The mechanic first appears in Paper Mario: Sticker Star, where it is introduced by Kersti in the second level of the game, Bouquet Gardens, in a battle against five Goombas who had taken the form of a Goomba Wheel. Mario can then access it during any battle as long as Kersti is present; when Mario loses Kersti in Rustle Burrow and Rumble Volcano, the Battle Spinner cannot be used until she is found.
Mario can use the Battle Spinner in battle after spending three coins, and it is automatically used for free at the beginning of every boss battle. It allows him to use up to three stickers in one turn. When pressing to begin, three icons appear on the screen. The player should press to stop each icon at once. The player is also given the option to automatically match the first two icons, for the additional price of fifteen Coins. There is also a final option: the player may slow down the icons after paying thirty Coins. These prices increase with multiple uses of the Spinner in the same battle.
The amount of icons matched determines the number of Stickers that can be used at once. The icon images shown randomly are: Coin, Mushroom, Fire Flower, POW Block, Thunder Bolt, and Poison Mushroom. When Mario is low on health, the mushroom and coins may switch places on the Battle Spinner temporarily, making mushrooms easier to receive. If Mario matches at least two icons, he can use two stickers in one turn, but does not receive a bonus effect. However, if Mario matches all three icons, he can use three stickers in one turn and, additionally, receive a bonus effect based on the given icon.
The Battle Spinner returns in Paper Mario: Color Splash, where it is simply referred to as "Battle Spin." In Port Prisma, after using Cutout to go near the Blue Mini Paint Star, the Card Connoisseur Toad appears and asks to view Mario's deck. A Slurp Guy then jumps off the roof of a nearby building and ambushes Mario and Huey. Huey is frustrated that he and Mario do not have any Battle Cards, until he realizes that they can get more with Battle Spin.
In this game, Battle Spin is a deck of cards spinning in a circle. It costs 10 coins to use and can only be done once per turn. The cards appear face-down, but 20 coins can be spent to show them face-up. If 30 more coins are spent, the roulette slows down. The player must tap the screen for Mario to receive a Battle Card. The Battle Spin always contains one Thing Replica card, as long as Mario has squeezed the Thing before.
North American website bio:"By paying a few coins, you’ll be able to try your luck at the Battle Spinner before a fight. Match icons to use more than one sticker per turn in a battle. The more matches, the more stickers per turn. Certain icons give various bonuses.You can even use coins to increase your chance of a match… You big spender, you."
In Paper Mario: Sticker Star, the mechanic was originally called the Battle Chance. The Battle Spinner also had a Star icon included that possibly turned Mario into Invincible Mario.
