P Switch

P-Switches (also known as Switch Blocks in Super Mario World and New Super Mario Bros.) are items found in Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World and New Super Mario Bros. When pressed, a P-Switch changes something in the stage for a limited amount of time. This includes:


 * Turning Brick Blocks into coins (in Super Mario World Spin Blocks into coins, blue only)
 * Turning coins into brick blocks (in Super Mario World coins into Spin Blocks, blue only)
 * Changes enemies and Munchers into Silver Coins. (Super Mario World, grey only)
 * Allowing Mario to access a blue Door (Super Mario World, blue only)

One rather confusing thing is that a brick block with an item inside it will look like a coin but act like a block. This confusion was removed in the Game Boy Advance remake of Super Mario Bros. 3.

In Super Mario World, the gray version of the P-Switch makes most enemies turn into Silver Coins. Collecting eight of these coins awards Mario a 1-Up. Collect one more for a 2-Up. After nine coins, Mario will earn 3-Ups for each additional coin.