Falling spike (Bowser's Fury)

A normal falling spike (top) and a golden falling spike (bottom)

Falling spikes are large spike-shaped platforms created by Fury Bowser in the Bowser's Fury campaign of Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury. They have a color scheme similar to that of Fury Bowser, each with a dark black top that transitions to a red-orange midsection and a sharp, bright yellow tip.

Falling spikes rain down from the sky all throughout the islands of Lake Lapcat during Fury Bowser's rampages. Their sharp tips cause them to plunge into the ground and walls of the islands and their various structures. Falling spikes appear very quickly after a rampage begins, at which point their landing spots are designated by a bright light that grows larger as they get closer to the ground or walls. They always land in the same positions. If Mario is standing where a falling spike would land. the falling spike will not appear until he gets out of the way. Some falling spikes have a ? Block, coins, or a Mushroom Trampoline on them; ? Blocks from falling spikes are the only ? Blocks in the game that can become Coin Boxes. Objects that come with falling spikes are also not randomized. Many falling spikes are placed in consecutive locations; their formations sometimes enable Mario to jump from one to another to scale the various structures of the islands differently than how he can when Fury Bowser is resting.

Falling spikes usually also appear near groups of Fury Blocks. If Mario coaxes Fury Bowser into firing a fury blast towards the Fury Blocks, Mario can hide behind a falling spike or other walls to avoid taking damage. However, shortly after the fire beam moves past a falling spike, it breaks apart from the strength of the attack. When Fury Bowser stops rampaging, all falling spikes break apart regardless. When a falling spike breaks, any object it came with disappears with the falling spike.

Golden, less common variants of falling spikes also appear alongside their normal counterparts. There are usually ? Blocks above them that have multiple coins inside. If a golden falling spike breaks apart, either from a fury blast or from Fury Bowser's rampage ending, several coins are released for Mario to collect, with the number varying randomly. These coins vanish if they are not collected quickly enough.

When Fury Bowser begins rampaging, various bends, platforms, and ramps made of the same material as a falling spike also rise from the waters of Lake Lapcat in areas between islands. They usually contain Dash Panels and Gold Rings. Mario, while riding Plessie, can use them to move more quickly, collect coins from the Gold Rings, or use the ramps to cross gaps of splotchy goop.

In the later battles with Fury Bowser, one of his attacks is to dig into the water while within his shell and shoot many gigantic falling spikes. The spikes fall down from the air, with their landing spots designated by flashing red markers. They never come with additional objects. They do not delay falling to avoid landing on Mario. While the spikes fall, they explode on contact with Mario and inflict damage. If a falling spike lands in areas that cannot support them, such as on an island smaller than the falling spike itself, it explodes upon landing. Once the falling spikes have landed, they no longer deal damage and explode on contact. Instead, Giga Cat Mario can pick them up and throw them. If a thrown spike or a spike Mario is holding makes contact with Fury Bowser, it explodes to make Bowser take damage and flip over into his shell for a short time. In this state, Bowser is vulnerable to a Ground Pound or claw dive. If Mario throws another spike at Fury Bowser while he is flipped, he is sent a short distance and takes damage but remains flipped. After using a Ground Pound or claw dive on the flipped Fury Bowser, which makes him return to normal, the player is allowed to grab nearby spikes and use them to flip Fury Bowser over again, enabling them to quickly deplete large portions of Fury Bowser's health before he has a chance to attack. Fury Bowser's fury blasts, shockwaves, and rolling shell attack cause falling spikes to explode on contact. Unlike in normal gameplay, a falling spike collapses in response to a fury blast too quickly for Mario to safely hide behind it. Given enough time, falling spikes that Mario is not holding will explode.

Giant Bowser also uses normal-sized falling spikes. Before Mario gets on Plessie, Giant Bowser sends out a volley of them into the area around the pedestal the Lakeside Giga Bell was on before he stole that Giga Bell. During the chase, Giant Bowser can send waves of falling spikes zooming across the water at Mario and Plessie. Sometimes the waves come in a contiguously connected horizontal sets, other times they are launched in a regular scattered pattern like an array. The player can either jump over them or dive under the falling spikes to dodge them.

Gallery

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  The light that appears below a falling spike’s landing site

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  A normal falling spike stuck in the ground

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  A falling spike with a Mushroom Trampoline on top of it

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  Several falling spikes in a stair-like formation, attached to a wall on Slipskate Slope

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  A golden falling spike stuck in the ground

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  A golden falling spike, moments before bursting from Fury Bowser's fire breath

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  A large bend made of spike material

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  A large ramp made of spike material

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  A large, open area of Lake Lapcat where Gold Rings spawn during Fury Bowser's rampages

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  A gigantic falling spike summoned during Fury Bowser battles

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  Giga Cat Mario throwing a gigantic falling spike at Fury Bowser

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  A falling spike shooting across the water during the Giant Bowser battle

Naming

Internal names

Game	File	Name	Meaning
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury	ObjectData/DisasterSpike.szs	DisasterSpike	Disaster Spike

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	フューリースパイク Fyūrī Supaiku	Fury Spike
	キックボム Kikku Bomu	Kick Bomb; likely erroneous, referring to the ones that Giga Cat Mario can pick up