Bowser's Shell

Bowser's Shell, also referred to as the Bowser Shell, is an item in the Mario Kart series, starting with Mario Kart: Double Dash!! It is a gigantic spiky shell identical to Bowser's that can crash through multiple drivers and obstacles in a row.

Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
Bowser's Shell first appears in Mario Kart: Double Dash!! as a Special Item that Bowser and Bowser Jr. can receive. Like with most other Special Items, Petey Piranha and King Boo can also receive it. When released, it bounces around the track like a normal Green Shell, toppling any kart that it hits as well as knocking down the rear character, making the racers drop their items and temporarily disabling them from switching and using items. After Bowser's Shell hits the walls of a course roughly 15 times, the shell breaks apart. Unlike many other items, Bowser's Shell can resist being destroyed by some other items, and it even bounces off another Special Item should it collide with one.

Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 / Mario Kart Arcade GP DX
Bowser's Shell reappears as one of Bowser's items in Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 and as an item any character can use in Mario Kart Arcade GP DX.

Mario Kart Tour
Bowser's Shell reappears in Mario Kart Tour as the special skill of Bowser, Bowser Jr., Dry Bowser, and the Bowser and Dry Bowser Mii Racing Suits. It acts similarly to its original appearance, though it tends to slide along the middle of a racetrack and curve its trajectory towards nearby drivers. It can be thrown only forwards, not back. When Bowser's Shell+ is used, the shell is bigger and is able to hit other racers more easily.

The item currently has the longest gap between drivers getting the skill, with no drivers getting Bowser's Shell after Bowser Jr. got it in the Tokyo Tour, until the Bowser and Dry Bowser Mii Racing Suits got it in the 2022 Bowser Tour, a difference of 75 tours.

Mario Kart DS
An icon of the Bowser Shell is unused in the demo version of Mario Kart DS.

Mario Kart Tour

 * Tips & Tricks: This big ol' shell on loan from Bowser will crash any karts it hits and keep on going. It can only be thrown forward.
 * Mario Kart Tour Twitter: Special item introduction: Bowser's Shell In blue, there are special items for certain drivers. This big ol' shell will crash any kart it hits and keep on going. In tightly-packed races, this powerful item can take out multiple racers in a single throw!
 * Driver info: Hurl this sharp shell in front of your kart to scatter opponents.
 * Driver info (Bowser's Shell+): Bowser's Shell is bigger and a little better at tracking opponents.