"Mind turning around for a minute?"

—Boo

Boos (originally known as "Boo" Diddlys^[1] and later Boo Buddies^[2][3], and sometimes mistaken for King Boos without the crown even though there's only one King Boo) are common ghost enemies in the Mario franchise that first appear in Super Mario Bros. 3. They are a type of white spherical ghost with menacing and normally open mouths. They are known for their large tongues and small stubby arms. However, the most distinctive characteristic of the Boos is their shy personality, as they cover their faces when someone looks directly at them. They uncover their faces once the subject turns around. It is unknown if Boos are a species or living beings who have once passed on, the appearances of several Boo species would imply that they’re a species however Goombario's tattle for the Boo Igor in Paper Mario states: "He probably was a merchant before he became a Boo," implying that current Boos may have once been living beings. Creator Shigeru Miyamoto got the idea for Boo from the wife of his coworker and close friend Takashi Tezuka, as she is shy but one day got very angry with him for coming home late from work.^[4][5]

Profile

Physical description

Though their specifics change from game to game, Boos are usually bashful, cowardly, spherical ghosts. They have black beady eyes and fangs. Although they are typically white, there are sub-species of the Boo race that appear in different colors, such as pink. From Luigi's Mansion onward, it became common to picture Boos sticking out their tongues. Boos often have wide open grinning mouths with their tongue sticking out. In most games, Boos are unable to change their facial expressions. The only exception is when they are looked at, in which case they bashfully cover their faces. However, the Luigi's Mansion and early Paper Mario games portray Boos as being more expressive than in other games, being able to frown, scowl, or even smirk. Since Super Mario 64, Boos are portrayed with a unique, high-pitched laugh. Both this laugh and Bowser's laugh are derived from the same stock recording of a human man laughing recorded by Charles Martinet;^[6] it was sped up for the Boos and slowed down for Bowser. However, Boos received a new laugh starting in Mario Power Tennis, being more of a haunting laugh than before. Although most species of Boo will cover their faces and become intangible when looked at, they will often sneak behind their victim and strike when their back is turned. Due to their ghostly abilities, Boos are generally invulnerable and cannot be harmed by ordinary means of attack. Despite this, they are not invincible and are especially vulnerable to the light. If they are exposed to a source of light, Boos are usually weakened, and in some cases, they may even be defeated. Usually, they can also have other weaknesses. Because of their intolerance to the light, Boos will often hide if they are trapped in lit rooms. However, King Boo claims that Boos cannot truly be killed. While the ghosts generally appear to be more afraid of their victims than their victim is of them, this is not always the case. Some Boos have absolutely no problem meeting their victim's gaze, and will even try to attack. Boos tend to have a taste for the fine arts, as seen in Paper Mario and Mario Party 4. In Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, it is shown that Boos will actually save someone if only later to trick them. This is seen when Luigi watches through a pipe in the Old Clockworks as a Yellow Toad balances on a ledge. Some Boos appear and watch the Toad before it falls off the ledge, which is later found to be quite a drop, the Boos show a large amount of concern and shock when this happens before diving down for the Toad. The Toad is later found in a painting because of the Boos.

Boos are often characterized by their variants despite their similarities in appearance and attack manner. Boo species tend to vary wildly in size, with some such as Boo Buddies being miniature, while others such as the Big Boos boast gigantic size.

In Luigi's Mansion, Professor E. Gadd notes that Boos have mysterious powers that increase when they gather together in large groups. While it is difficult to stop them, they can be weakened if one is able to defeat members of the group. Although in Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon this does not seem to affect them or King Boo in any way suggesting that they do not always need to be in groups anymore.

Boos have few predators, their only known threat being a Clubba named Tubba Blubba in Paper Mario, when he began devouring Boos. This, however, may have been his revenge for the countless times the ghosts scared him.

Color variations

Boos come in many different colors. The following is a list of all known Boos and the first appearance of the respective Boo.

Image	Color	First appearance
	White	Super Mario Bros. 3
	Blue	Super Mario World (as Big Boos)
	Pink	Super Mario Bros. Deluxe
	Green	Super Mario Bros. Deluxe
	Black	Super Mario Bros. Deluxe
	Chartreuse	Paper Mario
	Mint	Paper Mario
	Brown	Paper Mario
	Light-blue	Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
	Yellow	Mario Party DS

Tools

• Boo's Sheet - Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
• Fright Bomb - Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
• Boo Bell - Mario Party 2
• Boo's Crystal Ball - Mario Party 4
• Boo Biscuit - Mario & Luigi: Dream Team

Habitat

Boos typically make their homes in dark forests, such as the Forever Forest and Boo Woods, and tend to be most commonly found in older buildings such as mansions, castles, and Ghost Houses. Although most of them live in such dwellings, they also seem to enjoy wastelands. One of the only known Boo villages lies in Gusty Gulch.

They are typically found in groups because their fears make them find strength in big numbers.

Allegiance

Though most Boos tend to side with Bowser and King Boo, they seem to, for the most part, actually stand as neutral. For example, Boos are by now a common enemy in most side-scrolling games; however, in the Paper Mario series and now increasingly in the multiplayer games, Boos have been seen to take the side of the Mushroom Kingdom. Lady Bow, in fact, helped Mario save the kingdom in Paper Mario. In another example, the Boos in the Creepy Steeple from Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door attack Mario initially, but later in the game Mario is sent a friendly letter from one of them. King Boo, on the other hand, has several times been shown to wish nothing but terrible things for Luigi (but this could be accredited to Luigi being easily scared, making him a prime target for most Boo antics). They also have attacked Bowser in some games, such as the Mario Party series, mainly from Mario Party 5 to Mario Party 8.

Language

As hinted in the game Super Mario Galaxy, Boos have their own unique language called Booish. It most probably is spoken only by Boos since Mario cannot understand it. However, upon absorbing a Boo Mushroom and turning into Boo Mario, he gains the ability to read it, if not speak it as well.

Paper Mario also features Boos replacing certain words with "Boo", possibly as a part of the Booish language:

I am so bored!! Boo-ored!

Boo-st of luck!

Hey, what can I Boo for you?

It's going to be the most Boo-tiful wedding ever!

Mainline appearances

Super Mario Bros. 3 / Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3

Boos first appear in Super Mario Bros. 3 and its enhanced port Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3. Here, they are referred to as “Boo” Diddlys, a pun on the name of the late rockstar Bo Diddley. However, future games refer to them only as Boos. They make their first appearance in World 2-. The Boo shields its face if Mario or Luigi looks at it, but it starts to chase Mario or Luigi, faster than in succeeding games, if they look away. Boos are unable to be defeated unless the two are equipped with a Hammer Suit, Koopa shell, or Starman. The game also has Stretches, which are Boos with very long bodies that live in the fortresses throughout the Mushroom World. In the original, depending on the level's palette, Boos have either a dark-blue or dark-red outline.

Super Mario World / Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2

In Super Mario World and its enhanced port Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2, Boos are now called "Boo" Buddies (though they were still called "Boo" Diddly earlier in development) and they reside in the many Ghost Houses in the game. These Boos retain their usual pattern of attack from Super Mario Bros. 3 and sometimes make faces at Mario or Luigi. However, they are somewhat slower and less accurate than in Super Mario Bros. 3. This game also introduces many new Boo variations, such as the Boo Buddy Block, Boo Buddy Snake, Boo Crew, Circling Boo Buddies, Eeries, and Disappearing Boo Buddies. It also introduces a giant version of the Boo, the Big Boo. One Ghost House contains a secret boss, a special Big Boo. The only way to defeat a Boo is with Super Stars or with Grab Blocks when it is visible. Unlike later games, the Boos in this game seem to have multiple tails. The groups of Boos also have different facial expressions, while individual Boos change theirs for a brief second if they are stared at long enough.

Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins

Boos appear in Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins. Compared to other games, they move in a slower, wave-like pattern toward Mario. Boos in this game are found in the Pumpkin Zone. A thrown Green Shell can defeat it. A variant named Ghost Goombas also appears in this game.

Super Mario 64 / Super Mario 64 DS

Boos (also called Baby Boos)^[7] make a starring appearance in the course Big Boo's Haunt in Super Mario 64. A group of Boos can be found in the Mushroom Castle's courtyard (eight of which are holding Red Coins in the DS version). After collecting twelve Power Stars, Mario is able to enter Big Boo's Haunt by going into the little carousel^[8] that a certain Boo drops; this Boo is somewhat bigger than the others. He also battles the Big Boo three times here. Additionally, when Mario looks at the Boos, they attempt to hide by becoming partially transparent, but if Mario is not looking at them, they chase him. If they hit him, he loses two wedges of health. In the translucent Boo, the player can see a Yellow Coin or a Blue Coin.

To defeat the Boos, a punch or kick from behind or the side is needed. They can also be defeated with a Pound the Ground attack while Mario is not looking at them. When defeated, they give a Blue Coin, but the ones in the courtyard give a normal coin instead. When a Boo is defeated in the first mission, Go on a Ghost Hunt, it says, "Ghosts...don't...DIE! Heh, heh, heh! Can you get out of here...alive?" In addition, a Boo appears in the hallway of the Mushroom Castle after twelve Stars are collected.

In Super Mario 64 DS, Boos use their current design introduced in Mario Party 4. Additionally, eight Stars are needed to spawn a small Boo in the hallway, who holds a Red Coin. After fifteen Stars are collected, the small Boo is replaced by a Big Boo, which then allows Mario to enter Big Boo's Haunt. If the third mission or higher is selected and the player is not Luigi, one particular Boo wears Luigi's cap. In the haunt, Mario can find a Luigi painting, which takes him to the Big Boo Battle level on the balcony. After defeating King Boo within, Mario gains the key to the room in which Luigi is imprisoned and proceeds to free him. In the English version of the game, King Boo is incorrectly referred to as "Big Boo." Yoshi cannot defeat Boos in this game. Ground-pounding yields no results, if Yoshi tries to eat one, the Boo will tell him that he can’t eat Ghosts which causes Yoshi to spit them back out. Mario, Luigi, or Wario can hit Boos with Pound the Ground attacks. Additionally, Luigi can also use the spin jump from his backward somersault to defeat them.

Super Mario Bros. Deluxe

The Boos from
Super Mario Bros. Deluxe,
arranged by speed

While Boos do not appear in the original Super Mario Bros., Boos appear in Super Mario Bros. Deluxe as competitor characters in the "You VS. Boo" mode. The goal is to reach the flagpole before the Boo. After defeating Boo within a certain time frame, it flies away, and a green Boo replaces it. After that Boo is defeated, a red Boo takes its place, and finally, a Black Boo^[9] with a yellow outline appears. Each new Boo gets progressively faster than the one before it, meaning the plain White Boo is the slowest, while the Black Boo is the fastest; the Black Boo copies the player's best time, which makes it the hardest to defeat. Unlike other games, these Boos do not hurt the player on contact.

Super Mario Sunshine

Boos return in Super Mario Sunshine, terrorizing the residents of Hotel Delfino. In this game, they move around in slow, swooping motions and do not care if Mario looks at them. They tend to go in Mario's general direction while turning invisible (aside from some distortion), but spraying them with FLUDD causes them to slowly become visible again. These Boos can be defeated by being jumped on, making Super Mario Sunshine the only game outside of the Super Mario RPGs where jumping can defeat them. Boos in this game can also be eaten by Yoshi. They also disguise themselves as Yellow Coins and Blue Coins, which only spin to face Mario instead of spinning at a constant pace. Boos can also disguise themselves as Shadow Mario while the real Shadow Mario runs from Mario, though they appear lighter than Shadow Mario, lack the Magic Paintbrush, and do not have the theme music. When Mario approaches a disguised Boo, it laughs and bumps into him, though if it is sprayed beforehand it will start behaving like the other Boos. Like the other enemies, Boo's design is changed for this game, with drooping eyelids, blue circles surrounding their black pupils, and long, coiled tails. This is due to the fact that they are made from graffiti, as revealed in Encyclopedia Super Mario Bros.

The Boos in this game are led by King Boo. Mario finds him in the basement of the hotel's Casino, and he has to battle him. He can defeat him by throwing a Chili Pepper at him and then throwing another piece of fruit at him. Mario has to do this three times before King Boo is defeated. Pink Boos also appear and can be turned into a platform if sprayed by FLUDD. Also appearing inside the hotel are a new species, known as Sleepy Boos. These large Boos mostly appear to block passages. FLUDD's water does not affect them; they can be removed only by being eaten by Yoshi.

New Super Mario Bros.

Boos also appear in New Super Mario Bros. They are found mainly in Ghost Houses scattered throughout the game, as well as World 8-1. They appear like they usually do, shy, and they act the same as in Super Mario Bros. 3. They can only be defeated with a Shell, a Starman, a Mega Mushroom, or a Blue Shell. The game also introduces the Balloon Boo, which are normal Boos who can suck up air, and become much bigger. Broozer, the boxing ghost, first appears in this game as well. An icon of 2 Boos covers the progress map in Ghost Houses.

Super Mario Galaxy

Boos make an appearance in Super Mario Galaxy and can be found in the Ghostly Galaxy, the Bigmouth Galaxy, the Deep Dark Galaxy, and the Sand Spiral Galaxy. Boos act the same way that they did in previous games, such as hiding by turning transparent when Mario looks at them and then following Mario when he looks away. Boos can be defeated only when they are brought under a ray of light (including the Toad Brigade captain's helmet and the light emitted from shells while in the water) or by Rainbow Mario touching them. The spin attack, however, can throw a Boo around Mario, knocking it off course temporarily or into a light. Boos can also be found underwater in the Bigmouth Galaxy where they attack just by swimming back and forth, similar to Cheep Cheeps. In Deep Dark Galaxy, in the secret mission, there is a large Boo that has a Power Star in it.

Boo Mario also appears in this game. Mario has the same body as the other Boos, but retains his face when in his Boo form. He also wears his trademark cap on his head. If a Boo spots Mario while he is a Boo, it develops an attraction for him and follows him. If a Boo hits Mario, Mario loses the power-up but does not lose any health.

A Big Boo makes an appearance in this game, as well as a racing one named the Spooky Speedster. This game also introduces a new kind of Boo, called the Bomb Boo; it is similar to a normal Boo, but is black with yellow eyes and can be grabbed by its tongue if Mario uses his spin attack on it.

Captain Toad also indirectly suggests that Boos eat people, as he worried that Luigi might have been eaten by ghosts.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii

Boos reappear in New Super Mario Bros. Wii in Ghost Houses throughout the game. They behave the same way as they did in New Super Mario Bros. and are invincible, unless the player has a Star power-up. Big Boos also reappear along with Broozers. Circling Boo Buddies can also be found in a small number of Ghost Houses in the game. Despite their concept art, they appear with a blue glow as opposed to plain white in this game, giving off a more spectral appearance. In the level selection screen, a single Boo will be watching Mario and will taunt Mario as he enters. If Mario gets tossed out, the Boo will laugh. However, once the level is beaten, the Boo will cover its face for the rest of the game.

Super Mario Galaxy 2

Boos reappear in the game Super Mario Galaxy 2. They behave the same way they did in its predecessor. They appear in two galaxies, Haunty Halls Galaxy and Boo Moon Galaxy, while the underwater Boos from the predecessor appear in the Battle Belt Galaxy and Slimy Spring Galaxy. Bomb Boos and Mega Boos also reappear. A variant named Octoboo, which resemble ghostly Octoombas, also appears in this game.

Super Mario 3D Land

Boos later appear in Super Mario 3D Land. In the game, they retain their normal battle strategy, which is chasing Mario when he looks away while sticking their tongue out. Boos in this game also momentarily disappear when hit with Fire Mario's fireballs and Tanooki Mario's tail whips. Only the effects of a Star or Invincibility Leaf can defeat a Boo. Boos also laugh in their original phonic from Super Mario 64. Some Boos have striped tails; these are called Tail Boos. They act like normal Boos, but when they stop moving when Mario looks at them, they will swing their tails once, which can damage Mario. Big Boos also appear during the game. Another species of Boo is also introduced, called Peepas. They do not move freely like normal Boos and instead move around a set position, and do not halt when Mario looks at them, as in Super Mario Galaxy.

New Super Mario Bros. 2

Boos, along with Big Boos, return in New Super Mario Bros. 2, with the same appearance and behavior as in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, except they turn completely red when Mario faces them. They can be found in Ghost Houses along with other ghost enemies such as Peepas and the new Boohemoth. All of these varieties, save for Boohemoth, can be defeated with a Star or Gold Flower. Boos can also be turned Gold Boos with a Gold Ring. When gold, Boos float away from Mario, leaving a trail of coins behind them.

There are also Boos that push walls in a Ghost House, namely World 4's Ghost House. Here they push the wall either left or right and they do not stop when Mario looks at them.

New Super Mario Bros. U

Boos, Big Boos, and Circling Boo Buddies appear in the Wii U title New Super Mario Bros. U. Their behavior is the same as that of past installments. Boos also have their own Enemy Course in the Haunted Forest of the Soda Jungle, where a group of Boos appear in an area with various Donut Lifts, and defeating them must be done using the Star located inside a Flying ? Block. They can also be defeated by being swallowed by a Baby Yoshi.

Super Mario 3D World / Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury

Boos appear in Super Mario 3D World and its Nintendo Switch port Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, along with Peepas and Big Boos. They retain the same strategy from Super Mario 3D Land and utter the same laugh from Super Mario 64. They appear to be a bit more transparent than in previous mainstream Super Mario games and give out a blueish glow like in the New Super Mario Bros. games, as well as a reddish glow and even steam when Mario faces them. They can be defeated mainly with the effects of the Starman, as usual, but it is now also possible to do so using the Light Box. Shining a Light Box in a Boo or Peepa's face for long enough will destroy it just the same. Boos mainly appear when the player's character gets close enough, but this can sometimes occur if the player makes contact with fake objects such as fake doors and even fake Flagpoles.

Super Mario Maker / Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS / Super Mario Maker 2

Super Mario Bros. styled Boos from Super Mario Maker

Boos reappear in Super Mario Maker, Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS, and Super Mario Maker 2 as enemies. They function the same as previous games. They have been given new sprites for the Super Mario Bros. style. In the Course Maker, they can be placed as enemies and can be shaken to turn into Circling Boo Buddies. They can also be dragged onto a platform, turning them into Stretches. Like many enemies, a Boo can be given a Super Mushroom to become a Big Boo or wings to become a Winged Boo. The former will turn it into a Big Boo, and the latter will make them move much faster. They can be placed in Warp Pipes, Bill Blasters, Blocks, and tracks. In addition, adding Wings to a Boo Buddy makes the Boo Buddy move in and out. If a Boo is placed in a Koopa Clown Car, the Koopa Clown Car stops and closes its eyes when it is looked at, and sneaks up on the player when looking away.

While playing a course, Boos behave the same as usual and can be defeated only with a Starman.

Super Mario Run

Boos appear in Super Mario Run in Ghost House levels. When Mario looks at them, they cover their eyes and float up and down. They attack Mario by quickly following behind him. Mario can defeat them by backflipping over them. In some levels, pressing the pink P Switch defeats Boos on-screen. They can drop Keys, Coins, or Color coins after they are defeated, and the object they contain inside of them can slightly be seen through them before they are defeated. In Dark and Stormy, Boos are defeated when a lightning strike occurs. Stretches also appear in the game.

Super Mario Odyssey

Boos do not appear physically in Super Mario Odyssey, making this game the first Super Mario game to not contain Boos since Super Mario Land. However, Peach wears a Boo mask on the side of her head when she visits Bowser's Kingdom, a common way to wear masks of yōkai in festivals in Japan. A Boo also appears in concept art for the game.^[10]

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Boos reappear as enemies in Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Here, they look similar to their older 2D artwork, although they still stick their tongues out. Boos behave the same way as in other games, and can be defeated by luring them into light like in the 3D Super Mario games. Additionally, King Boo returns during a Wonder Effect.

Other appearances

Spinoff game appearances

Boos have ranged from enemies, a friendly species, and playable characters in the Mario spinoff games.

• Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars as enemies.
• Mario Party series as a species and sometimes a playable character.
• Paper Mario series as enemies and a friendly species.
• Mario & Luigi series as enemies.
• Mario Baseball series as a playable character in Mario Superstar Baseball Mario Super Sluggers.

Spinoff media appearances

• DiC Entertainment cartoons as enemies serving King Koopa in The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3.

Non-Mario appearances

Partnered franchises

• Yoshi franchise as enemies, including within Yoshi's Safari and in all three games of the Yoshi's Island series: Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Yoshi's Island DS, and Yoshi's New Island.
• Wario franchise within a few Mario-themed microgames of the WarioWare series.

Crossover games

• Super Smash Bros. series as various items like trophies.
• Mario & Sonic series as obstacles in certain Dream Events.

Statistics

For Boo's in-game statistics, click here.

Flavor text

For profiles of Boo, click here.

Timeline

Trivia

• Mumbies from the Kirby series attack in an identical way to Boos.
• Boos are the only enemy to appear in the Mario series and the Luigi's Mansion series aside from Bowser and King Boo.

Gallery

To view Boo's image gallery, click here.

References

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