Special Item (Mario Kart series)
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A Special Item is the name applied to certain item that is obtainable only to a specific character in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!. Unlike a standard item, most of these items can be obtained in any place during a race, and while a character holds a special item, the second character cannot have another special item from Item Boxes.
History
Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
Special items make their debut in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!. Characters have special items exclusive to them. A certain special item is given to one of the two characters. Though some characters seem to have a personal power-up used only by them, some share the same function like the other's weapon. Petey Piranha and King Boo are the only characters who can receive any special item excluding Green Fireball and Birdo's Egg (due to the Mario Bros. and Yoshi and Birdo each having their own exclusive version of their special item while all other pairs have no difference in items). Additionally in Battle mode, all characters are able to use all the special items, but only Luigi can get a Green Fireball while only Birdo can get a Magenta Egg.
Petey Piranha & King Boo
Any special item, excluding Green Fireballs and Birdo's Egg
1 - Special Items were already regular items prior to Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
2 - Special items would become a regular item in future Mario Kart titles.
Mario Kart Arcade GP
Special items appear in Mario Kart Arcade GP. They are specific to certain characters with each character having six special items. All special items must be unlocked by winning races.
| Item | Character | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Star | Mario and Luigi | Status |
| Hammer | Mario and Luigi | Melee |
| Fireball | Mario and Luigi | Shoots forward or backward |
| Chain Chomp | Mario and Luigi | Lock-on shot |
| Block | Mario and Luigi | Drops backward |
| Special Coin | Mario and Luigi | Status |
| Star Mark Banana | Donkey Kong | Status |
| 10T Hammer | Donkey Kong | Melee |
| Barrel | Donkey Kong | Shoots forward or backward |
| Giant Banana | Donkey Kong | Drops backward |
| Conga | Donkey Kong | Other |
| Delicious Banana | Donkey Kong | Status |
| Shell Body | Bowser | Status |
| Flaming Tender | Bowser | Other |
| Bowser Shell | Bowser | Shoots forward or backward |
| Thwomp | Bowser | Drops backward |
| Bullet Bill | Bowser | Shoots backward |
| Meat | Bowser | Status |
| Wario Car | Wario | Status |
| Stretch Punch | Wario | Melee |
| Bob-omb | Wario | Drops backward |
| Snot Bomb | Wario | Shoots forward or backward |
| Fart Gas | Wario | Drops backward |
| Garlic | Wario | Status |
| Miracle Mushroom | Toad | Status |
| Mushroom Hammer | Toad | Status |
| Mushroom Powder | Toad | Drops backward |
| Poison Mushroom | Toad | Shoots forward or backward |
| Sick Mushroom | Toad | Shoots backward |
| Fine Mushroom | Toad | Status |
| Egg Body | Yoshi | Status |
| Whacking Fan | Yoshi | Melee |
| Mystery Egg | Yoshi | Drops backward |
| Rolling Egg | Yoshi | Shoots forward or backward |
| Tongue | Yoshi | Other |
| Melon | Yoshi | Status |
| Power Pill | Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man | Status |
| Quack Hammer | Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man | Melee |
| Rally-X | Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man | Drops backward |
| Galaga Boss | Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man | Shoots forward |
| Pooka | Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man | Shoots forward or backward |
| Fairy | Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man | Status |
| Princess's Drink | Peach | Status |
| Frying Pan | Peach | Melee |
| Piranha Plant | Peach | Drops backward |
| Peach's Bird | Peach | Shoots forward or backward |
| Heart | Peach | Other |
| Cake | Peach | Status |
| Monster Shield | Blinky | Status |
| Monster's Hammer | Blinky | Melee |
| Flare Ball | Blinky | Drops backward |
| Petit Monster | Blinky | Shoots forward or backward |
| Ghost Morph | Blinky | Status |
| Monster Pill | Blinky | Status |
Mario Kart Arcade GP 2
Special items return in Mario Kart Arcade GP 2. Mario Coins can be collected to unlock character-exclusive special items.
| Item | Character | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Star | Any character | Status |
| Hammer | Mario and Luigi | Melee |
| Fireball | Mario and Luigi | Shoots forward or backward |
| Chain Chomp | Mario and Luigi | Lock-on shot |
| 10T Hammer | Donkey Kong | Melee |
| DK Barrel | Donkey Kong | Shoots forward or backward |
| Giant Banana | Donkey Kong | Drops backward |
| Shell Body | Bowser | Status |
| Flaming Tender | Bowser | Other |
| Bowser Shell | Bowser | Shoots forward or backward |
| Thwomp | Bowser | Drops backward |
| Wario Car | Wario | Status |
| Stretch Punch | Wario | Melee |
| Bob-omb | Wario | Drops backward |
| Snot Bomb | Wario | Shoots forward or backward |
| Mushroom Hammer | Toad | Status |
| Mushroom Powder | Toad | Drops backward |
| Poison Mushroom | Toad | Shoots forward or backward |
| Egg Body | Yoshi | Status |
| Whacking Fan | Yoshi | Melee |
| Rolling Egg | Yoshi | Shoots forward or backward |
| Tongue | Yoshi | Other |
| Rally-X | Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man | Drops backward |
| Galaga Boss | Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man | Shoots forward |
| Pooka | Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man | Shoots forward or backward |
| Frying Pan | Peach | Melee |
| Piranha Plant | Peach | Drops backward |
| Peach's Bird | Peach | Shoots forward or backward |
| Monster's Hammer | Blinky | Melee |
| Flare Ball | Blinky | Drops backward |
| Petit Monster | Blinky | Shoots forward or backward |
| Bagubagutchi | Mametchi | Drops backward |
| Chibi Syrup | Mametchi | Lock-on shot |
| Mame Block | Mametchi | Shoots forward or backward |
Mario Kart Arcade GP DX
Special items reappear in Mario Kart Arcade GP DX. However, unlike previous entries, after a character is selected, it is randomly assigned to a special item during a race. Palette swaps of characters will enable the use of an exclusive item only available to that swap.
- MKAGPDX Power Ball.png
Mario Kart Tour
Special Items reappear in Mario Kart Tour (known as Special Skills), working similar to Mario Kart: Double Dash!! Gold Mario can only use his special item, the Coin Box, in Gold Rush during the Valentine's Tour.
| Image | Name | Description | Exclusive character(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| File:MKT Icon GiantBanana.png | Giant Banana | "Not only does this big banana spin out karts that hit it, but after being struck it breaks into three regular-sized Bananas. The only banana split you'll be sad to see!" |  
|
| File:MKT Icon TripleBanana.png | Triple Bananas | "Three bananas revolve around your kart. Tap the screen to throw them all at once and they'll land all lined up in a nice, tidy row!" | 
|
| File:MKT Icon BananaBarrels.png | Banana Barrels (new) | "Arm your kart with two fully-loaded barrels of Bananas! Continually shoots out Bananas in front of your kart for a set time." | 
|
| File:MKT Icon TripleGreenShell.png | Triple Green Shells | "Three Green Shells revolve around your kart. Tap the screen to throw all of them at once and they'll fly in a straight line." |    
|
| File:MKT Icon BowserShell.png | Bowser's Shell | "This big ol' shell on loan from Bowser will crash any karts it hits and keep on going. It can only be thrown forward." |   
|
| File:MKT Icon TripleMushroom.png | Triple Mushrooms | "Why use just one Mushroom when you can use three? Tap the screen to use them all at once for a longer-lasting speed boost." |  
|
| File:MKT Icon MushroomCannon.png | Mushroom Cannon (new) | "A cannon designed to resemble a Mushroom. Continually shoots out Mushrooms in front of your kart for a set time." |    
|
| File:MKT Icon YoshiEgg.png | Yoshi's Egg | "Homes in on the kart in front of you and crashes once it hits. Three more items will fly out when it breaks. It's the item that keeps on giving!" |   
|
| File:MKT Icon BirdoEgg.png | Birdo's Egg | "Homes in on the kart in front of you and crashes once it hits. Three more items will fly out when it breaks. It's the item that keeps on giving!" |  
|
|
Heart | "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." |     
|
| File:MKT Icon FireFlower.png | Fire Flower | "Three fireballs will revolve around your kart. Tap the screen to throw them all at once, spinning out any kart they hit. You're really burning up the track now!" |     
|
| File:MKT Icon IceFlower.png | Ice Flower (new) | "Three balls of ice will revolve around your kart. Tap the screen to throw them all at once and they'll freeze any kart they hit, causing them to slide" |   
|
| File:MKT Icon BoomerangFlower.png | Boomerang Flower | "Tap the screen to throw a boomerang. Not only will it spin out any karts it hits, but it will collect any surrounding Coins for you, too." |    
|
| File:MKT Icon LuckySeven.png | Lucky Seven | "Seven items (Red Shell, Banana, Green Shell, Bob-omb, Super Horn, Mushroom, and Blooper) revolve around your kart. Tap the screen to use all seven items at once." |   
|
| File:MKT Icon DoubleBobomb.png | Double Bob-ombs (new) | "Two Bob-ombs will revolve around your kart. Tap the screen to throw them both at once. Two is better than one, right?" |     
|
| File:MKT Icon BobombCannon.png | Bob-omb Cannon (new) | "This launcher automatically launches a volley of Bob-ombs. Handle with care!" |    
|
|
Bubble (new) | "Briefly envelops your kart and protects you from damage for a set time. While in the bubble, you will get a speed boost and float in the air. Watch out, because it will vanish upon taking damage!" |    
|
| File:MKT Icon DashRing.png | Dash Ring (new) | "Tosses out three rings in front of you along the track. Pass through them for a speed boost!" |    
|
| File:MKT Icon CoinBox.png | Coin Box (new) | "A box with a golden sheen. Generates a large amount of Coins in front of your kart for a set time." |      
|
Gallery
Mario using the Fire Flower
Yoshi using the Yoshi's Egg
Daisy using the Heart
Donkey Kong using the Giant Banana
Rosalina using the Dash Ring
Mario (Hakama) using the Coin Box
King Boo (Luigi's Mansion) using the Bob-omb Cannon
Ice Mario using the Ice Flower
