Editing Special Cup

[[File:MK8 Special Cup Alternate Emblem.svg|thumb|200px|The Special Cup logo in ''[[Mario Kart 8]]'']]
The '''Special Cup''' is a [[cup]] in the ''[[Mario Kart (series)|Mario Kart]]'' series that exclusively features [[new course]]s. It is the fourth and final cup in ''[[Super Mario Kart]]'', ''[[Mario Kart 64]]'', and ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]'', and the last nitro cup since ''[[Mario Kart DS]]''. In ''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]'', it is the fifth and last of the standard cups, with the [[Classic course|Extra Cup]]s being unlocked after its completion and the Extra Special Cup being the final cup. The Special Cup's courses tend to be the longest and most difficult in the game, and always finish with a [[Rainbow Road]]; starting in ''Mario Kart: Super Circuit'', [[Bowser's Castle#Mario Kart series|Bowser's Castle]] is always the penultimate course before Rainbow Road (except in ''[[Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit]]'').

Aside from ''Mario Kart 64'' and ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]'' where the cup is available from the start, the criteria to unlock the Special Cup varies by game, although the [[Star Cup]] always must be completed successfully. In ''Super Mario Kart'', the player may unlock it by winning each of the other three cups in 100cc (though it will be unavailable for the 50cc class); in ''Mario Kart: Super Circuit'', it is unlocked by winning the four previous cups, each by class; in ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'', it is unlocked after the player finishes first in the Star Cup in 100cc; from ''Mario Kart DS'' onwards, it is unlocked once the player claims a trophy in the Star Cup.

The Special Cup's emblem is a smiling golden crown, which was first used in ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'' and standardized as the cup's emblem since. Originally the Special Cup's emblem was a stylized "S", which was first used in ''Mario Kart 64'' where it appears as a red "S" in a teal diamond, and carried over into ''Mario Kart: Super Circuit'' as a sparkling green "S" (although the instruction booklet uses the design from ''64''). In ''Super Mario Kart'' the Special Cup lacks a unique emblem entirely, and instead features a [[Super Mushroom]], a [[Fire Flower]], and a [[Super Star]], combining the emblems of the [[Mushroom Cup]], [[Flower Cup]], and Star Cup respectively. 

==List of courses==
{|align=center width=80% cellspacing=0 border=1 cellpadding=3 style="border-collapse:collapse; text-align:center"
|-
!width="10%"|Game
!width="15%"|Course 1
!width="15%"|Course 2
!width="15%"|Course 3
!width="15%"|Course 4
!width="15%"|Course 5
|-
!''[[Super Mario Kart]]''
|[[File:SMK Donut Plains 3 Overhead Map.png|85px]]<br>[[SNES Donut Plains 3|Donut Plains 3]]
|[[File:SMK Koopa Beach 2 Overhead Map.png|85px]]<br>[[SNES Koopa Troopa Beach 2|Koopa Beach 2]]
|[[File:SMK Ghost Valley 3 Overhead Map.png|85px]]<br>[[Ghost Valley 3]]
|[[File:SMK Vanilla Lake 2 Overhead Map.png|85px]]<br>[[SNES Vanilla Lake 2|Vanilla Lake 2]]
|[[File:SMK Rainbow Road Overhead Map.png|85px]]<br>[[SNES Rainbow Road|Rainbow Road]]
|-
!''[[Mario Kart 64]]''
|[[File:MK64 DK Jungle Parkway Icon.png|125px]]<br>[[N64 DK's Jungle Parkway|DK's Jungle Parkway]]
|[[File:MK64 Yoshi Valley Icon.png|125px]]<br>[[N64 Yoshi Valley|Yoshi Valley]]
|[[File:MK64 Banshee Boardwalk Icon.png|125px]]<br>[[N64 Banshee Boardwalk|Banshee Boardwalk]]
|[[File:MK64 Rainbow Road Icon.png|125px]]<br>[[N64 Rainbow Road|Rainbow Road]]
|''N/A''
|-
!''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]'' '''(Super Circuit tracks)'''
|[[File:Lakeside Park MKSC icon.png|85px]]<br>[[Lakeside Park]]
|[[File:Broken Pier MKSC icon.png|85px]]<br>[[Broken Pier]]
|[[File:Bowser's Castle 4 MKSC icon.png|85px]]<br>[[Bowser Castle 4]]
|[[File:Rainbow Road MKSC icon.png|85px]]<br>[[Rainbow Road (Mario Kart: Super Circuit)|Rainbow Road]]
|''N/A''
|-
!''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]'' '''(Extra tracks)'''
|[[File:MKSC Koopa Beach 2 Extra Cup Map.png]]<br>[[SNES Koopa Troopa Beach 2|Koopa Beach 2]]
|[[File:MKSC Ghost Valley 3 Extra Cup Map.png]]<br>[[Ghost Valley 3]]
|[[File:MKSC Vanilla Lake 2 Extra Cup Map.png]]<br>[[SNES Vanilla Lake 2|Vanilla Lake 2]]
|[[File:MKSC SNES Rainbow Road Extra Cup Map.png]]<br>[[SNES Rainbow Road|Rainbow Road]]
|''N/A''
|-
|'''''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]''
|[[File:WarioColosseumIcon-MKDD.png|125px]]<br>[[Wario Colosseum]]
|[[File:DinoDinoJungleIcon-MKDD.png|125px]]<br>[[GCN Dino Dino Jungle|Dino Dino Jungle]]
|[[File:BowserCastleIcon-MKDD.png|125px]]<br>[[Bowser's Castle (Mario Kart: Double Dash!!)|Bowser's Castle]]
|[[File:RainbowRoadIcon-MKDD.png|125px]]<br>[[Rainbow Road (Mario Kart: Double Dash!!)|Rainbow Road]]
|''N/A''
|-
!''[[Mario Kart DS]]''
|[[File:Wario Stadium MKDS preview.png|125px]]<br>[[DS Wario Stadium|Wario Stadium]]
|[[File:Peach GardensDS.png|125px]]<br>[[DS Peach Gardens|Peach Gardens]]
|[[File:Bowser Castle MKDS preview.png|125px]]<br>[[Bowser Castle (Mario Kart DS)|Bowser Castle]]
|[[File:MKDS Rainbow Road Intro.png|125px]]<br>[[Rainbow Road (Mario Kart DS)|Rainbow Road]]
|''N/A''
|-
!''[[Mario Kart Wii]]''
|[[File:Dry Dry Ruins.png|125px]]<br>[[Wii Dry Dry Ruins|Dry Dry Ruins]]
|[[File:Moonviewhighway.png|125px]]<br>[[Moonview Highway]]
|[[File:BowsersCastleMKW.png|125px]]<br>[[Bowser's Castle (Mario Kart Wii)|Bowser's Castle]]
|[[File:MKW Rainbow Road Overview.png|125px]]<br>[[Wii Rainbow Road|Rainbow Road]]
|''N/A''
|-
!''[[Mario Kart 7]]''
|[[File:DKJungle.png|125px]]<br>[[3DS DK Jungle|DK Jungle]]
|[[File:RosalinaIceWorld.png|125px]]<br>[[3DS Rosalina's Ice World|Rosalina's Ice World]]
|[[File:BowserCastleMK7.png|125px]]<br>[[3DS Bowser's Castle|Bowser's Castle]]
|[[File:RainbowroadMK7.png|125px]]<br>[[3DS Rainbow Road|Rainbow Road]]
|''N/A''
|-
!''[[Mario Kart 8]]'' / ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]''
|[[File:MK8-Course-CloudtopCruise.png|125px]]<br>[[Cloudtop Cruise]]
|[[File:MK8-Course-Bone-DryDunes.png|125px]]<br>[[Bone-Dry Dunes|Bone-Dry Dunes<br><small>Bone Dry Dunes</small>]]
|[[File:MK8-Course-Bowser'sCastle.png|125px]]<br>[[Bowser's Castle (Mario Kart 8)|Bowser's Castle]]
|[[File:MK8-Course-RainbowRoad.png|125px]]<br>[[Rainbow Road (Mario Kart 8)|Rainbow Road]]
|''N/A''
|-
!''[[Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit]]''
|[[File:MKLHC World 1-1 Course Icon.png|125px]]<br>[[World 1-1 (race course)|World 1-1]]
|[[File:MKLHC Chain Chomp Glacier Course Icon.png|125px]]<br>[[Chain Chomp Glacier]]
|[[File:MKLHC Rainbow Road Course Icon.png|125px]]<br>[[Rainbow Road (Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit)|Rainbow Road]]
|''N/A''
|''N/A''
|}

==''Mario Tennis'' series==
[[File:MarioChampionsCup.jpg|thumb|left|[[Mario]] winning the Champions Cup in ''Mario Tennis Open'']]
[[File:MTA online tournament cup.jpg|thumb|Winning an online tournament in ''Mario Tennis Aces'']]
The Special Cup reappears in ''[[Mario Tennis Open]]''. In this game, it is called the '''Champions Cup'''. It is the fourth cup in the game, and the last cup in the World Open tournament series. It is unlocked after the [[Banana Cup]] is completed. When the player completes the Champions Cup, their character earns a star rank, which boosts their stats and grants them access to the Star Open tournament series. The Champions Cup takes place in [[Mario Stadium (tennis court)|Mario Stadium]], with the hard, clay, and grass courts being used for the starting, semifinal, and final rounds respectively. Matches for this cup have one set for the starting round, three sets for the semifinals, and five sets for the finals.

In ''[[Mario Tennis Aces]]'', the [[trophy]] in online tournaments is based on the Special Cup's trophy.
{{br}}
==Completion awards in the ''Mario Kart'' series==
Winning the Special Cup in the ''Mario Kart'' series can award the player with various bonuses, depending on the game. Additional cups unlocked are excluded from this list.

===''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!''===
*50cc Special Cup: [[Bullet Blaster]]
*100cc Special Cup: [[Toad]], [[Toadette]], [[Toad Kart]]
*150cc Special Cup: [[All-Cup Tour]]
*Mirror Special Cup: [[Boo Pipes]]

===''Mario Kart DS''===
*All nitro cups (includes Special Cup) on 50cc: [[Dry Bones]]
*All nitro cups (includes Special Cup) on 100cc: Three karts for each playable character
*All nitro cups (includes Special Cup) or all retro cups (excludes Special Cup) on 150cc: Seven karts for each playable character
*All cups on 150cc: 150cc Mirror class
*All nitro cups (includes Special Cup) or all retro cups (excludes Special Cup) on 150cc Mirror: [[R.O.B.]]
*All cups on 150cc Mirror: All karts for each playable character

===''Mario Kart Wii''===
*50cc Special Cup: [[Piranha Prowler]]
*1 star rank or higher on all Wii cups (includes Special Cup) on 50cc: [[Baby Daisy]]
*100cc Special Cup: [[Mii]] Outfit A
*1 star rank or higher on all Wii cups (includes Special Cup) on 100cc: [[Sneakster]]
*150cc Special Cup: [[Princess Daisy|Daisy]]
*1 star rank or higher on all Wii cups (includes Special Cup) on 150cc: [[Dry Bowser]]
*All cups on 150cc: 150cc Mirror class
*Mirror Special Cup: [[Phantom (bike)|Phantom]]
*1 star rank or higher on all cups on 150cc Mirror: [[Rosalina]]

===''Mario Kart 7''===
*All cups on a single cc class: Mii
*150cc Special Cup: [[Metal Mario]]
*All cups on 50cc, 100cc, and 150cc: 150cc Mirror class

===''Mario Kart 8''===
Most unlockable characters in ''Mario Kart 8'' are unlocked at random upon winning Grand Prix cups (separate cups must be played to unlock characters), which includes the Star Cup. Characters that can be unlocked include Rosalina, [[Metal Mario]], [[Lakitu]], [[Toadette]], [[Baby Rosalina]], [[Pink Gold Peach]], [[Iggy Koopa]], [[Roy Koopa]], [[Lemmy Koopa]], [[Larry Koopa]], [[Wendy O. Koopa]], [[Ludwig von Koopa]], [[Morton Koopa Jr.]], and Mii. Mii is unlocked upon the eighth Grand Prix cup victory, unless an [[amiibo]] is used to unlock Mii beforehand.

In addition, the [[Gold Standard]] body can be unlocked by getting a 1 star rank or higher on all non-DLC cups (including the Special Cup) on any one engine class, and the 150cc Mirror class can be unlocked by winning all 150cc cups.

===''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''===
*1 star rank or higher on all cups on 150cc Mirror: Gold Standard
*All cups on 200cc: [[Gold Mario]]

==Profiles==
[[File:MKW Special Cup Trading Card.jpg|thumb|100px]]
*'''''Mario Kart 64'' website:''' "''As you'd expect, the Special Cup contains the most challenging courses in Mario Kart 64.''"
*'''''Mario Kart Wii'' trading card:''' "''Two Special Cup tracks, Bowser's Castle and Rainbow Road, have been Special Cup stalwarts. This time around the names may be the same, but the layouts are new & improved—and they're no cakewalk. In fact, these could be some of the most difficult tracks in Mario Kart Wii.''"
{{br}}

==Gallery==
===Emblems===
<gallery widths=85px>
SMK Special Cup Emblem.png|''Super Mario Kart''
MK64 Special Cup Artwork.png|''Mario Kart 64''
MK64 iQue Cup Artwork.png|''Mario Kart 64'' (China)
MK64SpecialCupMenuImage.png|''Mario Kart 64''
MK64IQueCupIcon.png|''Mario Kart 64'' (China)
MKSC Special Cup Artwork.png|''Mario Kart: Super Circuit''
MKSC Special Cup Emblem.png|''Mario Kart: Super Circuit''
MKSCIqueCupIcon.png|''Mario Kart: Super Circuit'' (China)<ref name="iQue">From the iQue localization prototype.</ref>
MKDD Special Cup Emblem.png|''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!''
SpecialCupLogo MKDD.png|''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!''
MKDS Special Cup Emblem.png|''Mario Kart DS''
MKW Special Cup Emblem.png|''Mario Kart Wii''
MK7 Special Cup Emblem.png|''Mario Kart 7''
MK8 Special Cup Emblem.png|''Mario Kart 8'' / ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''
MK8 Special Cup Emblem Mario Kart TV.svg|''Mario Kart 8'' / ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''
MKL Icon Special Cup.png|''Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit''
</gallery>

===Trophies===
<gallery>
MKDD Special Cup Screenshot.png|''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]''
MKDS Special Cup Screenshot.png|''[[Mario Kart DS]]''
MKW Special Cup Screenshot.png|''[[Mario Kart Wii]]''
MK7 Special Cup Screenshot.png|''[[Mario Kart 7]]''
MK8 Special Cup Screenshot.jpg|''[[Mario Kart 8]]'' / ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]''
</gallery>

==Names in other languages==
{{foreign names
|Spa=Copa Especial
|SpaM=Special Cup
|Fra=Coupe Spéciale
|FraM=Special Cup
|Ger=Spezial-Cup
|GerM=Special Cup
|Jap=スペシャルカップ
|JapM=Special Cup
|JapR=Supesharu Kappu
|Por=Taça Especial
|PorM=Special Cup
|Dut=Speciale Beker
|DutM=Special Cup
|Rus=Особый кубок
|RusR=Osobyy kubok
|RusM=Special Cup
|Ita=Trofeo Speciale<br>Coppa Speciale
|ItaM=Special Trophy<br>Special Cup
|Kor=스페셜 컵
|KorR=Seupesyeol Keop
|KorM=Special Cup
|ChiS=特别杯<br>''Tèbié Bēi''<br>皇冠杯 <small>(''Mario Kart 7'')</small><br>''Huángguàn Bēi''<br>神游杯 <small>(''Mario Kart 64''<ref>[http://imgsrc.baidu.com/forum/pic/item/11236f7f9e2f07084816c9e7ec24b899a801f238.jpg iQue's localization of ''Mario Kart 64'']</ref> and ''Mario Kart: Super Circuit''<ref name="iQue"/>)</small><br>''Shényóu Bēi''
|ChiSM=Special Cup<br><br>Crown Cup<br><br>[[iQue]] Cup
|ChiT=特別盃
|ChiTR=Tèbié Bēi
|ChiTM=Special Cup
}}

==Trivia==
*In the Time Trial and VS modes of ''Super Mario Kart'', the player can access the Special Cup before unlocking it by pressing buttons in this sequence: {{button|snes|l}} {{button|snes|r}} {{button|snes|l}} {{button|snes|r}} {{button|snes|l}} {{button|snes|l}} {{button|snes|r}} {{button|snes|r}} {{button|snes|a}}.
*In the Chinese versions of ''Mario Kart 64'' and ''Mario Kart: Super Circuit'', the Special Cup is called the "iQue Cup", named after the China-exclusive [[wikipedia:iQue Player|iQue Player]] home console.
*If [[Mario Kart (series)#Grand Prix|Grand Prix]] mode in ''Mario Kart Wii'' is highlighted on the menu, the Special Cup [[trophy]] from that game can be seen in the background.
*None of the Special Cup's courses from ''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]'' have reappeared as [[classic course]]s in a later ''Mario Kart'' game.
*The Special Cup is the only cup out of the traditional eight cups to not feature a [[Mario Circuit]] course at any point throughout the series.
**In addition, it is the only one of the eight whose emblem is not an obtainable item in the series.

==References==
<references/>

{{SMK}}
{{MK64}}
{{MKSC}}
{{MKDD}}
{{MKDS}}
{{MKW}}
{{MK7}}
{{MTO}}
{{MK8}}
[[Category:Cups]]
[[Category:Mario Kart 64]]
[[Category:Mario Kart 7]]
[[Category:Mario Kart 8]]
[[Category:Mario Kart DS]]
[[Category:Mario Kart Wii trading cards]]
[[Category:Mario Kart Wii]]
[[Category:Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]
[[Category:Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]
[[Category:Mario Tennis Open]]
[[Category:Super Mario Strikers cups]]
[[it:Trofeo Speciale]]
[[de:Spezial-Cup]]