Spiked Ball

Spiked Balls (also called Spiky Balls or Spike Balls) are a recurring obstacle in the Mario franchise, and they first appear in Super Mario Bros. 3.
Spiked Balls are metallic balls with spikes that commonly roll around the levels. Contact with a Spiked Ball will cause damage. Spiked Balls are strong enough to shred through Brick Blocks, Dry Bones, and objects that are otherwise normally unbreakable. Spiked Balls are commonly invincible and cannot be destroyed by any normal means. Spiked Balls are also used as the primary weapon for Spikes in the games they appear in, other enemies such as Ptooies can also use Spiked Balls to their advantage. Since their debut, different variations of Spiked Balls have also been introduced in the series such as Stone Spiked Balls which are made of stone rather than metal and Giant Spiked Balls which are much larger and can wreak more destruction than a regular Spiked Ball. Ball 'n' Chains are also Spiked Balls with chains attached to a block or pivot and spin/sway around acting as another type of hazard. In most games, the Spiked Balls appear in, they are rather sturdy and can only be destroyed with the effects of a Starman.
==In the Super Mario series==
===Super Mario Bros. 3===
Spiked Balls make their debut in Super Mario Bros. 3 where they appear as weapons tossed by Spikes. Spikes will toss Spiked Balls at Mario/Luigi upon sight. Ptooies are also seen blowing Spiked Balls in the air to use as protection barriers. Other than that, Spiked Balls aren't typically used in any other way aside from being enemy weapons.
===Super Princess Peach===
Spiked Balls make their debut in Super Princess Peach as a common floating obstacle for Peach to avoid. Spiked Balls usually appear in clusters in many different areas and can only be avoided, they cannot be destroyed in any way. Spiked Balls are also seen in the minigame Toad Tote where they act as obstacles for Toad to avoid. Spiked Balls are also blown in the air by Ptooies and Glad Ptooie however the Spiked Balls they use can be destroyed by becoming angry. Additionally, Spikes toss blue Spiked Balls straight at Peach whilst Mad Spikes toss red Spiked Balls which can bounce around.
===New Super Mario Bros.===
Spiked Balls appear again in New Super Mario Bros. where they are first seen in World 2-Castle. The beginning of the level has a Giant Spiked Ball shredding through a staircase made of brick blocks before falling into the nearby pit. The rest of the Castle's corridor consists of smaller Spiked Balls rolling down the hallways at varying speeds. Contact with a Spiked Ball will cause damage no matter how you make contact with it (even ducking as Shell Mario won't protect you (making the Spiked Ball one of the few obstacles capable of hurting Shell Mario in his shelled state)). There are small alcoves to duck under and the Spiked Balls never respawn until you go too far offscreen. Spiked Balls can break brick blocks and destroy Dry Bones and Super Dry Bones. Spiked Balls later reappear in World 5-Fortress as the main obstacle to avoid while on the elevator. The only way to destroy a Spiked Ball is with a Starman or a Mega Mushroom, extremely fast Spiked Balls later appear in World 8-Fortress 2 which roll onto your Snake Block platform as it travels through the level.
===New Super Mario Bros. Wii===
In New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Spiked Balls appear in World 3-Tower as a common obstacle while on the elevator. It once again retains it's abilities of destroying dense rocks but they are also required for obtaining the level's second Star Coin. You will need to keep at least two on the lift so they can destroy the wall blocking the Star Coin and make sure they don't hit the POW Block until the elevator has reached the top (as they can be destroyed by it's effects). Spiked Balls and Giant Spiked Balls also appear in World 8-2 as a common obstacle rolling across the rolling stone hills alongside the Goombas, Hefty Goombas, and Grand Goombas. In World 8-Airship, Bowser Jr. drops Spiked Bombs on Mario forcing him to ground pound and dunk them back up at him. Spiked Balls can only be destroyed with a Starman. In World 2-2, Spikes are seen tossing Spiked Balls down hills requiring some quick evasion. 
===Super Mario 3D Land===
Spiked Balls return in Super Mario 3D Land as a semi-common obstacle, they are commonly found in Caverns and Airships. They can be shot out of cannons or holes and roll around trying to hit Mario (or Luigi). They can only be destroyed with the effects of a Starman, Statue Leaf, or Invincibility Leaf. Just as before, Spiked Balls can also be destroyed by Giant Spiked Balls. Unlike previous games, Spiked Balls are now Blue in this game.
===New Super Mario Bros. 2===
Spiked Balls appear in the castles of World 4 and Mushroom in New Super Mario Bros 2 returning to their dark-gray appearance from earlier games. They roll left to right and bounce off walls. Both Spiked Balls and Giant Spiked Balls appear alongside the brand new Super Giant Spiked Ball. Morton Koopa Jr. can summon these objects from his wand in his boss battle. Spiked Balls can be destroyed with the effects of a Starman, Invincibility Leaf, Mega Mushroom, or a Gold Flower (the last of which also awards bonus Coins).
===New Super Mario Bros. U/New Super Luigi U/New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe===
Spiked Balls appear in New Super Mario Bros. U, New Super Luigi U, or New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe where they are tossed by Spikes once again. Spiked Balls on their own are absent however two enemies called the Grrrol and the Mega Grrrol appear which appear to've replaced the Spiked Balls as function almost identically to Spiked Balls. 
===Super Mario Run===
Spiked Balls return in Super Mario Run once again as the primary weapon of the Spikes. They are primarily seen in the level Land of Spikes where they are tossed down by the Spikes. Giant Spiked Balls also appear during the final battle with Bowser in Bowser's Bob-ombing Run. Bowser will launch these weapons from his Koopa Clown Car.
===Super Mario Odyssey===
Spiked Balls are seen again in Super Mario Odyssey. In this game, they appear as weapons used by Yoofoes during the various fights with them. Harriet also uses Spiked Bombs during her fight. Additionally, a similar obstacle to the Spiked Balls called the Spiked Shell also appears rolling down the hills of the Seaside Kingdom.
===Super Mario Maker 2===
Spiked Balls return in Super Mario Maker 2 as hazards tossed by Spikes once again. In the Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, and Super Mario World styles, Spiked Balls are tossed straight at Mario while in the New Super Mario Bros. U and Super Mario 3D World styles, Spiked Balls are rolled down hills and don't fly through the air. Giant Spiked Balls also appear and are tossed down by Mega Spikes.
==In the Wario franchise==
===Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3===
Spiked Balls make yet another appearance in Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3, where they can commonly be found in the Parsley Woods. This os the first game where Spiked Balls roll towards you. They plummet from the trees' thicket when Wario approaches before rolling along the ground, though one Spiked Ball falls straight down and disappears off-screen. In this game, Spiked Balls stop immediately when they hit a wall, and fall off the screen, a trait that was never reused in later games.
===Wario World===
Spiked Balls also appear as obstacles in Wario World. They appear in the various obstacle courses found inside Wooden and Steel Trapdoors, and are also used as weapons by several enemies and bosses in the game and must be avoided at all costs or else Wario will take damage. Cractyls drop them instead of Bombs in later stages, and the SandWorm also spits Spiked Balls at Wario as one of its attacks which must be avoided. 
==In the Luigi's Mansion series==
Spiked Balls appear in every installment of the Luigi's Mansion series, Luigi's Mansion (as well as its 3DS remake), Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, and Luigi's Mansion 3 where they mainly serve the same role in each game, they are mainly used as weapons by the tyrannical King Boo during his boss battles, King Boo tosses Spiked Balls at Luigi which he must avoid or else he will take damage.
==In the Mario Party series==
===Mario Party 4===
Spiked Balls appear in the Mario Party 4 1 VS 3 minigame Hop or Pop, during the minigame, the solo player is rolling inside a Spiked Ball whilst trying to pop the bouncy rubber balls the teammates are in. The teammates must try to avoid the solo player's Spiked Ball until time is up, if all three teammates are hit by the solo player's Spiked Ball, they lose.
===Mario Party 6===
Spiked Balls are seen again in Mario Party 6 this time, appearing in the Bowser Mini-game Pit Boss. During the minigame, Bowser appears and tosses a Spiked Ball in the arena the players are in and they have to dodge the trundling traps. Players who are hit by the rolling Spiked Balls are eliminated from the game and placed in a cage above the arena. Eventually the Spiked Ball will lose speed and stop. Bowser, infuriated at this, will throw two more Spiked Balls in pit hoping to hit the (remaining) players. These new Spiked Balls will hit the first causing it to start rolling again. Players will now have to dodge three Spiked Balls, as the new Spiked Balls hit the original idle one causing it to start rolling around again. The last person/people standing when time runs out avoid being the loser.
===Mario Party 9===
Spiked Balls appear in Mario Party 9 as a common obstacle in Bumper Bubbles. They appear floating in the air as an obstacle to avoid while collecting Balloons, contact with a Spiked Ball will cause you to fall and your balloons to scatter requiring yo to collect them back before your rivals do. Spiked Balls also are seen in Chain Event as an obstacle to avoid while sliding down the chains. Being hit by a Spiked Ball will cause you to lose the speed you've built up. Spiked Balls are also seen (alongside Giant Spiked Balls) in the minigame Tumble Temple where they roll down the slope and players need to avoid them, if a player is hit by a Spiked Ball, they are eliminated from the minigame. Spiked Balls are also seen in the "1 VS Rivals" minigame Spike-n-Span where Spiked Balls roll along the bridge that the teammates are standing on and the solo player must bump the ground below the bridge to fling the Spiked Ball into the air to hit the teammates with, players hit by the Spiked Balls are eliminated. Lastly, Spiked Balls are also seen in the boss minigame Spike Strike against Spike, Spike will roll Spiked Balls down at the players and they must select a weapon to knock the Spiked Balls back at him with, Gold Hammers are worth three points, Iron Hammers are worth one point, and Sticks will cause the selector to lose a point as they aren't strong enough to deflect the Spiked Balls back at Spike.
===Mario Party 10===
Spiked Balls appear in Mario Party 10 during the minigame Bowser's Painball. In the minigame players are placed in a Pinball Machine and Bowser has to shoot Spiked Balls at the players to deplete them of their hearts. Players have to last 30 seconds without being hit by the constantly rolling Spiked Balls Bowser deploys into the Pinball Machine, players who lose all their hearts are eliminated from the game as a whole. The player playing as Bowser can actually shake the Wii U Gamepad to briefly stun the other players to make them an easier target for the Spiked Balls. This is never explained in-game, however.
===Mario Party: The Top 100===
In Mario Party: The Top 100, Spiked Balls appear in the returning minigame (from Mario Party 9) Bumper Bubbles. Just as before players need to collect Balloons in their Bubbles whilst avoiding the Spiked Balls in the Sky. Contact with a Spiked Ball will cause a player to lose all of their hard-earned Balloons.
===Mario Party Superstars===
Spiked Balls also appear in Mario Party Superstars in the returning minigame from Mario Party 6 Pit Boss. Just as before, Bowser will deploy Spiked Balls in the arena players are in and they will need to outlast each other whilst avoiding the Spiked Balls, those who are hit are eliminated and put in a cage above the arena, as the minigame progresses, the singular Spiked Ball will stop and an irate Bowser will drop two more Spiked Balls in the arena making dodging them now slightly harder, again, whoever is still remaining after time is up is the winner.
==In the Mario & Luigi series==
===Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga===
Spiked Balls appear in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga during an attack preformed by Tolstar, Tolstar attacks both Mario and Luigi by tossing Spiked Balls at them, during the fight Tolsatr hints at how to tell which bro. he will attack. If he tosses the Spiked Ball with his right hand, he is aiming for Mario however if he tosses with his left hand, then Luigi is the target. The Spiked Balls can be dodged by jumping however if Tolstar laughs before tossing the Spiked Ball, that means the Spiked Ball will bounce over the targeted bro. in which case he shouldn't jump.
===Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time===
Spiked Balls return in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time this time as part of an attack used by the Elder Shrooboid. During the battle, the monstrous alien will toss a Spiked Ball at the bros. which will proceed to circle them (similar to one of the Love Bubble's attacks from earlier on). The bros. have to counter the Spiked Ball with their hammer or else it will fly right into one of the bros. for some heavy damage and possible Poisoning. If the bros. hit it successfully, the Spiked Ball will bounce away with a unique animation depending on which bro. hit it, if it is Mario to hit it, it will bounce diagonally in the air like a Baseball, and if Luigi is the one to hit the Spiked Ball, it will bounce straight upward. Anyway, at this point, with the failed attack the Elder Shrooboid will freak out and fall flat on his face putting him out for a few turns thus allowing jump attacks to be used which now also do more damage to the beast. Spiked Ball's are also used to reset the counter on the hovering Shroob UFO during the battle's second phase.
Spiked Balls are also used during an attack used by the Shroids. During the battle, Shroids will summon Shroob UFO's to bring down a Spiked Ball to drop on one of the bros. (the bro. that will be attack can be determined by the icon on the Spiked Ball). Being hit by this Spiked Ball can cause dizziness however if successfully countered with the Hammer, it will bounce back at the attacking Shroid causing it to malfunction. From this point forward, the Shroid will attack the opposite brother to the icon shown on the Spiked Ball.
===Mario & Luigi: Dream Team===
Spiked Balls are seen again in Mario & Luigi: Dream Team where they are during an attack by Bowser Jr. in the Battle Ring. In the battle, Bowser Jr. will toss a Spiked Ball at the plumbers who must continuously hit it back with their hammers. Being hit by the Spiked Ball will cause some heavy damage so be careful, if successfully countered enough times, the bros. can avoid damage.
===Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam===
Spiked Balls appear in Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam as apart of an attack used by Spikes and Paper Spikes. During the battle, a Spike may deploy a few Spiked Balls which will proceed to roll at the bros. and Paper Mario. These Spiked Balls need to be jumped over, Spikes also have access to Giant Spiked Balls which must be countered back with the Hammer.
===Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey===
Spiked Balls return in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey being used as the primary weapon for Spikes during battles. Spikes attack by tossing the Spiked Balls at foes. When preforming a group attack, multiple Spikes may team up to toss Giant Spiked Balls at foes. 
===Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions===
Spiked Balls return in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions retaining their role from the original where they were weapons used by Tolstar however they are slightly larger than before, additionally, in Minion Quest: The Search for Bowser, Spiked Balls are also used by Spikes as their main weapon during brawls against the enemy. Spiked Balls are rather useful against flying enemies but work slightly lesser against melee enemies.
==In the Paper Mario series==
===Paper Mario: Sticker Star===
Spiked Balls appear in Paper Mario: Sticker Star as weapons commonly used by Spikes both in and out of battle. Outside battle, Spikes will consistently toss Spiked Balls at you as you get close which deal damage upon contact, the Spikes will toss the Spiked Balls every which way, this can be annoying as it has a chance of knocking Mario off a platform forcing him to climb back up to where he was, in the field an incoming Spiked Ball can be countered by hitting it with the Hammer. In battle, Spikes can do one of two things with a Spiked Ball, they can either toss it at Mario immediately for damage or they can hold the Spiked Ball above their heads for a turn before tossing it on the next turn. While the Spike is holding a Spiked Ball above it's head, it cannot be stomped on however Iron Jumps will still work (due to their ability to stomp spiked foes without an issue). Any damage will knock the Spiked Ball out of the Spike's hands. Upon defeat, Spikes have a chance of dropping Spiked Ball Stickers which can be used in battle against other enemies.
===Paper Mario: Color Splash===
Spiked Balls return in Paper Mario: Color Splash once again being a common weapon used by the Spikes. Just as before, Spikes will toss the Spiked Balls outside of battle forcing Mario to either avoid the incoming Spiked Balls or Hammer them down. In battle, Spikes use Spiked Balls the same way they did previously, either tossing them directly at Mario or holding them over their heads to shield themselves from jump attacks (excluding the Iron Jumps). A partnered Spike (from the Enemy Cards) can also toss Spiked Balls as an attack at other foes. Ptooies also used Spiked Balls in battle as either a Jump Shield or as a projectile to use against Mario during battle.
===Paper Mario: The Origami King===
Spiked Balls return in Paper Mario: The Origami King where they are once again the weapons of the origamified Spikes found throughout the game. The Spike ally that joins Mario on his adventure also uses a Spiked Ball as an offensive attack against foes during battle. The Spiked Ball attack can be useful at bringing down most foes in the game.
==In Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker==
Spiked Balls appear in Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker once again as a rolling hazard. Due to Captain Toad and Toadette's inability to jump, Spiked Balls must be cleverly maneuvered around to be avoided. Spikes are also seen tossing down Spiked Balls once again. In this game, Spiked Balls resemble their appearance from Super Mario 3D Land.
==In Yoshi's Woolly World / Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World==
Spiked Balls are seen in Yoshi's Woolly World as well as Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World. In these games, they are used as weapons by various bosses such as Big Montgomery and Miss Cluck the Insincere. Spiked Balls must be avoided at all costs as they can damage Yoshi if he comes into contact with the rolling trundling traps, overall, they behave as they do in the mainline games in these games.
==In Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle==
In Spooky Trails, a level from Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, many Spiked Balls lie scattered across the Underwater Village, with one encountered earlier in Spooky Square. Although they are mainly used for decoration, Beep-0 remarks the one in Spooky Square, expressing that he hopes it stays put and does not cause more trouble than he and the other team members already have. In this game, Spiked Balls are mostly idle obstacles and don't commonly move.
==In Mario Sports Superstars==
Spiked Balls appear again in Mario Sports Superstars. In this game, they are commonly used as weapons by the games various bosses especially Mega Spike, the Spiked Balls must be avoided as usual or you will risk a possible stunning as well as some damage.
==Gallery==
Spiked Ball GB.png|Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3
Spiked Ball DS.png|New Super Mario Bros.
Spiked Ball Wii.png|New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Spiked Ball 3DS.png|Super Mario 3D Land
Spiked Ball Wii U.png|Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
Spiked Ball Classic.jpg|New Super Mario Bros.
Spiked Ball Red.png|Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3
Spiked Ball Gray.png|Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3
Spiked Ball Sidestep.png|New Super Mario Bros.
==Trivia==
*In more recent games, the Ball 'n' Chain resembles a Spiked Ball attached to a chain.
==Navigation==
fi:Spiked Ball
ja:トーサンボール
Category:Traps and obstacles
Category:Hazards
Category:Enemies in Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
Category:Enemies in Luigi's Mansion 3
Category:Enemies in Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon
Category:Enemies in Luigi's Mansion
Category:Enemies in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey
Category:Enemies in Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam
Category:Enemies in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
Category:Enemies in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions
Category:Enemies in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
Category:Enemies in New Super Luigi U
Category:Enemies in New Super Mario Bros. 2
Category:Enemies in New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
Category:Enemies in New Super Mario Bros. U
Category:Enemies in New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Category:Enemies in New Super Mario Bros.
Category:Enemies in Paper Mario: Color Splash
Category:Enemies in Paper Mario: The Origami King
Category:Enemies in Paper Mario: Sticker Star
Category:Enemies in Super Mario 3D Land
Category:Enemies in Super Mario Bros. 3
Category:Enemies in Super Mario Maker 2
Category:Enemies in Super Mario Run
Category:Enemies in Super Princess Peach
Category:Enemies in Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3
Category:Enemies in Yoshi's Woolly World
Category:Objects in Mario Party 10
Category:Objects in Mario Party 4
Category:Objects in Mario Party 6
Category:Objects in Mario Party 9
Category:Objects in Mario Party Superstars
Category:Objects in Mario Party: The Top 100
Category:Objects in Mario Sports Superstars