Mario Kart: Double Dash / Items

Knowing how to use standard and character-specific items is essential to winning the game. Learn more about them here!

You can acquire items by running into the Item Boxes you find on courses and stages. The items you receive are determined randomly. If you are falling behind you are more likely to receive powerful items.

Items will sometimes fall on the course when karts spin or flip. If you run into items lying on courses or stages, you will be affected by those items instantly.

* For in-depth strategies, check out this guide by Matt Schembari.

Standard Items

Banana Peel
These slippery skins can be dropped in strategic spots to send rivals into sudden spins. Can be thrown forward or backward.

Green Shell
Green Shells move in straight lines when thrown and knock karts for a loop if they hit. Can be thrown forward or backward.

Red Shell
Red Shells seek out karts in front of you and flip them over when they strike. Can be thrown forward or backward.

Blue Spiny Shell
This winged wonder heads straight for the leader of the pack and explodes on impact. Any kart caught in the blast area will flip. This item does not appear in Battle Mode.

Fake Item Box
These items of deception look similar to real item boxes, so place them where your opponent won't expect or near real item boxes for maximum effect. Can be thrown forward or backward.

Mushroom
These turbo toadstools give karts brief speed bursts.

Triple Mushrooms
Triple Mushrooms allow you to dash three times in a row.

Star
Stars make karts temporarily invincible and increase their top speeds. Karts hit by Star-wielding karts will go flying.

Thunderbolt
This mighty bolt strikes all opponents at the same time, causing them to spin out, drop their items, and shrink in size, which reduces their max speeds.

Character Items

Mario & Luigi | Fireballs
They split up after they're thrown and go sailing ahead. These powerful pyrotechnics can take out multiple opponents at once. Can be thrown forward or backward.

Donkey Kong & Diddy Kong | Giant Banana
Only DK and Diddy know where these monstrous fruit can be found. Once they're in the road, they're tough to maneuver around. Can be thrown forward or backward.

Daisy & Peach | Heart
Flying hearts surround the royal ladies' karts, and any item that hits them becomes theirs to use. A cute and handy item.

Koopa Troopa & Paratroopa | Triple Shells (Green/Red)
Don't let Koopa Troopa and Paratroopa worry about not having enough shells. Get three at a time! Can be thrown forward or backward.

Baby Mario & Baby Luigi | Chain Chomp
This fearsome beast chases karts with reckless abandon, pulling the babies behind it at breakneck speeds.

Birdo & Yoshi | Eggs
These eggs roll down the road and home in on opponents. When they hit and break, they'll drop three more items. Can be thrown forward or backward.

Bowser & Bowser Jr. | Bowser's Green Shell
An awe-inspiring giant shell! As it careens down the road, slamming and ramming into karts, it's the very image of Bowser himself. Can be thrown forward or backward.

Wario & Waluigi | Bob-omb
Take aim and give your opponents an explosive surprise. Mess up, and you might just hit yourself! Can be thrown forward or backward.

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