Top 10 Mario Bros Power Ups

(Now your playing with power) Mario power, that is. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Mario Bros. Power-Ups.

For this list we looked at the ongoing, quirky list of Mario’s power-ups, from the beginning of his adventures to his newer, intergalactic, cat suited journeys. We only looked at the platform Mario games, so any power ups that are exclusive to Mario’s RPGs, parties, karts, and other sports are out. Also, after much debate, Yoshi’s is out since we consider him a character.

When this game debuted we had already gone through raccoon tails and capes, was a hat with wings the next step in Mario flight? We searched the castle for clues, but who would think to look up into the sunlight after collecting 10 stars? The answer to Mario’s 3D flying had been right at the castle entrance the whole time. Flying may have been temporary, but exploring the 3-dimensional skies to a variation of the Starman theme made us feel unstoppable.

Go big or go home, as they say, but Nintendo may have taken it a bit too far. We all know what the normal mushroom does, right? It makes Mario big. At least, we thought he was pretty big, but that was until Nintendo decided to take a page from Rita Repulsa’s book on how to grow things. With this power up, Mario grows as tall as the stage itself where you can literally crush everything in your path. There won’t be much of a Mushroom Kingdom to protect if he keeps this up.

One of Mario’s most annoying foes are a group of brothers who chuck hammers at you. They usually have terrible enemy placement or walk towards you -- thanks “Lost Levels.” But what if you could turn the tables and nail those jerks in the face with a hammer? What if you could knock out ghosts, thwomps, and the King of Koopas himself? Clearly, you’d go mad with hammer power, which has to be the reason why this power up only exists in one game.

Here’s a secret about the savior of the Mushroom Kingdom: he’s a fan of Heavy Metal. We’re not talking about the music, we actually mean metal: the hard, shiny kind that should, most definitely, not be drenched over your body. While it sounds crazy to channel Colossus in a fast-paced platform adventure, this power up had a few amazing perks: you became completely indestructible, could run through toxic gas, and walk on the ocean floor. How does Mario see when his eyes are completely metal? Don’t ask questions.

While Mario doesn’t have a pesky fear of drowning like Sonic does -- sometimes (Show Mario Drowning) -- it can still be a hassle to get through the deep blue sea... unless if you acquire the frog suit. Its incredible control in the water makes it the best swimming power up that Mario has ever had, although this does come at a cost of hindered movement on land. Sadly, it has only appears in one game. Other suits have come along to duplicate its abilities, but we still miss the novelty of the plumber turned frog.

(Incredibles Clip: “NO CAPES”) We know, we know, but we have to make an exception this time. Mario really earns the “super” in his title with this one. This wasn’t the first time Mario took to the skies, but it was the first time he could do it indefinitely ... except for the P-Wing, but that wouldn’t carry over into the next stage. The cape also doubled as a weapon with a painful dive attack and dizzying spin attack. All and all, the cape was both functional and heroically fashionable.

There are actually a few variations on this power up. First there’s the Super Leaves which introduced Mario to the ability of flight, but then we slipped into something more cuddly, with a suit that could turn into a statue. Tanooki Mario did return in later games, but the properties of this classic suit were, well... neutered. The new generation of Tanooki plumber can’t become a statue unless if you get a Statue Leaf. As for flying? Apparently, soaring into the sky is something only 2D Tanookis can do.

As you run through the Mushroom Kingdom, you’re severely outnumbered. There’s koopa troopas to the left and goombas to the right. But then you hit a brick and you see it: a star. What does it do, you wonder, so you catch it. Its power envelopes you as an upbeat tempo plays in the background. You realize, as you touch your enemies, that they’re eradicated upon impact because you’re Invincible. So run, Mario, run, with your twinkling yellow -- sometimes colorful rainbow -- star and kill them all!

Roses are red. Violets are blue. Mario’s flowers incinerate you. Stomping on enemies is great and all, but why scuff up your shoes when you can try your hand at some floral pyromania. This flaming flower has been in Mario’s arsenal since the eighties, and its been setting Bowser’s minions on fire ever since. Whether you’re on land or underwater -- still not sure how that works -- nothing says battle ready like a bright orange flower.

Before we get to our number one, let’s power up for some honorable mentions:

Kuribo’s Shoe
“Super Mario Bros. 3” (1990)

Bee Mushroom
First appearance: “Super Mario Galaxy” (2007)

Double Cherry
First appearance: “Super Mario 3D World” (2013)

Super Bell
“Super Mario 3D World” (2013)

Penguin Suit
First appearance: “New Super Mario Brothers Wii” (2009)

This may seem like an odd choice compared to feathers, flowers, and stars, but, simply put, you can never forget your first (Donkey Kong Hammer)... well, second Power Up. While it can’t help you fly, set enemies on fire, or grant invincibility, we always turn to this growth inducing fungus when we’re in a pinch. Here’s the thing that’s really gonna mess with your head though. Is Mario full sized with the mushroom, or without it. Does it turn him from midget to normal person, or normal person to orge man? Nobody can ever really give me an answer.

Do you agree with our list? Which power up is a must have for your princess saving adventures? For more mushroom powered top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.