Spike Top is an enemy which debuted in Super Mario World. While Spike Top is one of the lesser recurring enemies, it has gone on to appear in some later 2D Super Mario series installments as well as in the Paper Mario series.
These Buzzy Beetle variants grip the surface of blocks and march across a series of blocks, with a single large spike atop their shell that can cause damage. They cannot be defeated by a fireball, which can usually exterminate an enemy. In this sense, Spike Tops are essentially a combination of the Buzzy Beetle and the Spiny possessing the invulnerabilities of both enemies, but like most enemies, they are not indefeasible as they can be knocked off the stage if Mario knocks the block the Spike Top is above.
Spike Tops debuted in cave areas in Super Mario World. Yoshi can eat them. They climb up walls and often come in groups. If they are jumped on, Mario will take damage. They are also immune to fireballs, they can still be defeated with the use of the Cape Feather or the Starman. Defeating a Spike Top earns the player 200 points.
New Super Mario Bros.[]
A Spike Top from New Super Mario Bros.
They appeared in New Super Mario Bros. acting like they did in Super Mario World. Some would climb on brick blocks, and if the player hit the block they would be defeated. They are less common in this game mainly appearing in levels of World 5, World 6, and World 8. They can also be defeated with the use of Shell attacks, the Blue Shell, the Starman, or the Mega Mushroom.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii[]
Many Spike Tops from New Super Mario Bros. Wii
They reappear in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, and act just as they did in the previous games. In this game, they are commonly found in levels of World 2 and World 6. In addition to being able to be defeated with the Starman, they can also be frozen with the Ice Flower.
Spike Tops return in New Super Mario Bros. 2 behaving the same as they did in previous games retaining their trademark immunities. They are once again commonly found in caverns however, just like the Buzzy Beetles, they are more common in this game. Spike Tops are commonly found in World 2, World Mushroom, World Flower, World 5, World 6, and World Star. They can be defeated with either the Super Leaf, Gold Flower, Starman, or Invincibility Leaf. Spike Tops are among one of the few enemies to not be affected by the effects of the Gold Ring.
New Super Mario Bros. U/New Super Luigi U/New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe[]
Super Mario Maker/Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS/Super Mario Maker 2[]
In Super Mario Maker and Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS, the Blue Spike Top returns, but only if you grab the item/enemy of the Red Spike Top and shake it. This will give the normal Spike Top a blue color and boost its speed. This is the same with Super Mario Maker 2, just press the normal Spike Top for a while to change it.
Super Mario Run[]
Spike Tops return in Super Mario Run retaining their behavior and immunities from previous games, in this game, they can once again be defeated with the Starman.
Though normal Spike Tops don't appear in Super Princess Peach, two new variations of them called the Mecha-Spike Top and the Mad Mecha-Spike Top appear. They have a more glossy appearance and walk in a robotic manner.
Spike Tops appear as enemies in Smash Run mode. Like in the Super Mario series, Spike Tops slowly walk around a platform and each of its edges. They have low health and do not attack, but inflict damage upon whoever touches them.
Trivia[]
In the early Paper Mario games, Spike Tops had blue shells instead of red. However, there are other related species of Spike Tops named Red Spike Tops.
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