Shell (flashing)

A flashing shell (alternatively flashing Shell or FlashingShell), also described as a flashing kamikaze Koopa shell, flashing Koopa shell, crazy Koopa, or flashing Koopa Troopa shell, is a type of Koopa Shell found only in Super Mario World and its GBA port, Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2. It is created when a yellow Koopa without a Shell climbs into an empty shell of any color (including its own, after being ejected from it), thus creating a flashing shell. After its transformation, the shell attempts to hit Mario or Luigi by spinning around and dashing towards him. It becomes impossible to separate the Koopa from it. While chasing the player, the flashing shell defeats enemies in its path; the player scores a combo in increasing point values for successive enemies defeated by a single flashing shell and extra lives starting on the eighth. It is possible to respawn the yellow Koopa without a Shell that climbed into the shell, possibly leading to it dodging its own shell.

Flashing shells first appear in Donut Plains 4. Jumping on a flashing shell causes the Mario Bros. to bounce upwards, but it does not damage it. Flashing shells can be defeated only with a Yoshi, a Spin Jump, or a Super Star. If any Yoshi eats one, the Yoshi gains all three shell abilities (causing sand clouds, flying, and breathing fire) as long as the shell stays in the Yoshi's mouth.

If a yellow Koopa without a Shell finds a nearby shell, a flashing shell can appear in #3 Lemmy's Castle, the Red Switch Palace, the Sunken Ghost Ship, Valley of Bowser 2, #7 Larry's Castle, Star World 1, Awesome, Groovy, and Funky.

After the player beats the Special Zone (or completes all 96 exits in Super Mario Advance 2), all Koopa Troopa and Koopa Paratroopa shells become Mario masks, including flashing shells.

Trivia

 * According to the Japanese Shogakukan guide for the game Yoshi, these "gold" shells combine all ingredients of the Green, Red, Yellow, and Blue Shells from Super Mario World, resulting in awful taste but incredible benefits.