Editing Pokey

|image=[[File:NSMBU Pokey Artwork.png|100px]]<br>Artwork from ''[[New Super Mario Bros. U]]''

|latest_appearance=''[[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Nintendo Switch)|Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door]]'' ([[Nintendo Switch]]) ([[List of games by date#2024|2024]])

|variants=[[Big Pokey]]<br>[[Blow Hard]]<br>[[Cactus Jack]]<br>[[Dark Pokey]]<br>[[Green Pokey]]<br>[[Mad Pokey]]<br>[[Pokey (heading)]]<br>[[Pokey (projectile)]]<br>[[Pokey Head]]<br>[[Pokey Mummy]]<br>[[Pokeyplant]]<br>[[Skellokey]]<br>[[Snow Pokey]]<br>[[Spiked Fun Guy (Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island)|Spiked Fun Guy (''Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island'')]]<br>[[Spiky Snifit]]<br>[[Toothy]]

|notable=[[Mega Paper Macho Pokey]]<br>[[Mummipokey]]<br>[[Punkey the Pokey Prince]]<br>[[The Pokey Triplets]]<br>[[Tower Power Pokey]]

{{quote|Pokey's the name. Poking's my game.|Pokey|[[Paper Mario: Color Splash]]}}

 

'''Pokeys''' are cheerful [[cactus]] enemies that are typically composed of three to five spherical body segments. Pokeys may have either flowers or spikes on their heads, depending on their appearance. To defeat a Pokey, typically each body section must be destroyed; however, defeating the head usually kills the entire enemy. Pokeys first appear in ''[[Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic]]'' and its ''[[Super Mario (franchise)|Super Mario]]'' equivalent, ''[[Super Mario Bros. 2]]''.

Pokeys first appear in ''[[Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic]]'' and ''[[Super Mario Bros. 2]]''. They will slowly chase after the player. In this game, Pokeys are green and can be defeated by throwing objects at their body segments or by picking up one segment at a time. They first appear in [[World 2-2 (Super Mario Bros. 2)|World 2-2]]. This game's design was later reused in ''[[#Paper Mario: Sticker Star|Paper Mario: Sticker Star]]'' and ''[[#Paper Mario: Color Splash|Paper Mario: Color Splash]]'' (known as a [[Green Pokey]] in the latter game).

The ''Super Mario Bros. 2'' design of the Pokeys was originally going to appear in this game, but was scrapped in favor of the yellow-colored design.<ref>{{cite|author=TCRF|title=[[tcrf:File:SMW_Prerelease_Pokey.png|File:SMW Prerelease Pokey.png]]|publisher=The Cutting Room Floor|accessdate=May 8, 2022}}</ref>

Four Pokeys (referred to as '''Pookies''' in the UK's ''Nintendo Magazine System'')<ref>{{cite|title=''Nintendo Magazine System'' (UK) Issue 47|page=17|date=August 1996}}</ref><ref>{{cite|title=UK ''Nintendo Magazine'' #54|date=March 1997|page=23}}</ref> appear in [[Shifting Sand Land]] in ''[[Super Mario 64]]'' and [[Super Mario 64 DS|its remake]]. Pokeys in this game have bright orange pupils. Here, Mario can destroy each body segment by punching it, kicking it, or throwing a [[Bob-omb]] at it; attacking the head defeats it and causes the whole body to instantly disappear. If Mario waits too long after destroying any of its segments, the Pokey will grow them right back. Pokeys give [[Blue Coin]]s when defeated. If Mario gets hit by a Pokey, he will lose two wedges of [[Health Meter|health]]. Due to their graphics being flat textures, Pokeys always face the camera in this game. The player can jump on the Pokey's head to instantly defeat it, though it may require a [[Triple Jump]], [[Side Somersault]], or [[Backward Somersault]] if the Pokey has five segments; this is not possible to do in the remake.

In ''[[Super Mario 64 DS]]'', the Pokeys' graphics are updated to reflect their design as seen in ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]''. Yoshi also has the ability to [[swallow]] Pokeys. They are now capable of turning, but graphically, they still use 2D sprites for their segments.<ref>{{cite|url=www.models-resource.com/ds_dsi/supermario64ds/model/24579|title=DS / DSi - Super Mario 64 DS - Pokey|publisher=The Models Resource|accessdate=May 22, 2024}}</ref>

Pokeys, also called '''Dango Flowers''',<ref>{{cite|author=Bogenn, Tim, and Doug Walsh|title=''Super Mario Sunshine'' Official Strategy Guide|page=6|publisher=BradyGAMES|language=en-us|isbn=0-7440-0180-3|date=2002}}</ref> appear in ''[[Super Mario Sunshine]]'' along with a smaller variety called [[Pokey Head|Sanbo Head]]s. In this game, they have pink [[Flower (Super Mario Sunshine)|flower]]s on their heads, large mismatched eyes, wide grins high on their faces, and spikes that somewhat resemble stubble. Pokeys lie in wait underground, with only the flower on their head visible at first, and will pop up when Mario approaches. They predominantly appear in [[Bianco Hills]], but they also appear in [[Pianta Village]], during the nighttime episodes, and in [[Pinna Park]], in [[The Wilted Sunflowers]]. They do not move from their spot but will lean towards Mario when he gets within their range to attack him. However, as they touch the ground, their spikes get stuck in it for a moment, allowing Mario to attack their heads with a jump or dive for a single [[coin]]. If Mario defeats a Pokey while it is upright, it yields three coins instead of one. Some leave behind a [[Blue Coin]] when defeated; jumping on these while upright yields two regular coins in addition. One can see [[goop]]y bubbles rising from the flower on their heads as they bop up and down; according to the ''[[Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia]]'', this is due to the game's enemies being created by [[Shadow Mario]] and his [[magic brush]].<ref>{{file link|ESMB Bowser Jr Graffiti.png|An excerpt of page 107 of the Japanese version of the ''Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia''}} The title of the box is 「クッパＪｒ．の落書き!」 which means ''The graffiti of Bowser Jr.!'' and the text says 「本作の敵キャラクターたちは、クッパJr.が落書きで生み出したという設定。そのため、水に弱かったり、デザインが他のシリーズと少々異なっていたりする。ヨッシーも、同様の理由で水に落ちると消えてしまう。」 which means ''This game's enemy characters are created by Bowser Jr.'s graffiti. That is why they are weak to water, and differ slightly in design from the rest of the series. Yoshi also vanishes if he falls in water for the same reason.''</ref>

In ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]'', Pokeys have been given another redesign, consistent with the appearance of the windup Pokeys in ''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!]]''. They no longer have flowers, and are covered in green spikes, with three prominent ones on top of their heads. Following this game, the new design becomes standard for all Pokeys, replacing the previously-standard ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'' design (with [[LEGO Super Mario|LEGO ''Super Mario'']] as an exception).

[[File:SMM2-SMB-Pokey.png|frame]]

Pokeys appear as enemies in version 2.0 of ''[[Super Mario Maker 2]]''. Their heights can be adjusted but they cannot be enlarged, and wings can be attached to them, which causes them to hop along the ground similar to [[Paragoomba]]s. Pokeys did not originally appear in ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' and ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]''; as such, new sprites have been drawn for those styles, and they are colored green, similar to their appearance in ''Super Mario Bros. 2''. The ''Super Mario 3D World'' style, where there were only [[Snow Pokey]]s in the original game, reuses their ''New Super Mario Bros. Wii'' design (and vice versa). They can be defeated with [[fireball]]s, [[Goomba's Shoe]]s, and Yoshis. In nighttime ground levels, Pokeys float in the sky in a similar manner to [[Wiggler]]s; if [[wings]] are attached, they home in on the player, comparably to angry Wigglers. In snow-themed levels, Pokeys become Snow Pokeys, which can be jumped on and reduced to a [[snowball]] that can then be carried by the player.

[[File:SMBWPokey.jpg|thumb|left|A Pokey in ''Super Mario Bros. Wonder'']]

Pokeys appear as enemies in ''[[Super Mario Bros. Wonder]]'' where they behave the same as in previous games, although they still move when only their head segment remains. They only appear in the level [[Armads on the Roll]], where they speed up when under the level's [[Wonder Effect]].

;List of episodes featuring Pokeys

In ''[[Paper Mario]]'', Pokeys are depicted with fewer spikes and spines and a head segment that has two pairs of spines on the sides of its face, a "W"-shaped mouth, black googly eyes, and three spikes atop their head, giving them an appearance somewhat reminiscent of a cat or [[Spiked Fun Guy (Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island)|Spiked Fun Guy]]. They are found in various areas off the path to [[Dry Dry Outpost]] in [[Dry Dry Desert (Paper Mario)|Dry Dry Desert]]. A poisonous variant, the [[Pokey Mummy]], is found within [[Dry Dry Ruins (Paper Mario)|Dry Dry Ruins]].

 

In battle, Pokeys will attack Mario by either sliding towards and slamming themselves down on him, throwing one of their segments at him, or, if only their head remains, jumping on him. They are also able to summon other Pokeys by pulling them out of the ground. Unless Mario has the [[Spike Shield]] badge equipped, he cannot jump on a Pokey without being injured. Using [[Spin Smash]] or [[Kooper]]'s [[Shell Toss]] will knock off one of their body segments. Upon defeat, they have a chance of dropping a [[Dried Fruit]].

{{quote|Go ahead... Touch usssssss... It won't hurrrrrrrrrrrrt....too muchhhhh...|Pokey|''[[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door]]''}}

Pokeys also appear in ''[[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door]]'' as rare enemies and retain their designs from the previous game. A team of three Pokeys, known as [[The Pokey Triplets]], are a fighting team in the [[Glitz Pit]]. Pokeys also appear in the game's [[Pit of 100 Trials (Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door)|Pit of 100 Trials]]. In this game, they attack by slamming the player, doing 2 damage, but they can also throw their body segments like in the previous Paper Mario game, doing 3 damage. When a Pokey loses all its body segments, it attacks by bonking into the player, doing 4 damage, so it's better to defeat them before they lose all their body segments. The game introduces a species of Pokey based on the Pokey Mummy, called [[Poison Pokey]], which appears in [[Riverside Station]]. Pokeys are unique in this game, in that performing a [[Superguard]] on a thrown body segment will send it back to the Pokey, doing the same amount of damage to it as it would have done to Mario.

Pokeys reappear once again in ''[[Paper Mario: Sticker Star]]'' for the [[Nintendo 3DS]]. Two types of Pokeys appear: regular yellow Pokeys, using their design from ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]'', and a [[Green Pokey|green variety]], more closely resembling their original appearance in ''[[Super Mario Bros. 2]]''. A regular Pokey cannot be jumped on unless an [[Sticker (Paper Mario: Sticker Star)|Iron Jump sticker]] is used. Regular Pokeys have 16 HP and the green ones have 20 HP. Rather than throwing their body segments like the previous games, these Pokeys attack by toppling on top of Mario; sometimes Mario will get [[crumpled]] if he does not block the attack. Each time a Pokey loses a body segment, its attack goes down. [[Tower Power Pokey]], a Pokey corrupted by a [[Royal Sticker]], serves as the boss of the second world. Pokeys are sometimes aided by [[Paragoomba]]s and [[Sombrero Guy]]s (if it was not destroyed).

This game also shows that Pokeys have flowers underneath their heads, as shown when Tower Power Pokey heals.

{{quote|May a warm desert wind blow at your back.|Pokey|[[Mario Party Advance]]}}

In ''[[Mario Party Advance]]'', Pokey appears in a patch of desert in the [[desert area]] of [[Shroom City (Mario Party Advance)|Shroom City]]. Once he encounters the player, he introduces himself as the guardian of the desert, and says that unless they answer his "Riddles of Mystery", they will be forever trapped with him. In exchange, he will grant them their freedom and a [[Gaddget]]. After all three of his questions are correctly answered, he says that he's impressed and lauds the player as a master of the desert's riddles. He sticks true to his word and gives the [[Tap-Tap Sumo]] Gaddget, and tells the player to continue journeying.

In ''[[Mario Party 7]]'', Pokeys serve once again as the objective in a similar minigame, [[Pokey Pummel]]. The players must dismantle the body parts with a hammer to win. Pokeys and this minigame retain their role in ''[[Mario Party: The Top 100]]'' and ''[[Mario Party Superstars]]''. Three Pokeys also make an appearance in the background in [[Pyramid Park]]. They use their design from ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'' in this game.

In ''[[Mario Party: Island Tour]]'', Pokeys appear in the minigame [[Pokey Corral]] where they serve as obstacles that the players must avoid. They also appear in [[Match Faker]] and [[Starring Artist]] sometimes and their design from ''New Super Mario Bros. Wii'' is used in this game.

In ''[[Mario Party: The Top 100]]'', aside from returning in Pokey Pummel from ''Mario Party 7'', Pokeys also appear in the background in [[Flash Forward]] from ''Mario Party 10'', while they are not present in the original game.

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

Pokeys make recurring appearances on some of the desert stages in the ''Mario Kart'' series. They often occupy the track wiggling in place and can cause racers to spin out.

====''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!''====

Pokeys make their [[Mario Kart (series)|''Mario Kart'' series]] debut in [[GCN Dry Dry Desert|Dry Dry Desert]] alongside [[Big Pokey]]s in ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]'', where they gain a redesign similar to their ''Super Mario Sunshine'' appearance, consisting of a pink flower on their heads and a signature smile. In this game, Pokeys sway left and right in place, occasionally bending their bodies into an arch that racers can drive in between. Colliding with a Pokey causes racers to spin out. Attacking a Pokey with an item will defeat it temporarily, in which it will eventually regenerate once enough time has passed.

====''Mario Kart DS''====

Pokeys return in ''[[Mario Kart DS]]'' on the [[DS Desert Hills|Desert Hills]] course. Unlike in ''Double Dash!!'', they don't arch their bodies. [[Mario_Kart_DS#Missions|Mission 2-6]] requires the player to destroy Pokeys with Bob-ombs near the starting line of Desert Hills.

====''Mario Kart Wii''====

Pokeys return in ''[[Mario Kart Wii]]'', where they are seen in the [[Wii Dry Dry Ruins|Dry Dry Ruins]] and the returning <small>DS</small> Desert Hills courses, behaving the same as the previous game, now as 3D models once again. This is the last game in the ''Mario Kart'' series where Pokeys use their ''[[Super Mario Sunshine]]''-inspired design.

 

====''Mario Kart 8'' / ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''====

[[File:PokeyMK8.png|thumb|left|A Pokey in ''[[Mario Kart 8]]'']]

Pokeys return again in ''[[Mario Kart 8]]'' and ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]'', where they reappear in the {{classic-link|GCN|Dry Dry Desert}} course. Starting from these games, they use their design from ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]''. They also gain their body arching move once again, and will spawn a coin in between itself whenever it does this.

 

Pokeys also appear in ''[[Mario Kart Tour]]'', returning in [[Wii Dry Dry Ruins]] and acting similarly to their previous ''Mario Kart'' appearances. If a Pokey is tall enough, it periodically bends sideways like in ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'' In this game, drivers can remove a Pokey's segments individually by hitting them with an item or simply running into them, although they can respawn shortly afterwards; if drivers hit the Pokey's head, its whole body collapses. Pokeys give bonus points when taken out; even if the player strikes multiple segments at once, such as via a [[Bob-omb]] or [[Super Horn]], they only obtain bonus points for each use of an item on the Pokey. Most items and conditions, including boosting with a [[Dash Mushroom|Mushroom]], can be used to take out a Pokey.

 

In addition, a [[Mii]] Racing Suit based on a Pokey debuts in the [[Ninja Tour (2023)|2023 Ninja Tour]] as part of Wave 28 of the Mii Racing Suits. It has the [[Triple Bananas]] as its [[Special skill (Mario Kart Tour)|special skill]].

Normal Pokeys appear in the ''[[Minion Quest]]'' mode of ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions]]'', where they appear as troops and enemies. They have very high HP but move quite slowly. They attack with a move called Whomping Whallop, allowing them to swing into their foes, similar to the Pokeys in most ''Paper Mario'' games. They, along with [[Goomba Tower]]s, are among the tallest troops in the game, and like Goomba Towers, they are Melee-type. Unlike Goomba Towers, they are heavily spiked, causing slight damage to most non-Ranged troops that attack them. Due to their segments, they are weak against [[Boomerang Bro]]s, and due to being plants, they are also weak against [[Fire Stalking Piranha Plant]]s. They initially appear in the Teehee Valley segment. They resemble their ''Paper Jam'' counterparts, but only ever appear with four segments, including the head.

 

 

Pokeys also appear in ''[[Super Princess Peach]]''. In this game, Pokeys are always of three segments and a flower (including the head), and only appear in [[Wavy Beach]]. They are resistant to Perry, so they can only be defeated with Rage or [[Poundbrella]]. There are also [[vibe]]-infused Pokeys, known as [[Mad Pokey]]s, that are simply angry Pokeys that stretch vertically to block [[Princess Peach]] from passing by them.

 

 

 

 

 

They reappear in ''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars]]'', where they are introduced in [[Level 5-3]] of [[Dashing Desert]] and continue to appear in later worlds. Aside from Hammers and Cannon shots, Pokeys of this game can also be defeated by sliding down on them from a slope. While this is not shown in any of the game's pre-made courses, it can be tested in the level editor.

While only [[Pokey (projectile)|Pokey]] [[Pokey (heading)|variant]]s appeared in previous [[Yoshi's Island (series)|''Yoshi's Island'' games]], regular Pokeys appear for the first time in the ''Yoshi'' series in ''[[Yoshi's New Island]]'', mainly in the level [[Underground Pokey Patrol]]. In this game, Yoshi can swallow individual segments to reduce the Pokey's height, or eat its head to fully defeat it, as in ''Super Mario World''. Upon eating a segment, Yoshi automatically ingests it and produces an egg without the player's input. A white variant of Pokeys also appears in [[Punkey the Pokey Prince's Castle]], which move along the ceiling rather than on the ground. As the stage name implies, a large white Pokey, [[Punkey the Pokey Prince]], is the boss of the stage.

====''The Legend of Zelda'' series====

Pokeys have even appeared in various games of [[zeldawiki:The Legend of Zelda (Series)|''The Legend of Zelda'' series]], such as ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening]]'' and its [[reissue|rerelease]]s, and ''[[zeldawiki:The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons|The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons]]''.  

|JapM=Anagram of「サボン」(''sabon''), which is from the clipping of「サボテン」(''saboten'', "cactus")

|Jap2=ポーキー<ref>{{cite|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|date=1994|title=''Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten''|page=[https://i.imgur.com/lVHkZlH.jpg 225]|language=ja}}</ref>

|ChiS=刺球<ref>From the ending scenes of ''[[Super Mario Advance]]'' as localized by [[iQue]]. {{cite|author=无敌阿尔宙斯|date=August 28, 2013|url=tieba.baidu.com/p/2559790043|title=神游 超级马力欧2敌人官译] (Official names for iQue Super Mario 2 enemies)|publisher=Baidu Tieba|accessdate=February 2, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite|author=无敌阿尔宙斯|date=August 28, 2013|url=tieba.baidu.com/p/2560204606|title=神游 超级马力欧世界 敌人官译] (Official names for iQue Super Mario World enemies)|publisher=Baidu Tieba|accessdate=February 2, 2017}}</ref>

|ChiSR=Cìqiú

|ChiS2=刺球丸子 <small>(international releases for games since ''Super Mario Party'')</small>

|ChiS2R=Cìqiú Wánzi

|ChiS3=仙人刺球<ref>{{cite|url=www.nintendoswitch.com.cn/new_super_mario_bros_u_deluxe/pc/stage/index.html|title=新 超级马力欧兄弟U 豪华版 {{!}} Nintendo Switch {{!}} 任天堂 {{!}} 腾讯|publisher=Nintendo HK|language=zh-hans}}</ref> <small>(China release for ''New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe'')</small>

|ChiS3R=Xiānréncìqiú

|ChiS3M=From「仙人掌」(''xiānrénzhǎng'', "cactus") and「刺球」(''cìqiú'', "spike ball")

|Fre=Pokey

|Ita=Marghibruco

|Ita2=Pokey<ref>{{cite|title=''[[Super Mario Bros. 2]]'' Italian manual|page=26}}.</ref><ref>{{cite|title=[[List of New Super Mario Bros. Wii trading cards|''New Super Mario Bros. Wii'' - Album ufficiale]]|page=16}}</ref><ref>{{cite|title=''The Legend of Zelda - Enciclopedia di Hyrule''|page=198}}</ref>

|Ita3=Cactrus <small>(''[[The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!]]'')</small>

|Ita3M=From "Cactus"

|Ita4=Pokey (alto)<ref>{{cite|title=''Super Mario Sunshine'' Guida Ufficiale PRIMA|page=17}}</ref>

|Ita4M=Pokey (tall)

|Ita5=Kakti<ref>{{cite|title=''[[Super Mario Advance]]'' European manual|page=112|language=it|publisher=Nintendo of Europe|date=2001}}</ref>

|Ita5M=From "cacti"

|Ita6=Marghibulbo<ref>''Super Mario Galaxy'' Guida Ufficiale PRIMA</ref>{{page needed}}

|KorR=Seonin

|KorM=Clipping of 선인장 (''seoninjang'', "cactus")

|PorAM=From ''cacto'' ("cactus") and ''bola'' ("ball")

|PorEM=From ''cato'' ("cactus") and ''bola'' ("ball")

 

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