Big Thwomp

Big Thwomp
A Big Thwomp from New Super Mario Bros. Wii
First appearance	Monster Mix-Up (1991)
Latest appearance	Paper Mario: The Origami King (2020)
Variant of	Thwomp

Big Thwomps (also referred to as Super Thwomps) are giant Thwomps that have made semi-recurring appearances throughout the Mario franchise. Although their size varies among games, it is always shown that they are larger than the other Thwomps seen alongside them in the games. They also have the ability to smash through certain types of Brick Blocks and other blocks, something that their smaller counterparts are usually incapable of doing.

History

Nintendo Adventure Books

In the book Monster Mix-Up, a giant Thwomp is created as a result of combining six Thwomps using the Monster Mixer, referred to as “the biggest Thwomp Mario’s ever seen”.

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

A Big Thwomp in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

A large variant of Thwomp is first seen in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, inside Bowser's Keep. It is the last and largest Thwomp seen in a line of four smaller Thwomps.

Super Mario series

New Super Mario Bros.

A Super Thwomp in New Super Mario Bros.

In New Super Mario Bros., they act just like Thwomps as they will come down from the ceiling in an attempt to squish Mario; the only differences are that these enemies have the ability to smash through Hard Blocks one row at a time and are larger in size. They also have the same weaknesses as their smaller counterparts, being able to be defeated by either a Starman, as Shell Mario, or as Mega Mario. Two make their first appearance in World 4-Castle, and another one appears in a room in World 8-Bowser's Castle.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii

Big Thwomps reappear in New Super Mario Bros. Wii as well. However, they only appear in World 1-Castle. Like in New Super Mario Bros., they are capable of smashing Hard Blocks one row at a time.

Super Mario Galaxy 2

Two Big Thwomps in Super Mario Galaxy 2

Two Big Thwomps appear in Super Mario Galaxy 2 in the Supermassive Galaxy. They are much larger and wider than normal Thwomps. Mario can still wall jump up them just like the normal ones and also long jump to quickly pass them. There is a 1-Up Mushroom on top of one.

New Super Mario Bros. 2

Big Thwomps return again in New Super Mario Bros. 2. They can be found in World 1-Castle and retain the ability to smash through Hard Blocks one row at a time. Big Thwomps are also featured on course three of the Gold Rush Pack.

New Super Mario Bros. U / New Super Luigi U / New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe

Big Thwomps reappear in New Super Mario Bros. U, where they only appear in the level Wendy's Shifting Castle alongside ordinary Thwomps and Thwimps. Because no Hard Blocks appear in said level, Big Thwomps are no longer seen smashing Hard Blocks. Big Thwomps also appear in New Super Luigi U in the level Wendy's Thwomp Castle, where they are seen smashing through multiple Brick Blocks in one fall.

Big Thwomps reprise both roles in New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe.

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

Big Thwomps in Super Mario Maker

Big Thwomps appear in Super Mario Maker, Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS and Super Mario Maker 2. The player can enlarge a normal Thwomp with a Super Mushroom, turning it into a Big Thwomp. Unlike normal Thwomps, Big Thwomps can destroy Cloud Blocks, Hard Blocks, Ice Blocks, and ? Blocks, and they can also smash through multiple rows of Brick Blocks in one fall.

Mario Kart Wii

A Big Thwomp makes an appearance on the battle course Thwomp Desert in Mario Kart Wii, where one pounds the ground creating earthquakes. This Thwomp can also smash racers if they drive too close while it slams the ground.

Paper Mario series

Paper Mario: Color Splash

Big Thwomp sprite from Paper Mario: Color Splash

Four Big Thwomps made out of cardboard appear during Paper Mario: Color Splash. Like many enemies, they use their designs from the main series rather than their design from the first three Paper Mario games. However, they lack their red irises, except for the one during the end credits.

The first one is found in the battle against Iggy Koopa at The Golden Coliseum, where if the Bone Thing card is used too early, Iggy summons a Big Thwomp which deals 999 HP of damage, resulting in a Game Over. The second one crushes the Sunset Express outside of the Kiwano Temple. The third one appears in the railway tracks of Sunset Express, and it needs to be awakened with the Megaphone Thing card so the train can continue its way to Starlight Cape. Finally, the last one appears in the background of Starlight Cape.

Toads refer to the Big Thwomps as "rockslides".

Paper Mario: The Origami King

A Big Thwomp in Paper Mario: The Origami King

In Paper Mario: The Origami King, a Big Thwomp in the same design as in Paper Mario: Color Splash may randomly appear after buying a fortune in Picnic Road, where it will crush Mario and damage him by 20 HP. Another Big Thwomp appears during the third stage of the Trial of Courage where the player must press after the bottom of its stone body passes the arrow but before it hits Mario.

Super Mario Party

In Super Mario Party, Big Thwomps can appear alongside regular Thwomps in the minigame Follow the Money. They are obstacles, and cause the player to lose coins if they crush them.

Gallery

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  Paper Mario: Color Splash

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  Paper Mario: Color Splash

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  Paper Mario: The Origami King

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	大ドッスン Dai Dossun でかドッスン Deka Dossun	Big Thwomp
German	Maxi-Steinblock[?]	Big Thwomp