This article is about the normalKoopa Troopa shell. For the blue version of theSpiny Shell which appears as aMario Kart item, seeSpiny Shell (blue). For generic instances of blue-colored shells, seeKoopa Shell.

Blue Shell
Artwork fromNew Super Mario Bros.
First appearance	Super Mario World (1990)
Latest appearance	Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey (2018)
Variant of	Koopa Shell
Variants Giant Shell

Blue Shells, also known asBlue Koopa Shells,^[1] are blueKoopa Troopa shells that first appear inSuper Mario World. While occasionally worn by Koopa Troopas, they are more prevalent asitems thatMario orLuigi can use.

History[edit]

Super Mario series[edit]

Super Mario World[edit]

Blue shells first appear inSuper Mario World, either alone or on the back of a Koopa Troopa. As with other colors of shells, jumping on a Koopa Troopa will cause the shell to be removed, where it can then be held orthrown. WhenYoshi eats one, he willgrow wings and gain the ability to fly for a limited time, at the end of which he willswallow the shell.Blue Yoshi can gain this ability by eating a shell of any color. Yoshis can also spit the shell back out, in which case it will behave like aGreen Shell, flying out at high speed and defeating enemies in its way. If the player attempts to launch the shell back at a blueunshelled Koopa, it will stop the shell and kick it back at the player. If a green or red unshelled Koopa comes in contact with the Blue Shell (or kicks it right-side up if upside down), it will then jump in it and become that colored Koopa.

According to the Japanese Shogakukan guide for the gameYoshi, Blue Shells fromSuper Mario World are filled with refreshing mints and have an herbal scent.^[2]

New Super Mario Bros.[edit]

Blue shells appear again inNew Super Mario Bros., this time as a power-up. It turns Mario or Luigi intoShell Mario or Shell Luigi respectively upon contacting it. By using the Blue Shell, the player gains the ability toshell dash. While ducking or shell dashing, Shell Mario or Shell Luigi are invulnerable to almost anything, except for boss attacks (if hit byBowser, Mario will be knocked out of the shell dash, albeit still keeping the power-up), falling into a pit, poison, or lava. They can alsoGround Pound onSpinies to send them spinning in their shells, similarly to a Koopa Troopa when kicked. Additionally, the power-up allows them to swim faster and with more precision, similar to theFrog Suit fromSuper Mario Bros. 3.

The item can be collected by defeating a wanderingHammer Bro, stomping the Blue Koopa Troopa found in the Ice Stage of the Mario vs. Luigi mode, hitting aFlying ? Block, visiting aRed Toad House, or in aRoulette Block. However, it cannot be found in any of the normal? Blocks in the game.

TheNew Super Mario Bros. Player's Guide has an icon for Blue Shells in the legend for level maps, but it goes unused, as Blue Shells are not found in normal ? Blocks.

Mario Strikers series[edit]

A Blue Shell fromMario Strikers Charged

InSuper Mario Strikers andMario Strikers Charged, Blue Shells appear as items; in the latter game they are cyan and frosted with ice instead. They can be collected in a pack of three. When used, all three are fired at the opposing players, but do not home in like the Red Shell does. If a Blue Shell hits a player, they will instantly freeze in that spot. The effects wear off after a few seconds. The shells are able to hit and freeze both the player's and opponent's team members. They will continue bouncing around the stage until they either hit a player or disappear after a set amount of time.

A more effective version of this item is the blueGiant Shell, which appears individually and is able to run over players while continuing to move.

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story /Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey[edit]

The Blue Shell appears inMario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story andits remake as an item found in the overworld and once in theEnergy Hold in Bowser's Body. By strikingshell blocks, Mario can go in Blue Shells and turn into Shell Mario. Luigi can then hit Mario using hishammer to make Mario retract into the shell, spinning straight forward. This can be used to hit blocks in areas that Mario and Luigi cannot directly enter. Because the shell is so heavy, Mario cannot jump while wearing it. If he attempts to jump, he tosses the shell off of his body and it disappears. This serves a similar purpose toKooper andKoops's field abilities in thePaper Mario series.

Unused appearances[edit]

Mario Kart 7[edit]

A model of a Blue Shell exists inMario Kart 7's game files.^[3]

Profiles and statistics[edit]

Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook –Yoshi's Egg[edit]

青
気分爽快ミント味のこうら。のどにさわやかで、八ーブの香りがする。大都会の雑踏などでこのこうらを食べると、あまりの爽快さに空をも飛んでしまうという。^[2]

Blue
A fresh-feeling, mint-filled shell. It's refreshing in the throat, and has a herbal scent. It is said that if you eat this shell in a big city crowd, you'll fly in the sky from the sheer exhilaration.

Gallery[edit]

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  Super Mario Strikers

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  Super Mario Strikers

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  New Super Mario Bros.

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  New Super Mario Bros.

Names in other languages[edit]

References[edit]

• Shells
• Projectiles
• Animal power-ups
• Heads-Up
• Mario Strikers Charged items
• New Super Mario Bros. items
• Super Mario Strikers items
• Super Mario World objects

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• Articles with unsourced foreign names