Hammer

Hammer
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate artwork
First appearance	Donkey Kong (1981)
Latest appearance	Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018)
Used by	Mario
Related items Golden Hammer Super Hammer

A Hammer is an item commonly used by Mario as a weapon in the Donkey Kong series and the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series. Hammers make their first appearance in the Donkey Kong arcade game, in which Mario uses them to smash barrels and enemies. Outside of the Donkey Kong titles, Mario has also used a hammer as one of his main weapons in the Mario role-playing games. The Kongs do not often make use of a hammer.

Appearances in the Donkey Kong franchise

Donkey Kong series

Donkey Kong

The Donkey Kong arcade game features Hammers, also referred to as Invincible Hammers, in every stage except 75m. They are located usually in the corners, and Mario can only reach some by jumping at them. For a short time, Mario can use a hammer to destroy the barrels thrown by Donkey Kong, Fireballs created from flaming oil drums, and the cement tubs in 50m. Mario is not invincible while using a Hammer, because if he is attacked from the back or from below, he still loses an life. Obstacles can still damage Mario if the Hammer does not make contact with them. Mario can neither climb nor jump while wielding a Hammer.

Donkey Kong (Game Boy)

In Donkey Kong for the Game Boy, Hammers make a reappearance, and Mario can use them to defeat all enemies. Mario also has the ability to throw a Hammer upward; during several parts of his journey, Mario is required to do this and quickly climb up a ladder onto the next platform to pick up the Hammer again. If the Hammer touches a floor, it disappears instantly.

The game introduces Super Hammers, a stronger type of Hammer capable of breaking brick walls.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong series

Mario vs. Donkey Kong

Hammers appear in Mario vs. Donkey Kong as a temporary power-up, retaining their function from Donkey Kong for the Game Boy. Hammers 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.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis

In Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis and subsequent Mario vs. Donkey Kong titles, Hammers are only featured in pairs, and are wielded by Minis, who similarly swing them on the ground as they march. They can be used to destroy enemies and fragile Rocks.

Like in Mario vs. Donkey Kong, the Hammers are only used temporarily, after which it respawns at its original location. Also like in the first game, Minis 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 are in mid-air no longer contributes to how long they last, and picking up a Hammer again resets its time limit.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again

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 usually would. Falling from a height of eleven blocks or more still breaks a Mini, regardless of whether they wield a Hammer or not.

DK: Jungle Climber

In DK: Jungle Climber, there is a different type of Hammer that resembles 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.

Unused appearances

Donkey Kong no Ongaku Asobi would have featured Pauline using a hammer, but the game went unreleased.

Related appearances

Super Smash Bros. series

Super Smash Bros. Brawl artwork

The Hammer from Donkey Kong is a powerful item in the Super Smash Bros. series. Whenever a fighter uses a hammer, they swing it back and forth repeatedly, striking anything upward in their path. The character cannot double jump with it. From Super Smash Bros. Melee onward, there is a rare chance that the head of the Hammer (named Hammerhead in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U) falling off, and the character swings the Hammer's handle back and forth, leaving them vulnerable to attack. 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.

Introduced in Super Smash Bros. Brawl is an even stronger variant, the Golden Hammer, which originally appeared in Wrecking Crew.

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.

Mario Power Tennis / Mario Tennis: Power Tour

In both Mario Power Tennis and Mario Tennis: Power Tour, Mario and Luigi use a Hammer in their respective Offensive Power Shots, the Iron Hammer and the Squeaky Mallet. Mario's Hammer resembles those from the Donkey Kong series.

Profiles

Donkey Kong

• Wii U Virtual Console manual: Sends Mario into a hammering frenzy. Hit barrels or fireballs with the hammer to destroy them.

Super Smash Bros. Melee trophy

Name	Image	Game	Description
Hammer		Donkey Kong Arcade 1981	If you grab the Hammer, you'll run across the screen swinging it back and forth nonstop. In Donkey Kong, Mario used the Hammer in exactly the same fashion. It's an extremely powerful item, but you have no recovery move when carrying it. Every now and then, the mallet head will fall off, and you'll end up completely vulnerable, swinging just the handle.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl trophy

Name	Image	Game	Description
Hammer		NES Donkey Kong	An item that, once grabbed, makes you swing nonstop. It's a powerful attack item that does terrific damage and sends opponents sailing. Once in a great while, the Hammer's head will fall off, leaving you nothing but the handle. Of course, you can't tell whether the head is securely fastened just by looking. Hammerheads that fall off can be picked up and thrown as weapons.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U trophies

Name	3DS trophy	Wii U trophy	Category	Appears in	Trophy Box	Description
Hammer			Item	NES Donkey Kong Classics (09/1988) GBA Mario vs. Donkey Kong (05/2004)	-	Once you grab this hammer, you can't help but keep swinging and swinging. Who needs special moves when you've got a hammer? And forget your second jump—use that time to deliver a second lump! Oh, but the hammerhead isn't attached very well, so watch out if it pops off or something... This is something you just can't stop swinging. At all. You'll do a lot of damage with it, but... you won't be able to jump in mid-air or use special moves, so if you fall off the stage, good luck getting back on! Oh, and if the head pops off, you'll be left waving the handle around. If that happens... man, you are going to look ridiculous.
Hammerhead			Item	Wii Super Smash Bros. Brawl (03/2008) Wii U Super Smash Bros. for Wii U	-	A hammer is just a stick until you add the top. That's where this item comes into play. Sometimes, however, the top comes off. If that happens, just grab this loose part and throw it at your enemies. For some poetic justice, make the guy swinging the hammer handle your first target. If the head of a hammer should happen to fall off while someone's waving it around, don't let it go to waste! It's great for launching people, so pick it up and throw it at someone! How about that wally waving the hammer handle around? He's just asking for it!

Gallery

Artwork

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  Super Smash Bros. artwork

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  Mario vs. Donkey Kong artwork of Mario using a Hammer

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  Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis artwork of a Mini Mario holding a pair of Hammers

Sprites

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  Donkey Kong (arcade) sprite

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  Donkey Kong (Nintendo Entertainment System) sprite

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  Donkey Kong (Game Boy) sprite (Super Game Boy palette)

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  Mario vs. Donkey Kong sprite

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  Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! sprite

Screenshots

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  Mario Power Tennis screenshot of Mario using the Iron Hammer

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  Super Smash Bros. for Wii U screenshot

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  Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars screenshot of a Mini Mario breaking through several Rocks with Hammers

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	ハンマー Hanmā	Hammer
Chinese (Simplified)	锤子 Chuízi	Hammer
Chinese (Traditional)	錘子 Chuízi 鎚子 Chuízi	Hammer
Dutch	Hamer	Hammer
French	Marteau	Hammer
German	Hammer Hammerwürfe (Mario Kart Tour)	Hammer Hammer throws
Italian	Martello	Hammer
Korean	해머 Haemeo 망치 Mangchi	Hammer Mallet
Portuguese	Martelo Marreta	Hammer Mallet
Russian	Молот Molot	Hammer
Spanish	Martillo	Hammer