Dive
A dive is a move used by various characters in the Super Mario franchise, though it is mainly used by Mario in 3D titles. Usually, a dive is activated by jumping into the air followed by hitting the attack button. Diving has the character move diagonally downward out of the air as a means of attacking enemies or dodging obstacles.
HistoryEdit
Super Mario seriesEdit
Super Mario 64 / Super Mario 64 DSEdit
- “Press B while running fast to do a Body Slide attack.”
- —Sign in the courtyard, Super Mario 64
In Super Mario 64, Mario can use a Body Slide (also referred to as a Slide Attack) when he runs and 
is pressed to initiate the Body Slide; holding back on the Control Stick or pressing 
or ends the move (though only the latter method retains Mario's momentum). This move can also be used during a running jump or Side Somersault. While using the move, Mario slides on his stomach across the ground and damages any enemies in his path. If Mario slides onto a sloped surface (such as a slide), his speed will remain constant (despite the player's inputs) and he will not stop until he is on a sufficiently level surface again. In Super Mario 64 DS, Luigi and Wario can dive as well, this time when the player presses 
, though the amount of damage done is dependent on the character. Yoshi, however, cannot dive, instead using to stick out his tongue. Like in Super Mario Odyssey, the move causes a small gain in height, before curving downwards. Body-sliding in the remake also negates all fall damage. Unlike in any other game in the series, a Wall Kick can be performed out of a Body Slide when the player plays as Mario, as long as the player is moving into the wall at a very slow speed.
Super Mario SunshineEdit
In Super Mario Sunshine, Mario no longer has to gain speed to slide. The player can simply jump on the spot and press 
to perform a Body Slam. While Mario can body-slam into enemies to defeat or damage them, he can do so only with smaller enemies such as Goobles. He can also slide repeatedly if the player keeps pressing . If Mario body-slams into goop or water on the ground, he continues to slide until the player holds back on the Control Stick or presses 
. Unlike in Super Mario 64, Mario can ground-pound out of a Body Slam with 
.
Super Mario Galaxy / Super Mario Galaxy 2Edit
In Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2, standing near a raised cliff next to water makes Mario look down, where, upon performing a jump or a Backward Somersault, he instead executes a dive into the water.[1]
Super Mario 3D World / Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's FuryEdit
A variant of the dive, known as a claw dive,[2] is used by every character in Super Mario 3D World (except Captain Toad), though only while in Cat form. Players can hold the attack button in midair to send their characters diving downward at a high speed, attacking any enemies the players come into contact with, and can cancel the dive by letting go of the attack button. The momentum of the dive is kept, though ground-pounding or changing direction stops the character.
In Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, characters besides the Toad Brigade can now roll in midair. The player can do this by holding 
and pressing 
in midair, similarly to the dive in Super Mario Odyssey. The claw dive has also been extended to last for much longer; in almost all cases, it lasts until the character hits the ground. If the player uses a Lucky Bell to become their Cat form, they will be unable to midair-roll, due to the Lucky Cat form's pounding properties. In addition to ground-pounding, Mario can also use the claw dive to get coins or power-ups from various glowing spots on the ground in Lake Lapcat.[3]
Super Mario OdysseyEdit
Mario is able to dive in Super Mario Odyssey. The move is now performed by pressing in the air to start a Ground Pound and pressing after jumping. Dives can also be done during the descent of a Ground Pound.[4] Unlike in Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine, however, Mario jumps in a small arc instead of just falling, and he does not slide upon landing. Instead, Mario either lands in place or does a cosmetic roll if he lands while moving. If is held while landing, Mario starts rolling with the momentum of his dive. The distance traveled with a dive is set as opposed to depending on Mario's momentum. This may be because it makes diving into Cappy to cap-jump from him work more consistently. Diving and then performing a Cap Jump is known as a Cap Dive. The same inputs as a dive performed underwater lets Mario perform a Quick Swim, a quick dash forward mimicking the swimming physics of Super Mario 64 up to Super Mario Galaxy 2.
Super Mario Maker 2Edit
The Cat form's claw dive returns in the Super Mario 3D World style of Super Mario Maker 2; it is now performed by pressing 
, 
, , or 
in midair.
Sports titlesEdit
This section is a stub. Please consider expanding it to include any missing information.
In many sports titles, such as the Super Mario Stadium and Mario Tennis series, characters can dive in order to recover the ball. Diving is usually activated when the player tries to recover the ball from a distance, causing the character to dive in order to cover the distance between them and the ball. However, characters can dive only a certain distance and may not be able to reach the ball in time.
Super Smash Bros. seriesEdit
In the Super Smash Bros. series, Mario and Luigi can perform a dive attack based on that from Super Mario 64 by doing their dash attacks while holding a battering item.
ProfilesEdit
Super Mario SunshineEdit
- Instruction booklet description (Body Slam): "Press while jumping to fly headfirst into enemies."
- Instruction booklet description (Slide): "Press while running to dive into a headfirst slide. In areas covered in liquid, control the direction of the slide with
."
"NOTE!"
"Slip-sliding away!"
"Here's a technique that lets Mario slide in places other than slopes."
"Press lightly then tilt to spray water straight ahead while running."
"Immediately press to dive and slide across the wet surface! Control the direction of the slide with ."
Names in other languagesEdit
DiveEdit
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ボディアタック[5][6][7][8] Bodi Atakku |
Body Attack | |
| ダイブ[9] Daibu |
Dive | ||
| Italian | Tuffo[11] | Dive | Super Mario Odyssey |
| Attacco in scivolata[12][13] | Diving attack | Super Mario 64 | |
| Testata[14] | Headbutt | Super Mario Sunshine | |
| Korean | 몸통 박치기[?] Momtong Bakchigi |
Body slam | |
| 헤드 슬라이딩[10] Hedeu Seullaiding |
Head Sliding | Super Mario Sunshine | |
| Russian | Наскок[?] Naskok |
Lunge |
SlideEdit
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ヘッドスライディング[7] Heddo Suraidingu |
Head Sliding | |
| Italian | Scivolata sulla pancia[14] | Belly slide |
Claw diveEdit
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | とびつき[15] Tobitsuki |
Leaping (at something) | |
| Italian | Graffio in picchiata[16] | Nosedive scratch | |
| Portuguese | Mergulho de garras[17] | Claw dive |
NotesEdit
- If the player performs a dive next to Tuxie or the other baby penguin near the Mother Penguin in Super Mario 64 and Super Mario 64 DS, the baby penguin will dive too.
- In Super Mario 64 and Super Mario 64 DS, falling into snow or sand from a high distance while diving results in Mario getting his head stuck inside the snow/sand for a few seconds.
ReferencesEdit
- ^ Mr. Goof (April 26, 2025). Super Mario Galaxy's Most Obscure Mechanic. YouTube (English). Retrieved May 19, 2025.
- ^ 2013. Super Mario 3D World manual (PDF). Nintendo of America (English). Page 20.
- ^ Looygi Bros. (March 18, 2021). 10 Little Details (Part 3) | Bowser's Fury. YouTube (English). Retrieved March 19, 2021.
- ^ SuperMario_UK (September 21, 2017). The Dive allows you to fling yourself forward in midair, so you can get a tiny bit of extra distance.. X (British English). Retrieved August 6, 2024.
- ^ 「はやく はしりながら Ｂボタンをおすと 『ボディアタック』が できます。」("If you press the B button while running fast, you can do a "Body Attack".") – Sign (23 Jun. 1996). Super Mario 64 by Nintendo EAD. Nintendo Co., Ltd. (Japanese).
- ^ 2004. Super Mario 64 DS instruction booklet (PDF). Nintendo (Japanese). Page 17.
- ^ a b 2002. 『スーパーマリオサンシャイン 取扱説明書』. Kyoto: Nintendo Co., Ltd. (Japanese). Page 21.
- ^ Action Guide. Super Mario Odyssey. Japanese.
- ^ @mario_odysseyJP (22 Aug. 2017). 基本アクション「ダイブ」。空中でピョン！と横に移動することができます。あともう少しで届きそうな時、速く移動したい時に便利です！. Japanese. Retrieved 26 Jun. 2025 from Twitter.
- ^ Super Mario Sunshine Korean manual. Page 21.
- ^ Super Mario Odyssey, basic actions menu
- ^ 1997. Super Mario 64 European manual. Nintendo of Europe (Italian). Page 35.
- ^ 2005. Super Mario 64 DS European manual. Nintendo of Europe (Italian). Page 93.
- ^ a b 2002. Super Mario Sunshine instruction manual. Nintendo of Europe (Italian). Page 19.
- ^ November 2013. スーパーマリオ３Ｄワールド (Super Mario 3D World) electronic manual (PDF). nintendo.co.jp (Japanese). Page 33.
- ^ November 2013. Super Mario 3D World electronic manual (PDF). nintendo.co.jp (Italian). Page 42.
- ^ November 2013. Super Mario 3D World electronic manual (PDF). nintendo.co.jp (European Portuguese). Page 44.
