Warp Barrel

Warp Barrels are rare, hidden barrels that appear in the Donkey Kong Country and Donkey Kong Land game series. As their names suggest, Warp Barrels warp the Kongs through a stage to arrive near the finish line and clear it. Many warp barrels are located in certain almost inaccessible zones, usually hidden off the screen. Warp Barrels are an optional way to finish a stage, because they act as shortcuts, but they don't affect the game progress.

Usually they appear as barrels with a "W" for "warp" painted on them and covered with stars (sans stars for the Donkey Kong Land series). In Donkey Kong Country, they appeared as Auto-Fire Barrels.

Extra Life Balloons usually appear in warp stages.