Roll

This article is about Mario's forward somersault from Super Mario 3D Land. For Mario's backflip used by crouch jumping and his side somersault in this and other 3D games, see Somersault. For the move referred to as a "Roll" in Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, see Roll Attack.

Mario rolling in Super Mario 3D Land.

The Roll is a move used by Mario and Luigi in Super Mario 3D Land, and also Peach, Toad, and Rosalina in Super Mario 3D World. To perform it, the player has to press or while crouching; thus, it replaces the Sweep and Slide Kicks from Super Mario 64. This move moves Mario forward with a quick roll. When rolling, he can break open crates and gain speed and distance; however, he cannot defeat enemies this way, as opposed to the Roll Attack from the Donkey Kong Country series. If Mario jumps during the move, the roll will become a Rolling Leap, a longer and faster version of the Long Jump. If he is in his Tanooki form, this move becomes the Tail Wag. When used, the character will crouch and continuously spin their tail until or is not pressed anymore. By combining this move with the Rolling Leap, the character can move while spinning their tail, defeating every enemy in their way.

The roll move makes a return in Super Mario Odyssey. Unlike in Super Mario 3D Land and Super Mario 3D World, Mario can turn while rolling and perform a continuous roll (by holding zl and pressing Y or shaking the joy-con to keep rolling; the latter method being faster than the former), instead of performing just one roll. He can also roll by holding zl as he lands from a Long Jump, Ground Pound, or Dive (which now uses the Roll's input).

Mario performing a Landing Roll, and a Rolling Jump in Super Mario Run

The roll can also be performed in the Game Boy version of Donkey Kong and Super Mario Run, when characters land from a great height (called a Landing Roll in Super Mario Run). In the former game, the roll only saves Mario from potentially deadly falls (Falls from higher heights can stun or kill him.). In the latter game, characters will also roll if the player taps the screen when they are on a Pause Block pointing to the right. This roll can also defeat enemies, unlike in Super Mario 3D Land, Super Mario 3D World and Super Mario Odyssey. Tapping the screen while in a rolling animation performs a Rolling Jump, which can defeat enemies from below.

Official profiles

Super Mario 3D Land

• North American Website Bio: "This explosive move propels Mario forward with a quick roll."

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Dutch	Rollen[?]	To roll
French	Rouler[?]	To roll
German	Rolle vorwärts[?]	Roll forward
Italian	Rotolamento[?]	Rolling
Portuguese	Derrapada[?]	Skid
Russian	Катиться Katit'sya Кувырок[?] Kuvyrok	To roll Roll
Spanish	Rodar[?]	To roll

Trivia

• In the pre-release version of Super Mario 3D Land, the roll was performed by pressing the or buttons while moving. If the player attempts to do this in the final version, Mario will slide while crouching instead, as in the 2D Super Mario games.