New Super Mario Bros. 2/Enemies

New Super Mario Bros. 2 contains a wide variety of enemies, some more common than others. Each of them have their own unique characteristics, and can often only be defeated in different ways.

Goombas
Goombas are one of the game's most common enemies. They are small, brown, mushroom-like foes, whose main strategy is to march blindly into a given direction. They are easily defeated by jumping onto them or from any special attack from a power-up.

Sometimes, goombas will work in groups to form towers, making them harder to jump over. However, even these towers can be defeated one goomba at a time, and are a good way to rack up points.

Some goombas, called Bone Goombas, are blue and are covered with a skull. However, they function identically to the regular variety.

Micro-Goombas
Micro-Goombas closely resemble their normal-sized cousins, save for, of course, their diminutive stature. These enemies are too small to harm Mario directly. However, when they latch onto his body, they can weaken him, limiting his jumps. That said, they can be shaken off, especially using a Raccoon Tail. They can also be shaken off quickly using a buttstomp attack.

Paragoombas
These goombas have sprouted wings, and are capable of limited flight.

Koopas
Koopa Troopas, also known as koopas, are probably the game's most common enemy, with the sole exception of the goomba. They biped turtle-like enemies, which come in two variations. Green koopas will walk towards the left or right until forced to go the other way, even if it means falling off of ledges. Red koopas, on the other hand, will turn around if faced with a ledge, making them better guards for smaller areas.

One of the koopa's most notable characteristics is how it reacts to being jumped upon. Rather than being squished like the goomba, the koopa will instead hide in its shell. However, this makes the koopa a valuable weapon. Mario can walk into a shelled koopa in order to kick it into a given direction, taking out foes along the way. Alternatively, Mario can also pick up a koopa in its shell and carry it for a distance before shooting it. That said, a koopa in its shell will eventually come out, hurting Mario in the process. Also, the flying shell is as dangerous to friends as foes, making it a double-edged sword.

Paratroopas
Paratroopas are a variant of the traditional koopa. They are equipped with a pair of wings, allowing them to fly. Like conventional koopas, they come in green and red varieties. Green koopas will bounce after Mario in an attempt to defeat him, whereas red ones will patrol a set area.

When hurt, paratroopas become conventional koopas.

Dry Bones
Dry Bones appear similar to Koopas, but these skeletal turtles act differently. For one thing, they are defeated by a single jump, making them initially appear like less of a threat. However, they resurrect after a few seconds, making them a permanent threat. Furthermore, they are immune to fireballs, making them even more dangerous.

As if that weren't enough, there is a subspecies of the Dry Bones called the Super Dry Bones. These are essentially jumbo sized versions of the regular variety, and can only be temporarily destroyed with a butt-stomp.

Boomerang Bros.
Boomerang Bros. are one of several species of koopa-like enemies that throw projectiles. These enemies throw boomerangs, which fly through the air before returning to the one that threw them. These enemies therefore get to attack twice in a short period of time. However, a single jump can dispatch of them.

Fire Bros.
Fire Bros. are one of several species of koopa-like enemies that throw projectiles. These enemies shoot fireballs, much like Mario can when using the Fireflower. Although dangerous to approach, their attacks remain relatively low, making it possible to jump over them or attack from above.

Hammer Bros.
Hammer Bros. are one of several species of koopa-like enemies that throw projectiles. These enemies throw hammers in high arcs, raining down death upon the player. These iconic foes are some of the game's more tricky enemies, as they can be difficult to approach and have a good rate of fire. Of course, a single jump or attack is enough to take them out.

Sledge Bros. are overweight versions of the conventional Hammer Bros., and throw larger sledgehammers. Only one of them appear in the entire game.

Lakitus
Lakitus are among the game's most deadly foes. These turtles sit in mobile clouds in the sky, flying around and occasionally throwing out dangerous Spinies. Worse, they often work in groups, preventing the player from jumping too high in the air and raining death from above.

One interesting characteristic of the Lakitu is that their clouds can actually exist independently of them for a limited time. Therefore, if the player manages to defeat a Lakitu, they can jump into the cloud and fly around the level for a limited time.

Buzzy Beetles
Buzzy Beetles behave very similarly to koopas, down to their tough shell that can also be used as a weapon. However, they are immune to fire damage, making them somewhat more dangerous. They are often found underground.

Despite their name, Buzzy Beetles more closely resemble turtles than beetles.

Spike Tops
A fusion of Spinies and Buzzy Beetles, Spike Tops are very tough enemies to beat. Their spikes make them immune to jump damage while their shells make them immune to fire damage. They can be defeated using other power-ups, but are best avoided.

Spinies
Spinies are slow moving enemies whose spikes make them immune to jumping damage. In fact, jumping on them only hurts Mario. That said, they can still be defeated using power-ups. They are often thrown by Lakitus in unlimited supplies, making them an enemy best to run away from.

Piranha Plants
Piranha Plants are carnivorous red flowers equipped with sharp teeth. They often live in pipes. Unlike many enemies, they can't be defeated by jumping on them, as this exposes players to their deadly teeth. However, their limited mobility makes them relatively easy to bypass by simply jumping over them. They can also be defeated using power-ups.

Often, a Piranha Plant will occasionally hide in its pipe. When a player stands on top of a pipe that is home to a piranha plant, they are usually safe. Sometimes, they can even go down the pipe in order to reach new areas.

Some Piranha Plants will appear to be made of bones. These Bone Piranha Plants are immune to fireballs. However, they can still be defeated using Stars or Gold Flowers.

Venus Fire Traps
A variety of the Piranha Plant that can shoot fire. These enemies will still hurt those who jump on them, making them tricky foes. Ironically, however, they are not immune to fire, nor are they resistant to other power-ups.

Pokeys
Pokeys are cactus-like enemies that are composed of a head atop multiple segments. On one hand, their spikes make them dangerous to jump upon. On the other hand, individual segments can be destroyed by power-ups to make them shorter. Alternatively, a single shot to the head defeats the entire plant.

Cheep-Cheeps
Cheep-Cheeps are the game's most common aquatic enemy. They usually swim about at a slow pace, although they occasionally jump out of the water before diving back in. Like all underwater enemies, they can't be defeated by jumping on them, making them only vulnerable to power-ups in their home habitat.

Mega Cheep-Cheeps function identically to the regular variety, save for their large size.

A few Cheep-Cheeps also have spines that hurt the player. These, however, are uncommon. Also uncommon are the green Deep-Cheeps, which actively pursue players.

Cheep-Chomps
Cheep-Chomps are a type of fish. They are larger than the Cheep-Cheep, and are a distinct purple color. Unlike Cheep-Cheeps, they will actively pursue Mario. Their primary weakness is fireball attacks.

Boos
Big Boos

Thwomps
Thwomps are a stone-based, territorial enemy. They hang in the air, waiting for enemies to get close before slamming into the ground. They then slowly rise back up before getting into position to do it again.

Super Thwomps are extra-large versions of the conventional Thwomp.

Bullet Bills
Banzai Bills are extra-large versions of bullet bills.

Podoboos
Podoboos are small, fiery enemies that live in lava. They regularly jump into the air, damaging anyone unfortunate enough to be in the way. Worse, they are essentially invincible, making them a foe to simply avoid.