Swoops, originally called Swoopers, are bats that first appeared in Super Mario World. Since then, Swoops have become recurring enemies, appearing in several other games, including main-stream and spin-off ones. They typically hang idly on the ceiling, waiting for the player's character to come near, at which point they fall and fly towards the player, hurting the heroes on contact. They have appeared in numerous colors across different games, but almost always have squinting eyes and round noses.
In Super Mario World, Swoopers hang from the ceilings of caves upside down, waiting for Mario or Luigi to approach. When they come near, the Swoopers fly down and try to damage Mario or Luigi. They can easily be defeated by with a stomp. They first appear in Donut Plains 2, though they are mainly found in Vanilla Dome.
This is the only game in which Swoopers are green. An unused variant exists that is the later blue color; it acts like the Boo Crew. However, the blue Swoopers have a glitchy animation, with one frame showing half of a square outline and half of a blue Spike Top.
Swoops (called as such for the first time) also appear in Super Mario 64 and its DS remake. Found only in Hazy Maze Cave, these Swoops are recolored from green with reddish-brown wings to entirely blue with a darker shade of blue on the top half of the wings. Like in Super Mario World, they hang still on the ceiling waiting for Mario to come, then fall off the ceiling and to attack. However, they now fly in horizontal loops above the ground. In the original, they had pointed mouse-like faces with large rhombus-shaped ears and a visible tooth, as well as no feet; the remake featured the modern design, based off of the artwork for Super Mario World and the sprites for Paper Mario and Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door.
In New Super Mario Bros., Swoops hang on the ceiling waiting to attack, like in previous games. One appears in World 2-3, whereas the other twelve appear in World 5-2. They are blue and have purple wings. Like many other elements between the two games, they use their model from Super Mario 64 DS.
Swoops attacking Fire Mario in New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Swoops appear in caves in New Super Mario Bros. Wii. They look just like their New Super Mario Bros. counterparts, and behave exactly the same. They appear in World 5-2, World 6-2 and World 6-6. In dark levels with lights, their eyes can be seen glowing when the Swoops are not in the light.
A trio of Swoopers appear in Dinosaur Dilemma, living in the upper floor of an abandoned mansion. Upon spotting Mario, they attack him by dropping Koopa Shells. Depending on which page the reader chooses to turn to, Mario either avoids the Swoops and hides until they grow bored and leave, or one of their shells connects and knocks him out for several hours, allowing Bowser to conquer Dinosaur Island.
Swoopers made their first appearance in the Paper Mario series in Paper Mario. They are found inside the Dry Dry Ruins, where they are either constantly flying or hanging on the ceiling. When they are hanging from the ceiling, Mario cannot reach them using a regular jump attack, and must instead use the Quake Hammer, Skolar's attack, an item, or one of his partners (such as Parakarry) to knock them off from the ceiling. They attack by simply swooping down and physically ramming their opponent. A stronger version of Swoopers exists, called Swoopulas.
Later on, in Chapter 4, Swoopers can be found in outside areas of Creepy Steeple. They attack like they did in Paper Mario. Additionally, Swoopulas return, and the Swampires also debut, which are even stronger than a Swoopula.
Swoopers also re-appeared in Super Paper Mario. They are only found in Chapter 2 (Gloam Valley and Merlee's Mansion). Swoopers can be found in Gloam Valley in a secret area via using the Flip and falling into a 3D-accessible hole near the Star Block. Their Catch Card can be found here, along with the Shlurps' Catch Card. Swoopers are also found in the line-of-coins trap in Merlee's Mansion as well as a room in Merlee's basement. They always appear in groups of two, making up a total of six that appear in the game.
Swoops re-appear in Paper Mario: Sticker Star, for the Nintendo 3DS. They appear in the first section of Drybake Desert, inside the Yoshi Sphinx, and during Sandshifter Ruins. Despite how many enemies were redesigned in this game to look like their mainstream appearances, Swoops were kept purple for unknown reasons. In battle, they are always in mid-air and never hang from the ceiling. They are uncommon, with only four of them appearing on the overworld. They attack by swooping down at Mario. Swoops can also make an appearance in the final battle, where they are among the enemies that can be summoned by Bowser in the first phase. Swoops also assist Paragoombas, Paratroopas, and Spikes.
Swoops return in Paper Mario: Color Splash, keeping their appearance and attack from the previous game, though their sprites lack the color gradients and the shading, the latter now being rather applied at the 3D models. In Indigo Underground, a member of the green Rescue Squad is being attacked by Swoops, and Mario saves him. Swoops are also in the caves of Vortex Island. They can also assist the Big Spiny in Kiwano Temple in battle.
Swoops appear first in Mario Kart DS, in the track Banshee Boardwalk, a retro course that first appeared in Mario Kart 64. Swoops, appearing in place of the original course's bats, fly in large flocks in the opposite direction of the racers. Though they are not a real hazard, Swoops can get in the way of any incoming karts, slowing them down. Unlike the bats in the original, Swoops appear in the course's time trial mode.
Swoops also appear in Mario Kart Wii and act in the same way as in Mario Kart DS. They only appear in the courses Wario's Gold Mine and Dry Dry Ruins. Additionally, players can wipe out these bats by using certain items such as Shells, or under the power of a Star.
Swoops reappear in Mario Kart 7 in the course Rock Rock Mountain. They behave the same way as in previous titles slowing down racers. There is also a glider that looks like a Swoop.
Swoops make their first appearance in the Mario Party series as a cameo in Mario Party 8: they appear on the wrapper of the Vampire Candy. The Swoops appearing on the wrapper are blue, making them look like the Super Mario 64 and Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2 versions of Swoops.
Swoops appear again in Mario Party 10 in Haunted Trail, where if someone lands on an Unlucky Space, Swoops come in and takes five Mini Stars. They also appear in multiple minigames. They appear in the minigame Pipe Sniper and grant five points if hit.
Swoops appear once more in Super Mario Party in the minigame Fireplace Race. They must be avoided while players are lighting candles, and will take them back to the fireplace if they catch them. One also makes an appearance in Absent Minded.
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey[edit]
Although they are absent from the original game, Swoops appear in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey in the Bowser Jr.'s Journey mode as enemies and allies, thus marking the first appearance of regular Swoops in the Mario & Luigi series. They are flying troopers, and attack by charging into enemies. They are strong against Shroobs and Fawfulcopters. Their special skill is Discord which can lower enemy DEF.
Swoops debut in the Dr. Mario series as assistants in Dr. Mario World. Their stage mode skill is increasing the player's score by a percentage of the base score for up to 10% at the maximum level (rounded down), which is only increased after the stages is cleared. In versus mode, they have a chance of eliminating all capsules if an object reaches the 3rd from bottom line.
This is a Swooper, a ghost bat. Swoopers got their name because they swoop down out of the shadows. Max HP: 4, Attack Power: 2, Defense Power: 0 Even Jump attacks can't reach 'em when they're hanging on the ceiling, but earth tremors will knock 'em loose. Parakarry can also knock 'em loose with one of his moves. You can attack 'em however you choose once they're hovering in the air.
A roosting creature that will hang from the ceiling until damaged.
Tattle
That's a Swooper. I bet they call it that 'cause of the way it swoops around. Wow! That's some AWESOME naming work. Seriously! It's pure naming genius!!! So, anyway… Max HP is 6, Attack is 3, and Defense is 0. Says here it hangs from the ceiling. If you can just damage it, it oughta drop off the ceiling. And then you can whack it!
Card Shop; Catch Card/SP; Chapter 2-1: Found in an underground area under the Star Block via a 3D-accessible hole.
Card Description
Swoopers aren't so bad, they're just lonely. Strangely, they greet visitors by snacking on their heads. ...This could explain why they have no friends.
That beast is a Swooper. It likes to dangle from the ceiling in dark, dank places... Max HP is 3 and Attack is 1. Watch your head; it will swoop down on you... It will swoop back up after it swoops down, so jump on it when you can...
While flying low:"Swoop?" ~ "Swoop!" ~ "Swoooop..." ~ "Woops!"While flying high:"Try the hammer—I dare ya!" ~ "Nyah, nyah, you can't fly!" ~ "The higher I fly, the safer I am..." ~ "Fly hiiiiigh..."
Notebook bio:"This foe will swoop down from above. Stomping it can send you flying waaay up high!"
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey[edit]
Bowser Jr.'s Journey profile:They charge straight at enemies, even in the dark. The sound of their wings can weaken mechanical enemies, as well as certain other types.
Stage mode (Prior to version 2.3.0): "Increases score by 1%/2%/3%/4%/5%."
Versus mode: " If an object has reached the 3rd row from the bottom line, grants 60%/70%/80%/90%/100% chance all capsules will be eliminated. (Once only.)"
* - Indicates downloadable content in Mario Kart 8 • ** - Indicates content available in version 1.6.0 of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe • - Indicates exclusivity to Mario Kart 8 • - Indicates exclusivity to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
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