Spike Trap

Spikes are harmful objects that can power down the Mario Bros., cause them to lose health, or even lose lives. These traps appeared in nearly all Mario games. Spikes tend to be stationary, retractable, or attached to a moving object. They are first introduced in Super Mario Bros. 2, though Icicles in Mario Bros. are functionally the same until they fall. In Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2, Mario or Luigi will run uncontrollably if they do come into contact with spikes.

In Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3, Yoshi's Island DS, and Yoshi's New Island, spikes are a lot more fatal than in the Super Mario series titles, as simply touching them will cause a Yoshi to lose a life instantly. A more common rough object, a thorn, also appears in the Yoshi's Island series.

In Yoshi's Story, spikes actually move and jump around in the Bone Dragon Pit and Magma Castle.

In Super Mario World, Yoshi can safely walk on spikes. This game also introduces the Falling Spike.

In Super Mario Maker, spikes also appear as objects, but go by the name of Spike Trap. Spike Traps can damage Mario if he touches them, and are classified as block objects. Depending on the game style and theme, Spike Traps can change appearance, most notably in the Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World game styles, where in the underwater theme, the Spike Trap will either change into a Jelectro, or a Sea Urchin from The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening. Additionally, shaking a spike trap in the Mario U ground theme makes a train sound.