Pillar

A Spike Pillar is a large column with spikes from Super Mario World, New Super Mario Bros., and New Super Mario Bros. Wii. These fearsome traps only appear in fortresses, towers, and castles, usually hidden in the floor, ceiling, or also in walls. They move slowly for some seconds to rise suddenly from the surface, smashing almost anything on their way. After some seconds later, pillars move back to rise again.

Pillars are indestructible, so the player can't destroy them. The player has to avoid them because of its spikes, or else if the player touches it in small form, he/she will lose a life, unless the player has a Mushroom, he/she will turn back to small form. If the player has a different power-up and touches the Giant Spike Pillar, he/she will turn back to normal, except what happens in Super Mario World. If the player has a Starman or a Mega Mushroom, he will be immune by touching the pillar while in Invincible or Mega form.

All pillars are vertical in Super Mario World, but there are some horizontal pillars in New Super Mario Bros. and New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Also, New Super Mario Bros. Wii does feature some even larger spike pillars in World 6-Tower and World 7-Castle.