Editing Lakitu

{{about|the enemy|other uses|[[Lakitu (disambiguation)]]}}

|latest_appearance=''[[Mario & Luigi: Brothership]]'' ([[List of games by date#2024|2024]])

|latest_portrayal=[[Tadd Morgan]] ([[List of games by date#2011|2011]]–present)

{{quote|We're gonna spike-bomb [[Mario|you]] into submission, punks!|Spiny|Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door}}

'''Lakitus''' are [[List of enemies|enemies]] introduced in ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' They are [[Koopa (species)|Koopas]] that ride [[Lakitu's Cloud|clouds]] through the skies, most often dropping [[Spiny Egg]]s down at targets. Some spinoff games include a Lakitu [[Lakitu (Mario Kart referee)|as a referee]], including the [[Mario Kart (series)|''Mario Kart'']], [[Mario Tennis (series)|''Mario Tennis'']], and [[Mario Baseball (series)|''Mario Baseball'']] games. The instruction booklets of several spinoff games refer to the Lakitu character in singular form, suggesting against the idea of those games having several Lakitus.

[[File:Lakitu SMB artwork.jpg|thumb|left|x200px|Artwork from ''Super Mario Bros.'', the first design and appearance of Lakitus]]

[[File:SMB Lakitu Sprite.png|frame]]

In ''Super Mario Bros.'', Lakitus are first encountered in [[World 4-1 (Super Mario Bros.)|World 4-1]]. They move on a horizontal axis on the upper part of the screen, hiding in their clouds for about one second before throwing down Spiny's eggs, which become [[Spiny|Spinies]] upon landing. Only one Lakitu is ever encountered at a time. Even if it is defeated from either being [[stomp]]ed or being hit by a [[fireball]], worth 800 and 200 points, respectively, it spawns after several seconds. Lakitu retreats offscreen whenever the player character is about to activate the [[Goal Pole|flagpole]], though one in [[World 8-2 (Super Mario Bros.)|World 8-2]] stops its pursuit early on. A Lakitu is behind the disguise of the [[Impostor Bowser|fake Bowser]] in [[World 5-4 (Super Mario Bros.)|World 5-4]].

{{multiframe|[[File:SMB3LakituSprite.png]] [[File:SMASSMB3LakituSprite.png]] [[File:SMA4 Lakitu Sprite.png]]|align=right}}

Lakitus appear in ''[[Super Mario World]]'' and [[Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2|its reissue]]. They follow the player character directly, unlike before, and use a cloud that the player character can ride temporarily if the Lakitu is defeated by projectiles. This is the only game of the [[Super Mario (series)|''Super Mario'' series]] with cloud-riding Lakitus with red shells instead of green, though the remake has an oddity where if Yoshi spits out a Lakitu from a Pipe while having Luigi, the Lakitu is depicted with a green shell. The game introduces three variations: [[Fishin' Lakitu]]s, [[Fishing Boo|Fishin' Boo]], and '''Lakitu in a Pipe'''.<ref>{{cite|title=Nintendo ''[[Mario Mania]]'' Player's Guide|page=50|date=August 1991|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us}}</ref> Lakitus in a Pipe emerge similarly to [[Piranha Plant]]s, which includes not emerging if the player character is standing on their pipe. A Lakitu in a Pipe throws only one Spiny Egg before retreating. Lakitus in a Pipe are defeated using the methods as Lakitus, but with the addition of being eaten by [[Yoshi]].

Lakitu appear in ''[[Super Mario Run]]''. They behave broadly similarly to their appearance in ''Super Mario Bros.'' Lakitu flies higher briefly if the player character enters the top portion of the screen. If the player gets too close after that, they can fly slightly higher than that to stay safe, though lower back to the normal flee range once the player leaves. They do not leave behind a Lakitu's Cloud when defeated. Lakitu in World Tour never leave, while Lakitu in Toad Rally will leave at the end of a segment and Lakitu in Remix 10 will leave toward the end of a course.

 

The Lakitus in [[Big Spiny Blitz]] only throw a single coin per interval, which is affected by gravity. The Lakitus in [[Lakitu's Revenge]] throw both Spiny Eggs and coins, but always throws Spiny Eggs far to the right of the player.

Lakitus are enemies in the ''[[Super Mario Bros.: Peach-hime Kyūshutsu Dai Sakusen!]]''. They resemble their in-game counterparts, but their clouds have no faces, except for two in the ending credits. Many Lakitus appear during the [[Bowser's Minions]] invasion of the [[Mario Bros.' House|Mario Bros.' home]]. After this, no Lakitus are given major roles until shortly after Mario and Luigi had collected the [[Super Mushroom]]. The Mario Bros. are eventually attacked by a Lakitu, who explains that he wanted lure Mario and Luigi into his Piranha Plant garden in order to feed his plants, and that they will pay for having destroyed his garden. He traps Luigi amongst a horde of [[Big Spiny|big-sized Spinies]], although Mario manages to escape his eggs. A [[beanstalk]] appears and boosts Mario to Lakitu's height. The amused Lakitu then scoffs at Mario and shakes his hand before realizing that it is adjacent to his enemy. Though he attempts to escape, Mario manages to take the cloud, which he tampers with until he accidentally destroys the Spinies, saving Luigi.

Only one Lakitu<ref>{{cite|quote=Koopa and '''Lakitu''' try to take over Pastaland.|url=tubitv.com/tv-shows/458830/s01-e28-mario-and-the-red-baron-koopa Mario and the Red Baron Koopa|title=Mario and the Red Baron Koopa|publisher=Tubi|accessdate=November 9, 2020}}</ref> (also spelled '''Lakatu''')<ref>{{cite|quote=When Koopa teams up with the dreaded sky turtle, '''Lakatu''', the heroes head for an actual dogfight in their flying carpet biplane.|title=''[[Air Koopa]]'' back cover}}</ref> appears in the episode of ''[[The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!]]'': "[[Mario and the Red Baron Koopa]]." It has the appearance of a green, more-reptilian turtle with a large nose, resembling generic [[Koopa Troopa]]s in the cartoon, who wears a red-lensed, gold-framed aviator's goggles. King Koopa (using a [[magic carpet]] he has stolen from [[Sam Shalam]]) brings Lakitu to the country of [[Pastaland]], where he scares the citizens, as well as Mario, Luigi, Princess Toadstool, and Toad, with Spinies and rain. Lakitu launches the [[Wicked Weather Satellite]] with King Koopa, and both of them relax atop Lakitu's cloud until it is destroyed. Lakitu last attempts to maintain its cloud, after the Mario Brothers' biplane had destroyed it. Its name is pronounced "la-KEE-too" by King Koopa and Princess Toadstool.

Lakitu is an unlockable playable character in ''[[Mario Kart 7]]''. He wears a red shell and goggles, like in later appearances of the series. Lakitu is in the feather weight class, with high acceleration, handling, and off-road whilst having low speed and weight. He is unlocked by winning the 150cc [[Lightning Cup]].

Lakitu is an unlockable playable character in ''[[Mario Kart 8]]'' and ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]''. He is a slightly heavier lightweight, with slightly more speed and weight than acceleration, handling and grip. Lakitu is the Staff Ghost for {{classic-link|SNES|Donut Plains 3}} and [[Dragon Driftway]], the latter also having stone Lakitus in martial arts poses. Lakitu appears in the background of {{classic-link|GBA|Ribbon Road}}, on the poster of the fictional film ''[[Kung Fu Lakitu]]''. In the port, Lakitu's stats are the same as [[Bowser Jr.]] and [[Koopa Troopa]]'s only; he is also the 200cc staff ghost for {{classic-link|DS|Cheep Cheep Beach}}; and Lakitu in martial arts poses are found also in [[Dragon Palace]]. He is the only character who is neither a character variant nor a non-''Super Mario'' character to not appear in the {{file link|MK8DXThankYouEndScreen.jpg|photo}} that appears at the end of the credits for the ''[[Booster Course Pass]]''.

[[File:MPSR - Lakitu.jpg|thumb|Screenshot from ''Mario Party: Star Rush'']]

Various items of Lakitu have appeared throughout the games. In ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'', a Lakitu appears as a [[Trophy (Super Smash Bros. series)|trophy]], which can be obtained at random in single-player modes or from the [[smashwiki:Lottery|Lottery]]. In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'', the ''Mario Kart 64'' incarnation of Lakitu appears as a [[Sticker (Super Smash Bros. Brawl)|sticker]]. Lakitu and Spiny appear together in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'' as an Advanced-class Grab-type {{iw|smashwiki|primary spirit}} When this [[Spirit (Super Smash Bros. Ultimate)|spirit]] is equipped, the fighter's weight is reduced, making them faster but easier to launch. In [[smashwiki:Adventure Mode: World of Light|World of Light]], the spirit can be found in the [[smashwiki:Mysterious Dimension|Mysterious Dimension]] sub-world of the [[smashwiki:Dark Realm|Dark Realm]]. The spirit battle has [[Iggy]] and eight tiny red [[Bowser]]s as opponents.

Lakitus are supporting characters in ''[[Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time]]''. One assists in leveling up once more. A Lakitu with a camera also goes to [[Peach's Castle]] presumably to report on the launch of [[Professor Elvin Gadd]]'s [[Prof. E. Gadd's time machine|Time Machine]] towards the beginning of the game; when [[Toadsworth]]'s fainting faces Mario with the challenge of retrieving a [[Refreshroom]] from the elderly [[Toad (species)|Toad]]'s room, this friendly Lakitu reporter (possibly one of the Lakitu Bros.) helps by providing a "cloud-cam view" of the castle, actually the bird's-eye [[map]] that Mario, Luigi, and their baby selves continue to use throughout the rest of their adventure. The Lakitu then flies off and is never seen again; as a matter of fact, the only other generic Lakitu seen in ''Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time'' is an unnamed agent of [[List of Implied Organizations#Lakitu travel|Lakitu travel]] who transports [[Kylie Koopa]] and [[Toadbert]] to the [[Star Shrine]] right before the battle with [[Elder Shrooboid]]. However, another Lakitu sub-species can be fought in the [[Vim Factory]]; these [[Shroob]]-like Lakitus, the [[Lakitufo]]s, fly on UFOs rather than clouds, have antennae, and beam down [[Spiny Shroopa]]s rather than throwing Spinies.

In battle, they appear in the background. To attack, the move to the main plane and throw a Spiny Egg or a Mushroom. It either goes high and lands on Mario's head or is sent across the ground and into Mario. Spiny Eggs can be hit back with the hammer, which damages the Lakitu. A single attack involves multiple throws. After this attack, [[Spiny|Spinies]] will enter the battle. If a [[Taunt Ball]] is used on a Lakitu, it will attack immediately.

A Lakitu is an enemy in ''[[Mario Pinball Land]]''. It is encountered in the [[Shifting Sands Stage]]. The Lakitu is beyond the left path. It floats out of reach and cannot be defeated, though defeating the four Spinies earns Mario a [[Power Star|Star]].

*Camera: ''[[Mario Golf (series)|Mario Golf]]'' series, ''[[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door]]'', ''[[Super Mario 64 DS]]'', ''[[Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time]]'', and ''[[Mario Kart 8]]''

|Jap=ジュゲム<ref>{{cite|url=www.nintendo.co.jp/character/mario/archives/smb/index.html|title=''Super Mario Bros.'' entry on the official Mario Portal|language=en|publisher=nintendo.co.jp|accessdate=October 10, 2024}}</ref>