Top 10 Hardest Super Mario Enemies

Super Mario games are packed with colorful worlds, catchy music, and, of course, an army of unique enemies trying to stop you at every turn. Some of them are pretty simple to deal with. Others, though? They're a whole different story.

You know the ones. The enemies that make you grip your controller just a little tighter, the ones that pop up in the toughest levels or seem to have a sixth sense for your every move. These baddies have been frustrating Mario players for years, and everyone's got their personal pick for the most annoying or difficult.

The Top Ten

Hammer Bro

The Hammer Bro is a recurring enemy in the Mario video game series. It is a type of Koopa that walks upright and attacks by throwing hammers at the player. First appearing in Super Mario Bros. in 1985, the character has become one of the franchise's most recognizable enemies.

I hate these things. You dodge a hammer, then jump on one thinking you got 'em, but they barely manage another hammer to kill you. In general, very annoying, especially when spammed in Mario Maker (this technically applies to every enemy ever, but you get my point).
Sometimes they only throw one hammer, and at other times they throw two. If you encounter one, deal with it ASAP.

The hammer suit should return in another Mario game because it lets you be like the Hammer Bros! Hammer Bros have MLG powers that they probably stole from the Toads, but with the hammer suit, you can show Bowser what it's like being trolled all the time with annoying flying hammers everywhere.
Just bring the hammer suit back!
Lakitu

Lakitu, known in Japan as Jugem, is a fictional flying character in the Mario franchise. Created by Shigeru Miyamoto, it first appeared in the Nintendo Entertainment System game Super Mario Bros., where it throws Spinies from its cloud vehicle to challenge players. Since then, Lakitu has appeared in... read more

These guys are literally impossible to get past unless you have a Fire Flower, so you can kill them and take their cloud. Then it's fun.

Unless you have any high ground, there is no chance anyone is going to defeat him! His surge of Spinies is as deadly as three Hammer Bros. attacking at once!

These things are evil incarnate. Forget Bowser - these should be the final bosses in the games.
Fire Bro

It's the hardest out of Boomerang Bros., Hammer Bros., and Fire Bros. because you can't climb stairs when they're at the top.

These are hard unless you have a power-up, but they are really cute otherwise!
Chain Chomp

Chain Chomps, known as Wanwan in Japan, are metal, barking ball-and-chain-like creatures that are restrained by chains and are a main enemy in the Mario franchise. They first appeared in Super Mario Bros. 3 and have since become a recurring enemy in various Mario games. Their design was inspired by... read more
Boo

These guys are nearly impossible to kill. They freak me out, yet I love them. Anyway, they just slowly stalk you and torment you in their house. It's terrible, haha. The only way you can kill them is with a star, which I rarely find in haunted houses.
What's worse is the giant Boos. When I see those guys, I'm like, Now I just gotta run! In Mario Galaxy, when you eat a Boo Mushroom, it's great to be a Boo, but when a female one sees you and touches you, you're dead meat because you turn back into Mario. Just extremely annoying.

They're not invincible. You can kill them with the star or the mega mushroom, and if you're playing New Super Mario Bros. DS, you can beat them with the blue shell. That power-up is badass.
Boomerang Bro
Angry Sun

Granted, I was like 6 the last time we faced off, but I remember being absolutely obliterated by this guy. While he wasn't hard to avoid by himself, all the other enemies, plus quicksand and gaps to jump, made it impossible.
Who was the jerk who came up with this guy?

Hardest blooming enemy I have ever faced in any game.
Thwomp
Grand Goomba
Dry Bones

Dry Bones is a recurring enemy species in the Super Mario series of video games, first appearing in Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988). He made his debut as a playable character in Mario Superstar Baseball (2005).
Since then, Dry Bones has become a fan favorite and appeared as a playable character in... read more

Thank goodness we got the Ice Flower and the Penguin Suit in New Super Mario Bros. Oh, the power.

I like Dry Bones! They're Koopa Troopas that burned up in lava, and only their dry bones were left. They're cute.

The Newcomers

?
Larry Koopa

Larry Koopa is the youngest of the Koopalings. He first appeared in Super Mario Bros. 3, which was released in North America in 1990. Larry is recognized for his blue mohawk and mischievous personality, and he was created by Nintendo as one of Bowser's seven loyal minions.
?
Kent C. Koopa

He's not just hard, or difficult, or frustrating, or even aggravating. He is insanely aggravating.
He is so hard that he gets his own page at GameFAQs for beating him. Are you ready to lose? Yeah. Be ready. I think you should even try to beat him after Bowser.
If you're six or under, I suggest you pay. After all, you can get coins by beating weaker enemies, too. So don't go crazy at the shops. Save money to get past Kent C. Koopa.

The Contenders

Bowser

Bowser is the main antagonist of the Mario Bros. franchise. From kidnapping Princess Peach to disrupting games in the Mario Party spinoff series, this king of the Koopas has become a recurring enemy in the series. He first appeared in the 1985 video game Super Mario Bros., in which he kidnapped Princess... read more

Have you even played some of the games, such as Galaxy 2? Bowser is one of the most famous villains of all time, but I sometimes question Nintendo for designing some of his battles.

In Super Mario 3D World, he shows up in World One - why?

Come on! He's the final boss in most games!
Goomba

Goombas, known in Japan as Kuribō, are a species of sentient mushroom-like creatures in Nintendo's Mario franchise. They first appeared in the game Super Mario Bros. released in 1985. Goombas are one of the most common enemies in the series and are usually defeated by being jumped on.

This should have specified the first World 1-1 Goomba on the NES. It pretty much racked up more kills than most insta-kill enemies, even Boss Bass.

Picture this: running without a care, then a Goomba pops out of nowhere, and you die! So annoying!

In 3D games, they run at you and murder Mario.
Boohemoth

Boohemoth should be number one! He is the only Mario enemy that is completely invincible. If you stare at him too long, he will come after you again. Not even King Boo can do that! He is so different from other enemies. There is no way to kill him.
Also, he is very rare and hard to get away from. He should be king! He is just the greatest Mario villain ever.

Boohemoth should be number one! He is extremely sneaky and indestructible. I like how he looks because of his chubby cheeks, and his size is colossal. He is the largest Boo in the Boo family. In New Super Mario Bros. 2, he always crushes me!
I think he is the best Mario enemy ever created!
Kamek

Kamek is a recurring enemy character in the Mario Bros. franchise. He frequently appears in titles such as the New Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros. series, often casting spells to hinder the player's progress. He is a Magikoopa who typically serves as an assistant to Bowser.... read more

Are you sure you don't mean the Magikoopas, which have the same design as Kamek? Kamek is a higher-ranking member of Bowser's army, like the Koopalings or Bowser Jr.
As for fighting a Magikoopa, dear God, I've died so many times by not watching my step. Suddenly, that block is a Koopa! Either it killed me, or, even worse, the blocks would vanish and make me fall into the lava.

Why isn't Kamek on this list? He's awesome, and he's very hard to beat. Look at New Super Mario Bros. Wii and U - you have to keep running to catch him!
Blooper

Bloopers, often referred to as Bloobers until the release of Paper Mario, are squid-like creatures found in the ocean. The name Blooper had been used before that game, but the alternate term was still common.
These characters made their first appearance in Super Mario Bros. and have been recurring... read more

The stupidity of Blooper plus water physics equals the worst enemy in Mario.
Culex

WHAT! Don't say you don't remember him. Culex is an optional boss in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. He has four Elemental Crystals, all with high defense and attack, and altogether they have about 20,000 HP.
He has even more HP than both forms of Smithy.

Yes, he's ridiculously hard, but he isn't a regular enemy - he's a boss, so he doesn't count.
Cheep Chomp

This thing can instantly kill you even if you have a Super Star!

Getting eaten by them means instant death.
Chargin' Chuck
Koopa Paratroopa
Amazee Dayzee

Holy crap! She is so annoying with how she can put you to sleep, hurt you really badly, and run away! The only upside is that she can be valuable.

I got killed by these when I first played this game. First battle in the woods - BAM! 20 damage, insta-kill!
Spiny

Actually, most power-ups, including the Fire Flower, can kill a Spiny. They're technically Goombas that can't be stomped on.
I think you're confusing them with the kind that has one needle, which is immune to most power-ups, like a Buzzy Beetle. These can't be jumped on, and they aren't spawned by any kind of Lakitu.

Just spin jump if you don't have a special power-up!
Piranha Plant

The Piranha Plant, known as the Pakkun Flower in Japan, is a recurring enemy species in the Mario franchise. It usually appears as a green stalk topped with a red or green globe that is white-spotted and features a mouth lined with sharp teeth. The Piranha Plant has been featured in numerous Mario games... read more
Chomp Shark

If you see these things, your only choice is to run! I mean, who the hell came up with these guys?

While they're not too hard to get away from, doing so while collecting red coins is a challenge.
Spike

These guys are annoying. They throw spiked balls at you from a high platform or a flying block, so they move around. Those spikes are big, so it is hard to jump at the last minute.
You also have to speed run from the stone Spike. They throw spike balls from above.
Meowser

God damn, Bowser uses three power-ups that you can use: the cherry one and the cat one.