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Airship Fortress Mario Kart DS · Star Cup, race 4

Airship Fortress in Mario Kart DS
Airship Fortress course preview

Inspired by the boss stages of Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World, this course crosses a crumbling fortress and runs through Bowser's airship. Bullet Bills, Rocky Wrenches and fire burners line the route, and a pipe cannon fires you from the ship into the fortress tower.

Cup
Star Cup · race 4
Origin
New in Mario Kart DS
Laps
3
Staff ghost
2'07"748
Online play
No
Airship Fortress course map
Course map (overhead view)

Lap walkthrough

  1. Start on a straight under fire from the airship's Bill Blaster
  2. Turn left, then right, and hit a Dash Panel up onto the deck where Rocky Wrenches pop out
  3. Make a tight left inside the ship into a hold full of breakable crates
  4. Pass through the room where two burners slide from side to side
  5. Get launched by the pipe cannon into a hole in the fortress tower
  6. Spiral down the corkscrew inside the tower and take the last turn to the finish

Racing tips

  • A Bullet Bill flips your kart over, so stay out of their path on the opening straight.
  • Steer clear of the Rocky Wrench hatches on the deck; hitting a Wrench knocks you over.
  • Crates in the hold can contain a Mushroom or a Banana.
  • Watch your position before the final turn, where racers can be knocked off the course.

Hazards

Bullet BillBullet BillBurnerBurnerRocky WrenchRocky Wrench

Also watch for: Wooden crates.

Staff ghost

Staff time
2'07"748
Beat to unlock
2'17"967
Racer
Bowser
Staff name
Ninten★シュン

Set a Time Trial record within 108% of the staff time to unlock the ghost. All staff ghost times.

Missions on Airship Fortress

  • Mission 6-2 Get Stars and run over 15 Rocky Wrenches! (Wario, 0:55)
  • Mission 7-7 Drive backward and collect all 12 coins! If you hit a burner, you fail! (Bowser, 0:50)

Full Mission Mode guide

Screenshots

Airship Fortress screenshot 1
Airship Fortress in Mario Kart DS
Airship Fortress screenshot 2
Airship Fortress in Mario Kart DS
Airship Fortress screenshot 3
Airship Fortress in Mario Kart DS

FAQ

What cup is Airship Fortress in?

The Star Cup, as race 4 of 4, in the Nitro Grand Prix.

How many laps is Airship Fortress?

3 laps.

What is the staff ghost time on Airship Fortress?

2'07"748, set with Bowser in the Hurricane. Finish a Time Trial in 2'17"967 or faster to race it.

Could you race Airship Fortress online?

No. It was one of the 12 courses left out of Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection play.

Sources & picture credits

Guide text is original retrogameindex writing, checked against the Super Mario Wiki and the Mario Kart Racing Wiki. Kart statistics, staff ghost times and item odds are the values from the game data as transcribed by the Super Mario Wiki. Screenshots, renders and artwork © Nintendo; local copies archived from Super Mario Wiki file pages (listed on the image gallery).