Blue Shell

Blue Shells are blue Koopa Troopa shells that first appear in Super Mario World. It is one of the only games where they are actually worn by Koopa Troopas. The Koopa Troopas turn around when reaching a ledge. They also walk faster. They are a rare type of shell, rarer than Red Shells. It can make any Yoshi fly instantly upon putting one in its mouth.

Like other Koopa Troopa shells, the Blue Shell can be launched when the Koopa Troopa wearing it is jumped on. It can also be held and thrown.

In Super Mario Strikers, as well as in Mario Strikers Charged, Blue Shells appear as items. They are usually collected in a pack of three. When used, they will be fired at the opposing players, however, they do not home in, like the Red Shell does. If the Blue Shell happens to hit a player, they will instantly freeze in one spot. This will render them unable to move, and, thus, unable to get the ball. The effects wear off after a few seconds. Unfortunately, these shells can freeze both the user's teammates, or the user. If the shells fail to hit anyone, they will continue bouncing around the stage until they either hit a player, or just wear out on their own. A more effective version of this item is the Giant Blue Shell.

In New Super Mario Bros., there is a Blue Shell item. It is not used as a weapon, but as a power-up. The shell turns Mario or Luigi into Shell Mario or Shell Luigi respectively (when collecting it or ground pounding the Koopa). When ducking, Shell Mario/Luigi is invulnerable to almost anything. Also, they can Shell Dash. Blue-shelled Koopa Troopas that leave Blue Shell power-ups when stomped on appear in multiplayer. They respawn periodically. Some obstacles can also only be passed by using the unique Shell Dash the power up offers. If a single Brick Block is protected on the top, bottom, but not the sides, the Shell can smash it allowing access to otherwise inaccessible areas.

Kooper from Paper Mario utilized a blue Koopa shell, which was initially stolen by Fuzzies before being retrieved by Mario. Although the next playable Koopa Troopa character, Koops in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, doesn't possess a blue shell himself, his father Koopley does, as did Kolorado's father. The Blue Koopa shell apparently is capable of resisting stomach acids from within a dragon's stomach tract for a long period of time, as evidenced by Koopley surviving being eaten by Hooktail by staying in his shell.

The Blue Shell appears in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, as an item found in the overworld and once in the Energy Hold in Bowser's Body. Mario can go in Blue Shells (and turn into Shell Mario from New Super Mario Bros.) by striking Blue Shell blocks. 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. To toss the Blue Shell, Mario must jump. It behaves similarly to Kooper and Koops's abilities in the Paper Mario series.

Trivia

 * Even though Shell Mario has only been available in New Super Mario Bros. and Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, blue shells were much more common in Super Mario World. However, Mario could only use them like any ordinary Koopa shell.
 * There are no ordinary ? Blocks that give blue shells. They can only be found in Flying ? Blocks, Roulette Blocks, and Toad Houses.
 * Similarly, the Prima guide has an icon for blue shells in the map legend, but it is not used in the entire guide.
 * Though the Blue Shell does not appear in Super Mario 3D World, players using Toad/Rosalina can jump on a Koopa Troopa and steal their shell and when using it, the shell color turns dark blue (Toad) or light blue (Rosalina) very much like the Blue Shell in New Super Mario Bros..
 * In Super Mario Galaxy, if the player races Cosmic Mario in Sea Slide Galaxy, Cosmic Mario will have a Blue Shell if he manages to pick up a Koopa Shell