Spin Jump

"If you rotate the Control Stick before pressing A, you can do a Spin Jump!"

- F.L.U.D.D.

The Spin Jump is a special move used by Mario or Luigi in which they, as the name suggests, spin while jumping. The move first appeared in Super Mario World, in which the player could press the button and the character would spin. If the character was in his Super form, then the Spin Jump could break some Turning Blocks from above. Further more, if the character was in his Fire form, doing a Spin Jump would scatter fireballs rapidly in both directions. Also, Mario or Luigi can Spin Jump on certain enemies which cannot be normally jumped on such as Spinies and Chainsaws without taking damage, as well as gaining a lot of height from the jump.

It was later used in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga where the player could cross large gaps. To do this move, Mario had to jump on Luigi's shoulders, and the duo would spin across to the other side. The Spin Jump reappeared in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. This time, Luigi would jump on Mario's shoulder. Unlike in Superstar Saga, the duo could move while stacked before actually beginning the move. It also lasts a bit longer in this game. It later returned in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, being generally similar, if not nearly identical in function to the move from Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. In all three games, Mario and Luigi could Spin Jump into a Whirlwind to thrust themselves in any direction, and in the third game, an upward draft will send the two up higher.

In the Paper Mario series it is learned when Mario gains the Super Boots. However, the Spin Jump in these games more closely resembles a Ground Pound. There is also a Spinning Flower that Mario can Spin Jump upwards on if the player presses in Paper Mario.

It is also used in Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins. As Super Mario or Fire Mario, the player can hold and then press. Mario then jumps a short distance of the ground while revolving, but then this ability is lost when Mario is smaller or is Bunny Mario.

This ability can also be used in Super Mario 64 and Super Mario 64 DS when a character jumps on top of a Spindrift or Fly Guy or into a Tweester. Luigi also uses it when he is coming down from a Somersault. Also, in a beta video of Super Mario 64, Mario could activate a spin jump while doing a triple jump (It is unknown if doing a triple jump first is required). It looked identical to the spinning descent performed after jumping on a Fly Guy or Spindrift.

In Super Mario Sunshine the player can also use it anytime by rotating the Control Stick and then jumping.

Mario or Luigi can also Spin Jump in New Super Mario Bros. when they jump off of a spring. While spinning, they will fall slower. The Spin Jump is also usable in New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Unlike in the previous game, the player can Spin Jump at any time by shaking the Wii Remote. In this game, the Spin Jump makes the same effect of Ground Pound on enemies. The two new characters, Yellow Toad and Blue Toad are also capable of using the Spin Jump in this game as well. It functions nearly the same as in Super Mario World, except Mario will still get hurt if he tries to jump on spiked or fiery enemies. It makes a very distinct sound if it is used to defeat an enemy. It's also used to get rid of area-obscuring clouds as well as fog produced by the new enemy, Foo. It is also used to activates the new Propeller Suit. If used while powered up with a Fire or Ice Flower, the character will shoot one fire or ice ball in either direction. The Spin Jump can also be used in midair without the Propeller Suit to gain a little extra hang time in the air. If the Wii Remote is shaken when in mid-air, the character will twirl, allowing his jump or fall to be longer.

In Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2, a different type of Spin Jump can be used. It is just like the normal spin, except that it is done in mid-air, which gives Mario or Luigi a little height in their jump.

In Mario Sports Mix, the spin jump is used as a tactic to blocking shots in basketball. While Mario and Luigi are both capable of performing this move, more characters are also able to perform this move such as Toad, Princess Peach, and Yoshi (though the latter two have variations of the move such as adding hearts or using a tongue as a part of the attack).