Shell Mario

Shell Mario (also known as Koopa Mario ) is a form of Mario that Mario can become in New Super Mario Bros. by touching a Blue Shell. It allows him to swim faster, and gives him the Hammer Suit-like ability to dodge the attacks of enemies when he crouches, tucking into it. If he starts running for a short time or crouches while on a downward hill he will hide in the shell and the shell will slide through the world. This maneuver is called a Shell Dash. As long as he keeps ducking, he'll be safely protected from most enemies. However, it won't protect him from Bob-omb explosions, spike balls, hammers thrown by Hammer Bros. or Sledge Bros., boomerangs from the Boomerang Bros., and the raining debris from World 8-8. Shell Mario also makes it so that Mario cannot triple jump, and double jump is extremely hard to do. Shell Mario is extremely powerful in this form as he is able to defeat a Thwomp while doing the Shell Dash.

Shell Mario returns in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. The Blue Shell is an item found in the overworld. If Mario and Luigi are outside Bowser, Mario can go in Blue Shells by striking Blue Shell blocks which were spread around when Mario and Luigi hit a giant version of it, and turn into Shell Mario. Luigi can then hit Mario using his hammer, and this will make Mario go into the shell, spinning straight forward. This can be used to hit blocks in areas which Mario and Luigi can't directly go into. It serves a similar purpose to the Kooper and Koops partners in the Paper Mario series. This power-up was introduced by a group of Blue Paratroopas.