Pokey (projectile)

Needlenoses, or Needles , are enemies first appearing in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island. They are a type of Pokey that take the shape of a yellow or green spiky ball with a smiling face. They are used as projectiles by certain enemies to attack Yoshi.

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island / Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3
Both the green and yellow variations debut in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island and Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 as common enemies. Yellow Needlenoses are spat out by Blow Hards and Wild Ptooie Piranhas in Yoshi's direction. They will pop when they hit a surface or Yoshi himself. Green Needlenoses, on the other hand, are often seen bouncing on top of Pokey cactuses, dropped by Baron von Zeppelins, or thrown by Seedy Sallies. Green Needlenoses are also emitted by Sanbo Flowers if Yoshi has less than six eggs, although they simply fall off the screen and do not come in contact with any surface in any way.

Needlenoses can hurt Yoshi if he simply touches them. However, they can be defeated by eating and spitting them at other enemies, turning them into eggs, or throwing an egg at them.

Yoshi's Island DS
Needlenoses reappear in Yoshi's Island DS, where they are additionally used by Priscilla the Peckish to attack.

Yoshi's New Island
Needlenoses reappear in Yoshi's New Island, where they act the same way as they did in previous appearances.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
A yellow Needlenose appears in the artwork used for Ukiki's spirit in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate,.

Trivia

 * In a Nintendo Power issue featuring information about Yoshi's Island DS, they are referred to as Pokeys.