Editing Thunder Cloud

{{about|an item in the ''Mario Kart'' series|the enemy from ''Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3''|[[Pikkarikun]]|the boss from ''[[Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!]]''|[[Thunder Cloud (Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!)]]}}
{{item infobox
|image=[[File:MKW Thunder Cloud Artwork.png|200px]]<br>A Thunder Cloud from ''[[Mario Kart Wii]]''
|first_appearance=''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]'' ([[List of games by date#2001|2001]])
|latest_appearance=''[[Mario Kart Arcade GP DX]]'' ([[List of games by date#2013|2013]])
|effect=Speeds up the vehicle, and shrinks the vehicle if it strikes
}}
The '''Thunder Cloud''' (originally '''Thundercloud'''), also known as the '''Lightning Cloud''', '''cloud''',<ref>{{cite|title=''Nintendo Power Advance'' Volume 2|page=21|date=Summer 2001|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us}}</ref> or '''lightning''',<ref>{{cite|date=August 21, 2001|author=Walsh, Doug|publisher=BradyGAMES|title=''Mario Kart: Super Circuit'' Official Racing Guide|page=103|language=en-us|isbn=0-7440-0091-2}}</ref> is an object from the ''[[Mario Kart (series)|Mario Kart]]'' series. It appears as an obstacle on [[Rainbow Road (Mario Kart: Super Circuit)|Rainbow Road]] in ''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]'' and as an item in ''[[Mario Kart Arcade GP]]'', ''[[Mario Kart Arcade GP 2]]'', ''[[Mario Kart Wii]]'', and ''[[Mario Kart Arcade GP DX]]''. This item works similarly to the [[Time Bomb (item)|Time Bomb]] in ''Mario Kart Arcade GP'' and ''Mario Kart Arcade GP 2''. However, it shrinks opponents rather than exploding. In ''Mario Kart Wii'', its console ''Mario Kart'' debut, unlike the rest of the items that appear in said game, it activates itself automatically when obtained from an [[Item Box]], and it cannot be thrown, unlike in the arcade games. This item makes a buzzer sound when received from an Item Box, a sound that is not heard from any other item in the game. It can be obtained if the player is anywhere from third to seventh place, and in VS races, they can also obtain it in eighth place. The best chances of getting this item are in fourth and fifth place, with a 7.5 percent (three out of 40) chance of getting it in said positions. It is one of six items wherein only one can be in play at a time (the other five being the [[Blooper]], [[Spiny Shell (blue)|Spiny Shell]], [[Bullet Bill]], [[POW Block]], and [[Lightning]]). Once a Thunder Cloud is obtained, another Thunder Cloud cannot be obtained until the current one disappears.

When a Thunder Cloud is obtained, the player automatically receives a constant boost of speed. Also, drivers with a Thunder Cloud do not slow down when they go off-road. However, the Thunder Cloud eventually strikes and shrinks the player after they have it for exactly ten seconds, having the same effects of the Lightning. The Thunder Cloud, however, can be passed on to another [[kart]] or [[bike]] by bumping into any other racer before the lightning strikes. To use the item efficiently, racers have to bump another player and let them be shrunk instead. It can be destroyed when the character holding it drives into a [[cannon]], falls off the track, or uses a [[Super Star|Star]], a [[Mega Mushroom]], or a [[Bullet Bill]].
==Profiles==
===''Mario Kart Wii'' instruction manual===
'''Description:''' ''"Lightning clouds float above you, and after a set amount of time, zap you with lightning. If you hit an opponent before the time runs out, however, you can pass the cloud off."''
===''Mario Kart Wii'' trading card===
[[File:MKW_Lightning_Cloud_Trading_Card.jpg|right|85px]]
'''Description:''' ''"The Lightning Cloud can be thought of as an unwanted gift, if you will. Unlike other items, you may not necessarily want this item to show up in your Item Window. When you pick it up it activates immediately and there's nothing you can do about it. Granted, it increases your speed and stability, but when its effects runs out you'll shrink down as you would when hit with Lightning."''

'''Game Tip!:''' ''"If the Lightning Cloud appears overhead, quickly bump into the nearest Kart or Bike and the Lightning Cloud will be transferred to that vehicle!"''
{{br|left}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
ThunderCloud-MKWii-Icon.png|Icon from ''Mario Kart Wii''
MKWThunderCloudModel.png|Model from ''Mario Kart Wii''
MKAGPDX_Cloud_Thunder.png|A Thunder Cloud in ''Mario Kart Arcade GP DX''
Thunder Cloud MKAGP.PNG|Screenshot from ''Mario Kart Arcade GP''
MKW Thunder Cloud Shrink.png|[[Luigi]] is shrunk by the Thunder Cloud.
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Rain Cloud]]
*[[Snow Cloud]]

==Names in other languages==
{{foreign names
|Ger=Wolkenblitz
|GerM=Cloud lightning
|SpaE=Rayo Intra Nube
|SpaEM=Lightning inside Cloud
|SpaA=Nube de rayos
|SpaAM=Lightning cloud
|Ita=Nuvola Grigia
|ItaM=Gray cloud
|FreE=Nuage Zap
|FreEM=Zap Cloud
|FreA=Nuage d'éclair<ref>{{cite|title=''Mario Kart Wii'' game manual|page=31}}</ref>
|FreAM=Lightning Cloud
|Jap=カミナリぐも
|JapR=Kaminari Gumo
|JapM=Lightning Cloud
}}

==References==
<references/>

{{MKAGP}}
{{MKAGP2}}
{{MKW}}
{{MKAGPDX}}
[[Category:Clouds]]
[[Category:Mario Kart Arcade GP items]]
[[Category:Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 items]]
[[Category:Mario Kart Arcade GP DX items]]
[[Category:Mario Kart: Super Circuit objects]]
[[Category:Mario Kart Wii items]]
[[de:Wolkenblitz]]
[[it:Nuvola Grigia]]