Tanoomba

Tanoombas are a variant of Goomba based on the Tanooki Suit. They only appear in a few of the earlier Mario & Luigi installments, and make their debut appearance in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga. Tanoombas resemble regular Goombas but with the addition of raccoon ears, a raccoon tail, and a green leaf resembling a Super Leaf on their forehead (likely referencing how transforming raccoon dogs, i.e. tanuki, in Japanese folklore are often depicted with leaves. Tanoombas are slightly larger than Goombas.

The main ability of a Tanoomba is their mimicry, as they can shapeshift into different objects, creatures, and even characters, namely Mario or Luigi. Contrarily, the Tanooki Suit only allows Mario or another character to transform into their Statue form. While transformed, a Tanoomba can always be distinguished by the raccoon-like features or leaves on what they transformed into.

In Super Mario 3D Land, a different variant of Goomba also bearing a raccoon tail was introduced, Tail Goomba which, unlike Tanoombas, lack ears and cannot transform. As such, Tail Goombas mainly make use of their tail, and are specifically based on the Super Leaf power-up.

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga / Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions
In Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, Tanoombas are found in Beanbean Outskirts in an area north of Beanbean Castle Town. They sometimes assist Bob-ombs in battle, and are themselves sometimes joined by Paratroopeas. To attack, a Tanoomba transforms into a copy of Mario or Luigi. After transforming, the Tanoomba attack the brother that it did not transform into, so if a Tanoomba transforms into Luigi, it proceeds to attack Mario or vice versa. This attack can be countered with a hammer strike. Additionally, a Tanoomba can attack by spinning its tail at a Mario brother. The brothers can jump to dodge this attack, but should be prepared to dodge multiple tail strikes. This attack may give Mario or Luigi the trip status effect. If the Game Boy Horror SP is used, Tanoombas drop a Green Pepper.

In Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions, Tanoombas have darker brown feet, and have the bushy eyebrows that most Goombas have, and retain the 'conjoined' eyes they had in the original version. Green Peppers are no longer a type of item that they drop. Tanoombas also appear as enemies in Minion Quest: The Search for Bowser. They are melee troopers, and attack by running into enemies. Tanoombas have Spin Cycle as their special attack, allowing them to attack by spinning their tails. In Popple's Partner, Part 2, a Tanoomba appears as a candidate to be Popple's new partner.

Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
Tanoombas can be found at Thwomp Volcano in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. They were now given a variety of disguises. On the overworld, a Tanoomba can turn into a Toad (with a raccoon tail), a 100 Coin (with the Tanoomba's face on it), a ? Block (with a leaf on top), or even a Thwack (with the Tanoomba's face on it). Once approached, the Tanoomba reveals itself and attacks.

In battle, the Tanoomba uses a variety of shape-shifting attacks. First, a Tanoomba can jump high and either turn into a Thwomp (with a raccoon tail) or an orange bubble (with a raccoon tail). If the Tanoomba turns into a Thwomp, it quickly falls and crushes a Mario Bro. If the Tanoomba turns into a bubble, it falls slowly, and damages Mario or Luigi upon hitting them. Both of these attacks can be countered with a hammer. Additionally, if a Tanoomba flips when it jumps, it attacks Luigi. If it jumps without flipping, the Tanoomba attacks Mario. During this attack, if a Tanoomba goes to the very top of the screen, it turns into a Thwomp, but if it goes near the top, it turns into a bubble.

A Tanoomba can also turn into a Spiny shell (with a raccoon tail). If it transforms into the shell, the Tanoomba slides into the Mario Bros., circling around and attempting to damage the brothers multiple times. This technique may even poison a brother. To dodge this attack, Mario and Luigi have to jump as the Spiny shell approaches. Like its other attacks, the Tanoomba does a twirl jump or a hop to indicate if it will strike Luigi or Mario first, respectively.

Tanoombas take critical damage from fire-based attacks such as the Bro Flower and Mix Flower Bros. Items.

A stronger and Shroob-like variant of the Tanoomba, the Tashrooba, is encountered later on at Shroob Castle.

Super Mario-kun
A single Tanoomba appears in Super Mario-kun Volume 36, which is based on Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. Unlike in the games, the Tanoomba has a small, round nose. The Tanoomba provokes the four brothers into attacking each other. First, it turns into Luigi, eating the Bros.' cake. It then turns into Mario and hits Luigi, then into Baby Mario, who sticks his fingers up Baby Luigi's nose, causing them to battle. When it decides to defeat them by attempting to smash them in Thwomp form, after they are worn out, the four brothers realize they have been tricked and team up against the Tanoomba. After the attack, the Tanoomba cries for forgiveness. It first transforms into a Shroob, which the Mario Bros. disapprove of. It then turns into a tree, where the Mario Bros. approve, but Luigi has an allergic reaction to it and sneezes the leaves off the tree.

Profiles

 * Minion Quest: The Search for Bowser: They're proud of their POW, despite their small size. Quite speedy, so try to take them down quickly.