Warp Cannon

A Warp Cannon is a cannon in New Super Mario Bros., New Super Mario Bros. Wii and New Super Mario Bros. 2 that allows the player to go to different world. It is like the Warp Zone, but uses a cannon that is entered like a Warp Pipe. It leads the player to a pre-selected world that is usually some worlds away from the world where the Warp Cannon is found. Cannons could be unlocked by entering certain levels or Ghost Houses and finding the secret exit, marked by a Red Flagpole.

In New Super Mario Bros. 2, Warp Cannons are blue, and when they are entered, a countdown appears. When the countdown reaches 1, Mario or Luigi is shot out into a nighttime level with a Super Mario Bros. 3 end-of-level-style background. Mario/ Luigi constantly dash in these levels, even if the buttons aren't pressed. They usually contain common enemies in the cannon's 'home' world; at the end of each one, a sign appears pointing right, at which Mario/Luigi jumps out of the level. Afterwards, the player ends up in another world. There is a Red Coin challenge in each cannon stage, which yields a Gold Flower in the spare item slot upon completion. Unlike most other stages, the Assist Leaf will never appear.

These cannons do not appear in New Super Mario Bros. U, instead replaced by shortcuts on the overworld that lead to the new world when a secret exit is found.

Warp Cannons also appear in the Flower Cup tournament of Mario Sports Mix, in secret routes. They launch the player to other areas.

These cannons also make an appearance in Fortune Street, on the Yoshi's Island, Delfino Plaza, and Bowser's Castle boards. In this game, they are used to blast the player to a square occupied by another character. The square is chosen by the player.