Mario Kart: Super Circuit / Items

Drive over Item Boxes on the race course to start a roulette-style shuffling of Items in the Item Window on top of the screen. Press the L Button to select your Item and then again to use the Item. Item-specific controls are discussed below.

Your position in the race will affect which Item you will receive. For example, it is very unlikely that someone in first place will acquire a Spiny Shell or a Star. Similarly, a racer mired in the back of the pack will receive Spiny Shells, Mushrooms, and Starts quite regularly.


Banana: Racers will spin out upon driving over a Banana. You can drop a Banana directly behind your kart by pressing the L Button, or you can choose to throw one up ahead by pressing Up on the + Control Pad as you press the L Button. Hold the L Button to use the Banana as a shield to cover the rear of your kart.


Green Shell: Green Shells can be fired straight ahead or behind you. They will ricochet off of solid objects such as the course boundary and guardrails. You can launch a Green Shell by pressing the L Button. Hold Down on the + Control Pad as you press the L Button to shoot the Green Shell behind you. Finally, you can set the Green Shell behind you as a shield by holding the L Button as you drive.


Triple Green Shells: Three Green Shells will rotate around your kart, serving to protect you from Bananas and other karts. Press the L Button to launch them forward one at a time. You cannot fire a Triple Shell backward.


Red Shell: Red Shells can be fired just like Green Shells, but they have the valuable ability to home in on the kart in front of you. You can launch Red Shells behind you, as well. The Red Shells can be placed on the track behind the racer. They will home in on the next kart that passes by.

TIP: Provided you maintain your speed and stay on the road, you can outrun a Red Shell long enough to get to a jump (Red Shells cannot clear jumps) or until you get to an Item Box. Press the hold the L Button if you acquire a Shell or Banana to use it as a shield.


Triple Red Shells: Triple Red Shells work just like the Triple Green Shells, yet have the homing ability that makes them so beneficial.

TIP: No matter how tempting it may be to fire off three Red Shells at once, don't do it. All three Shells will simply target the same kart and continuously hit it. Hit the kart ahead of you, pass it, and then fire a Shell at the next kart further up the road.


Spiny Shell: Spiny Shells pick up where Red Shells leave off. Not only do they home in on the leader of the race, but they will also crash their way through every kart between you and the hapless leader. Spiny Shells are seldom awarded to racers in the front of the pack.


Boo: Boo will let you steal an Item from one of the other racers. Although it will be at random, this is typically the only way you can acquire the more valuable Items when you're in the lead. The benefits of Boo don't stop there! When activated, Boo will make you and your kart invisible to Bananas, Shells, and many on-course obstacles, allowing you to pass through them undamaged. Finally, if you're in second place or lower, Boo will chase down the race leader and slow him or her down for you.


Lightning: When activated, the Lightning will briefly electrocute all of the other racers, causing them to shrink in size and speed. During the few seconds that the effect lasts, you can run into the miniature racers and cause them to spin out of control.


Mushroom: The Mushroom will give your kart a helpful turbo boost. Use the Mushroom to cut across the insides of turns, to speed down straight-aways, or to take advantage of shortcuts.


Star: Possibly the most precious of all Items, the Star gives you a temporary dose of invincibility. During this time, you'll also gain a healthy boost to your overall top speed. Use the Star to run into other racers, cut across off-road terrain, or to drive straight through trees and statues.