View source for Ice Ball

{{species-infobox
|image=[[File:Ice Ball Artwork - New Super Mario Bros. U.png|250px]]<br>Artwork of an Ice Ball from ''[[New Super Mario Bros. U]]''
|first_appearance=''[[Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time]]'' ([[List of games by date#2005|2005]])
|latest_appearance=''[[New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe]]'' ([[List of games by date#2019|2019]])
|parent_species=[[Fireball]]
}}
An '''Ice Ball''' (also written as '''Ice-ball''') is a projectile capable of freezing playable characters and enemies. [[Mario]] can gain the ability to shoot Ice Balls by using either an [[Ice Flower]] or a [[Penguin Suit]], which will transform him into [[Ice Mario]] or [[Penguin Mario]], respectively. [[Ice Bro]]s. and [[Ice Piranha Plant]]s are also capable of shooting Ice Balls. When shot, an Ice Ball will bounce along the ground briefly, then shatter. Ice Balls can be viewed as a parallel to [[Fireball]]s.

==History==
===''Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time''===
Ice Balls first appear in ''[[Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time]]'', where Mario, [[Luigi]], [[Baby Mario]] and [[Baby Luigi]] can shoot them at enemies when they use an Ice Flower. Unlike the [[Fire Flower#Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time|Bro Flower]], which gives the [[Burn]] status effect, the Ice Flower will give a random stat-down, either lowering the enemies' [[POW-Down|POW]], [[DEF Down|DEF]] or [[SPD Down|Speed]].

===''Super Mario'' series===
====''New Super Mario Bros. Wii''====
Ice Balls would go on to make their first platformer appearance in ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]''. Mario, Luigi, [[Blue Toad (character)|Blue Toad]] and [[Yellow Toad (character)|Yellow Toad]] can attack with them if they manage to become Ice Mario, Ice Luigi, Ice Blue Toad or Ice Yellow Toad by use of an Ice Flower, or Penguin Mario, Penguin Luigi, Penguin Blue Toad or Penguin Yellow Toad by using a Penguin Suit. 

Many enemies, upon being hit with an Ice Ball, will become frozen in a block of solid ice. Ice Balls can freeze a multitude of enemies, including fireproof ones such as [[Buzzy Beetle]]s and [[Dry Bones]]. A frozen enemy, if it is ground-based and not overly large, can then be picked up and thrown, much like a [[Shell]], taking out any enemies in its path. If left alone, a frozen enemy will break out of its ice block after a brief period of time.

A frozen enemy can be destroyed by having it collide into any surface, [[Ground Pound]]ing it, [[jump]]ing at it from beneath, tossing a Shell or another frozen enemy at it, or touching it as [[Invincible Mario]]. If a frozen enemy collides into a playable character, the enemy will be destroyed. The character will get knocked back a bit, but will not take damage. If a frozen enemy is defeated, it will drop a [[Coin]]. 

If an Ice Ball hits an airborne enemy, such as a [[Koopa Paratroopa]], the frozen enemy will remain in mid-air for several seconds, before falling to the ground. During this brief time, the block of ice can be used as a stepping stone.

If an Ice Ball hits an aquatic enemy that does not resist it, it will float up towards the surface and never thaw out. It also cannot be broken or picked up in this state. The same applies to airborne enemies if their block of ice falls into the water. In some cases, the frozen enemy will be defeated and instantly vanish if the block of ice collides with a solid surface such as ground.

Certain enemies, particularly larger ones such as [[Big Piranha Plant]]s and [[Thwomp]]s, are impervious to being frozen; if they are hit by an Ice Ball, they will either freeze up and thaw out immediately, or will simply cause any Ice Balls that hit them to shatter upon contact.

Ice Balls can also be used to dispel the magical projectiles that are fired by [[Larry Koopa|Larry]], [[Roy Koopa|Roy]], [[Iggy Koopa|Iggy]], [[Morton Koopa Jr.|Morton]], [[Ludwig von Koopa|Ludwig]] and [[Kamek]], as well as [[Bowser]] and [[Bowser Jr.]]'s Fireball attacks. Additionally, Ice Balls will destroy [[Lava Bubble]]s upon contact.

It is possible for a [[Yoshi (species)|Yoshi]] to grab an Ice Ball with its tongue and hold it in its mouth. If the Yoshi spits out the Ice Ball, it becomes a bluish "fireball" that will travel forward indefinitely, freezing any enemies in its path.

[[Ice Bro]]s. attack using Ice Balls, which will not only damage Mario if they hit him, but will temporarily freeze him within a block of ice. These Ice Balls are also capable of freezing other enemies should they hit any.

====''New Super Mario Bros. U'' / ''New Super Luigi U'' / ''New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe''====
As it plays similarly to ''New Super Mario Bros. Wii'', Ice Balls in ''[[New Super Mario Bros. U]]'' function essentially the same way as they did previously. [[Ice Piranha Plant]]s also attack by spitting Ice Balls. However, much like the ones that a Yoshi can spit out, these Ice Balls will travel forward indefinitely, and are capable of freezing not only playable characters, but fellow enemies as well.

===''Paper Mario'' series===
====''Paper Mario: Sticker Star''====
Ice Flower [[Sticker (Paper Mario: Sticker Star)|Sticker]]s appear in ''[[Paper Mario: Sticker Star]]'', granting Mario the ability to shoot Ice Balls at enemies. [[Ice Bro]]s. also attack by shooting Ice Balls.

====''Paper Mario: Color Splash''====
Ice Flower [[Battle Card (Paper Mario: Color Splash)#Ice Flower|cards]] appear in ''[[Paper Mario: Color Splash]]'' and allow Mario to shoot Ice Balls as in the previous game. [[Ice Bros.]] also return and attack by shooting Ice Balls.

===''Mario Kart Arcade GP DX''===
In ''[[Mario Kart Arcade GP DX]]'', Ice Luigi's special item is the Ice Ball, which can be thrown forward or backward. When hit, in addition to damage, the tires freeze and becomes unstable for a certain period of time.

===''Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U''===
[[File:IceBall SSB3DS.JPG|thumb|Ice Ball in ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS]]'']]
In ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U]]'', Ice Ball appears as the second of Luigi's custom variations of his [[Green Fireball|Fireball]] move. While it does not travel as quickly as the standard Fireball, it has a longer range and can freeze opponents with higher damage percentages.
{{br}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Ice Ball Artwork - New Super Mario Bros. Wii.png|An Ice Ball in ''New Super Mario Bros. Wii''.
NSMB Ice Mario.png|Ice Mario shooting an Ice Ball in ''New Super Mario Bros. Wii''.
NSMBWiiU Water-02.jpg|Ice Mario shooting an Ice Ball in ''New Super Mario Bros. U''.
Torpedo Ted NSMBU.png|An ice ball transforming a [[Torpedo Ted]] into an ice block.
Ice Bro-NSMBU.png|An Ice Bro shooting an Ice ball.
PDSMBE-IceMario.png|Ice Mario holding an Ice ball in ''Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition''.
PDSMBE-IceLuigi.png|Ice Luigi holding an Ice ball in ''Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition''.
NSMBUDXIceMario.png|Ice Mario shooting an Ice Ball in ''New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe''.
</gallery>

==Names in other languages==
{{foreign names
|Spa=Bola de Hielo
|SpaM=Ice Ball
|Kor=아이스볼
|KorR=Aiseubol
|KorM=Iceball}}

{{M&LPIT}}
{{NSMBW}}
{{PMSS}}
{{NSMBU}}
{{SSB4}}
[[Category:Projectiles]]
[[Category:Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time Objects]]
[[Category:New Super Mario Bros. U]]
[[Category:New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]
[[Category:Paper Mario: Sticker Star]]
[[Category:Paper Mario: Color Splash]]