Double Mario

Double Mario is a form of Mario introduced in Super Mario 3D World, obtained by consuming a Double Cherry.

In this form, Mario gains a clone of himself who stays adjacent and copies his every movement. The player controls Mario and the clones simultaneously. The clone can be separated by ramps, ledges, and other obstacles. It can be stacked with other forms such as Fire Mario and Tanooki Mario. If the character or one of the clones gets a different power-up from the one they are using at the moment, all of them are affected. If Mario gets another Double Cherry in this form, more clones can be added, to a maximum of five clones per player. If a character Ground Pounds on another player's clone, then that clone will transform into that character's clone. The clone has no physical difference from the original unless the original is wearing a crown or a reserve item is used because it will come out in front of the main character.

Damage to a clone, falling down a pit or being offscreen for too long will make it disappear. There is no need to keep track of the original as the last clone standing after being attacked, regardless of the player's position, will end up being the original and will take normal damage from then on, thus the clones act as protection for the player. If one clone is trailing behind the farthest clone, it will speed up to reach the pack.

Bowser obtains this form as Meowser. Like the other character's doubles, his doubles have no physical difference between each other. However, Meowser's doubles move independently from one another, and also do not disappear when touched.

The Double Mario power originated when a member of the development team accidentally placed two player-controlled Marios in a level. When the supervisors saw this, they liked it and decided to keep it in the game.

Trivia

 * The name of this form is likely a reference to the Double Mario glitch in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, glitch where only the first player needs to enter a Toad House and then glitch the other one to be another Mario.