Hammer
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It has been suggested that this article be split into two or more articles. (discuss) |
- This article is about the recurring items in the Super Mario franchise. For other uses, see Hammer (disambiguation).
| Hammer | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Artwork from Mario Kart World | |||
| First appearance | Donkey Kong (1981) | ||
| Latest appearance | The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026) | ||
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- “It may not look like much, but this hammer's got a long and distinguished pedigree that echoes back through the kingdom's history.”
- —Toad, Paper Mario: Sticker Star
Hammers appear in the Super Mario franchise as objects, usually in the form of weapons used by both player characters and enemies. They first appear in Donkey Kong, in which they are used to smash barrels and enemies. Hammers are usually thrown by the Hammer Bros. and other enemies. However, Mario and Luigi have been known to effectively wield hammers in combat. The item has appeared in every single role-playing game of the Super Mario franchise to date, and in the Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi games, hammer attacks are used as a counterpart to jump attacks.
History[edit]
Donkey Kong franchise[edit]
Donkey Kong[edit]
Hammers, also referred to as Invincible Hammers,[1] appear in Donkey Kong, usually in the corners and sometimes only by jumping, and can be used by Mario for a short time to destroy the barrels thrown by Donkey Kong, Fireballs created from flaming oil drums, cement tubs in 50m, and Fires in 100 m. Mario cannot climb or jump while wielding a Hammer, and touching an enemy or obstacle from any side other than the hammer still damages Mario.
Hammers in the Game Boy version can defeat all enemies, and Super Hammers can even break brick walls. Hammers can be thrown upwards by Mario, including up onto the next platform above for him to then pick up again. Any Hammer that makes contact with the floor disappears instantly.
Donkey Kong no Ongaku Asobi would have featured Pauline using a hammer, but the game went unreleased.
DK: Jungle Climber[edit]
The Hammer in DK: Jungle Climber looks somewhat like a Barrel. It is one of Diddy Kong's items that can be used to assist Donkey Kong. The Hammer can be used to smash barrels, rocks, and other solid elements that Donkey Kong cannot break in his own. This item can only be used for a limited time before Diddy Kong drops it, but one of the cheats extends its duration.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze[edit]
During his boss fight in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Ba-Boom can attack by spinning a hammer during his swinging attack. If stomped during this attack, he will damage Donkey Kong. Bashmaster also uses a hammer during his battle, either directly or to knock blocks of ice at Donkey Kong.
Donkey Kong (coloring/activity books)[edit]
In the first Donkey Kong coloring and activity book, Mario uses his hammer to hit Donkey Kong in the head after he tries to kidnap Pauline. This plan fails and Donkey Kong ends up running away with Pauline.
In the third book, Mario calls Pauline to get his hammer left inside the haunted house while he was being dangled over shark infested waters on the ferris wheel by Donkey Kong. Pauline runs in, gets the hammer, and climbs the ferris wheel to hit Donkey Kong in the head which sends him falling into the water.
Saturday Supercade[edit]
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A hammer appears in the Saturday Supercade episode Gorilla Gangster, where it at one point is used by Mario to destroy a pickle barrel thrown by Donkey Kong.
Wrecking Crew series[edit]
Hammers appear in VS. Wrecking Crew as objects used by Mario and Luigi to damage environmental objects or to competitively knock each other to the bottom of the stage. The home console release, Wrecking Crew, introduced the antagonistic hammer-wielding Foreman Spike and the powerful Golden Hammer which can destroy objects with a single hit.
In Wrecking Crew '98, players use hammers to destroy panels that are then sent to their opponent.
The Wrecking Crew minigame in WarioWare: Twisted! involves using the hammer to get rid of Eggplant Men. The Wrecking Crew minigame in WarioWare Gold features Mario having to smash walls to find hidden coins while competing against Foreman Spike.
Super Mario series[edit]
Hammers in the Super Mario series appear mainly as objects thrown by Hammer Bros. to attack Mario. Hammers thrown by Hammer Bros in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Super Mario Galaxy 2, and New Super Mario Bros. U can be eaten by a Yoshi and spit out to defeat enemies. Hammers in Super Mario Odyssey can be thrown by Mario if he captures a Hammer Bro.
Hammers are occasionally thrown by Bowser and his fakes as an attack. In Super Mario Bros., and Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, the are used by the false Bowsers in Worlds 6 and 7, and used alongside Bowser's Flames during fights against the real one. In Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, Fake Bowser (Blue) can also throw hammers during his encounters in Worlds 8-4 and 9-3. Hammers are used by all bosses in Worlds A through D in the Super Mario All-Stars version of Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels.
Hammers in Super Mario Bros. Special appear as temporary items and are used like in Donkey Kong except Mario can now jump while using it. Mario can still keep it after being damaged. A glitch can sometimes cause Mario to "drop" his Hummer which can be picked up again with its expiration time reset. They are listed in the ending as "Hummer".
Hammers in Super Mario Bros. 3 can be thrown by Mario and Luigi while wearing Hammer Suit and defeat most foes, including Thwomps, Boos, Lava Bubbles, Boom Boom, and Bowser, in one to three hits. An inventory Hammer item can also destroy boulders on the world map, sometimes mandatory to access a part of the map.
Hammers appear in Super Mario World as objects thrown by Amazing Flyin' Hammer Brothers, and Mario also uses one to destroy Lemmy Koopa's Castle in Vanilla Dome.
In New Super Mario Bros. 2, Bowser can once again throw hammers as an attack during the first phase of his battle, although the speed, frequency, and amount thrown is somewhat decreased from the NES games. During the rematch with Dry Bowser, he will instead throw bones, although they otherwise function the same way.
A magical hammer is used by Morton Koopa Jr. in New Super Mario Bros. U to send Big Pokey segments towards Mario.
Hammers in Super Mario 3D World are first seen in the starting cutscene, where Mario and Luigi wield them and wrenches while fixing the Clear Pipe. Hammers are also used by some Sprixie Princesses while constructing Clear Pipes, but some use wrenches instead.
In Super Mario Maker 2, the unlockable Super Mario 3D World style-exclusive Super Hammer turns Mario into Builder Mario, which lets him swing a hammer to break Hard Blocks and defeat enemies; the hammer attack is nearly as strong as the Hammer Suit's hammers.
Club Nintendo[edit]
A hammer is often used by Mario in the German Club Nintendo comics. A hammer in "Super Mario: Verloren in der Zeit" is used by Mario to smash his alarm clock, due to him dreaming of an alarm clock-looking time machine. A hammer resembling a Super Hammer appears in "Mario's Picross" as an object used by Mario to smash a wall in a pyramid, after reaching a dead end.
Mario & Wario[edit]
A hammer in Mario & Wario is held by Wanda during the bonus minigames after most stage areas instead of her usual wand. The hammer can whack Wario's plane for coins, for up to forty coins before Wario flees.
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars[edit]
Hammers appear in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars as weapons used by Mario. After Mario beats the Hammer Bros. blocking the exit of Mushroom Way, Mario receives a Hammer apparently dropped by them with the Hammer Bros. insignia on it. When equipped, the weapon adds ten attack points to Mario's attack rating, the weakest of his weapons, though each attack can have a variance of one point above or below this. The other Hammers that Mario can use include the Super Hammer, Masher, Lucky Hammer, and Ultra Hammer. When the Hammer is used in a Timed Hit, Mario swings it up and down twice. The standard Hammer can be sold for 35 coins, but cannot be replaced.
Mario Party series[edit]
Mario Party[edit]
Hammers appear in Mario Party as melee weapons in the minigames Bash 'n' Cash and Coin Block Bash. In the former, the three players are given squeaky hammers, which is used to attack the single player in the Bowser Suit to cause them to drop coin bags or coins. In the latter, a heavy hammer made of wood and metal is given to the single player that can be used to break Brick Blocks in one blow or to stun opposing players by either squashing them or to knock them away; that hammer can be knocked away from the single player for another player to use. Hammers thrown by Hammer Bros. also appear in minigames that they appear in, namely Hammer Drop and Mario Bandstand, where in the former a Hammer Bros. occasionally throws hammers from the cloud, while in the latter, failing a beat might cause a hammer to be thrown to the offending player.
Mario Party 2[edit]
A hammer in Mario Party 2 is used by the single player during the minigame Lights Out to knock out the three players each wielding a light bulb. A comparatively heavier hammer in the Item minigame Hammer Slammer is used to knock a lever so that the shuttle is sprung upwards to an item that the player will obtain.
Mario Party 3[edit]
Hammers appear in Mario Party 3 with varying roles. A hammer is a weapon used by Toad while he is a partner. Squeaky hammers appear in Pipe Cleaners as melee weapons to knock the Baby Bowsers emerging from any of the four pipes. A squeaky hammer also appears in Swing 'n' Swipe, where the single player uses one to hit one of the Baby Bowsers to win the item that the target is holding. Hammers in Parasol Plummet, Puddle Paddle, and Awful Tower are all thrown by Hammer Bros., similarly as in Mario Party. A hammer in Messy Memory is one of the ten items that the player must memorize the placement of.
Mario Party 4[edit]
The only hammer in Mario Party 4 is the MiniMega Hammer item, which provides the same effect as a Mini Mushroom or Mega Mushroom on its target, depending on timing.
Mario Party 7[edit]
Hammers appear in Mario Party 7 with varying roles. Hammers appear prominently in the 8-player minigame Hammer Spammer as obstacles thrown by Hammer Bros. that must be avoided by players, or periodically, two giant hammers, which have a shadow indicator where they will appear. Hammer Spammer also takes place on a giant hammer platform. Hammers appear in the 8-player minigame Duct & Cover, where each player uses one to cover any leaks in a pipe. Hammers in the battle minigame Monty's Revenge are wielded by Monty Moles, which attempt to knock any players who pop up from one of the holes. Hammers in the 4-player minigame Pokey Pummel are wielded by players each having to knock away every segment of the Pokey next to them.
Mario Party 9[edit]
Hammers appear in Mario Party 9 within the minigame Spike Strike, where players use them whack objects at the giant Spike, worth one point per hit, and a golden hammer in each round can be used to earn three points instead.
Mario Party: Island Tour[edit]
A hammer in Mario Party: Island Tour is used by Bowser in the Bowser Challenge at Bowser's Peculiar Peak when players reach him.
Mario Party 10[edit]
Hammers in Mario Party 10 appear engraved on two blocks in the north-western corner of the Donkey Kong Board. They are shown around a sprite of an oil drum, all resembling their sprite from the original Donkey Kong game.
Mario Party Superstars[edit]
Hammers in Mario Party Superstars have varying roles. A hammer appears in the Pop background of the Mario Party Card, representing the item minigame Hammer Slammer. Hammers also appear in some returning minigames, retaining their function from the minigames' original iteration. Examples include Hammer Drop and Parasol Plummet, where hammers are occasionally thrown by Hammer Bros., and Monty's Revenge where Monty Moles each wield a hammer to hit players.
Super Smash Bros. series[edit]
- SmashWiki article: Hammer (item)
The Hammer from Donkey Kong is a powerful item in the Super Smash Bros. series. The player swings the Hammer back and forth repeatedly, and strikes anything upward in its path. The character cannot double jump with it. Very rarely, in Super Smash Bros. Melee onwards, the head of the Hammer can fall off, and the character swings the Hammer's handle back and forth, leaving them completely vulnerable. However, the head acts as an item, and has the same power as the regular thrown item. When the Hammer is used, the Hammer theme from the NES version of Donkey Kong plays. The original arcade music is used in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the visual effect that appears when a hammer collides with an enemy or obstacle in the original game can be seen when an opponent is hit. A much stronger variant originating from Wrecking Crew, the Golden Hammer, also appears as an item from Super Smash Bros. Brawl onward.
When King Dedede grabs a Hammer, he will swing both the item and his own hammer, though only the Hammer item deals damage. Pit and Dark Pit swing the Hammer with only two frames of animation, referencing their animations when using a hammer in their original games (though Dark Pit's is due to being an Echo Fighter of Pit). This also applies to Mr. Game & Watch, although it is because of the way he moves. Wario swings the Hammer from side to side instead of back and forth. Mewtwo uses its telekinetic powers to make the Hammer revolve around it with the head pointed forward. All these quirks apply to the Golden Hammer as well.
In addition to the Hammer from Donkey Kong, Hammer Bros. attack by throwing hammers in all of the games in which they appear as an Assist Trophy (as well as their appearance as a Smash Run enemy in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS). In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, a hammer that looks like the ones used by Hammer Bros. is swung by Bowser Jr. in his up aerial attack and the attack he can perform during his up special Abandon Ship; he also brandishes this hammer in his side taunt and one of his victory animations. In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, the Koopalings also use this hammer, but in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, they use their respective Magic Wands instead.
Paper Mario series[edit]
Paper Mario[edit]
In Paper Mario, Mario is given a Hammer by Goompa in order to break a block blocking the exit from Goomba Village. The Hammer is initially lost in a bush, and finding it allows Mario to perform the Hammer move. Jr. Troopa is the first enemy Mario battles after obtaining it. The Hammer is eventually replaced by the stronger Super Hammer.
Spy Guys can also yield Hammers, which inflict the Prohibited Command status effect unless guarded against.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door[edit]
The Hammer reappears in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, now being in Mario's possession from the start of the game. It retains both of its upgrades, the Super Hammer and Ultra Hammer.
Super Paper Mario[edit]
In Super Paper Mario, the pixl Cudge gives the heroes a hammer whenever he is used.
Paper Mario: Sticker Star[edit]
In Paper Mario: Sticker Star, Mario is given the Hammer by a Toad at the beginning of the game, after recovering from Bowser's attack on Decalburg. It can be used in the overworld, and is also required to use the various Hammer stickers in the game. In World 3-7, Rustle Burrow, Mario loses the Hammer and cannot use these stickers until he retrieves it.
Paper Mario: Color Splash[edit]
In Paper Mario: Color Splash, Mario, after apparently having lost his hammer from the previous game on the voyage to Prism Island due to Toad accidentally throwing it overboard, finds another hammer on top of a crate in Port Prisma at the beginning of the game. After Huey grants Mario the power of paint, it becomes the Paint Hammer. Morton also uses a giant hammer in battle, which can also burst into flames, but can be put out using the fire extinguisher Thing Card.
Paper Mario: The Origami King[edit]
The hammer returns in Paper Mario: The Origami King, once again being used as an alternative to Mario's Boots. Mario finds a spare hammer in the dungeon of Peach's Castle after being trapped down there at the start of the game. Its strength gradually increases over the course of the adventure, namely as Mario collects more MAX UP Hearts, but by default, it is slightly stronger than a jump attack. In the overworld, it can be used to rescue folded-up Toads and retrieve confetti from the environment, which can then be used to fill in holes. Near the end of the battle with King Olly, Olivia transforms into a hammer.
Mario & Luigi series[edit]
The Hammer appears in every game of the Mario & Luigi series as items used by the Mario Bros. both during battle and in the overworld.
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga / Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions[edit]
Hammers appear in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga and its remake as objects crafted by the Hammerhead Bros. out of Hoohoo Blocks. They are later upgraded to Super Hammers and, ultimately, Ultra Hammers, like in the Paper Mario series. In battle, the original game makes each hammer upgrade cause greater damage variance,[2] whilst the remake makes them a little bit stronger.[3]
After Cork and Cask teach them the advanced method of using their hammers, they can use more overworld and battle abilities. If Mario uses it behind Luigi, he buries Luigi; if Luigi uses it behind Mario, he shrinks Mario. However, if the rear brother hits the lead brother over the head with the hammer prior to learning these moves, the latter will get angry at the former. The Mario Bros. also gain the Chopper Bros. and Knockback Bros. Bros. Attacks in battle after learning these moves.
Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time[edit]
In Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, two hammers are given to Baby Mario and Baby Luigi by the Hammer Bros. in the Vim Factory. In adition to being used in battle, obtaining the hammers allows the use of the hammer and Drill Bros. moves. Unlike the other Super Mario RPGs, these hammers serve their purpose for the entire game and are never upgraded. In battle, hammers now have their own Command Block with a hammer icon on it, and when the babies and adults are together, the players need to press the adults' button first before the babies'.
During the fight with Bowser and Baby Bowser in Thwomp Caverns, Baby Bowser is shown with a hammer, which he uses to knock Bowser into the bros when he is with him, and to launch fireballs into them when Baby Bowser is alone.
At the end of the game, the babies give the Bros their hammers before leaving to go back to the past in the time machine.
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey[edit]
In Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story and Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey, Mario and Luigi gain a pair of hammers much earlier than in the previous Mario & Luigi games, finding them in Trash Pit, the first area inside Bowser's body. Later, Luigi learns how to turn Mario into Mini-Mario by using his hammer in Pump Works to free Toadsworth, and even later the bros learn how to use the Drill Bros. technique in the Energy Hold. The minigame in the Arm Center involves the use of the hammers in order to hit orbs at a muscle in Bowser's arm. Hammers are also used during the Mighty Meteor Special Attack to hit a meteor at enemies.
Mario & Luigi: Dream Team[edit]
In Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, a Brock in Mushrise Park lost his hammers that he was supposed to use to smash rocks for his boss, Brickle, and ordered new ones. When Mario and Luigi found the lost hammers, he lets the Bros. keep them. As in other games, hammers are used in the overworld to smash rocks and perform First Strikes, and unlock access to hammer attacks in battle.
Dozing Sands has many Shelltop workers that use hammers. Mario and Luigi learn the Mole Mario and Mini-Mario Bros. Moves when they help two miners fight off some Sandoons. These moves involve Luigi using his hammer against Mario: Mole Mario pushes Mario down into soft surfaces where he can dig while Mini-Mario flattens Mario against hard surfaces so that he can walk through small passageways.
During Giant Battles, the hammer is split into two forms of attack: Hammer Chop and Hammer Uppercut. Hammer Chop is a horizontal swing, while Hammer Uppercut is a vertical swing. They have different Action Commands.
Dream Team also introduces hammers as a form of gear, with a dedicated slot. After obtaining the hammers as a Key Item, Mario and Luigi each equip a Run-Down Hammer. The player can find, receive, or purchase new Hammers, like the Sap Hammer and the Iron-Ball Hammer. These Hammers increase the character's Power when using hammer attacks, and may confer additional benefits to hammer attacks. Bros. Attacks and Luiginary Attacks using hammers also benefit from these Hammer items. Later in the game, the player can obtain DX variations of older Hammers with better stats.
Some bosses use hammers. Sergeant Guy and the Sub-Goombas he transforms into copies of himself can use hammers, which is countered by striking first with the hammer. Bowser Jr. has a hammer, which he uses in a special attack. There are other hammers in the Junior Clown Car, and when Mario and Luigi are riding in it they can be thrown at Bowser Jr. Earthwake and Pi'illodium can transform into hammers as an attack, usually requiring a counterattack with a hammer. The final boss of the game, Dreamy Bowser, uses a giant hammer in an attack, which is also countered with hammers.
Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam[edit]
In Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam, Mario and Luigi have their hammers from the start, as does Paper Mario. The three of them learn the Trio Move Trio Hammer after they find themselves hindered by large, cracked gray blocks in their path in Doop Doop Dunes after being knocked back by a Big Pokey and Paper Tower Power Pokey. It is executed by pressing 
, 
, and 
in succession. This results in Luigi slamming his hammer into Mario's and Paper Mario slamming his into Luigi's, the combined force creating massive shockwaves that can break the aforementioned gray blocks, flip objects over, and momentarily stun enemies on the field.
A special kind of Hammer known as the Trio Attack Hammer is given to Paper Mario once all Paper Toads have been saved in Sunbeam Plains. In battle, Paper Mario, Mario and Luigi use this hammer to paperize all enemies on-screen before performing one of the five Trio Attacks selected.
During their trek through Doop Doop Dunes, Nabbit swipes all three of their hammers. The trio have to chase him down to retrieve them before they can proceed.
During the Papercraft Kamek battle, Papercraft Luigi can use his hammer to attack spiky papercraft enemies using his jump attack, as dashing into those kind of enemies will damage the papercraft.
Mario & Luigi: Brothership[edit]
Hammers reappear as Mario and Luigi's weapons in Mario & Luigi: Brothership. After bringing either Billdit or Maykit back to Shipshape Island, they will craft a pair of hammers for the Bros. For the combo Hammer attack, the brother who is attacking will prep his hammer as normal, while his brother preps his own hammer (for a Good! or better); if the player presses the button immediately, the attacking brother simply throws his hammer toward the target, scoring an OK! rating, while the other brother does not do anything. Mario pulls his hammer over his head in his attack animation for the combo attack akin to how the Bros. originally attacked with their hammers, while Luigi attempts a spin attack similar to the Hammer Chop from Mario & Luigi: Dream Team's giant battles. The Shy Guy enemies found in Bowser's Wayaway Island fortress have their own hammers, and can attack the Bros. with these hammers in a similar manner to the solo Hammer attack. Mario and Luigi have to counter with hammer strikes of their own, but if the target preps his hammer too soon, the attacking Shy Guys will slowly step back. If it fails to reach the target within a certain amount of time, the Shy Guy will throw its hammer, which must be repelled the same way. Hammer Bros also return, throwing their hammers as projectiles. During the boss fight against the Bro. Bros on Skorcheen Island, the Hammer Bro member can use his hammer to bat fireballs and ice balls at the Bros. in a combo attack with them.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong series[edit]
Hammers appear in Mario vs. Donkey Kong, functioning as a temporary power-up like in the Game Boy version of Donkey Kong. They are found above the ground, and Mario is able to grab them by jumping. After acquiring a Hammer, he starts banging it on the ground repeatedly, destroying any enemy encountered on the path. However, as in previous games, Mario is unable to jump while carrying the Hammer. He will throw the Hammers up in the air whenever he begins climbing a Ladder or falls from a great height, with the Hammer rising and falling down slowly in mid-air to allow the character to pick it up again. This period of time when the Hammer is not in use is actually included in the time it takes until it despawns. When in use, the Hammer's characteristic tune from the original Donkey Kong game also plays.
In the rest of the series, Hammers only come in pairs and are wielded by Minis in a similar fashion, swinging them on the ground as they march. They can be used to destroy enemies and fragile rocks. Just as in Mario vs. Donkey Kong, the Hammers eventually wear off after a while of being used and respawn where they were originally found. Also like in the previous game, Minis will throw the Hammers upward when they start climbing a Ladder or a Blue Lift, so that they can catch and continue using them shortly after. However, the time the Hammers spend in mid-air no longer adds to their lasting time, and when picked up again, their time limit resets.
In Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!, the Minis start glowing red when the Hammers are about to wear off. While carrying Hammers, Minis do not become dizzy after they fall from a height between seven and eleven blocks as they normally do; however, they will break if they fall from a height of eleven blocks or more, regardless if they are wielding Hammers or not.
Mario Tennis series[edit]
Hammers in the Mario Tenni