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[[Image:Special Cup.png|frame|]]
[[File:MK8 Special Cup Alternate Emblem.svg|thumb|200px|The Special Cup logo in ''[[Mario Kart 8]]'']]
The '''Special Cup''' is the final cup of each game in the ''[[Mario Kart (series)|Mario Kart'' series]]. In ''[[Super Mario Kart]]'', the player may unlock it by winning all three cups in 100cc; in ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]'', it appears after the player comes first in the [[Star Cup]] in 100cc. Special Cup consists of long, difficult courses. It usually has a [[Bowser's Castle (course)|Bowser's Castle]] course and always ends with [[Rainbow Road]]. The emblem of the Special Cup is currently a crown (seen to the right), however in ''Mario Kart 64'' and ''Mario Kart Super Circuit'' it was represented by the the letter "S", the initial of "special". In ''Super Mario Kart'' it was a combination of the three emblems used for the [[Mushroom Cup]], [[Flower Cup]] and [[Star Cup]].
 
<br clear=all>
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]]'').
==List of Courses==
 
{| class=sortable align=center width=100% cellspacing=0 border=1 cellpadding=3 style="border-collapse:collapse; font-family:Arial; text-align:center"
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==
{|class=wikitable width=100% style="text-align:center"
|-
!colspan="2" width="25%"|Game
!width="15%"|Course 1
!width="15%"|Course 2
!width="15%"|Course 3
!width="15%"|Course 4
!width="15%"|Course 5
|-
!colspan="2"|''[[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]]
|-
!colspan="2"|''[[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''
|-
!rowspan="2" width="13%"|''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]''
!width="12%"|Super Circuit tracks
|[[File:Lakeside Park MKSC icon.png|85px]]<br>[[GBA Lakeside Park|Lakeside Park]]
|[[File:Broken Pier MKSC icon.png|85px]]<br>[[Broken Pier]]
|[[File:Bowser's Castle 4 MKSC icon.png|85px]]<br>[[GBA Bowser's Castle 4|Bowser Castle 4]]
|[[File:Rainbow Road MKSC icon.png|85px]]<br>[[Rainbow Road (Mario Kart: Super Circuit)|Rainbow Road]]
|''N/A''
|-
|-
! width="25%" |Game
!Extra tracks
! width="17%" |Course 1
|[[File:MKSC Koopa Beach 2 Extra Cup Map.png]]<br>[[SNES Koopa Troopa Beach 2|Koopa Beach 2]]
! width="15%" |Course 2
|[[File:MKSC Ghost Valley 3 Extra Cup Map.png]]<br>[[Ghost Valley 3]]
! width="15%" |Course 3
|[[File:MKSC Vanilla Lake 2 Extra Cup Map.png]]<br>[[SNES Vanilla Lake 2|Vanilla Lake 2]]
! width="15%" |Course 4
|[[File:MKSC SNES Rainbow Road Extra Cup Map.png]]<br>[[SNES Rainbow Road|Rainbow Road]]
! width="15%" |Course 5
|''N/A''
|-
|-
!''[[Super Mario Kart]]
!colspan="2"|''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash&#x21;&#x21;]]''
|[[Donut Plains 3 (course)|Donut Plains 3]]
|[[File:WarioColosseumIcon-MKDD.png|125px]]<br>[[Wario Colosseum]]
|[[Koopa Beach 2]]
|[[File:DinoDinoJungleIcon-MKDD.png|125px]]<br>[[GCN Dino Dino Jungle|Dino Dino Jungle]]
|[[Ghost Valley 3]]
|[[File:BowserCastleIcon-MKDD.png|125px]]<br>[[Bowser's Castle (Mario Kart: Double Dash!!)|Bowser's Castle]]
|[[Vanilla Lake 2]]
|[[File:RainbowRoadIcon-MKDD.png|125px]]<br>[[Rainbow Road (Mario Kart: Double Dash!!)|Rainbow Road]]
|[[Rainbow Road#Super Mario Kart|Rainbow Road]]
|''N/A''
|-
|-
!''[[Mario Kart 64]]
!colspan="2"|''[[Mario Kart DS]]''
|[[D.K.'s Jungle Parkway]]
|[[File:Wario Stadium MKDS preview.png|125px]]<br>[[DS Wario Stadium|Wario Stadium]]
|[[Yoshi Valley]]
|[[File:Peach GardensDS.png|125px]]<br>[[DS Peach Gardens|Peach Gardens]]
|[[Banshee Boardwalk]]
|[[File:Bowser Castle MKDS preview.png|125px]]<br>[[Bowser Castle (Mario Kart DS)|Bowser Castle]]
|[[Rainbow Road#Mario Kart 64|Rainbow Road]]
|[[File:MKDS Rainbow Road Intro.png|125px]]<br>[[Rainbow Road (Mario Kart DS)|Rainbow Road]]
|''N/A''
|''N/A''
|-
|-
!''[[Mario Kart Super Circuit]]
!colspan="2"|''[[Mario Kart Wii]]''
|[[Lakeside Park]]
|[[File:Dry Dry Ruins.png|125px]]<br>[[Wii Dry Dry Ruins|Dry Dry Ruins]]
|[[Broken Pier]]
|[[File:Moonviewhighway.png|125px]]<br>[[Wii Moonview Highway|Moonview Highway]]
|[[Bowser Castle 4]]
|[[File:BowsersCastleMKW.png|125px]]<br>[[Bowser's Castle (Mario Kart Wii)|Bowser's Castle]]
|[[Rainbow Road#Mario Kart: Super Circuit|Rainbow Road]]
|[[File:MKW Rainbow Road Overview.png|125px]]<br>[[Wii Rainbow Road|Rainbow Road]]
|''N/A''
|''N/A''
|-
|-
|'''''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]
!colspan="2"|''[[Mario Kart 7]]''
|[[Wario Colosseum]]
|[[File:DKJungle.png|125px]]<br>[[3DS DK Jungle|DK Jungle]]
|[[Dino Dino Jungle]]
|[[File:RosalinaIceWorld.png|125px]]<br>[[3DS Rosalina's Ice World|Rosalina's Ice World]]
|[[Bowser's Castle (course)#Mario Kart: Double Dash!!|Bowser's Castle]]
|[[File:BowserCastleMK7.png|125px]]<br>[[3DS Bowser's Castle|Bowser's Castle]]
|[[Rainbow Road#Mario Kart: Double Dash!!|Rainbow Road]]
|[[File:RainbowroadMK7.png|125px]]<br>[[3DS Rainbow Road|Rainbow Road]]
|''N/A''
|''N/A''
|-
|-
!''[[Mario Kart DS]]
!colspan="2"|''[[Mario Kart 8]]'' / ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]''
|[[Wario Stadium#Mario Kart DS|Wario Stadium]]
|[[File:MK8-Course-CloudtopCruise.png|125px]]<br>[[Cloudtop Cruise]]
|[[Peach Gardens]]
|[[File:MK8-Course-Bone-DryDunes.png|125px]]<br>[[Bone-Dry Dunes|Bone-Dry Dunes<br><small>Bone Dry Dunes</small>]]
|[[Bowser's Castle (course)#Mario Kart DS|Bowser's Castle]]
|[[File:MK8-Course-Bowser'sCastle.png|125px]]<br>[[Bowser's Castle (Mario Kart 8)|Bowser's Castle]]
|[[Rainbow Road#Mario Kart DS|Rainbow Road]]
|[[File:MK8-Course-RainbowRoad.png|125px]]<br>[[Rainbow Road (Mario Kart 8)|Rainbow Road]]
|''N/A''
|''N/A''
|-
|-
!''[[Mario Kart Wii]]
!colspan="2"|''[[Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit]]''
|[[Dry Dry Ruins (course)|Dry Dry Ruins]]
|[[File:MKLHC World 1-1 Course Icon.png|125px]]<br>[[World 1-1 (race course)|World 1-1]]
|[[Moonview Highway]]
|[[File:MKLHC Chain Chomp Glacier Course Icon.png|125px]]<br>[[Chain Chomp Glacier]]
|[[Bowser's Castle (course)#Mario Kart Wii|Bowser's Castle]]
|[[File:MKLHC Rainbow Road Course Icon.png|125px]]<br>[[Rainbow Road (Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit)|Rainbow Road]]
|[[Rainbow Road#Mario Kart Wii|Rainbow Road]]
|''N/A''
|''N/A''
|''N/A''
|}
|}


==Trivia==
==''Mario Tennis'' series==
*''Mario Kart 64'' is the only game in the series that does not require the player to unlock the Special Cup in order for it to be playable -- it is available right from the start.
[[File:MarioChampionsCup.jpg|thumb|left|[[Mario]] winning the Champions Cup in ''Mario Tennis Open'']]
*The Special Cup's crown (its current emblem) is the only emblem of the eight Grand Prix cups that is not used as an item (in the ''Mario Kart'' games, and in the ''Mario'' series in general).
[[File:MTA online tournament cup.jpg|thumb|Winning an online tournament in ''Mario Tennis Aces'']]
*Rainbow Road has always been the final course in the Special Cup.
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 Special Cup. Characters that can be unlocked include Rosalina, [[Metal Mario]], [[Lakitu]], [[Toadette]], [[Baby Rosalina]], [[Pink Gold Peach]], [[Iggy|Iggy Koopa]], [[Roy|Roy Koopa]], [[Lemmy|Lemmy Koopa]], [[Larry|Larry Koopa]], [[Wendy|Wendy O. Koopa]], [[Ludwig|Ludwig von Koopa]], [[Morton|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==
==Gallery==
''<center><gallery>
===Emblems===
Image:MK64_SpecialCup.jpg|<center>Mario Kart 64
<gallery widths="85px">
Image:MKDDSpecialCup.png|<center>Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
SMK Special Cup Emblem.png|''Super Mario Kart''{{class|blackbg}}
Image:SpecialcupDS.PNG|<center>Mario Kart DS
MK64 Special Cup Artwork.png|''Mario Kart 64''
</center></gallery>
MK64 iQue Cup Artwork.png|''Mario Kart 64'' (China)
</center>
MK64 Special Cup art.jpg|''Mario Kart 64''
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>
MKSC Extra Special Cup Emblem.png|''Mario Kart: Super Circuit'' (Extra)
MKSC Extra iQue Cup Emblem.png|''Mario Kart: Super Circuit'' (Extra, China)<ref name="iQue"/>
MKDD Special Cup Emblem.png|''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!''
SpecialCupLogo MKDD.png|''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!''
SMB Special Emblem.png|''Mario Superstar Baseball''
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.png|''[[Mario Kart 8]]'' / ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]''
</gallery>


==Names in Other Languages==
==Names in other languages==
{{Foreignname
{{foreign names
|Spa=Copa Especial
|Spa=Copa Especial
|SpaM=Special Cup
|SpaM=Special Cup
|Fra=Coupe Spéciale
|Fre=Coupe Spéciale
|FraM=Special Cup
|FreM=Special Cup
|Ger=Spezial-Cup
|Ger=Spezial-Cup
|GerM=Special 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
|ItaM=Special Trophy
|Ita2=Coppa speciale
|Ita2N=''Mario Kart: Super Circuit''
|Ita2M=Special Cup
|Kor=스페셜 컵
|KorR=Seupesyeol Keop
|KorM=Special Cup
|ChiS=特别杯
|ChiSR=Tèbié Bēi
|ChiS2=皇冠杯
|ChiS2N=''Mario Kart 7''
|ChiS2R=Huángguàn Bēi
|ChiS3=神游杯
|ChiS3N=''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"/>
|ChiS3R=Shényóu Bēi
|ChiSM=Special Cup
|ChiS2M=Crown Cup
|ChiS3M=[[iQue]] Cup
|ChiT=特別盃
|ChiTR=Tèbié Bēi
|ChiTM=Special Cup
}}
}}
<br clear=all>
 
==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.
*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.
*''Mario Kart: Super Circuit''{{'}}s Special Cup is the only Special Cup, and cup in the series, that has not seen any of its courses return in any future ''Mario Kart'' game outside of ''Mario Kart Tour''.
 
==References==
<references/>
 
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[[Category:Cups]]
[[Category:Cups]]
[[Category:Unlockables]]
[[Category:Mario Kart 64]]
[[Category:Mario Kart Wii Trading Cards]]
[[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 Wii]]
[[Category:Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]
[[Category:Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]
[[Category:Mario Kart DS]]
[[Category:Mario Kart 64]]
[[Category:Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]
[[Category:Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]
[[Category:Mario Tennis Open]]
[[Category:Super Mario Strikers cups]]
[[it:Trofeo Speciale]]
[[de:Spezial-Cup]]

Latest revision as of 22:20, October 4, 2024

Artwork of the Special Cup logo, from Mario Kart 8.
The Special Cup logo in Mario Kart 8

The Special Cup is a cup in the Mario Kart series that exclusively features new courses. 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 Extra Cups 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 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[edit]

Game Course 1 Course 2 Course 3 Course 4 Course 5
Super Mario Kart The map for Donut Plains 3.
Donut Plains 3
The map for Koopa Beach 2.
Koopa Beach 2
The map for Ghost Valley 3.
Ghost Valley 3
The map for Vanilla Lake 2.
Vanilla Lake 2
The map for Rainbow Road.
Rainbow Road
Mario Kart 64 The icon for DK's Jungle Parkway, from Mario Kart 64.
DK's Jungle Parkway
The icon for Yoshi Valley, from Mario Kart 64.
Yoshi Valley
The icon for Banshee Boardwalk, from Mario Kart 64.
Banshee Boardwalk
The icon for Rainbow Road, from Mario Kart 64.
Rainbow Road
N/A
Mario Kart: Super Circuit Super Circuit tracks Lakeside Park
Lakeside Park
The preview image for Broken Pier in Mario Kart: Super Circuit
Broken Pier
Bowser Castle 4
Bowser Castle 4
Rainbow Road
Rainbow Road
N/A
Extra tracks MKSC Koopa Beach 2 Extra Cup Map.png
Koopa Beach 2
MKSC Ghost Valley 3 Extra Cup Map.png
Ghost Valley 3
MKSC Vanilla Lake 2 Extra Cup Map.png
Vanilla Lake 2
MKSC SNES Rainbow Road Extra Cup Map.png
Rainbow Road
N/A
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! The icon for Wario Colosseum, from Mario Kart Double Dash!!.
Wario Colosseum
The icon for Dino Dino Jungle, from Mario Kart Double Dash!!.
Dino Dino Jungle
The icon for Bowser's Castle, from Mario Kart Double Dash!!.
Bowser's Castle
The icon for Rainbow Road, from Mario Kart Double Dash!!.
Rainbow Road
N/A
Mario Kart DS Screenshot of Mario Kart DS game featuring the Wario Stadium.
Wario Stadium
Panorama of Peach Gardens seen in Mario Kart DS
Peach Gardens
Bowser's Castle
Bowser Castle
Rainbow Road (DS)
Rainbow Road
N/A
Mario Kart Wii Dry Dry Ruins (race course)
Dry Dry Ruins
Moonview Highway
Moonview Highway
Bowser's Castle
Bowser's Castle
Rainbow Road
Rainbow Road
N/A
Mario Kart 7 DK Jungle
DK Jungle
Rosalina's Ice World
Rosalina's Ice World
Bowser Castle
Bowser's Castle
Rainbow Road
Rainbow Road
N/A
Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Cloudtop Cruise
Cloudtop Cruise
MK8-Course-Bone-DryDunes.png
Bone-Dry Dunes
Bone Dry Dunes
The exterior of Bowser's Castle.
Bowser's Castle
Rainbow Road in Mario Kart 8.
Rainbow Road
N/A
Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit World 1-1 course icon from Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit
World 1-1
Chain Chomp Glacier course icon from Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit
Chain Chomp Glacier
Rainbow Road course icon from Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit
Rainbow Road
N/A N/A

Mario Tennis series[edit]

Mario winning the Special Cup.
Mario winning the Champions Cup in Mario Tennis Open
Winning an online tournament
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, 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.

Completion awards in the Mario Kart series[edit]

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!![edit]

Mario Kart DS[edit]

  • 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[edit]

  • 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: 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
  • 1 star rank or higher on all cups on 150cc Mirror: Rosalina

Mario Kart 7[edit]

  • 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[edit]

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 Special 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[edit]

  • 1 star rank or higher on all cups on 150cc Mirror: Gold Standard
  • All cups on 200cc: Gold Mario

Profiles[edit]

Mario Kart Wii trading card of the Special Cup.
  • 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."

Gallery[edit]

Emblems[edit]

Trophies[edit]

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese スペシャルカップ[?]
Supesharu Kappu
Special Cup
Chinese (simplified) 特别杯[?]
Tèbié Bēi
Special Cup
皇冠杯[?]
Huángguàn Bēi
Crown Cup Mario Kart 7
神游杯
Shényóu Bēi
iQue Cup Mario Kart 64[2] and Mario Kart: Super Circuit[1]
Chinese (traditional) 特別盃[?]
Tèbié Bēi
Special Cup
Dutch Speciale Beker[?] Special Cup
French Coupe Spéciale[?] Special Cup
German Spezial-Cup[?] Special Cup
Italian Trofeo Speciale[?] Special Trophy
Coppa speciale[?] Special Cup Mario Kart: Super Circuit
Korean 스페셜 컵[?]
Seupesyeol Keop
Special Cup
Portuguese Taça Especial[?] Special Cup
Russian Особый кубок[?]
Osobyy kubok
Special Cup
Spanish Copa Especial[?] Special Cup

Trivia[edit]

  • 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: L Button R Button L Button R Button L Button L Button R Button R Button A Button.
  • 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 iQue Player home console.
  • If 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.
  • 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.
  • Mario Kart: Super Circuit's Special Cup is the only Special Cup, and cup in the series, that has not seen any of its courses return in any future Mario Kart game outside of Mario Kart Tour.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c From the iQue localization prototype.
  2. ^ iQue's localization of Mario Kart 64