Fireball (Donkey Kong)
It has been suggested that this article be split into the following: Fireball, Blue Fireball. (discuss) |
- This article is about the Donkey Kong enemy. For information about the similar fireball enemy from 100m, see Fire (enemy).
Fireball | |||
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![]() A Fireball from Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis | |||
Appearances | |||
First appearance | Donkey Kong (1981) | ||
Latest appearance | Donkey Kong Country Returns HD (cameo) (2025) | ||
Similar entities | |||
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The Fireballs, also called firefoxes[1] or foxfires,[2] are fire-like enemies that first appeared in the original Donkey Kong, where they usually reside in oil drums and chase the player whenever they get near. The Fireballs are notable for being Mario's first encountered and longest-standing enemy within the franchise.[3]
Donkey Kong appearances
Donkey Kong series
Donkey Kong

The Fireballs make their first appearance in the original Donkey Kong, where they appear as enemies encountered all throughout the game. In the levels 25 m and 50 m, Fireballs will emerge from oil drums (although in the former level, they will only spawn once the oil drum at the beginning of the level is hit by a blue barrel) before proceeding to chase after Mario for a short distance, while in 75 m and 100 m, the Fireballs will continually patrol the sets of platforms throughout the stage (although in the case of the latter's stage, the Fireballs grow larger, making it harder to avoid them), with them also being able to climb ladders, no matter if they are broken or fixed (though they cannot reverse directions during the climb), as well as not being able to fall of ledges. Additionally, there can only be up to five Fireballs onscreen at once in the arcade version, lowered slightly to four in the Nintendo Entertainment System port. Like with other enemies and obstacles in the game, if Mario is touched by a Fireball, he loses a life and is forced to restart the level. If Mario jumps over a Fireball, he receives points, but the only way to defeat them is with a hammer, which also turns the Fireballs as well.
In the Game Boy version of the game, the Fireballs appear in the Start of the game, being a recreation of the original arcade game, as well as appearing in Stage 1-3, Stage 5-6, and Stage 5-8. In this game, their role is virtually identical to how they behaved within the original arcade game.
Fireballs retain their role as enemies in the built-in port of the Donkey Kong arcade game in Donkey Kong 64, acting the exact same as in the original.
Donkey Kong Circus
The Fireballs reappear as enemies in the Game & Watch game Donkey Kong Circus, where Donkey Kong has to dodge them while trying to juggle pineapples. If Donkey Kong grasps a Fireball, he will flail and count as a miss.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong series
Mario vs. Donkey Kong

In Mario vs. Donkey Kong and its Nintendo Switch remake, the Fireballs reappear as uncommon enemies, where they are often seen monitoring set areas and will instantly cause Mario to lose a life if he comes into contact with them. Like in the original Donkey Kong, the Fireballs can only be defeated by using hammers (which are usually found nearby where the Fireballs are located).
In the remake, the Fireballs are redesigned to more closely resemble Lava Bubbles, who also return in the remake as well. Additionally, a new variant of the Fireballs known as the Blue Fireballs can be encountered in both Slippery Summit and its plus variant, acting the same as their regular counterparts, with the main difference being their capability of chilling Mario upon contact rather than burning him.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis
Fireballs reappear as enemies in Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis where they are only encountered during the final battle against Donkey Kong on the Roof, as well as B1 and B2 in DK's Hideout. On the Roof, Fireballs spawn from an oil can if a barrel falls into it, while in B1, fireballs spawn from oil cans periodically without the use of barrels. In B2 however, two Fireballs spawn at the beginning of the level without being produced from an oil can. Similarly to their first appearance in Donkey Kong, the Fireballs move along girders and ladders to pursue the Mini Marios, though unlike in previous appearances, the Fireballs can reverse their direction while climbing ladders. If a Mini Mario comes into contact with a Fireball, they will be burned and destroyed (although this can be circumvented if the Mini Mario is protected by a water drop). Like in previous appearances, the Fireballs can only be defeated by any Mini when using the Hammer.
In addition to their appearance in the main game, the Fireballs also appear in the Construction Zone, where they can be used in the Lava Dome construction kit and Special Kit 3.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!
Fireballs return once again as enemies in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!, where they first appear in Area 5-2 and several subsequent levels. In this game, they behave similarly to their original appearance by walking at a moderate pace along the ground, although they will start treading faster if the Minis are holding hammers. Beyond that, they function nearly identically to their previous appearances.
Donkey Kong Country Returns / Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D

In Donkey Kong Country Returns, as well as its Nintendo 3DS remake and Nintendo Switch remaster, the Fireballs make a small cameo during the level Shifty Smashers, where renders of them being jumped over by Donkey Kong in the same style as the original arcade game can be found on some of the crushing blocks found throughout the stage.
Mario appearances
Super Mario Bros. Special

In Super Mario Bros. Special, the Fireballs (being referred to as Sigebou in this game) appear as enemies in both World 7-4 and World 8-2, acting similarly to how they did back in their first appearance. However, unlike in the original Donkey Kong, the Sigebou are able to fall off ledges.
Mario Kart series
In both Mario Kart Tour and the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass, a Fireball makes a small cameo in New York Minute on the Times Square jumbotron, displaying a small animation based on the 25m stage from the original Donkey Kong where Mario gets quickly defeated by a Fireball after climbing a ladder.
Crossover appearances
Super Smash Bros. series

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the Fireballs appear as obstacles on the 75 m stage. In this stage, the Fireballs behave identically to their appearance in the original 75m stage from the original Donkey Kong. If a fighters comes into contact with a Fireball, they will receive 10% damage and moderate knockback.
NES Remix series

In the NES Remix series, Fireballs appear in Donkey Kong-related challenges in NES Remix, NES Remix Pack, and Ultimate NES Remix. Additionally, the Fireball also has an unlockable Stamp as well.
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
While not physically appearing, the Fireballs are briefly referenced in the Donkey Kong Adventure DLC of Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle during the description of Rabbid Cranky's Barrel Bolt weapon, the Oil Drum (based on the object from the same name from the original Donkey Kong), it states that the weapon does not turn enemies into blue flames with eyes that chase the player, referencing the Fireballs color pattern when Mario acquires a hammer in that game.
Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition
In Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition, the Fireballs appear in the Donkey Kong-related challenges, retaining the same role that they had within the original game.
Profiles and statistics
Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten
Donkey Kong
おじゃま虫(ファイア)
種族 ゴースト族
性格 のんびり屋
登場ゲーム ドンキー
遅いけどばかにできない
マリオと出会って10年以上、いちばん長いつきあいのザコ敵キャラだ。ファイア系・ゴースト族の長老。動きはゆっくりだが、とにかくジャマ。タイミングをはかって、抜けよう。[3]
Trouble bug
Tribe: Ghost clan
Disposition: Easygoing
Game appearances: Donkey
Slow but not ridiculous
He has been Mario's longest-standing enemy character for more than 10 years. He is the elder of the fire and ghost clan. He moves slowly, but he is a nuisance. Try to get out of the way at the right time.
Donkey Kong (Game Boy)
ドラムカンファイア
種族 ゴースト族
性格 熱血
登場ゲーム GBドンキー
近づくと丸こげだぞ!
ドラム缶から出てくる火の玉。少しでち触れると、一発で丸こげになってしまう。ハンマーを持っていれば倒せるが、素手では、たちうちできない。ひたすら逃げまくろう。[4]
Drum Can Fire
Tribe: Ghost clan
Disposition: Hot-blooded
Game appearances: GB Donkey
Get close enough and you'll get a full burn!
A fireball coming out of a drum. If you touch it even a little, it will burn you to a crisp. If you have a hammer, you can defeat them, but you cannot hit them with your bare hands. Just keep running away from them.
Gallery
- For this subject's image gallery, see Fireball (Donkey Kong)/gallery.
Additional names
Internal names
Game | File name | Name | Meaning |
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Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis | data/data/anims/fireball_anim.bin | fireball | - |
Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch) | Model/FireBall_Shared.bfres.zs | FireBall | Fire Ball |
Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch) | FireBallBlue.bfres.zs | FireBallBlue | Blue Fire Ball; applied to Slippery Summit variant |
Names in other languages
Language | Name | Meaning |
---|---|---|
Japanese | おじゃまむし Ojama mushi ドラムカンファイア Doramu Kan Faia 火の玉 Hi no Tama |
Trouble bug Drum Can Fire[4] Fireball |
French | Insectes à problèmes | Problem insects[5] |
German | Feuerball | Fireball |
Italian | Volpe di fuoco | Firefox |
Korean | 방해꾼 벌레 Banghaekkun bul-lae |
Disrupter Bug |
Portuguese | Bola de fogo | Fireball (Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition) |
Spanish | El brasas | The embers |
Trivia
- The Fireballs are notable for being the first ever enemy encountered within the Mario franchise as a whole.
- The Fireballs bear a striking resemblance to the Podoboos, a common reoccurring fire-like enemy that debuted in the original Super Mario Bros.
- The Fireballs make a small appearance in the 2015 film Pixels, where they are present during the final battle scene with Donkey Kong based on the original arcade game, acting as obstacles for Sam Brenner and his allies to avoid.
References
Template:DK64 Template:MVDK Template:MVDK2MOTM Template:MVDKMLM
- Fire creatures
- Ghosts
- Donkey Kong (game)
- Donkey Kong (game) enemies
- Donkey Kong (Game Boy) enemies
- Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis enemies
- Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! enemies
- Super Mario Bros. Special enemies
- Super Smash Bros. Brawl
- Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U
- Super Smash Bros. series enemies