Spike Top

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Not to be confused with Spiky Topman.

Spike Tops are Buzzy Beetles with shells that are red and have a single spike projecting out of the top (hence the name), making them impossible to jump on. They are also still resistant to fire, which makes them one of the most resilient enemies in the Mario series. Their defining trait is the adhesive quality of their feet, which allows them to crawl along vertical and upside-down surfaces. Despite being a shelled enemy, in the platforming games, any effective method of attack will defeat them instantly instead of having them retreat into their shells.

History

Super Mario series

Super Mario World

Spike Top's debut appearance was in Super Mario World, where they would crawl around the walls and ceilings of caves. They could only be destroyed by a Cape Feather, Shell, Super Star, or by having Yoshi eat them. Yoshi could bounce off a Spike Top without ill effect to either creature jumped. They are distinct from Buzzy Beetles in that their eyes are visible and their shells are flatter. Instead of having four legs, as they do in all of their later appearances, they have six legs.

Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3

Spike Tops appear in the e-Reader levels of Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3, a Game Boy Advance remake of Super Mario Bros. 3. In the game, they act as they did in Super Mario World.

New Super Mario Bros.

Several Spike Tops in 5-2 in New Super Mario Bros.

They return once again in New Super Mario Bros., with the same attack pattern from Super Mario World. A Shell, Starman, or Mega Mushroom could defeat them, as could hitting a block one is on. They only appear in World 5-2, World 6-Tower 2, and World 8-Tower.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii

They also appear in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, mostly in World 2-3. They can be defeated by a Star, Shell, hitting a block from below with the Spike Top on top of it, or Ground Pounding the block with the Spike Top on the bottom. Additionally, Spike Tops can be frozen by ice balls and used as weapons against other enemies.

Through hacking methods, it is also shown that Yoshi can completely eat Spike Tops, as well as safely bounce off them.

New Super Mario Bros. 2

Spike Tops reappear in New Super Mario Bros. 2, where they act the same as in previous games. They can be defeated with the same methods from the previous games, in addition to swinging Raccoon Mario's tail near them. They are incorrectly referred to as "Red Spike Buzzy" (an alternative name of Red Spike Tops in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door) in Prima's strategy guide. They appear in World Flower-A.

New Super Mario Bros. U

Spike Tops Reappear in New Super Mario Bros. U. They behave exactly as in the previous games, and they may be eaten by any Baby Yoshi. However, they are invincible to Bubble Baby Yoshi bubbles. They appear in Stoneslide Tower, Shifting-Floor Cave and Rising Tides of Lava.

Nintendo Adventures Books

A swarm of Spike Tops appear to attack Mario and Yoshi in Dinosaur Dilemma of the Nintendo Adventure Books, throwing themselves at the plumber and dinosaur as they are traveling through a desert. Depending on how the reader solves the accompanying puzzle, Yoshi will either eat all the Spike Tops, or one will succeed in knocking Mario out for several hours, allowing Bowser to easily conquer Dinosaur Island.

Paper Mario series

Paper Mario

In Paper Mario, Spike Tops appear as enemies in Mt. Lavalava. They are much more like Buzzy Beeltes in that they can be flipped over, are resistant to fire and explosion attacks, and attack by Shell Tossing.

As well Spike Tops also appear but only in battle with Dark Koopas in Toad Town Tunnels.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

In Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, the Spike Tops have blue shells instead of red, whereas the two red-shelled Spike Tops encountered in the game are specifically called Red Spike Tops.

Regular Spike Tops are found in Creepy Steeple alongside Buzzy Beetles. Additionally, a winged variant called Spiky Parabuzzy make its debut in this game. Stomping it causes it to lose its wings, becoming a Spike Top. All these species also make an appearance in the Pit of 100 Trials.

Super Paper Mario

Blue-shelled Spike Tops make a reappearance in Super Paper Mario. Due to this game being more of a 2D or 3D side-scrolling adventure and not a turn-based RPG they have the same attack patterns as in the regular installments of the Super Mario series.

Paper Mario: Sticker Star

Spike Tops reappear in Paper Mario: Sticker Star, this time with their original red colouration from Super Mario World and the New Super Mario Bros. series. Spike Tops appear in Rustle Burrow, Holey Thicket, Chomp Ruins and Rumble Volcano. Once again, they cannot be stomped on unless using an Iron Jump sticker or if they are crumpled. Using an normal Jump sticker will cost Mario 3 HP even a First Strike as a jump. They can retreat in their shells if Mario uses a Iron Jump sticker. Their only method of attack is going into their shell and ramming into Mario and if Mario does not block this attack, he will not only take full damage but there is also a small chance that he may get dizzy which can cause his attacks to miss. Also, a sticker based on the Spike Tops' shell called the Spike Helmet can be used. In its artwork it shows that Spike tops have a nervous face but in the game they have a mad face much like the Spinies do. In this game Spike Tops have much more HP like most enemies do. They are very common in Chomp Ruins since they fight in group of 4 or 5.

Super Princess Peach

In Super Princess Peach, Spike Tops return as "Mecha-Spike Tops". Despite this new name, the Spike Tops of Super Princess Peach do not appear to be mechanical, merely looking no different than Spike Tops of other games. Super Princess Peach also introduces an angry variety, the M. M-Spike Top, which can stretch out its spike to attack foes. They could only be defeated by using Rage or Poundbrella.

Mario Party: Island Tour

In Mario Party: Island Tour, Spike Tops only appear in the minigame Starring Artist on a constellation.

Super Smash Bros. for 3DS

A Spike Top in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS.

Spike Tops appear in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS as enemies in Smash Run. They seem to look and behave as they do in the New Super Mario Bros. series.

Super Mario Maker

Spike Tops reappear in Super Mario Maker, using the same behaviors as in previous games. They can be used in all four styles, with new sprites for their Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros. 3 appearances. There are two types of Spike Tops, red and blue, which walk on walls and ceilings. The blue variants crawl much faster than their red counterparts. Applying wings to one will have it fly in a straight line, similarly to a Parabuzzy, except it will cause damage if stood on without a Goomba's Shoe or Yoshi.

Profiles and statistics

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS trophy

Name	Image	Description
Spike Top		These turtles come from the Super Mario series and have one big spike on their backs. Their eyes glow from beneath the edge of their shells, watching you as they approach. In Smash Run, they crawl along walls, floors, and the ceiling. They aren't bothered by projectiles, so you'll have to find other ways to defeat them.