View source for Muncher

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{{Species-infobox
|title=Muncher
|image=[[Image:SMB3_Muncher.jpg|200px]]<br>Artwork of three '''Munchers''' from ''Super Mario Bros. 3''.
|species_origin=[[Piranha Plant]]
|sub_species=[[Chomp-Muncher]]
|related=[[Nipper Plant]]
|first_appearance=''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]'' ([[1988]])
|affiliation= [[Koopa Troop]]
|latest_appearance=''[[Super Mario All-Stars - 25th Anniversary Edition]]'' ([[2010]])
}}

'''Munchers''' ("Black Pakkun" in Japan) are an indestructible [[species]] of [[Piranha Plant]]s. Unlike their white relatives, [[Nipper Plant|Nipper Plants]], Muncher Plants come in black, depending on the location. Also, they are immobile.

==History==
===''Super Mario'' series===
====''Super Mario Bros. 3====
[[Image:Munchers.PNG|thumb|left|Munchers from the ''[[Super Mario All-Stars]]'' version of ''Super Mario Bros. 3'' (top) and ''Super Mario World'' (bottom).]]
Munchers first appear in ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]''. They are first encountered in stage 5-3 of [[The Sky]] where they appear in large numbers. Munchers can become frozen if hit with an [[Ice Block]]. Frozen Munchers can be identified by the black ice block in which they are encased. They are harmless when frozen and act like platforms, but if the player thaws a Muncher out with a [[Fireball|fireball]], the Muncher will become active again. If [[Mario]] hits a [[P-Switch]], then thaws a frozen Muncher in an ice block, the Muncher will turn into a coin. This is the only way to defeat them. If [[Raccoon Mario]] or [[Tanooki Mario]] hits a Muncher with his tail, it will turn into an empty, used block. Though, if the player has [[Goomba's Shoe]], they can hop along them without being harmed. In their artwork and the NES version, they are black. Yet in ''Super Mario All-Stars,'' they're orange or blue.

Munchers that pop out of tiny pipes also appears in the Piranha Plant Stage of the [[Pipe Land|World 7]]. 

====''Super Mario World====
Munchers appear again in ''[[Super Mario World]]'', where they behave the same as in their previous appearance. Like Goomba's Shoe, a [[Yoshi (species)|Yoshi]] can walk on the Munchers without being harmed.

====''New Super Mario Bros. Wii====
[[File:MuncherPlantWii.png|200px|thumb|right|Normal and frozen Munchers in ''New Super Mario Bros. Wii''.]]
[[File:Muncher.png|frame|left]]
[[File:Frozen Muncher.PNG|frame|left]]
In ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]'', Munchers appear in the level 9-7 where they are frozen in ice. They cover most of the floor and can be quite dangerous due to the surrounding enemies that hold fire in them such as [[Venus Fire Trap]]s. The Venus Fire Trap's flames can burn the ice the Munchers are in, exposing them to the players. The players can also melt them if they have a [[Fire Flower]]. Once they are unfrozen, they cannot be frozen again, even if they are hit with a iceball from an [[Ice Flower]]. Also in the game, there is no way the player can walk on Munchers without being harmed.

===Nintendo Adventures Books===
Munchers appear as little more than scenery in ''[[Double Trouble]]'', where it's mentioned [[Roy Koopa]] has parked the [[Airship|Doomship]] above a patch of them in the [[Mushroom Kingdom]]. In ''[[Leaping Lizards]]'', some Munchers are apart of the first International Mushroom Games event, the obstacle course. If Roy's [[Magic Carpet]] is sabotaged by a [[Rocky Wrench]], he will fall into a patch of the plants, though the Munchers leave him alone due to deeming his tough hide unappetizing.

In ''[[Pipe Down!]]'', if Mario and Luigi follow Princess Toadstool out of her castle and to the [[Koopahari Desert]], they find themselves having to zig-zag through patches of Munchers. The plants make a similar cameo in ''[[Dinosaur Dilemma]]'', where they can be spotted prowling the Valley of the Koopas by Mario and Yoshi.

In ''[[Flown the Koopa]]'', a patch of Munchers can be found in the desert surrounding a tree inhabited by [[Cheep-Cheep]]s, and will swarm Luigi if he tries to get his and his friends lost International Dino-Flying Derby tickets out of the tree; more of the plants can be found by the Mario Bros. in the swamp containing [[Magikoopa]]'s [[Fortress]].

===''Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3===
Munchers also appear in ''[[Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3]]''. They return to their original color, black, and they are indestructible, like in their previous appearances.

==Characteristics and Traits==
Munchers act like [[Spike (obstacle)|spikes]], as touching them would damage [[Mario]] and [[Luigi]]. However, both the [[Goomba's Shoe]] and [[Yoshi (species)|Yoshis]] can walk on them without harm. In a few levels, they spring from thin pipes. The only way to cross a patch of Munchers is by acquiring a [[Starman]] or by carefully [[Jump|jumping]] to the gaps between Muncher patches.

There is often confusion on what a Muncher exactly is. They are about the size of a [[Nipper Plant]], but are firmly planted in the ground like a Piranha Plant, making them immobile. In ''Super Mario Bros. 3'' they have eyes, much like a [[Nipper Plant]]. However, in ''Super Mario World'', they do not have eyes. They appear to be one of the many sub-species of Piranha Plants. In ''[[Super Mario All-Stars]]'', these enemies are recolored, greatly resembling a [[Nipper Plant]], and not black like the classic Muncher.
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{{Piranhas}}
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[[Category:Sub-Species]]
[[Category:Enemies]]
[[Category:Piranha Plants]]
[[Category:Super Mario Bros. 3]]
[[Category:New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]
[[Category:Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 Enemies]]
[[Category:Babies]]
[[Category:Koopa Troop]]
[[Category:Children]]