Super Mario Kart / Items and coins

Super Mario Kart Items and coins: speed, shells and the Feather

Understand the original item panels and coin penalties.

Edition covered

Original SNES rules and eight-driver roster. Later remakes of these tracks use different handling, items and layouts.

8 items · one picture per entry · open a picture for full size.

Items and coins

Short burst of speed

Good use: Cross a planned rough patch.

High jump

Good use: Clear a known gap or obstacle.

Seeks a racer ahead

Good use: Release on an open section.

Travels and rebounds

Good use: Aim along a straight.

Stationary road hazard

Good use: Place after a blind turn.

Speed and temporary invincibility

Good use: Drive through a crowded section.

Shrinks rivals

Good use: Disrupt a tightly grouped field.

Steals an item and grants temporary invisibility

Good use: Exclusive to Battle Mode and Match Race.

Ten coins maximize speed. Coins improve speed up to ten.
Item panels are not modern boxes. The flat Question Blocks become used after collection.
Choose where to spend movement items. A Mushroom helps across suitable slow terrain, while the Feather makes one high jump.
Keep a defensive route available. A homing Red Shell is still affected by the course geometry.

Coin rules
Event	Coin effect	What it means
Reach ten coins	Maximum speed benefit	Further coins are a reserve
Bump another kart	Lose one coin	Zero-coin contact can spin you
Hit by an item	Lose four coins	Rebuild your reserve afterward
Lakitu rescue	Lose two coins	A fall costs time and coins

References

Guide references
Reference	Website
Nintendo game information or original manual	www.nintendo.com
Original-edition mechanics and reference	www.mariowiki.com