Checkpoint Flag

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Checkpoint Flag

Artwork fromSuper Mario Odyssey

First appearance

New Super Mario Bros. (2006)

Latest appearance

Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 (2025)

Effect

Lets the player continue from the checkpoint after they lose a life

Comparable
Teleport Flag Tuning fork

“It's the worst when you're playing through a super-longlevel and the Maker didn't place any Checkpoint Flags.”

—Nina,Super Mario Maker 2

ACheckpoint Flag (also known as amidway point,^[1]^[2]midway flag,^[3] orWarp Flag^[4]) is a recurring object that signifies acheckpoint in the platform games of theSuper Mario franchise. Checkpoint Flags are similar to theMidway Gates fromSuper Mario World. IfMario (or any other player character) loses a life after touching a Checkpoint Flag, he restarts where the Checkpoint Flag is. If Mario is in hisSmall form, the flag almost always restores him toSuper Mario. When the player touches a Checkpoint Flag, they are rewarded with 2,000points in some games.

History[edit]

Super Mario series[edit]

New Super Mario Bros.[edit]

Midway points first appear inNew Super Mario Bros. as white flags with a picture of amushroom on them. They are visible on the Touch Screen map only after Mario reaches a checkpoint zone (like inSuper Mario Bros.), although not all courses have checkpoints, such asGhost Houses. If Mario loses a life, he will restart the course from the checkpoint. However, if the player exits the course, plays another, then returns to said course, or gets aGame Over, they will have to start from the beginning.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii[edit]

Midway points reappear inNew Super Mario Bros. Wii. In this game, they appear as black flags withBowser's symbol on them. The first character who touches a midway point changes the flag's design to their own (Mario andLuigi's flags have the same colors and symbols as their caps (red with an "M" for Mario, green with an "L" for Luigi), and theToads' flags become their colors with their heads), and they gain 2000 points. Additionally, if a player character is inSmall form when they touch the midway point, they are restored to Super form, similarly to the Midway Gates inSuper Mario World. Some courses, such asWorld 2-Castle and theGhost Houses, do not have midway points.

If the character who touched the flag drops out of the multiplayer session after all players lose a life, the remaining players must start over from the beginning of the level. This is only possible with Luigi and the two Toads, as Player 1 has to play as Mario and cannot drop out.

Super Mario Galaxy 2[edit]

A Checkpoint Flag inSuper Mario Galaxy 2, before and after being activated

Checkpoint Flags make their 3DSuper Mario game debut inSuper Mario Galaxy 2, replacing invisible checkpoints fromthe previous game. Due to the game having ahealth meter and no score system, Checkpoint Flags merely save Mario's progress in the mission. Depending on which galaxy and mission the player is playing, there may be anywhere from one to several Checkpoint Flags positioned between the beginning and the end of the level. Some missions, such asThe Perfect Run, may not feature any Checkpoint Flags at all. In addition to having Checkpoint Flags activated by Mario or Luigi themselves walking into them, they can also be activated by theCo-Star Luma or byYoshi's tongue.

Super Mario 3D Land[edit]

Checkpoint Flags reappear inSuper Mario 3D Land with a similar appearance as inSuper Mario Galaxy 2, acting similar to how they did inNew Super Mario Bros. Wii (as the game lacks a score system), and like before, some stages, likeWorld 2-1, may not have Checkpoint Flags at all.World 8-Bowser: Part 2 has an invisible checkpoint at the start of the final battle.

New Super Mario Bros. 2[edit]

Checkpoint Flags reappear inNew Super Mario Bros. 2, acting as they do inNew Super Mario Bros. Wii. InCoin Rush, touching the flag does not give points, but adds 50 or 100 seconds to thetime limit. They also do not appear in every level of the game, like inRainbow,Ghost House, andWarp Cannon levels, as well asWorld 6-A.

New Super Mario Bros. U[edit]

A Checkpoint Flag inNew Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe

Checkpoint Flags appear inNew Super Mario Bros. U, acting as they did in prior 2D games. In theCoin Battle mode, touching the Checkpoint Flag rewards the player ten coins. The hoist of the flag is now wrapped around the pole.

Super Mario 3D World /Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury[edit]

A Checkpoint Flag inSuper Mario 3D World

Checkpoint Flags reappear inSuper Mario 3D World and itsNintendo Switch port, with a revamped appearance based on theSuper Mario Galaxy 2 andSuper Mario 3D Land ones, and acting as they did inNew Super Mario Bros. Wii. As in home consoleNew Super Mario Bros. games, their color and emblem corresponds to the character who touched it. Mario and Luigi retain their flag designs,Peach gets a pink flag withher crown,Toad has a blue flag with his face, andRosalina's cyan-colored flag shows aGrand Star. If two players are inSmall form, and one carries the other and touches the Checkpoint Flag while doing so, both players will become theirSuper forms.^[5]

Super Mario Maker /Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS[edit]

A Checkpoint Flag, in Super Mario Maker.

Checkpoint Flags inSuper Mario Maker.

Checkpoint Flags are included inSuper Mario Maker in an update released on November 4, 2015, and return as a base element inSuper Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS, gaining new sprites for theSuper Mario Bros.,Super Mario Bros. 3, andSuper Mario World styles; they replace theMidway Gate in the latter style, despite theGiant Gate still being present. They also appear slightly smaller than inNew Super Mario Bros. U. They can be placed in a course by shaking an arrow sign, and like an arrow, can be rotated. If a Checkpoint Flag is placed in a level, then in addition to clearing the course normally, players must also be able to clear the course from the checkpoint to upload their levels. Two Checkpoint Flags can be placed per stage, one in the main area of the course and one in a sub-area.

Super Mario Run[edit]

Checkpoint Flags appear inSuper Mario Run in Toad Rally mode, having the same design as in theNew Super Mario Bros. games. There is one in each course, placed roughly halfway through, and whichever of the two players passes by the flag first earns 10 coins. Once one player activates it, it has no effect on the other player. If the player activates it first, the flag will change into the current character's respective emblem. If the opponent activates it, the flag will turn gray with Bowser's emblem still on it. Unlike previous games, Checkpoint Flags do not turn Small Mario into Super Mario. Being the first to reach the Checkpoint Flag is noted in the post run summary by an icon of the flag; this icon uses the character's color and emblem even if they are the opponent.

Super Mario Odyssey[edit]

The Checkpoint Flag on the Odyssey in Super Mario Odyssey.

The Odyssey's Checkpoint Flag inSuper Mario Odyssey

Checkpoint Flags make a reappearance inSuper Mario Odyssey, providing a fast travel system. Every kingdom has multiple Checkpoint Flags (except theDark Side andDarker Side, which have none), and one also appears on the exterior of theOdyssey. When Mario touches one of them, the area's name is displayed. The Checkpoint Flag permanently changes over to the Mario version, as in even touching future Checkpoint Flags or leaving the kingdom does not cause them to reset. The most recent Checkpoint Flag touched is the one that serves as Mario's respawn point, though this is overridden by any other kind of checkpoint, which for the most part are transitions between different maps in a kingdom. Checkpoint Flags only appear on the primary map for a kingdom, not in any place that is off that map.Cappy canwarp Mario to any Checkpoint Flag he has ever touched by selecting it on the map, even if Mario is in a location that is not on the map. However, Mario must be on the ground and not locked within a boss battle to warp. All Checkpoint Flags that are underwater create abubble on contact, refiling Mario's air. Touching an unused Checkpoint Flag restores Mario's health.

There are 85 Checkpoint Flags in the game. However, the position of certain Checkpoint Flags can change due to certainobjectives starting or being completed, as the geography of each kingdom can change under these circumstances. In some cases, Checkpoint Flags can outright vanish between objectives, meaning they cannever be activated.

Archivist Toadette has two achievements, and therefore twoPower Moons to give out, for activating specific numbers of Checkpoint Flags. "Checkpoint Flagger" is rewarded for activating 40 Checkpoint Flags, and "Checkpoint Flag Enthusiast" is rewarded for activating 80 Checkpoint Flags.

The color of the Checkpoint Flags' poles vary by kingdom, and correspond with the color of the kingdom'sPower Moon. The Odyssey’s flagpole is always yellow, corresponding to either theCap Kingdom or theCascade Kingdom.

Checkpoint Flags inSuper Mario Odyssey
Kingdom	Color	Image
Odyssey Mushroom Kingdom Cap Kingdom Cascade Kingdom Cloud Kingdom Lost Kingdom Ruined Kingdom	Yellow
Sand Kingdom	Green
Lake Kingdom	Pink
Wooded Kingdom	Blue
Metro Kingdom	Brown
Snow Kingdom	Orange
Seaside Kingdom	Purple
Luncheon Kingdom	Cyan
Bowser's Kingdom	Red
Moon Kingdom	Beige

Super Mario Maker 2[edit]

A Checkpoint Flag in theNew Super Mario Bros. U (left) andSuper Mario 3D World (right) styles

Checkpoint Flags reappear inSuper Mario Maker 2; in theNew Super Mario Bros. U style, the flag is triangular instead of rectangular to better fit with the other checkpoint appearances in other styles. Despite the addition of slopes, Checkpoint Flags can now only be set in four directions instead of eight, and they provide no power-up effect by default in Course Maker. Instead, each Checkpoint Flag can hold a specific power-up, such as aFire Flower orSuper Star, whose effect will be provided when the player character activates the checkpoint.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder[edit]

Checkpoint Flags return inSuper Mario Bros. Wonder, acting as they did in prior 2D games. Additionally, if a Small character touches the Checkpoint Flag while wearing any of the "All (form) Power"badges, they will immediately power up straight into the respective form, bypassing the Super form. However, as only a Small character transforms by hitting a Checkpoint Flag, hitting the Checkpoint Flag in any other form will not turn the player into the respective form.

Super Nintendo World[edit]

Checkpoint Flags appear inSuper Nintendo World, where they bear red flags withMario'semblem. Upon interacting with the leaderboard kiosks beneath the Checkpoint Flags, visitors using Power-Up Bands will earn the "Checkpoint Flag" stamp on the official Universal Studios smartphone application.

Mario Strikers: Battle League[edit]

InMario Strikers: Battle League, Statues of a Checkpoint Flag with a clear red flag appear as goal-line decorations in the Strikers Club customization options forMushroom Hill.

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope[edit]

Main article:Teleport Flag

Objects similar to Checkpoint Flags, named Teleport Flags, appear inMario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope in every planet exceptCursa's stronghold, used as a fast travel system like Checkpoint Flags inSuper Mario Odyssey.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch)[edit]

An active Checkpoint Flag (left) and an inactive variant (right) in the Nintendo Switch remake ofMario vs. Donkey Kong

Checkpoint Flags appear in theNintendo Switch remake ofMario vs. Donkey Kong, but only when playing inCasual Style. They are always red and bear Mario's emblem, even if the player has not touched them yet. Every section of each level has one or more Checkpoint Flags, with the first being near but not necessarily at the start of the section. If a player is caught in situations where they would be normally defeated in Classic Style, they instead spend abubble to float back to the active Checkpoint Flag. If the player has no bubbles, they are defeated instead.

There can only be one active Checkpoint Flag at a time; sections with more than one Checkpoint Flag have all of the ones that are not the one closest to the start of the section initially rolled up and inactive. When the player touches an inactive Checkpoint Flag, that one will roll out and become active while the Checkpoint Flag that was active becomes inactive. These mechanics mean the player can activate checkpoints that have been activated in the past, whereas most games in the franchise do not allow the player to reactivate a checkpoint in this way.

Additionally, a miniature variant forKey Mini Mario can be found in Plus worlds.

Mario being transported back to a Checkpoint Flag while in a bubble