Bob-omb Buddies are a subspecies of Bob-omb that have appeared in numerous Super Mario titles, beginning with Super Mario 64. They look like regular Bob-ombs aside from their magenta-coloured bodies. Unlike regular Bob-ombs, Bob-omb Buddies have consistently been shown to be intelligent and non-hostile, often helping Mario on his adventures.
In Super Mario 64, Mario encounters multiple Bob-omb Buddies in the Bob-omb Battlefield who ask for his help in defeating the King Bob-omb. From then on, Mario encounters a Bob-omb Buddy in each world who grant him the use of their cannons so he can reach higher and farther areas.
Bob-omb Buddies also appear in the Throwback Galaxy in Super Mario Galaxy 2. There, they ask for Mario's help in defeating the Whomp King and hide numerous Silver Stars around the galaxy for Mario to find.