Magic Paintbrush

"This...is my magic brush. When I draw with this, all my wishes come true! A strange old man in a white coat gave it to me..."

- Bowser Jr.

The Magic Paintbrush (or magic paintbrush), also known as the Gadd Industries Paintbrush or simply the Paintbrush, is Bowser Jr.'s main weapon. It was created by Professor E. Gadd and is usually emblazoned with his logo, although he and the brush have never physically appeared in the same game. The Magic Paintbrush can create graffiti that has many functions, from generating Gatekeepers to acting as portals between locations to creating items. A skill quiz on the Play Nintendo website conjectures that Bowser Jr. drew the toothy grin on his bib by using the Magic Paintbrush.

Super Mario Sunshine
After obtaining the Magic Paintbrush from E. Gadd, Bowser Jr. uses it to paint graffiti all over Isle Delfino, fill it up with hostile creatures, and disguise himself as Shadow Mario. Because of his disguise, Mario is believed to be the perpetrator and is forced to clean up the goop. Bowser Jr. claims the Magic Paintbrush was given to him by E. Gadd as opposed to stealing it. Most of the game's enemies, puzzles, and hazards revolve around the goop and graffiti created by the brush, which can take on caustic and elemental properties to damage Mario on contact. The brush's goop is washed up using FLUDD, and by the time Bowser and Bowser Jr. are confronted for the final time, Mario has washed up nearly all of it.

If the player clears the final battle without collecting all 120 Shine Sprites, a post-credits image shows the Magic Paintbrush on an island near Gelato Beach, where it is discovered by Il Piantissimo.

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury
The Magic Paintbrush reappears in the Bowser's Fury mode of Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury. Bowser Jr. first uses it in the intro to summon Mario to Lake Lapcat, where he paints visual aids in order to explain his predicament to Mario. In gameplay, he can use it to hit enemies and paint over question marks on walls, revealing hidden power-ups. In this game, E. Gadd's logo is replaced with Bowser Jr.'s emblem, matching its appearance in artwork for Super Nintendo World. From the pictures in the ending credits, it is implied that the paintbrush transformed Bowser into Fury Bowser after Bowser Jr. drew on his sleeping father's face as a prank.

Mario Power Tennis / New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis
Bowser Jr. uses the brush in Mario Power Tennis for both of his Power Shots; when his offensive shot (Magic Paint) is used, Bowser Jr. takes out his brush to color the tennis ball and create two duplicate balls of the same color before sending all of them back, and when his defensive shot (Rolling Brush Return) is used, he slides towards the ball and twirls the brush, hitting it back.

Mario Kart Arcade GP series
The Magic Paintbrush appears as an item in Mario Kart Arcade GP, Mario Kart Arcade GP 2, and Mario Kart Arcade GP DX, though it is known as the Mustache Pen. It is a lock-on item, much like the Tub. Upon being hit by a Mustache Pen, a racer loses speed, and their portrait is obscured by silly graffiti such as a mustache or lips. A variant of the Mustache Pen known as the Triple Pen exists—this item allows the player to shoot three Mustache Pens in succession, though these do not lock on and can be fired only in a straight line, much like the Green Shell.

Mario Hoops 3-on-3
In Mario Hoops 3-on-3, the Magic Paintbrush is used in Bowser Jr.'s Special Shot, the Graffiti Shot. By dribbling in a "B" shape, Bowser Jr. throws the ball in the air and paints it with the brush. On the third brushstroke, he launches the ball to the net, leaving a trail of goop behind it.

Mario Sports Mix
The Magic Paintbrush appears in Bowser Jr.'s Special Shot in Mario Sports Mix. When his Special Shot is activated, Bowser Jr. uses the brush to scatter paint around the whole court, causing people who walk on it to slide around and trip.

Mario Super Sluggers
In Mario Super Sluggers, the brush is Bowser Jr.'s bat. When he uses his Star Swing, Graffiti Swing, Bowser Jr. twirls his brush around and creates a duplicate paintball. Both balls are then hit into the air, with the duplicate landing first and exploding; whoever is around the duplicate when it lands gets briefly stunned. When he uses his Star Pitch, Graffiti Ball, Bowser Jr. coats the baseball in goop before pitching it, blocking the batter's vision with goop. Bowser Jr.'s minigame, Graffiti Runner, also features the Magic Paintbrush, with four people competing for the brush to coat the floor in their respective color. The brush has a limited amount of paint, and when it is depleted, the brush is forced to be dropped, though it can also be knocked away.

Mario & Luigi: Dream Team
The Magic Paintbrush appears in Mario & Luigi: Dream Team as one of Bowser Jr.'s attacks during his boss battle with Mario and Luigi. He uses the brush to tickle Mario or Luigi, stealing one of their Bros. Attacks in the process, though this does not create any goop.

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey
The Magic Paintbrush makes an appearance in the Bowser Jr.'s Journey sub-mode of Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey. Bowser Jr. wields it when changed to ranged-type and uses it to sling paint at enemies. Morton Koopa Jr. had it under his possession for a while without Bowser Jr. knowing, causing the latter to scold him upon discovering this.

Mario Golf: World Tour / Mario Sports Superstars
In Mario Golf: World Tour and Mario Sports Superstars, Bowser Jr. uses the Magic Paintbrush in all his post-hole animations except for par. He spins the brush around, splattering paint everywhere, and spreads it on the screen when he gets an eagle, albatross, hole-in-one, or bogey.

Super Smash Bros. series
In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Bowser Jr., as well as the Koopalings, uses the Magic Paintbrush in his Final Smash, Shadow Mario Paint. Using the brush, they transform into Shadow Mario and paint a giant graffiti X on the screen, hurting anyone who touches it. After a while, the X explodes, causing even more damage to anyone next to it.

In this series, E. Gadd's logo on the Magic Paintbrush is replaced with an "evil" version.

Minecraft
In the Super Mario Mash-up in Minecraft, Dyes are replaced by differently colored versions of the Magic Paintbrush.

Super Nintendo World
The Magic Paintbrush is featured in artwork for Super Nintendo World.

Trivia

 * The Inkbrush and Octobrush from Splatoon are very similar to the Magic Paintbrush and are used in a similar manner as the Magic Paintbrush was used in Super Mario Sunshine.