Phanto



Phantos are large, seemingly living or possessed masks that can often be found guarding various treasures, most often, keys.

Phantos appeared as semi-common enemies in Super Mario Bros. 2, often in caves or in vases. Phanto simply remain immobile unless the key they are guarding moves; once this happens, a Phanto will ceaselessly chase whoever stole it's key. Phantos cannot be avoided and can only be escaped from using the key it was guarding to unlock a door. If the player simply drops the Key while a Phanto is chasing them, the creature will fly away and leave them alone, at least until the key is picked up again.

Trivia

 * The name Phanto simply seems to be a shortened form of the word phantom, which is a type of ghost or specter.


 * Phantos were originally half white and half red in color, though there most recent appearances, in Super Mario All-Stars and Super Mario Advance, show them as being brown.


 * The name Phanto appears later in Super Paper Mario. In Chapter 6-3, the Sammer Guy guardian of the 63rd gate is "Phanto Grin".