Vacuum Block
| Vacuum Block | |
|---|---|
 
| |
| Description | |
| “A rare block from Broque Monsieur. In battle, Bowser inhales stuff!” | |
| First appearance | Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story (2009) |
| Latest appearance | Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey (2018) |
| Effect | Allows Bowser to inhale certain things in battle, ranging from items/objects to Blitties |
The Vacuum Block is a key item from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story and Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey. It is a green Command Block with a vortex on the front that allows Bowser to use the Vacuum command in battle. In Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey, the Vaccum Block is yellow instead.
When Bowser meets Broque Monsieur in Plack Beach, the latter is stranded on a small island off the coast of Plack Beach. Broque Monsieur implores Bowser to rescue him, but Bowser is unmoved. Just as Bowser is about to leave, however, Broque Monsieur offers the Vacuum Block as incentive for his rescue. Seeing this, Bowser agrees to assist Broque Monsieur. Picking up a small rope that is tied to the island, Bowser drags Broque Monsieur to shore with the help of Mario and Luigi in the Arm Center. The Vacuum Block is promptly given to Bowser.
The Vacuum Block allows Bowser to use the Vacuum Shroom's power offensively. Bowser can use it to uncover the hidden Blitties from enemies during battle (that are needed for Bowser to gain the Broggy Bonker Special Attack) and to steal various helpful items or other objects like lollipops from Chuboombas that recover HP, teeth from Crawfuls and body segments from Toothies that boost his defense, and the meat seen in the second Midbus battle to boost his attack power. Additionally, it can be used to inhale some entire monsters like Coalbits, the Stone Blooper and Snawfuls, forcing the Mario Bros. to fight them in Bowser's body. This last function is featured heavily in the final battle with Dark Bowser and the Dark Star Core; after releasing the Dark Fawful Bug from Dark Bowser's body, Bowser can inhale it so Mario and Luigi can battle it inside his body and defeat it so Bowser can finish off Dark Bowser. Bowser will also earn experience points from any enemies that he inhales and are defeated by the Mario Bros., who only earn experience points for enemies that were inhaled.
In the Gauntlet, Bowser X uses the Vacuum Block's offensive capabilities to inhale the Mario Bros.' Special Attacks when the player uses one on him.
In the remake, if Bowser is inflicted with Sick, he will lose the ability to inhale.
Gallery[edit]
Bowser inhaling the Stone Blooper in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
Bowser inhaling the Falling Star Special Attack from Mario and Luigi in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
Bowser inhaling the Stone Blooper in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | バキュームブロック[?] Bakyūmu Burokku |
Vacuum Block | |
| French (NOA) | Bloc vortex[?] | Vortex Block | |
| French (NOE) | Aspirobloc[?] | Pun from aspirateur ("vacuum cleaner") and bloc ("block"). | |
| German | Vakuum-Block[?] | Vacuum Block | |
| Italian | Blocco Risucchio[?] | Inhale Block | |
| Korean | 배큐엄블록[?] Baekyueom-Beullok |
Vacuum Block | |
| Spanish (NOA) | Bloque Vórtice[?] | Vortex block | |
| Spanish (NOE) | Bloque Aspiradora[?] | Vacuum cleaner block |
Trivia[edit]
- The Vacuum Block is not affected by stats.
- By repeatedly pressing
and pressing 
at the same time, the block will greatly increase in strength. - This is the only one of Bowser's command blocks that is seen outside of battle.
- If Mario & Luigi are in the Trash Pit, Pump Works, Nerve Cluster, Flab Zone, Energy Hold, or the Airway, the battle background in Bowser's body will be the same as what the environment of the area is in-game. However, in the remake, the battle background will be the same regardless of where Mario and Luigi are in Bowser's body.
