Editing Ice Ball

{{species infobox
|image=[[File:NSMBU Ice Ball Artwork.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=''[[Mario & Luigi: Brothership]]'' ([[List of games by date#2024|2024]])
|variant_of=[[Fireball]]
}}
An '''Ice Ball''' (also written as '''iceball''' or '''ice ball''') is a projectile that freezes its targets. Some enemies, like [[Ice Bro]]s. and [[Frost Piranha]]s, can throw or spit Ice Balls. Characters gain the ability to throw Ice Balls in  [[Ice Mario|Ice form]] and [[Penguin Mario|Penguin form]]. Ice Balls are similar to [[Fireball]]s, in that a thrown Ice Ball usually bounces across the ground while a Ice Ball that is spit out generally ignores gravity.

==History==
=== ''Mario & Luigi'' series ===
====''Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time''====
[[File:MALPIT Ice Flower.png|thumb|Mario throws iceballs thrown using Ice Flower. Luigi only has a small iceball and thus he throws would be ineffective.]]
Iceballs 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. The attack's mechanics are identical to [[Fire Flower#Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time|Bro Flower]] but with iceballs: while both involved characters hold ice balls, only one should throw them at a time. This is indicated by a large iceball passing between both characters. Throwing iceballs without possession of the large iceball causes them to vanish when they touch the ground without hitting the enemies. While Bro Flower can inflict the [[Burn]] status effect, Ice Flower gives a random stat-down, either lowering the enemies' [[POW-Down|POW]], [[DEF Down|DEF]] or [[SPD Down|Speed]]. The characters can also use a [[Mix Flower]], an attack based primarily on combining fireballs into a giant floating fireball to drop on opponents. Only one character can throw fireballs at a time, represented by a large fireball moving to that character. The other three characters have iceballs, and throwing those is a missed input as the iceballs shrink the large fireball and reduce the damage at the end. The iceballs appear to be blue fireballs in this game.

==== ''Mario & Luigi: Dream Team'' ====
While Mario and Luigi cannot use the Ice Ball as a weapon in ''[[Mario & Luigi: Dream Team]]'', there is an enemy called [[Icead]] that can spit Ice Balls as an attack. The target has to jump over the projectile to avoid it. In this game, Ice Balls have a more misty appearance.

==== ''Mario & Luigi: Brothership'' ====
Ice Balls make an appearance in ''[[Mario & Luigi: Brothership]]'', Luigi can undergo his ice transformation with the [[Fire & Ice]] [[Bros. Move]]. During the first phase of the final battle versus [[Reclusa]], the fiend can charge up with fire, which Luigi needs to counter with his Ice Balls. If Reclusa charges with ice, [[Mario]] has to use his fireballs to counter the attack instead. This also occurs in the second phase when Luigi uses his [[Luigi Logic]] skill, but this time to block Weeping Reclusa's fireballs as the duo head up the arboreal abomination's trunk. Luigi also has the [[Bros. Attack]] [[Max-Mix Vortex]], in which he can place ice balls in the slots of a ring, while Mario places fireballs in the slots that Luigi doesn't cover.

Certain enemies also use Ice Balls, like [[Ice Bro]]s. and a new spiky version of the [[Icead]] enemy from ''[[Mario & Luigi: Dream Team]]''. The former throw Ice Balls in several moves, while the latter can bounce it between itself and another spiky Icead (if there is more than one) as the two shift slowly toward their target, who has to repel it with a hammer strike. When it powers up into an icy form, a boss known as the [[Pipegunk]] can shoot Ice Balls at Mario and Luigi from the pipes on top of its body. Mario and Luigi must counter this move with their hammers.

===''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 gain the Ice form by use of an Ice Flower, or the Penguin form 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, jumping at a block with 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. 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]], [[Roy]], [[Iggy]], [[Morton]], [[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. [[Frost Piranha]]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 Bro]]s. also return and attack by shooting Ice Balls.

====''Paper Mario: The Origami King''====
Ice Flowers and their Ice Balls also return in ''[[Paper Mario: The Origami King]]'', working as in the prior games. Origami Ice Bros. also appear as enemies, throwing Ice Balls to attack.

===''Mario Kart'' series===
====''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.

====''Mario Kart Tour''====
Ice Balls appear in ''[[Mario Kart Tour]]'', where if a driver with an Ice Flower as its special item uses one, three Ice Balls orbit around their kart, which they can throw in a spread-shot fashion, causing any opponents hit to freeze and slide for a period of time. An ice ball also appear in one of Ice Bro's trick animations.

===''Mario Golf: Super Rush''===
Ice Balls appear in ''[[Mario Golf: Super Rush]]'', where it is used by Luigi when he uses Ice Flower Freeze, his Special Shot. When used, his golf ball turns to an Ice Ball, which will cause the surrounding area that the golf ball lands on to become frozen. Within the frozen area, the friction of the golf ball is reduced. Nearby water and lava within the area can be frozen, but the Ice Ball itself cannot land in them. Even in frozen portions of water or lava, characters who travel on foot will be penalized, and it still counts as a Penalty Area (thus incurring a stroke penalty) even if the golf ball can land on the ice. In Target Golf, the Ice Ball is one of the possible golf balls to obtain in this mode's multiplayer only, where it freezes the surrounding area that lasts until the user takes their next shot.

===''Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U''===
[[File:IceBall SSB3DS.JPG|thumb|Iceball in ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS]]'']]
In ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U]]'', Iceball 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.
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==Gallery==
<gallery>
NSMBW Ice Ball Artwork.png|An Ice Ball in ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]''
NSMBW Ice Mario Artwork.png|Ice Mario shooting an Ice Ball in ''New Super Mario Bros. Wii''
NSMBU Ice Mario Screenshot.jpg|Ice Mario shooting an Ice Ball in ''[[New Super Mario Bros. U]]''
NSMBU Larry's Torpedo Castle Screenshot.png|An Ice Ball transforming a [[Torpedo Ted]] into an ice block
NSMBU Ice Bro Artwork.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''
PMCS Redpepper Crater Big Lava Bubble battle.png|Mario throws a large Ice Ball in ''[[Paper Mario: Color Splash]]''
NSMBUDXIceMario.png|Ice Mario shooting an Ice Ball in ''[[New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe]]''
MKT Ice Mario.jpg|Ice Mario shooting three Ice Balls in ''[[Mario Kart Tour]]''
MKT Ice Bro and Fire Bro.jpg|Ice Bro shooting Ice Balls in ''Mario Kart Tour''
Penguin Mario Trick.png|Ice Balls orbiting around Penguin Mario in ''Mario Kart Tour''
MKT Iceball.png|Sprite of an Ice Ball in ''Mario Kart Tour''
PMTOK Musee Champignon art 127.png|''[[Paper Mario: The Origami King]]''
LSM Character Pack Series 6.jpg|[[LEGO Super Mario|LEGO ''Super Mario'']]
M&LB Fire and Ice icon.png|''[[Mario & Luigi: Brothership]]''
</gallery>

==Names in other languages==
{{foreign names
|Jpn=アイスボール
|JpnR=Aisubōru
|JpnM=Iceball
|Spa=Bola de Hielo
|SpaM=Ice Ball
|Kor=아이스볼
|KorR=Aiseubol
|KorM=Iceball
|Chi=冰球
|ChiR=Bīng Qiú
|ChiM=Ice Ball
}}
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{{PMCS}}
{{PMTOK}}
[[Category:Projectiles]]
[[Category:LEGO Super Mario objects]]
[[Category:Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time objects]]
[[Category:New Super Mario Bros. U objects]]
[[Category:New Super Mario Bros. Wii objects]]
[[Category:Paper Mario: Sticker Star objects]]
[[Category:Paper Mario: Color Splash objects]]
[[Category:Paper Mario: The Origami King objects]]
[[Category:Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U custom special moves]]