The items make the game fun, and obviously causes arguments! Depending in what position youare in you'll get a better item. That's why some people like to stay at the back and get a blue shell, and then win at the last minute. Be aware of the items other characters have by looking at the touch screen/bottom screen of your Nintendo DS.

Items are obtainable by going through item boxes. If the player presses the L button whilst the slot like item box is choosing an item for you, you'll be able to select an item straight away.

Players can hold items behind them to stop people from getting past, or to allow them to get another item. Only some items can be dangled and this can be performed by holding the L or X buttons. Items marked with a * can be dangled.

	1.	Banana * These cause opponents to spin when slipped on. Place these in narrow routes, and try to get them in the middle of tracks to make it more likely that someone will slip on it. These are good for blocking red or green shells. You can throw bananas forward by holding up and pressing L, or releasing L after holding it.
	2.	Triple Bananas * Triple Bananas are basically just three bananas. Make sure you spread these across the track evenly.
	3.	Green Shell * These shoot in straight lines. I often find it best to drift and shoot at the same time to get a more accurate shot. Use the bottom screen to see where to shoot. Also,shoot it backwards or hold it behind to block items from hitting you. These are good to use for hitting at walls, and making them rebound.
	4.	Red Shell * These are basically homing missles. Make sure you direct the shot, so it actually hits the player. Unlike the green shell, this item crashes after rebounding at a wall. Use these wisely.
	5.	Triple Green Shells/ Triple Red Shells These are used just like the single ones. However, these go around you to protect you. Ram into others with these around you, or aim them at others. MAke sure that you use these items effectively and save them for when they are needed. Especially the Triple Red Shells. Triple Green Shells are useful for to hit at the walls and rebound so players in front or behind, will have to dodge all three.
	6.	Spiny Shell Also known as the BLUE SHELL of death. This critter goes to the character in first place and blows them up basically. Anyone caught in the blue hemisphere that surrounds the character who has been blown up will get caught in the impact.
	7.	Fake Item Box* Looks like an item box, but isn't. Intriguing!
	8.	Bob-omb* If you have one of these you can drop it, or throw it forward to blow up your opponents. Amazing! These are really fun to use, if you blow someone up. Just make sure you don't get hit by a green or red shell whilst the bob-omb is dangled behind you, or else you'll get blown up.
	9.	Mushroom This provides a small boost. Use this over rough roads, such as sandy courses because these will provide a quicker shortcut for you when used correcctly.
	10.	Three Mushrooms Everytime you press L or X one of your three mushrooms will go.
	11.	Super Mushroom The super mushroom allows you to use unlimited mushrooms in about 5-15 seconds.
	12.	Bullet Bill You'll transform into Bullet Bill for a limited time and bump any idiots that are in the way! Bullet Bill, goes at fast speed!
	13.	Blooper This momentarily poos ink on the screens of opponents. Not nice at all. Bloopers - Yuck! Do you know where there bloop poop comes from?
	14.	Boo Hoo Usually just known as Boo. This temporarily makes a character invisible, meaning they can't get hit. Also, they steal an item from the closest person who has an item to you. The best item in the game in my opinion.
	15.	Lightning Bolt Use this and your opponents shrink to size. Aww... Too bad you can't squash them into the floor like in Mario Kart 64. Anyhoo, this gives you a chance to finally give fatty bowser his own medicine and push him; that's if you don't use Bowser as a character.
	16.	Star Getting this makes you temporarily invincible. Amazing. Bash into other karts to send them flying!