This article is about an item in theMario Kart series. For the enemy fromWario Land: Super Mario Land 3, seePikkarikun. For the boss fromWario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!, seeThunder Cloud (Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!).

Thunder Cloud
A Thunder Cloud fromMario Kart Wii
First appearance	Mario Kart: Super Circuit (2001)
Latest appearance	Mario Kart Arcade GP DX (2013)
Effect	Speeds up the vehicle, and shrinks the vehicle if it strikes
Variant of	Lakitu's Cloud
Related Lightning Rain Cloud Snow Cloud

TheThunder Cloud (originallyThundercloud), also known as theLightning Cloud,cloud,^[1] orlightning,^[2] is an object from theMario Kart series. It appears as an obstacle onRainbow Road inMario Kart: Super Circuit and as an item inMario Kart Arcade GP,Mario Kart Arcade GP 2,Mario Kart Wii, andMario Kart Arcade GP DX.

This item works similarly to theTime Bomb inMario Kart Arcade GP andMario Kart Arcade GP 2. However, it shrinks opponents rather than exploding. InMario Kart Wii, its consoleMario Kart debut and only mainlineMario Kart appearance as a usable item, unlike the rest of the items that appear in said game, it activates itself automatically when obtained from anItem 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 theBlooper,Spiny Shell,Bullet Bill,POW Block, andLightning). 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 anotherkart orbike 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 acannon, falls off the track, or uses aStar, aMega Mushroom, or aBullet Bill.

Profiles[edit]

Mario Kart Wii instruction manual[edit]

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[edit]

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!"

Gallery[edit]

• 

  Icon fromMario Kart Wii

• 

  Model fromMario Kart Wii

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  A Thunder Cloud inMario Kart Arcade GP DX

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  Screenshot fromMario Kart Arcade GP

• 

  Luigi is shrunk by the Thunder Cloud.

Names in other languages

References[edit]

• Clouds
• Mario Kart Arcade GP items
• Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 items
• Mario Kart Arcade GP DX items
• Mario Kart: Super Circuit objects
• Mario Kart Wii items