View source for Spinner

{{image|more=yes|''Yoshi's Woolly World''}}
{{about|the recurring flail obstacle|the enemy from the {{wp|Sonic the Hedgehog}} franchise|[[Spinner (Sonic the Hedgehog)]]}}
{{redirect-distinguish|Ball 'N' Chain|ball on chains|Ball & Chain}}
{{redirect|Ball and Chain|the object from [[Yoshi Topsy-Turvy]]|[[Ball and Chain (Yoshi Topsy-Turvy)]]|the object from the [[Yoshi (franchise)|Yoshi]] franchise often operated by [[Boo Guy]]s|[[Ball and chain (windup)]]}}
{{item infobox
|image=[[File:NSMBW Asset Model Spinner.png|200x200px]]<br>Model from ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]''
|first_appearance=''[[Super Mario World]]'' ([[List of games by date#1990|1990]])
|latest_appearance=''[[New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe]]'' ([[List of games by date#2019|2019]])
|variant_of=[[Spike Ball]]
|variants=[[Ball and chain (windup)]]
|comparable=[[Furizo]]<br>[[Satellite]]
}}
A '''Spinner''',<ref>{{cite|author=TheMarioBros.net|date=November 16, 2013|title=New Super Mario Bros U - All Challenges w/ Special Gold Medals Complete|url=www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUp6kqstRc4&t=22m58s|timestamp=22:58|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=June 3, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite|author=Stratton, Steve|date=November 18, 2012|title=''New Super Mario Bros. U'' PRIMA Official Game Guide|publisher=[[Prima Games]]|language=en-us|isbn=978-0-307-89690-2|page=129}}</ref> originally known as a '''Ball 'N' Chain'''<ref name="Mario Mania">{{cite|date=August 1991|title=Nintendo ''[[Mario Mania]]'' Player's Guide|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en|page=52, 75, 90, 100, 144}}</ref>{{ref page|52}}<ref>{{cite|date=September 1991|title=''[[Nintendo Power]]'' Volume 28|page=15 and 20}}</ref> (also spelled '''Ball 'N Chain''',<ref name="Mario Mania"/>{{ref page|75, 90, 100, 144}} '''Ball 'n' Chain''',<ref>{{cite|date=Winter 2002|title=''Nintendo Power Advance'' Volume 4|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en|page=33, 49, 82}}</ref> or '''Ball and Chain'''<ref>{{cite|quote='''Ball and Chain:''' The ball and chain swings over gaps. If you hit the ball straight on, you’ll be brought to a halt!|author=Musa, Alexander|date=May 30, 2014|title=''Mario Kart 8'' PRIMA Official Game Guide|page=130|publisher=Prima Games|language=en-us|isbn=978-0-804-16328-6}}</ref>), is a [[Spike Ball|spiked ball]] on a chain first appearing in ''[[Super Mario World]]''. Spinners are usually found in [[castle]]s and similar environments and are often indestructible. Their behavior varies depending on the game, switching between spinning around in a circular motion and swinging repetitively in a pendulum motion. The chain also changes, with most games allowing [[Mario]] to safely pass through it unharmed.
==History==
===''Super Mario'' series===
====''Super Mario World''====
[[File:Ball N Chain.png|thumb|left]]
[[File:Messed Up Bony Beetle.png|frame]]
In ''Super Mario World'', there are Ball 'N' Chains in the [[castle]] and [[fortress]] stages, beginning with [[2 Morton's Castle|#2 Morton's Castle]]. They continuously rotate from a [[Hard Block|Gray Block]]. The spikes on a Ball 'N' Chain can harm [[Mario]] or [[Luigi]], though he can safely [[Spin Jump]] off of one.

Ball 'N' Chains can be destroyed using a [[Super Star]], but its sprite will change into a defeated [[Bony Beetle]], as it was never intended to be destroyed.
{{br|left}}

====''New Super Mario Bros.''====
Rotation-style Ball 'N' Chains appear only in the level {{world link|7|castlen|World 7-Castle (New Super Mario Bros.)}} in ''[[New Super Mario Bros.]]'' The block and spiked ball are now connected by a chain. Ball 'N' Chains were animated to spin quickly at the end of a chain and rotate on the block, though it does not affect how they function. One of the Ball 'N' Chains has a [[Star Coin]] atop its block.

====''New Super Mario Bros. Wii''====
Rotation-style Ball 'N' Chains reappear in ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]''. The first Ball 'N' Chain appears in {{world link|3|tower|World 3-Tower (New Super Mario Bros. Wii)}}. The second and only other Ball 'N' Chain appears in a secret area of {{world link|4|castle|World 4-Castle (New Super Mario Bros. Wii)}}, where the player has the opportunity to grab a [[Super Star|Star]] from a [[Roulette Block]] nearby and destroy the Ball 'N' Chain. Even when a Ball 'N' Chain is destroyed, it continues to rotate around its block while tumbling offscreen.

====''Super Mario 3D Land''====
[[File:Ball'n'Chain3D.png|thumb|left|A Ball 'N' Chain in ''Super Mario 3D Land'']]
In ''[[Super Mario 3D Land]]'', Ball 'N' Chains are purple with yellow spikes and a chain. They are not linked to shackles like some other appearances. Functionally, Ball 'N' Chains only swing like pendulums and do not do complete rotations. Ball 'N' Chains can be destroyed by touching them as either [[Invincible Mario]], [[White Tanooki Mario]], or [[Statue Mario]].

Ball 'N' Chains first appear in the level {{world link|1|2|World 1-2 (Super Mario 3D Land)}} and lastly within {{world link|3|4|World 3-4 (Super Mario 3D Land)}}.

====''New Super Mario Bros. U'' / ''New Super Luigi U'' / ''New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe''====
[[File:NSLU Impossible Pendulums Screenshot.png|thumb|200px|A Spinner in ''[[New Super Luigi U]]'']]
In ''[[New Super Mario Bros. U]]'', ''[[New Super Luigi U]]'' and ''[[New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe]]'', they appear under the current name Spinner, which is a retranslation of the original Japanese name. They are first seen in [[Snake Block Tower]] and lastly within [[Pendulum Castle]], where they also have a giant version. Spinners are undefeatable, even from a [[Super Star]]; furthermore, Spinners have spiked chains like in the ''Yoshi'' games, so the player can also be harmed by touching the chains, not just the spiked ball.
{{br|left}}

===''Super Mario World'' television series===
[[File:CartoonBallnChain.jpg|thumb|left|A Ball 'N' Chain in the ''Super Mario World'' television series episode "[[Send in the Clown]]".]]
In "[[Send in the Clown]]", an episode of the ''[[Super Mario World (television series)|Super Mario World]]'' show, a Ball 'N' Chain is one of the obstacles that Mario faces in [[Bowser's Castle|Neon Castle]]. While crossing over [[lava]], Mario barely dodges a Ball 'N' Chain that drops from the ceiling and swings toward him.

===''Yoshi's Island'' series===
====''Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island''====
Rotation-style Ball 'N' Chains appear in ''[[Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island]]''. They are colored orange instead of black. Ball 'N' Chains are usually found in [[fortress|fort]]s. Their chains are replaced by spiked bars, some of which are double-sided. They, along with similar objects such as [[ball and chain (windup)|windup ball and chain]]s, are operated by certain [[Boo Guy]]s. Ball 'N' Chains can be destroyed by [[Superstar Mario]], though this is never shown.

====''Yoshi's Island DS''====
Ball 'N' Chains, known as '''Spinning Spikes''',<ref>{{cite|author=Black, Fletcher|date=December 19, 2006|title=''Yoshi's Island DS'' PRIMA Official Game Guide|publisher=Prima Games|language=en-us|isbn=0-7615-5576-5|page=132}}</ref> reappear in ''[[Yoshi's Island DS]]''. They act they do in ''Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island'', except they are operated by background [[Shy Guy]]s.

====''Yoshi's New Island''====
[[File:YNI Spinner.png|thumb|A Spinner in ''Yoshi's New Island'']]
Spinners reappear in ''[[Yoshi's New Island]]''. Their behavior remains unchanged, except they operate automatically instead of manually.

===''Yoshi's Story''===
Ball 'N' Chains appear in ''[[Yoshi's Story]]'', which is the first game where they swing similarly to pendulums. Unlike ''Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island'', their chains are harmless. They are found alongside [[ball and chain (windup)|windup]] iron balls, which share the same graphics. Both appear in the stages [[The Tall Tower]] and [[Magma Castle]].

===''Super Princess Peach''===
{{conjectural merge}}
[[File:Villa tekkyu.png|thumb|left|Ball 'N' Chains in ''Super Princess Peach'']]
In ''[[Super Princess Peach]]'', pendulum-style Ball 'N' Chains appear in [[Bowser's Villa]], where they swing back and forth between the background and foreground. The chains resemble their appearance in ''Super Mario World'', but the spiked balls were made green to look like [[Bowser's Shell]] and the blocks now have a unique green, scaly appearance instead of being attached to generic [[Hard Block|Hard Blocks]] like in ''Super Mario World''.

===''Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time''===
Motionless Ball 'N' Chains make a minor reappearance in ''[[Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time]]'', where they are seen hanging from the ceiling as decorations in [[Bowser's Castle#Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time|Bowser's Castle]].
{{br}}

===''Donkey Kong Country Returns'' (''3D'' / ''HD'')===
{{conjectural merge}}
Spike Balls hanging from ropes off of rocks from the top edge of the screen and swinging from left to right appear in ''[[Donkey Kong Country Returns]]'', its [[Nintendo 3DS]] [[Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D|port]], and its [[Nintendo Switch]] [[Donkey Kong Country Returns HD|port]]. The levels [[Boulder Roller]] and [[Precarious Plateau]] have them, though there are only two in the former. [[Rambi]] is immune to these hazards. He only breaks them on contact if he is being ridden, an oddity given Rambi does react to enemies while not being ridden.

===''Mario Kart 8'' / ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''===
[[File:Ball n ChainMK8.png|thumb|200px|A Spinner in ''Mario Kart 8''{{'}}s Bowser's Castle]]
In ''[[Mario Kart 8]]'' and ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]'', a single Spinner appears as an obstacle in [[Bowser's Castle (Mario Kart 8)|Bowser's Castle]]. The obstacle acts virtually the same as the pendulums in {{classic link|DS|Tick-Tock Clock}}, except that the player will spin out upon hitting it. The Spinner will move faster during the final lap of the race. Unlike in previous games, the spikes on the ball appear to be blunt, similarly to [[Thwomp]]s.

===''Mario Party 10''===
Pendulum-style Spinners appear in ''[[Mario Party 10]]'' in the minigame [[Spiked Ball Scramble]], where they hang from the ceiling and swing across the path. They can be encountered in a standard and a larger size, and take out players in one hit.

===''Yoshi's Woolly World'' / ''Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World''===
Spinners also appear in ''[[Yoshi's Woolly World]]'' and ''[[Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World]]''. They function like in previous ''Yoshi'' games (except ''Yoshi's Story'') but now look closer to their design from ''New Super Mario Bros. U''. There is a room in [[Lair of the Smooch Spiders]] where a Spinner turns into a [[Wonder Wool]] after collecting every [[bead]] in the room.

==Profiles==
===''[[Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten]]''===
{{PBMCD profile
|name=グルグル (JP) / Ball ‘N’ Chain (EN)
|artwork=[[File:Ball n' Chain Perfect.png|100px]]
|shusshin=メカ{{ruby|族|ぞく}}
|seikaku=まじめ
|tojo_gemu=ワールド
|desc='''{{ruby|登場|とうじょう}}ゲーム'''　ワールド<br>
'''<big>{{ruby|避|さ}}けるしかないじゃまもの</big><br>
その{{ruby|名前|なまえ}}の{{ruby|通|とお}}り、グルグルとまわっている{{ruby|鉄|てつ}}のタマ。こいつは{{ruby|避|さ}}けて{{ruby|通|とお}}るしかない。{{ruby|鎖|くさり}}の{{ruby|部分|ぶぶん}}はあたっても{{ruby|大丈夫|だいじょうぶ}}なので、{{ruby|付|つ}}け{{ruby|根|ね}}の{{ruby|部分|ぶぶん}}でタイミングをとって{{ruby|抜|ぬ}}けていこう。<ref name=Daijiten>{{cite|date=1994|title=「パーフェクト版 マリオキャラクター大事典」 (''Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten'')|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|language=ja|page=[https://i.imgur.com/Jr5Go9J.jpeg 74]|accessdate=September 22, 2022|website=Imgur}}</ref>
|origin=Mecha clan
|disposition=Serious
|game_appearances=World
|eng_desc='''''<big>An obstacle that can only be avoided</big><br>
''As its name suggests, it is an iron ball that goes around and around. The only way to get past them is to avoid them. The chain part is safe to touch, so take your time at the base of the chain to get through.''
}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
SMW2 Ball 'N' Chain.png|''[[Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island]]''
SMW2 Ball 'N' Chain double.png|''Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island''
1996 NCM sizechartC.png|A size chart for a 1996 ''Nintendo Character Manual''
Story Ball 'N' Chain.png|''[[Yoshi's Story]]''
SMA3 Ball 'N' Chain.png|''[[Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3]]''
NSMB Ball 'N' Chain.png|''[[New Super Mario Bros.]]''
Chainball up.png|''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]''
</gallery>

==Naming==
===Internal names===
{{internal names
|game1=''[[Super Mario 3D Land]]''
|file1=<tt>romfs/ObjectData/SwingSpike.szs</tt>
|name1=SwingSpike
|meaning1=Swing Spike
}}

===Names in other languages===
{{foreign names
|Jpn=グルグル
|JpnR=Guru Guru
|JpnM=Japanese onomatopoeia for spinning; shared with [[List of Super Smash Bros. series items#Flipper|Flipper]]
|JpnC=<ref>{{cite|author=Kagawa, Ryo ({{iw|wikibound|Ape|APE/Shigesato Itoi}}), Koichi Toda (100 Percent), Masaki Kuramochi (100 Percent), Shigeo Tanabe, Naomaru Asao, and Ryuji Osawa, editors|title="UNIT 2 CHARACTER" in『[[Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook Super Mario World|任天堂公式ガイドブック　スーパーマリオワールド]]』|date=1991|language=ja|location=Tokyo|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|page=31|isbn=4-09-104117-5}}</ref><ref>{{cite|author=Sakai, Kazuya (Ambit), kikai, Akinori Sao, Junko Fukuda, Kunio Takayama, and Ko Nakahara (Shogakukan), editors|title=『[[Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia|スーパーマリオブラザーズ百科: 任天堂公式ガイドブック]]』|language=ja|location=Tokyo|publisher=Shogakukan|date=2015|page=60, 118, 150, 215|isbn=978-4-09-106569-8}}</ref>
|Jpn2=グルグルバー
|Jpn2R=Guru Guru Bā
|Jpn2M=Spinning Bar; alternate spelling shared with ''The Legend of Zelda'' [[Fire Bar#Names in other languages|fire bar]]s
|Jpn2N=''Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island'', ''Yoshi's New Island''
|Jpn2C=<ref>{{cite|title=「任天堂公式ガイドブック　スーパーマリオ★ヨッシーアイランド」 (''Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook – Super Mario: Yossy Island'')|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|language=ja|page=28}}</ref><ref>{{cite|title=「任天堂公式ガイドブック　ヨッシー New アイランド」 (''Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook – Yoshi's New Island'')|publisher=Shogakukan|language=ja|page=44}}</ref>
|Jpn3={{ruby|回転鉄球|かいてんてっきゅう}}
|Jpn3R=Kaiten Tekkyū
|Jpn3M=Spin Iron Ball
|Jpn3N=''Yoshi's Island DS''
|Jpn3C=<ref>{{cite|title=「任天堂公式ガイドブック　ヨッシーアイランドDS」 (''Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook – Yoshi's Island DS'')|page=34}}</ref>
|Jpn4=振り子の鉄球
|Jpn4R=Furiko no Tekkyū
|Jpn4M=Pendulum's Iron Ball
|Jpn4N=''Super Mario 3D Land''
|Jpn4C=<ref>{{cite|date=October 19, 2015|title=''Super Mario Bros. Hyakka: Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook'', ''Super Mario 3D Land'' section|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|language=ja|isbn=978-4-09-106569-8|page=186}}</ref>
|Jpn5=ふりこてっきゅう
|Jpn5R=Furiko Tekkyū
|Jpn5M=Pendulum Iron Ball
|Jpn5N=''New Super Luigi U'', ''Mario Party 10''
|Jpn5C=<ref>[[Impossible Pendulums]]</ref><ref>[[Spiked Ball Scramble]]</ref>
|Chi=转链球
|ChiR=Zhuàn Liànqiú
|ChiM=Spinning Chained Ball
|ChiC=<ref>{{cite|author=无敌阿尔宙斯|date=August 28, 2013|url=tieba.baidu.com/p/2560204606 神游 超级马力欧世界 敌人官译|publisher=Baidu Tieba|language=zh-hans|accessdate=June 3, 2024|deadlink=y}}</ref>
|Dut=Stekelbal
|DutM=Prickle Ball
|FreA=Pendule
|FreAM=Pendulum
|FreE=Fléau
|FreEM=Flail
|FreEC=<ref>''Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2'' French ending</ref>
|Ger=Kettenkugel
|GerM=Chain Ball
|GerC=<ref>{{cite|author=Menold, Marcus, Claude M. Moyse, and Andreas G. Kämmerer, editors|date=1993|title=''Der offizielle Nintendo Spieleberater "Super Mario World"''|location=Großostheim|publisher=[[Nintendo|Nintendo of Europe GmbH]]|language=de|page=20}}</ref>
|Ita=Mazzapendolo
|ItaM=Portmanteau of ''mazza'' ("bat") and ''pendolo'' ("pendulum")
|ItaC=<ref>{{cite|quote=Quando Mario ha 99 vite, i blocchi assistente si rimpiccioliscono. Usa questi blocchi ridotti per schivare i mazzapendoli e scalare la torre senza mai fermarti. Toccare gli Amperini sul Wii U GamePad li rende temporaneamente schiacciabili, quindi usa questa tecnica spettacolare per sconfiggerli tutti e superare il livello!|author=Canale New Super Mario Bros. U|url=www.youtube.com/watch?v=L64Gdz21avs|title=Description of the video titled «New Super Mario Bros. U - Giungla gassata TORRE - Arrampicata libera con il Gioco assistito (Wii U)»|publisher=YouTube|date=April 25, 2013|language=it}}</ref>
|Kor=시계추 철구
|KorR=Sigyechu Cheolgu
|KorM=Pendulum Iron Ball
|PorE=Maça Rotativa
|PorEM=Rotating Mace
|PorEC=<ref>{{cite|quote=Observe com atenção os movimentos das Maças Rotativas e ande com o Mario para coordenar a melhor maneira de as ultrapassar. Enquanto aguarda por uma oportunidade no topo dos Blocos de Donuts, continue a executar saltos pequenos. Não conseguirá correr, mas se utilizar pequenos saltos e outras técnicas de precisão, é possível ter sucesso.|author=Canal New Super Mario Bros. U|date=February 13th, 2013|url=youtu.be/RTOZCnSAb-w|title=Description of the video titled «New Super Mario Bros. U - Desafios: Calma no Castelo (Wii U)»|publisher=YouTube|language=pt-pt|accessdate=June 3, 2024}}</ref>
|Spa=Gigamaza
|SpaM=Gigamace
}}

==References==
<references/>

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[[Category:Hazardous objects]]
[[Category:Mario Kart 8 objects]]
[[Category:Mario Party 10]]
[[Category:New Super Mario Bros. objects]]
[[Category:New Super Mario Bros. U objects]]
[[Category:New Super Mario Bros. Wii objects]]
[[Category:Super Mario 3D Land objects]]
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[[Category:Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island objects]]
[[Category:Super Mario World (television series)]]
[[Category:Super Princess Peach]]
[[Category:The Super Mario Bros. Movie objects]]
[[Category:Yoshi's Island DS objects]]
[[Category:Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3]]
[[Category:Yoshi's New Island objects]]
[[Category:Yoshi's Story objects]]
[[Category:Yoshi's Woolly World objects]]
[[de:Kettenkugel]]
[[it:Mazzapendolo]]