View source for Bill Blaster

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{{about|the cannons [[Bullet Bill]]s are fired out of|the mini-game Bill Blasters in [[Mario Party 5]]|[[Bill Blasters (mini-game)]]}}
{{quote|Wanna join me?|Bill Blaster|Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars}}
{{species infobox
|image=[[File:Bill Blaster NSMB Wii artwork.png|250px]]<br>''New Super Mario Bros. Wii'' artwork
|variants=[[Banzai Bill Blaster]]<br>[[Big Bertha (cannon)|Big Bertha]]<br>[[Bombshell Bill Blaster]]<br>[[Skull Box]]
|first_appearance=''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' ([[1985]])
|latest_appearance=''[[Super Mario Party Jamboree]]'' ([[2024]])
|affiliation=[[Koopa Troop]]
}}
A '''Bill Blaster''' is a black cannon that fires [[Bullet Bill]]s. They are usually used as defense emplacements in fortresses and castles. While most Bill Blasters are pure black, others have a design (usually a skull-icon) emblazoned on their side.

Bill Blasters are immobile and usually indestructible, as they are commonly part of the environment. However, recent games in the series have made Bill Blasters enemies that are capable of being defeated. Due to their nature, they are usually paired with Bullet Bills as their main attack.

==History==
===''Super Mario'' series===
====''Super Mario Bros.''====
[[File:World 7-1 SMB.png|thumb|left|Bill Blasters as they appear in ''Super Mario Bros.'']]
Bill Blasters first appear in World 5-1 in [[Super Mario Bros.]]. They are also found in World 5-2, World 7-1, World 8-2 and World 8-3. 
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====''Super Mario Bros. 3''====
[[File:Bill Blasters SMB3 W4-5.png|thumb|Bill Blasters as they appear in ''Super Mario Bros. 3'']]
Bill Blasters appear in [[Super Mario Bros. 3]]. They first appear on [[Larry]]'s [[Airship]] along with [[Cannonball]]s. They are also invincible. They appear numerous times on all airships, tanks, and boats. 
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====''Super Mario 64''====
[[File:Bullet Bill SM64.png|thumb|left|A Bill Blaster firing a Bullet Bill in ''Super Mario 64''.]]
Bill Blaster appeared during the events of ''[[Super Mario 64]]'' and its remake ''[[Super Mario 64 DS]]''. These Bill Blasters looked drastically different than in their earlier incarnations, more resembling a simple gray box with a hole for launching Bullet Bills rather than an actual cannon. They only appeared in [[Whomp's Fortress]] after the defeat of the [[Whomp King]], and in [[Dire, Dire Docks]] after the first mission.

====''New Super Mario Bros.''====
In ''[[New Super Mario Bros]]'', Bill Blasters returned to their original role of being a part of the game's environment, having the same behavior they have always had. However, this time around, they can finally be destroyed by use of a  [[Mega Mushroom]]. They reappear in ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]'', with the same role as usual. A different version of a Bill Blaster appears in World 6-1 that has two or three cannons that shoot in two or three different directions.

====''Super Mario Galaxy''====
In ''[[Super Mario Galaxy]]'', Bill Blasters appear in many of the game's levels. Their appearance here is more typical of a cannon and noticeably lacks the familiar skull-icon. The [[Bullet Bill]]s they shoot will also home in on Mario upon seeing him.

===''Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island''===
In ''[[Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island]]'', Bullet Blasters were green, but acted entirely like previous incarnations. Their cannon would visibly expand upon preparing to shoot Bullet Bills, then return to normal after having done so. They could be frozen with use of an [[Ice Watermelon]], and then shattering by touching them or struck with a [[Yoshi Egg]].

===''Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars''===
[[File:Blaster SMRPG art.jpg|thumb|Bill Blaster artwork for ''Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars'']]
Bill Blasters made their first appearance as a true enemy in ''[[Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars]]''. Here, known simply as "Blaster", they were a double-barreled black cannon with the typical white skull insignia engraved on each side. They shot Bullet Bills in and out of battle, which made them both typical enemies as well as part of the environment. They were especially weak against lightning magical attacks. 

Blasters were used by the maniacal [[Booster]] as defense emplacements in his fortress, [[Booster Tower]], to attack [[Mario]]. Occasionally, Blasters use the special attack [[Blazer]], which causes the Blaster to shoot a golden Bullet Bill rather than the usual black. If the player is hit by one of these golden bullets, the victim faints immediately. [[Alley Rat]]s could often be found manning Blasters on the [[Sunken Ship]] as well.

An upgraded version of the Blaster later appears in [[Bowser's Keep]] under the name [[Big Bertha (cannon)|Big Bertha]].

===''Paper Mario'' series===
====''Paper Mario''====
In the ''[[Paper Mario]]'' series, Bill Blasters are considered separate enemies from the Bullet Bills they launch. They must be destroyed before [[Mario]] and his allies can end a battle and progress through the level. Before battle, Bill Blasters would fire Bullet Bills to slow Mario's progress, attempting to defeat him before he could even reach the cannons themselves. If hit, Mario and his friends would have to destroy the Bullet Bills before continuing on to the Bill Blasters.

In battle, Bill Blasters cannot directly attack Mario's party; instead, they fire Bullet Bills to attack for them. Unfortunately, a Bill Blaster has an unlimited supply of Bullet Bills; the cannons will continue firing Bullet Bills until defeated. Jumping attacks are generally ineffective against Bill Blasters, as their hard armor protects against such attacks.

====''Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door''====
Bill Blasters returned in ''[[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door]]''. They are first encountered in the Pirate's Grotto, and appear quite often there as well. They looked exactly the same, though more refined with the improved graphics, and their battle strategy was largely unchanged. They still shot out Bullet Bills to attack for them, but now had a new move, Bullet Double, which allowed them to shoot out two Bullet Bills rather than the usual one.
Also returning is the [[Bombshell Bill Blaster]] which fires [[Bombshell Bills]]. They are much alike, except for the higher attack, defense, and golden color. These are encountered in the [[Palace of Shadow]].

====''Super Paper Mario''====
In ''[[Super Paper Mario]]'', Bill Blasters appear exclusively in [[The Bitlands|Chapter 3-1]] guarding Bowser's fort. They shoot Bullet Bills like any other Bill Blaster, but these ones only shoot in the left direction instead of both.

===''Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga''===
In ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga]]'' Bill Blasters act the same as they did in the ''Paper Mario'' series. Mario and Luigi must jump on the Bill Blasters to eliminate them before a battle can end. The only difference to these Bill Blasters are that they shoot their Bullet Bills directly at the brother that is standing in front of them.

==Stats in role-playing games==
===''Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars''===
{{SMRPGLotSS enemy box
|name=Blaster
|image=[[File:Blaster SMRPGLotSS sprite.png]]
|location=[[Booster Tower]]
|hp=120
|attack=70
|defense=70
|magic_attack=0
|magic_defense=10
|attacks=[[Blazer]]
|strong=None
|weaknesses=[[Thunder]]
|item=[[Pick Me Up]]
|coins=0
|flower=[[DEFENSE UP! Flower]]
|exp=12
|cookie=[[Yoshi Cookie]]
|related=[[Big Bertha (cannon)|Big Bertha]]
|psychopath=Wanna join me?
}}

===''Paper Mario'' series===
====''Paper Mario''====
{{PM enemy box
|image=[[File:Bill Blaster PM.png]]
|hp=4
|attack=0
|defense=1
|moves= Bullet Bill Shot
|location=[[Koopa Bros. Fortress]]
|tattle=This is a Bill Blaster. Bill Blasters are the cannons that shoot out Bullet Bills. They won't attack us directly, but they'll keep shooting out Bullet Bills as long as they can. It's efficient to attack 'em all at once, but you can also beat 'em one at a time.
|before=[[Big Lantern Ghost|7]]
|#=8
|after=[[Blooper|9]]
}}

====''Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door''====
{{PM enemy box
|PM2=yes
|image=[[File:Bill Blaster PMTTYD.png|100px]]
|hp=5
|attack=0
|defense=2
|items=None
|moves=Bullet Blast (summons Bullet Bill), Bullet Double (summons two Bullet Bills)
|location=[[Pirate's Grotto]]
|log=A large black cannon that shoots Bullet Bills. Unknown whether it is alive or not.
|tattle=That's a Bill Blaster. It's the cannon that shoots Bullet Bills. Max HP is 5, Defense is 2. It doesn't attack directly, but shoots Bullet Bills at you. I know the Bullet Bills are annoying, but take out the Bill Blaster first, trust me. Arrgh! How many of those things will it shoot at us?!? YOU'RE SO ANNOYING!
|before=[[Red Chomp|90]]
|#=91
|after=[[Bullet Bill|92]]
}}

====''Super Paper Mario''====
{{SPM enemy box
|image=[[File:SPM Catch Card Bill Blaster.png|100px]]
|hp=5
|attack=2
|defense=3
|card_type=Common
|tattle=It's a big, burly cannon. Where do all those [[Bullet Bill|bullets]] come from?
|tippi=This cannon is called a Bill Blaster. They shoot Bullet Bills at you... They are also immune to flames... Don't approach them straight on, or you'll get shot. Attack from above...
|before = [[Bullet Bill|115]]
|# = 116
|after = [[Ruff Puff|117]]
}}

===''Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga''===
{{M&LSS enemy box
|name=Bill Blaster
|image=[[File:Bill Blaster MLSS.png]]
|hp=4
|speed=13
|defense=25
|exp=3
|coins=2
|item=[[Mushroom]]
|location=[[Stardust Fields]]
}}

==Names in other languages==
{|class="table"
!Language!!Name!!Translation
|-
|French
|Bill Boum
|Combination of Bill and ''Boum'' (Boom)
|-
|German
|Willi-Blaster<br />Willi-Kanone
|Bill Blaster<br />Bill Cannon
|-
|Japanese
|ほうだい (''Hōdai'')<br/>ズドン (''Zudon'') (''Super Mario RPG'')
| -
|}

==Disclaimer==
{{Attribution-SMWiki}}
[[Category:Obstacles]]
[[Category:Explosives]]
[[Category:Koopa Troop]]
[[Category:Mario & Luigi Series Enemies]]
[[Category:Paper Mario enemies]]
[[Category:Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door enemies]]
[[Category:Super Paper Mario enemies]]
[[Category:Super Mario Bros. Deluxe objects]]