Chain Chomp
- This article is about the recurring enemies in the Super Mario franchise. For other uses, see Chain Chomp (disambiguation).
- "Chomp" redirects here. For other uses, see Chomp (disambiguation).
- "Bow Wow" redirects here. For the large variant from the Yoshi series also known as "Bow Wows", see Chomp Shark.
- "Chomp-Chomp" redirects here. For the golden variant from Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, see Chomp Chomp.
- "Chain Chomper" redirects here. For the collared variant from Super Mario Sunshine also known as "Chain Chompers", see Chain Chomplet.
| Chain Chomp | |||
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 Artwork from Mario Party 8 | |||
| First appearance | Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988) | ||
| Latest appearance | The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026) | ||
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- “Bowwow! Arf! (I'm the top dog!)”
- —Chain Chomp, Mario Party Advance
Chain Chomps (alternatively formatted as Chain-Chomps), also known as Chain Chompers[1][2] or simply Chomps, are common enemies in the Super Mario franchise. Chain Chomps were initially conceived for The Legend of Zelda series, but a developer came across old concept art and decided to implement them in Super Mario Bros. 3.[3]
Chain Chomps bear a resemblance to a ball and chain and are typified by their large, tooth-filled maws and incessant biting. Shigeru Miyamoto's inspiration for the Chain Chomps was from a childhood experience: a dog once ran up to him and tried to bite him, but the dog's chain held it back.[4] Chain Chomps have canine qualities as a result, such as their recurring role of being like guard dogs as well as their barking sound. Chain Chomps are often part of Bowser's Minions, but there are some exceptions to this. Despite their English name, not all Chain Chomps have chains, or even chomp, and several later depictions of chainless Chain Chomps roll in the manner of boulders.
General information[edit]
Physical description[edit]
Chain Chomps resemble a black or dark blue ball, sometimes with chains attached to them. Many descriptions state Chain Chomps are made out of steel, iron or simply metal.[5][6][7] Modern games depict their body scratched like metal, with chipped paint around their teeth. They have big circular eyes, large gaping mouths, and razor-sharp teeth. Chain Chomps in earlier appearances have smaller teeth that are more equal size of each other. These appearances depict them with around eight or nine teeth on each jaw. Modern appearances of Chain Chomps depict them with around four or five larger teeth on each jaw instead. Chain Chomps appear in various sizes, often bigger than Mario. A Chain Chomp's chain is commonly tied to a post, block or other objects, restricting their movement to an area. These chains can be made out of regular chain links, or out of rings or black orbs which appear not physically connected to each other.
Different types of Chain Chomps can have other colors, such as the Red Chomp and the Gold Chomp.
Personality[edit]
Unlike most enemies from the Super Mario franchise, Chomps are usually not sapient, and instead behave more like dogs: They can emit dog-like barks and act similar to guard dogs. Some Chain Chomps such as Princess, from Paper Mario: The Origami King, are kept as pets like dogs. Some items, such as the Chomp Call and Pocket Chomp, further this comparison. Chain Chomps have a tendency to sleep, as shown in some games such as Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour, Mario Superstar Baseball, Mario Power Tennis, and various Mario Party minigames including Sneak 'n' Snore.
Powers and abilities[edit]
Chain Chomps are some of the stronger enemies in the Super Mario franchise. In Super Mario games, they are almost entirely invincible, and they usually have an above-average defense in RPGs. Their main method of attack is lunging at the enemy and biting them, though they are usually pulled back by their chains.
History[edit]
Super Mario series[edit]
Super Mario Bros. 3 / Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3[edit]
Chain Chomps first appear in Super Mario Bros. 3 along with a relative of theirs, Fire Chomps. Chain Chomps are first found in World 2-5. They are attached to Wood Blocks, which they slide along the ground back-and-forth around, stopping for a few moments or turning at irregular intervals while constantly chomping their jaws. When they get close enough to Mario or Luigi or vice-versa, they try to lunge in their direction, though with varying height. One at the end of World 2-5 lacks a Wood Block due to being in the black goal area, though it acts the same regardless. Either a Starman, a Koopa Shell, a hammer from Hammer Mario, or a statue from Tanooki Mario can defeat it. A Chain Chomp can break free after 160 seconds,[8] though it sometimes takes longer. When about to break free, their chains begin flashing. Once they break free, they hop forward along the ground. In the remakes, the Chain Chomps in World 5-1 have blue mouths instead of red.
Super Mario 64 / Super Mario 64 DS[edit]
A giant Chain Chomp (also known as the Big Chomp,[9] an early name,[10] or "Bomb"[11]) is located on Bob-omb Battlefield in Super Mario 64 and Super Mario 64 DS. It is attached to a peg near a cell with the Power Star of "Behind Chain Chomp's Gate." The Chain Chomp lunges at Mario if he is nearby, taking away three wedges of his health on contact. A Bob-omb, a box, or a Yoshi's egg in the remake can stun Chain Chomp briefly. The Chain Chomp can be freed by ground-pounding its post three times, required for it to lunge into the cell nearby and clear "Behind Chain Chomp's Gate."
Its name is hyphenated for Super Mario 64 DS. It functions differently in "5 Silver Stars!," freely moving around with a Silver Star attached to its chain. There is also a Chain-Chomp at Castle Grounds, sometimes with the Star attached to its chain. The game standardized the design of the Chain-Chomp, especially its eye position.
Chain Chomps were first given their iconic dog bark in Super Mario 64. This has since been used throughout the Super Mario franchise. The Wii Virtual Console miscolors their mouth a dull purplish color instead of bright pink.[12] Their barks sound like "wan wan" in the Japanese version, matching their unlocalized name.
Super Mario Sunshine[edit]
One Chain Chomp (also called a Chomp[13]) is an enemy in Super Mario Sunshine, which also adds the smaller puppy variety, Chain Chomplets. The Chain Chomp is the first to have linking chains, instead of orbs like before, and it has a distinct, X-shaped scar on its head. Both the Chain Chomp and the Chain Chomplets are hot by default, appearing orange and burning Mario on contact, though he can use FLUDD to cool them briefly. The Chain Chomp is featured in the fourth mission of Pianta Village, where Mario first cools it before trying to pull the Chain Chomp into a tub of water. The Chain Chomp always reheats eventually, but can be cooled off again with water, also contained in some nearby Barrels with water. Upon entering the tub, the Chain Chomp turns golden, then the Shine Sprite appears above it. The Chain Chomp is noticeably evasive of Mario, always trying to move away from him.
New Super Mario Bros.[edit]
Only three Chain Chomps appear in New Super Mario Bros., all in World 6-6. They behave like they do in Super Mario Bros. 3, though they are slightly larger, slower, and hop along the ground rather than slide. Their post can now be ground-pounded to release them and drop three coins, even if the Chain Chomp had been defeated from either a Koopa Shells, Starmen, or Mega Mushroom.
Super Mario Galaxy[edit]
Chainless Chomps appear in Super Mario Galaxy and its Nintendo Switch port, where they roll around in the manner of a Ruby Rock, damaging the player character if hit. They are sometimes spawned from a Chomp box endlessly on certain paths. If Mario or Luigi steps in front of a Chomp, he is knocked away and loses HP. Either a Rainbow Star, a rubbery bulb, or a Bob-omb can defeat a Chomp, causing it to explode into several Star Bits; in Co-op mode, the second player can stop a Chomp from moving, so in the event that another one crashes into it, both are defeated. The Chomp Saucer planet of the Good Egg Galaxy features slightly smaller Chomps, but they are not officially distinguished. There is a much smaller variety named the Mini Chomp, which appear from doghouses in the Dreadnought Galaxy, as well as a Gold Chomp in the Gusty Garden Galaxy.
Chomps appear in the following list of galaxies and missions:
- Good Egg Galaxy ("King Kaliente's Battle Fleet", "Dino Piranha Speed Run")
- Battlerock Galaxy ("Breaking into the Battlerock", "Battlerock's Garbage Dump")
- Ghostly Galaxy ("Luigi and the Haunted Mansion", "Beware of Bouldergeist")
New Super Mario Bros. Wii[edit]
A large Chain Chomp is first seen in World 5-Castle of New Super Mario Bros. Wii, pulling Iggy around in a seat. The Chain Chomp becomes red each time Iggy is hit and moves around faster briefly. Regular-sized Chain Chomps appear in only one level—World 7-2—behaving like in New Super Mario Bros., though releasing it from its post can harm other players and result in Brick Blocks being destroyed.
Super Mario Galaxy 2[edit]
Chomps return in Super Mario Galaxy 2 and its Nintendo Switch port, behaving like in Super Mario Galaxy, and a level themed entirely around Chomps, Chompworks Galaxy, is also present here. There is one part of the Flipsville Galaxy where Chomps are destroyed automatically from crashing together. The game adds another variety, the Homing Chomp, and both Gold Chomps and Small Chomps return.
Chomps appear in the following list of galaxies and missions. If no mission is stated, Chomps appear during all missions:
- Flip-Swap Galaxy
- Rightside Down Galaxy ("Breaking the Laws of Gravity")
- Boulder Bowl Galaxy ("Rock and Rollodillo", "C'mere, Goomba")
- Flipsville Galaxy ("Flip-Flopping in Flipsville")
- Chompworks Galaxy ("Where the Chomps Are Made of Gold", "Spring into the Chompworks")
Super Mario 3D Land[edit]
Chain Chomps received some changes in Super Mario 3D Land, including unlinked rings, smaller, dark blue heads, and a short, wooden stake. First appearing in World 3-3, they also appear in World 4-1, World 7-2, Special 5-2, and Special 6-3, with their final appearance being Special 8-
Crown. They charge at the player character like before,[14] and can still have their stake ground-pounded to release them. Mario can jump on a Chain Chomp without taking damage, and a fireball can stun one briefly.
New Super Mario Bros. 2[edit]
Chain Chomps are enemies in New Super Mario Bros. 2, now depicted with unlinked chains. They are found in two courses, World 2-5 and World 
Mushroom-B. In Coin Rush only, they also appear in the Third Course of the Mystery Adventures Pack and the First Course of the Impossible Pack. A large Chain Chomp pulls Iggy's seat around during the battle, like the previous game. Only Invincible Mario or Gold Mario can defeat a Chain Chomp.
New Super Mario Bros. U / New Super Luigi U / New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe[edit]
Chain Chomps appear in New Super Mario Bros. U, New Super Luigi U, and New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe. They are found in only one course of New Super Mario Bros. U, Waddlewing's Nest, and only one course of New Super Luigi U, Wiggler Rodeo. They are similar aside from being depicted with linked chains, as well as having triangular stakes needing only one ground-pound to release them. Chain Chomps now release eight coins if defeated.
Super Mario Maker / Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS[edit]
Chain Chomps reappear in Super Mario Maker and its enhanced port, acting like they usually would. They appear in every game style and receive uniquely designed sprites for the Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario World styles. Chain Chomps are attached to a stake, either suspended blocks or rails, and can shake their stakes to make them Unchained Chomps,[15] which hop along the ground as well as have a vocal cue in Super Mario Maker 2. An Unchained Chomp can also become the result of a Thwomp landing on a Chain Chomp in any game style; placing a Chain Chomp in a block, pipe, or Bill Blaster; the Chain Chomp lunging fifty times in the Super Mario Bros. 3 style;[16] or by ground-pounding its stake in the New Super Mario Bros. U style. Chain Chomps do not become unchained if placed in the Koopa Clown Car and lunges at the player as usual.
Big Chain Chomps are the result of dragging a Super Mushroom onto the Chain Chomp. They can also become winged, allowing them to fly when chained and lunging, as well as let Unchained Chomps jump higher.
Super Mario Odyssey[edit]
Chain Chomps reappear in Super Mario Odyssey, where they are found in the Cascade Kingdom. Their chains are connected by rings that seem to act as elastics, and they have more realistic damage and wear on their heads and teeth. When they see Mario, they jump in the air facing his direction surprised with a bark, then attack by pulling back on their chain using it like an elastic to fling themselves in Mario's direction. They plow past Mario if they collide, but stop if they hit other Chain Chomps. Chain Chomps glow red as they wind up. They defeat enemies such as Burrbos in their path and can break a stone wall when they hit one. A radius around them never has grass in it, while the area around that does have grass, suggesting the Chain Chomps trample the grass. Chain Chomps are fully immune to poison seas.
They can be captured by Mario and Cappy. When Mario controls a Chain Chomp, he can run away from where the chain is attached to build up tension. Then the player can release 
to launch the Chain Chomp in the opposite direction. The player can adjust their aim with left and right input or let the stick move back slowly to regain normal control. Alternatively, the player can shake their controller to do quick short dashes forward. With this method, the Chain Chomp will be launched only when the player stops shaking the controller. The player can use both methods, but if they shake and hold the , motion controls take priority. As an alternative to either releasing or stopping motion input, they can also press 
to escape the Chain Chomp. The motion control method does not allow Mario to change the angle, return to normal, or jump while the chain is fully wound up.
Mario hops out automatically when the Chain Chomp is sent flying, and it destroys stone walls and defeats enemies like the enemy does. However, Mario's version has more range. This enables Mario to access secret areas previously blocked by the walls. Mario can launch a Chain Chomp into a Stone marker, which causes certain effects to happen like opening paths or making coins appear. While ready to launch, arrows show the trajectory the Chain Chomp will take. The camera moves automatically to show which way the Chain Chomp will go, except in bonus areas. When a Chain Chomp is launched, it is not stunned by Mario releasing the capture. Launched Chain Chomps can collect items such as coins. If a captured Chain Chomp is launched, and collides with another Chain Chomp, the second Chomp is sent flying based on the angle the first chain chomp hit it. This continues to apply if the second Chain Chomp hits a third Chain Chomp, and so on.
Captured Chain Chomps cannot take damage, even keeping their immunity to poison seas. If Mario captures a Chain Chomp then gets hit by another, he is forced out of his Chain Chomp. Chain Chomps can jump with both 
or 
, but their jumps are low and prevent movement. While in the air with an extended chain, even if the chain is not at maximum length, the chain will slightly pull Mario back. This can prevent the player from launching the Chain Chomp if they want, but again this cannot be done using motion controls.
There are two different kinds of Chain Chomps in the game: normal sized ones with a blueish hue and Big Chain Chomps with smaller eyes and a jet black color scheme, the latter of which can be used to break open very large rocks and even the Great Barrier. In addition, Madame Broode, a boss in this game, owns a golden Chain Chomp who fights as her pet. She refers to it as Chain Chompikins, though the in-game Capture List refers to it simply as Broode's Chain Chomp. Her Chain Chomp can be captured in the same manner as an ordinary one (after its hat is removed), and must be slammed into Madame Broode's face to defeat her. They are both fought twice in the game, once in the Cascade and once in the Moon Kingdom.
Super Mario Maker 2[edit]
Chain Chomps and Unchained Chomps return in Super Mario Maker 2, retaining their behavior in its predecessor. They appear in every game style with the exception of the Super Mario 3D World style. The player can transform them into Unchained Chomps by selecting the latter's corresponding option on the pop-up menu. Likewise, Unchained Chomps now have a vocal cue. In the Ground theme only, Chain Chomps and Unchained Chomps have longer chains during the night.
Big Chain Chomps also return and can be transformed using the Super Mushroom option on the pop-up menu. Due to wings no longer being a course element, Chain Chomps and Unchained Chomps can be given them if the player selects the wings option in the pop-up menu.
The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3[edit]
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Chain Chomps make several appearances in The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3. They act as guard dogs for King Koopa, and they often attack Mario and Luigi. Chain Chomps are shown to be able to swim in "The Venice Menace" where they bite on poles to sink the buildings in Venice. Throughout the show, Chain Chomps are depicted with yellow sclerae instead of the usual white.
Nintendo Adventure Books[edit]
If Mario chooses to use a shortcut to Fort Koopa while traveling through the Koopahari Desert in Double Trouble, he can encounter a Chain Chomp guarding the fortress. Depending on how the accompanying puzzle is solved by the reader, Mario partially evades the Chomp (it manages to bite off a chunk of his shoe), reach the fortress wall, and begin scaling it, or is bitten on the foot and be forced to flee.
In the best ending of Koopa Capers, Luigi encounters a gold Chain Chomp guarding a stash of coins. When the fumes from Wendy O. Koopa's botched wand combination potion reach the Chomp, it is knocked out and Luigi is able to claim the coins it was guarding.
Yoshi series[edit]
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island / Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3[edit]
Only one Chain Chomp ever appears, and it is found in a room near the start of Sluggy The Unshaven's Fort in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island and its remake, Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3. It functions like in the Super Mario series, but with the added ability of lunging at the screen. This Chain Chomp can be defeated by using a POW Block[17]:0:17
Two varieties of "Chomp" were added, Shark Chomps and Incoming Chomps, both massive enemies that lack chains, a trait retained by Chain Chomps in many future games. There are also Chomp Rocks, round stone objects modeled after Chomp that can be pushed around.
Yoshi's Story[edit]
Chainless Chomps (also called Chomp Chomps[18]) are one of the largest enemies in Yoshi's Story, though their in-engine sprite size is only 42x42 pixels. They are found in Jungle Hut, chomping as they move, like Shark Chomps. Three Chomps around found on different vertical levels of a hut, where there is fruit to obtain. If a Chain Chomp harms a Yoshi, it makes a growling-like sound while facing the screen. There is an icon of a smaller Chomp during a Melon Race, showing the Time Limit as it moves while eating melons it comes across, decreasing the number rewarded at the end.
Yoshi's New Island[edit]
There is also only one Chain Chomp in Yoshi's New Island. It is in a hidden area of Chomp Shark Chase,[19] and can be defeated the standard way by Ground Pounding the pole it is attached to.
Yoshi's Woolly World / Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World[edit]
- Main article: Frame Chomp
While Chain Chomps themselves do not appear in Yoshi's Woolly World or Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World, a new type of Chain Chomp, under the name Frame Chomp, is introduced as an enemy. Throwing a yarn ball at a Frame Chomp causes it to turn into a Chomp Rock. It is also possible to remove the yarn from a Chomp Rock created in this way, turning it back into a Frame Chomp.
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars[edit]
Chain Chomps, originally named "Chomps," make appearances in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars and its remake. They are first seen as guards in Booster Tower. Some of their skills in battle include Iron Maiden and Carni-Kiss. Chain Chomps are weak to thunder attacks but have no resistances, though their defense is higher than their attack power. Chain Chomps can be fled from easily because they are attached to a stake. The game adds a golden variety, Chomp Chomps, and Chaindeliers, which hold the chandeliers in Bowser's Keep. For the remake, Chain Chomps use their modern designs, whilst Bowser's retains its original design, even the artwork of the Chain Chomp.
Bowser can equip and use a lighter-colored female Chain Chomp as a weapon, after rescuing her from Booster's Tower. She has an average attack power of ten points, with a deviation of up to four points above or below. Bowser uses her as a flail before throwing her at the enemy, with the Timed Hit being activated by pressing the button as she hits, causing her to bite repeatedly. Other similar weapons include a Fake Chomp, which is the shed shell of one, and a spiky type, the Spiked Chomp. The remake also adds another weapon, the Wonder Chomp.
A pair of Chain Chomps pull the Bowser's Keep float in the parade ending sequence.
Mario Kart series[edit]
Chain Chomps make recurring appearances in the Mario Kart series in multiple different forms, typically serving as an obstacle. They are usually much larger in these games than in the Super Mario series.
Mario Kart 64[edit]
Chainless Chomps are obstacles in Rainbow Road of Mario Kart 64. They roam up and down the track, lunging racers upward on contact. Besides the lack of a chain, they look like the Chain Chomp in Super Mario 64, but with the shinier texture that Metal Mario previous had.[20]
Mario Kart: Double Dash!![edit]
Chain Chomps are obstacles on both Mario Circuit and Luigi Circuit in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!. They are on the side of the road, fixed to its post and trying to ram players. A Chain Chomp also functions as Baby Mario and Baby Luigi's special item, also being usable for Petey Piranha and King Boo, who can use any other special item. A unique theme plays as the Chain Chomp item pulls the users forward briefly, knocking over other players. Its chain eventually breaks free from the kart, and it traverses the course for a short distance before running into an obstacle or falling off a ledge; this occurs earlier if its users are hit by an item, or if the tension of the chain is too strong. When hit, a Chain Chomp flips over the racer, causing them to drop items, but running into one with a Star causes the driver to temporarily phase through it.
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! standardized the look of Chain Chomps further than Super Mario Sunshine, though its artwork is reused from the cover art of Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour.
Mario Kart DS[edit]
The Chain Chomp reappears in GCN Luigi Circuit and the chainless type in Peach Gardens in Mario Kart DS. Their mouths are always open, no longer animated, and the chainless type has Item Boxes trailing behind them. Mission 3-3 features a Chain Chomp that actively attacks Luigi while he collects coins on Luigi Circuit, and Mission 5-1 features a race against one on Peach Gardens. A Chain Chomp is depicted with the brand "Dangerous" as banners on several courses.
The Chain Chomp was going to