Special Cup

Conquer Wario Stadium, Peach Gardens, Bowser Castle, and Rainbow Road in Super Mario Kart's Special Cup. Get tips and strategies for each challenging track.

Alright, so you've made it to the Special Cup in Super Mario Kart! This is where things really start to heat up. We've got four legendary tracks ahead of us, each with its own unique challenges. Let's break them down so you can dominate them.

Wario Stadium

This version of Wario Stadium is pretty straightforward and wide, a far cry from its N64 counterpart. You'll be dealing with some jumps and turns, but the main things to watch out for are the booster ramps that launch you over mud pits and the spinning fire wheels. Try to steer clear of those fire wheels' arms! Early on, you can grab some item boxes by jumping through fire rings. Honestly, it's a pretty simple track once you get the hang of avoiding those few obstacles.

Peach Gardens

Get ready to race through the gardens outside a classic castle! The beginning areas have you going around circular paths with flower patches. Power sliding is going to be your best friend here, especially on those wide turns and sharper ones between the flowers. When you hit the bush garden, watch out for Chain Chomps – try to snag any items on their chains, but don't get too close! After that, you'll navigate more bushes (you can't drive through these ones). Up ahead in the dirt, Monty Moles will pop out of holes, so try to dodge them to avoid wiping out.

Bowser Castle

Now, this is a more involved course! You'll start in an opening hallway, so be sure to avoid the Thwomps – crashing into them or getting crushed will set you back. In another room, the floor spins, and you'll need some good speed to make it through the opening on the other side without hitting the walls. You'll then make your way up a spiraled path in the tower and speed across a rotating log. You'll have to move left and right on that log to avoid falling off! After that, there are some moving platforms to cross and a few 90-degree turns. The laps aren't super long, but there are plenty of hazards to keep you on your toes.

Rainbow Road

As expected, the final track in the Special Cup is the iconic Rainbow Road. This course is famous for its lack of barriers, meaning falling off the edges is a real danger! After an initial speedy dive, you'll hit a wide loop with boosters on the ground. Keep an eye out for a vertical loop, a long straightaway, some hairpin turns, and then a corkscrew. The very end has a couple of simple, fenced-in turns. It's a blast to race on, but just be super careful not to slip off the sides – it's way too easy to do!