Luma

Lumas are star-like creatures that first appear in Super Mario Galaxy. Unlike most Stars, they have a rain drop-like shape and come in many colors, with the most common one being yellow. They are much like Power Stars, but are more circular and have the ability to talk. The Lumas are each very friendly and assist Mario during his quest. Lumas have the ability to transform, from minor planetoids to entire galaxies, and according to Rosalina, some Lumas can even transform into Power Stars. They call Rosalina their "mama." Most of them make their home with her in the Comet Observatory, and others live on Starship Mario following their leader Lubba, in Super Mario Galaxy 2. Their name comes from "lumen", a Latin word meaning "light", which is a reference to their future as stars. In Super Mario Galaxy 2, if the Co-Star Luma spins one, it emits three Star Bits.

Super Mario Galaxy
In Super Mario Galaxy, various Lumas appear on the Comet Observatory and in different galaxies, and Mario is accompanied by a uniquely apricot-colored Luma, who was given to him by Rosalina at the beginning of the game. Luma grants Mario the power to do spins. While he is the only cream-colored Luma encountered by Mario, the Luma that transformed into the beacon that powers the Comet Observatory is shown to be the same color in Rosalina's storybook's illustration.

Yellow Lumas transform into Sling Stars and Launch Stars and are the most common variety. Red Lumas guard Red Stars. Green Lumas are the guardians of the Trial Galaxies and transform into green Launch Stars and Green Stars. Blue Lumas transform into Pull Stars. Pink Lumas transform into pink Launch Stars to get to Hungry Luma galaxies. Lumalee, who is a large, light-blue Luma, hosts the Luma Shop. There is also another type of Luma that is pink, known as the Hungry Luma. The last type of Luma is the Comet Tico, which has the ability to move Prankster Comets. There is also a blackish-brown Luma named Polari, who acts as a guide to Rosalina.

In the end, all the Lumas (including Mario's Luma) throw themselves into the massive black hole created by Bowser's dying sun to neutralize it. However, Luma is reborn and living on a small planet while it is hinted that the other Lumas will be reborn later.

Super Mario Galaxy 2
Lumas also appear in Super Mario Galaxy 2. Some time before the beginning of the game, Bowser attacked Lubba's ship, and many of the Lumas on board fell down to Earth. A large number of Lumas are shown to reside in Starship Mario, and their leader is Lubba. Hungry Lumas also appear; this time, they ask to be fed both Star Bits and Coins. Like in the last game, Lumas enjoy being fed Star Bits, and may thank the player if they decides to shoot Star Bits at them. There are an exceptionally large species of Luma in the Supermassive Galaxy as well. Additionally, Mario's companion Baby Luma returns; however, Mario does not seem to remember him, and he finds the baby Luma when he crashlands.

Super Mario 3D World / Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury
Lumas appear in Super Mario 3D World and its Nintendo Switch port Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury where they can be seen floating around in the world maps as well as various levels in bonus worlds. Their behavior has not changed from the previous Super Mario Galaxy games, though the player cannot talk to them.

Mario Kart Wii
In Mario Kart Wii, when playing as Rosalina, a Yellow Luma hovers around her at all times. It makes tiny noises whenever the player does an aerial trick or gets hit by an explosion.

Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Although Lumas themselves do not appear physically in Mario Kart 8 or Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, a Luma is seen in the logo of Galaxy Air and a Luma's artwork can be seen on the back of the Star Cup trophy. Lumas also appear in the scenery of GBA Ribbon Road included in the second DLC pack of the former game.

Mario Kart Tour
In Mario Kart Tour, a group of coins in the shape of a Luma appears in the Coin Rush of 3DS Rosalina's Ice World. The Luma is mostly made up of regular coins, though the eyes are made of Blue Coins. A Luma also appears on the Luma Parafoil and on badges depicting its emblem or the Galaxy Air logo.

Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games
Yellow Lumas appear in Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games in the Dream Spacewalk event. Here, they aid the athletes in defeating Dino Piranha. They first transform into Launch Stars that send the characters into space. Following this, they periodically appear to create rings that the athletes must all pass through in order to damage Dino Piranha.

Fortune Street
In Fortune Street, Lumas appear in the unlockable Good Egg Galaxy board. A Luma can also be a customizable mascot for the player and is unlocked by placing first in all Mario series boards in the Standard Tour.

Mario Tennis Open
A yellow Luma makes a debut as a playable character in Mario Tennis Open. He is a Technique-type player and can be unlocked by completing level 3 of the Galaxy Rally special game, where, in the special game, he rallies the ball against players. His racquet is turquoise with a picture of a Luma on it. Red, green, and turquoise Lumas appear as line judges in the Galaxy Arena court. Also, if the player uses Luma in the Galaxy Rally game, the opponent Luma is blue.

Mario Tennis Aces
In Mario Tennis Aces, a yellow Luma appears during Rosalina's Tournament Finals introduction sequence. Additionally, when Rosalina uses her Special Shot, three Lumas (yellow, green, and red) appear and each use a Star Spin to pass the ball to her.

A yellow Luma also appears as a playable character available from the January 2019 online tournament as a participation bonus and for all players starting February 1st 2019, reprising his Technical type from his previous playable appearance.

Mario Party: Island Tour
Lumas make their Mario Party debut in Mario Party: Island Tour for the Nintendo 3DS. Yellow Lumas populate the space-themed board Rocket Road where players travel from one space to another in small spaceships. One of them is also holding the checkered flag at the end of the board, while another hosts Battle Minigames. Also, when one of the characters reaches the finish line and is congratulated by Rosalina, a yellow Luma, a pink Luma, and a blue Luma appear as well.

Mario Golf: World Tour
Lumas made their debut appearance in the Mario Golf series in Mario Golf: World Tour. After players purchase the Star Pack and receive Rosalina as a playable character, Lumas appear alongside her in her post-hole animations. A yellow one is seen as she enters the tee box, when she earns a Star Coin or Moon Coin, and when she is displayed with the player's score if she was played as in a tournament. Although they are not playable characters, their ball and golf clubs are available for Miis to use. A Luma costume can be won if the player succeeds in a Character Costume Challenge in Yoshi Lake.

Mario Golf: Super Rush
Lumas make an appearance in Mario Golf: Super Rush, where they appear during Rosalina’s Special Shot, Shooting Star, and her Special Dash, Luma Dash.

Super Smash Bros. series
Lumas appear with various different colors alongside Rosalina as a singular new fighter in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. They function as a team; whenever Rosalina attacks, the Luma also attacks, allowing for combo attacks and for attacking from afar if Luma is separated from Rosalina. Lumas have their own HP, and if they take enough damage, they get defeated. Lumas can also get defeated by being knocked off of the stage to the point where they cannot recover. After a few seconds, another Luma appears near Rosalina. If Rosalina gets KO'd, the Luma vanishes and a new one appears when Rosalina respawns. Lumas can attack even if Rosalina is stunned by other attacks such as grabbing, and their attacks depend on what input the player performs as Rosalina. By using their standard special attack, Luma Shot, the Luma can be sent away from Rosalina to fight, and by using the move again it is called back to her. Kirby's copy ability version of Luma Shot summons a Luma for the move, which instantly disappears after the move's completion.

There are six possible colorations for the Lumas: yellow, green, blue, red, apricot (the color of the Luma that joins Mario in the Super Mario Galaxy games), and dark brown with blue eyes (the colors of Polari).

Lumas return alongside Rosalina as veteran fighters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Compared to their appearances in Super Smash Bros. for 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, Lumas get launched farther by attacks in general, making them easier to KO. The yellow Luma also appears as a support spirit, which equips a fighter with a Super Launch Star at the start of battles.

Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam
While no Lumas appear physically in Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam, the Yoshi + Mario LV2 Duo Card shows artwork of a yellow Luma alongside Mario and Yoshi from Super Mario Galaxy 2. This Character Card temporarily increases the number of Star Points earned per successful action by 70% in a battle.

Mario Sports Superstars
Due to Mario Sports Superstars reusing Rosalina's golf animations from Mario Golf: World Tour, Lumas reappear in this game in the same capacity as Mario Golf: World Tour, appearing in her post-hole animations. Additionally, Luma themed gear appears in this game as an alternative choice exclusive to Rosalina.

Dr. Mario World
As an overall species, Lumas make their Dr. Mario series debut in Dr. Mario World, where one Luma known as Dr. Luma appears as a playable character. Dr. Luma is a reward in World 8's special stage since version 1.2.0, though beating the stage prior to the update will allow him to be obtainable through the doc box.

Dr. Luma's skill is to shift the viruses in the lowest rows so that they collide with an object above them, where it is represented by a sparkling image of a Luma on screen, followed by multiple Lumas flying across the lowest rows, in which the affected rows are the 6 lowest rows in stage mode, the 5 lowest rows at level 1 in versus mode and the 10 lowest rows in level 2 or higher in versus mode. In versus mode, the skill charges faster at higher levels starting from level 3. Viruses that are contained inside objects like ice and Brick Blocks can also be shifted, but other objects are not affected. Prior to version 2.3.0, this skill would do nothing if the skill is used when every possible virus in the lowest rows cannot be shifted further, but since then it will eliminate one random virus or object instead (capsules are not affected). In versus mode, Dr. Luma possesses the highest possible defense value, where it has 80% defense against two-line bomb attacks.

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope
Before the events of Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, the Lumas met the Rabbids during their teleporting escapades, but Cursa was drawn to the Comet Observatory, where it would attack Rosalina, the Lumas, and some Rabbids that were there. While Rosalina was fending off Cursa, she was captured and merged with Cursa. The Rabbids and Lumas were saved, but flung far away and merged into a new species named Sparks. Cursa then created an army of corrupted Rabbids and controlled minions of Bowser, along with the Spark Hunters to lead them.

Color variations
Lumas come in a variety of different colors, some of which have abilities to help Mario or Luigi on his adventure.

Mario Tennis Open

 * Character Type: Technique


 * Website bio: Luma joins Mario Tennis for the first time! Luma floats through the air, aiming shots toward the far corners of the court.


 * Bio 2: Luma has come down from the night sky to make his Mario Tennis debut! Though he may look gentle and fluffy, his clinical shots head straight for the corners of the court!

Dr. Mario World

 * Dr. Mario World Twitter: Yellow: "The second doctor making his appearance at 1 AM PT on Oct. 4 is Dr. Luma! He's round, yellow, and—wait a minute. He's stealing my look! Oh, I hope he doesn't hurt me!"

Names in other languages

 * Supermassive Galaxy