STRATEGY

On the bottom screen, the Piranha Plant waits while your character is on the top screen, tied to a balloon moving downward. There are 6 bomb seeds on the top screen, 3 on each side. Press the A button repeatedly to stay at the top and avoid being eaten.

The Piranha Plant will begin sucking bomb seeds. Avoid the falling bomb seeds while continuing to mash the A button to avoid being sucked in. Touching a bomb seed will push you down but not cost a life.

After eating bomb seeds, the Plant throws them back to the top screen. You do not need to mash the A button here as the Plant does not suck you in. Avoid all but one of the bombs.

Move close to one bomb seed and press the B button ONCE to catch it. You cannot catch another bomb if you are already carrying one, and hitting another bomb while carrying one will cause you to lose a life and your bomb. Catching the latest bomb is recommended.

Hold the bomb. When the Piranha Plant opens its mouth to suck more bomb seeds, quickly press the B button again to release the bomb. It will fall into the Plant's mouth and explode, causing it to lose one life. If you do not release the bomb in time, it will explode and harm you.

Repeat this process three times to defeat the Piranha Plant. The number of bomb seeds the Plant sucks increases with each life it loses: 2 seeds initially, then 3, and 4 for its last life.