Metal Mario
- This article is about the form characters take after obtaining aMetal Cap. For the musical theme fromSuper Mario 64, seeMetal Mario (theme).
| Metal Mario | |
|---|---|
Artwork fromMario Kart 7 | |
| Applies to | Mario,Luigi,Peach,Daisy,Yellow Toad,Blue Toad,Toadette,Yoshi,Red Yoshi, Light-Blue Yoshi, Yellow Yoshi,Nabbit,Wario,Dr. Mario,Bowser, any playable character inMario Party 6,Mario Party 7,Mario Kart Arcade GP,Mario Kart Arcade GP 2,Mario Kart Arcade GP DX, and theSuper Smash Bros. series |
| Item needed | Metal Cap (Super Mario 64) Power Flower (Super Mario 64 DS, exclusive toWario) Wonder Flower (Super Mario Bros. Wonder) Megavitamin (Dr. Mario 64) Heavy Mushroom (Mario Kart Arcade GP,Mario Kart Arcade GP 2, andMario Kart Arcade GP DX) Metal Mushroom Orb (Mario Party 6 andMario Party 7) Metal Box (Super Smash Bros. series) Metal Racket (Mario Tennis Fever) |
| Power(s) given | Invincibility, immunity to poison air, underwater breathing, increased strength and weight |
| First appearance | Super Mario 64 (1996) |
| Latest appearance | Mario Tennis Fever (2026) |
- “When you want to wrap yourself in nostalgia, and then in aluminum foil.”
- —Metal Mario Suit description,Super Mario Odyssey
Metal Mario (also known asMetal-Head Mario orMetallic Mario[1]) is a recurring power-up and variant ofMario that first appears inSuper Mario 64. Metal Mario is tougher, heavier, stronger, and virtually invincible except from long falls. This form is acquired through various means, such as by picking up aMetal Cap orMetal Box or using aMetal Mushroom Orb. Later games also feature other characters receiving the metal power-up, such asMario Party 6 and theSuper Smash Bros. series.
Metal Mario has also sometimes appeared as a separate character from Mario, such as being a late-game boss in certainSuper Smash Bros. games, one of the several opponents in theGame Boy Color version ofMario Golf, and a playable character in severalMario Kart games and other spinoff games of theSuper Mario franchise. His voice varies between games, with him sharing Mario's voice (inMario Golf), sharing Mario's voice but with a filter (inMario Tennis Open), or having unique lines and with a filter (such as inMario Kart 7). Some of his unique lines are altered versions of Mario's lines, such as "Mia mama" as opposed to Mario's "Mama mia" and "Papà" instead of "Mama."
History[edit]
Super Mario series[edit]
Super Mario 64 /Super Mario 64 DS[edit]
Debuting inSuper Mario 64, Metal Mario is first obtained after Mario enters the portal for theCavern of the Metal Cap in theHazy Maze Cave and automatically transforms. After hitting the greenMetal Cap Switch, he activatesgreen blocks, which dropMetal Caps. When he picks up the Metal Cap, he transforms into Metal Mario. In this form, Mario is invincible (although he can still take falling damage) and can destroy enemies just byrunning into them. Metal Mario is also very heavy, and as such, he can withstand strongwinds and underwatercurrents and can walk on the bottom of bodies of water. In addition, he does not need to breathe, meaning he can stay underwater and walk through poisonous gas. This power-up expires after a certain time; before the power-up disappears, Mario flickers to normal. Despite being heavy, Metal Mario still retains all his physical speed as well as his athletic jumping abilities, but he sinks inquicksand faster, and he cannot run underwater. Metal Mario vocalizes normally above water, but when underwater, he is silent.
Once the Metal Cap Switch is activated, Mario can transform into Metal Mario in the following courses:Whomp's Fortress,Bowser in the Dark World,Jolly Roger Bay,Hazy Maze Cave,Dire, Dire Docks,Wet-Dry World, andCavern of the Metal Cap.
The Hazy Maze Cave's missionMetal-Head Mario Can Move! contains onePower Star that can be obtained from using the power-up. In the large circular room filled with water and withDorrie, aPurple Switch is located underwater. Mario can transform into Metal Mario from the Metal Cap in the green block located in the entrance, near the elevator. As Metal Mario, Mario can then sink to the floor and activate the Purple Switch, which causes a gate to open. Behind the gate is a door to a hallway that contains a Power Star. For the missionsNavigating the Toxic Maze andA-Maze-Ing Emergency Exit, Metal Mario's immunity tostrange clouds can help Mario navigate the labyrinth.
Jolly Roger Bay's missionThrough The Jet Stream features a Power Star inside a strong current. Metal Mario can be used to easily obtain the Power Star. InDire, Dire Docks, Metal Mario can combine his Metal Cap with theVanish Cap, which enables him to go through certain walls while maintaining his metal form's strengths and weaknesses. With this combination, he can reach the Power Star in the missionCollect the Caps... Like in Jolly Roger Bay's mission, Metal Mario is used in the missionThrough the Jet Stream to resist a current so Mario can pass throughbubble rings and eventually collect the Power Star.
The music that plays when the player is Metal Mario is a techno arrangement of theStarman's theme (and by extension,Wing Mario's theme). Metal Mario'senvironment map texture (which is also found on the portals to the Hazy Maze Cave and Cavern of the Metal Cap) is actually a fisheye photo of a garden.[2] The pink colors evident on the metal are from flowers.
InSuper Mario 64 DS (herein known asMetal Power),[3] onlyWario can turn metallic by using aPower Flower (other characters must transform into Wario with theWario Cap). Since Power Flowers appear in more levels than the Metal Cap, the metal power can be used in more levels. Metal Wario can walk onlava andfreezing water, though after a while, he begins to sink, and if he goes below the surface, he loses a life, like with the slower quicksand. While sinking underwater, Metal Wario can also move freely, unlike Metal Mario, who only falls in a straight line. Like Metal Mario, Metal Wario vocalizes above water and is silent underwater, but unlike inSuper Mario 64, Metal Wario yells if he falls a distance underwater.[4] Metal Wario's other abilities and vulnerabilities are the same as Metal Mario's.
The missionCruiser Crossing the Rainbow inRainbow Ride is altered from the original so the Power Star appears at the end of the bowsprit instead of on the bow. Additionally, high winds can potentially block characters from obtaining the Power Star. Metal Power can be used to resist the winds and help Wario collect the Power Star. InChief Chilly Challenge, Luigi, transformed as Wario, uses Metal Power to cross a passing and resist high winds so he can break aBlack Brick for a Power Star. Due to the character dependencies of the Power Flowers, the mission Collect the Caps... has been renamed "Inside the Cage," and the metal power-up cannot be used to collect the Power Star inside the cage. Only Luigi can turninvisible from the Power Flower, but he can, however,swim fast enough to reach the Power Star in time. TheMega Mario andFire Power themes fromSuper Mario 64 DS are arrangements of Metal Mario's theme music.
Super Mario Odyssey[edit]
InSuper Mario Odyssey, a cap and outfit based on the Metal form'sSuper Mario 64 appearance (named theMetal Mario Cap and theMetal Mario Suit, respectively) can be purchased fromCrazy Cap stores. The outfit costs 2,000coins and is available after 540Power Moons have been collected, and the cap costs 1,000 coins and is available after 560 Power Moons have been collected, making it one of the last outfits to obtain in the game. Aside from allowing Mario to entera specific area in theMushroom Kingdom, this outfit is aesthetic and serves no other gameplay advantage. Clanking can be heard as Mario walks in the outfit, and Cappy makes an audible clink if he hits a wall when thrown. The description for the Metal Mario Suit is "When you want to wrap yourself in nostalgia, and then in aluminum foil," possibly implying that Metal Mario is specifically made of aluminum.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder[edit]
InSuper Mario Bros. Wonder, in the levelHigh-Voltage Gauntlet in Bowser's portion of thePetal Isles, playable characters (Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Princess Daisy, Yellow Toad, Blue Toad, Toadette, Yoshis, and Nabbit) take on a metallic form as the level'sWonder Effect. There is also a new variant of the Metal Mario theme fromSuper Mario 64. This variant of the metal form gives the characters a simple metal sheen (likely to prevent confusion among multi-colored Toads and Yoshis during multiplayer) and protects them from the enemies and the electricity in the level, as well as making them heavier than without the metal form. Touching electricity will charge the character, causing them to emit light and magnetically attract nearby coins for a time. Characters also have their voices filtered, though this is done with a reverb rather than Metal Mario's distorted voice in the spinoffs.
Super Mario (Kodansha manga)[edit]
Metal Mario appears in the second volume of theSuper Mario 64 arc of theSuper MarioKodansha manga series. In the third chapter, referred to as "Mario C", Mario enters the Cavern of the Metal Cap. He first activates the! Switch and then hits a! Block to get a Metal Cap. After easily defeating Snufits as Metal Mario, however, he falls into the current and gets taken to the moat of Peach's Castle. Still metallic, Mario reenters Hazy Maze Cave in Peach's Castle. TheScuttlebugs, who were attacked by Mario earlier, recognize Mario and try to escape, while severalSwoops andMonty Moles try to stop Mario, but he defeats them—the Scuttlebugs eventually fall into water and drown. Mario then takes off the Metal Cap so he can jump to a door on a higher part of the area, and he obtains a Power Star.
The form briefly appears as a gag in the third volume of the arc. Mario is in the downtown area ofWet-Dry World, and needs to be in Vanish form to reach a Power Star in the cage, but has only the Metal Cap and the Wing Cap. He is seen briefly in one panel as Metal Mario with a Wing Cap, and this results in his destroying the downtown area. Mario finally gives away his Metal Cap to a playfulUkiki during his time atTall, Tall Mountain. This turns the Ukiki into metal form.
Super Mario-kun[edit]
The 17th volume ofSuper Mario-kun includes a few appearances of the Metal Mario form, being based offSuper Mario 64. In the 12th chapter, the Metal power-up is prominently featured at the beginning. As Metal Mario, Mario is immune from the shots fired by several Snufits. The first instance of it, however, appears to be a dream as Toad shortly smacks Mario awake after. Mario later uses it in the same place as inSuper Mario 64, in the Metal Cavern, where he also easily takes shots from the Snufits. The Snufits, however, shoot water on him. Dorrie then emerges from the scene, chews Mario into a metal disk, and then spits Mario at the Snufits, defeating them.
The power-up briefly appears in the 13th chapter. Bob-omb Buddy kicks Mario into Unagi's mouth, only for Mario to escape from it and then defeat it with the Metal Mario powerup. Mario earns a Power Star and then retaliates by kicking the Bob-omb Buddy.
Mario no Bōken Land[edit]
Mario no Bōken Land is a Japanese activity book featuring events from several games. In theSuper Mario 64 segment, Mario uses the Metal Mario form to defeatEyerok. The powerup has various embossed katakana spelling "メタルマリオ" (Metaru Mario, or "Metal Mario") around his body.
Super Smash Bros. series[edit]
- SmashWiki article:Metal Mario
Super Smash Bros.[edit]
InSuper Smash Bros., the Metal Mario character makes his debut as a late-game boss encountered in Stage 9 out of 10 stages. He has hisown stage, which is playable only in the single-player mode of the game, and he has a unique series icon (being a metallic version of the Mushroom), stock icon, and a metallic-sounding announcer call unlike other games. Unlike the power-up's original invincibility, other characters can deal damage on him. He is, however, a far more durable character than the regular Mario; in fact, he is the heaviest and most resistant character in the game. When his damage percent is low, weaker attacks cannot flinch him, and attacks start flinching him only at far higher percentages. Due to his high weight, however, he has trouble recovering when he is knocked off the stage. Additionally, Metal Mario does not dash; he mostly patrols the stage, only attacking when his pacing is interrupted.
Metal Mario inherits Mario's attributes from the Japanese version of the game, and due to being stored as a separate character from Mario, this does not change between versions. As a result, some of his attacks have slightly different properties from Mario's in the North American and European versions, and his model has slightly different body proportions.
On a side note,Kirby is unable to copy Metal Mario's powers, which is later possible to do inSuper Smash Bros. Melee, due to his now being Mario with a modifier as opposed to a separate character.
Super Smash Bros. Melee[edit]
Starting inSuper Smash Bros. Melee and continuing in later games, players can pick up theMetal Box as an item and gain metal forms for a limited time. While metal, they are heavier; their jumping height is lower, their falling speed is faster, they do not flinch from weaker attacks especially at lower percentages, and they require higher percentages to be launched. Their voice effects are muted (though they still make sound effects where applicable, notablyMr. Game & Watch), and their footsteps make clanging metal noises. The metal duration can last shorter if players take enough damage.
In level 10 of the game's Classic mode, a random character in a permanent metal form is always one of the opponents.
In Adventure mode, the Metal Mario character returns as a mid-boss in Adventure Mode, being fought onBattlefield. Metal Mario fights alone by default, but if the player has unlockedLuigi, Metal Luigi appears as well. They both retain Metal Mario's strengths from the originalSuper Smash Bros.: they are very heavy opponents who are difficult to launch off thestage, but cannot recover once they are knocked down. However, they are far more aggressive than Metal Mario is in the previous game. KOing Metal Mario and Metal Luigi in Adventure Mode awards the player the "Metal Bros. KO" bonus, worth 8000 points.
Unlike Metal Mario, Metal Luigi does not reappear as a non-playable character in the subsequentSuper Smash Bros. installments.
Metal Mario also appears as one of the many collectibletrophies in the game.Yoshi's Island, a stage in the game, is reflected on the texture of Metal Mario's model on this trophy.
Super Smash Bros. Brawl[edit]
InSuper Smash Bros. Brawl, the metal form can be enabled as a setting in Special Brawl, as well as corresponding Special modes of the subsequent games, where it is permanent. In Classic mode, a character in metal form can appear at random from Levels 6 to 10.
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS /Super Smash Bros. for Wii U[edit]
Opponents in metal form, marked as intruders, can be encountered in the single player Classic Mode ofSuper Smash Bros. for Wii U. When the player chooses a battle in the first five rounds, one or more opponents might suddenly be replaced by an intruder, marked by a glowing yellow trophy base, even in a team battle. Intruders are always in a permanent Giant or Metal state, but leave a reward if they are defeated.
Additionally, the Metal Box is also available as a red item in Smash Tour, giving players the ability to start a battle in metal form. Crazy Orders may also feature a Metal Battle as a potential order option.
In Smash Run ofSuper Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, alongside theFighting Mii Team, normal-sized and giant Metal versions of the player's character may appear in the game's Multi-Man Smash Final Battle as opponents.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]
InSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate, Metal Mario appears as the final boss inBowser's classic mode route, appearing after Mario is defeated during the battle in a similar manner toGiga Bowser in Mario's route and inMelee. He also appears as a high-tier Ace-class Shield-typeprimary spirit, using hisMario Kart 7 artwork. Thespirit's trait increases a fighter's weight during battle, which helps a fighter's longevity but increases their falling speed, similar to Metal Mario's traits. The spirit itself has very high defense, even for an Ace spirit, though with low offense as a trade-off. Due to its high stats, it has only one available support slot. Since it is Shield type, it resists Attack-type spirits but is weak to Grab-type spirits. In the spirit's battle, the player faces a metallic Mario on the Battlefield form ofThe Great Cave Offensive as a reference to his battle on Meta Crystal in the originalSuper Smash Bros. due to both having large crystals.
Metal Mario's core can be combined with the cores of aSuper Mushroom and aFire Flower to summon theGold Mario spirit.
Metal Mario'sB Dasher, using theMario Kart 7 artwork, is also featured as a spirit.
Mario Golf[edit]
| Mario Golf character | |
|---|---|
| Metal Mario | |
![]() | |
| Drive | 285 yards |
| Shot | High Draw |
| How to unlock | Collect All 108 Birdie Badges (Western releases only). |
| Portrayed by | Charles Martinet |
Metal Mario makes his playable debut as an unlockable character inWestern releases ofMario Golf only. He is unlocked when all 108 Birdie Badges are collected. He boasts the strongest drives from his set of clubs, meaning he can hit the ball the furthest out of any character in the game, though his sweet spot and control come at a cost. Metal Mario's ball trajectory is a strong draw, meaning that the ball has a strong curve to the right. If Metal Mario scores aNice Shot while using a power shot, the ball goes into flames, which is shared with the other Mario characters, namely Mario andBaby Mario. Metal Mario shares his voice clips as Mario. In Japanese versions of the game, Metal Mario is absent.
Although Metal Mario does not physically appear in theGame Boy Color version, he is mentioned on the tournament board.
Mario Party series[edit]
Metal Bowser appears inMario Party 2. The winner onBowser Land heads to fight Bowser, but when they grab his tail, he transforms into Metal Bowser, making him impossible to lift. To deal with this,Toad offers aPower Star to give more power to the winner and thus, Metal Bowser is swung and thrown around the world. Crash-landing, Bowser's metal form is shattered to pieces, reverting him to his normal form.
The metal form also appears inMario Party 6 andMario Party 7 when one of the playable characters uses aMetal Mushroom Orb on themselves to avoid traps. InMario Party 6'sStar Sprint mode, the player can break obstacles while in their metal form. Also, inSpeak Up, when a player gets aCursed Mushroom Panel, Bowser makes a brief reference to Metal Mario, by saying, "Answer quickly or your bonus points will fall like a Metal Mario off anairship!"
Dr. Mario 64[edit]
In the story mode forDr. Mario 64, Metal Mario is encountered inWario's story if the story is played in Normal or higher difficulty without restarting a match once. After Wario defeatsRudy, Dr. Mario confronts Wario, who attempts to run off with theMegavitamins but trips overMad Scienstein, causing the contents of the bottle to be accidentally ingested by Dr. Mario that turns him into Metal Mario. After Wario beats Metal Mario, Dr. Mario returns to normal. Once he is beaten the first time, Metal Mario can be selected as a character in VS mode. In VS mode, Metal Mario has the highest AI level available, tying with both Rudy andVampire Wario.
Mario Kart series[edit]
Mario Kart 7[edit]
- “Metal Mario, the best!”
- —Metal Mario,Mario Kart 7
Metal Mario returns as a playable character inMario Kart 7, where he is unlocked by winning the 150ccSpecial Cup. He is one of the four drivers to enter theMario Kart series for the first time (the other three beingLakitu,Wiggler, andHoney Queen). He is a Heavy class character (alongsideBowser,Wario, and Honey Queen), with an advantage bonus of weight and some speed. Because he ranks among the Heavy class, Metal Mario is the fastest and heaviest character in the game, but he has the lowest acceleration and handling stats. Additionally, Metal Mario'skarts have the same body frame size as that of the Medium class characters, which makes him a smaller target than the other Heavy and Cruiser characters. His signature emblem is a shiny, metal version of Mario'sM logo. Bowser,Rosalina, or Mario always appear as rivals when he is picked.Mario Kart 7 is the first game in theSuper Mario franchise where Metal Mario is given a filter to differentiate his voice from Mario's voice, and he has a distinct set of voice clips from Mario as well. Additionally, Metal Mario's cap emblem is not entirely metallic, making it more easily visible on his cap, and his M emblem is silver, but shown as dark gray in some art for contrast. Metal Mario's appearance in theSuper Smash Bros. games, however, do not have this feature.
Metal Mario appears as the Normal and Expert StaffGhosts forNeo Bowser City andDS Airship Fortress.
Mario Kart 8 /Mario Kart 8 Deluxe[edit]
- “Let's-a-win!”
- —Metal Mario,Mario Kart 8
Metal Mario appears as a returning unlockable racer inMario Kart 8. Additionally, there is another metal character namedPink Gold Peach (who is classified in the same weight subdivision as Metal Mario). Like inMario Kart 7, Metal Mario is classified as a Heavy character, where he has high speed and weight, but lower handling, traction, and acceleration. His weight is the highest out of the roster, tied withBowser,Wario,Morton, the largeMiis, andDry Bowser. As a trade-off, he also ties with them in acceleration and traction, having the lowest in the roster. However, unlike these characters, he has slightly higher handling, trading off with lower speed, making these stats match those ofRosalina,Donkey Kong,Waluigi,Roy, andLink.
Metal Mario, if used in Grand Prix, does not have a set rival inMario Kart 8 unlike some other characters in the roster.
Also much like inMario Kart 7, Metal Mario's (as well as Pink Gold Peach's) vehicles use the same body frame size as the Medium class characters, making him a smaller and slightly harder target to hit. His kart emblem is a gray version of Mario's signature "M" symbol with a light gray outline.
As with every character playable inMario Kart 8, Metal Mario returns as a playable character inMario Kart 8 Deluxe, this time being available from the start. Additionally, Metal Mario has a Gold Mario variant, which can be unlocked by winning every 200cc Grand Prix cup.[5] Although Metal Mario's statistics have been slightly altered when compared to the originalMario Kart 8, he is still a heavy character, classified in the same weight subdivision as Pink Gold Peach. His weight, however, is still the highest in the game, but he now has slightly higher acceleration than Bowser, Wario, Morton, the large Miis, and Dry Bowser, which used to be tied for lowest in the game. He also has higher speed than Rosalina, King Boo, and Link, but lower than Waluigi, Donkey Kong,Wiggler, and Roy; his speed is tied with Waluigi, Donkey Kong, and Roy in the originalMario Kart 8. His mini-turbo is now slightly higher, matching Waluigi, Donkey Kong, and Roy, instead of having the lowest in the game, and he also has slightly higher traction.
As a CPU opponent, Metal Mario's body, tire, and glider combinations include the following:
- Standard Kart,Standard tires,Super Glider
- Tri-Speeder,Metal tires, Super Glider
- Jet Bike, Metal tires, Super Glider
- Standard ATV,Monster tires, Super Glider
Metal Mario is now part of therival system in the Grand Prix mode unlike in the originalMario Kart 8. If he is used, Pink Gold Peach is his rival and vice-versa. He also appears as the Staff Ghost used by Nin★Leonel forN64 Rainbow Road. This combo uses theStandard ATV,Monster tires, andSuper Glider.
Mario Kart Arcade GP DX[edit]
Metal Mario appears inMario Kart Arcade GP DX. Like his other playable appearances inMario Kart games, Metal Mario is a heavyweight, with high speed, but below average acceleration and handling. His kart is theMetal Spark. Similar toMario Kart 8 Deluxe, Metal Mario also has an alternate costume,Gold Mario, which not only changes Metal Mario's color scheme, but adds pupils to his eyes as well.
When used, theHeavy Mushroom turns racers and the karts metallic while granting them heavy weight. If they collide with rivals, they knock over the rivals and stop them. Metal Mario himself appears unchanged if he uses the item.
Mario Kart Tour[edit]
Metal Mario reappears inMario Kart Tour as a High-End driver. Hisspecial skill is theFire Flower, shared with his normal self. Metal Mario was featured in theBeta Test alongside aself-titled cup, and was added to the release version in theNew York Tour. There is a small chance Metal Mario can be received in the first pipe pull.[6] Metal Mario has two variants, Gold Mario and a new variant beingIce Mario. Ice Mario shares animations with Metal Mario, though Ice Mario's voice is shared with Mario's voice, but with a reverb.
Metal Mario has been featured as a large opponent in variousVs. Mega bonus challenges, such as the bonus challenge in the2019 Holiday Tour, theMario Bros. Tour and theSuper Mario Kart Tour, where he usesFire Flowers. In the bonus challenge in theMario Bros. Tour, he also usesLightning, and in the bonus challenge in theSuper Mario Kart Tour, he also usesSuper Stars. The bonus challenge in the2019 Holiday Tour returns in the2021 Yoshi Tour, and the bonus challenge in theSuper Mario Kart Tour returns in thePiranha Plant Tour.
Metal Mario has consistently appeared in regular tour pipes, including All-Clear Pipes, and is also a part of the base Daily Selects set. Additional availabilities for Metal Mario are listed in the following table by tour.
| Tour | Availability |
|---|---|
| New York Tour | Gold gift 250Grand Stars |
| Paris Tour (2019) | Gold gift 200 Grand Stars |
| Trick Tour (2020) | Metal Mario Pack $19.99 / €21.99 / AU$30.99 April 22, 2020–April 29, 2020 |
| Super Mario Kart Tour | Metal Mario Pack $39.99 / €43.99 / AU$62.99 September 9, 2020–September 23, 2020 |
| 1st Anniversary Tour | Token Shop 50event tokens |
| Mario vs. Luigi Tour (2020) | Team Mario Metal Mario Pack $19.99 / €21.99 / AU$30.99 November 25, 2020–December 2, 2020 |
| Rosalina Tour | Tier Shop 12,000coins December 16, 2020–December 22, 2020 |
| Peach vs. Daisy Tour | Token Shop 100team tokens |
| Mario Tour (2021) | Iron Cucumber Pack $39.99 / €43.99 / AU$62.99 March 16, 2021–March 23, 2021 |
| Bowser vs. DK Tour | Token Shop 100 team tokens |
| Summer Tour (2021) | Premium Challenges card completion reward |
| Mario vs. Peach Tour | Gold gift 100 Grand Stars |
| 2nd Anniversary Tour | Token Shop 100 event tokens |
| Halloween Tour (2021) | Tier Shop 12,000coins October 20, 2021–October 26, 2021 |
Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit[edit]
Mario and Luigi resemble their metal forms inMario Kart Live: Home Circuit if they equip the silver suit. The silver suit is unlocked if they receive gold trophies for all 100cc cups.
Mario Tennis Open[edit]
Metal Mario returns inMario Tennis Open as the final QR Downloadable Character. He is the only QR character who is not aYoshi. His type in this game is Power, and, as inMario Kart 7, his voice is a warbled variation of Mario's voice, although he has the same voice set as Mario otherwise. He is the strongest character in the game with the fastest serves, and his shots travel very quickly through the court. Due to his power and weight, he returns Chance Shots with little effect on him (if he returns them correctly), and his Chance Shots themselves have a longer-lasting effect on his opponents. He is one of the slowest characters in the game, however, and unlike Bowser, another slow character, he has below-average reach and a poor lunge, which makes it difficult for him to predict shots and react to them. Metal Mario's racket costs 1750 coins to buy at the Clubhouse for Miis to be able to use, where his racket can be paired with other Mario-themed costumes to get a boost in stats. Unlike the other Mario forms, only Metal Mario's racket is available, hinting at his later release as a QR character.
Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition[edit]
Metal Mario appears inPuzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition as a Leader, available with the game's digital update to version 2.0, unlocked after earning an S rank or higher in Course 3 of the Fixed Challenges inScore Attack. Metal Mario is a Dark/Dark attribute teammate with an HP rating of 4/6, an ATK rating of 5/6 and RCV rating of 2/6. Metal Mario's Skill,Metal Walk, changes Water Orbs on the Orb field to Dark Orbs, while his Leader Skill,Metal Shine, raises the ATK of the entire team by 3x if the player clears two Dark combos, or by 4x for three Dark combos or more. Metal Mario usesFruit andRare Fruit to raise his Skill Levels.
Metal Luigi also appears as a Leader, unlocked after earning an S rank or higher in Course 3 of the Free Challenges in Score Attack. Metal Luigi is also a Dark/Dark attribute teammate, having an HP rating of 3/6, an ATK rating of 5/6 and RCV rating of 3/6. Metal Luigi's Skill,Metal Dash, changes Light Orbs on the Orb field to Dark Orbs. Metal Luigi shares the same Leader Skill and Skill Up requirements as Metal Mario.
Super Mario Maker[edit]
While not an explicit appearance for Metal Mario, theSilver Mario and Gold Mario costumes fromSuper Mario Maker play the Metallic Mario music when aSuper Star is collected.
Mario Sports Superstars[edit]

Metal Mario appears as one of two unlockable playable characters inMario Sports Superstars, the other beingPink Gold Peach. He is unlocked separately in each sport, and players unlock him by clearing the respectiveStar Cups or if the player taps the appropriateamiibo card. In all sports, he is classified as a Power character, like inMario Tennis Open. In all sports, he relies on very powerful shots but usually at the cost of speed or finesse.
In soccer, Metal Mario and Pink Gold Peach boast the highest starting shooting stats out of any character in the roster. This means they shoot the fastest balls into the goal. His in-game power, however, matches Bowser, but he boasts a significantly higher shooting stat. His passing and speed stats, as a trade-off, are his lowest stats, and he has one of the lowest passing and speed stats in the roster. Metal Mario's amiibo card also shows low finesse, which means his shots are less accurate than shots made by other characters in the roster, including his counterpart Pink Gold Peach. If Metal Mario receives a star from clearing Star Cup, his power becomes maximum, and his speed and finesse stats see improvement. With a Superstar from an amiibo scan, Metal Mario sees these two stats receive further improvement.
In baseball, Metal Mario bats and fields with his right hand. Metal Mario is one of the few characters in the roster (along with Pink Gold Peach) that can pitch a ball of all types, though unlike other power characters, he and Pink Gold Peach have below average stamina, though higher stamina than the speed characters. This means that they tire more quickly, and the more they pitch, more difficult it is to pitch a desired ball speed and curve. As a power character, his strongest stats are his hitting and fielding, meaning that he can hit farther with his bat and potentially score homeruns. Despite his card listing lower than average velocity, his pitch speed at 138 km/hr is the highest base speed in the roster, beating even speed characters that typically have high velocities. Metal Mario's lowest stat by far is his speed, which is one of the lowest in the game (however still higher than Bowser's or Rosalina's), but his stat improvements are focused on his speed: with a superstar boost from the amiibo card his speed is increased significantly to the point he can outpace even other boosted superstar Speed-type characters barring Diddy Kong.
In tennis, Metal Mario plays similar to his version inMario Tennis Open. He has the same displayed stats on the amiibo card as Pink Gold Peach and receives similar boosts to her.
In golf, his default drive is 228 yards, the second highest in the roster (after Bowser), and his shots travel very high in a draw trajectory, making it more affected by wind than any other trajectory, though he can more easily traverse over taller obstacles. Metal Mario must be unlocked separately for each sport by winning theStar Cup in each sport's tournament mode or by tapping in a corresponding Metal Marioamiibocard.
In horse racing, Metal Mario has similar stats on his amiibo card to Pink Gold Peach, including boosts. In-game stats show that Metal Mario, compared to Pink Gold Peach, sacrifices a small amount of turning for better stamina. Metal Mario, as he is a power character, specializes in recovery while trading off for lower speed and turning. This means his horse tires less quickly when he is boosting. Metal Mario's AI uses the basic all-around horse similar to Mario's AI, including a similar coat, but his decorations do differ in harder difficulties. In the Advanced difficulty, his horse wears a gray regular bridle and saddle with silver star ornaments. In Pro difficulty, his horse has the complete set of white-colored European-style accessories.
Most of Metal Mario's animations are identical to Mario's, with a few exceptions:
- If Mario scores adouble bogey or worse in golf, aGreen Shell hits him and he reverts toSmall Mario. If Metal Mario scores a double bogey, he is hit by one shell before getting buried by many Green Shells andRed Shells, although he retains his form.
- In baseball and soccer, Mario's special shots surround the ball in red fire. Metal Mario's special shots surround the ball in gray flames.
Metal Mario additionally has Fire Flower gear similar to Mario, though grayscale. As with the rest of the cast, Metal Mario has special amiibo cards that boost his stats. Unlike most of the cast, several of his cards feature Metal Mario in original poses, with only golf using recycled art.
Merchandise[edit]
Metal Mario has received some merchandising including plushies and mini figures. Some of them promoteSuper Mario 64, Metal Mario's game of origin, while several promoteMario Kart 7 andMario Kart 8, which have featured Metal Mario as part of the playable roster. Metal Mario has been included in various lines ofJakks PacificWorld of Nintendo series as a minifigure, posed in a fist-bump similarly to Mario as well as the other Mario powerups. He has an articulated figure in the same series, which has an includes a goldtrophy fromMario Kart 8 as an accessory. He has also received a plushie in the series, having a metallic fabric material. The Japanese plushmakerSan-ei has released Metal Mario in a wave withDry Bowser, which was first announced in late 2019[7] and later distributed by Little Buddy. Metal Mario is featured alongside other power-ups in theSuper Mario Power Up series, such as the keychains. The silver Marioamiibo resembles Metal Mario, though scanning it inSuper Mario Odyssey unlocks the golden outfit rather than Metal Mario's outfit.
Metal Mario also has a themed controller as part of the Wii U fight pad series alongside Mario, Luigi, Wario, Peach, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Link, and Samus.
Some of the merchandise featuring Metal Mario includes his eye details such as the The World of Nintendo plush and minifigures as well as theSuper Mario Power Up series. Other merchandise, however, lack the eye details, more closely resembling Metal Mario in most games, such as the plush from the San-ei brand as well as the pull-up race cars.
List of appearances[edit]
| Title | Description | Release date | System/format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Super Mario 64 | Power-up | 1996 | Nintendo 64 |
| Super Smash Bros. | Boss | 1999 | Nintendo 64 |
| Mario Golf | Unlockable playable character (Western releases only) | 1999 | Nintendo 64 |
| Mario Artist: Paint Studio | Stamp | 1999 | 64DD |
| Mario Party 2 | Power-up (Bowser) | 1999 | Nintendo 64 |
| Dr. Mario 64 | Secret boss, unlockable playable character | 2001 | Nintendo 64 |
| Super Smash Bros. Melee | Power-up, trophy, boss | 2001 | Nintendo GameCube |
| Nintendo Puzzle Collection (Dr. Mario) | Unlockable playable character | 2003 | Nintendo GameCube |
| Mario Party 6 | Power-up | 2004 | Nintendo GameCube |
| Super Mario 64 DS | Power-up (Wario only) | 2004 | Nintendo DS |
| Mario Party 7 | Power-up | 2005 | Nintendo GameCube |
| Super Smash Bros. Brawl | Power-up | 2008 | Wii |
| Mario Kart 7 | Unlockable playable character | 2011 | Nintendo 3DS |
| Mario Tennis Open | Unlockable playable character (scan QR Code) | 2012 | Nintendo 3DS |
| Mario Kart 8 | Unlockable playable character | 2014 | Wii U |
| Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS | Power-up | 2014 | Nintendo 3DS |
| Super Smash Bros. for Wii U | Power-up | 2014 | Wii U |
| Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition | Playable character (leader teammate) | 2015 | Nintendo 3DS |
| Mario Kart Arcade GP DX | Playable character (playable in update in July 1, 2015) | 2015 | Arcade |
| Mario Sports Superstars | Unlockable playable character | 2017 | Nintendo 3DS |
| Mario Kart 8 Deluxe | Playable character | 2017 | Nintendo Switch |
| Super Mario Odyssey | Unlockable costume | 2017 | Nintendo Switch |
| Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | Power-up, spirit, boss | 2018 | Nintendo Switch |
| Mario Kart Tour | Unlockable playable character | 2019 | iOS, Android |
| Super Mario 3D All-Stars | Power-up | 2020 | Nintendo Switch |
| Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit | Unlockable costume for Mario and Luigi | 2020 | Nintendo Switch |
| Super Mario Bros. Wonder | Form for Mario and friends during aWonder Effect | 2023 | Nintendo Switch |
Profiles[edit]
- Main article:List of Metal Mario profiles and statistics
Metal Mario is depicted as a slow, super heavyweight character that specializes in high amounts of weight, defense, and offense (with usually the highest power of the roster, rivaling or even surpassing Bowser) at the immense cost of agility (though if the player scans an amiibo card for baseball, Metal Mario is granted high speed), withMario Kart 7 adding that his size contrasts with his sturdiness.Mario Kart 7 has additionally stated that Metal Mario is Mario's rival, though this has not been mentioned otherwise.
Gallery[edit]
- For this subject's image gallery, seeGallery:Metal Mario.
Artwork of Metal Mario inHazy Maze Cave inSuper Mario 64
Stamp fromMario Kart 8
Screenshot fromSky Peak 1 fromMario Sports Superstars
Render of Metal Mario inSuper Mario 3D All-Stars
Multimedia[edit]
Music[edit]
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Metal Mario's voice[edit]
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See also[edit]
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | メタルマリオ[?] Metaru Mario | Metal Mario | |
| Chinese(Simplified) | 金属马力欧[8] Jīnshǔ Mǎlì'ōu | Metal Mario | |
| Chinese(Traditional) | 金屬瑪利歐[9] Jīnshǔ Mǎlì'ōu | Metal Mario | |
| Dutch | Metalen Mario[10] | Metal Mario | |
| French(Canadian) | Mario de métal[10] | Metal Mario | |
| French(European) | Mario de métal[?] | Metal Mario | |
| Métal Mario[11] | |||
| German | Metall-Mario[10] | Metal Mario | |
| Italian | Mario metallo[10][12] | Metal Mario | |
| Testa di Ferro[13] | Iron Head | Wario variant | |
| Korean | 메탈마리오[?] Metal Mario | Metal Mario | |
| Portuguese(Brazilian) | Mario metálico[14] | Metallic Mario | |
| Portuguese(European) | Mario Metálico[?] | Metallic Mario | |
| Russian | Марио-металл[?] Mario-metall | Metal Mario | |
| Spanish | Mario de Metal[14] | Metal Mario | Sometimes written asMario de metal |
Notes[edit]
- Prior to Metal Mario's debut,Shigeru Miyamoto possibly hinted at a later appearance of such a power-up during an interview inNintendo Power'sMario Mania Player's Guide published in 1991. Miyamoto reportedly said:"Who knows what Mario will look like in the future? Maybe he'll wear metallic clothes!"[15] The Metal Mario form's first appearance was in 1996, five years later. One of the earliest visual depictions of a metallic Mario, however, occurred in aSuper Game Boy commercial, which predates Metal Mario's first appearance by two years.[16]
- Metal Mario is often portrayed with blank, iris-less eyes, though some depictions do show an iris, such as in official art forPuzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition and in some merchandise such as JAKK's Pacific World of Nintendo series and the Super Mario Power Up keychains.
- InMario Kart Arcade GP DX and theSuper Smash Bros. series,PAC-MAN is able to take a metal form using theHeavy Mushroom andMetal Box, respectively. Incidentally, PAC-MAN previously was given a Metal Mario analogue form in thePac-Man World series (called "Chrome" inPac-Man World andPac-Man World 3, and "Steel Ball" inPac-Man World 2), granting him the ability to walk underwater and become invincible.
References[edit]
- ^Super Mario 64 Original Soundtrack
- ^Kid Leaves Stoop (March 19, 2021).The most overused game graphic you never noticed | Texture Archaeology (01:54).YouTube. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
- ^2004.Super Mario 64 DS instruction booklet.Nintendo of America (American English). Page 21.
- ^Jackson, Ben J.."Super Mario 64 DS - Jolly Roger Bay Star 7 - Through The Jetstream" (00:46).YouTube. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
- ^nintendaan (March 10, 2017).NOE PR - RACERS OF ALL AGES CAN LAUNCH OFF THE GRID ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, WITH ANYONE, WHEN MARIO KART 8 DELUXE RACES ONTO NINTENDO SWITCH ON 28TH APRIL.GoNintendo. Page 1. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
- ^Ell10t (July 27, 2020).Metal Mario in "After Tutorial" Pipe inMario Kart Tour.YouTube. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
- ^@sanei_NLG (November 21, 2019).https://x.com/sanei_NLG/status/1197696319466307584?cxt=HHwWgICo6Z6diZ8hAAAA.X. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
- ^Final cast of the characters inDr. Mario 64 as localized by iQue
- ^Nintendo Switch 佳節禮物遊戲大合集.Nintendo HK (Traditional Chinese). Page 5. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
- ^abcdSpirit inventory (7 Dec. 2018).Super Smash Bros. Ultimate byNintendo,Sora Ltd., andBANDAI NAMCO Studios Inc.Nintendo.
- ^Super Mario™ 3D All-Stars pour la console Nintendo Switch™.Nintendo.com (French). Archived January 16, 2021, 20:20:58 UTC from the original via Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
- ^«Raccogli un metal cap per trasformarti in Mario metallo.» – Wing Mario. Guida illustrata ai potenziamenti di Super Mario.Nintendo Today! (Italian). Retrieved 28 Aug. 2025.
- ^2005.Super Mario 64 DS European booklet.Nintendo of Europe (Italian). Page 97.
- ^abNintendo Today!
- ^VGArtAndTidbits (October 11, 2018).Shigeru Miyamoto interview from the 1991 book “Mario Mania” - the official Super Mario World strategy guide. Also included is isolated and cleaned art of Yoshi’s concept sketch from the upper left corner of the third page..X.
- ^Japancommercials4U2 (December 29, 2009).Super Game Boy JPN Commercial.YoUTube. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
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