Spin

Not to be confused with Spin Jump, Spin Attack, Spin Dash, or Drill Spin.

Mario (Super Mario Galaxy) and Rosalina (Super Mario 3D World) performing a spin

“Jump! Spin! Make 'em flip!”

—Star Bunny, Super Mario Galaxy 2

Spinning, also called the Star Spin (or star spin), is a move that Mario and Luigi can perform in Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2, replacing punching and kicking from Super Mario 64 and Super Mario 64 DS. The Co-Star Luma can also perform this move in Super Mario Galaxy 2, and Rosalina can perform it in Super Mario 3D World and its Nintendo Switch port, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury. It is typically used to attack enemies and interact with objects such as levers; when performed midair, it also gives the playable character extra height, similarly to a Double Jump. The spin creates a sparkly blue trail around the character when performed.

History

Super Mario series

Super Mario Galaxy

Mario breaks crystals by spinning into them.

Mario spins in midair to gain height.

Spinning is done when the player shakes or . In Super Mario 3D All-Stars, it can be performed by pressing , or by shaking either . Although the difference is minor, Mario spins higher if the player shakes or while Luigi spins higher if the player shakes or . In addition to being a main method of attacking enemies, performing a spin is the only way to activate Launch Stars, which let Mario fly through the cosmos like a comet and reach new planets and galaxies, making it a vital move throughout the game. It can also add some height to his jumps, deflect certain projectiles, activate switches, break crystals, let him swim faster, and even pick up certain items that are nearby. However, once Mario performs a spin, he must wait a short period for Baby Luma to return to his hat before he is able to spin again, with Luigi's wait time being slightly longer. Also, he can spin only once in midair, as Baby Luma returns to his hat after he lands on solid ground.

Mario gains this ability after being entrusted with Baby Luma's care. Here, spinning is one of Mario's few attacks, with the ability to stun, freeze, or make enemies dizzy by spinning into them. This gives Mario a chance to escape or attack the enemies. Spinning is needed to defeat some bosses. Spinning also causes Mario to skate on icy surfaces. By combining this move with a long jump, Mario can chain a spin into a double kick, and if he spins in midair and immediately ground-pounds, he automatically homes in on nearby objects or enemies.

Occasionally, spinning is used to activate or use several power-ups, including Fire Mario and Flying Mario. Although not necessary for it to work, spinning as Ice Mario causes him to skate across water instead of walking, and spinning as Boo Mario causes him to become invisible for a short time. Spinning cannot be performed as Spring Mario.

Mario can collect coins, Star Bits, and shells with the spin move. Mario can attract only coins and Star Bits when he uses it underwater or when he uses it as Flying Mario, while he can attract shells in any kind of condition.

Bowser uses a spin on Mario.

It also appears that after his first defeat, Bowser uses the power of a Grand Star to attack Mario with a move similar to Mario's spin during his fight at his Dark Matter Plant. Mario is able to negate this spin by performing one of his own.

Super Mario Galaxy 2

Spinning returns in Super Mario Galaxy 2, functioning largely the same as it did in its predecessor. Mario once again gains this ability after finding Baby Luma at the beginning of the game. Mario can spin near Yoshi to ride him without having to jump on him, and when he rides Yoshi, the spin becomes a Head Shake, which has the same effect as a spin, except it cannot be used to give him extra height while jumping. The ability to attract coins and Star Bits from the previous game is removed due to the absence of the Red Star, but Mario can still attract shells by spinning. Like the previous game, Mario spins higher if the player shakes and Luigi spins higher if the player shakes .

In addition to the returning power-ups utilized by spinning, it is also used to activate Cloud Mario, Rock Mario, and the Spin Drill.

Super Mario 3D World / Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury

Rosalina using the spin near Cat Bullet Bills

In Super Mario 3D World and Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, spinning is exclusive to Rosalina, and it is performed by pressing or . Like in the Super Mario Galaxy games, the move allows her to gain a bit of extra height when used in midair. It is possible to spin multiple times in one jump, though only the first spin gives Rosalina the extra height. Because Rosalina does not need Baby Luma to do it, the delay between the spins is reduced. As in Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2, Rosalina is able to stun or defeat an enemy. She loses the ability if she grabs a power-up (except for the Super Mushroom, Super Star, and Double Cherry).

Mario & Sonic series

In the 4x100m Relay event featured across multiple Mario & Sonic games, Mario's special boost is highly reminiscent of the spin from Super Mario Galaxy. For instance, in Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games, Mario spins while creating a translucent blue trail to gain a burst of speed. In the Wii U version of Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the spin additionally creates sparkles around the character, making the resemblance more prominent. Luigi and Amy also spin in their 4x100 Relay special boosts, but the trails they leave are green and magenta, respectively, isolating Mario's special boost as a reference to the Super Mario Galaxy move.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games

In the Dream Ski Jumping event of the Wii version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, Mario's special action is a spin that surrounds him with a sparkly blur, similarly to the spin from Super Mario Galaxy.

Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games

In the Dream Spacewalk event of the Wii version of Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games, the characters can perform a spin, here referred to as a Spin Attack, to deflect Dino Piranha's fireballs.

Similar attack methods

In Super Mario 3D Land and Super Mario 3D World, the Tanooki form's tail whip acts like a Spin, but does not give any extra height in midair, has little delay between spins, and can be used continuously while crouching.

In Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, spinning is done in the same vein as the Spin Jump from Super Mario 3D World, rather than the Spin that is seen in the Super Mario Galaxy games. To make Captain Toad or Toadette spin around, the player has to quickly rotate the analog stick. While spinning, the characters become dizzy and immobile for a brief moment; however, if timed correctly, the move also enables them to defeat enemies that come into contact with them, serving as an alternative form of attack from stomping, throwing Turnips, or using a Super Pickax.

In Super Mario Odyssey the Cap Throw partially functions as a Spin. In it, Mario spins to throw Cappy forward. Damage is dealt entirely through Cappy, but the move affects Mario's trajectory in the same way the Spin does. While a Cap Throw can be used more than once per jump, Mario is not able to send out Cappy on further throws, and the spin's properties only apply to the first throw. The Spin Throw move has Cappy whirl around Mario to attack, which has a wider radius than the Spin but again is tied to a projectile rather than Mario. If Mario jumps right as Cappy returns from a throw, he twirls while jumping and reaches slightly higher than a standard jump. Pokio can perform an action similar to a Spin when captured, but they can use their beaks with the spin to create an attack. Gushen can also perform an action similar to a Spin when captured, which shoots out water in all directions as an attack.

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	スピン[?] Supin	Spin
Chinese (simplified)	旋转[?] Xuánzhuǎn	Spin
Chinese (traditional)	旋轉 Xuánzhuǎn	Spin
French	Tourbillonner	Spin
Italian	Piroetta[?]	Pirouette
Spanish	Girar	Spin