Spike Trap

Spikes are harmful objects that can power down the Mario Bros., cause them to lose health, or even lose lives. These traps appeared in nearly all Mario games. Spikes tend to be stationary, retractable, or attached to a moving object. They are first introduced in Super Mario Bros. 2, though Icicles in Mario Bros. are functionally the same until they fall. Interestingly, in Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2, Mario or Luigi will run uncontrollably if they do come into contact with spikes.

In Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3, Yoshi's Island DS, and Yoshi's New Island, spikes are a lot more fatal than in the Super Mario series titles, as simply touching them will cause a Yoshi to lose a life instantly. A more common rough object, a thorn, also appears in the Yoshi's Island series.

In Yoshi's Story, spikes actually move and jump around in the Bone Dragon Pit and Magma Castle.

In Super Mario World, Yoshi can safely walk on spikes. This game also introduces the Falling Spike.