Pillar

Pillars are large columns found in 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. There are many types of pillars. Some are just large columns with a flat end that fall on the player. These can be avoided by hiding in small pits found under the pillars. There are also pencil shaped pillars with pointed ends and pillars covered with spikes on each side.

Pillars are indestructible, so the player can't destroy them. The player has to avoid them if they have 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 spikes, 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.