Tsubōn

The title of this article is official, but it comes from a Japanese source.
If an acceptable English name is found, then the article should be moved to the new title.

Tsubōn
Artwork of a Tsubōn from Mario & Wario
First appearance	Mario & Wario (1993)
Latest appearance	Super Mario 4-koma Daikōshin (1995)

Tsubōn are fire-spitting pot enemies in Mario & Wario. They are pot-shaped enemies with a skull mark, able to stick to any surface.

History

Mario & Wario

Tsubōn only game apperance is in Mario & Wario. They are stationed on walls and ceilings, or sometimes on breakable obstacles such as Rock Blocks. They are encountered in LEVEL 5 the most prominently, where they appear in every area. Tsubōn have a pattern of spitting fireballs routinely. A Tsubōn disappears once they hit the ground, after falling off of a Rock Block if Wanda had destroyed it. Wanda can neutralize Tsubōn by hitting their projectiles, or hit the diagonal-facing versions on some ceiling to get them to aim in another direction.

Super Mario Kodansha manga

Tsubōn in the Mario & Wario manga

In chapter four of the Mario & Wario volume of the Super Mario Kodansha manga, Mario is surprised by a ring of Tsubōn and burned to a crisp while climbing the last stage. Wario uses this to then throw two living buckets at him (a jellyfish and a Piranha Plant) to injure him further.

Tsubōn also reappears in three skits from the Mario & Wario chapter by Uribō in Super Mario 4-koma Daikōshin. In the first two skits, Wanda decides to sell a Tsubōn to an antique shop after determining its supposed value as a vase. Luigi ends up buying it, but after discovering its fire property, uses it as an incenirator. In the third skit, Wanda distracts the Tsubōn with a roshamboo game then (according to the rules of the Japanese variant), makes it face a different direction. Doing so, the flames are directed elsewhere and Mario safely passes by.

Super Mario-kun

Tsubōn are the focus of chapter 2 of volume 10 of the Super Mario-kun manga. Instead of being their own species, they are revealed to be cursed visitors of the Honō no Dōkutsu who peed inside a sacred pot. Many of Bowser's Minions ended up like this, including a Paragaloomba and a Dry Bones who just found Luigi, who is also hit by the curse, right as Mario, Yoshi, and Wanda-Bowser enter the cave looking for him. In their cursed form, Tsubōn are unable to speak (but can undedrstand telepetically between each others), and any time they try to vocally speak they spit fireballs. Yoshi is also hit by the curse, but inesplicably only partially, resulting in his head turning into a pot. Wario appears and explains that to break the curse they need to pull out the sword at the end of the cave, protected by a Blargg. During their quest, the gang encounter various Tsubōn, including Luigi, but his attempts at comunication are mistaken for attacks and Mario kicks him into the lava. Mario eventually succeeds in breaking the curse, and everyone returns to normal, including Luigi who burns inside the lava pit.

Profiles and statistics

Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten

ツボーン (JP) / Tsubōn (EN)
	Original text (Japanese)		Translation
	種族しゅぞく	岸石族	Tribe	Rock clan
	性格せいかく	警戒心が強い	Disposition	Very cautious
	登場とうじょうゲーム	M&W	Game appearances	M&W
	さっさとこわしてしまえ！！ 天井や壁にはりついている、ツボ型のモンスター。口の中から火の玉を発射し続けて、こちらの接近を妨害する。ツボなので、たたき落とせば、簡単に割ることができる。		Get the heck out of here! A jar-shaped monster that clings to ceilings and walls. It continuously shoots fireballs from its mouth to obstruct your way. Since it is a target, it can be easily broken by knocking it off.

Gallery

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  Sprite from Mario & Wario

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  Level 5-1 map layout

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  Super Mario Maze Picture Book 3: Mario versus Wario

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  Super Mario-kun volume 10

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Note(s)	Ref.
Japanese	ツボーン Tsubōn	From「壷」(tsubo, "pot"); shared with Jarvis