Blocks

Learn about all the different types of blocks in Super Mario World, from ? Blocks and rotating blocks to Switch Palace blocks and more. Your ultimate guide!

Hey there! Let's talk about one of the most fundamental things you'll interact with in Super Mario World: Blocks! You know, those things you hit from underneath to get stuff? They're not all the same, and knowing what each one does can make a big difference. Let's break 'em down so you know exactly what you're getting into when you see one.

• ? Blocks — These are your best friends! Hit them from below, and they'll often pop out coins or a power-up like a Super Mushroom, Fire Flower, or Cape Feather. Keep an eye out!
• Rotating Blocks — See these blocks that look like they have a pattern inside? When you hit them, they usually spin around. Sometimes they've got an item hidden in 'em, too. If you're Super Mario or bigger, a spin jump from above will actually break these blocks, which can be super handy for clearing a path or getting to something tricky.
• Used Blocks — These are the brown ones you see after you've already hit them. They're pretty much just platforms at this point, so don't expect any goodies from them.
• Empty Blocks — These look like regular blocks but are empty. The cool thing is, you can actually make them *full* of goodies! You just need to find the corresponding Switch Palace and activate its switch. Once you do that, these empty blocks will turn into something useful, often like a ? Block.
• Activated Blocks (! Blocks) — These are the blocks with an exclamation mark on them. They're basically the same as ? Blocks and will give you items when hit from below. You'll see these pop up after you've hit the corresponding Switch Palace.
• Star Blocks — These green blocks have a big white star on them. If you hit one of these and you've got 30 or more coins, you'll get a 1-Up! If you're short on coins, though, you won't get the extra life. So, keep those coin counts up!
• Information Blocks — These blocks have a little pattern on them, kind of like a plus sign inside a diamond. Hitting these will give you some kind of information, though the guide doesn't specify what kind. Probably best to hit them just in case!
• Transparent Blocks with Power-ups — These are pretty neat! They're see-through, and the power-up inside alternates every second. When you hit the block, it releases the power-up, and it'll keep switching between a Mushroom, Fire Flower, Cape Feather, and Starman until you grab it. It's a race against time to snag the power-up you want!
• Invincible Blocks — These white blocks with a black musical note are special. You can hit them from underneath as many times as you want, and they'll bounce up. They're really bouncy and can sometimes hold items. They're great for reaching high places or just for fun!