Heart (Mario Kart series)
| Heart | |
|---|---|
 Artwork from Mario Kart Tour | |
| First appearance | Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (2003) |
| Latest appearance | Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (cameo) (2023) |
| Variant of | Heart (item) |
Hearts are a type of defensive item gained from Item Boxes in the Mario Kart series. They take the form of pink hearts with eyes which, when used, create two small hearts that protect the driver other items.
History[edit]
Mario Kart: Double Dash!![edit]
The Heart first appears in Mario Kart: Double Dash!! as the special items of Peach and Daisy, which can also be used by Petey Piranha and King Boo due to them being able to use any special item in the game. It resembles a pink heart with eyes and a smile. When used, two small pink hearts appear and circle around the kart. Each heart protects the kart from an obstacle or another item that hits them before being broken. If hit by an item, the driver can then use the new item as if it were theirs. When an item hits the player's heart barrier, a sound similar to that of the Spinning Heart from Super Mario 64 and Super Mario 64 DS can be heard. If a character activates a Heart after being shrunken by Lightning, the hearts circling the kart remain small even after the kart reverts to normal size.
Spiny Shells, Chain Chomps, and Bob-omb explosions penetrate the hearts. Lightning attacks and falling off the course destroy both circling hearts. Also, any fireballs received do not multiply by five when thrown again. If a green fireball hits a heart, the icon for the green fireball received is a red fireball.
Discounting color swaps, the Heart is the only special item not used in its respective team's group art, as the Peach and Daisy artwork instead shows a Mushroom.
Mario Kart Tour[edit]
The Heart appears in Mario Kart Tour as the special skill of Peach, Daisy, Wendy, Pink Yoshi, Pink Toad (Pit Crew), Pink Shy Guy, Baby Peach (Cherub), Daisy (Fairy), Baby Mario (Koala), and the Peach, Pink and Wendy Mii Racing Suits. They look similar to the hearts from Super Mario Odyssey, except they are colored pink like the Heart in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!. They only block opponents' items in this game, including Lightning, rather than enabling drivers to snatch and use these items. In addition, up to five hearts can be used at once. Activating a Heart grants players points.
Unlike in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, only one Heart appears when used, and it has a set time limit for use of 20 seconds, after which it disappears. When Heart+ is active, a second Heart appears alongside, much like in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, except the extra Heart disappears more quickly.
Hearts, along with other items, are also depicted on various flags hanging on strings in GCN Daisy Cruiser.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe[edit]
In the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass DLC, hearts with their Mario Kart Tour appearance can once again be seen on the flags of GCN Daisy Cruiser.[1]
Profiles[edit]
Mario Kart: Double Dash!![edit]
- Instruction booklet: Flying hearts surround the royal ladies' karts, and any item that hits them becomes theirs to use. A cute and handy item.[2]
Mario Kart Tour[edit]
- Tips & Tricks: This protective Heart revolves around your kart for a set amount of time, shielding you from attacks. It will vanish upon taking damage. You can stack up to five at once.
- Mario Kart Tour Twitter: Got a Red Shell on your tail? About to cross paths with a Bob-omb? Is a Lightning storm brewing? Then you need the Heart item - A special item usable by princesses! Each heart protects you from one dangerous attack.[3]
- Driver info: This Heart is overflowing with kindness! It will protect you from opponents' attacks.
- Driver info (Heart+): You get 1 additional Heart! The additional Heart runs out quickly so make it count!
Gallery[edit]
Artwork of the Heart item in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
Sprite of the Heart item in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
Daisy and Baby Luigi using the Heart item in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
Sprite of the Heart in Mario Kart Tour
Sprite of a heart created by the Heart in Mario Kart Tour
Artwork of the Heart seen on flags in GCN Daisy Cruiser in Mario Kart Tour
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ハート Hāto |
Heart | [4] |
References[edit]
- ^ 任天堂ホームページ (July 6, 2023). GC デイジークルーザー. YouTube (Japanese). Retrieved July 6, 2023.
- ^ 2003. Mario Kart: Double Dash!! Instruction Booklet. Redmond: Nintendo of America. Page 19.
- ^ mariokarttourEN (September 28, 2019). Post. Twitter (English). Retrieved September 28, 2019.
- ^ @mariokarttourJP (December 18, 2025). キャラ「ピンクヨッシー」とマシン「ピンクヨッシーターボ」が、ツアー後半のリーグランキング上位報酬として登場！#マリオカートツアー (image). X (Japanese). Retrieved April 23, 2026.
