Rocket Flower refresh

A Rocket Flower refresh (also called a Rocket Flower reset or Rocket Flower storage, and often abbreviated as RFR) is a method of refreshing the timer of a Rocket Flower without returning to the pickup area, allowing Mario to travel indefinitely without it expiring. If Mario performs a Rocket Flower refresh, the Rocket Flower will behave as if he picked it up again from its original spawn point, without actually needing to be in the spawn point's vicinity.

Methods

Standard method

The most common method to perform a Rocket Flower refresh is using a ground pound. To perform this method, simply spinthrow and then immediately perform a ground pound while carrying a Rocket Flower.

It is important to note that the ground pound must be performed quickly enough after the spinthrow, or Mario will lose the Rocket Flower. Many players prefer to jump, spinthrow and then press ZL/ZR to accomplish this, although some will spinthrow before jumping.

Bonk method

The bonk method works similarly to the standard ground pound method, but is somewhat less convenient since it requires locating a wall to bonk on. This method simply requires running into a wall immediately after performing a spinthrow. Similarly to the other method, bonking too late after the spinthrow will result in a failed attempt.

Frame-perfect method

This method is by far the hardest method of performing a Rocket Flower refresh, and involves collecting a moon immediately after performing a cap throw. The window to perform this cap throw is only a single frame, but the frame window seems to vary depending on the type of cap throw.

This method was previously known as the "two-frame" method prior to determining the exact frame window, as the window was believed to be two frames rather than one.

Speedrun usage

Any%

The Rocket Flower refresh glitch was previously used in the Any% route within the Seaside Kingdom. Just before collecting the Taking Notes: Ocean Surface Dash moon, the Rocket Flower was refreshed to allow Mario to continue onward toward the Glass Palace. A frame-perfect refresh could even be performed just before collecting the moon, saving additional time at the expense of difficulty.

Ultimately, with the discovery of Fish Clip, the notes moon was removed from the route in favor of the moon from the Sphynx's underwater vault. Rocket Flower refresh is therefore no longer applicable to current Any% runs, and even the frame-perfect method results in a slower route.

100%

Rocket Flower refreshes can be used as optimizations in multiple places in the 100% route. Currently, one is used while collecting some regional coins under shallow water in the Seaside Kingdom. In the Mushroom Kingdom, Rocket Flower refreshes can be used while transporting two of the seeds into pots. Lastly, in the Snow Kingdom, a refresh can be used while collecting the Dashing Over Cold Water! moon, to then continue on upwards to collect the Dashing Above and Beyond! moon.