10] are enemies in Super Mario Galaxy and its Nintendo Switch port. They are small, and appear in a rare cyan color. Rather than hopping in and out from lava, they bounce along its surface and along the ground, following Mario or Luigi. 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". In the E3 2006 demo, they were colored the standard orange.[11]
New Super Mario Bros. Wii[edit]
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 appear in World 2-
Castle, World 5-Castle, World 6-Castle, World 8-6, and World 8-
Bowser's Castle, in addition to appearing in World 8 Enemy Courses.
There is an unused behavior of Yoshi being able to eat a Lava Bubble and then spitting it out as a large fireball, much like the fireball projectiles of Venus Fire Traps.[12]
Super Mario Galaxy 2[edit]
Lava Bubbles reappear in Super Mario Galaxy 2 and its Nintendo Switch port as obstacles in Bowser's Lava Lair, Bowser's Gravity Gauntlet, and Melty Monster Galaxy. Just as in previous installments, Lava Bubbles jump out of the lava trying to hit Mario or Luigi. Unlike their appearance in Super Mario Galaxy, Lava Bubbles are orange, but lack eyes. In Bowser's Gravity Gauntlet, there are Lava Bubbles that jump from one lava pit into another.
The blue Lava Bubbles from the first Super Mario Galaxy also return in this game, solely in the battle against King Kaliente in the Boss Blitz Galaxy.
Super Mario 3D Land[edit]
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[edit]
Lava Bubbles reappear in New Super Mario Bros. 2, again being found in castles and attacking in the same way. In addition, there is a variant that jumps out of lava in an arc.
New Super Mario Bros. U / New Super Luigi U / New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe[edit]
Lava Bubbles reappear in New Super Mario Bros. U, New Super Luigi U, and their Nintendo Switch enhanced port, behaving identically as in previous games of the Super Mario Bros. series. If they are tapped on the Wii U GamePad, they are boosted upwards. New Super Luigi U introduces Lava Bubbles that jump in an arc in the level Hot Cogs, which allows them to be transported to the end of the level by tapping them on the GamePad.[13]
Super Mario 3D World / Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury[edit]
Lava Bubbles reappear in Super Mario 3D World and its Nintendo Switch port, behaving identically as in Super Mario 3D Land. Blue variants also appear in levels with blue lava.
Super Mario Maker / Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS[edit]
Lava Bubbles are course elements in Super Mario Maker and Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS. They can be set to come out of Warp Pipes and ? Blocks, or be produced by Bill Blasters and Lakitus. Giving one wings will make it fly diagonally and bounce off of walls like the diagonal ones from Super Mario World, though they also now bounce off the surface of lava instead of sinking. Additionally, while under the effects of a Big Mushroom, Lava Bubbles gain eyes and mustaches, making it somewhat resemble a Lava Drop from the Yoshi games.
Super Mario Run[edit]
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[edit]
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. As usual, they leap out of lava at regular intervals, potentially moving through grates, then fall back in. In this game, they may shift positions in the lava between jumps. Cappy can be used to capture them, although Cappy is unable to move through lava and therefore cannot hit a Lava Bubble beneath the waves.
A Lava Bubble's 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 has the ability to travel through lava, including an immunity to other Lava Bubbles. However the Lava Bubble disappears if it lands on other surfaces. The Luncheon Kingdom's Stupendous Stew counts as lava. Mario can jump by pressing 
. and dash by pressing 
and 
. Shaking the controller does a faster twirling dash that involves a short hop. He can pass through grates as well. Touching enemies that are not Lava Bubbles defeats them. If Mario defeats a Magmato, it melts into a puddle of lava. This is used to create additional space on the ground that Lava Bubbles can swim in. The order of operations is such that jumping onto a Magmato as a Lava Bubble is safe. Mario as a Lava Bubble can jump into lava cannons, which shoot Mario to another area of the map. Jumping in large pots of Stupendous Stew causes them to heat up, releasing a Power Moon. Lava Bubbles can ignite lanterns on contact, though lanterns are not made of lava so the Lava Bubble will disappear. When released from a capture, Lava Bubbles do not get dazed, though they will merely jump up and down instead of resuming any more specific movement pattern.
Lava Bubbles also appear in an 8-bit sections in the game, reprising their abilities from Super Mario Bros. Aside from being in the Luncheon Kingdom, they also appear in the Cloud Kingdom.
The boss Cookatiel is fought while swimming in a giant pot of Stupendous Stew at the top of Mount Volbono in the Luncheon Kingdom. Getting there requires using a lava cannon as a Lava Bubble, and the Lava Bubble is used for the entire fight. Mario is not allowed to release the Lava Bubble during this encounter. The Cookatiel rematch in the Mushroom Kingdom takes place in the same pot, without the mountain underneath it, under the same rules. Mario also enters this fight in Lava Bubble form.
Super Mario Maker 2[edit]
Lava Bubbles return as course elements in Super Mario Maker 2. In addition to their functionality from the original Super Mario Maker, they appear in the new Super Mario 3D World style, where they will not leap if the player is wearing a Goomba Mask. In addition, they can now be attached to parachutes.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder[edit]
Lava Bubbles return in Super Mario Bros. Wonder, where they appear exclusively in the level Pull, Turn, Burn and jump in and out of both right-side-up and upside-down lava, much like Super Mario Bros. 3. They can also be seen in Deep Magma Bog's world map, and in the world's epilogue where they startle the player characters. In addition, the game introduces a variant of Lava Bubbles, known as Lava Blobbles.
Super Mario Bros.: Peach-hime Kyūshutsu Dai Sakusen![edit]
Podoboos make a brief appearance in Super Mario Bros.: Peach-hime Kyūshutsu Dai Sakusen!, when the Goombas pull a switch which sends Mario and Kibidango onto platforms that move up and down over lava; it is at this point where Podoboos began attacking them both, trying to knock the heroes into the lava below. Fortunately for Mario and Kibidango, Luigi accidentally breaks a hole in the ceiling while looking for coins; the room above is filled with water, so the hole that Luigi creates starts a flood in the area, presumably extinguishing the Podoboos.
Nintendo Adventure Books[edit]
Lava Bubbles appear in the Magma Pits in Koopa Capers, hopping in and out of a lava pool Luigi can try and cross using protruding rocks as stepping stones. If Luigi decides to wait before jumping, he will make it, but if he jumps immediately, he will only pass the first three Lava Bubbles, and collide with the fourth, who notably speaks, taunting Luigi by responding to his "I'm pretty hot stuff!" remark with "Not as hot as me."
The Legend of Zelda series[edit]
- Zelda Wiki article: Podoboo
Podoboos are one of several Super Mario enemies to appear in The Legend of Zelda series, specifically appearing in The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons, The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages, The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords, and Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer featuring The Legend of Zelda. In the first three, they appear in sidescrolling segments and act just like in the Super Mario games. In the Oracle games, a subspecies of the Lava Bubble, Podoboo Tower, exists in the subterranean world of Subrosia in Oracle of Seasons, and in the burning ruins of Symmetry City in Oracle of Ages. In Four Swords, where they are known as Bubbling Lava,[14] they hop after the players, splitting into two small, quickly ricocheting ones when attacked. In Cadence of Hyrule, they instead move around walls like Sparks.
Both The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening and The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords feature giant Podoboo-like bosses as well, with the former game having Hot Head and the latter having Gouen.
Yoshi series[edit]
Yoshi's Island series[edit]
Lava Bubbles appear in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island and its Game Boy Advance version. They share the same behavioral patterns as in Super Mario World. In this game, Lava Bubbles can be eaten by Yoshis, giving them the power of the red watermelon: the ability to spit fire. Sometimes, they jump in arcs sideways. If they land on solid ground while doing this, they will continue to bounce along it. In the Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 Player's Guide's Enemy Encyclopedia section, Lava Bubbles are listed under the "Mostosi Vomitonus" subheader.[15]
Lava Drops,[16][17] as they are named in Yoshi's Island DS, return in the sequel, behaving identically as before.
Yoshi's Story[edit]
Spark Spooks[18] reappear in Yoshi's Story. They behave as they do in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island but cannot be eaten. They appear in the levels Blargg's Boiler and Magma Castle. There is also another variant, Lava Ghosts.
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars[edit]
In Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars and its remake, Lava Bubbles (referred to as Sparkies in the original game) are encountered in the Mole Mines and the optionally-traversed Pipe Vault, harassing Mario and others by blocking their path. In battle, they are depicted as hovering in the air. There are two Lava Bubble variants, the Lava Blubble and Lava Babble, which can be found in Booster Tower and Barrel Volcano respectively.
In battle, a Lava Bubble attacks by spinning its body into one of Mario's party members. A Lava Bubble can also use the special attack Hot Shot, which allows the flame creature to shoot a small fire orb at a party member. Despite being made of fire, Lava Bubbles are vulnerable to jump attacks from Mario, but are unaffected by all fire attacks. Lava Bubbles typically fight in groups of one to three.
Mario Party series[edit]
Lava Bubbles appear in the Mario Party series, mostly in minigames. In most Mario Party games prior to Mario Party 8, Lava Bubbles are depicted as flames, causing them to resemble Fire Snakes, and are named Podoboos.
Mario Party[edit]
Podoboos are obstacles in the Hot Rope Jump minigame of Mario Party. The object for contestants is to jump over the flaming rope twenty times. If one fails to do so, they will lose fifteen coins—five of those coins will be given to each opposing player. If all players complete the minigame successfully, everyone will receive ten coins. If multiple players don't jump during the fire, 1 player loses at random.
Mario Party 2 / Mario Party Superstars[edit]
Podoboos are obstacles in a different iteration of the Hot Rope Jump minigame in Mario Party 2, also included in Mario Party Superstars. The minigame instead begins by jumping over slow, blue Podoboos five times, after which the Podoboos turn orange and move more swiftly. The rope will keep twirling until only one player remains.
Mario Party 3[edit]
Podoboos are obstacles in the minigames All Fired Up, Treadmill Grill, and Eye Sore, as well as targets in Hyper Hydrants in Mario Party 3. Podoboos have to be avoided in All Fired Up, with the winner being the final character remaining.
Mario Party 4[edit]
Podoboos are a board feature in Mario Party 4. They jump out of the lava in Bowser's Gnarly Party.
Mario Party 5 / Mario Party: The Top 100[edit]
Podoboos are obstacles in the Heat Stroke minigame in Mario Party 5, also included in Mario Party: The Top 100. They land on the platforms the three players were on. Podoboos are also items, in the form of a Bubble Capsule, which moves the player forward 10 spaces but removes every capsule in their inventory.
Mario Party 6[edit]
Podoboos are obstacles in the Daft Rafts minigame, though only at night, in Mario Party 6. Podoboos return as items, though this time their orb was renamed to Podoboo Orb.
Mario Party Advance[edit]
Podoboos are obstacles in the minigame, Go-go Pogo, in Mario Party Advance. Touching a Podoboo is one way for the player character to lose the minigame.
Mario Party 8[edit]
Lava Bubbles are obstacles in the Lava or Leave 'Em minigame and a board feature of Goomba's Booty Boardwalk in Mario Party 8. The Lava or Leave 'Em minigame has a Lava Bubble capable of splitting into several other Lava Bubbles. Three Lava Bubbles are summoned by Bowser on a Bowser Space of Goomba's Booty Boardwalk if a player character lands there. The character can jump over the Lava Bubbles to dodge them as they move towards the center. The Lava Bubbles only try to hurt the player three times, in a time frame of ten seconds, and take away ten coins with each successful attempt.
Mario Party 9[edit]
Lava Bubbles are a board feature and the basis of a Mini Star constellation in Mario Party 9. The Mini Star constellation, found in the Museum, is simply named Fireballs. Lava Bubbles only physically appear in Magma Mine, where they can jump off the magma.
Mario Party: Island Tour[edit]
Lava Bubbles are a non-interactable species in the Match Faker and Tap Dash minigames and a board feature in Mario Party: Island Tour. In both minigames, a Lava Bubble can appear as one of the guesses. Lava Bubbles appear jumping from the lava on the Bowser's Peculiar Peak board in particular.
Mario Party 10[edit]
Lava Bubbles are obstacles in Mario Party 10. They appear only in Chaos Castle, where contact with one costs the affected player Mini Stars in Mario Party only, while the number of spaces will be reduced to 0.
Mario Party: Star Rush[edit]
Lava Bubbles are items in Mario Party: Star Rush. They are exclusive to Coinathlon, where Lava Bubble stuns the targeted player for a few seconds and removes coins and Item Boxes when used.
Super Mario Party Jamboree[edit]
In Super Mario Party Jamboree, Lava Bubbles are seen jumping in and out of the lava on Goomba Lagoon.
Mario Golf series[edit]
Mario Golf (Nintendo 64)[edit]
The name "Podoboo" can sometimes appear on scorecards in the Nintendo 64 version of Mario Golf.
Mario Golf: Super Rush[edit]
Lava Bubbles are obstacles in Mario Golf: Super Rush. They appear in Bowser Highlands only, where hitting one with the ball attracts a one-stroke penalty.
Paper Mario series[edit]
Paper Mario[edit]
In Paper Mario, Lava Bubbles appear as common enemies in Mt. Lavalava. Because of their fiery bodies, they cannot be jumped on; Mario can only harm them with hammer-based attacks, unless he has a Fire Shield or Ice Power badge equipped. In this game, Lava Bubbles are weak to water and ice. Lava Bubbles can either jump on Mario or damage Mario's partner, causing the partner to become Injured unless the partner blocks the attack. This also takes up the Lava Bubble's turn. A stronger, blue-colored variety of Lava Bubble, called Embers, appear as enemies in Star Way.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door[edit]
In Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, they can be found in the Pirate's Grotto as well as in the Pit of 100 Trials. Mario has to attack them with his Hammer since they cannot be jumped on unless he is equipped with an Ice Power badge. In this game, they attack by getting close to either Mario or the partner, and burning them with their body, causing 4 damage. They can also spit fireballs that hit either Ma