View source for Tail attack

{{Move infobox
|image=[[File:Tanooki Mario Artwork - Super Mario 3D World.png|200px]]<br>Tanooki Mario performing a tail attack in ''[[Super Mario 3D World]]''
|first_appearance=''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]'' ([[List of games by date#1990|1990]])
|latest_appearance=''[[Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition]]'' ([[List of games by date#2024|2024]])
|user=[[Mario]], [[Luigi]], {{a|PP|Peach}}, [[Rosalina]], [[Toad]], [[Yellow Toad and Blue Toad|Yellow Toad]], [[Yellow Toad and Blue Toad|Blue Toad]], [[Toadette]]
|effect=Smacks enemies and objects with a tail
|related=[[Spin]]
}}

The '''tail attack'''<ref>{{cite|url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clv/manuals/en/pdf/CLV-P-NAACE.pdf|title=''Super Mario Bros. 3'' instruction booklet|date=1989|type=PDF|accessdate=April 12, 2025|page=8|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{cite|url=https://csassets.nintendo.com/noaext/image/private/t_KA_PDF/manual-3DS-super-mario-3D-land-en|title=''Super Mario 3D Land'' e-manual|date=2011|type=PDF|accessdate=April 12, 2025|page=9|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{cite|url=https://csassets.nintendo.com/noaext/image/private/t_KA_PDF/manual-WiiU-Super_Mario_3D-World|title=''Super Mario 3D World'' e-manual|date=2013|type=PDF|accessdate=April 12, 2025|page=43|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us}}</ref> is a move that can be performed by [[Raccoon Mario]] and [[Tanooki Mario]]. As its name suggests, the attack involves using the forms' tail to smack enemies or objects, hitting anything close by at waist-height. [[Cape Mario]] is capable of a similar attack, and it is the first example of a [[spin]]ning attack in the ''[[Super Mario (franchise)|Super Mario]]'' franchise.

==History==
===''Super Mario'' series===
====''Super Mario Bros. 3''====
In ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]'', the tail attack can be performed by both Raccoon Mario and Tanooki Mario by pressing the {{button|nes|B}} button. It can defeat many enemies automatically, though it causes certain shelled enemies like [[Koopa Troopa]]s to flip upside down in their shells, while many stronger enemies like [[Thwomp]]s and [[Dry Bones]] are immune to it completely. Additionally, it can be used to hit [[Brick Block|Brick]]s and [[? Block]]s from the side. Tanooki Mario can turn into [[Statue Mario]] by performing the move while [[crouch]]ing.

====''Super Mario 3D Land''====
In ''[[Super Mario 3D Land]]'', Tanooki Mario and derived forms can use the move, as well as various enemies that have been affected by the [[Super Leaf]]'s power, such as [[Tail Goomba]]s, [[Big Tail Goomba]]s, [[Tail Boo]]s, [[Tail Bullet Bill]]s, and [[Tail Bowser]]s. Gear-like objects called [[Tail Wheel]]s can be activated by using the move on them repeatedly. Statue Mario is no longer activated with it, instead being activated by performing a [[Ground Pound]] after collecting a [[Statue Leaf]]. Instead, performing a tail attack while ducking causes him to spin while moving forward, similar to a [[roll]].

====''New Super Mario Bros. 2''====
In ''[[New Super Mario Bros. 2]]'', Raccoon Mario can use the move with the same properties as in ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]''.

====''Super Mario 3D World''====
In ''[[Super Mario 3D World]]'', Tanooki Mario can again use the move, though it is predominantly replaced by [[Cat Mario]]'s similar scratch attack.

====''Super Mario Maker'' series====
In ''[[Super Mario Maker]]'', ''[[Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS]]'', and ''[[Super Mario Maker 2]]'' Raccoon Mario can use the tail attack in the ''Super Mario Bros. 3'' style, acting the same as that game.

===''Paper Mario'' series===
In ''[[Paper Mario: Sticker Star]]'', ''[[Paper Mario: Color Splash]]'', and ''[[Paper Mario: The Origami King]]'', the [[Tail]] is a usable item that allows a tail attack to be performed as. In the former two games, it can reflect enemy projectiles if timed well. In the latter, it is an offensive move that deals damage to enemies in a 2x2 radius.

===''Mario Kart'' series===
The tail attack appears in the ''[[Mario Kart (series)|Mario Kart]]'' series starting with ''[[Mario Kart 7]]''. Using a [[Super Leaf]] gives the user's vehicle a tail that can be swiped by pressing the item button again, disappearing after several moments.

===''The Super Mario Bros. Movie''===
In ''[[The Super Mario Bros. Movie]]'', a tail attack is used by Tanooki Mario against the [[Bomber Bill]] to keep it from destroying [[Peach's Castle]]. Due to hitting it in the eye, it is stopped from doing so, but ends up pursuing him instead.

===Unused appearances===
The tail attack was considered for the Raccoon form's appearance as the Super Leaf item's effect in ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS]]'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]'', but ended up not being used in the final game.<ref>{{cite|author=SakuraiMasahiroA|date=April 30, 2014|deadlink=y|archive=web.archive.org/web/20171017180513/https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAABnUYnveENoEg|title=''Pic of the day. With the Super Leaf, any fighter can have ears and a tail. You can also float in the air by pressing the jump button. We're still figuring out whether you'll be able to attack with the tail...''|publisher=Miiverse|accessdate=July 11, 2018}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
RaccoonMario Demonstration SMB3.png|''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]'' artwork
SMB3 Raccoon Mario spin.gif|''Super Mario Bros. 3'' sprite (Raccoon Mario)
SMB3 Raccoon Luigi spin.gif|''Super Mario Bros. 3'' sprite (Raccoon Luigi)
SMB3 Tanooki Mario spin.gif|''Super Mario Bros. 3'' sprite (Tanooki Mario/Luigi)
SMB3 Whack normal.gif|''Super Mario Bros. 3'' whack effect ({{file link|SMB3 Tail whip flash diagram.png|alternatives}})
TanookiMario SM3DS.png|''[[Super Mario 3D Land]]'' artwork
Tanooki Mario Goomba SM3DL.png|''Super Mario 3D Land'' artwork
NSMB2 Raccoon Mario.png|''[[New Super Mario Bros. 2]]'' artwork
SM3DW-TanookiMarioStamp.png|''[[Super Mario 3D World]]'' stamp
SM3DW BF TanookiMarioStamp.png|''[[Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury]]'' stamp
SMB3 Raccoon Mario Artwork 3 F40A.png|''Super Mario Bros. 3'' Famicom 40th anniversary artwork
</gallery>

==Names in other languages==
{{foreign names
|Fre=Coup de queue
|FreM=Tail strike
|FreC=<ref>{{cite|url=https://csassets.nintendo.com/noaext/image/private/t_KA_PDF/manual-3DS-super-mario-3D-land-fr|title=''Super Mario 3D Land'' e-manual|date=2011|type=PDF|accessdate=April 12, 2025|page=9|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=fr}}</ref>
}}

==References==
<references/>

{{SMB3}}
{{SM3DL}}
{{NSMB2}}
{{PMSS}}
{{MK7}}
{{SM3DW}}
{{MK8}}
{{SMM}}
{{PMCS}}
{{SMM2}}
{{MKT}}
{{PMTOK}}
{{TSMBM}}
[[Category:New Super Mario Bros. 2 moves]]
[[Category:Super Mario 3D Land moves]]
[[Category:Super Mario 3D World moves]]
[[Category:Super Mario Bros. 3 moves]]
[[Category:Super Mario Maker moves]]
[[Category:Super Mario Maker 2 moves]]