Chain Chomp

"Ruff! Ruff! (I'm gonna steal coins or stars just for you!)"

- Chain Chomp

Chain Chomps (occasionally called Chain-Chomps, as in the Paper Mario series) are common enemies in the Mario franchise. They first appeared in Super Mario Bros. 3. Chain Chomps bear a resemblance to a ball and chain and are typified by their large, tooth-filled maws and incessant biting. Shigeru Miyamoto's inspiration for the Chain Chomps was from a childhood experience: a dog once ran up to him and tried to bite him, but the dog's chain held it back. As a result, Chain Chomps also possess canine qualities, such as barking and are commonly used as guard dogs throughout the Mario series. Chain Chomps were originally created as an enemy for The Legend of Zelda series, but ended up being used for the Mario series first. Many Chomps have been part of the Koopa Troop, though a couple of them have been shown to be independent.

Super Mario Bros. 3
Chain Chomps first appear in World 2-5 of Super Mario Bros. 3 for the Nintendo Entertainment System/Family Computer. Their relatives, the fire-spitting flying Flame Chomps, also appear later in the game. The Chain Chomps are attached to Wooden Blocks and try to lunge at Mario. If they tug on their chain 50 times or if the timer hits 160 seconds, all Chain Chomps come loose. They return in the remake, Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3.

There are four ways to defeat Chain Chomps in this game: using a Starman, throwing a Koopa Shell, throwing a hammer at it as Hammer Mario, and stomping on it as a statue with Tanooki Mario.

Super Mario 64 / Super Mario 64 DS
In Super Mario 64 and its remake, Super Mario 64 DS, a giant Chain Chomp is found in Bob-omb Battlefield (where a sign mentioning it hyphenates its name as "Chain-Chomp"), guarding a jail cell containing the Power Star involved in the mission Behind Chain Chomp's Gate. It is attached to a wooden peg, and lunges at the player if they get too close. He will cause the cause Mario (or Yoshi, Luigi and Wario in the DS remake) to lose three health points if he runs into it. It is temporarily immobilized if it is hit with a Bob-omb or a box (or Yoshi's eggs in the DS version). In order to obtain the Star that Chain Chomp guards, the Chain Chomp's post must be Ground Pounded three times, breaking the chain. Once the Chain Chomp is free, it jumps around, smashing the jail cell open in the process, and leaps away, allowing Mario to reach the Star. In addition to its role in this Star, one of the level's Red Coins is located above the Chain Chomp's post.

In Super Mario 64 DS, it is also possible for Luigi to use a Power Flower to pass through the jail cell to reach the Star, and Wario only needs to ground-pound the peg once due to his weight. During the mission 5 Silver Stars!, the Chain Chomp is moved to the open area near its normal location. It is no longer chained to a peg, allowing it to roam in the area. One of the Silver Stars is located on the end of its chain. Super Mario 64 DS also features a Chain Chomp in multiplayer mode, on the Castle Grounds stage. It serves a similar purpose as in the 5 Silver Stars! mission above: one of the Stars the players must collect it again on the end of its chain. Chain Chomps were first given their iconic dog bark in Super Mario 64. This has since been used throughout the Mario series.

Super Mario Sunshine
Super Mario Sunshine is the first to feature the Chain Chomp with a realistic linking chain rather than magnetically connected orbs or rings as seen in the older games.

Small, puppy-like Chain Chomps called Chain Chomplets as well as a larger (possibly parent) Chain Chomp, appear in Pianta Village. However, this Chain Chomp differs from others of its species, because it has a deep, X-shaped scar on the top left side of its head. Both the Chain Chomp and the Chain Chomplets are hot, and will burn Mario if he touches them. The only way to cool them off is with water, but this only provides a temporary remedy. The Chain Chomplets appear on the first Pianta Village mission, where Mario must launch them into the spring to cool them after calming them down with water from F.L.U.D.D.. After doing so, the player will be rewarded with a Shine Sprite.

The larger Chain Chomp appears in the fourth episode. It is sitting out in the sun, chained to a stake in the ground and red hot from rage. It's refusing to take a bath. In order to cool its temper, Mario must first release the chain, which causes it to go on a "rampage" throughout the village. Also, like the Chomplets, this Chain Chomp is orange when angry, black when temporarily calmed, and the color of a shiny metal when it is placed in a body of water. In the Chain Chomp's case, it is golden, as its smaller counterparts are silver. When Mario grabs the chain, he must pull the Chain Chomp (from behind) into its hemispherical tub filled with water. Since this Chain Chomp is massive and heavy, Mario has trouble pulling it and thus moves slowly. While pulling the Chain Chomp, it will eventually heat back up with rage and overpower Mario, after which he must cool it off with a barrel of water. When the Chain Chomp is placed in the tub, it will calm down and turn a golden color. Then, a Shine Sprite appears above it.

New Super Mario Bros.
Chain Chomps appear as extremely rare enemies in New Super Mario Bros.. In fact, there is only a single level they appear in, which is World 6-6, and there are only 3 of them. In this game, the Chain Chomps have their usual bark and lunging attack, and weaknesses: Koopa Shells and Starmen. They have a new weakness: the Mega Mushroom. They are also defeated by pounding the post 3 times, which releases 3 coins. The last post in the level can also be used to reach 6 coins and a 1-up, and the second one has a Star Coin. The post still stays if the Chain Chomp is defeated with a shell, Starman, or Mega Mushroom, allowing Mario or Luigi to still ground pound it 3 times and get 3 coins. Flame Chomps also appear, making an uncommon appearance in World 7-1. Like in Super Mario Bros. 3, their chains are not linked.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii
The Chain Chomp makes its return in the game New Super Mario Bros. Wii. One larger Chain Chomp is seen pulling a make-shift chariot for Iggy Koopa, one of the Koopalings. Every time Iggy is hit by Mario, it turns red similar to the one in Super Mario Sunshine and goes on a short rampage.

Chain Chomps also appear in World 7-2. In this stage, they are attached to a wooden stake, and Mario can free it by ground pounding the stake 3 times. Chain Chomps can also be defeated by running toward it with a Star. This time, pounding the stake enough times makes it bounce in the direction it was facing, and then fall off the stage after hitting a solid wall. This can destroy Brick Blocks and hurt nearby players.

Super Mario 3D Land
Chain Chomps later appear in Super Mario 3D Land. In this game, they have dark blue heads, as in recent appearances, but as in Super Mario Bros. 3, their chains are not linked. The Chain Chomps in this game possess a short wooden stake, compared to the long, yellow, polka-dotted stake in New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Their heads are smaller then in their previous 3D appearance in Super Mario Galaxy 2. In this game, they repeat their tactic of charging in the player's direction, like in their 2D platforming appearances. The player can defeat a Chain Chomp by ground-pounding the stake the Chain Chomp is connected to. Their heads can be jumped on by Mario, but it does not damage them. When Mario throws a Fireball at the Chain Chomp, it stuns it for a short while.

New Super Mario Bros. 2
Once again, Chain Chomps appear in New Super Mario Bros. 2. They behave as they did in the previous titles but rather than the standard link chains in the previous New Super Mario Bros. titles, they have unlinked chains. They can be knocked out with a Ground Pound, Star, or a Gold Flower. One pulls Iggy Koopa's chariot during the boss battle as it did in New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Like in the previous game, it is defeated along with Iggy. They appear in World 2-5 and.

New Super Mario Bros. U
Chain Chomps reappear in New Super Mario Bros. U in the level Waddlewing's Nest in Rock-Candy Mines. In this game, their stake is triangular rather than rectangular. The stake must be ground-pounded only once to release the Chomp. Upon defeat, a Chain Chomp yields eight coins. Their chains are linked once again.

The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3
Chain Chomps make several appearances in The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3, appearing in such episodes as "Reptiles in the Rose Garden" and "The Venice Menace". They are guard dogs of the Koopa King, and they attack Mario and Luigi. They seem to be in a lot of episodes that Kootie Pie is in, and they seem to listen to her. They are also shown to be able to swim in The Venice Menace where they bite holes in Mario and Luigi's boat.

Nintendo Adventure Books
If Mario chooses to use a shortcut to Fort Koopa while traveling through the Koopahari Desert in Double Trouble, he can encounter a Chain Chomp guarding the fortress. Depending on how the accompanying puzzle is solved by the reader, Mario will partially evade the Chomp (it manages to bite off a chunk of his shoe) and reach and scale the fortress wall, or will be bitten on the foot and be forced to flee.

In the best ending of Koopa Capers, Luigi encounters a gold Chain Chomp guarding a stash of coins. When the fumes from Wendy O. Koopa's botched wand combination potion reach the Chomp, it is knocked out and Luigi is able to claim the coins it was guarding.

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
In Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, Chain Chomps, simply referred to as Chomps in this game (even if they have chains), first appear as guards in Booster Tower. In battle, Chomps can use skills like Iron Maiden and Carni Kiss. They possess no strengths and a weakness to thunder attacks. Chomps have good defense; in fact, their defense exceeds their attack power. Since they are bound to a stake, the party can easily flee from the battle.

In addition to Chomps being encountered as enemies, Bowser is able to equip and use a small female Chomp as a weapon, after meeting it and befriending it inside of a secret room in Booster's Tower where it was captured by Booster. The game also introduces golden, much more powerful versions of Chomps known as Chomp Chomps, as well as Kinklinks, which are Chomps used to hold chandeliers in Bowser's Keep.

A pair of Chomps are also seen pulling the Bowser's Castle float in the parade ending sequence.

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
A single Chain Chomp appears in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, in a room near the beginning of Sluggy The Unshaven's Fort. It attacks similarly to its other appearances, though it can also lash out at the screen. This Chain Chomp can be defeated by using a POW Block, or a Winged Cloud Maker. Doing so grants the player access to a room with a Message Block in it. This block will give the player a code that, when inputted in the level selection screen, will allow the player to freely access any of the Mini Battles.

Apart from this enemy, two varieties of Chain Chomp are introduced in this game: Chomp Sharks and Incoming Chomps. These enemies lack chains and are massive in size, a trait retained by Chomps in many future games. Chomp Rocks also make an appearance as objects or obstacles; they resemble Chomp heads made of rock.

Yoshi's New Island
A lone Chain Chomp appears in Yoshi's New Island. It can be defeated by performing a Ground Pound on the pole that the Chain Chomp is attached to.

Yoshi's Woolly World
While Chain Chomps themselves do not show up in Yoshi's Woolly World, new type of Chain Chomp, under the name Frame Chomp, is introduced as an enemy. Throwing a yarn ball at a Frame Chomp causes it to turn into a Chomp Rock. It is also possible to remove the yarn from a Chomp Rock, turning it back into a Frame Chomp.

Mario Kart 64
In Mario Kart 64, three Chomps appear on the Rainbow Road track where they travel at road level in the opposite direction of the racers in a regular zig-zag pattern. If touched, the driver is sent flying up.

Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
In Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, a Chain Chomp is a usable item exclusively for Baby Mario and Baby Luigi, as well as Petey Piranha and King Boo, who have the ability to receive any other character's special item. It pulls the racers forward for a few seconds and bowls over other racers in its path, while a special tune plays. After a certain amount of time, it abandons the vehicle and goes on its own until it runs off the course. If at any time a Chain Chomp pulls the racers forward, and the kart gets hit with another Item or Special Item, it also abandons the vehicle and goes on its own until it runs off the course. If a kart gets hit by a Chain Chomp, the drivers will lose their items. The Chain Chomp may also go wild and accidentally cause the driver to go off the track. Bigger Chain Chomps also appear as obstacles on the Mario Circuit and Luigi Circuit tracks.

Mario Kart DS
In Mario Kart DS, Chain Chomps appear in the original Luigi Circuit racetrack from Mario Kart: Double Dash!! and the new course Peach Gardens. The latter level has a lot of stray Chain Chomps with item boxes behind them, but they have no chains. The Chain Chomp was going to be an item, but was replaced by the Bullet Bill—however, they work very similar to one another. A Chain Chomp also has a cameo appearance on an ad in several tracks, next to the word "Dangerous". In mission 3-3, Luigi has to get 15 coins at Luigi Circuit, avoiding the Chain Chomp that is now on the middle of the track. The player will lose their item if the Chain Chomp hits them. Also, in mission 5-1, Peach has to race one lap at Peach Gardens and beat a stray Chain Chomp while a cover of the Chain Chomp theme from Mario Kart: Double Dash!! plays. Also, the Mario Kart DS Chain Chomps do not chomp their mouths like a regular Chain Chomp; their mouths stay open at all times.

Mario Kart Wii
In Mario Kart Wii a chained Chain Chomp appears in Mario Circuit, while stray ones reappear at the returning DS Peach Gardens. They also return in the Mario Circuit from Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, and Peach Gardens from Mario Kart DS. The stray ones now have small chains that hold the Item Boxes together, and they do not bounce on the ground. A rolling Chomp head appears in Chain Chomp Wheel, a large roulette wheel, where it rolls like a roulette ball, flattening any racer in its path.

Mario Kart 7
In Mario Kart 7, Chomp heads appear in Rainbow Road, in the Moon section.

Mario Kart 8
As N64 Rainbow Road returns in Mario Kart 8, so do the Chomps. This time, they bounce in place on the road, creating waves that are an advantage for racers to perform stunts, instead of roaming on it. In the building on the course Water Park a sign that says 'CAUTION! No Pets' has a picture of a Chain Chomp with a red line across it. Additionally, two Chain Chomps appear in GBA Cheese Land from the Animal Crossing × Mario Kart 8 DLC pack, acting the same as they did in previous appearances, only now they may also hang above the ground momentarily as they lunge in attempt to hit any airborne racers while making it possible for other racers to pass directly under them.

Paper Mario
A single Chain Chomp, nicknamed Chompy, appears in Paper Mario in the Dry Dry Ruins. He is in fact a pet of the ghost Tutankoopa, and he fights alongside him as the boss of Chapter 2. Goombario calls it "Chomp" instead of Chain Chomp. It attacks by lunging at the player. Stone Chomps also appear at several places inside the Dry Dry Ruins. Afterward, Chompie, after Tutankoopa beckons it to come over, proceeds to chase him, apparently wanting to bite him.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door features two types of Chain Chomps: Red Chomps, which appear in Glitzville, and traditional Chain Chomps, appearing in the Palace of Shadow. Both types are found in the Pit of 100 Trials. There are also a new fish-like variant that attack Mario whenever he falls in water, which are called Nibbles and have the same teeth and expression.

Chain Chomps have a very high defense and attack. When Mario first-strikes by jumping on them in the overworld, the camera bounces along them before Mario stomps them.

Super Paper Mario
In Super Paper Mario, Francis has a pet Chain Chomp in his basement. They appear mainly in the Flipside Pit of 100 Trials where they attack the same as the one Francis has. Also, the guardian of The Underwhere is a "three-headed" Chain Chomp called Underchomp (it is actually three Chain Chomps, each of a different color). It is battled in a RPG manner similar to MOTHER, as opposed to normal boss fights. Dark Chomps are introduced in this game and are stronger versions of Chain Chomps, but they are only found in the Flopside Pit of 100 Trials.

Paper Mario: Sticker Star
In Paper Mario: Sticker Star, Big Chain Chomps appear in World 5. Unlike most enemies, their appearance hasn't changed much from the previous Paper Mario games though they have less teeth and their mouths are smaller. The way to clear the course is to use a Thing Sticker or a Baahammer to put it to sleep. Once the Chain Chomp is asleep, Mario must hammer the peg with a hammer-based attack. The battle will then end, with the Chain Chomp bouncing wildly. It then knocks down the back wall, revealing the Comet Piece, then jumping into the background, similar to the Chain Chomp in Super Mario 64, where it bounces around, destroys the jail cage containing the Power Star, then bouncing off to the summit. The Chain Chomps are indestructable. In the final battle against Bowser, a smaller Chain Chomp appears. To defeat it, Mario needs a bat-type thing sticker or any Tail sticker to send the Chain Chomp and Bowser to a pit.

In a pre-release screenshot, an unfinished nameless Chain Chomp appeared as a partner in a place that resembles World 3 in the final version.

Paper Mario: Color Splash
A Big Chain Chomp made out of cardboard named Princess appears in Paper Mario: Color Splash right after the Bone Thing is obtained in Marmalade Valley, and also in the Bone Thing card animation when used during a battle. She is the Toad Professor's pet.

Later in the game, during the battle with Iggy Koopa at The Golden Coliseum, Iggy himself, a Hammer Bro and a Snifit ride on chariots attached to Chain Chomps. The Chain Chomps are not attackable.

A Chain Chomp appears as the second-round opponent in Roshambo Temple #5.

Mario Party series
Chain Chomps have also made plenty of appearances in the Mario Party series. Most of the time, they serve either as obstacles that players must avoid or as helpful items that steal stars or coins for players.

Mario Party 2
Chain Chomps first appear in Mario Party 2 in the mini-game Sneak n' Snore, where the player has to sneak through a dungeon while avoiding being caught by a sleeping Chain Chomp in a barrel. If the Chain Chomp finds any players when it wakes, it eliminates them by grabbing them and throwing them into a warp pipe. Also, in the mini-game Crazy Cutter, an image of a fossilized Chain Chomp sometimes appears. In the minigame Toad in the Box it is one of the possible results a player may get when hitting a rotating block. If this happens the player is crushed temporarily. In Pirate Land, a Chain Chomp can be seen on the lower-left island, guarding two Chain Chomp-shaped jail cells. In Bowser Land, a Chain Chomp appears near the center of the board, towing a wagon.

Mario Party 3
Chain Chomps appear in Mario Party 3 as a partner in Duel Mode. They are not a default partner and must be earned in the lottery. They attack both the player and their partners. Their salary is six coins, they have 2 health, and they have 1 attack.

They also appear in a battle mini-game called Merry-Go-Chomp. A Chain Chomp in this mini-game eliminates any unlucky player who is closest to the Chain Chomp after the roulette has stopped spinning. In Game Guy's Sweet Surprise, Big Chomp and Little Chomp, two Chain Chomps of different sizes are eating a cake; the player wins by correctly guessing which one will finish first. In Spiny Desert, a Chain Chomp can be seen near the start of the board, chewing on a bone.

Mario Party 4
In Mario Party 4, an item called a Chomp Call is introduced in which four Chain Chomps are called to move the location of the Star. They also appear in the 4-player mini-game Long Claw of the Law as one of the possible characters the player must catch. Another appearance is in the battle mini-game Chain Chomp Fever, where a Chain Chomp is the primary obstacle the player must avoid. Also in the background of this minigame, four Chain Chomp statues can be seen pouring lava into the lava lake.

Mario Party 5
Chain Chomps also appear in Mario Party 5 as Chain Chomp Capsules. They can steal coins for free or steal a star for 30 coins, replacing Boos, which have become playable characters. They also appear in the 4-player mini-game Chomp Romp, where players must lead a Chain Chomp through a park. In the 4-player mini-game Night Light Fright, players have to stun Chain Chomps with a light as close as they can before the Chain Chomp tackles them. In the 4-player mini-game, Rumble Fumble, Chain Chomps hide in any bucket and attack players that chose the wrong bucket.

Mario Party 6
In Mario Party 6, Chain Chomps are vital in Snowflake Lake to steal other players' stars. Players must pay them a fee at a Chain Chomp house depending on how much dice blocks they roll. They can pay 20 coins for 1 dice block during the daytime. In the nighttime, they can pay 10 coins for a dice block, 20 coins for 2, and 30 coins for 3. Defending players can counterattack Chain Chomps by possessing a Snack Orb.

Chain Chomps also appear on the Solo Mode board Infernal Tower. If the player lands on a Happening Space, a Chain Chomp will burst through a door and send the player back to the start.

Chain Chomps also appear in various minigames. In the 4-player minigame Throw Me a Bone, players ride a Chain Chomp and throw bones to lead the Chain Chomp to the finish line, while avoiding the obstructions. There are breakable stone pillars that stun the Chain Chomp if the Chain Chomp hits them. Chain Chomps can be a result in the Rare mini-game Seer Terror. Chain Chomps occasionally appear in the background in the rare mini-game Dunk Bros.

Mario Party 7
Chain Chomps in Pyramid Park in Mario Party 7 serve the same purpose as the ones in Snowflake Lake. They steal stars for players for a fee. The player must pay coins to roll the dice blocks as usual. Black Chain Chomps pays the player ten coins for one, and twenty for two. If a Red Chain Chomp is used, then it's ten coins for three. Chain Chomps appear in the 1-vs-3 mic game Wheel of Woe. They are one command that the player can give to attempt to eliminate the other three players.

Mario Party Advance
A Chain Chomp appears in Mario Party Advance as both a character and place. If the player stops here, they have to do his quest, Chomper Stomper, where the player must duel Chain Chomp in the mini-game Chain Saw in order to win the mini-game. The ending states that he became the guardian for the first floor of the Duel Tower, being the successor of Whomp.

The mini-game Chomp Walker features the player attempting to guide a Chain Chomp to the finish line. Meat and bones are scattered across the course; while eating a bone simply wastes time, eating meat causes the Chain Chomp to momentarily dash forward. There are also Chain Chomps in the mini-game Barrel Peril, which involves attempting to advance toward the finish line in a barrel while avoiding the sleeping Chain Chomps. If the player walks by a Chain Chomp, it awakens it charges at the player, resulting in being momentarily stunned if they didn't hide in the barrel.

Mario Party 8
In Mario Party 8, Chain Chomps appear in a special mini-game Chomping Frenzy, where the player has to feed Chain Chomps a certain fruit. Failing to do so results in a Chain Chomp becoming red and launching itself at the player. They are also in the 4-player mini-game At the Chomp Wash, where the players needing to clean paint off of Chain Chomps. The duel mini-game Cardiators also features Chain Chomps as one of the cards. They attack by charging at the opponent and deal 12 damage.

Mario Party 9
A Chain Chomp is one of the bosses in Mario Party 9. The Chain Chomp is the stage boss of Magma Mine. In order to defeat it in the mini-game Chain Chomp Romp, the players must choose a mine cart that travels down a path with a cannon at the end. Once they reach the cannon, the Chain Chomp takes damage, giving the player points(iron is one point, while a golden one is three points). If the player chooses an incorrect path, the Chomp attacks them with one point lost.

The same Chain Chomp can also appear in the mini-game Bowser's Block Battle. If Bowser rolls it on his own metal die, then the Chain Chomp falls onto the arena and charges around, battering any players that are in its path and causing them to lose points. If it hits a wall, it turns around and charges a different direction.

A Chain Chomp also appears on one of the puzzles in the mini-game Jigsaw Jumble.

Mario Party: Island Tour
Chain Chomps appear in Mario Party: Island Tour. One appears as the second boss of the Bowser's Tower mode (being faced off against on the tenth floor). Its minigame is Chain Chomp's Lava Lunge. This is its second appearance as a Boss Minigame opponent (the first being Chain Chomp Romp in Mario Party 9). One also appears in the board Perilous Palace Path, under the only Unlucky Space in the game.

Mario Party 10
Two Chain Chomps appear in Mario Party 10, only in amiibo Party in the Bowser Board, attempting to eat a bone.

Mario Party: Star Rush
Chain Chomps appear in the minigame Fruit or Foe in Mario Party: Star Rush. Here, they can be one of random potential characters that come out of a chosen house. When a Chain Chomp comes out of the house, the selected player gets attacked by the Chain Chomp and does not receive any fruit at all, in which the goal of the minigame is to amass the most fruits.

Mario Golf series
A sleeping Chain Chomp appears briefly in the opening sequence in Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour. Yoshi during his round wakes up the Chain Chomp. The Chain Chomp barks at Yoshi and scares him. Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour features several holes in Peach's Castle Grounds and Bowser Badlands where a Chain Chomp devours any ball that enters the hole, wasting two strokes.

Chain Chomps reappear in Mario Golf: World Tour on the Bowser's Castle golf course. They can be seen sleeping as in the previous installment and reside in O.B. areas once again.

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
In Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, two Chain Chomp enemies appear. In one area at Woohoo Hooniversity, Mecha-Chomps, dog-like mechanical Chomps, appear. The Chomp Bro, a variation of the Hammer Bro that swing small Chomps as weapons, appear in Bowser's Castle.

Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
In Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, the Pocket Chomp is a Bros. Item. At first it appears to be a small Chomp in a Mario Party-like orb, but when released, it more than triples in size and chases the brothers across the screen, forcing them to Jump on any enemy in their way. Occasionally, a Chomp with a ribbon on its head appears, and it is slower than a normal one. This is likely implying it is female.

The Pocket Chomps bark, but it sounds more of the bark in Super Mario 64 and its remake than recent games like Mario Party 7. A Chain Chomp also directs Mario, Luigi, Baby Mario, and Baby Luigi into the castle sewers. It is later fought, and the group hit blocks to shoot lasers at it. When it has one energy left, it splits into five. The real one is noticed because the copies chomp slower, allowing the Bros. to destroy it and let go the block the Chain Chomp has eaten. The Elder Princess Shroob in battle uses Shroob versions of regular Chain Chomps.

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
Chain Chomps appear in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story as minions of Fawful, being called Chain Chawfuls. A Fawful-like Sworm is found inside them, forcing them to fight for Fawful. If Bowser can swallow the Sworm, then the Chain Chomp turns back to normal and run away. They also appear in the fight with Junker and Junker X when Mario or Luigi defeats a Junker Can. The Chain Chomp attempts to ram the brother that defeated the can, but it can be deflected by striking it with the hammer. Chain Chomps are also present among the smaller Piranha Plants Bowser must plow through to reach the two massive Piranha Plants at Peach's Castle, and lunge at Bowser in a straight horizontal line unlike the Piranha Plants that are implanted. One Chain Chomp is also present outside the final station in the Fawful Express battle.

Mario & Luigi: Dream Team
Chain Chomps appear as enemies in Mario & Luigi: Dream Team. In the field, they drag their respective Walker Guy towards the Bros. when spotted. At the start of battle, they always appear with a Walker Guy. If defeated, the Walker Guy will attempt to bring another into battle by running into the background and looking for one (which on occasion, fails), and thus the Walker Guy should be defeated first. The Chain Chomp is the force of the pair that enables them to attack, whether it be with the Walker Guy or not.

Chain Chomps may look at a Bro, and start to swing its chain with the Walker Guy holding on for dear life, where the Walker Guy will get flung off towards the Bro who wasn't looked at. The Bro the Walker Guy was flung towards must hammer them to the ground before them to avoid taking damage. The Chain Chomp will then charge at a Bro, who must be stopped by having the targeted Bro hammer it. If the Walker Guy is countered and the Chain Chomp attacks the same Bro, the Walker Guy will end up get mowed over and take damage.

A Chain Chomp may also drag its Walker Guy through the Bros., who must jump over or on either the Walker Guy or the Chain Chomp to avoid them. The Walker Guy takes more damage the longer it gets dragged about, and may attempt to pull the Chain Chomp back just before it hits a Bro, which may throw off the Bros.' timing. After either a Bro gets hit by this attack, or the attack fails to hit a Bro for long enough, it ends.

A lone Chain Chomp will head into the middle of the battlefield, and look about frantically, eventually deciding who to attack, and lunging at them, whether it be friend or foe. Mario and Luigi must hammer the Chain Chomp away if they are targeted, this can make the bros dizzy, and if successful, the Chain Chomp may attempt to charge at something else or end the attack.

Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam
Chain Chomps appeared in Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam as enemies. Both their normal and paper counterparts appear in this game. It is possible to defeat either Chain Chomp if it was targeted other than the Shy Guy holding them both. If one of the Chain Chomps were defeated, the Shy Guy (which is the main target) will run away with no EXP given. Their paper versions are the only paper enemy to not acquire a shiny version.

Mario Power Tennis
In Mario Power Tennis there is a mini-game that takes place in the Wario Factory Court featuring Chain Chomps. If fed, normal Chain Chomps reward the player one point. If shot with a Bob-omb, normal Chain Chomps become mad, and if shot with water, normal Chain Chomps fall asleep. Angry Chain Chomps reward players two points per ball, but if struck by a Bob-omb, they chase the player, and the player must hit a switch to avoid losing points. Striking angry Chain Chomps with water reverts them to normal. Sleeping Chain Chomps reward no points and must be woken with a Bob-omb.

Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix
A single Chain Chomp appears in Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix. It chases Mario (or Luigi) and Toad while they pursue Wario, who is carrying a Music Key. Shortly after this Chain Chomp appears, Mario (or Luigi) plays the mini-game, Chain-Chomp Chase in which he must outrun the Chain Chomp and lose it.

Mario Superstar Baseball
Two Chain Chomps appear in Mario Superstar Baseball as an obstacle in the foul line in the Wario Palace field. There are two of these chain chomps placed on the course one being on the left and the other being on the right near the edge of the field. If a ball is hit at them when they are asleep they will wake up. After that any ball that comes in range they hit back into the field by head butting it. These balls are still catch able and do not count as fouls. There is also one that appears in the "Chain Chomp Sprint" mini-game. It sleeps in the center of the bases, and if players are still running the bases it while it is awake, it rams into them, causing them to be out for a few seconds. The Chain Chomp in Wario Palace also appears in the intro.

Mario Super Sluggers
In Mario Super Sluggers, a Chain Chomp appears as a gimmick on the Bowser Jr. Playroom field. If the ball lands on a Chain Chomp image on the field, one appears and attacks the fielders.

Chain Chomps also appear in a mini-game called Graffiti Runner. A character activates them by opening a treasure chest. Once activated, the Chain Chomp rampages through the field, removing any paint and hitting any player in the way, even if the player has a star.

Super Princess Peach
In Super Princess Peach, normal Chain Chomps, along with a variation of Chain Chomp, known as Calm Chain Chomp, can be found. These Chain Chomps sleep unless Princess Peach wakes them up. They then act like normal Chain Chomps. The super-dangerous Big Chain Chomp also debuts here. Chain Chomps do not bark in this game, but they did gain a chomping noise. Also, their chains are unlinked.

Mario Strikers series
Super Mario Strikers features a Chain Chomp as an item with which the player can attack. If used, the Chomp attacks all opposing players on the field, leaving them on the ground for a few seconds. However it is very rare, and it only appears if the team is losing badly. It is the strongest offensive item in the game, however sometimes it backfires on the user. It may attack the user's team along with the opponent's team.

It reappears in the sequel, Mario Strikers Charged acting very similarly as they did in Super Mario Strikers. Like in the first game, it rampages around the whole field, attacking anyone who has the ball and stunning them for a certain amount of time. They appear only when the team is losing badly. They appear more often than in the previous game, however. On a side note, it is possible for the Playmaker and Defensive players to avoid the Chain Chomp. Balanced players can also avoid the Chain Chomp, but it is more difficult. Slower player types cannot avoid the Chain Chomp.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games
A Chain Chomp appears as an obstacle in both the Wii and DS version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, during Dream Ski Cross and Extreme Snow Boarding, respectively. It would make the player trip if touched. It is large and should be avoided.

Fortune Street
A Chain Chomp makes an appearance in Fortune Street. Once the player beats the Mario Circuit board, the shop will expand and have a Chain Chomp in the Mascots section. It is mistakenly named Chain Chomps, despite only one acting as a mascot.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U
Chain Chomps appear as an Assist Trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U. They attack by lunging at opponents from their posts and chomping them for multiple hits. If the Chain Chomp falls off the stage, then it leaps back up onto it.

Chain Chomps also appear as enemies in Smash Run in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, attacking in the same manner as the Assist Trophy. Their bodies are invulnerable to any attack; the only way to defeat them is by attacking the post until it is free.

Super Mario Maker
Chain Chomps reappear in Super Mario Maker, acting like they usually would. The player places them with the stake they are tied to, thus can be hanged from suspended blocks or travel along rails. Shaking them causes the stake to disappear, allowing them to hop across the ground; the stake can also be taken out by ground-pounding it in the New Super Mario Bros. U graphical style or by having an enemy such as a Thwomp land on it in any style, or, in the Super Mario Bros. 3 style, as in that game, Chain Chomps automatically fly off of the post after lunging fifty times.

Big Chain Chomps can be created by dragging a Super Mushroom onto the Chain Chomp. These Chomps act similarly, except much larger. Chain Chomps can also be given wings, allowing them to fly when chained and lunging, and when unchained, the wings let them jump higher as they move across the screen. If placed inside a block, pipe, or Bill Blaster, they automatically become unchained. When attached to rails unchained, it will face downwards, swinging around. Additionally, Chain Chomps can be placed in the Koopa Clown Car, and enemies can be placed on top of them and vice versa; while it is chained, the enemy is on top of the stake, but when unchained, the enemy is on top of the Chain Chomp itself. When inside a Koopa Clown Car with the stake attached, it will stay still, lunging at the player like it normally does. Finally, while on top of an enemy, the Chain Chomp is completely stationary when not on a stake, but with it the stake is attached to the enemy.

The Legend of Zelda series
The Chain Chomps make many cameo appearances in The Legend of Zelda games. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening features three domesticated Chomps (one named BowWow, stemming from the Japanese name for Chain Chomp, Wanwan, which is also an onomatopoeia for a dog's bark). The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past feature Chain Chomps as enemies that Link must avoid. In The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary, a Chain Chomp can be used as an item to eat enemies. In Hyrule Warriors, a Chain Chomp is Link's level three Ball and Chain weapon upgrade when using his Gauntlets moveset. The Chain Chomp takes its appearance from Mario Kart Double Dash!!.

WarioWare series
In WarioWare: Touched!, there is a souvenir called "Reel-to-Reel", which is a projector that features a red Chomp.

Bayonetta 2
In Bayonetta 2, a Chain Chomp is used as a weapon by Bayonetta and Jeanne. Upon completing the game on 3rd Climax (Hard Mode), a special Golden LP is unlocked. When the player returns to Rodin's Shop, Rodin will immediately mention the LP's importance. The LP contains the Bob-omb Battlefield theme from Super Mario 64, and when Rodin returns from Inferno, he brings the Chain Chomp, which can be equipped by both Bayonetta and Jeanne as a foot weapon, with them using the chain and the creature itself as a flail. Certain attacks will also have the Chain Chomp shoot out lighter versions of itself that latch onto enemies and explode after a few seconds. As a reference to Bow Wow from Link's Awakening, the Chain Chomp will also automatically lunge at nearby enemies, lightly damaging them as well as wandering cats in certain stages.

Characteristics and traits
Chomps resemble a ball with chains and come in various sizes, often bigger than Mario. They have big circular eyes, large gaping mouths, and razor-sharp teeth. Most also have a restraining tail-like chain, which are commonly tied to some sort of post to restrict their movement. These creatures are an extremely dark shade of purplish-blue or black with bright white eyes and teeth (though they have appeared in other colors, such as red, blue, and yellow). Unlike most enemies from the Mario games, Chomps are usually not sapient compared to other enemies such as Goombas and Shy Guys; they can communicate, however, through dog-like barks (hence their Japanese name). Behavior-wise, they act similar to guard dogs. Some items, such as the Chomp Whistle and Pocket Chomp, can be used to summon Chomps, displaying their traits of loyalty and obedience, similar to a dog. Chain Chomps have a tendency to sleep, as shown in some games such as Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour, Mario Superstar Baseball, Mario Power Tennis, and various Mario Party minigames including Sneak 'n' Snore.

Chain Chomps have changed little since their debut appearance. The most notable changes throughout their appearances, though, are the size proportion, and amount of their teeth. Chain Chomps in their earlier appearances have smaller teeth that are more equal size of each other. In some appearances beginning in Yoshi Story, Paper Mario, and Super Mario Sunshine, their teeth are generally larger in proportion to their bodies to compensate for having less teeth, and the teeth near the center are more noticeably bigger compared to those at the corners of the mouth. While subsequent games did not immediately use the different design, this design has eventually replaced the older designs in newer games.

Chomps are some of the tougher enemies in the Mario series. In a couple of games, they are invincible, and they usually have an above-average defense in RPGs. Many games seem to even hint that they are made of a hard, metallic substance. If they are not invincible in a game, they are shown to be quite resilient instead. For example, in Bowser's Inside Story, they have a hole cut in their head and an enemy living inside them, yet are shown to be fine should Bowser inhale the enemy inside them. Their main method of attack is lunging at the enemy and biting them, though they are usually pulled back by their chains. Chainless Chomps, therefore, make for more difficult enemies, especially due to them generally being larger than their other brethren. With a few exceptions (such as in Paper Mario), most Chomps that are not tied charges at their enemy instead of lunging.

Trophy
Blue indicates exclusive to the Wii U version.

Tips

 * "If a platform that can break is broken with one of these chained to it, the Chain Chomp will fall of the stage, as well."
 * "If a Chain Chomp falls off the stage, it'll just jump straight back up!"
 * "A Chain Chomp's chomp will deal more damage than just touching one. Be careful, though; even chained up, they've got a long range."

Trivia

 * For unknown reasons, in the Wii's Virtual Console version of Super Mario 64, the Chain Chomp's mouth is purple.