This article is about Mario's forward somersault from Super Mario 3D Land. For Mario's backflip used by crouch jumping and his side somersault in this and other 3D games, see Somersault. For the move referred to as a "Roll" in Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, see Roll Attack.
The Roll is a move used by Mario and Luigi in Super Mario 3D Land, and also Peach, Toad, and Rosalina in Super Mario 3D World and Toadette in Super Mario Maker 2. To perform it, the player has to press or while crouching; thus, it replaces the Sweep and Slide Kicks from Super Mario 64. This move moves Mario forward with a quick roll. When rolling, he can break open crates and gain speed and distance; however, he cannot defeat enemies this way, as opposed to the Roll Attack from the Donkey Kong Country series. If Mario jumps during the move, the roll will become a Rolling Leap, a longer and faster version of the Long Jump. If he is in his Tanooki form, this move becomes the Tail Spin[1]. When used, the character will crouch and continuously spin their tail until or is not pressed anymore. By combining this move with the Rolling Leap, the character can move while spinning their tail, defeating every enemy in their way. In Cat form in Super Mario 3D World, this move becomes a sliding tackle instead.
The roll move makes a return in Super Mario Odyssey. Unlike in Super Mario 3D Land and Super Mario 3D World, Mario can turn while rolling and perform a continuous roll (by holding zl and pressing Y or shaking the joy-con to keep rolling[2]; the latter method being faster than the former), instead of performing just one roll. He can also roll by holding zl as he lands from a Long Jump[3], Ground Pound, or Dive (which now uses the Roll's input).
Mario performing a Landing Roll, and a Rolling Jump in Super Mario Run
The roll can also be performed in the Game Boy version of Donkey Kong and Super Mario Run, when characters land from a great height (called a Landing Roll in Super Mario Run). In the former game, the roll only saves Mario from potentially deadly falls (Falls from higher heights can stun or kill him.). In the latter game, characters will also roll if the player taps the screen when they are on a Pause Block pointing to the right. This roll can also defeat enemies, unlike in Super Mario 3D Land, Super Mario 3D World and Super Mario Odyssey. Tapping the screen while in a rolling animation performs a Rolling Jump, which can defeat enemies from below.
In the Super Smash Bros. series, rolling serves as an evasive maneuver; unlike in other games, it can be performed backwards while the character is facing forwards. The user becomes temporarily invincible during the action, though its length of action and invincibility depends on the character and (in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate only) how many rolls are used during a short period of time.
The roll can also be performed in Super Mario Maker 2, exclusively in the Super Mario 3D World style. It can be performed by pressing any of the shoulder buttons (ZL, ZR, L, or R) while crouching.
North American Website Bio:"This explosive move propels Mario forward with a quick roll."
European Website Bio:"Press the Y Button (or the X Button) while crouching to roll. A powered-up Mario can smash blocks and other objects by rolling."
Names in other languages
Language
Name
Meaning
Japanese
転がる Korogaru
Roll
Dutch
Rollen
To roll
French
Rouler
To roll
German
Rolle vorwärts
Roll forward
Italian
Rotolamento
Rolling
Portuguese
Derrapada
Skid
Russian
Катиться Katit'sya Кувырок Kuvyrok
To roll
Roll
Spanish
Rodar
To roll
Trivia
In the pre-release version of Super Mario 3D Land, the roll was performed by pressing the or buttons while moving. If the player attempts to do this in the final version, Mario will slide while crouching instead, as in the 2D Super Mario games.
or 
while crouching; thus, it replaces the Sweep and Slide Kicks from Super Mario 64. This move moves Mario forward with a quick roll. When rolling, he can break open crates and gain speed and distance; however, he cannot defeat enemies this way, as opposed to the Roll Attack from the Donkey Kong Country series. If Mario jumps during the move, the roll will become a Rolling Leap, a longer and faster version of the Long Jump. If he is in his Tanooki form, this move becomes the Tail Spin[1]. When used, the character will crouch and continuously spin their tail until 
or 
buttons while moving. If the player attempts to do this in the final version, Mario will slide while crouching instead, as in the 2D Super Mario games.
