Poison Mushroom

Poison Mushroom
Type	Power-Up
Debut	Super Mario Bros. 2 (Japan)

The Poison Mushroom (also known as the Poison Shroom) is a recurring item from the Mario series. It is a harmful version of the Super Mushroom that will cause damage to or shrink the player.

Information

The Poison Mushroom is usually a deadly item that has the opposite effect as the Super Mushroom. It has several color variations. The most common versions are one that has only a slight color variation from the normal Super Mushroom and one that is purple. The purple version sometimes sports a skull symbol. Its exact effect varies from time to time, but it typically shrinks the character and/or does damage.

Appearances

Adventure Games

It was introduced in the Japanese Super Mario Bros. 2, where it would shrink Mario or Luigi down to normal size if they were using a power-up, or it if they were already small it would end their life. Remakes of the game (in Super Mario All-Stars and Super Mario Bros. Deluxe) altered the Poison Mushroom's appearance to make it look more different than the Super Mushrooms. They also made an appearance in Donkey Kong GB, where Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr. would sometimes toss them at Mario. In this game, they would temporarily shrink Mario and deprive him of his normal abilities. Additionally, some ghosts would toss small Poison Mushrooms in Luigi's Mansion, which would temporarily shrink Luigi, while making him lose treasure and leaving him temporarily incapable of using the Poltergust.

In Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3, Poison Mushrooms appeared in a World-e level that was based on the other Super Mario Bros. 2. Within that stage, it was possible to pull Poison Mushrooms out of the ground when pulling on grass. Poison Mushrooms would also appear in the Special Words of Super Mario 3D Land, where they would attempt to pursue Mario or Luigi as if they were sentient enemies. In Super Mario Maker 2, a similar item called the Rotten Shroom is available for levels made in any style except for the Super Mario 3D World style. They have the same effect as traditional Poison Mushrooms in other platformers and actively pursue the player. However, Rotten Shrooms bare a very different appearance, including a mushroom cap that appears to be a skull.

RPG Games

Similar items appeared in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars; the Bad Mushroom is sold at Seaside Town and can be used to poison enemies; while in Monstro Town, the Goombette Triplets sell corrupt mushrooms that, when used, actually turn the user into a mushroom and take away 30 HP. They also appeared in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door as Poison Shrooms, created by having Zess T. mix a Slow Shroom with Inky Sauce or a Trial Stew with Dried Bouquet. Eating it will cause the player to lose half HP and become poisoned, although there was also a chance that it would restore all HP if Mario was wearing the Feelin' Fine badge at the time. Within the game, it was said that Ghost T. died from eating a poison shroom. They also appeared in Super Paper Mario, where they were dropped by enemies and can be used in more recipes. Enemies similar to the Poison Mushroom also appeared in this game, known as Zombie Shrooms and Ghoul Shrooms. In Paper Mario: Sticker Star, the Poison Mushroom appeared as a sticker that will poison Mario and any enemies that physically touch him in that state. The sticker also acted as a key to open a door in the Drybake Desert.

Within the Mario & Luigi games, Poison Mushrooms can be used by enemies in battle and can poison Mario or Luigi if they are hit. They could be used by Trunkle and Popple in Superstar Saga; Dr. Shroobs, Swigglers and Shrooboid Brats in Partners in Time; and by Junker in the 3DS version of Bowser's Inside Story. A Poision Mushroom also played a role in the story of Superstar Saga, where Mario became sick after eating one that was misidentified as something called an Invincishroom, and Luigi had to seek Crabbie Grass in order to cure him.

Sports/Party Games

In Super Mario Kart, Princess Peach and Toad (when controlled by the computer) both can toss Poison Mushrooms at the player that will temporarily shrink them until they find a normal Mushroom. In Mario Kart Arcade GP and Mario Kart Arcade GP 2, the Poison Mushroom similarly appeared as a special item that Toad could use and temporarily shrinks whoever it hits. Poison Mushrooms could also appear from item panels in Mario Hoops 3-on-3, where they could make players slower and weaker.

Within the Mario Party games, Poison Mushrooms have been sometimes featured as objects that deduct points in minigames, and they have also appeared as a usable items within the games starting in Mario Party 3. The Poison Mushroom can be used on any player (including the user, except in Mario Party 7) to reduce the potential dice roll by at least half for the turn. After Mario Party 3, Poison Mushrooms have also appeared as items in Mario Party 5 (as Cursed Mushrooms), Mario Party 6 (in Solo Mode only), Mario Party 7 (through Koopa Kid Spaces only), Mario Party: Star Rush, Mario Party: The Top 100 and Super Mario Party. For their last few appearances, they specifically deduced two points from a player's roll, and the effects of multiple Poison Mushrooms could be stacked.

Other Appearances

Video Games

• Within the Super Smash Bros. series, the Poison Mushroom has appeared as an item starting in Super Smash Bros. Melee. In these appearances, they are a slightly duller hue of red from the Super Mushroom while sporting angry-looking eyes, and they temporarily shrink whoever they touch. Its appearance is accompanied by a trophy in Melee, Brawl and the 3DS/Wii U game.
• In Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition, Poison Mushrooms appear as Dark Orbs and can be used as Transformation items for Magikoopas.
• Through the Super Mario Mash-Up Pack available for Nintendo versions of Minecraft, Poison Mushrooms could replace Wither Roses in the game.

Trivia

• The item seems to be based on the poisonous properties of some real-life mushrooms, and how it can sometimes be hard to tell the difference.