Petey Piranha

Petey Piranha
Petey Piranha's artwork for Mario Party: Star Rush
First appearance	Super Mario Sunshine (2002)
Latest appearance	Super Mario Party Jamboree (2024)
Gender	Male

Petey Piranha is a recurring character in the Mario franchise. He is a large, mutant Piranha Plants and a loyal follower of Bowser. Petey Piranha first appears in Super Mario Sunshine, where he is fought as a boss at Bianco Hills. He has maintained his role as a boss in various later games, especially of the role-playing and platforming genres, but he has also appeared as a playable character in various spin-offs.

Petey Piranha is much larger, stronger, and more resilient than Piranha Plants. Despite this, Petey Piranha is quite clumsy, although he has proven to be more intelligent than the rest of the Piranha Plants. Petey Piranha's favorite pastimes are eating and sleeping and he hates being woken up when he is sleeping.

Appearance

Petey Piranha is a large Piranha Plant. He has a disproportionately large head that is red with white spots, and his lips are both green and much larger than a regular Piranha Plant's. There are yellow petals around Petey Piranha's head with a reddish-orange border. Petey has a light-green body with some dark green spots and small legs. He wears red shorts with white spots, which cover Petey's weak spot, his belly button. Petey Piranha has two large leaves that it uses as arms and with which it can create tornadoes and fly.

Abilities

Petey Piranha has unique abilities and attributes that set him apart from the other Piranha Plants. His main ability is to spit damaging brown goop, which can also spawn Piranha Plants made of mud. Petey Piranha can also fly long distances using the leaves on his body as wings. Because of his large size and weight, Petey struggles flying at a high altitude and speed. Petey can also conjure strong tornadoes from his leaf-like arms that are strong enough to launch his opponents far away. He is also known to have incredibly high physical strength, comparable in many games to that of Bowser. Petey has an ability in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time only, where he burrows underground and travels around at high speeds. In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Petey is shown to be able to spit fire.

Petey Piranha's weak spot is his belly button. In Super Mario Sunshine, Ground Pounding his button is required to damage him, while in Super Princess Peach and New Super Mario Bros., just jumping on it inflicts damage. Petey Piranha's weight and large size can also easily cause him to lose his balance. In his appearances in the Mario role-playing games, Petey is weak to fire and ice attacks.

Gender

Petey Piranha's gender varies depending on the localization of the games. In English, Petey Piranha has always been male, though is sometimes given gender-neutral pronouns, and the same goes for the Spanish and Latin American localizations. In the Italian localization, Petey Piranha is male, though is female in the French localization. In the German localization, Petey Piranha's gender varies between appearances, such as him being referred to as male in his trophy description from Super Smash Bros. Brawl but female in Petey's bio in Mario Strikers Charged. Petey Piranha is also female in Super Mario-kun.

Mario appearances

Super Mario series

Super Mario Sunshine

Petey Piranha, as originally depicted for Super Mario Sunshine

Petey Piranha in a cutscene of the mission Down with Petey Piranha! in Super Mario Sunshine

Petey Piranha appears in Bianco Hills in Super Mario Sunshine. He is atop the Big Windmill and is responsible for covering portions of Bianco Hills in brown goop. During the first two episodes, Petey Piranha is atop the Big Windmill, which is surrounded by thorny vines. The first episode, Road to the Big Windmill, involves Mario having to defeat a brown Polluted Piranha Plant before he can continue up to the Big Windmill, whereas the second episode, Down with Petey Piranha!, involves Mario battling Petey Piranha himself. However, it is possible to sequence break in the first episode by not collecting the Shine Sprite after defeating the Polluted Piranha Plant and continuing onward to Petey Piranha on the Big Windmill.

Regardless, when Mario manages to avoid the thorny vines and reach Petey Piranha at the top of the Big Windmill, the roof breaks from the combined weight of the two characters, and both of them collapse into the interior, where they proceed to battle.

In battle, Petey Piranha attacks by spitting goop or headbutting Mario if he is nearby. Enemies can also emerge from the goop to attack Mario. When Petey Piranha opens his mouth, preparing to vomit goop, Mario can use FLUDD to spray a stream of water into Petey's mouth. After swallowing enough water, Petey's belly becomes plump, and he loses his balance and falls to the ground. While Petey Piranha is in this state, Mario can attack Petey by using performing a Ground Pound, although if Mario is not quick enough, Petey gets back attack. Mario has to do this process a total of three times for Petey to disintegrate into brown goop, thereby revealing the Shine Sprite he had been guarding.

Despite his initial defeat, Petey Piranha is later fought again in Bianco Hills, during the fifth episode, Petey Piranha Strikes Back. Petey is found asleep on a high cliff just outside of Bianco Hills. To awaken Petey, Mario has to shoot a Poink at him. Upon being awoken, Petey becomes angry and goes to the town area, on which he vomits brown goop while flying around. Petey Piranha can fall to the ground if Mario either sprays water or shoots a Poink at him. On the ground, Petey retains his attack of vomiting brown goop, from which Piranha Plants can now now appear, unlike his first battle. Petey also uses an entirely different attack in which he produces two tornadoes if Mario is a distance away. Otherwise, the battle is similar to the first, as Mario has to Ground Pound Petey a total of three times, each time after shooting water into Petey's mouth and causing him to fall over. Afterward, Petey is defeated for good, and Mario can collect the other Shine Sprite.

New Super Mario Bros.

Petey Piranha is the boss of World 5, where he is fought at the end of World 5-Castle. Petey is found asleep at first but wakes up when Bowser Jr. jumps on him. In battle, Petey Piranha goes into the sky before diving down at Mario or Luigi. However, the ice covering the floor of the room where the battle occurs causes Petey Piranha to slip and fall to the ground afterward, giving Mario an opening to jump on Petey's belly. After two hits, Petey Piranha begins to jump around the room rapidly before repeating his dive attack again. After a third hit, Petey is defeated. If Mario or Luigi manages to defeat Petey, he can continue to World 6, but if he is Mini, he goes to World 7 instead.

Mario Kart series

Mario Kart: Double Dash!!

Artwork of Petey Piranha driving the Piranha Pipes while his partner, King Boo, holds a Lightning

Petey Piranha appears in Mario Kart: Double Dash!! as a secret playable character alongside his default partner, King Boo. Both of them can be unlocked by completing the Star Cup in Mirror Mode. Petey Piranha is a heavyweight character, characterized by his speed and weight, similar to Bowser, although he has very low acceleration. His signature kart is the Piranha Pipes, a makeshift vehicle with a Warp Pipe as the front and back seat each. Petey Piranha and King Boo can have the unique ability to use every character's Special Item (except the Green Fireball and Birdo Egg).

Mario Kart Tour

Petey Piranha was added as a playable character to Mario Kart Tour in the Piranha Plant Tour. His special item is the Boomerang Flower.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Petey Piranha was added as a playable character in wave 5 of the Booster Course Pass in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, alongside Wiggler and Kamek. His stats are identical to Metal Mario's and Pink Gold Peach's except for his weight, which is the same as Bowser's and Roy's, with all three of them being the heaviest racers in the game.

Mario Tennis series

Mario Power Tennis

Artwork of Petey Piranha swinging his tennis racket for Mario Power Tennis

In Mario Power Tennis and its New Play Control! version, Petey Piranha is an unlockable character. The player can unlock Petey Piranha by clearing both the Fire and Thunder Special Tournaments in Doubles. Petey Piranha is physically strong and the largest in the game, which allows him to have a long reach, but also brings him some drawbacks. His Offensive Power Shot is called Sludge Racket, which involves Petey Piranha covering his tennis racket in brown goop before sending the ball to the opponent. His Defensive Power Shot is Piranha Swingback, which involves Petey Piranha spitting brown goop next to the ball, from which a Piranha Plant quickly emerges and hits the ball.

Mario Tennis Aces

Mario fighting Petey Piranha in Mario Tennis Aces

In Mario Tennis Aces, Petey Piranha is the boss of Ancient Altar in Story mode, and he is fought during the mission Forest Monster. Petey Piranha unusually loses health each time he rallies the ball. He has three units of health, represented by hearts. Each time Petey Piranha loses a heart, he sends several tornadoes at Mario.

Since January 1, 2019, Petey Piranha has been added as a playable character. He is a power-type character who is characterized by hitting the ball with great force. Petey Piranha is the only character who does not use a tennis racket, as he uses his blades to forcefully hit the ball instead, similar to his role in the Mario Baseball games.

Mario Baseball series

Petey is playable in both Mario Superstar Baseball and Mario Super Sluggers. He is a Power-type character, with batting as his highest stat, and the only character who does not use any sports equipment, using his leaf-like arms for pitching and batting. While fielding, Petey catches the ball into his mouth while fielding. Petey Piranha's ability is Body Check, and he is the only character who can use it in Mario Super Sluggers. He is one of the slowest runners.

Mario Superstar Baseball

Petey appears in Mario Superstar Baseball as an unlockable character. He is a member of Wario's team in Challenge Mode and can be unlocked by completing said mode as Wario's team. Petey has a batting stat of 9/10, tied with Bowser. He is also tied with Red Pianta, Yellow Pianta, Bowser, and most Magikoopa colors as the slowest runner, having a stat of 1/10.

Petey shares good chemistry with Birdo, Donkey Kong, and King Boo whilst having bad chemistry with Princess Daisy, Princess Peach, Noki, and Pianta. Petey Piranha has the strongest throwing arm despite his pitching being roughly average. Petey cannot be body checked when on a base.

Mario Super Sluggers

Petey Piranha batting in Mario Super Sluggers

In Mario Super Sluggers, Petey was changed to being playable from the start. Petey is the only player who can perform the Piranha Catch. He is displayed on the game cover, behind Toad and Toadette.

Petey shares good chemistry with Birdo, King Boo, Blooper, and Wiggler whilst having poor chemistry with Pianta, Noki, Peach, Daisy, Baby Peach, Baby Daisy and Baby Mario.

Petey's batting is now tied with not only Bowser but also King K. Rool. Petey has roughly average fielding, relatively weak pitching, and remains slow at running. Petey Piranha's stamina is quite lackluster, since he gets exhausted rather quickly while pitching, even more than King K. Rool.

In Challenge mode, Petey is now a member of Peach's team, Peach Monarchs. He is first seen in Peach Ice Garden, inside of an empty flower pot. If Peach uses her special ability, Petey Piranha appears. To get Petey to join, the player has to hit the ball into the yellow circle three times.

Mario & Luigi series

Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time

The boss fight against Petey Piranha in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time

In Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, Petey Piranha is a boss fought in Gritzy Caves during the past. When Mario, Luigi, Baby Mario, and Baby Luigi time-travel to the past in search of Peach, they learn that Princess Shroob has ordered for Peach to be fed to Petey Piranha, so the protagonists run to find him.

When the Mario Bros. find Petey Piranha, they realize that he has already eaten Peach. The Shroobs offer Petey Kylie Koopa as food, eating her too. Petey Piranha leaves, but the Mario Bros. manage to catch up, then the battle against Petey starts.

In battle, Petey Piranha is able to fly through the air, giving him the ability to evade hammer attacks, burrow underground, and throw rocks at the characters. Petey Piranha is weak to fire and ice, so the Fire Flower and Ice Flower can help defeat Petey sooner. Once defeated, Petey Piranha explodes, freeing Kylie Koopa and a Cobalt Star shard that he had also swallowed earlier. However, there is no sign of Peach, and Kylie Koopa reveals that Petey Piranha spat Peach out before swallowing her, forcing the protagonists to continue their search.

Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam

Petey Piranha is the first boss of Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam. He is fought in Sunbeam Plains, where he is sent by Bowser and Paper Bowser to attack Mario, Luigi, and Paper Mario. In battle, Petey Piranha attacks by flying and crashing into the ground to form damaging shockwaves. Petey Piranha can also perform a spin attack. However, if the attack is missed, Petey Piranha becomes dizzy and drops to the ground, during which the Mario Bros. can attack his belly to inflict further damage. When his stomach is attacked, Petey sometimes coughs out coins or a Goomba. For his chase attack, Petey Piranha spits balls of brown goop. Petey Piranha is vulnerable to fire Bros. Attacks.

Later, the protagonists encounter Paper Petey Piranha, who steals Paper Mario's Copy Block, giving it the ability to clone himself while facing Mario and Luigi. In battle, the protagonists must defeat all the copies until they can find and defeat the original, though besides this major difference, Paper Petey Piranha has similar attacks to the original Petey Piranha, like being able to fly before slamming the ground with force to generate a shockwave.

Mario Sports series

Mario Hoops 3-on-3

In Mario Hoops 3-on-3, two Petey Piranhas take the role of basketball hoops in Daisy Garden. It is the first game with more than one Petey Piranha, effectively showing him to be a species. Petey Piranhas fall asleep roughly every thirty seconds, which is when a player can dunk the ball into him, but while a Petey Piranha is awake, it bites whoever tries to dunk.

Mario Sports Mix

Petey Piranha in the Feed Petey minigame in Mario Sports Mix

In Mario Sports Mix, Petey Piranha is part of Daisy Garden in not only basketball but also dodgeball. In basketball, two Petey Piranhas have the role of basketball hoops, just like in Mario Hoops 3-on-3. In dodgeball, Petey Piranha spits brown goop, which serves as an obstacle.

Petey Piranha is the focus of the Feed Petey minigame, where players try to feed him as much fruit as possible before time runs out.

Paper Mario series

Paper Mario: Sticker Star

Paper Mario: Sticker Star sprite

In Paper Mario: Sticker Star, Petey Piranha is a boss fought in Rumble Volcano. Petey Piranha becomes more powerful than usual from eating a Royal Sticker from a tribe of Spear Guys. Mario and Kersti search for Petey to retrieve the Royal Sticker, but when they find Petey, he swallows Kersti and runs off, forcing Mario to search for him again to rescue his partner. Upon finding him, Mario battles him.

In battle, Petey's main method of attack is flying by using his leaves and then slamming down from above. Petey Piranha can also attack by spitting balls of goo and from spin attacks. However, Petey becomes dizzy from spinning and falls to the ground. While on the ground, Petey is vulnerable to being jumped on, and he spits out Kersti in the process. After enough damage, Petey Piranha is defeated, and he spits out the Royal Sticker that he ate.

Paper Mario: Color Splash

Petey Piranha does not appear in Paper Mario: Color Splash, but there is an exact lookalike of him, Petea Piranha, who is fought in Plum Park.

Mario Party series

Mario Party 10

Petey in his boss minigame, Petey's Bomb Battle, in Mario Party 10

In Mario Party 10, Petey Piranha is the boss of Mushroom Park. He is fought in the minigame Petey's Bomb Battle, where the characters must throw bombs at Petey to score points. Petey is able to inhale a bomb and throw it back at a character, who loses a point if the bomb explodes in from of them.

Mario Party: Star Rush

Petey in his boss minigame, Petey Piranha's Shell Smackdown, in Mario Party: Star Rush

Petey Piranha returns as a boss in Mario Party: Star Rush. This time, the characters have to attack Petey Piranha by throwing Green Shells at him during the boss minigame Petey Piranha's Shell Smackdown. Petey can perform a spin to defend himself and deflects the Koopa Shells back at characters. If a character touches Petey Piranha, they lose a point.

Mario Party: The Top 100 / Mario Party Superstars

Petey Piranha is featured in the minigame Piranha's Pursuit in Mario Party: The Top 100 and Mario Party Superstars. Petey Piranha takes the role of the Piranha Plant of the minigame's original iteration from the first Mario Party: He chases after a character while the other three characters are on a rain cloud, trying grow him with rain drops to make him move faster. If the solo character is hit by Petey Piranha before reaching the finish, they lose.

Super Mario Party Jamboree

In Super Mario Party Jamboree, Petey Piranha is amongst the passengers who can appear in the Koopa Paratroopa Taxi mode of Paratroopa Flight School.

Unused appearances

In the data of Mario Kart Wii, there is data for Petey Piranha, as well as Hammer Bro and Koopa Paratroopa, suggesting that all three would have been playable characters.

Princess Peach appearances

Super Princess Peach

Peach crying a stream of water into Petey Piranha's mouth in Super Princess Peach

In Super Princess Peach, Petey Piranha is the first boss. He is fought during the sixth stage of Ladida Plains. Petey Piranha is ordered by Bowser to stop Peach from advancing to his castle and takes a Toad hostage.

In battle, Petey Piranha attacks by creating shockwaves with his leaves, but he can also summon Nipper Plants to assist him. Defeating Petey requires the use of the Gloom vibe, since Peach has to cry a stream of water to fill Petey Piranha's stomach, causing him to fall over and leaving him vulnerable to being stomped. After three hits, Petey Piranha uses the Rage vibe and starts flying, requiring more precision from Peach to cry into Petey's mouth.

Super Smash Bros. appearances

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Petey Piranha, holding Zelda and Peach in a cage each, in Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Petey Piranha appears in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. He is the first boss of Adventure Mode: The Subspace Emissary, not unlike him being the first boss of various Mario games. Petey Piranha is fought at the Midair Stadium, where after Mario and Kirby fight off several enemies of the Subspace Army, a cannonball suddenly launches at the former, fly off. Kirby is then confronted by Petey Piranha, who is carrying two large cages imprisoning Peach and Zelda respectively.

An official screenshot of Petey sliding a cage at Kirby in Super Smash Bros. Brawl

In battle, Petey attacks by jumping or by sliding one of the cages at Kirby. Unlike other bosses, Petey Piranha does not have a health meter, which is assigned to each cage instead. To defeat Petey Piranha, Kirby has to destroy either cage to free the trapped princess.

Once either cage has lost 2/3 of its health or lower, Petey Piranha roars and receives a reddish glow. His attacks also become faster, more damaging, and receive greater knockback.

Once the princess is freed, Petey is defeated, somehow being set on fire in the process. The plot is affected slightly, depending on which princess has been freed.

Petey Piranha is later fought in The Great Maze stage. The boss fight is nearly the same, with the biggest difference being that neither cage has an imprisoned princess. The setting is also depicted with a clear blue sky. This iteration of the battle is used for Petey's battle in the unlockable Boss Battles Mode.

Trophy

There is a trophy of Petey Piranha that can be unlocked by throwing a Trophy Stand at him in Adventure Mode: The Subspace Emissary.

Name	Image	Appearance(s)	Description
Petey Piranha		GCN Super Mario Sunshine NDS New Super Mario Bros.	A colossal Piranha Plant. Unlike its pipe-inhabiting cousins, it uses its legs to walk around. It can fly, too. As you might expect, it often appears as a boss character in Mario adventures. This may come as a surprise, but it also displays surprising dexterity in kart races and ball games.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Petey Piranha, as seen during Piranha Plant's Final Smash in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Petey Piranha is summoned during Piranha Plant's Final Smash. Upon being summoned, Petey Piranha begins to jump around and tries trapping the user's opponents into a pair of cages, referencing his role in Adventure Mode: The Subspace Emissary from Super Smash Bros. Brawl. He slams on the ground and breathe fire into, damaging the trapped players. After attacking them for a while, Petey Piranha slams the cages into the ground even harder, breaking them, and then leaves.

There are two collectible spirits of Petey Piranha, one depicting his artwork from Mario Super Sluggers and the other from Mario Strikers Charged.

External links

• Petey Piranha on the Super Mario Wiki (in Spanish)
• Petey Piranha on the Fandom Smashpedia (in Spanish)
• Petey Piranha on the forked Smashpedia (in Spanish)