Rocky Wrench
- This article is about the enemies introduced in Super Mario Bros. 3. For information about the mole enemies unrelated to Rocky Wrench that appear in Super Mario Galaxy, see Monty.
| Rocky Wrench | |||
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 Rendered model of a Rocky Wrench in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe | |||
| General information | |||
| Species origin | Mole Turtle | ||
| Appearances | |||
| First appearance | Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988) | ||
| Latest appearance | Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Booster Course Pass, Wave 6) (2023) | ||
| Similar entities | |||
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- “Gut wrencher!”
- —Rocky Wrench, Paper Mario: Color Splash
Rocky Wrenches are mole-like enemies that are typically employed as crewmen on the Koopa Troop's vehicles,[1][2] making their first appearance in Super Mario Bros. 3. They pop out of manhole covers and attack by throwing their namesake wrenches. They have been described as mole-like turtles[1][3] (as well as a part of the Koopa species),[4] but from New Super Mario Bros. Wii onward they lack shells (with the exception of the "classic" styles of Super Mario Maker and other games using older sprites), which, along with other changes in design, has resulted in them resembling Monty Moles. Their original description has not been applied to the redesign, and they have since been called moles instead of mole-like on at least one occasion.[5] However, starting in their appearance in the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass, Rocky Wrenches now have a design more reminiscent of their original one in Super Mario Bros. 3, having brown, pointy snouts, white claws, and blue goggles with thin, white straps, as well as having their shell on their back again. However, they still retain a couple details from their previous, more Monty Mole-like design, such as the white stomach, and their goggles being round.
History
Super Mario series
Super Mario Bros. 3
Rocky Wrenches make their debut in Super Mario Bros. 3 as enemies that can be found on airships, tanks, and other military vehicles belonging to the Koopa Troop. Upon sighting either Mario or Luigi, a Rocky Wrench will pop out of its hole on these vehicles and throw wrenches at them before descending back into their hole. They first appear in World 2-
, and most airship levels following it. Rocky Wrenches are also a major recurring enemy in the final world of the game, Dark Land.
In most cases, a defeated Rocky Wrench will reappear, even when defeated by a stomp. However, some levels in Dark Land have red Rocky Wrenches that will be permanently defeated when attacked. In Super Mario All-Stars and Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3, all Rocky Wrenches are red, though they still act like they do in the NES version between the various levels.
In Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3, a Rocky Wrench appears on the cover and title screen for the game. Additionally, Rocky Wrenches also appear in a few World-e levels as well.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii
After a 21 year hiatus from the mainline titles, Rocky Wrenches would once again reappear in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, exclusively appearing in the airship of World 6. Their behavior is largely unchanged from their first appearance, though the potential vertical movement of their wrenches is lessened. Aside from being susceptible to stomps, Rocky Wrenches can also be frozen by Ice Mario. Unlike in Super Mario Bros. 3, Rocky Wrenches do not respawn after being defeated in this game and nearly every game following it. Starting with with this game, Rocky Wrenches would get a major redesign to make them look nearly identical to Monty Mole, however, Rocky Wrenches would still keep their signature goggles and manhole lid.
Super Mario 3D Land
Rocky Wrenches reappear in Super Mario 3D Land, being their first appearance in a 3D title. Though they are commonly found in airship stages as usual, Rocky Wrenches also appear in a couple regular levels as well. Rocky Wrench's appearance in this game is the same as in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, and they still conduct their usual wrench throwing tactics. However, some Rocky Wrenches can now also throw either Bob-ombs or coins instead of their namesake wrenches. Sometimes, a Rocky Wrench can be seen guarding a Warp Pipe, where the player needs to defeat the Rocky Wrench in order to enter the pipe. Unlike other games, the wrenches that Rocky Wrenches throw can be stomped on and destroyed.
New Super Mario Bros. U / New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
Rocky Wrenches reappear in New Super Mario Bros. U, where they only appear in the level Boarding the Airship. Rocky Wrenches retain the exact same attack pattern as in New Super Mario Bros. Wii with barely any differences. Rocky Wrenches are also one of the very few enemies that appear in New Super Mario Bros. U that do not reappear in New Super Luigi U.
Super Mario Maker / Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS
Rocky Wrenches reappear in Super Mario Maker and Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS, using new sprites for all four styles. If they are winged, they hop out of their manhole cover before throwing their wrenches, making their lower bodies more visible. This also occurs if they are enlarged, but they temporarily revert to their original size in order to hide. On certain platforms such as Semisolid Platforms, Donut Blocks, and Cloud Blocks, Rocky Wrenches fall through them when they attempt to hide in them. Rocky Wrenches retain their shells in the Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, and Super Mario World styles, but not in New Super Mario Bros. U style. In the Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario World styles, they heavily resemble Monty Mole's design in those styles. In addition, their existing appearances have been slightly revised; they have a less plain palette and appear to lack tails in the Super Mario Bros. 3 style, and now have stubbier limbs and a slimmer, shorter body shape compared to a Monty Mole in the New Super Mario Bros. U style. In Course Maker, shaking them changes the slot to a Monty Mole and vice versa.
In the Super Mario World and New Super Mario Bros. U-style levels, Yoshi can use his tongue to eat a wrench thrown by a Rocky Wrench and spit it back out. If the Rocky Wrench or any other enemies get hit by the wrench, they will get defeated.
Super Mario Run
Rocky Wrenches reappear in Super Mario Run, appearing only in Throwing It All Overboard in the main game. Additionally, they can occasionally appear in the Airship courses seen in Toad Rally and Remix 10. Rocky Wrenches retain their behavior and design from New Super Mario Bros. Wii, though they can also sometimes throw coins instead of wrenches like in Super Mario 3D Land. Rocky Wrenches also come back out of the ground much quicker than they do in most games, almost immediately after they go down. Additionally, there is a statue of a Rocky Wrench that can be purchased in the Kingdom Builder.
Super Mario Maker 2
Rocky Wrenches reappear in Super Mario Maker 2, functioning exactly how they did in the original Super Mario Maker, though they now occupy a separate slot from Monty Moles instead of them both sharing the same slot unlike the first Super Mario Maker. Rocky Wrenches only appear in the orignal four styles and are absent from the Super Mario 3D World style (likely due to them being absent from that game). One of the unlockable Mii outfits is a Rocky Wrench themed manhole cover.
Super Mario Kodansha manga
Rocky Wrenches make a couple minor appearances in the Super Mario Kodansha manga, where they are based on their Super Mario Bros. 3 design.
Rocky Wrenches first appear in the Super Mario Bros. 3 volume, where they appear in the adaptation of World 8-
Jets.
A singular Rocky Wrench makes an appearance in the third Super Mario Land volume, where they appear as part of Bowser's baseball team when he challenges Mario to play baseball alongside his other minions. Despite that, the Rocky Wrench is never shown playing the baseball game onscreen.
A Rocky Wrench makes a minor cameo in the Super Mario All-Stars chapter from the second Donkey Kong volume, where they appear in the background alongside several other minions working for Bowser and Wart.
The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3
- “Rocky Wrenches to your battle stations! Enemy plumbers sighted!”
- —King Koopa, "The Ugly Mermaid"
In the television series The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3, Rocky Wrenches appear in several episodes, most commonly as the guards of Bowser and the Koopalings' Doom Ship, although they are also shown to work on tanks and the Doom Sub as well. Rocky Wrenches have a similar role to that of in the show are depicted with a more mole-like body, green shells, and blue sunglasses.
Rocky Wrenches make their first appearance in the show as minor enemies in the episode "Princess Toadstool for President." When Mario and Luigi enter Dark Land, the two plumbers are quickly ambushed by two Rocky Wrenches driving tanks. One Rocky Wrench attempts to throw a wrench at Mario and Luigi, but they manage to swiftly escape just in time via a pipe.
Rocky Wrenches make a brief cameo in the episode "Mush-Rumors," where they are commanded to throw wrenches at the real-world family after King Koopa mistakenly thinks that they are aliens. However, the wrenches that the Rocky Wrenches throw do not hit the Family and instead fall into the river.
In the episode "The Ugly Mermaid," King Koopa calls some Rocky Wrenches to help attack Mario and his friends when they were approaching the Doom Sub. However, Mario would then throw the wrenches back at the Doom Sub, making it spin out. This episode also implies that Rocky Wrenches can breathe underwater (or hold their breath for a very long time), as the Rocky Wrenches had no problems being underwater as they threw their wrenches at Mario and his friends.
Finally, a Rocky Wrench (referred to as Mr. Rocky Wrench by Toad) has a somewhat major role in the episode "Up, Up, and a Koopa," in which the Rocky Wrench guards the cage Emperor Ed is in. The Rocky Wrench would also growl at Emperor Ed when he attempted to threaten King Koopa. Later, when Mario and Luigi get trapped in the cage as well, Mario attempts to bribe the Rocky Wrench with a Fudjie chocolate bar, which makes the Rocky Wrench growl at the plumber. When Luigi asks to borrow the Rocky Wrench's wrenches, the now angry Rocky Wrench threatens Mario and Luigi by throwing his wrenches at the two plumbers (with the wrenches coming back to the Rocky Wrench like boomerangs, which is something that never happens in the actual Super Mario Bros. 3). Angry at what the Rocky Wrench did, Mario then claims that he will not invite Rocky Wrench to his next plumbing job. Later in the episode, Toad arrives with a giant magnet that he uses to defeat the Rocky Wrench by throwing the magnet onto the ceiling. This causes the Rocky Wrench's wrenches that he was holding to be pulled up onto the ceiling and causing the Rocky Wrench to be stuck on the ceiling (allowing Toad to rescue the Mario Bros. and Emperor Ed in the process).
Rocky Wrenches are also referenced in the writer's bible from the DVD releases of the show, which refers to Rocky Wrenches as sneaky turtles with a severe overbite that hide in manholes to ambush unsuspecting plumbers. Several pieces of Rocky Wrench concept art can also be seen in the writer's bible, the first being a Rocky Wrench in an airship similar to that of the World 8-Airship level (though Rocky Wrenches are never seen riding these airships, Cheatsy and Kooky can be seen controlling two of these airships in the episode "True Colors"), the second showing full-body artwork of Rocky Wrench, and the third and final piece of concept art showing artwork of Rocky Wrench in a tank from the episode "Princess Toadstool for President."[6]
Super Mario Bros. Print World
A Rocky Wrench would appear in Super Mario Bros. Print World as one of the printable characters.
Nintendo Adventure Books
- “Something's stuck to the side of the bowl!”
- —Rocky Wrench, Monster Mix-Up
In the Nintendo Adventure Books, a Rocky Wrench carrying a handbag around competes in the International Mushroom Games as a member of a team called the Sneaks in Leaping Lizards. True to his team's name, he uses underhanded tactics in the events, such as cutting a hole in Roy Koopa's flying carpet during the obstacle course, as well as throwing ink in his face during the Beetlebowl. The Rocky Wrench is also very skilled at most of the sports, usually winning a majority of them if the player chooses the wrong path. Rocky Wrench's name also appears in a crossword puzzle (though it is shortened to "Rocky"). The artwork used in said puzzle is reused from Super Mario Bros. Print World. Rocky Wrench is also called a rodent in this book and the following one.
Another Rocky Wrench appears as the guard of the Monster Mixer in Monster Mix-Up. They first make a cameo briefly spotting Mario and Toad on the side of the bowl that is carrying the Monster Mixer. Later on, if Mario attempts to use a Koopa Shell to hit a Starman Block, he will miss the block and cause the shell to hit the Rocky Wrench on the head instead. This causes the Rocky Wrench to drop unconscious on the ground and drop their wrench into the Monster Mixer, causing Bowser to get mad at what Mario did right before the Monster Mixer blows up, leading to a Game Over. Rocky Wrenches are also one of the few enemies in the book to not have a fusion created by the Monster Mixer.
Super Mario 4koma Manga Theater
- “"早く 和る物 よこせよ" ("Give me something to throw, quickly")”
- —Rocky Wrench, Super Mario 4koma Manga Theater Volume 2
Rocky Wrenches make a few appearances in Super Mario 4koma Manga Theater, being based on their appearance and abilities from Super Mario Bros. 3. Interestingly enough, in both of the two strips that Rocky Wrench appears in, it reveals that they also have the ability to throw an assortment of other objects instead of just wrenches.
Rocky Wrenches first appear In volume 2, appearing in the "Dismantling Rocky Wrench" (解体屋プー) strip, in which two Rocky Wrenches throw several random objects and parts of the airship in desperation after running out of wrenches to throw at Luigi.
In volume 6, a Rocky Wrench would appear in the self titled "Rocky Wrench" (プー) strip, where a Rocky Wrench encounters Mario and attempts to throw wrenches at him like always. However, Mario questions if the Rocky Wrench could throw other objects as well. In response, the Rocky Wrench throws a hammer and screwdriver at Mario, much to his surprise. However, the Rocky Wrench would then begin to throw a wide variety of other objects at Mario shortly after (such as a pencil, a piece of candy, a chair, a kettle, a cockroach, an apple, a golf club, an onigiri, a cat, a boot, a flag and a fish), much to Mario's shock, as he now learns that Rocky Wrench's attacks can become anything they want.
Super Mario Bros. & Friends: When I Grow Up
A singular Rocky Wrench makes a brief cameo in Super Mario Bros. & Friends: When I Grow Up, where they appear on the Race Car Driver and Mechanic page. Their description reads as follows:
"Race car drivers Mario and Luigi had better make a pit stop right away. Their tires are almost worn out from the first leg of the road rally. Rocky Wrench is ready to change two tires."
Super Mario-kun
Rocky Wrenches appear in various volumes of Super Mario-kun, first appearing in volume 5. Rocky Wrenches usually have a minor role. Rocky Wrenches would use a design similar to their original design from Super Mario Bros. 3 up until volume 45, in-which Rocky Wrenches were redesigned to look more like their redesign from New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Prior to Super Mario-kun, Rocky Wrenches would appear in the short lived Super Mario Bros. 3 manga.[citation needed]
Rocky Wrenches would make their first appearance in Super Mario-kun in volume 5, where a singular Rocky Wrench would make a small cameo as Luigi crushes them and other enemies while rolling inside a Warp Pipe.
Rocky Wrenches would reappear much later in volume 30, when Larry Koopa commands several Rocky Wrenches to throw wrenches at Mario.
In volume 31, what appears to be a Rocky Wrench named Mogura Kong is shown on a poster a Noki is holding while Mario is at a game show in Pinna Park.
Rocky Wrenches reappear once again in volume 45, in which Boom Boom pushes a button to have several Rocky Wrenches emerge from their manholes and throw wrenches at Mario. Starting from this volume, Rocky Wrenches would use their current design from New Super Mario Bros. Wii.
In volume 46, a female Rocky Wrench/Monty Mole named Pūko appears as a member of the AKG48. In the first chapter, Pūko is designed to look like a Rocky Wrench (although her later appearance in the fourth chapter of the same volume redesigns her to look more like a Monty Mole).
Mario Kart series
Mario Kart DS
In Mario Kart DS, Rocky Wrenches appear as obstacles on the airship portion of Airship Fortress. Popping out of their holes at random, Rocky Wrenches can cause one of the racers to spin out of control if they runs into them. However, unlike in most appearances, Rocky Wrenches do not throw wrenches (with this applying in their later appearances in the Mario Kart series). Rocky Wrenches also appear in Mission 6-2, which involves Wario needing to defeat fifteen Rocky Wrenches by using a Star.
Compared to Super Mario Bros. 3, Rocky Wrenches more closely resemble Monty Moles, having seemingly been redesigned to look like Monty Mole's appearance in this game (especially in the mini map), though Rocky Wrenches would look more like Monty Mole in future games starting with New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Rocky Wrenches have brown upper lips, four pointed fangs, and large goggles in front of glowing pupils that seem to be based off of their Super Mario Bros. 3 sprites. Due to the graphics for Rocky Wrenches being flat textures that always face the camera, it is impossible to tell whether Rocky Wrenches are intended to have their shells in this game.
Mario Kart 7
In Mario Kart 7, Rocky Wrenches would reappear once again in the retro course, Airship Fortress, as well as being a new addition for GBA Battle Course 1. Rocky Wrenches retain the same tactics and behaviors they had in Mario Kart DS. However, Rocky Wrenches now use their updated design from New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Rocky Wrenches can also be jumped on safely, and the player can even perform a trick off of their manhole lids. Rocky Wrenches also reuse Monty Mole's voice clips from Mario Kart Wii in this game.
Mario Kart Tour
Starting with the Pirate Tour from Mario Kart Tour, Rocky Wrenches would reappear in Airship Fortress, where they retain their tactics from Mario Kart DS and Mario Kart 7, though they appear with their modern design like in Mario Kart 7. However, unlike in previous Mario Kart games, driving into a Rocky Wrench knocks the Rocky Wrench back into their hole and grants the player bonus points instead of causing them to spin out. If the player drives over a Rocky Wrench while they are peeking out, the player can perform a Jump Boost. Rocky Wrenches also make appearances in the marketplace section of Bangkok Rush T, an added addition to Twilight House, the sidewalks of the first section in Daisy Circuit T, and the Piazza Navona section from Rome Avanti 2. In addition to appearing as obstacles, Rocky Wrenches are the basis of a Mii Racing Suit added in the second Peach vs. Bowser Tour.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
While Rocky Wrenches never appeared in the original Mario Kart 8 (unlike their relative Monty Mole), they would appear in it's Nintendo Switch remake Mario Kart 8 Deluxe during the final wave of the Booster Course Pass DLC. They reappear exclusively in Rome Avanti, functioning similarly to their appearances in past Mario Kart titles. For the first time in the Mario series since New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Rocky Wrenches are now given a completely new redesign that resembles their appearance from Super Mario Bros. 3, including the shell on their back. Interestingly enough, this is the first ever Mario Kart game where Rocky Wrenches do not appear in Airship Fortress.
Paper Mario series
Paper Mario: Sticker Star
Rocky Wrenches make their Paper Mario series debut in the Nintendo 3DS game Paper Mario: Sticker Star, where they appear exclusivity on Bowser Jr.'s Flotilla.
Outside battle, Rocky Wrenches throw wrenches at Mario, which deal damage to Mario if he gets hit by them. In battle, a Rocky Wrench will either hide inside their manhole or have their head peeking from the manhole. If the Rocky Wrench is hiding inside their manhole, they cannot be attacked and Mario's attack will miss. Rocky Wrenches main method of attacking is throwing wrenches at Mario, just like in previous games. Rocky Wrenches also have bigger wrenches that deal more damage to Mario. Rocky Wrenches usually only use this attack when they are attacked themselves. A Rocky Wrench may also sometimes drop a wrench sticker after battle.
Uniquely, a Rocky Wrench's body in this installment is fully rendered and animated. However, the entire body cannot be fully seen in-game, since they never appear out of their manholes. In later Paper Mario titles, Rocky Wrenches would not have any full body sprites and instead would only be rendered by their upper half.
Paper Mario: Color Splash
Rocky Wrenches return in Paper Mario: Color Splash, where they can be fought in the levels Toad Trainworks and Sunset Express.
Outside battle, Rocky Wrenches throw wrenches at Mario that deal damage to them if he gets by them, just like in the previous game. Once more, in battle Rocky Wrenches attack relatively the same as how they did in Paper Mario: Sticker Star, where they throw normal or larger wrenches at him. Rocky Wrenches also have a Battle Card that they can occasionally drop. When the card is used, a Rocky Wrench will be summoned to throw a wrench at a single enemy. Like the other enemy cards, the Rocky Wrench will be defeated if it takes too much damage.
In this game and the following Paper Mario game, the manhole cover that is on top of a Rocky Wrench's head has now been changed to be a circular piece of cardboard, rather than an actual metallic manhole cover like in the previous games.
Paper Mario: The Origami King
Normal Rocky Wrenches reappear in Paper Mario: The Origami King as NPCs. One Rocky Wrench appears in Toad Town in a port behind the red warehouse, where they sell Mario the Legion of Stationery collectible treasures. Another Rocky Wrench NPC is found on Picnic Road, outside the Sensor Lab, where they talk about how strange and crazy the Toad Researcher is (such as the Toad Researcher calling the Earth actually round). Rocky Wrenches could have also possibly been given a stereotypical Canadian accent in this game, due to them using words like "eh" and "oi" during their dialogue. To interact with the Rocky Wrench NPCs, Mario must hammer their lid. If Mario hammers the lid while standing on top of it, the Rocky Wrench will look around briefly before going back underground.
Rocky Wrenches also have origami variants that appear as enemies exclusively in the Springs of Rainbows.
NES Remix series
In NES Remix 2 and Ultimate NES Remix, Rocky Wrenches appear in some of the Super Mario Bros. 3 challenges, appearing in levels in which they originally appeared. In one specific challenge, the player must defeat one Rocky Wrench in World 8-
.
Mario Golf series
Mario Golf: World Tour
In Mario Golf: World Tour, Rocky Wrench is one of the names that can appear on the tournament scoreboard.
Mario Golf: Super Rush
In Mario Golf: Super Rush, Rocky Wrench's name appears on the Bonny Greens Open scoreboard.
Nintendo Badge Arcade
Rocky Wrenches appear in Nintendo Badge Arcade as part of the Super Mario Maker and Super Mario Bros. arcades, with their Super Mario World and Super Mario Bros. style sprites from Super Mario Maker.
WarioWare Gold
Rocky Wrenches appear in WarioWare Gold in the microgame Super Mario Bros. 3, despite not appearing in the original version of the microgame in WarioWare: Twisted!. They serve as one of the enemies that try to attack the player. Uniquely, the Rocky Wrenches throw their wrenches towards the player, rather than the wrenches being thrown in a straight line like in most games.
LEGO Super Mario
A Rocky Wrench appears in LEGO Super Mario as part of the Bowser's Airship set. Unlike in their game appearances, Rocky Wrench requires three stomps in order to defeat them instead of just a singular one. Additionally in the Bowser's Airship set, Mario can launch the Rocky Wrench out of the driving seat of the airship using a POW Block and be able to drive the airship himself.
Unused appearances
Super Mario series
Super Mario World
Sprites found in development materials of Super Mario World include sprites for Rocky Wrench meant for the Sunken Ghost Ship, suggesting that they would have appeared as enemies in said level. These sprites heavily resemble Rocky Wrench's Super Mario Bros. 3 sprites, though they have a separate color scheme compared to that game. Rocky Wrenches were eventually scrapped for unknown reasons. Additionally, the Super Mario World style in Super Mario Maker also uses original sprites instead of the unused Rocky Wrench sprites from Super Mario World.
Super Mario Odyssey
One piece of concept artwork for the Broodals from The Art of Super Mario Odyssey labeled "Powered-Up Regular Enemy Designs" depicts a Powered-Up Rocky Wrench boss based on their original design rather than the modern one, having the shell, taller orange body, white-rimmed sunglasses, round snout, and sharp teeth as the classic depictions of Rocky Wrench. This design along with the rest were scrapped due to being too similar to the Koopalings, with the Rocky Wrench later being replaced with Rango. However, the book states that this design along with the other Powered-Up enemies have a chance to return in a future game someday.
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Sprites found in development materials of Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island include sprites and animations for Rocky Wrench as well as potential log vehicles, but they were again removed. Their head shape and sunglasses is reminiscent of Monty Moles' designs for Super Mario World, though they are still taller and lack some of the white patches. Uniquely, Rocky Wrenches also seem to have originally been planned to walk inside logs, as well as riding log cars similar to the Flintmobile from The Flintstones (though they were still going to keep their wrench throwing tactics as well). Only their wrench and possible lower body exist within unused graphics in the final release. Snifits were also alternately considered to utilize the vehicles designed for Rocky Wrenches, though this was also later scrapped.
In the files for the "ys romX 0" prototype of the game, there is an unused stage select animation of Rocky Wrench rotating around in their log car that was planned to be used in the world map. Interestingly enough, there are some design differences between this Rocky Wrench sprite and their unused standard enemy sprite, mainly being slightly different colored parts and more rounder wheels on the log car itself.
Paper Mario / Super Mario RPG 2
In concept art for Paper Mario (back when it was referred to as Super Mario RPG 2 in development), Rocky Wrenches would have had appeared as an enemy, as seen in a piece of concept art. However, Rocky Wrenches were completely absent from any known versions of the final game.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie
As shown in a piece of concept art, Rocky Wrenches were at one point going to be one of the members of the Koopa Troop to be featured in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, where they would look similar to their original appearance from Super Mario Bros. 3.[7] However, Rocky Wrenches are completely absent from the final movie for unknown reasons.
General information
Physical appearance
Rocky Wrenches originally looked like red or tan moles, with either a snout or an overbite, having a pair of goggles (which varied in design depending on the media or game they were in), and a turtle shell (which varied in color depending on the media). Despite being called turtles during this time, Rocky Wrenches still looked much more like moles, with the only turtle thing about them being the shell on their back (suggesting that they were a hybrid of a mole and turtle). However, Rocky Wrenches were called "mole-like turtles" or "rodents" as well.
Some later appearances like Rocky Wrench's unused appearance in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island and in Mario Kart DS made Rocky Wrenches have some more design similarities to that of Monty Mole. The former game having Rocky Wrench with a similar pair of sunglasses and snout to that of older Monty Mole depictions, and the latter having a similar body type and mouth to the modern design for Monty Mole.
Starting with New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Rocky Wrench would be redesigned, now without the shell from their older designs and looking nearly identical to Monty Mole besides the lid and goggles. From this game onwards, Rocky Wrench would keep this look (outside of retro appearances and the older styles in the Super Mario Maker games).
Characteristics
Rocky Wrenches are both engineers, crew members, and guards of the various Koopa Troop vehicles such as airships, tanks, and battleships. Rocky Wrenches help fix these vehicles while keeping away intruders such as Mario to help protect them. According to their Nintendo Super Secret Card, Rocky Wrenches work extremely hard on their job, with at least 80 hours per week doing work. They also seem to guard other stuff, such as the Monster Mixer in the Nintendo Adventure Book Monster Mix-Up and in The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 episode "Up, Up, and a Koopa" where they guard the cage that Emperor Ed (and later Mario and Luigi) are held in.
Rocky Wrenches usually hide in manholes and throw their namesake wrenches at foes as their main attack, though these wrenches can usually be jumped over. In both Paper Mario: Sticker Star and Paper Mario: Color Splash, Rocky Wrenches can be seen throwing much larger wrenches, which do more damage but are much heavier to throw. Sometimes, Rocky Wrenches can be seen throwing other items such as coins and Bob-ombs (as seen in Super Mario 3D Land and Super Mario Run).
Unlike their relative, Monty Mole, Rocky Wrenches have not talked a lot throughout English Mario media. The first time a Rocky Wrench spoke in any known English Mario media was in the Nintendo Adventure Book Monster Mix-Up, where a Rocky Wrench shouted that someone was on the side of the bowl (which were Mario and Toad). Rocky Wrenches would not speak in the games until much later in Paper Mario: Color Splash, where they would make various comments during a battle. However, Rocky Wrenches never had an accent in the few pieces of English Mario media that they spoke in up until Paper Mario: The Origami King, which gave Rocky Wrenches a Canadian accent (unlike Monty Moles, who had a country accent instead in most games they spoke in).
Alignment
Rocky Wrenches are seen as minions of Bowser like most enemies throughout the series. Out of any other member of the Monty Mole species, Rocky Wrenches seem to be the most loyal to the Koopa Troop, as they are primarily seen on the vehicles of the Koopa Troop or in places filled with Koopa Troop vehicles such as Dark Land, with very few exceptions to where they live (with one of these exceptions being a few levels in Super Mario 3D Land that are not on Airships). Rocky Wrenches seem to respect Bowser and his vehicles greatly as they work hard just to make sure they are safe. The only known instance of Rocky Wrenches not working for Bowser are the origami Rocky Wrenches, who were normal Rocky Wrenches that were brainwashed and folded into origami by King Olly or other Folded Soldiers.
Like most enemies, Rocky Wrenches have a hatred towards Mario, as he usually is the primary intruder to the vehicles that Rocky Wrenches protect and pilot. In the writers Bible for The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3, Rocky Wrenches also seem to have a hatred towards plumbers in general, as it implies that they also attempt to ambush other plumbers from their manholes as well. Despite this, on a few occasions, Rocky Wrenches seem to sometimes be allies towards Mario such as in Super Mario Bros. & Friends: When I Grow Up when a Rocky Wrench attempts to fix the Mario Bros. tires on their vehicle, or in Paper Mario: The Origami King, where normal Rocky Wrenches are friendly NPCs (with one in Toad Town making collectible treasures of the Legion of Stationery each time Mario defeats one of the members).
List of appearances
It has been requested that this article be rewritten and expanded to include more information. Reason: include appearances in television, publications, and other media in their own sub-sections
Video games
| Title | Year of release | System/format | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Super Mario Bros. 3 | 1988 | Nintendo Entertainment System | Debut; featured as an enemy, usually on Koopa Troop vehicles such as airships and tanks |
| Super Mario Bros. Print World | 1991 | MS-DOS | Featured as a printable image |
| Super Mario Bros. & Friends: When I Grow Up | 1992 | MS-DOS | Featured on the Race Car Driver/Mechanic page |
| Super Mario All-Stars (Super Mario Bros. 3) | 1993 | Super Nintendo Entertainment System | Same as in Super Mario Bros. 3; with all of them now being red instead of a couple of them |
| Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World | 1994 | Super Nintendo Entertainment System | Same as in Super Mario Bros. 3 |
| Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 | 2003 | Game Boy Advance | Same as in Super Mario Bros. 3; now featured in the cover art and title screen as well as several World-e levels |
| Mario Kart DS | 2005 | Nintendo DS | Mario Kart debut; featured as an obstacle in Airship Fortress |
| New Super Mario Bros. Wii | 2009 | Wii | Featured as an enemy; redesigned to look more like Monty Mole |
| Super Mario All-Stars Limited Edition | 2010 | Wii | Same as in Super Mario All-Stars |
| Super Mario 3D Land | 2011 | Nintendo 3DS | Featured as an enemy; some also throw coins and Bob-ombs |
| Mario Kart 7 | 2011 | Nintendo 3DS | An obstacle returning in DS Airship Fortress and also appearing in GBA Battle Course 1 |
| Paper Mario: Sticker Star | 2012 | Nintendo 3DS | Paper Mario debut; featured as an enemy in Bowser Jr.'s Flotilla |
| New Super Mario Bros. U | 2012 | Wii U | Featured as an enemy |
| NES Remix 2 | 2014 | Wii U | Appears in some of the Super Mario Bros. 3 challenges, functions the same as in said game |
| Mario Golf: World Tour | 2014 | Nintendo 3DS | Cameo as a name sometimes appearing on the scoreboard |
| Ultimate NES Remix | 2014 | Nintendo 3DS | Same as NES Remix 2 |
| Nintendo Badge Arcade | 2014 | Nintendo 3DS | Featured as a badge; uses Super Mario Maker sprites |
| Super Mario Maker | 2015 | Nintendo 3DS | Featured as an enemy and a part in Course Maker; in said mode, shaking a Rocky Wrench turns it into a Monty Mole |
| Paper Mario: Color Splash | 2016 | Wii U | Fought as an enemy in the levels Toad Trainworks and Sunset Express; their lid was also redesigned to look more cardboard-like (though this only applied for the Paper Mario games) |
| Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS | 2016 | Nintendo 3DS | Same as in Super Mario Maker |
| Super Mario Run | 2016 | iOS / Android | Featured as an enemy; some can also throw coins like in Super Mario 3D Land |
| WarioWare Gold | 2018 | Nintendo 3DS | WarioWare debut; Featured as an enemy in the microgame Super Mario Bros. 3 |
| New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe | 2019 | Nintendo Switch | Same as in New Super Mario Bros. U |
| Super Mario Maker 2 | 2019 | Nintendo Switch | Similar to Super Mario Maker, though Monty Moles were made a separate part in Course Maker from them; their lid is also a Mii outfit |
| Paper Mario: The Origami King | 2020 | Nintendo Switch | A few appear as friendly NPCs and have an enemy variant named origami Rocky Wrench |
| Mario Kart Tour (Pirate Tour) | 2020 | iOS / Android | Returns in DS Airship Fortress as an obstacle |
| Mario Golf: Super Rush | 2021 | Nintendo Switch | Cameo as a name shown on the Bonny Greens Open scoreboard |
| Mario Kart 8 Deluxe | 2023 | Nintendo Switch | Appears as an obstacle in Rome Avanti during Wave 6 of the Booster Course Pass; redesigned to look more like their original appearance from Super Mario Bros. 3 as well. |
Television
| Title | Year of release | Role |
|---|---|---|
| The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 - "Princess Toadstool for President" | 1990 | Minor enemy; several Rocky Wrenches appear driving tanks |
| The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 - "Mush-Rumors" | 1990 | Cameo enemy; they make a minor cameo throwing wrenches at the real world family |
| The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 - "The Ugly Mermaid" | 1990 | Minor enemy; they throw wrenches at Mario and his friends from the Doom Sub |
| The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 - "Up, Up, and a Koopa" | 1990 | Major enemy; A Rocky Wrench appears as a the guard for the cage Emperor Ed (and later Mario and Luigi) are in |
Profiles and statistics
Super Mario series
Super Mario Bros. 3 / Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3
- Super Mario Bros. 3 English instruction booklet: "Rocky is a turtle who kind of looks like a mole. He will suddenly appear and start to throw wrenches from his fingers at Mario or Luigi."
- Super Mario Bros. 3 Japanese instruction booklet: モグラようなカメ族。穴からニョキッと出てきてスパナを投げてくる。飛行船の乗組員だ。 ("Mole-like members of the Turtle Tribe. They will pop out of a hole to throw their spanner. They are the maintenance crew of the airship.")
- Nintendo Power Volume 13: "These turtles often serve as crew of Koopaling Airships and military vehicles."
- Nintendo Power Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 Player's Guide: "As the crew of the Koopalings' airships and Bowser's fleet, Rocky Wrenches defend their vehicles by throwing tools."
Super Mario Run
- Notebook bio: "This guy serves as an engineer on an airship. It'll pop up and throw a wrench at you from time to time."
Item description
- Rocky Wrench Statue: "Rocky Wrenches are often found guarding airships. Don't you just want to stomp on this statue?"
Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten
プー
種族 カメ族
性格 やんちゃ
登場ゲーム 3
スパナを投げてくるカメ
飛行船の中のマンホールみたいな所から顔を出し、スパナを投げてくるモグラのようなカメ。スパナを投げる前に踏んでしまうか、顔を出す前に通り過ぎてしまおう。[8]
Rocky Wrench
Tribe: Turtle clan
Disposition: Mischievous
Game appearances: 3
Spanner throwing turtle
This mole-like turtle emerges from a manhole-like place in the airship and throws spanners at you. Step on it before it throws a spanner, or walk past it before it shows its face.
Paper Mario series
Paper Mario: Sticker Star
 Rocky Wrench | ||
| Max HP | Attack | Defense |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | 5 | 0 |
| Moves | Stickers | Location(s) |
| Wrench Throw (5), Big Wrench Throw (10), Hide (makes attacks miss for one turn) | Shiny Tail, Tail, Wrench | Bowser Jr.'s Flotilla |
Paper Mario: Color Splash
 Rocky Wrench | ||||
| HP | Type | Strong | Weak | Enemy class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | Normal | None | None | ENEMY_RANDAM_1_5 |
| Location(s) | Moves | Card probability | Dropped items | |
| Toad Trainworks, Sunset Express | Spanner Attack (10), Wrench Attack (15), Group Attack (15) | 3 | Hammer Scraps: 5 Yellow paint: 70 | |
Quotes
Paper Mario: Color Splash
Usual:
- "Ugh, this lid is heavy."
- "Gut wrencher!"
- "It's too bright outside!"
- "Nyah nyah! Can't get me!"
While under lid:
- "I need more wrenches..."
- "This hole is too small!"
Paper Mario: The Origami King
- "Ehh? It's not ready yet! Come back later!"
- "It's ready. Are YOU ready? I got Collectible Treasures! Keep it a secret, eh?"
- "I'm workin' on somethin' else. Come back later."
- "I'm out of stuff."
- "O-O-O-OK."
- "You want the [item]? That's [price] coins. We got a deal?"
- "Thanks, pal."
- "You tryin' to pull a fast one? You ain't got the coins!"
- "That's it! I'm outta treasures. Thanks, pal. You've been my best customer. I'll never forget ya."
- "Oi! You got somethin' you wanna yak about?"
- "Ah, yeah, that place. There's some kind of weird Toad livin' in there. He sciences a whole buncha weird junk."
- "Good luck gettin' in to see the guy. Place is blocked by some kinda red streamer thingy. Ah, you can see for yourself."
- "If you ask me, the guy livin' in that house has a few screws loose. Talkin' all this "the world is actually round" nonsense. Pfft!"
Gallery
- For this subject's image gallery, see Rocky Wrench/gallery.
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | プー[1] Pū |
Japanese onomatopoeia for tooting or honking sound, and the sound of spitting something; shared with white puff |
| Chinese | 扳手仔 Bānshou Zǎi |
Wrench Guy |
| Dutch | Rocky Wrench | - |
| French | Torti Taupe Cléo la Clé[9] |
Pun on "tortue" (tortoise) and "Topi Taupe" (Monty Mole) Cléo the key |
| German | Rocky Schraubschlüssel Rocky Wrench[9] |
Rocky Wrench - |
| Italian | Tartatalpa Rocky Tartatalpa[10] (Super Mario Trading Card Collection) Lanciattrezzi (The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3) |
Pun on tartaruga ("turtle") and Tantatalpa (Monty Mole) Rocky turtle Monty Mole Tool Thrower |
| Korean | 뚜[11] Ttu |
A tooting or honking sound, copying Japanese |
| Portuguese (Brazil) | Rocky Toupeira | Rocky Mole |
| Portuguese (Europe) | Toupeira Rocky | Rocky Mole |
| Romanian | Soldat cheie (The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3, episode "The Ugly Mermaid") | Wrench soldier |
| Russian | Роки-ключ Roki-klyuch |
From English name and ключ (klyuch, "wrench") |
| Spanish (Americas) | Topo Rocky Rocky Wrench[12] |
Rocky Mole - |
| Spanish (Europe) | Tortopo | Portmanteau of tortuga ("tortoise") and topo ("mole") |
Trivia
- In official artwork for an airship in Super Mario Bros. 3, Roy Koopa hides in a trench and throws wrenches in a manner very similar to Rocky Wrenches.
- In some early Nintendo Power volumes, Rocky Wrenches are confirmed to be ninjas,[13] with one reference comparing them to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.[14] However, later pieces of media (including the stuff Nintendo Power made later on) would never bring up Rocky Wrenches being ninjas, and instead, they would focus on Rocky Wrenches being engineers.
- A Sammer Guy by the name of Spanner of Rock appears in Super Paper Mario; his name and speeches including references to Rocky Wrenches.
- An image in the files for the official Nintendo of America website shows a picture of Rocky Wrench's New Super Mario Bros. Wii artwork that is called "Morty Wrench".[15] This could have likely been a typo, however, it could have also hinted at an unused or unseen enlarged variant of Rocky Wrench which would have likely had connections to Morty Moles from Super Mario 3D Land.
References
- ^ a b c 「モグラようなカメ族。穴からニョキッと出てきてスパナを投げてくる。飛行船の乗組員だ。」 ("Mole-like members of the Turtle Tribe. They will pop out of a hole to throw their spanner. They are the maintenance crew of the airship.") - Super Mario Bros. 3 Japanese instruction booklet, page 38.
- ^ "These turtles often serve as crew of Koopaling Airships and military vehicles." - Nintendo Power Volume 13, page 9.
- ^ "Rocky is a turtle who kind of looks like a mole. He will suddenly appear and start to throw wrenches from his fingers at Mario or Luigi." - Super Mario Bros. 3 English instruction booklet, Page 37.
- ^ Super Mario Power page 15
- ^ "These crafty moles show themselves just long enough to throw a wrench at you before dropping back out of sight." von Esmarch, Nick. Super Mario 3D Land PRIMA Official Game Guide, page 15.
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXha79EO_aU
- ^ https://mariopedia.org/wiki/File:TSMBM_Koopa_Troop_Concept_Art.jpg
- ^ Shogakukan. 1994.「パーフェクト版 マリオキャラクター大事典」 (Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten), page 183.
- ^ a b Super Mario Bros. 3 Deutsch and French instruction booklet, page 43.
- ^ The Golden Eagle (September 23, 2022). Panini - Super Mario card collection. YouTube. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
- ^ "스타를 이용해서 뚜 15마리를 쓰러뜨려라!" (Defeat 15 Rocky Wrenches by using Stars!) - In-game description of Mission 6-2 in Mario Kart DS.
- ^ Club Nintendo (Mexico) Año 1 No. 1. Page 7.
- ^ Nintendo Power Volume 11, page 14. "Watch out for Rocky Wrench and the Ninja Gophers!"
- ^ Nintendo Power Volume 13, page 24. "Rocky Wrench, Ninja Turtle He’s not a mutant or a teenager, but Rocky is a turtle and he does throw ninja throwing wrenches! He’s also a major nuisance in World 8."
- ^ https://twitter.com/mariobrothblog/status/1270816053636083715
- Turtles
- Monty Moles
- Relatives
- Koopa Troop
- Leaping Lizards enemies
- Monster Mix-Up
- LEGO Super Mario characters
- Mario Kart 7 species
- Mario Kart DS species
- Mario Kart Tour species
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe species
- New Super Mario Bros. U enemies
- New Super Mario Bros. Wii enemies
- Paper Mario: Color Splash enemies
- Paper Mario: Sticker Star enemies
- Super Mario 3D Land enemies
- Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 enemies
- Super Mario Bros. 3 enemies
- Super Mario Maker enemies
- Super Mario Maker 2 enemies
- Super Mario Run enemies
- The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 enemies
