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In Super Mario Galaxy, start with a jump, a spin, or a Star Bit—but watch what each enemy does, because many require a specific counter. Some are hazards to avoid rather than foes to defeat. This guide covers common enemies in the game as played in Super Mario 3D All-Stars; it does not cover bosses.
Start with the three basic attacks
Nintendo’s Super Mario Galaxy instruction manual says most enemies can be defeated by jumping on them, stunning them with a spin, or shooting them with a Star Bit and then running into them. It also cautions that some foes need a particular action against a weak point, an item, a mechanism, or a returned attack.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Super Mario 3D All-Stars - Nintendo Switch | $119.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Super Mario 3D All-Stars - Nintendo Switch (Renewed) | $133.94 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Super Mario 3D All-Stars (EU Region-Free Version) | $119.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Super Mario 3D All-Stars (Nintendo Switch) (European Version) | $141.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Super Mario 3D All stars (European Version) | $147.98 | Buy on Amazon |
- Jump: Land on a vulnerable enemy. Some, such as Goombeetles, must first be knocked onto their backs with a spin.
- Spin: Shake the controller to stun certain enemies, repel attacks, or interact with objects. A midair spin also works as a spin jump.
- Star Bit: Point at an enemy and press B to fire. Against some targets, this stuns or exposes them; run into the target afterward if needed.
Other moves and objects matter too. A ground-pound can topple some enemies or activate nearby mechanisms. Shake near a shell or other pickup to grab it, then shake again to throw it. Fire Mario can throw fireballs, while Rainbow Mario defeats any enemy it touches for the duration of the transformation.
Common enemies and how to handle them
The tactics below are a practical reference for common foes, not an official exhaustive enemy classification. If an attack does not work, watch the enemy’s movement and look for a weak point or an object in the environment that can be used against it.
#1 Best Overall
- Discover (or rediscover) three of Mario’s most memorable adventures all in one package—available on the Nintendo Switch system
- Take these three adventures on the go with the Nintendo Switch system’s handheld or tabletop mode
- Jump into paintings to collect Power Stars and save Princess Peach in the Super Mario 64 game
- Spray away paint-like goop with the help of your water-spouting friend, FLUDD, in the Super Mario Sunshine game
- Travel from planet to planet and power up Rosalina’s Comet Observatory in the Super Mario Galaxy game—motion controls and a two-player Co-Star mode included
Beetles, bats, and Goombas
- Bat: Spin or jump on it. Ice Bat: Hit it with a Fire Flower fireball.
- Big Goomba: Jump on its head. Goomba: Jump, spin, or stun it with a Star Bit and run into it. Mini Goomba: Jump on it.
- Goombeetle: Spin to knock it over, then jump on it.
- Flipbug: As regular Mario, approach to flip it over, then jump on it. Avoid it while playing as Bee Mario.
Pokeys and plant-like enemies
- Big Pokey / Pokey: Throw a coconut at its lower segments, then jump on its head. Pokey Head: Spin or jump on it.
- Piranha Plant: Stun it with a Star Bit, then jump on its head. Spiny Piranha Plant: Strike it with a green bulb.
- Jack O’Goomba: Ground-pound it.
- Wiggler: Ground-pound nearby to flip it, then jump on it.
Water-dwelling enemies
- Blooper: Spin or throw a Koopa Shell. Cheep Cheep: Spin or jump on it.
- Gringill: Throw a Koopa Shell. Jammyfish: Spin or throw a Koopa Shell. Jellyfish: Hit it twice with a Koopa Shell.
- Skeletal Fish Guard: The cited common-enemy guide reports that it can be defeated only in areas where it can be led to the surface.
- Spiny Cheep Cheep: The cited guide does not establish a defeat method.
Bombs, Boos, and projectiles
- Bob-omb: Spin close to pick it up, then throw it. Bomb Boo: When it nears, spin to swing it by its tongue, then throw it.
- Boo: Spin to stun it or knock it into light. The guide also lists green shells and Captain Toad’s helmet as ways to deal with it.
- Bullet Bill: Bait it into a wall and dodge at the last moment.
- Chain Chomp: Use a Rainbow Star, Bob-omb, or green bulb. Gold Chomp and Mini Wanwan: Touch them while using a Rainbow Star.
Other ground and mechanical enemies
- Ball Beamer (Bolt type): Spin to unscrew it. The Nut type is listed as a hazard to avoid.
- Cluckboom: Shoot it with a Star Bit, then hit it. Crabber: Get behind it and attack its rear.
- Dry Bones: Use a Rainbow Star, lure a Bullet Bill into it, or make it sink in quicksand.
- Li’l Brr / Li’l Cinder: Spin or use a Star Bit to remove its cloud, then kick it while stunned.
- Lava Bubble (blue): Shoot it with a Star Bit. Magikoopa: Spin or jump on it.
- Mandibug: Ground-pound its back. Micro Mecha-Bowser: Ground-pound it.
- Monty: Keep your distance; shoot a Star Bit or ground-pound nearby to knock it over.
- Octoguy / Octoomba: Jump on them. Octopus: Spin a coconut back and throw it.
- Petapeta: Stand still to locate it, spin to stun it, then jump on it.
- Slurple: Spin or shoot it with a Star Bit. Spoing: Jump on it or spin into it. Sprangler: Jump on it or spin twice.
- Spiky Topman: Spin it off a ledge or into lasers. Spring Topman: Bump it off a ledge or into an electrical fence. Topmini: Spin it.
- Torpedo Ted: Make it crash into a wall, or touch it while using a Rainbow Star.
- Urchin (buried): Ground-pound nearby to topple it, then jump on it. Urchin (land): Throw fireballs or lure it into lava.
Hazards and foes to avoid
Not everything in an enemy list has a reliable attack that defeats it. The common-enemy guide marks these as hazards or objects to avoid rather than defeat with ordinary attacks:
- Amp and Big Amp
- Ball Beamer (Nut type)
- Banzai Bill
- Bomp
- Clampy
- Ring Beamer
- Thwomp
- Tox Box
- Tweester
That guide also says Jump Beamer, Jump Guarder, and Sentry Beam cannot be defeated, though they can be stunned, blocked, or navigated. Focus on timing, cover, and a safe route rather than repeatedly attacking them.
Rank #2
- Does not come with original case or manuals; game cartridge only
- Discover (or rediscover) three of Mario’s most memorable adventures all in one package—available on the Nintendo Switch system
- Take these three adventures on the go with the Nintendo Switch system’s handheld or tabletop mode
- Jump into paintings to collect Power Stars and save Princess Peach in the Super Mario 64 game
- Spray away paint-like goop with the help of your water-spouting friend, FLUDD, in the Super Mario Sunshine game
Choose a counter by what the enemy is doing
- It exposes a back, head, or underside: Wait for the opening, then jump or ground-pound the weak point.
- It throws or fires something: Try spinning to return the attack, or use a shell or another nearby object if the enemy’s entry calls for one.
- It is protected or armored: Look for a way to flip it, stun it, or use the environment—such as a ledge, wall, lava, quicksand, or electrical fence.
- It is listed as an obstacle or indestructible foe: Avoid its path, use cover, or wait for a safe opening to move past.
These counters follow the general advice in Nintendo’s instruction manual: observe the enemy, use the appropriate move, and target its weakness rather than assuming every foe can be beaten by a jump.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 0045496426675
Rank #4
- 3 Games, 1 Star-Studded Collection!
- Discover three of Marios grandest 3D adventures with Super Mario 3D All-Stars on Nintendo Switch!
- Includes Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario Galaxy
- Optimised for Nintendo Switch with updated HD graphics, Joy-Con controls, as well as a music player featuring the epic soundtracks from all three games!
Rank #3
- Back of box is in Spanish, but games are all fully playable in English
- Includes Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy
- All 3 games are playable in English, Germany, French, and Japanese
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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