Super Mario Maker Course parts: pipes, tracks, enemies and checkpoints
Build readable routes using the original Wii U editor’s main tools.
Edition covered
Original Wii U edition with its updates, not Super Mario Maker 2 or the Nintendo 3DS adaptation. Course uploads ended in March 2021; remaining official online course services ended in April 2024. Saved courses, creation tools and 10 Mario Challenge remain usable offline.
Start with a playable route
Place ground, start and goal before adding enemy combinations. The editor lets you jump between creation and play, so check each new obstacle while it is still easy to change.
| Part | Purpose | Useful check |
|---|---|---|
| Ground blocks | Support the route | No accidental unavoidable gap |
| Question Blocks | Supply coins or power-ups | Reward is reachable |
| Pipes | Spawn objects or connect areas | Entry and exit are clear |
| Tracks | Move supported objects | Path does not trap the player |
| Doors | Connect positions within an area | Destination remains safe |
| Checkpoint Flag | Restart partway through a course | The course works from that point |
Parts can be modified
Wings, Super Mushrooms and variant gestures change supported objects. The result depends on the selected part; a winged enemy does not behave like a winged platform.
| Change | Example use | What to test |
|---|---|---|
| Add wings | Change an enemy’s movement | Landing space after its new path |
| Add a Super Mushroom | Enlarge a supported enemy | Whether Mario can still pass |
| Place an object in a block | Control a reward | The player can reach the block |
| Stack enemies | Build a taller obstacle | Clearance above the stack |
| Place a supported object on a track | Create a moving challenge | Timing over a complete cycle |
Checkpoints require an updated game
Checkpoint Flags were added after launch. Test the course from both the start and each checkpoint so the player cannot lose a required power-up and become stuck.
Sub-areas need return planning
A pipe can connect the main area and a sub-area. Make the exit usable with the form and resources a player will actually have after the preceding section.
References
| Reference | Website |
|---|---|
| Nintendo original game information | microsite.nintendo-europe.com |
| Edition-specific mechanics reference | www.mariowiki.com |
| Nintendo: Super Mario Maker service closure | en-americas-support.nintendo.com |
| Nintendo online-service status | www.nintendo.com |
| Nintendo eShop and existing-download status | www.nintendo.com |