Bob-omb

Bob-omb
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate artwork
Franchise	Mario
First appearance	Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic (1987, overall) Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (1996, Square Enix-related media)
Latest appearance	Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope (2022, overall) Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018, Square Enix-related media)
Variants King Bomb Mega Bob-omb Mezzo Bomb Microbomb Rob-omb

Bob-ombs are living, moving mechanical bombs with eyes, feet, and a wind-up key on the back. They first appeared in Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic, which was later remade into a Mario title, Super Mario Bros. 2. Since then, Bob-ombs have appeared in several Mario games, including some made by Square Enix. Bob-ombs make their first Square Enix-related appearance in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. A Bob-omb is generally either black or bluish-black in color. A Bob-omb flashes red and sometimes makes beeping sounds if it is about to explode.

History

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

A Bob-omb render from Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

In Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, Bob-ombs are first encountered in the Coal Mines. Here, they are normal enemies roaming around Moleville's local mining mountain, although they are featured quite prominently in the battle with Punchinello. In said battle, Punchinello summons three Bob-omb-type enemies (including new types, Microbombs and Mezzo Bombs) for every three defeated, each getting larger and more powerful every "stage" or Punchinello's remaining health. Towards the end of his battle, a seemingly insane Punchinello tries his Bob-omb-summoning act one more time by creating a King Bomb, although this one only ends up squishing him and allowing Mario and his party to collect the Star Piece he was guarding and save Dyna & Mite. In battle, Bob-ombs have average stats and no special attacks; however, when threatened, they can explode in a kamikaze attempt to cause one ally a lot of damage.

Later, a stronger, purple shoe-clad variety of Bob-omb called Rob-omb appears in Booster Tower. In the same location, a dormant Bob-omb can be found on a seesaw and used to bounce higher. Booster himself throws Bob-ombs as Para-bombs midway up the tower, though contact with them prompts a Rob-omb encounter instead. Similarly, one of the battle courses in Bowser's Keep features a Bob-omb in the overworld but Rob-ombs in battle. Bob-ombs also appear in one of the keep's action courses, where a pair pursues Mario as he balances on a control-inverting ball.

Super Smash Bros. series

A Bob-omb in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

Bob-ombs are a recurring item within the Super Smash Bros. series, appearing as early as the first game. They can be picked up and thrown at other characters to create an explosion, thus inflicting great damage or also knocking them out instantly. However, if they stay on the ground long enough, Bob-ombs stand up and walk around the stage by themselves and eventually stop and remain in their current spot to explode afterward. If a Sudden Death takes too long to finish, Bob-ombs appear and fall on the stage. Occasionally, a Party Ball drops multiple Bob-ombs onto the battlefield upon being opened.

In both Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, there is an obtainable trophy of a Bob-omb. In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, a Bob-omb appears as an Advanced-class support spirit that occupies one support slot. When used on a fighter, it equips them with a Bob-omb item at the start of a battle. The spirit's puppet fighters are three black Kirbys with increased movement speed, fought on the Mushroom Kingdom stage. Aside from the Spirit Board, the Bob-omb spirit can also be obtained from Sheldon's Place in World of Light for 1,000 Spirit Points.

Mario Sports Mix

Bob-ombs in the Mario Sports Mix party game Bob-omb Dodge

In Mario Sports Mix, Bob-ombs make a return as an item from the ? Panel. There is a party game named Bob-omb Dodge in which characters have to avoid explosions that the Bob-ombs make from the cannons. Apart from regular Bob-ombs, there are also green Bob-ombs and Mega Bob-ombs.

Profiles and statistics

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars stats

Bob-omb
	HP	FP	Attack	Magic attack	Defense
	90	100	50	1	38
	Magic defense	Speed	Evade	Magic evade	Morph rate
	10	1	0%	0%	0%
	EXP	Coins	Strong	Weak	Items
	4	0	None	Jump, Fire	Pick Me Up (5%)
	Location(s)	Bonus Flower	Yoshi Cookie	Special attacks	Spells
	Coal Mines	Defense Up! (40%)	None	None

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

Name	3DS trophy	Wii U trophy	Category	Appears in	Trophy Box	Description
Bob-omb			Item	NES Super Mario Bros. 3 (02/1990) Wii U New Super Mario Bros. U (11/2012)	9: Super Mario Bros. 2 & 3	This enemy lacks any kind of subtlety—a fuse on its head, a slowly turning key in the back, and two short legs to carry its little bomb body. You can figure out what happens next. When a Bob-omb starts flashing, you better start running! A bomb for a body, burning fuse on top, two little legs and a wind-up key spinning away on the back... We probably don't need to tell you what's going on here. Now, that doesn't happen too often! Then again, who knows? Maybe some people will look at a Bob-omb and think it's an eight ball having an identity crisis.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate spirit

No.	Name	Image	Series / game	Type	Class	Strength / effect(s)	How to obtain	Spirit battle
								Opponent(s)	Battle conditions	Stage	Song
50	Bob-omb		Super Mario Series	Support (1)	Advanced	Bob-omb Equipped	Sheldon's Place; Spirit Board	Kirby ×3	Rule: Item: Bob-omb The enemy's throwing type items have increased power The enemy has increased move speed	Mushroom Kingdom	Airship Theme - Super Mario Bros. 3

Gallery

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  Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars animated sprite