Poison Mushroom

Not to be confused with Rotten Mushroom or Cursed Mushroom.

Poison Mushroom
Artwork of a Poison Mushroom from Super Mario Party
Franchise	Mario
Series	Mario: Super Mario, Mario Kart, Mario Party, Mario & Luigi, Paper Mario Crossover: Super Smash Bros., Puzzle & Dragons
First appearance	Super Mario Bros. 2 (1986, overall) Super Mario Kart (1992, with Yoshi)
Latest appearance	Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. (2020, overall) Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018, with Yoshi)
Effect	Hurts or defeats Mario or Luigi (Super Mario series) Shrinks and worsens player (Mario Kart series, Super Smash Bros. series) Poisons player (role-playing games)
Related items Ghoul Shroom Rotten Mushroom Zombie Shroom

A Poison Mushroom, also named Poison Shroom, is a harmful type of Mushroom featured in the Mario franchise. Poison Mushrooms usually have the opposite effect of a Super Mushroom in they damage a character rather than upgrade their form. Despite this, Poison Mushrooms are sometimes classified as a power-up.

Poison Mushrooms first appear in the Family Computer Disk System game Super Mario Bros. 2, and while Poison Mushrooms do not appear in any Yoshi games, their first appearance alongside Yoshi is in Super Mario Kart.

History

Super Mario series

Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels / Super Mario Bros. for Super Players

A Poison Mushroom sprite in Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels (left) and in Super Mario Bros. for Super Players (right)

In the Family Computer Disk System game Super Mario Bros. 2, later reissued as a Super Nintendo Entertainment System game, Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, then as Super Mario Bros. for Super Players on Super Mario Bros. Deluxe. In all versions, touching a Poison Mushroom (alternatively named Poisonous Mushroom or Blue Mushroom) damages Mario or Luigi; as such, if one of them touch a Poison Mushroom while small, they lose an extra life, or if Mario or Luigi touches a Poison Mushroom while in their Super or Fire form, they shrink down to their Small form. If either of them touches a Poison Mushroom while invincible or while briefly invulnerable after taking damage, the Poison Mushroom has no effect on them, although it does not reward any points. Poison Mushrooms can be found in Brick Blocks, ? Blocks, and Hidden Blocks alike, and touching one causes it disappear.

As with all Mushrooms, only one Poison Mushroom can exist on-screen at a time, another way to get rid of a Poison Mushroom is by either revealing a second one, a Super Mushroom, or a 1-Up Mushroom, causing the first Mushroom to disappear.

In Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, Poison Mushrooms appear as blue-skulled, purple-capped mushrooms with angry eyes, a change from the original Family Computer Disk System version where, due to the palette limitations, a Poison Mushroom is depicted as a dull brown, blue, or gray depending on whether it is on land, underground, or in a castle, respectively. In Super Mario Bros. for Super Players, while most graphics are closely based on the original version, the Poison Mushroom still has a design that clearly indicates its poisonous properties, although the sprite was instead changed to having a red stalk, a green cap, a pink skull, and no eyes.

Super Mario Maker 2

Although actual Poison Mushrooms do not reappear in Super Mario Maker 2, a derivative known as Rotten Mushrooms appear in the Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World and New Super Mario Bros. U styles at night in the Ground theme, replacing 1-Up Mushrooms. They act like Poison Mushrooms do in Super Mario 3D Land, though they can also hop up small ledges.

Mario Kart series

Super Mario Kart

Poison Mushrooms (with red-spotted yellow caps, similar to Super Mushrooms in Super Mario Bros.) were also featured in Super Mario Kart as items, however they were only used by the CPU-controlled drivers Toad and the Princess, and not usable by the player. If a player drove into a Poison Mushroom, they would become small, ending up moving slow and vulnerable to other karts in the area, as they could end up squashed if run over by a full-sized kart. An interesting feature of the Poison Mushroom in Super Mario Kart is the fact the player can also return to normal size if they run into another Poison Mushroom; this also works if the player were made small from Lightning by the other player (as CPU players cannot use Lightning in this game).

Mario Kart Arcade series

In both Mario Kart Arcade GP and its sequel Mario Kart Arcade GP 2, the Poison Mushroom returns as one of Toad's special character items. Like in Super Mario Kart, Toad can throw the Poison Mushrooms either in front of him as well as behind him (providing him with advantages in both ways), which causes his opponents to shrink if they come in contact with them. However, unlike in Super Mario Kart, the player can now use them as well. In this game, the Poison Mushroom has a black cap with magenta spots, similar to its Luigi's Mansion design.

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars artwork

Poison Mushrooms reappear in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars as Bad Mushrooms. They can be purchased in Seaside Town while Yaridovich is in control of the town, and can only be used in battle. They can also be obtained after using a Yoshi Cookie on an Amanita or Chewy, and occasionally from Kriffids after defeating them. When used, Bad Mushrooms poison an enemy of choice, though some enemies are immune. Their official artwork depicts them with their above-ground Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels coloration, while the sprite itself depicts it with a Super Mushroom's modern colors.

Mario Party series

Mario Party

In Mario Party, when landing on a Mushroom Space, if the player gets a Poisonous Mushroom (as it is named in-game), they lose their next turn.

Mario Party 2

In Mario Party 2, during the mini-game Rakin' 'em In, if the player grips and drags a Poison Mushroom into their goal, they lose three points. They are referred to as Poison Purple Mushrooms in the minigame.

Mario Party: Island Tour

Poison Mushrooms were given a minor role in Mario Party: Island Tour, where they are an item on Perilous Palace Path. When used, they will subtract two from a rival’s roll of the Dice Block. In addition, images of them are stuck on some panels in the puzzle minigame, Emergency Hexit. If not removed quickly, they would consume 5 seconds from the game's timer every once in a while. The player can get rid of Poison Mushroom panels by clearing a row of identical panels that is adjacent to them.

Mario Party 10

Poison Mushrooms return in Mario Party 10, appearing only in the minigame Movin' Mushrooms. If they fall into one of the carts, the respective team loses three points. They retain their Super Mario 3D Land appearance in this game.

Mario Party: Star Rush / Mario Party: The Top 100 / Super Mario Party

Poison Mushrooms are obtainable items in Mario Party: Star Rush, Mario Party: The Top 100, and Super Mario Party, that can be used on other players to subtract two from their dice roll and allies. The effects of this item are capable of stacking.

Super Smash Bros. series

A Poison Mushroom, as seen in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS (left) / Wii U (right)

Poison Mushrooms appear as items in the Super Smash Bros. series, starting with Super Smash Bros. Melee. They have a similar appearance to Super Mushrooms, though Poison Mushrooms are duller in color, which is unique to the series, and feature angry eyes, similar to their debut appearance. They are grabbed upon running into them, and they make the player smaller and easier to launch. While tiny, the fighter's attacks have much less reach, and they move noticeably slower, while being able to jump higher. Aesthetically, the fighter's voice becomes higher-pitched. In Underground Maze, the screen zooms in while a character is under the effect of a Poison Mushroom.

Fighters at Poison Mushroom size are weaker, which is more noticeable in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, where all direct attacks deal around 0.6× their normal damage.

On a side note, Giga Bowser (from Brawl and 3DS / Wii U) and Giga Mac (from 3DS / Wii U) are unaffected by Poison Mushrooms.

Mario & Luigi series

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga

In Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, one of the things Trunkle can inhale is a Poison Mushroom. They are colored green with red spots, and poisons a brother if touched. Popple also sometimes throws them from his bag; these Poison Mushrooms cause more severe damage when touched. When the brothers travel to Little Fungitown, Mario eats an Invincishroom, claimed to be a mix of a Starman and a 1-Up Mushroom. However, Mario, being an outsider, is not immune to the dubious concoction and falls gravely ill.

Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time

See also: Shroob mushroom

A sprite of the Poison Mushroom used by Dr. Shroobs and Swiggler (left) and Shrooboid Brat (right)

In Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, a gray-colored Poison Mushroom can be an item used by the two Dr. Shroobs and also Swiggler in the battle against him. The Shroobs also resemble Poison Mushrooms. In addition, one of Shrooboid Brat's attacks involves spitting either Mushrooms or Poison Mushrooms at Mario and Luigi, though they are launched as the opposite of what he is given (if he is given a Mushroom, it is spit out as a Poison Mushroom, and vice versa). Like in the previous game, getting hit by a Poison Mushroom inflicts the brothers with the poison status effect.

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions

In Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions, the "Invincishroom" (now referred to as an Invincibility Mushroom) that Mario ate and got sick from was revealed to really be a misidentified Poison Mushroom that Captain Goomba and his squad found. Poison Mushrooms themselves retain their Super Mario 3D Land appearance in the remake.

Paper Mario series

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

“A snack made by Zess T. Eat it and it'll poison you!”

—In-game description

A Poison Mushroom in Bingo!

Poison Mushrooms, appearing as dull green mushrooms with pink spots, appear in the Paper Mario series starting with Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Poison Mushrooms are one of the pictures that the player can earn during a Bingo!, where they are drawn with faces. If three in a row appear, Mario's HP (as well as his partner's HP), FP and SP will all be cut in half and all of the audience members will leave.

Poison Mushrooms, shortened to Poison Shrooms, also appear as items later in the game. They can be created by Zess T. by mixing a Slow Shroom and Inky Sauce, Point Swap or Trial Stew and a Dried Bouquet. If Mario or his partner eats this mushroom, the user will lose half their HP and be afflicted with the poison status. In battle, there is a small chance that when eaten, the Poison Shroom will not poison its user, but will restore all HP instead. There is a common misconception that the Feeling Fine badge(s) are required for this to happen, but it is simply a random occurrence.

Paper Mario: Sticker Star

Kersti observing how Poison Mushrooms look "a little evil" compared to regular mushrooms.

In Paper Mario: Sticker Star, the Poison Mushroom returns as a Sticker, having the same appearance as in Super Mario 3D Land. It poisons Mario upon usage; however, the effect will also transmit to enemies that attack him in close combat while it is active. Another one of its effects is that it prevents Mario from wearing defense or evasion stickers such as Tails, Super Boots, and Frog Suits and their Shiny versions. The status can be removed if another status is inflicted on Mario or the enemy, including positive effects like the Power-up status. Poison Mushrooms also appear on the Battle Spin, and if three of them are lined up, a different tune will play and Mario will be poisoned, removing any positive status. However, he still gets three Sticker slots.

The sticker has the same Action Command as a Mushroom, but performing it is actually harmful to Mario, causing him to take additional damage as well as poison.

One is also used as a 'key' to open the door in Drybake Desert to enter the desert. Putting one inside of a Paperization Block will yield a Mushroom, Shiny Mushroom, a Flashy Mushroom, or three Shiny Leaves. A Toad in a back alley of Decalburg will sell the player a heavily overpriced Poison Mushroom (only once Hither Thither Hill is unlocked), but the player can negotiate to get the price down to 25 coins.

Mario Hoops 3-on-3

In Mario Hoops 3-on-3, Poison Mushrooms appear in ? Panels; they have purple caps and magenta spots. They make the player weaker and slower.

Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition

Poison Mushrooms make an appearance in Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition, as Dark Orbs, one of the five elemental orbs used in the game's puzzle board. Their design in this game is a hybrid of their appearances in Super Mario 3D Land and the Super Mario All-Stars remake of Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels.

They're also used as transformation items for Magikoopas, pairing them with a Dark-element Magikoopa, and for transforming enemies into their skeletal versions.

Other appearances

In the Super Mario Mash-up in Minecraft, Wither Roses are replaced by Poison Mushrooms.

Profiles and statistics

Super Smash Bros. series

Super Smash Bros. Melee trophy

Name	Image	Game	Description
Poison Mushroom		Super Mario All-Stars 08/93	Poison Mushrooms made their debut in Super Mario All-Stars, where they'd cost characters a life if picked up. These nasty fungi are dark and foul-tasting, and in Super Smash Bros. Melee, they make you shrink on contact. With your diminished stature comes a loss of power and mass, making you a prime target to get smashed offscreen with even a light attack.

Note: Poison Mushrooms debuted in Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, but its inclusion in Super Mario All-Stars was the first time that the game was released in any other region. In addition, they only cost characters a life if they were small; this implies that they do no matter what the circumstances are.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl trophy

Name	Image	Game	Description
Poison Mushroom		NES Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels	A penalty item that shrinks whoever grabs it. It's hard to distinguish from a Super Mushroom, so you may find yourself getting small when you wanted to get big. When you're in miniature form, your attack power drops, and even the lightest attack can send you off the stage. That being said, a small target's hard to hit. Your best plan when you're tiny may be to run.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U trophy

Name	3DS trophy	Wii U trophy	Category	Appears in	Trophy Box	Description
Poison Mushroom			Item	SNES Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels (08/1993) 3DS Super Mario 3D Land (11/2011)	9: Super Mario Bros. 2 & 3	Becoming giant and looming over your foes is pretty great, yeah? Well, that won't happen if you get this mushroom. It looks a lot like the Super Mushroom, but it's a slightly different color and its face is... unhappy. If you use this mushroom, you'll shrink down and be easy to send flying. So, you thought you'd nabbed a Super Mushroom, eh? Nope! Now you're tiny! If you'd looked more closely, you'd have seen it was a slightly different colour - it was a Poison Mushroom. Now you're mini, weak and very launchable. At least dodging's not hard when you're this size!

Mario Party series

Mario Party: The Top 100

Poison Mushroom:

Lowers a rival's roll by 2. Practice saying, "You wouldn't do that to me..." now.

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	毒キノコ Doku Kinoko	Poison Mushroom
Chinese	毒蘑菇 Dú Mógu	Poison Mushroom
Dutch	Giftige Paddenstoel	Poisonous Mushroom
French	Champi Borgia Champi Poison	Borgia Mushroom (the name is inspired by the Borgia family) Poison Mushroom
German	Giftpilz	Poison Mushroom
Italian	Fungo avvelenato Sfungo (Italian demo of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door) Fungo tossico (Paper Mario series)	Poisoned Mushroom From Fungo (the Italian word for Mushroom) and the letter "s". Toxic Mushroom
Korean	독버섯 Dok Beoseot	Poisonous Mushroom
Portuguese (Europe)	Cogumelo Venenoso	Poisonous Mushroom
Russian	Ядовитый гриб Yadovityy grib	Poisonous Mushroom
Spanish (Americas)	Champiñón venenoso	Poisonous Mushroom
Spanish (Europe)	Seta venenosa	Poisonous Mushroom