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Super Mario

The Star Spin is an ability used by Mario in Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 and by Rosalina in Super Mario 3D World.

Description[]

Star Spinning near enemies will stun or defeat them depending on the enemy. The move is slightly like a Spin Jump or Mario Tornado except that it can also be performed while on the ground.

Star Spinning while in a Launch Star or a Sling Star will send Mario flying. Star Spinning can also break certain objects like Item Crystals, rocks and crates. It is also used to activate special powers if you have a certain power-ups. If you have a Bee Mushroom while you star spin, the normal sparkle effects will be replaced with honey. If you jump, star spin, and then Ground Pound, the somersault you do in the air before ground pounding will be at a slight tilt, and Mario will land with a bow.

Occasionally, the Star Spin move is also used as a means by which to activate or use several power-ups, including the Fire Flower, the Red Star, the Cloud Flower, the Rock Mushroom, and obviously, the Spin Drill. Although not necessary for it to work, spinning while the Ice Flower is in effect will cause Mario to skate across any open body of water quickly as opposed to walking, and spinning while the Boo Mushroom is in effect will cause Boo Mario to become intangible for a short time. However, spinning cannot be performed as Spring Mario. Yoshi also possesses his own variation of the Star Spin called the Head Shake.

The Star Spin can be performed in Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 by shaking the Wii Remote, in the Super Mario 3D All-Stars version, it can be performed by either pressing Y or by shacking one of the Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons. In Super Mario 3D World as well as Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, Rosalina can perform this move by pressing Y or X however this can only be done while she is in her Super or Small forms.

In Super Mario series[]

Super Mario Galaxy[]

Star Spin Beta

Mario performing a Star Spin in the beta version of Super Mario Galaxy.

The Star Spin makes its debut in Super Mario Galaxy. Here, Mario gains this ability after meeting Rosalina. The guardian of the cosmos herself will entrust Mario with the care of Baby Luma who will sit inside Mario's Cap granting Mario the ability to do a Star Spin. With this move Mario can deflect certain projectiles flying at him such as Coconuts, stun or kill enemies, activate switches, break Item Crystals, swim faster, slide across Sproutle Vines quicker. and even pick up certain nearby items. The Star Spin can also be used to pick up Shells and Mario can also preform a Star Spin to attract Coins when underwater or under the effects of the Red Star (in the beta stages he could also do this at any time). Mario also ascends very slightly whenever he does a Star Spin in mid-air. Whenever Mario does a Star Spin, Baby Luma pops out of his hat for a second which enforces a delay. Mario can only perform a Star Spin one time in the air. He must touch solid ground before he can use the ability again. Even on the ground there is a slight recharge time for this move. When Luigi uses this move, a slightly longer recharge time is required so keep this in mind.

An extremely useful application of the Star Spin is the ability to stun, freeze, or make enemies dizzy by Star Spinning into them. This gives Mario a chance to escape or attack the enemies if he is fast enough. Spinning is needed to defeat certain bosses including Dino Piranha, King Kaliente, Topmaniac, Bouldergeist, Major Burrows, Baron Brrr, Fiery Dino Piranha, and the master himself, Bowser. One of the major applications of this move is the ability to use it to skate on icy surfaces. Mario just has to Star Spin while moving on an icy surface for this to work. Mario can also chain a spin into a Double Kick. Also, if Mario crouches and Star Spins, he kicks instead of holding his arms out, this can be really useful when attacking enemies whilst attempting to avoid being hit. Additionally, if Mario is to attempt a Star Spin Jump whilst under the effects of a Fire Flower or Ice Flower, the jump will be significantly nerfed nullifying it's true potential.

Aside from these uses for the move, one of the most important uses for it involves using it to activate Launch Stars and Sling Stars, both of which shoot Mario through space to other planets and areas acting as portals for traversing between planets. In this regard, completing the game would not be possible without the presence of the Star Spin move. In addition, if Mario Star Spins in midair and immediately ground pounds, he will spin and then home in on nearby items, objects, or enemies. Additionally, if he is crouching and then spins, he will do a pirouette similar to a dance move.

It also appears that after his first defeat in Bowser's Star Reactor, Bowser took note of Mario's Star Spin, and made his own version during his fight in Bowser's Dark Matter Plant with the power of the Grand Star he stole. Mario can counter Bowser's aggressive Star Spin by performing one himself upon collision.

Super Mario Galaxy 2[]

First Star Spin

Mario's first Star Spin in Super Mario Galaxy 2.

The Star Spin ability returns in Super Mario Galaxy 2 retaining it's properties from the first game. This time, Mario gains the ability after finding Baby Luma during the game's introduction. The Baby Luma once again stows himself inside Mario's Cap granting him the ability. The Star Spin retains it's strengths from the previous game however some new ones have been added as well. Mario can spin near Yoshi to ride him without having to jump on him, and when riding Yoshi, the spin becomes a Head Shake which is effectively Yoshi's version of the Star Spin, it has the same powers as a Star Spin and can activate/destroy the very same things however, it doesn't help much when jumping. Star Spins are also used to reverse around the Flip-Swap Platforms as well as the Flip-Out Walls.

Just as before, the Star Spin is also used during boss fights however slightly less bosses possess this weakness, the move is used to defeat the bosses Peewee Piranha, Gobblegut, Sorbetti, Squizzard, Prince Pikante, Dino Piranha, King Kaliente, Major Burrows, Bouldergeist, and Fiery Dino Piranha.

Super Mario 3D World / Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury[]

Star Spin Rosalina

Rosalina preforms the Star Spin.

The Star Spin returns in Super Mario 3D World as well as Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, in these games, Rosalina, the fifth playable character in the game, can also perform this move. Like in the Super Mario Galaxy games, the move allows her to gain a bit of extra height when used in mid-air. It is possible to Star Spin multiple times in one jump though only the first Star Spin will give Rosalina the extra height. The delay between Star Spins has also been made shorter. Just like Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2, Rosalina is able to stun or kill an enemy with the Star Spin. However unlike other characters, Rosalina is only able to perform the move whilst in her Super or Small forms, if she is under the effects of another Power-Up such as the Fire Flower, Starman, Super Bell, or Super Leaf. Unlike Super Mario Galaxy 2, Rosalina's Star Spin cannot activate the Flip-Swap Platforms as they are now activated by simply Jumping.

In Mario & Sonic series[]

Star Spin appears in Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games for the Wii as well as Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games for the same console.

Attention Mario Wiki users!: This section is short or lacks sufficient information. We would appreciate it if you help the Mario Wiki by expanding it.

Trivia[]

  • In the beta stages of Super Mario Galaxy, especially during E3 2006, Mario could spin an unlimited number of times in a row, in the game's final build, a small delay is enforced after a Star Spin is preformed. This however doesn't apply whenever Mario is underwater as he can do his unlimited spins there, in Super Mario Galaxy 2, this was fixed and his Star Spin delays even apply underwater as well.
  • If Mario/Luigi is to preform a Star Spin near an NPC (such as a Toad, Luma, etc.), they will also spin with the plumbers.
    • Interestingly the non-playable Luigi (on the Comet Observatory or Starship Mario) will always spin whenever Mario/Luigi do even if the plumbers aren't close to him.
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