Mom Piranha

Mom Piranha is a giant Piranha Plant that appears in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga. During the events of the game, it takes up residence in a large egg on the runway at the Beanbean International Airport. She and her offspring take root in the runway, preventing planes from landing or taking off; this also means Princess Peach, who is going to attend an important meeting with Queen Bean and Prince Peasley, is unable to land her plane. Mario and Luigi must get rid of the enemies by having Mario drink water from one of the nearby fountains and spit it on the Piranha offspring, soaking it and making it swell up (also turning it a dull turquoise color). Luigi then has to shock the plant with his Thunderhand. Since the offspring is connected to Mom Piranha, the electricity surges through the roots of the Piranha Plants and into her egg, causing it to crack open, one bit at a time. When the egg is destroyed completely, Mom Piranha is revealed, and interacting with the beast initiates battle.

Mom Piranha is a stubborn foe, but she is fairly easy once the brothers learn her tricks. The enormous plant is always protected by two Piranha Plants, who act as distractions and extra attacks for the boss. At the beginning of the battle, both Piranha Plants and the mother herself will be red in color. The Piranha Plants only attack by shooting balls out of their mouths (fireballs when red; lightning balls when blue) at the brothers, which can be dodged by jumping. Whenever the brothers attack Mom Piranha with at least one other Piranha Plant present in battle, the Piranha Plant(s) will immediately react by shooting balls out of its mouth at the brothers at a more rapid rate than usual. If the plants are destroyed, Mom Piranha can create new ones - although she may not do so right away. When Mom Piranha spawns a new Piranha Plant in battle after an old one is defeated, it may be red or blue; but the mother herself will only change from red to blue or vice-versa when both Piranha Plants are present in battle and are both the opposite color of their mother before her change. The colors also follow a mechanic: for each Piranha Plant on the field that is the same color as Mom Piranha, she will heal 10 HP. Mom Piranha and the Piranha Plants are vulnerable to Hand attacks. If they are red, Thunderhand is effective, Firebrand if they are blue. However, the opposite element will heal them. Mom Piranha is extremely resistant to jump attacks, and the plants will counterattack them with their sharp teeth. However, they will all take normal damage from hammer attacks. Mom Piranha has two attacks herself: She will spit a blue ball that must be hammered back and will damage all enemies if successfully countered (this will heal Mom Piranha even if it hits her), or she will swipe with one of her tentacles. The tentacle sweeps back and forth and must be jumped over twice (this will heal her even if dodged every time).

Upon victory, the Piranhas stop spawning, and the Princess and her entourage finally land on the royal jet.

Trivia

 * In the US version of the game, if the Mom Piranha is defeated when she is blue, she gives out no coins.

Mama Piranha