- For the enemy that debuted in Sonic Mania, see Iwamodoki (Classic).
The Iwamodoki (イワモドキ[1]?), also known as the Fake Rock,[2] is an enemy that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It is a mass-produced, hermit crab-based Badnik model created by Dr. Robotnik.
Appearance
Based on hermit crabs, Iwamodokis are disguise as one of the rocky blocks in Lava Reef Zone. Beneath their disguise they have a pair of black eyes and a grey body with violet details around it.
Overview
In Sonic & Knuckles, and the lock-on game Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles, Iwamodokis are only encountered in Lava Reef Zone where they mostly remain stationary under rocks. When the player gets close enough though, the Iwamodokis will open their eyes and prepare to self-destruct, flashing briefly in the process. Eventually, the Iwamodoki will explode into a rocky shower that can damage the player, and release the Animal inside it. No points are awarded when they self-destruct, despite the score object showing up when it self-destructs.
Iwamodokis cannot be destroyed by attacks, so it is best to get out of the way when they detonate. However, these projectiles will bounce harmlessly off any shield variant.
Powers and abilities
Iwamodokis can self-detonate themselves as their method of attack, though at the cost of themselves.
Trivia

Hirokazu Yasuhara's sketch of Iwamodoki from the Japanese manual.
- Although their name does not show up in any manual and the Badnik itself only seen briefly in Hirokazu Yasuhara's sketches of the Japanese manual, "Iwamodoki" appears to come from Japanese material such as Sonic Jam Official Guide book[1] however, a Sonic the Comic Q Zone which covered Sonic & Knuckles refers to the enemy as "Mushmeanie".[3] This may be analogous to Blastoid and Sparkle (previously also known as "Blastoid") in Sonic the Hedgehog 3.
- Although this Badnik blows itself up, its Animal comes out unharmed, unlike in similar cases with self-detonating Badniks, like Bombs.
- "Iwamodoki" means "pseudo-rock" in Japanese.
- In Sonic & Knuckles, during Lava Reef Zone, the Iwamodoki's color scheme changes to match that of the Act's color.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 (in Japanese) ソニックジャム オフィシャルガイド. SoftBank. 2 October 1997. p. 85. ISBN 978-4797303377.
- ↑ Flynn, Ian; Sega (8 December 2021). Sonic the Hedgehog Encyclo-speed-ia. Dark Horse Books. p. 57. ISBN 978-1506719276. "Fake Rock - It hides among the other rocks, waking up to self-destruct!"
- ↑ Sonic the Comic #44, "Sonic & Knuckles Special Part 2"