Lava Bubble


 * "Sparky" redirects here. For information about the enemy from Super Mario World, see Li'l Sparky.

Podoboos (sometimes called Lava Bubbles or Sparkies) are living fireballs that emerge from lava. Most depictions shows them with two black eyes. They mainly appear in the Mario platformers but occasionally appear in the Mario Party sub-series. In most games, they are invincible, only being able to be destroyed by using a Star, a Hammer Suit, or an Ice Flower.

''Super Mario Bros.
They first appeared in Super Mario Bros., as simple fire balls, that would jump out of the magma in simple patterns when Mario was in a castle. They however only appear in castles.

''Super Mario Bros. The Lost Levels
In Super Mario Bros. The Lost Levels, Podoboos return and act just as they did in Super Mario Bros., still found in Castles.

''Super Mario Bros. 3
Like most enemies, they appeared again in Super Mario Bros. 3, and can now move in more directions then just up and down.

''Super Mario World
They were called Lava Bubbles in the player's guide for this game. They again appear in the castle levels of Super Mario World, where they act the same as in their previous appearances. They now have eyes. However, some will now be found outside the lava at all times, bouncing around the rooms of castles. This behavior is similar to the red Fireballs found in the Mario Bros. game.

''Super Mario 64
In Super Mario 64 and its remake, Podoboos are rare, only appearing in Lethal Lava Land. They will jump out of the lava horizontally and bounce on the bridges. They are indestructible, and if Mario touches one, he will run uncontrollably and lose three wedges of health. In the battle with Bowser in Bowser in the Sky, he will spit some green fireballs that turn into Podoboos which immediately bounce towards Mario. They disappear after a few seconds.

''New Super Mario Bros.
In New Super Mario Bros., Podoboos appeared as enemies in the World 1 and World 4 castles and in World 8-5.

''Super Mario Galaxy
Though Podoboos themselves do not appear in Super Mario Galaxy, a sub-species, Lava Bouncers, do.

''New Super Mario Bros. Wii
In New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Podoboos appeared in many boss castles and they could commonly be found in World 8 as an enemy course. They have eyes in this game, having a similar appearance like in Super Mario World.

''Super Mario Galaxy 2
Podoboos reappeared in the game Super Mario Galaxy 2 appearing as obstacles in galaxies with lava and Bowser's galaxies. Like in previous installments, Podoboos jump out of the lava trying to hit Mario (or Luigi). Lava Bouncers from the prequel also appear.

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Podoboos appeared in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island under the name of Lava Bubbles. They could be eaten, and gave Yoshis the power of the Red Watermelon: fire-spitting power.

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
In Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, Podoboos (called Sparkies) can be encountered in the Pipe Vault, harassing Mario and others by blocking their path through the sewer system. In battle, they hover in the air.

In battle, a Sparky attacks by spinning its body into one of Mario's party members. A Sparky can also use the special attack Drain, which allows the flame creature to shoot a small fire orb at a party member. Needless to say, Fire magic is ineffective against Sparkys. However, despite being made of fire, Mario can surprisingly use jump attacks on Sparkys. Sparkys typically fight in groups of one to three.

Although most Sparkys live in the Pipe Vault, they were first seen in Bowser's Keep during Mario's initial rescue attempt. However, these Sparkys did not attack; they merely jumped out of the lava as Mario walked by.

Paper Mario
In Paper Mario, Podoboos appear as common enemies in Mt. Lavalava. In this game they are referred to as Lava Bubbles. Because of their fiery bodies they can't be jumped on however Mario could harm them with hammer-based attacks. A blue and stronger variety of Lava Bubble called Ember appeared as enemies in Star Way.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
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. Without an Ice Power badge equipped, Mario has to attack them with his Hammer since, obviously, they cannot be jumped on. They have the ability to attack both party members and can set Mario and his partner on fire. Strangely, explosions were their main weakness.

Super Paper Mario
In Super Paper Mario, they jump out of lava pits in the Underwhere, but they can be damaged. The player can use Carrie and jump on them, or they can use Boomer on them.

Mario Party series
In most Mario Party titles, Podoboos appear as Orbs.

''Mario Party
In this game, one of the mini-games requires contestants to Jump over a rope made up of many Podoboos. Contestants must jump over the flaming rope twenty times. If one fails to do so, he or she loses fifteen coins, and five coins go to everyone else. However, if all complete it successfully, everyone gets ten coins.

''Mario Party 2
The Podoboo-rope jumping mini-game returns in Mario Party 2. This time, contestants start by jumping over slow, blue Podoboos five times. After five jumps, the Podoboos turn orange and go swifter. The rope keeps twirling until only one contestant remains. The winning contestant gains ten coins.

''Mario Party 3
In this game, Podoboos appear in the battle mini-game, All Fired Up. Here the player must avoid them and try to be the last one remaining to win the mini-game.

''Mario Party Advance
In Mario Party Advance, Podoboos appear as obsatacles in the mini game, Go-Go Pogo

''Mario Party 8
In Mario Party 8, the minigame Lava or Leave 'Em requires contestants to dodge a Podoboo that splits into many other Podoboos. Also, when the player lands on a Bowser Space in Goomba's Booty Boardwalk, Bowser appears and surrounds the player with three Podoboos. He or she has to jump and avoid them as they move to the centre (to try to burn the player) for ten seconds. The Podoboos only try to hurt the player three times. If the player touches one, he or she loses ten Coins (and therefore, the maximum number of coins that can be lost are thirty Coins).

''Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
In Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, they appeared as obstacles in a pseudo-sidescrolling area in Bowser's Castle.

''Mario Superstar Baseball
Podoboos reappear in this game, but only in Bowser's Castle. First they would jump out of the lava pond and then they would land on the player and cause them to lose the ball. The players themselves would catch on fire and run around for a second, disallowing control over them.

Mario Kart series
Mario Kart DS has some Podoboos. Most of them are located in Desert Hills, being shot down by Angry Sun. Podoboos appear as enemies in the Grumble Volcano course of Mario Kart Wii, and on various Bowser's Castle courses throughout the entire series. While in most courses, they jump out of lava, and then fall back down, at Grumble Volcano, the large pieces of rock from the volcano hit the ground to become very large Podoboos. In the Mario Kart Wii remake of Desert Hills, the Podoboos return.

''Super Princess Peach
In Super Princess Peach, they could be encountered in Fury Volcano where they behave in the same manner as in previous games. There is also a blue variant of the fiery enemies. These ones appear in torches with blue fire in Bowser's Villa, and when Peach approaches a torch, a blue Podoboo appears and slowly chases after her (Peach must lead them to the unlit torches). The reason why they appear is to light unlit torches to open up doorways.

''Mario Sports Mix
Podoboos also make an appearance in the Wii game Mario Sports Mix where teams must avoid losing possession in the Bowser's Castle court. If one team member touches it, they will get burned.

Related Fire-Like Creatures

 * Trouble Bug - Donkey Kong
 * Hot Foot - Super Mario Bros. 3
 * Fire Snake - Super Mario Bros. 3
 * Fireball - Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
 * Pyrosphere - Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
 * Lava Ghost - Yoshi's Story
 * Ember - Paper Mario
 * Phantom Ember - Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
 * Fire Elemental Ghost - Luigi's Mansion
 * Burn Bit - Super Mario Galaxy

Names in Other Languages
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