Pokey

This article is about the cactus-like enemy appearing in several Mario games. For other uses of the name "Pokey", see Pokey (disambiguation).

Pokey
A four-segmented Pokey in New Super Mario Bros. U
First appearance	Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic (1987, overall) Super Mario Bros. 2 (1988, Super Mario franchise)
Latest appearance	Super Mario Bros. Wonder (2023)
Variants Big Pokey Blow Hard Cactus Jack Dark Pokey Green Pokey Mad Pokey Pokey (heading) Pokey Head Pokey Mummy Pokeyplant Skellokey Snow Pokey Spiked Fun Guy (Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island) Spiky Snifit Toothy
Relatives Bramball
Notable members Mega Paper Macho Pokey Mummipokey Pokey Triplets Punkey the Pokey Prince Tower Power Pokey

“Pokey's the name. Poking's my game.”

—Pokey, Paper Mario: Color Splash

Pokeys are cheerful cactus enemies that are typically composed of three to five spherical body segments. Pokeys may have either flowers or spikes on their heads, depending on their appearance. To defeat a Pokey, typically each body section must be destroyed; however, defeating the head usually kills the entire enemy. Pokeys, along with Ninjis, Shy Guys, Bob-ombs, and Birdo, originate from the non-Super Mario game Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic, which later became Super Mario Bros. 2.

Relatives of Pokeys appear in the Yoshi's Island series. Blow Hards, Cactus Jacks, and Spiked Fun Guys are all part of the Pokey family.

History

Super Mario series

Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic / Super Mario Bros. 2

Pokeys first appear in Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic and Super Mario Bros. 2. They will slowly chase after the player. In this game, Pokeys are green and can be defeated by throwing objects at their body segments or by picking up one segment at a time. They first appear in World 2-2. This game's design was later reused in Paper Mario: Sticker Star and Paper Mario: Color Splash (known as a Green Pokey in the latter game).

Super Mario World

Pokeys reappear in Super Mario World. This time, Pokeys are yellow and cannot be defeated in the same way as in Super Mario Bros. 2. Throwing a shell or a Grab Block at them defeats only one segment, although a Super Star will allow the player to defeat them entirely at once. Mario and Luigi can also defeat a Pokey by sliding up or down a hill towards them. A Body Press also defeats them. Another option is to defeat them with Yoshi, who can eat their body segments one at a time. The number of body segments that Pokeys have depends on whether Mario and Luigi are riding Yoshi or not. If they are, Pokeys will have five body segments. Without Yoshi, Pokeys will only have three segments so that Mario and Luigi can jump over them.

A Switch Block being thrown at a Pokey

Pokeys appear in a hidden area of Yoshi's Island 4, as well as the Special Zone level "Groovy." Also, in Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2, after the player completes the Special Zone and unlocks all of the exits, Pokeys will turn into gray creatures with a face on each body segment, which are serrated like Chainsaws.

The Super Mario Bros. 2 design of the Pokeys was originally going to appear in this game, but was scrapped in favor of the yellow-colored design.

A Pokey can sometimes be injured by throwing a Switch Block at it, although whether the Pokey is injured depends on how the Switch Block is thrown and it is not always consistent. No other enemy in Super Mario World shares this behavior, and whether or not this is a glitch is unknown.

Super Mario 64 / Super Mario 64 DS

Mario about to hit a Pokey in Super Mario 64 (left) and Super Mario 64 DS (right).

Four Pokeys (referred to as Pookies in the UK's Nintendo Magazine System) appear in Shifting Sand Land in Super Mario 64 and its remake. Pokeys in this game have bright orange pupils. Here, Mario can destroy each body segment by punching it, kicking it, or throwing a Bob-omb at it; attacking the head defeats it and causes the whole body to instantly disappear. If Mario waits too long after destroying any of its segments, the Pokey will grow them right back. Pokeys give Blue Coins when defeated. If Mario gets hit by a Pokey, he will lose two wedges of health. Due to their graphics being flat textures, Pokeys always face the camera in this game.

Exclusive to the Nintendo 64 version, the player can jump on the Pokey's head to instantly defeat it, though it may require a Triple Jump, Side Somersault, or Backward Somersault if the Pokey has five segments.

In Super Mario 64 DS, the Pokeys' graphics are updated to reflect their design as seen in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!. Yoshi also has the ability to swallow Pokeys. They are now capable of turning, but graphically, they still use 2D sprites for their segments.

Super Mario Sunshine

A Pokey in the level Bianco Hills

Pokeys, also called Dango Flowers, appear in Super Mario Sunshine along with a smaller variety called Sanbo Heads. In this game, they have pink flowers on their heads, large mismatched eyes, wide grins high on their faces, and spikes that somewhat resemble stubble. Pokeys lie in wait underground, with only the flower on their head visible at first, and will pop up when Mario approaches. They predominantly appear in Bianco Hills, but they also appear in Pianta Village, during the nighttime episodes, and in Pinna Park, in The Wilted Sunflowers. They do not move from their spot but will lean towards Mario when he gets within their range to attack him. However, as they touch the ground, their spikes get stuck in it for a moment, allowing Mario to attack their heads with a jump or dive for a single coin. If Mario defeats a Pokey while it is upright, it yields three coins instead of one. Some leave behind a Blue Coin when defeated; jumping on these while upright yields two regular coins in addition. One can see goopy bubbles rising from the flower on their heads as they bop up and down; according to the Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia, this is due to the game's enemies being created by Shadow Mario and his Magic Paintbrush.

New Super Mario Bros.

A Pokey in New Super Mario Bros.

Pokeys only appear in World 2-1 in New Super Mario Bros. with their Mario Kart: Double Dash!! appearance. In this game, a Pokey can only be defeated by shooting fireballs at its body segments, rolling over it with Shell Mario, or by crushing the cactus monster as Mega Mario. If they are hit in the head, they get defeated instantly. Without these power-ups, Mario must attempt to jump over the Pokeys. Some Pokeys have over eight body segments, requiring Mario to use special platforms to jump over these tall creatures.

The Mummipokey, an undead Pokey, appears as the World 2 boss.

Super Mario Galaxy

While Pokeys themselves do not appear in Super Mario Galaxy, a single red-orange Pokey known as a Pokeyplant appears. Pokey Heads also appear, but now they are green. Bigger Pokeys with a more typical yellow color known as Pokeynuts appear in the Good Egg Galaxy and the Dusty Dune Galaxy. These giant Pokeys can only be defeated by spinning a coconut at their body, and then jumping on or spinning into the upside-down head. In the sequel, Super Mario Galaxy 2, only Pokey Heads reappear.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii

The different Pokey types

A group of Pokeys in New Super Mario Bros. Wii

In New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Pokeys have been given another redesign, consistent with the appearance of the windup Pokeys in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!. They no longer have flowers, and are covered in green spikes, with three prominent ones on top of their heads. Following this game, the new design becomes standard for all Pokeys, replacing the previously-standard Mario Kart: Double Dash!! design (with LEGO Super Mario as an exception).

As in Super Mario World, Yoshi can eat them one section at a time, but eating the head defeats them instantly. Fire Flowers again are effective, and the Ice Flower can freeze them. At every vocal "paah" in the music, Pokeys will turn into an alternate non-spiked form, making each body segment resemble a fruit, specifically an orange. Yoshi can eat an entire Pokey instantly in this form, and if he does so, he will lay an egg with either coins or a power-up inside, depending on how many segments the Pokey had: 1-3 segments will give the player 5 coins, 4-5 segments will give them a Super Mushroom, 6-8 segments will give them a Fire Flower, and 9 will give them a 1-Up Mushroom. However, even in their non-spiked form, Mario still cannot safely jump on them, while Yoshi still bounces off them. The number of segments a Pokey has also determines its speed: Pokeys with more segments move slower than those with fewer segments. They appear only in World 2-5.

Super Mario 3D Land

Two Pokeys in World 5-1 in Super Mario 3D Land

Pokeys are seen in desert or canyon areas in Super Mario 3D Land, where they usually appear in groups of two or five. They look as they did in New Super Mario Bros. Wii. To destroy them, Mario can hit them with a Super Star or use his Boomerang, Fire, or Tanooki forms to knock out one segment at a time; however, Mario can't jump on them without becoming Statue Mario because they are spiky.

New Super Mario Bros. 2

Pokeys reappear in New Super Mario Bros. 2, behaving the same way as in the previous games, except they do not turn into their non-spiked fruit-like forms like in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, since Yoshi does not appear in the game.

New Super Mario Bros. U / New Super Luigi U / New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe

Pokeys in New Super Mario Bros. U

Pokeys reappear in New Super Mario Bros. U, New Super Luigi U, and their port New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe. They are found in Perilous Pokey Cave (New Super Mario Bros. U) and Underground Grrrols (New Super Luigi U) and once again turn into their fruit segments. This time, however, they function in a more similar manner to Fruits, with a circular meter keeping track of how many fruit segments Yoshi has eaten. When the meter reaches five, Yoshi lays an egg containing a power-up, which is dependent on the form that Mario is in when the meter is full: Small Mario and Mini Mario yield a Super Mushroom, Super Mario yields a Fire Flower, Fire Mario yields an Ice Flower, Ice Mario yields a Super Acorn, and Flying Squirrel Mario, P Flying Squirrel Mario, Propeller Mario, and Penguin Mario yield a 1-Up Mushroom. Pokeys have the ability to stand on the ceiling without falling off. Also, Mega Pokeys appear in Morton Koopa Jr.'s battle, who uses his hammer to knock segments into Mario's path.

Super Mario 3D World

No normal Pokeys appear in Super Mario 3D World. However, a variant known as Snow Pokeys appears instead.

Super Mario Run

Pokey reappear in Super Mario Run in the levels Pokey Vaulting and Desert Fuzz. Pokeys can either remain stationary or move forwards slowly. If Mario defeats a body segment of a Pokey, the rest of the Pokey is defeated too. Yoshi can safely jump on Pokeys. Their sprites from New Super Mario Bros. Wii are used in this game.

Super Mario Maker 2

Pokeys appear as enemies in version 2.0 of Super Mario Maker 2. Their heights can be adjusted but they cannot be enlarged, and wings can be attached to them, which causes them to hop along the ground similar to Paragoombas. Pokeys did not originally appear in Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros. 3; as such, new sprites have been drawn for those styles, and they are colored green, similar to their appearance in Super Mario Bros. 2. The Super Mario 3D World style, where there were only Snow Pokeys in the original game, reuses their New Super Mario Bros. Wii design. They can be defeated with fireballs, Goomba's Shoes, and Yoshis. In nighttime ground levels, Pokeys float in the sky in a similar manner to Wigglers; if wings are attached, they home in on the player, comparably to angry Wigglers. In snow-themed levels, Pokeys become Snow Pokeys, which can be jumped on and reduced to a snowball that can then be carried by the player.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

A Pokey in Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Pokeys appear as enemies in Super Mario Bros. Wonder where they behave the same as in previous games, although they still move when only their head segment remains. They only appear in the level Armads on the Roll, where they speed up when under the level's Wonder Effect.

The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!

A Pokey as it appears in the The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! episode, "Star Koopa".

“10,000 gold pieces?! I'm taking you crooks to jail, and that there gold to the bank!”

—Pokey, Butch Mario and the Luigi Kid

Pokeys are seen infrequently on The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, where they typically appear in episodes that have a Western setting or take place in a desert, often appearing as antagonists. In the show, Pokeys are portrayed as being capable of speaking, making themselves resemble ordinary cacti to blend in. They also possess primitive, arm-like protrusions. In "The Provolone Ranger", one is depicted to even have legs. One also makes a cameo in "Escape from Koopatraz," where it is part of Judge Koopa's jury at the beginning of the episode.

List of episodes featuring Pokeys

• Butch Mario & The Luigi Kid
• The Provolone Ranger
• Escape from Koopatraz
• Star Koopa

Nintendo Adventure Books

In Dinosaur Dilemma, some Pokeys gang up on Mario and Yoshi as they are traveling through a desert, and succeed in separating the two by knocking Mario into a hole, before wandering off. In the next book, Flown the Koopa, some Pokeys wander onto the path Mario, Luigi, Toad and the Mushroom King are using to get to the International Dino-Flying Derby, but Mario knocks them aside with his plunger.

Mario Clash

In Mario Clash, Pokeys first appear in Level 17 and consist of three sections. While the bottom two sections can be taken out with a Turtle Shell from any direction, the head can only be stunned by attacking it from its side. It can regenerate lost sections over time. The artwork in the instruction booklet mistakenly shows a Pokey with four sections.

Paper Mario series

Paper Mario

Mario battling Pokeys

In the early Paper Mario series, Pokeys have a different appearance, with fewer spikes and a head segment somewhat resembling a cat. Their eyes and head spikes appear to be based on those of the Spiked Fun Guy. In the game Paper Mario, Pokeys gain a few new abilities. Pokeys can now use their body segments as projectiles, launching them to attack opponents. Pokeys also gain the ability to summon other Pokeys, which rise from the ground when called for. Spin Smash and Kooper's Shell Toss can knock off a body segment, which lowers the Pokey's height. Also, a new variety of Pokey is introduced in this game: the Pokey Mummy. When it is defeated by Mario, the player sometimes obtains a Dried Fruit.

A Pokey is one of the enemies that can appear in Shy Guy's Toy Box when Bowser asks Peach what Mario is most afraid of.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

“Go ahead... Touch usssssss... It won't hurrrrrrrrrrrrt....too muchhhhh...”

—Pokey, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

Pokeys also appear in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door as rare enemies. A team of three Pokeys, known as the Pokey Triplets, are a fighting team in the Glitz Pit. Pokeys also appear in the game's Pit of 100 Trials. In this game, they attack by slamming the player, doing 2 damage, but they can also throw their body segments like in the previous Paper Mario game, doing 3 damage. When a Pokey loses all its body segments, it attacks by bonking into the player, doing 4 damage, so it's better to defeat them before they lose all their body segments. The game introduces a species of Pokey based on the Pokey Mummy, called Poison Pokey, which appears in Riverside Station. Pokeys are unique in this game, in that performing a Superguard on a thrown body segment will send it back to the Pokey, doing the same amount of damage to it as it would have done to Mario.

Super Paper Mario

Pokeys appear in Super Paper Mario in places such as Gap of Crag. They attack by throwing their body segments, like in the previous Paper Mario games. When they lose all of their body segments, they attack by hopping towards Mario or his allies. The Poison Pokeys from the predecessor also appear, and they appear in places including Castle Bleck and the Flipside Pit of 100 Trials. A new species is introduced, the Dark Pokeys, that only appears in the Flopside Pit of 100 Trials. Pokeys sometimes drop Horsetails when defeated.

Tippi is not sure whether Pokeys are plants or animals.

Paper Mario: Sticker Star

Pokeys reappear once again in Paper Mario: Sticker Star for the Nintendo 3DS. Two types of Pokeys appear: regular yellow Pokeys, using their design from New Super Mario Bros. Wii, and a green variety, more closely resembling their original appearance in Super Mario Bros. 2. A regular Pokey cannot be jumped on unless an Iron Jump sticker is used. Regular Pokeys have 16 HP and the green ones have 20 HP. Rather than throwing their body segments like the previous games, these Pokeys attack by toppling on top of Mario; sometimes Mario will get crumpled if he does not block the attack. Each time a Pokey loses a body segment, its attack goes down. Tower Power Pokey, a Pokey corrupted by a Royal Sticker, serves as the boss of the second world. Pokeys are sometimes aided by Paragoombas and Sombrero Guys (if it was not destroyed).

As shown in early builds of this game, the Paper Mario: Sticker Star Pokeys were originally going to retain their previous appearance from past Paper Mario games, with no changes.

This game also shows that Pokeys have flowers underneath their heads, as shown when Tower Power Pokey heals.

Paper Mario: Color Splash

Pokey and Green Pokey sprites from Paper Mario: Color Splash

Pokeys return in Paper Mario: Color Splash keeping their appearance from the previous game. They are only found in Mustard Café along with Green Pokeys, which also return from Paper Mario: Sticker Star. They come out from shifting sands, only showing their head as if they were sharks in the first part of the level, and showing their full body in the rest of the level. Pokeys also can leap over Warp Pipes that Mario must cross. Mario has to rescue Huey from a Green Pokey.

Fully removing color from any Pokey segments during a battle eliminates them. If hit by a hammer, segments are shot out. If Mario jumps on a Pokey, he takes six damage. Pokey attacks, which consist of stomping on Mario, deal significant damage.

A Pokey is the second-round opponent in Roshambo Temple #6.

Paper Mario: The Origami King

An origami Pokey

Mega Paper Macho Pokey

Pokeys return in Paper Mario: The Origami King. They, like many of the Koopa Troop, are transformed into Folded Soldiers by King Olly. They appear commonly in Scorching Sandpaper Desert and its sub-areas. They can be defeated without going into battle by ramming into them with the Boot Car while boosting. In addition, a Paper Macho version of this enemy known as Mega Paper Macho Pokey appears as a boss.

In battle, the moves a Pokey can use are dependent on how many body segments remain, as well as how many other Pokeys are battling against Mario at the same time. Prickly Putt is a move in which one Pokey hits a second one standing in front of it, knocking away segments directed at Mario. The Pokey used as ammunition is ultimately defeated afterward. Flop Bop works much like a Pokey's attack from the previous two installments in the series, where the Pokey will lean on top of Mario to inflict damage then leaning back upright. If the Pokey only has its head left, it will Headbutt Mario much like a Goomba's Headbonk attack.

Mario Party series

Pokeys appear in the Mario Party series since the third installment, and have mostly been featured in minigames throughout the series.

Mario Party 3

In Mario Party 3, Pokeys make a background appearance in the party board Spiny Desert. The Pokeys in this game use their design from Super Mario 64.

Mario Party 5

In Mario Party 5, though Pokeys do not actually make an appearance in the game, there is a weapon in Super Duel Mode called the Pokey Tower Gun.

Mario Party Advance

“May a warm desert wind blow at your back.”

—Pokey, Mario Party Advance

In Mario Party Advance, Pokey appears in a patch of desert in the desert area of Shroom City. Once he encounters the player, he introduces himself as the guardian of the desert, and says that unless they answer his "Riddles of Mystery", they will be forever trapped with him. In exchange, he will grant them their freedom and a Gaddget. After all three of his questions are correctly answered, he says that he's impressed and lauds the player as a master of the desert's riddles. He sticks true to his word and gives the Tap-Tap Sumo Gaddget, and tells the player to continue journeying.

Several Pokeys appear as enemies in Outta My Way!; their segments can be individually punched out, and when their head is punched off, the rest of their body disappears.

Mario Party 6

In Mario Party 6, Pokeys serve as the main objective in the minigame, Pokey Punch-out, where players are required to punch out the body parts to win.

Mario Party 7

In Mario Party 7, Pokeys serve once again as the objective in a similar minigame, Pokey Pummel. The players must dismantle the body parts with a hammer to win. Pokeys and this minigame retain their role in Mario Party: The Top 100 and Mario Party Superstars. Three Pokeys also make an appearance in the background in Pyramid Park. They use their design from Mario Kart: Double Dash!! in this game.

Mario Party: Island Tour

In Mario Party: Island Tour, Pokeys appear in the minigame Pokey Corral where they serve as obstacles that the players must avoid. They also appear in Match Faker and Starring Artist sometimes and their design from New Super Mario Bros. Wii is used in this game.

Mario Party: The Top 100

In Mario Party: The Top 100, aside from returning in Pokey Pummel from Mario Party 7, Pokeys also appear in the background in Flash Forward from Mario Party 10, while they are not present in the original game.

Super Mario Party

In Super Mario Party, Pokeys appear as enemies in the minigames Metal Detectors, and the players must take them out in Home on the 'Rang.

Mario Kart series

Pokeys make recurring appearances on some of the desert stages in the Mario Kart series. They often occupy the track wiggling in place and can cause racers to spin out.

Mario Kart: Double Dash!!

Pokeys make their Mario Kart series debut in Dry Dry Desert alongside Big Pokeys in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, where they gain a redesign similar to their Super Mario Sunshine appearance, consisting of a pink flower on their heads and a signature smile. In this game, Pokeys sway left and right in place, occasionally bending their bodies into an arch that racers can drive in between. Colliding with a Pokey causes racers to spin out. Attacking a Pokey with an item will defeat it temporarily, in which it will eventually regenerate once enough time has passed.

Mario Kart DS

Pokeys return in Mario Kart DS on the Desert Hills course. Unlike in Double Dash!!, they don't arch their bodies. Mission 2-6 requires the player to destroy Pokeys with Bob-ombs near the starting line of Desert Hills.

Mario Kart Wii

Pokeys return in Mario Kart Wii, where they are seen in the Dry Dry Ruins and the returning DS Desert Hills courses, behaving the same as the previous game, now as 3D models once again. This is the last game in the Mario Kart series where Pokeys use their Super Mario Sunshine-inspired design.

Additionally, a giant Pokey appears in Thwomp Desert as part of October 2008's 1st competition. There, players had to defeat it by throwing Bob-ombs. Pokeys also appeared in N64 Mario Raceway as part of November 2008's 2nd competition. The player faces another giant Pokey for September 2009's 2nd competition. Pokeys can be defeated by Green Shells.

Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

A Pokey in Mario Kart 8

Pokeys return again in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, where they reappear in the GCN Dry Dry Desert course. Starting from these games, they use their design from New Super Mario Bros. Wii. They also gain their body arching move once again, and will spawn a coin in between itself whenever it does this.

Mario Kart Tour

Pokeys also appear in Mario Kart Tour, returning in Wii Dry Dry Ruins and acting similarly to their previous Mario Kart appearances. If a Pokey is tall enough, it periodically bends sideways like in Mario Kart: Double Dash!! In this game, drivers can remove a Pokey's segments individually by hitting them with an item or simply running into them, although they can respawn shortly afterwards; if drivers hit the Pokey's head, its whole body collapses. Pokeys give bonus points when taken out; even if the player strikes multiple segments at once, such as via a Bob-omb or Super Horn, they only obtain bonus points for each use of an item on the Pokey. Most items and conditions, including boosting with a Mushroom, can be used to take out a Pokey.

In addition, a Mii Racing Suit based on a Pokey debuts in the 2023 Ninja Tour as part of Wave 28 of the Mii Racing Suits. It has the Triple Bananas as its special skill.

Mario & Luigi series

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga / Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions

Normal Pokeys are absent from Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, though a highly-abnormal variant known as the Spiky Snifit appears in Teehee Valley. As its name suggests, it is also a type of Snifit. Unlike the typical segmented Pokeys, Spiky Snifits resemble more generic stylized cacti with upward-facing arms.

Normal Pokeys appear in the Minion Quest mode of Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions, where they appear as troops and enemies. They have very high HP but move quite slowly. They attack with a move called Whomping Whallop, allowing them to swing into their foes, similar to the Pokeys in most Paper Mario games. They, along with Goomba Towers, are among the tallest troops in the game, and like Goomba Towers, they are Melee-type. Unlike Goomba Towers, they are heavily spiked, causing slight damage to most non-Ranged troops that attack them. Due to their segments, they are weak against Boomerang Bros, and due to being plants, they are also weak against Fire Stalking Piranha Plants. They initially appear in the Teehee Valley segment. They resemble their Paper Jam counterparts, but only ever appear with four segments, including the head.

Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time

In Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, Pokeys live in the Gritzy Desert. They start out as Pokey Heads with pink flowers, but when engaged in battle, a Pokey grows additional body segments. In battle, a Pokey rams into a Mario brother to attack. The body segments can be knocked away with the Hammer. This makes the Pokey shorter (allowing the Mario Bros. to jump over it). The Pokey can also launch its body segments at the Mario Bros. To counter this attack, the Baby Bros. should hit the body segments with their Hammers. The Pokey jumps normally when hitting Mario and spins once when hitting Luigi. A Pokey can also spin its body and shoot spines at the Mario Bros. The Pokey spins the individual body part to the brother it will attack. The brothers have to jump to dodge them. In this game, only attacks to the head can damage a Pokey. The Skellokey, the skeletal variant of Pokeys, also appears in the game as common enemies in Toad Town.

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey

While Pokeys do not appear in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, their tooth variant Toothies do, and are common enemies in Plack Beach.

However, Pokeys do appear in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey, where they are enemies and recruitable allies in the Bowser Jr.'s Journey mode. They are melee troopers and are weak to boomerang attacks from Boomerang Bros. and Wendy. However, only a maximum of two Pokeys can be befriended, as befriending a third one will have it forcefully dismissed.

Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam

Pokeys appear in Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam in Doop Doop Dunes. While they don't initially appear on Mario, Luigi and Paper Mario's first visit, they begin to show up on their second visit. On their first visit, however, a Big Pokey appears as a boss alongside Paper Tower Power Pokey.

Outside of battle, Pokeys will chase the trio at high speed eventually hitting or falling on a bro. Both of these can cause trip when the battle starts. Due to their spikes, Pokeys cannot be jumped on, but hammering them will make them lose their segments. When a Pokey gets a turn, it will gain two or three segments and initiate an attack. A Pokey may come up to a bro and attempt to fall on him. The player must hammer the Pokey to avoid damage. Sometimes one falls in front of a bro, launching its head; hammer countering is still necessary. Sometimes a Pokey will step up and launch its segments at the bros. The bros will need to knock the segments back to avoid damage. If the Pokey spins a segment clockwise, it will hit Mario, whereas a counter-clockwise spinning segment will hit Luigi. One that doesn't spin will go for Paper Mario. Their last attack only involves Paper Mario. A Pokey will attempt to hit Paper Mario, who must jump or flutter jump to avoid. If the Pokey's head is upside-down, Paper Mario can land on it for damage. Papercraft Pokeys are also present. Aside from Tower Power Pokey, the Pokeys' paper counterparts do not appear.

Mario Golf series

Pokeys have had varying roles in the Mario Golf series, usually as obstacles. In Mario Golf: Advance Tour, a Pokey appears in Dunes Club Practice Center, where the player must shoot three shots at him to earn a Custom Ticket B. In Mario Golf: World Tour, Pokeys appear on Layer-Cake Desert, where they are obstacles that the player must avoid hitting the ball into. In Mario Golf: Super Rush, Pokeys appear in Balmy Dunes and Spiky Palms, where if the golf ball hits a Pokey's head, it will instantly collapse. Snow Pokeys also appear as obstacles in Mario Golf: Super Rush.

Mario Pinball Land

In Mario Pinball Land, Pokeys use a green variation of their Mario Kart: Double Dash!! design. Here, they are found in Shifting Sands Stage. To defeat the Pokey, one must first destroy the three lower segments, then the head.

Super Princess Peach

Pokeys also re-appear in Super Princess Peach. In this game, Pokeys are always of three segments and a flower (including the head), and only appear in Wavy Beach. They are resistant to Perry, so they can only be defeated with Rage or Poundbrella. There are also vibe-infused Pokeys, known as Mad Pokeys, that are simply angry Pokeys that stretch vertically to block Princess Peach from passing by them.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong series

Pokeys appear with a toylike design in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series. Although harmful at direct contact, they are passive to the player and only travel from one side of a platform to the other. Unlike Shy Guys, who display the same behavior, Pokeys are taller, which makes them more difficult to avoid in certain situations but also prevents them from getting into narrow passages. They are always composed of three segments, one of which is their head. In all of their appearances, Pokeys can be defeated when struck by a hammer.

Pokeys feature spikes on their head instead of a flower, unlike Pokeys found in most games released prior to Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!. This design would be used for Pokeys starting with New Super Mario Bros. Wii.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!

In Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!, Pokeys are first encountered in Room 3-3 of Magnet Mania. Activating a yellow switch transforms them into three harmless and immobile blocks.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!

Three Mini Marios and a Pokey in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!

Their second appearance is in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! where they begin showing up in Area 8-3 of Super Skywheel. If Pokeys come in contact with the transparent yellow Pokey Blocks, each segment will fill them in. They can be defeated if shot by a Mini in a cannon.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars

They reappear in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars, where they are introduced in Level 5-3 of Dashing Desert and continue to appear in later worlds. Aside from Hammers and Cannon shots, Pokeys of this game can also be defeated by sliding down on them from a slope. While this is not shown in any of the game's pre-made courses, it can be tested in the level editor.

Yoshi's New Island

Yoshi eating the head of a Pokey

While only Pokey variants appeared in previous Yoshi's Island games, regular Pokeys appear for the first time in the Yoshi series in Yoshi's New Island, mainly in the level Underground Pokey Patrol. In this game, Yoshi can swallow individual segments to reduce the Pokey's height, or eat its head to fully defeat it, as in Super Mario World. Upon eating a segment, Yoshi automatically ingests it and produces an egg without the player's input. A white variant of Pokeys also appears in Punkey the Pokey Prince's Castle, which move along the ceiling rather than on the ground. As the stage name implies, a large white Pokey, Punkey the Pokey Prince, is the boss of the stage.

Dr. Mario World

Pokeys debut in the Dr. Mario series in Dr. Mario World, as assistants. In stage mode, their effect can only be activated in timed stages, as it increases the timer by 3 seconds, where the chance of it happening is 50% at the first level and 100% at the maximum level (10% and 50% respectively prior to version 2.3.0). In versus mode, they have a chance to increase the speed that the user's attack meter fills, in which the amount of points is effectively reduced by 20%, rounded down to the nearest round number, and the chance of its activation is 10% at the first level and 50% at the maximum level. Pokeys also appear in the overworld for World 2 when it is cleared.

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope

In Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, a Pokey can be seen as part of a desert-themed "snow globe-house" at Pristine Peaks.

Other appearances

The Legend of Zelda series

A Pokey in the Link's Awakening remake

Pokeys have even appeared in various games of The Legend of Zelda series, such as The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening and its rereleases, and The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons.

In The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, Pokeys are found in Yarna Desert. If Link strikes them with his sword, sections of their body will fly off while the remaining segments get faster, similar to the Bouncers from The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. In the remake, a Pokey figure can be won in the Trendy Game after clearing Turtle Rock and placed in the Quadruplets' house. The text that appears upon acquiring the figure reads, "You got a Pokey figure! The memory of meeting these still stings..."

In The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons, Pokeys are found in Samasa Desert. Unlike in Link's Awakening, attacking a Pokey with a sword does not cause sections of its body to fly off and is instead defeated outright. Hitting one with a Mystery Seed causes it to grow a segment, with up to five total segments being growable from the default three.

Minecraft

In the Super Mario Mash-up in Minecraft, Creepers are replaced by Super Mario Bros. 2-style Pokeys. Cacti are replaced by yellow Pokeys.

Profiles and statistics

Main article: List of Pokey profiles and statistics

Most Pokey profiles note how they can be defeated instantly by attacking the head.

Gallery

For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Pokey.

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  Super Mario USA

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  Super Mario 64

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  Super Mario Sunshine

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  Mario Pinball Land

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  Mario Kart DS

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  Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions

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  Super Nintendo World

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	サンボ Sanbo ポーキー Pōkī	Anagram of「サボン」(sabon), which is from the clipping of「サボテン」(saboten, "cactus") Transliteration of the Super Mario Bros. 2 name
Chinese (simplified)	刺球 Cìqiú 刺球丸子 (international releases for games since Super Mario Party) Cìqiú Wánzi 仙人刺球 (China release for New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe) Xiānréncìqiú	Spike Ball Spike Ball From「仙人掌」(xiānrénzhǎng, "cactus") and「刺球」(cìqiú, "spike ball")
Chinese (traditional)	刺球丸子 Cìqiú Wánzi	Spike Ball
Dutch	Pokey	-
French	Pokey	-
German	Pokey	-
Italian	Pokey Cactrus (The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!) Pokey (alto) Marghibruco Kakti Marghibulbo	- From "Cactus" Pokey (tall) Portmanteau of margherita ("daisy") and bruco ("caterpillar") From "cacti" Portmanteau of Marghibruco ("Pokey") and bulbo ("bulb" or "bud"); same as Pokey Head. Most likely a translation mistake
Korean	선인 Seon'in	Clipping of 선인장 (seon'injang, "cactus")
Portuguese (NOA)	Cactubola	From cacto ("cactus") and bola ("ball")
Portuguese (NOE)	Catubola	From cato ("cactus") and bola ("ball")
Russian	Поки Poki	Transcription of the English name
Spanish	Pokey	-

Pokey Block

Language	Name	Meaning
Italian	Blocco Marchibruco	Pokey Block

External links

• Pokey on Zelda Dungeon Wiki
• Pokey on Triforce Wiki