Mario's Best Enemies

Most kids wanted a puppy with a waggly tail when they were little. Or perhaps a cute, little kitten with a fuzzy tummy. I, on the other hand, wanted a Chain Chomp. Blame Link's Awakening for making me think this was a viable option, and all the Mario games that came before and after it for making me love them so. But seriously, these ravenous ball-and-chain monsters are at once ferocious and awesome. First appearing in Super Mario Bros. 3, these guys were especially memorable in Super Mario 64, where you had to figure out how to dodge them in a 3D space fast before all of your health went bye bye. But even though they're constantly tugging at their chains for the chance to bite your head off, you just can't help but love them.



What's better than a Koopa? Why, a Koopa wizard, of course! That's where Magikoopas come in. We're not exactly sure why the ability to cast magic spells also makes Koopas visually impaired (they all have glasses, for some reason), but the idea of a Koopa that can fire magic blasts is incontrovertibly badass. These guys, who first appeared in Super Mario World, all follow Kamek - that meanie who's often at Bowser's side causing mischief. We'll never forget the first time we saw their scary magic attacks of brightly colored, basic shapes coming right for us. It still gives us chills.



Much like the Hulk, Wigglers are all fine and dandy... right up until they get angry. You won't like them when they get angry. That's when they change color and start wreaking havoc on anyone in their vicinity. Perhaps Marvel should sue. Really, though, these giant, yellow caterpillars, who first crawled their way into the Mushroom Kingdom in Super Mario World, are quite fun to face off against. A standard jump won't do, you're going to have to try harder than that. With that bouncy, white daisy sprouting off the top of their heads and their eight stylish shoes, Wigglers are certainly the wiggliest of Mario's rogues gallery.



No matter how you try to hate this little simian for stealing your hat in Super Mario 64, you just can't. I mean, honestly, what kind of cold-blooded beast can hate a tiny, jumpy monkey in a freaking Mario hat? It's so adorable! Just to try to hold a grudge against this miniature kleptomaniac, we dare you. But even despite his obnoxious level of cuteness, you can't allow this guy to get away with stealing your signature cap. That's taking it too far, monkey-pants. Given that Klepto the condor also tries to steal Mario's favorite accessory in Mario 64, it makes us wonder if there's a black market in the Mushroom Kingdom for red hats with an M on them. Maybe Mario's in the wrong business.



Rex is a rare breed of Mario enemies that is part dragon, part dinosaur - need we say any more? This guy first reared his dragosaur head in Super Mario World, though he later made his way into the Mario & Luigi series as well. Rex is notable for having a similar fashion taste to the Kingdom's most famous dino, Yoshi (they seem to have gotten their boots at the same place). You'll also recognize this guy by his tiny (possibly useless?) wings, horn nose, and ferocious fangs. Jump on him twice to get the job done - once for the dragon in him and once for the dinosaur (or so we presume).