Mega Mushroom

The Mega Mushroom is a mushroom that is introduced to the Mario Kart series in Mario Kart Wii. When activated, the Mega Mushroom grows the user to a massive size. In this state, the massive racer can flatten other racers and make them drop any items they are carrying. However, the player is still vulnerable to Lightning, Chain Chomps as items, Bullet Bills, and racers under the effect of a Star.

Mario Kart Wii
The Mega Mushroom makes its first Mario Kart appearance in Mario Kart Wii, where it is one of the three new items, the other two being the Thunder Cloud and the POW Block. In addition to growing bigger, this item causes the player character's voice to get much deeper. Furthermore, it now offers the players the ability to squash other players for a certain amount of time, reducing their speed and making them lose their items. While this item is active, the players receive a speed boost and cannot slow down when going off-road, and they are invincible to all dangerous things, except for the Star, the Bullet Bill, and the Blooper, giving them the power to destroy any items or any course obstacles, except those that are big and metallic (such as Chain Chomps). If players get hit by Lightning while they are big, they shrink back to normal size rather than becoming tiny. The effect also ends prematurely if players fall off the course. The Mega Mushroom's theme music from New Super Mario Bros. is played for the duration of the item's effect.

Mario Kart: Halfpipe Frenzy
After thirteen years of absence (being absent from 7, 8, and Insanity), the Mega Mushroom returns as a usable item in Mario Kart: Halfpipe Frenzy.

Information

 * Number of Games It Appears In: 6 games
 * The Games It Appears In: Arcade GP (2005), Arcade GP 2 (2007), Wii (2008), Arcade GP DX (2013), Halfpipe Fenzy (2021), Arcade GP: Bike Edition (2022)
 * Total Duration: 17 Years

Trivia

 * The Mega Mushroom is the only item introduced in Mario Kart Wii to not return in Mario Kart Insanity. That game brings back the POW Block, as well as the Fake Item Box and the Thunder Cloud.