Item storage

The Item Stock (also referred to as the Item Reserve Box ) is a feature in Super Mario World allowing the Player to keep an additional Item in reserve. If Super Mario gathers a Cape Feather, for example, he will turn into Cape Mario and his former Power-Up, the Super Mushroom, will move into the Item Stock (pictured). When now being hit by an enemy, Cape Mario will turn into Small Mario, but also the stocked Item will drop down automatically. It will not remain at the ground, however, so the Player is supposed to collect the stocked Item immediately. The Player may also make the Stock Item drop down whenever he wants, allowing him to constantly change from Cape Mario into Fire Mario and vice versa. The stocked Item, when used, will not bring any extra Points, unless it's the Cape Feather, which will indeed bring points, unlike the Fire Flower.

The Item Stock, in a similar form, was reintroduced in New Super Mario Bros. Unlike in Super Mario World, players can choose when the item comes down. For example, if the player is Super Mario and the player has a Fire Flower in the Item Stock, he or she can tap the item with the stylus and it will automatically appear on the top screen.