Tail attack
Tail attack | |||
---|---|---|---|
![]() Tanooki Mario performing a tail attack in Super Mario 3D World | |||
First appearance | Super Mario Bros. 3 (1990) | ||
Latest appearance | Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition (2024) | ||
Used by | Mario, Luigi, Template:A, Rosalina, Toad, Yellow Toad, Blue Toad, Toadette | ||
Effect | Smacks enemies and objects with a tail | ||
|
The tail attack[1][2][3] is an attack 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 spinning attack in the 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. It can defeat many enemies automatically, though it causes certain shelled enemies like Koopa Troopas to flip upside down in their shells, while many stronger enemies like Thwomps and Dry Bones are immune to it completely. Additionally, it can be used to hit Bricks and ? Blocks from the side. Tanooki Mario can turn into Statue Mario by performing the move while crouching.
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 Goombas, Big Tail Goombas, Tail Boos, Tail Bullet Bills, and Tail Bowsers. Gear-like objects called Tail Wheels 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 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.[4]
Gallery
Super Mario Bros. 3 artwork
Super Mario Bros. 3 whack effect (alternatives )
Super Mario 3D Land artwork
New Super Mario Bros. 2 artwork
Super Mario 3D World stamp
Names in other languages
Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
French | Coup de queue[5] | Tail strike |
References
- ^ 1989. Super Mario Bros. 3 instruction booklet. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 8. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
- ^ 2011. Super Mario 3D Land e-manual. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 9. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
- ^ 2013. Super Mario 3D World e-manual. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 43. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
- ^ SakuraiMasahiroA (April 30, 2014). 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.... Miiverse. Archived October 17, 2017, 18:05:13 UTC from the original via Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
- ^ 2011. Super Mario 3D Land e-manual. Nintendo of America (French). Page 9. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
Paper Mario: The Origami King | ||
---|---|---|
Main characters | Bob-omb • Bowser • Bowser Jr. • Captain T. Ode • Kamek • King Olly • Luigi • Mario • Olivia • Peach • Professor Toad | |
Supporting characters | Battle Lab Toad • Birdo • Canned-Food Par-tay Trio • Chef Kinopio • Dino Rhino • DJ Snifit • DJ Toad • Emcee Shy Guy • Feelin' Fungi • Fortune Toad • Gold Fish • Kanchō Kinopio • Love Toad • Master Toad • Monty Mole auctioneer • Oarsman • Ol' Grandsappy • Origami Craftsman • Princess • Rescue Squad • Sap Sisters • Sea Captain Toad • Senchō Kinopio • Shangri-Spa Toad • Small Cheep Cheep • Mini Goomba • Sombrero Guy • Toad mechanic • Toad Researcher • Toad's BBQ Foodeatery caretaker • Whale • Whispering Trees • Whistle Snifit | |
Enemies | Folded Soldiers | Big Cutout Soldier • Black Shy Guy • Blooper • Bone Goomba • Boo • Boomerang Bro • Buzzy Beetle • Chargin' Chuck • Cheep Cheep • Co Gasagoso • Crowber • Dry Bones • Fire Bro • Fly Guy • Fuzzy • Galoomba • Goomba • Hammer Bro • Ice Bro • Jumping Piranha Plant • Koopa Paratroopa • Koopa Troopa • Li'l Cutout Soldier • Mechakoopa • Ninji • Nipper Plant • Paragoomba • Piranha Plant • Pokey • Ptooie • Rocky Wrench • Scaredy Rat • Scuttlebug • Shoe Goomba • Shy Guy • Sidestepper • Sledge Bro • Snifit • Snow Spike • Spike • Spike Top • Stingby • Stone Spike • Sumo Bro • Swoop • Thwomp |
Paper Macho Soldiers | Paper Macho Bob-omb • Paper Macho Boo • Paper Macho Buzzy Beetle • Paper Macho Chain Chomp • Paper Macho Goomba • Paper Macho Koopa Troopa • Paper Macho Lava Bubble • Paper Macho Koopa Paratroopa • Paper Macho Piranha Plant • Paper Macho Shy Guy • Paper Macho Stone Spike | |
Bosses | Legion of Stationery | Colored Pencils • Rubber Band • Hole Punch • Tape • Scissors • Stapler |
Vellumentals | Earth Vellumental • Water Vellumental • Fire Vellumental • Ice Vellumental | |
Other | Paper Macho Gooper Blooper • Mega Paper Macho Pokey • Boss Sumo Bro • Handaconda • Paper Mistake Buzzy Beetle • Paper Plane Squadron • King Olly | |
Locations | ? Island • Autumn Mountain • Battle Lab • Big Sho' Theater • Bonehead Island • Bowser's Castle • Breezy Tunnel • Cafés • Chestnut Valley • Club Island • Diamond Island • Dress-Up Photo Studio • Earth Vellumental Temple • Eddy River • Fire Vellumental Cave • Full Moon Island • Fun, Funky, and Functional • Graffiti Underground • Hammer Island • Heart Island • Hotfoot Crater • House of Riddles • Ice Vellumental Mountain • Musée Champignon • Mushroom Island • Ninja Attraction • Origami Castle • Overlook Mountain • Overlook Tower • Picnic Road • Scorching Sandpaper Desert • Scorching Sandpaper East • Scorching Sandpaper Far East • Scorching Sandpaper Far West • Scorching Sandpaper Minor • Scorching Sandpaper West • Scuffle Island • Sea Tower • Sensor Lab • Shangri-Spa • Shroom City Royal Palace • Shogun Studios • Shuriken Dojo • Shroom City • Spade Island • Souvenir Shop • Spring of Bliss • Spring of Jungle Mist • Spring of Purification • Spring of Rainbows • Spring of Sanctuary • Sun Altar • Sweetpaper Valley • Temple of Shrooms • The Great Sea • The Princess Peach • Toad Town • Tranquil Pipes Teahouse • Trial of Courage • Trial of Power • Trial of Wisdom • Water Vellumental Shrine • Whispering Woods | |
Items | 1-Up Mushroom • Boot Whistle • Boots • Confetti • Fire Flower • Fire Flower Set • Fire Hammer • Flashy Boots • Flashy Hammer • Flashy Mushroom • Flashy Iron Boots • Gold Boots • Gold Hammer • Hammer • Hidden Block Unhider • Hurlhammer • Ice Flower • Ice Flower Set • Ice Hammer • Iron Boots • Lamination Suit • Legendary Boots • Legendary Hammer • Legendary Iron Boots • MAX UP Heart • Mushroom • Mushroom 3-Pack • Mushroom 6-Pack • POW Block • Puzzle Solver • Rabbit Espresso • Sea Chart • Shiny Boots • Shiny Fire Flower • Shiny Ice Flower • Shiny Hammer • Shiny Hurlhammer • Shiny Iron Boots • Shiny Mushroom • Shiny Mushroom 3-Pack • Shiny Tail • Tail • Timer Extender • Toad Radar • Turtle Tea | |
Useful Items | Baseball • Bibliofolds • Big Shell • Bone • Canned Tuna • Canned Heart • Commoner Pass • Confetti Bag • "Deep, Deep Vibes" • Diamond Jewel • Diamond Key • Faded Fire Flower • Goomba Mask • Groovier Panel • Groovy Panel • "Heartbeat Skipper" • Heavy Bag • Jungle King Mask • Key to Bowser's Castle • Key to Peach's Castle • Lever • Manhole Hook • "M-A-X Power!" • Mushroom Handle • Opened Can of Tuna • Orbs • Professor's Room Key • Red Gem • Round Jewel • Royalty Pass • Shell Stones • Shogun Studios Master Key • Shriveled MAX UP Heart • Shriveled Mushroom • Shriveled Seed • Shuriken • Soul Seed • Space Warrior Mask • Spring of Rainbows - VIP • Square Jewel • Stamp Card • Straw • Suite Key • Sun Incense • "Thrills at Night" • Triangle Jewel | |
Accessories | Ally Tambourine • Coin Step Counter • Confetti Vacuum • Guard Plus • Heart Plus • Hidden Block Alert • Membership Card • Petal Bag • Retro Soundbox • Time Plus • Toad Alert • Treasure Alert | |
Objects | Boot Car • Chestnut • Hint Envelope • Magic Circle • Not-Bottomless Hole • Olly Tape • Relaxing Bench • Streamer • Waterfall | |
Miscellaneous | ? Blocks • 1,000-Fold Arms • Bestiary • Collectible Treasures • Fishing spot • Gallery • Glitches • Hidden Toads • Olivia's hints • Pre-release and unused content • Quotes • Shy Guys Finish Last • Songs ("Happy & Sappy" · "Go with the Flow" · "My Heart's a-Burnin'") • Staff |
The Super Mario Bros. Movie | ||
---|---|---|
Characters | Main characters | Donkey Kong • Luigi • Mario • Princess Peach • Toad |
Antagonists | Bowser • Kamek • Koopa General | |
Supporting characters | BrKLnCouple • Cranky Kong • Driver • Francis • Giuseppe • Kong army • Lumalee • Mario and Luigi's family (Aunt Marie · Mario and Luigi's father · Mario and Luigi's grandfather · Mario and Luigi's mother · Mario and Luigi's niece · Uncle Arthur · Uncle Tony) • Penguin King • Spike • Toad General | |
Other characters | Baby Luigi • Baby Mario • Baby Peach • Chanterelle • Chunky Kong • Diddy Kong • Dixie Kong • Funky Kong • Kiddy Kong • King Bob-omb • King Boo • Luigi's bully • Pauline • Pit • Super Mario Bros. Plumbing customer • Swanky Kong • Toadette • Yoshi | |
Forms | Cape Mario • Cat Mario • Fire Mario • Ice Mario • Invincible Mario • Mini Mario • Super Mario • Tanooki Mario | |
Species | Bat • Biddybud • Blooper (Blooper Baby) • Bob-omb • Bullet Bill (Bomber Bill) • Bramball • Buzzy Beetle • Chain Chomp • Cheep Cheep (Spiny Cheep Cheep) • Goomba (Goomba Tower) • Hammer Bro • Human • Jellybeam • Kong • Koopa (Dry Bones · Koopa Paratroopa · Koopa Troopa · Spiny · Sledge Bro) • Luma • Maw-Ray • Penguin • Piranha Plant • Shy Guy • Snifit • Toad • Yoshi | |
Locations | Bob-omb Battlefield • Bowser's Castle • Brooklyn (Brooklyn Heights) • Castle Burger • Crazy Cap • Dark Lands • Jungle Kingdom • Fire Flower Fields • Great Ring of Kong • High Cliffs • Kart workshop • Mushroom Forest • Mushroom Kingdom (Toad Town · Mushroom Heights) • Peach's Castle • Punch-Out Pizzeria • Rainbow Road • Desert Area • Secret passage • Snow Kingdom • Super Mario Bros. Plumbing • Training Course • Warp Zone • Waterfall Area • Yoshi's Island | |
Items and objects | ! Block • Anchor • Axe • Barrel • Bill Blaster • Bike (Bullet Bike · Mach Bike) • Blue mushroom • Blue Shell • Boomerang Flower • Bowser Statue • Box • Brick Block • Cannon • Cape Feather • Clear Pipe • Coin • Coin Block • Crate • Donut Block • Dragon Coin • Fire Bar • Fire Flower • Flying Question Block • Fruit (Banana · Carrot · Coconut · Grape · Melon · Pineapple · Turnip · Watermelon) • Girder • Goal Pole • Hammer • Ice Flower • Kart (Pipe Frame · Standard Kart · Tiny Titan) • Koopa Clown Car • Ladder • Lakitu's Cloud • Lift • Magic wand • Magical Potion • Mushroom Platform • Music Box • Mysterious pipe • P Switch • P-Wing • POW Block • Power Balloon • Question Block • Rocket Barrel • Rotating Block • Shy Guy balloon • Spike Trap • Snowball • Super Bell • Super Leaf • Super Mushroom • Super Star • Tanooki Suit • Trampoline • Warp Pipe • Wooden cutout • Yoshi's Egg | |
Miscellaneous | Gallery • Illumination • Jump Man • Multimedia • Quotes • References to other media • SMBPlumbing.com • Staff • The Super Mario Bros. Movie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) ("DK Rap" · "Mario Brothers Rap" · "Peaches") • Universal Pictures • Voice actors |