Spiny Shell (blue)

The Spiny Shell is an item from the Mario Kart series. It first appeared in Mario Kart 64, where it was known as the Blue Spiny Shell. While Spiny Shells are blue with spikes and wings, ordinary Blue Shells do not have spikes or wings. The general purpose of the Spiny Shell is to attack the first place racer when the item is used, regardless of the position of the player that used the item.

This blue item should not be confused with the ordinary Blue Shells from a variety of other Mario games. The spiked appearance of the Spiny Shell in the Mario Kart series is based off the Spiny Shell seen in numerous Mario games, although the functions and later appearance of the Spiny Shell in the Mario Kart series are very different.

Mario Kart 64 and Mario Kart: Super Circuit
When the item was first introduced in Mario Kart 64 for the Nintendo 64, the shell had no wings and traveled along the ground. It was essentially a blue version of the common Spiny Shell and named Blue Spiny Shell. In the game, any player outside of first place could receive this item, although there were certain Item Boxes along the way that automatically gave players a Blue Spiny Shell, regardless of their position. One such question block is the one located on top of a big rock in the Koopa Troopa Beach course, which can only be reached by ascending up a narrow and difficult ramp. If that box is collected, even the first place player could receive a Blue Spiny Shell. When a player used a Blue Spiny Shell in Mario Kart 64, it traveled along the ground and struck any player ahead of the player that used the item. The only way to avoid an oncoming Spiny Shell was to veer out of its way at the last second, where it could miss and keep on going. The first place person cannot avoid the Blue Spiny Shell unless he/she happened to have a Star (which is extremely rare for a first place person to have) or if he/she simply plummeted off the course to avoid the shell. When the Blue Spiny Shell hit the first place person, it would disappear. If the first place person did manage to avoid the attack by plummeting off the course, the Blue Spiny Shell could actually circle all the way around the course again to attack the first place person. The best way to avoid the Blue Spiny Shell in first place is to have a Boo item, where the racer would disappear and allow the shell to travel right through him/her. However, in this case, the shell could circle back around if there is still time left in the race. Using the Boo item could also allow a player to steal a Blue Spiny Shell from another player, even if he/she is still in first place.

When receiving a Blue Spiny Shell, a player could hold the item button down and carry the shell on the back of his/her kart. The shell would absorb any attacks from behind, and any other player that ran into the back of the person’s kart would get blown up by the shell, while the player could continue to hold onto the shell. However, if that player was attacked by a Star or fell off the course, he/she would lose his/her shell. If a player in first place happened to have a Blue Spiny Shell and shot the item, the shell could circle all the way back around the course and attack that very same person if the race is not over. Or, sometimes, the shell would simply turn right back around and attack the first place player. Therefore, having a Blue Spiny Shell in first place is not a desirable item in this game.

The item served the same function in Mario Kart: Super Circuit for the Game Boy Advance, although the shell had a darker blue color. When the item was shot in both games, it made a distinct siren sound to alert those ahead that a shell was coming. The Spiny Blue Shell was one the rarest of items found in both of those games. The siren sound was changed after these games to an ominous “whoosh” sound to alert unfortunate victims of its presence.

Mario Kart: Double Dash!!


In Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, The Spiny Shell was changed significantly. It is an standard item that any player could obtain by running over an Item Box or even a Double Item Box. From this game, the Shell appears with a pair of wings that allow the item to fly instead of sliding over the ground, and so skip any obstacle found in the course. The item is only given for the racers that were in fourth place or lower. By throwing one after obtained, the shell flyes by flipping its wings at incredible speed to the current head racer and bypassing any of the other positions. After finding its target, the shell hovers behind the vehicle to home in on it and explode on contact. A Spiny Shell would cause a great blue blast and throw the player up into the air. Other racers near to the leader would also be blown up by the blast or spun around a bit after the impact. All the items held by the player will drop to the road as well by the explosion.

It went directly to the first place person, while bypassing any of the other positions. Other positions could see the Spiny Shell “whooshing” through the air above them.

Mario Kart DS


In Mario Kart DS, the Spiny Shell has suffered no changes since its redesign in Double Dash!!. The Spiny Shell worked in the same manner as in Double Dash!!. It is obtainable for fourth to seventh place, with the exception for the player in last place, which she or he just cannot obtain. Once fired, a Spiny Shell flies following the road to reach to the header racer. Once locating its target, the shell spins briefly over its target and falls over the vehicle, creating an explosion to send the vehicle flying and destroy the items held by the racer. Almost unavoidable, a player can prevent to be caught by the explosion using items like a Star, a Bullet Bill or Boo. For unknown reasons, being hit by certain items such as a Red Shell or a Fake Item Box will also prevent to the player to be blown up.

The item is not available in Battle Mode.

Mario Kart Wii
The Spiny Shell made its latest appearance in Mario Kart Wii for the Wii. Its function is identical to Mario Kart: Double Dash!!. The item is far more common in this game, especially if the options are changed prior to playing the Versus Mode. If the option is changed to “Aggressive,” then Spiny Shells are far more common and given to a variety of different race positions. In that setting, racers can get the items if they are as close as fifth place. The item is less common if the settings are changed to “Strategic” or “Balanced”, but are still commonly given to players in lower positions. In the Grand Prix mode, items are usually given strategically based on positions. If a player is targeted for attack by a Spiny Shell or is in the vicinity to be hit by the blast, the player can avoid the attack by means of a Star, Mega Mushroom, Mushroom or Bullet Bill, although those items are extremely rare for someone in a higher position to have.

A Spiny Shell can be obtained if the racer is in third place or lower. The player that holds a Spiny Shell, other racers cannot receive another shell until the player has used it and the item has exploded over its target. As in Double Dash!!, the Spiny Shell always attacks the leading person in the race. Therefore, if the first place person already crossed the finish line, any Spiny Shells shot after that point will go to the active leader of the race (in this case the second place racer). So, after the first place person finishes, the second place person and so on can be victims of Spiny Shell attacks if he/she are the unfinished leader in the race.

In team races and Battle Mode, the Spiny Shell, as with other items, cannot attack members of the same team. In team races, a Spiny Shell would go to the leader of the opposing team to blow him or her regardless the place the opponent stays. They are also available to use in Battle Mode, carrying the same function as in team races. In this mode, the shell will chase after the leading member of the opposing team to take away one balloon, if there is a Balloon Battle in session, or drop several Coins if there is a Coin Collectors battle. Players can avoid the explosion by using the aforementioned items above.