Mario Kart Wii - Items Guide/Walkthrough For the Nintendo Wii Guide by Stephen Marcok - steve.gamefaqs(at)gmail.com 4 Player Offline Game, 12 Person online game Created on: 07/07/2008 Last Update: 01/06/2009 =============================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Test This is just a test for me to ensure that it is 79 characters. ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZA ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table Of Contents ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Introduction....................1 Version History.................2 What are Items?.................3 Items and Descriptions..........4 4.01.......Triple Bananas / Banana 4.02.......Green Shell / Triple Green Shell 4.03.......Red Shell / Triple Red Shell 4.04.......Mushroom / Triple Mushroom 4.05.......Bob-omb 4.06.......Spiny Shell 4.07.......Fake Item Block 4.08.......Golden Mushroom 4.09.......Bullet Bill 4.10.......Blooper 4.11.......Lightning 4.12.......Star 4.13.......Mega Mushroom 4.14.......POW Block 4.15.......Lightning Cloud Credits.........................5 Copyright.......................6 =============================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Introduction (1) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hello. My name is Stephen and I am the author of this guide. This guide is specifically for the items in Mario Kart Wii. In it, I will explain what they are, what they look like, how to use them, and how to avoid them if possible. I'm using the American version of the game to write this guide. If you need to specifically find something, use the Table of Contents and find the number of what you are looking for. Then, use the "Find" feature and type in the number. It should bring you to where you want to go. (The "Find" feature shortcut is accessed by pushing "Control" + "F" on the standard internet browser.) =============================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Version History (2) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- July 8, 2008 Guide completed after one day and sent in for approval on Version 1.00 GameFAQs. July 17, 2008 Fixed a problem with the numerical sections. Not anything Version 1.05 to do with the actual information. Dec. 30, 2008 Added some extra points about Fake Item Blocks, the Spiny Version 1.20 Shell, and the POW Block. Jan. 3, 2009 Minor spelling errors fixed. Version 1.21 Jan. 6, 2009 Added info on dodging thunder clouds. Version 1.25 =============================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What are Items? (3) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Items are things on the course in Mario Kart Wii that can affect you in a negative way, or a positive way. They look like blue, green cubes with a question mark in the middle. When you touch one, you pick it up, and an item is randomly determined. Your place can affect which items you get, as the farther back you are in the race, the better your items will be - or should be. For example, if you were in first, you might get a banana which barely helps you. If you were in last, you might get a Bullet Bill, which will help you greatly. Sometimes, if you're in last, you can get an item that will bring you all the way up to first! This is a picture of an item so that you can see what it looks like: http://i345.photobucket.com/albums/p378/MKItems/RegularItemBox.jpg Some items can be equipped, and held behind you, some leave you once you deploy them, and one starts to affect you once you obtain it. You can only hold one item at a time, but if you equip it, you can hold two. For example, if you had a banana, and you held the button that is used to deploy it without letting go, that will equip the banana behind you so that you can pick up another item at the same time. =============================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Items and Descriptions (4) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ALL ITEM NAMES ARE TAKEN FROM THE AMERICAN VERSION OF THE GAME. ------------------------------ Triple Bananas / Banana (4.01) ------------------------------ Description: The banana is a yellow banana peel that stays on the road until it is hit. When it's hit, it will make your car spin out, making you slow down or fall behind in the race. Using it: The banana isn't that useful, but if used properly, it can help you out. It's best to use it when someone is right behind you, so that they hit it and it puts some distance between you two. Another way to use it would be to hold it behind you. If someone fired a red shell, or a green shell, and it was on its way to hit you, it would hit the banana instead. This will keep you from being affected. The banana that you were holding onto would no longer exist, but you wouldn't spin out or lose time. If you have a triple banana, and you use it, the three of them will automatically trail behind you while attatched to you. When they are trailing, you can hold other items, and they will deflect all attacks that are fired at you. Defending against it: The banana just sits on the road and doesn't move so the only way not to run into it is to watch where you're going! Also, watch the backs of other racers, as they might be holding one out behind them. The only way you can run through a banana without getting affected is to have a star and become invincible, or to have shells rotating around you so that they hit the banana, and protect you. Picture: http://i345.photobucket.com/albums/p378/MKItems/Banana.jpg NOTE: This image is only of one banana. A triple banana item looks similar, but has three, instead of one. --------------------------------------- Green Shell / Triple Green Shell (4.02) --------------------------------------- Description: The green shell is an item that you can fire. It will bounce off walls, and if it hits a racer, will make them spin out. This will make them slow down or fall behind in a race. The Triple Green Shell does the same, but all three rotate around you. Using it: Normally, the green shell is used to fire at people, but it takes good aim if you are actually going to hit them. It's best to use them on straight roads so that there is more of a chance that you will hit someone. Another way to use it would be to hold it behind you. Like the banana (see above,) they can protect you from red and green shells that other people are firing. The triple green shell is different, and should be equipped once obtained. When equipped, they will rotate around you protecting you from other shells and bananas on the road. When they are rotating around you, you could also try to ram into other racers, as the green shells will make them spin out. When the triple shells are activated, you can hold other items as well. Defending against it: If you are holding something behind you (such as another shell or banana,) you can defend yourself from these. It's not to often that these shells will actually end up hitting you. Picture: http://i345.photobucket.com/albums/p378/MKItems/TripleGreenShell.jpg NOTE: This is a picture of a Triple Green Shell item. A single green shell looks similar, but there is only one. ----------------------------------- Red Shell / Triple Red Shell (4.03) ----------------------------------- Description: The red shell is an item that you can fire. It looks exactly like the green shell but is red. When fired, it will automatically home in on the racer ahead of you. When it hits them (if it hits them,) it will make them spin out, and slow down. The Triple Red Shell does the same, but all three rotate around you. Using it: The red shell is often used to fire at people if there are any ahead of you. There is a high chance of it hitting them unless they know how to defend against it. (See "Defending against it" section.) If there is nobody ahead of you, there isn't much point to firing it, and you should just hold on to it behind you in case someone else fires a Red Shell at you. If nobody does, you could save it for when someone passes you, and as soon as they do, fire it to hit them. The triple red shell is different, and should be equipped once obtained. When equipped, they will rotate around you protecting you from other shells and bananas on the road. When they are rotating around you, you could also try to ram into other racers, as the red shells will make them spin out. When the triple shells are activated, you can hold other items as well. Defending against it: If you are holding something behind you (such as another shell or banana,) you can defend yourself from these. Another way would be to drive near some bananas and hope that the red shell hits them. Picture: http://i345.photobucket.com/albums/p378/MKItems/TripleRedShell.jpg NOTE: This is a picture of a Triple Red Shell item. A single red shell looks similar, but there is only one. --------------------------------- Mushroom / Triple Mushroom (4.04) --------------------------------- Description: A mushroom is red and white and will give you a burst of speed that lasts for a short amount of time. Each one will give you one boost. Using it: Make sure that there are no obstacles ahead of you, and then just use it. It's best to use them on straight roads - they will not help you if you use them on turns. Also, you should save them if you know that there is a shortcut on the track. Some shortcuts will only work if you use a mushroom with them. Defending against it: There is nothing to defend against. Picture: http://i345.photobucket.com/albums/p378/MKItems/TripleMushrrom.jpg NOTE: This is a picture of a Triple Mushroom item. A single mushroom looks similar, but there is only one. -------------- Bob-omb (4.05) -------------- Description: A Bob-omb is a bomb that can be dropped on the road. It will explode after a certain amount of time, or if something hits it. Using it: If you have it, look behind to see if there are a bunch of people behind you. If there are, it would be best to drop it because it is likely that at least one will hit it. If one hits it, any kart near the one is also going to spin out because the explosion is quite large. It would not be very smart to hold a Bob-omb out behind you, because if someone hits you with an item, or bumps into you, the bomb will go off causing you to spin out. Defending against it: If someone who is right ahead of you drops a bomb, there isn't much time and you will likely run into it. If there is more space between you, try as hard as you can to drive around it, and hope that you miss the explosion. Picture: http://i345.photobucket.com/albums/p378/MKItems/Bob-omb.jpg ------------------ Spiny Shell (4.06) ------------------ Description: A Spiny Shell is a blue shell that when fired, flys through the air to get to first place. When it gets there, it will make an explosion like a Bob-ombs (only it will be blue) and will make you spin out, costing you lots of time. Using it: Once you get it, you may as well use it because there is no way it can be used against you (unless you are in first place.) When it is fired, it will fly through the air and home in on firt place. It will blow them up in a Bob-omb like explosion, costing them time. If you are in first and you have one of these, do NOT use it, becuase you will just blow yourself up. Defending against it: There really is no EASY way to dodge these shells. The most you can do if one is coming for you is slow down so that second place gets caught in the blast too. Of course, if they are far behind you, there is no point and you should just continue without waiting for second place. If you are in second and are right behind first when one of these shells are coming, try and keep away from first place so you don't get blown up too. However, on the rare occasion that you are in first, a spiny shell is coming for you, and you have a mushroom, there may be hope of avoinding the shell. If you use the mushroom at the last possible second, just before the shell is about to swoop down and hit you, you may be able to speed ahead, and the shell will hit right behind you. It will miss you, and you'll be able to drive away. It's quite hard to explain EXACTLY when, but there are many demonstrations on YouTube so you can just search the technique there. Another rare way to dodge these shells is to drive through a transporter. For example, the shell will not fly through the cannon on DK summit, the star chute on Rainbow Road, etc. However, you would need to be in the right part of the right tracks for this to work, so it isn't that effective. Picture: http://i345.photobucket.com/albums/p378/MKItems/SpinyShell.png ---------------------- Fake Item Block (4.07) ---------------------- Description: Fake item blocks are item blocks that look real, but are not. The are red, and have an upside-down question mark in the middle. Real blocks have a proper question mark in the middle. Like bananas, these items will make you spin out, costing you time. Using it: Just drop these items on the track and hope that opponents will run into them. It's best not to drop them near the sides of the track, and in the middle instead because that's where most people go. If you are playing with only CPUs, it doesn't take much strategy to decide where to put them, but if you are playing with other humans, you should think a little bit harder as to where to put them. A good spot to put them would be in real item blocks. When you pick a real item block up, simply drop a fake one there. A real one will reappear making it look as though the fake block is real. Another way to use these would be to hold them behind you. If someone bumps into you, they will also hit the block making them spin out. Unfortunatly, these blocks do not keep items such as shells from hitting you. Defending against it: If you see a lone item block on the road, chances are it's a fake one so don't go for it. You can also tell a fake by checking to see if it's red and has an upside-down question mark in the middle. Like bananas, they don't move so just look on the road and try not to hit them. NOTE: Fake Blocks can also be the color blue, if you're playing team battles or races. They will still have the same effect, no matter what the color is. Picture: http://i345.photobucket.com/albums/p378/MKItems/FakeItemBox.jpg ---------------------- Golden Mushroom (4.08) ---------------------- Description: These look like mushrooms, but are all gold and have a crown on them. These will give you multiple speed boosts. Once you get one, you will hold onto it until you use it. As soon as you use it once, an (internal) timer starts and the mushroom will dissappear once that timer reaches zero. You are free to use the mushroom as many times as you'd like before it runs out. Using it: Make sure that there are no obstacles ahead of you, and then just use it. It's best to use them on straight roads - they will not help you if you use them on turns. Also, you should save them if you know that there is a shortcut on the track. Some shortcuts will only work if you use a mushroom with them. Defending against it: There is nothing to defend against. Picture: http://i345.photobucket.com/albums/p378/MKItems/GoldenMushroom.jpg ------------------ Bullet Bill (4.09) ------------------ Description: This looks like a giant bullet. Your car will turn into one of these as soon as it is activated. Using it: Once you get one of these, you should use it. It will put your car on "auto-pilot" for a couple of seconds (depending on how far back you are.) It goes faster than a regular vehicle, and will bring you along the track taking out whatever is in it's way. This is basically like a star, but it drives for you. Defending against it: If you hear one coming up behind you, look back to see where it is, and try hard to get out of it's path. It might knock you off the track, and will knock whatever items you have out of you. You should definitly try not to get hit by one of these. Picture: http://i345.photobucket.com/albums/p378/MKItems/BulletBill.jpg -------------- Blooper (4.10) -------------- Description: This looks like a grey squid. It will cover your opponents (whatever opponents are ahead of you) with splotches of ink on their screen. Using it: When you get this, you should use it and it will cover your opponenets (the ones in front of you) screens with splotches of ink. This will make it harder for them to see, and will hopefully make them crash into things. Defending against it: If you get covered with this ink, the only way to get it off is to use a mushroom, or go over a speed patch. The ink will fade away after a couple of seconds. Picture: http://i345.photobucket.com/albums/p378/MKItems/Blooper.png ---------------- Lightning (4.11) ---------------- Description: This looks like a lightning bolt, and when used will shrink the opponents that are ahead of you. Using it: As soon as you get it, you may as well use it. It will shrink whatever opponents are ahead of you. Because they are small, they will go slower and it will be easy to pass or catch up to them. Another nice side effect is that all of their items will fall onto the road so you might find stars, or mushrooms on the road. However, shells will also fall so watch out for those. Defending against it: There isn't any way to stop yourself from getting shrunk, unless you are using a bullet bill or invincibility at the time. Another way you won't get shrunk is if you are of the course at the time in an out-of-bounds area. There is no way to tell when lightning will strike. If you are shrunk, do not go over any jumps that have gaps in the middle because you will not be able to get over them. Picture: http://i345.photobucket.com/albums/p378/MKItems/Lightning.jpg ----------- Star (4.12) ----------- Description: A gold star. When used your car will be invincible and nothing will be able to hurt it. Using it: When you use it, your car will become many different colors, and you will be lots faster. You will also be invincible so nothing will be able to hurt you. If you have it, you should try to run into other people, as that will make them spin out and lose all of their items. Defending against it: If someone behind you has this, keep out of their way so that they don't hit you. If they do, you will spin out and lose all of your items. Picture: http://i345.photobucket.com/albums/p378/MKItems/Star.jpg -------------------- Mega Mushroom (4.13) -------------------- Description: This was originally taken from the New Super Mario Bros. for the DS. When used, Mario would grow huge and would be able to walk through almost anything and crush lots of things. In Mario Kart, it looks the same with its big, orange, and red head. Using it: When you use this, you vehicle will become huge. Because of your size, you will be able to go faster, and will beable to squish others, making them as flat as a pancake. When they are squashed, they will go much slower, and after a little while will regain their original size. When you use this, you can drive normally, but you're just much bigger. Red shells, green shells, and other items won't affect you. This item is the oppisite of the Lightning Cloud, which will make you smaller. Unfortunatly, this item doesn't last for very long. Defending against it: There is really no way that this could affect you negatively, as long as you're the one thats large. If you're opponent is the one using this item, then you should run from them and try to keep away from them unless you want to be squished. Luckily, the item will soon wear out for them. Picture: http://i345.photobucket.com/albums/p378/MKItems/MegaMushroom.jpg NOTE: This is a new item to the Mario Kart series. ---------------- POW Block (4.14) ---------------- Description: The POW block is from the original Mario Bros. arcade game and in it, the POW block would stun all the enemies. In Mario Kart Wii, it has a similar affect. It is a blue and black box with the letters POW in the middle of it. Using it: When you use it, it will appear on opponents screens and will shake twice. On the third shake, it will make all opponents spin out. This item only affects people who are ahead of the person who fires it. This item works best against computers because there is quite an easy was of preventing it from affecting you which humans can easily use. (See "Defending against it" section.) However, the higher level a CPU is (by level I mean 50CC, 100CC, 150CC, and Mirror) the more CPUs can block it. If they don't block it, they will spin out and lose their items. If they do block it, they will still lose their items. Defending against it: To prevent a POW Block from affecting you, continuously do what you would to preform a trick (on a jump). For example, if I were using the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, a trick would be preformed by shaking the Wii Remote. To prevent it from making you spin out, you'd have to shake the Remote as the Block shakes for the third time. I find it easier to shake the remote for the whole time that the POW Block is up on the screen. Unfortunatly, you will still lose your items. Another way to keep it from affecting you at all is to be in the air at the time that it goes off. To do so, you would need to go off of a ramp or jump. When using this technique, you will not lose any items that you are carrying. Picture: http://i345.photobucket.com/albums/p378/MKItems/POWBlock.jpg NOTE: This is a new item to the Mario Kart series. ---------------------- Lightning Cloud (4.15) ---------------------- Description: The lightning cloud appears as a dark cloud with a lighting bolt on top of it. This item is quite annoying and will be used as soon as it is obtained. Using it: You have absolutely no choice when you want to use this item. As soon as you get it, it appears over you and is automatically activated. This item will (after a certain amount of time) go off and shrink you, and you only. Everyone else will be a normal size except for you. Luckily, before you shrink, it makes you go faster than normal so that it can give you a chance of getting rid of it. Defending against it: When this item is activated, it gives you a speed increase so that you are going faster than normal. This gives you a chance to get rid of it. To be rid of this annoying item, just bump into an opponent and the cloud will transfer to them, so that they shrink instead of you. Of course, they might pass it on as well until it finally shrinks someone. Another way to get rid of the cloud would be to go through a transporter such as the big barrel on DK Summit. If you don't have a lightning cloud above you, but someone behind you does, try to keep away from them so that it doesn't transfer to you. Picture: http://i345.photobucket.com/albums/p378/MKItems/LightningCloud.jpg NOTE: This is a new item to the Mario Kart series. =============================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Credits (5) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If I've made any mistakes in this guide, please e-mail me at "steve.gamefaqs(at)gmail.com" You will be credited. Any feedback is also appreciated. Thanks. - wowaname for contributing information on the Spiny Shell, and pointing out info about the Fake Item Block - Kladlike for information concerning the Lightning Cloud - Justeazy for pointing out info on Spiny Shells, POW Blocks, Bananas, and red/green shells. - Cameron Welch for showing me a problem (not with the actual information) - GameFAQs for hosting this on their site - You for reading or just browsing this FAQ YOUR NAME COULD BE HERE IF YOU HELP ME IN SOME WAY! The following have shown me spelling/grammar errors: - Cameron Leask =============================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright (6) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This FAQ is Copyright 2008 Stephen Marcok. This may be not be reproduced under any circumstances except for personal, private use. It may not be placed on any web site or otherwise distributed publicly without advance written permission. Use of this guide on any other web site or as a part of any public display is strictly prohibited, and a violation of copyright. All trademarks and copyrights contained in this document are owned by their respective trademark and copyright holders. The only websites allowed to host this FAQ are: GameFAQs......................................(www.gamefaqs.com) The must updated version will be found at GameFAQs. (www.gamefaqs.com) =============================================================================== END OF DOCUMENT =============================================================================== ===============================================================================