Ball 'n' Chain

A Ball 'n' Chain is a recurring obstacle in the . It first appears in Super Mario World.
==Description==
A Ball 'n' Chain is a ball covered in spikes, and rotates in place from a block, which it is attached to from link of circular chians. While a Ball 'n' Chain is mostly invincible, it rotates or swings slowly, being generally easy to bypass. Although Ball 'n' Chains are used to prevent the player's character from succeeding, they can stand on the brick to avoid touching the ball and taking damage.
Ball 'n' Chains can be found in Bowser's Castles and fortresses as dangerous objects and weapons of Bowser's. In most games, Ball 'n' Chains possess a similar behavior to Fire Bars and Roto-discs.
==In ==
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====Super Mario World====
Ball 'n' Chains are seen attached to a gray stone block spinning around. They will power down Mario/Luigi if he touches one, while the Spiked Ball can harm the plumbers, the chain it is attached to is harmless and can be walked through without an issue. The Ball 'n' Chains cannot be destroyed unless the plumbers are under the effects of a Starman, additionally, the a Ball 'n' Chain can be spin jumped on without taking damage. Ball 'n' Chains are commonly found in Fortresses and Castles, one example being Ludwig's Castle.
====New Super Mario Bros.====
The Ball 'n' Chain object also appears in New Super Mario Bros. in the World 7-Castle. In this game, The Ball 'n' Chains rotate around the block quickly in this level. A Star Coin even appears on one of the blocks a Ball 'n' Chain is attached to requiring for some quick maneuvers to obtain it. Just as before, the Spiked Ball is harmful to Mario/Luigi but the chain isn't, additionally their blocks can be stood on. A Ball 'n' Chain cannot be destroyed in this game.
====New Super Mario Bros. Wii====
The Ball 'n' Chain object then reappears in the game New Super Mario Bros. Wii, however in this game, they are rather rare obstacles with only two appearing in the whole game. in the secret areas of Lemmy's Fortress and Wendy's Castle. In the former, the Ball 'n' Chain is seen guarding one of the level's Star Coins within some large moving blocks and in the latter, it is seen in an underwater section attached to a spinning cross-shaped pendulum platform guarding a Red Ring. Unlike the previous game, the Ball 'n' Chain can be destroyed using a Starman and unlike previous games, the chains are now attached to nails in walls rather than blocks. Just as before, Ball 'n' Chains are seen rotating and only the ball is harmful.
====Super Mario 3D Land====
Ball 'n' Chains appeared in their 3D debut Super Mario 3D Land, where the ball is purple with yellow spikes, and the chain is also yellow. In this game, they aren't connected with shackles, unlike Super Mario World, where they are. Also, the object doesn't spin, but instead sway back and forth in a pendulum-like way. Ball 'n' Chains are are first seen in World 1-2 and from there, are commonly found in caverns and other buildings. Ball 'n' Chains can be destroyed with the effects of a Starman, Invincibility Leaf, or Statue Leaf.
====New Super Mario Bros. U/New Super Luigi U/New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe====
Ball 'n' Chains appear in all three games. They are much more powerful and more deadly than they are in previous games. They have spikes all around them, even on their chains which makes their chains a hazard as well and as a result, they can't be passed through, only under. Ball 'n' Chains are only seen swaying in this game (they don't spin unlike the previous games) and only appear in two levels, Pendulum Castle and Impossible Pendulums. They are also indestructible and cannot be destroyed (not even with a Starman). If Nabbit runs into a Ball 'n' Chain, he will be knocked back a bit (but won't take damage). Giant Ball 'n' Chains are also seen in this game.
===Mario Party 10===
Ball 'n' Chains are also seen in Mario Party 10 in the minigame Spiked Ball Scramble. They appear swining along the paths and players have to time their movements to avoid being hit whilst trying to stay on the track to avoid the lava, players should generally choose the path with less Ball 'n' Chains to avoid them (the paths up ahead are revealed as the screen scrolls). One touch of a Ball 'n' Chain will eliminate a player.
===Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe===
A single Ball 'n' Chain appears in Bowser's Castle. It is seen after the sets of Podoboo Cogs amidst the jump leading to the Castle's balcony. Running into the Ball 'n' Chain will knock a racer over, causing them to lose some Coins. Players can phase through a Ball 'n' Chain without an issue whilst under the effects of a Starman or Bullet Bill.
==In ==
===Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island / Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3===
Ball 'n' Chains are rather uncommon, mainly appearing in Forts such as Burt the Bashful's Fort. Ball 'n' Chains are indestructible in this game and will knock Baby Mario off Yoshi's back upon contact. Mace Guy's tend to use a smaller Ball 'n' Chain as their primary weapon. Ball 'n' Chains are seen spinning around in this game and some appear to be spun around by some Boo Guys. Hacking the game shows that Ball 'n' Chains can be destroyed while Baby Mario is under the effects of the Super Star.4:15 in the video shows that Baby Mario could destroy Ball 'n' Chains while invincible. This is never shown in the game nor the GBA remake as the Super Star isn't featured in any levels with the Ball 'n' Chain.
===Yoshi's Story===
Ball 'n' Chains only appear in two levels Tall Tower and Magma Castle. Here, Ball 'n' Chains either sway like a pendulum or quickly drop down to the floor and then slowly rise again similar to a Thwomp.
===Yoshi's Island DS===
Ball 'n' Chains mainly appear in castle levels such as Castle of the Big Burt Bros.. They are also seen in caverns as well and are more common than the previous game. Just as before, they are indestructible and they spin thanks to the Shy Guys. Ball 'n' Chains behave identically to Firebars.
===Yoshi's New Island===
Ball 'n' Chains are now slightly larger than previous Yoshi's Island games. They are seen in Forts and Caves and just as before, are indestructible and spinning as they are controlled by the Boo Guys. Mace Guys once again use the Ball 'n' Chain as their primary weapon.
===Yoshi's Woolly World / Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World===
Ball 'n' Chains retain their behavior from earlier Yoshi games, but now appear to be more gray, closely resembling how they look in the Super Mario series platformers. They can be commonly found in various Fortresses and Castles throughout the game and cannot be destroyed.
==In Super Princess Peach==
Ball 'N' Chains appear in Bowser's Villa, where they swing back and forth between the background and foreground, acting as pendulums. The spiked balls end of a Ball 'n' Chain resemble Bowser's Shell.
==In other media==
===Super Mario World television series===
The object was also found to have a small cameo in the episode "Send in the Clown." While Mario travels through Neon Castle, Mario gets very closed to being hit by a Ball 'n' Chain, which drops from the ceiling, as he tries to get through a lava area.
===The Super Mario Bros. Movie===
Ball 'n' Chains appear in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, where they are used to anchor Bowser's Castle.
==Trivia==
*New Super Mario Bros. 2 is the only New Super Mario Bros. game to not feature the Ball 'n' Chain.
==References==
de:Morgenstern
it:Mazzapendolo
fi:Ball 'n' Chain
nl:Ball 'n' Chain
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no:Ball 'n' Chain
es:Gigamaza
Category:Hazards
Category:Spikes
Category:Bowser's Weaponry
Category:Traps and obstacles
Category:Objects in Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
Category:Objects in New Super Mario Bros.
Category:Objects in New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Category:Objects in New Super Mario Bros. U
Category:Objects in New Super Luigi U
Category:Objects in New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
Category:Objects in Super Mario 3D Land
Category:Objects in Super Mario World
Category:Objects in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Category:Objects in Yoshi's Island DS
Category:Objects in Yoshi's Story
Category:Objects in Yoshi's New Island
Category:Objects in Mario Party 10
Category:Objects in Mario Kart 8
Category:Objects in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe