Get a "Gold" rank in 50cc, 100cc, and 150cc Grand Prix modes.
Alternate Title Screen
To unlock an alternate title screen that will be shown when the game is started up, win each and every cup available in the game.
Alternative Method of unlocking game content
This is an alternative method of unlocking characters, karts, and bikes. Simply play the required number of games (races/battles). This method takes a while, but is far easier to complete.
Unlockable
How to unlock
Baby Daisy
Play 1,950 races/battles.
Baby Luigi
Play 3,150 races/battles.
Birdo
Play 1,350 races/battles.
Blue Falcon
Play 4,200 races/battles.
Bowser Jr.
Play 3,450 races/battles.
Cheep Charger
Play 1,800 races/battles.
Daisy
Play 2,850 races/battles.
Daytripper
Play 2,700 races/battles.
Diddy Kong
Play 450 races/battles.
Dolphin Dasher
Play 3,750 races/battles.
Dry Bones
Play 1,050 races/battles.
Dry Bowser
Play 4,350 races/battles.
Funky Kong
Play 2,250 races/battles.
Honeycoupe
Play 3,000 races/battles.
Jet Bubble
Play 3,900 races/battles.
Jetsetter
Play 4,500 races/battles.
King Boo
Play 750 races/battles.
Magikruiser
Play 900 races/battles.
Mii Plumber's Costume
Play 5,100 races/battles.
Mii Racing Suit
Play 1,650 races/battles.
Mirror Mode
Play 4,800 races/battles.
Phantom
Play 4,050 races/battles.
Piranha Prowler
Play 600 races/battles.
Quacker
Play 2,400 races/battles.
Rosalina
Play 4,950 races/battles.
Shooting Star
Play 1,500 races/battles.
Sneakster
Play 3,300 races/battles.
Spear
Play 3,600 races/battles.
Sprinter
Play 4,650 races/battles.
Super Blooper
Play 300 races/battles.
Tiny Titan
Play 1,200 races/battles.
Toadette
Play 2,550 races/battles.
Zip Zip
Play 2,100 races/battles.
Another Way to AVOID BLUE SHELLS!
When a blue shell i schasing after you (on any race) make sure you have a mushroom or a star and right before it hits you click the item to zoom ahead and you will be unharmed!
Automatic hit
To score an automatic hit on anyone in a race, place a banana or fake item box immediately after you land from a DK Cannon. They will be forced to land on it.
Avoid Blue Shells
On any track with a DK cannon, while flying in the air the blue shell will chase you then will fall behind. You will hear an explosion, but you will be unharmed.
Avoid Red and Green Shells
To avoid a red or green shell, go on a DK Cannon if one is available. The shell will disappear at the entrance. You can also use this trick for clouds. They will disappear above you on the cannons and you will not be affected by them.
Avoiding Blue Shells
This trick requires a mushroom. The Blue Shell goes up and comes down. Before it hits, you will have time to use a mushroom and avoid the shell. You should boost forward and the Blue Shell should explode behind you.
You must be in first place to get a Blue Shell targeted at you. This trick also requires some sort of speeding item, such as a Speed Mushroom. Once the Blue Shell is above your head, use the speeding item just before it descends. It will make a large explosion behind you, but will miss. You can also avoid them by using the following tricks on the listed courses:
DK Summit: Go through the DK Cannon.
N64: DK's Jungle Parkway: Go over the ramp the jumps over the yellow river.
GCN: DK Mountain: Go through the DK Cannon.
Rainbow Road: Go through the tunnel with the giant stars on each end.
Avoiding POWs
Getting attacked with a POW can be a bummer, but if you flick upward your steering wheel or Wii remote, you can avoid it. You will spin around, and you will lose your currently-equipped item, but you won't slow down and will avoid the devastating result of being struck with a POW.
Avoiding Spiky Shells
When you are in first place and have a Spiky Shell coming at you, hit the brakes so that racers that are behind you will get stuck in the blast. This allows you to keep your place longer.
Bikes on 50cc Cup Races
To unlock the ability to drive bikes in 50cc cup races, earn all of the trophies on each 50cc cup race.
Boost
To get a small boost while racing, get on a long straight road. You also cannot turn while doing this trick. If done correctly, you will see several blue streaks that fly behind you. Keep driving straight and you will see a blue force field in front of you. You then will get a boost for three or four seconds. This does not always work.
Change Mii driver's class
Enter the Mii Channel and change the weight of your Mii. This will cause your Mii driver in Mario Kart Wii to change to the corresponding weight class and give you access to the corresponding new vehicles.
Coconut Mall: Fast time
To get the Expert Staff Ghost on the Coconut Mall time trial, use the Wild Wing medium kart. Take a right into a store on the right side after the first escalator then use a mushroom. You will see a Delfino tree person at the door.
Controlling amount of air
Use the following trick to get more or less distance in the air after the DK, Maple Treeway or any other cannon or big ramp. Use the Wiimote to do a popper wheelie for distance, or lean the Wiimote Forward to point the nose of your vehicle down to fall sooner. For other controllers, press the Analog-stick Down for distance or Forward to shorten.
Courses
Course
How to unlock
Leaf Cup
Win at least 3rd place in Banana Cup and Shell Cup.
Lightning Cup
Win at least 3rd place in Leaf Cup.
Special Cup
Win at least 3rd place in Star Cup.
Star Cup
Win at least 3rd place in Flower Cup and Mushroom Cup.
Credits
Earn all trophies in a class to view the credits and see a congratulations screen featuring your Mii with Mario and Peach. To get another congratulations screen featuring your Mii with all the racers, win all Grand Prix Cups.
Cups
To unlock the cups listed below, fulfill the requirements listed. Keep in mind that the requirements are the same for each CC type on the circuits listed.
Leaf Cup - Earn trophies in the Shell Cup and Banana Cup
Lightning Cup - Earn a trophy in Leaf Cup
Special Cup - Earn a trophy in Star Cup
Star Cup - Earn trophies in the Mushroom Cup and Flower Cup
Different trick for Birdo-kart/bike
Yoshi and Birdo may look like the do the same tricks, but they really don't. If you are Birdo and driving a kart, and you flick the remote sideways to the left or right, she'll do the splits like Yoshi, but only halfway and uses her mouth to blow instead of sticking her tounge out. Also, instead of doing the "jump for joy" like Yoshi, she'll look behind at the viewer and "blow a kiss goodbye". Check out the tricks she does while riding a bike. The move mentioned before is both cute and intimidating. weird, huh? these tricks are different, since they are done by Birdo only. Try it out.
DK Summit: Shortcut
After you shoot out of the cannon and come up to the turn, go off the jump toppers on the left. This should send you soaring through the curve and give you a good lead.
Dodging Blue Shells
A good technique to utilize when trying to dodge blue shells targeted at you when you're in first place is to use any type of mushroom. Specifically, use the mushroom when the blue shell begins to rise over you to avoid its blast. Timing is the key!
DS Delfino Square: Hidden items
Hit the crates on the side of the road with either your cart or a shell. A Super Mushroom will sometimes pop out, but very close to the edge.
Easier control
If you experience turning, wheelie, or trick issues using the Wii Wheel, try using the Nunchuk and Wiimote.
Everyone Plays the Same Character
If you and your friends want to play as the same character in splitscreen multiplayer, try the following.
First, one person should select and then deselect the character everyone wants to play as. The next player should select and then deselect the same character. Repeat as needed for as many players as you have playing. Then, go back one screen, reselect the character selection screen, and all players should have their icons on the same preselected character.
Expert staff ghosts
After beating the normal staff ghosts by a certain margin of time, you can unlock the Expert staff ghosts. The following are the approximated times for unlocking them.
Mushroom Cup Luigi Circuit
Normal Staff Ghost Time: 01:29.670
Unlock Time: 01:25.742
Get King Boo, Funky Kong, Todette, and Birdo, etc.
King Boo- Bet(first place) Star cup 50cc.
Funky Kong- I don't know if this is quite right but how I got him, do every time trial.
Todette- Same as ^
Birdo- Do 16 time trials
Rosalina- have a 'Super Mario Galaxy' save on your wii... better buy it.
Hope this helped
~Matt Payne~
Getting rid of clouds
If you have a cloud over your head, ram into another player to get rid of it. Note: This works on everyone, including CPU players.
Gold-Colored Steering Wheel
If you utilize the steering wheel that comes with the game extensively (or even exclusively) instead of using the Wii controller or a GameCube controller, you'll find a gold-colored steering wheel icon next to your name when you play online.
Grumble Volcano easily
At Grumble Volcano, after the race starts go directly back until you fall into the lava. When Lakitu brings you back up make a power slide turbo and land on the volcano. Go around 3 times and you will complete the race. NOTE: If you fall of the volcano, the trick wont work. NOTE: The race must be 150cc.
Guarding against Red Shells
You can block Red Shells by equipping an item behind you. Once you have an item, hold D-pad Left or D-pad Right. Items that work are Green Shells, Red Shells, and Bananas. Do not hold Fake Item Boxes or Bob-ombs behind you.
Half pipes
When hitting half pipes (parts of track with the blue strips and the white arrows), hit them as narrow as possible to glide through them. Tricks will slightly slow you down, but you will get the boost when you come down either way. You cannot hit them at about an 80 degree angle because you will not go over the top; you will bounce up and down. Note: This is not recommended on Rainbow Road.
How to Avoid the POW Block
When you see the POW Block over you, shake the Wii Wheel as soon as it reaches its smallest size. You'll still spin out and lose items, but you won't slow down.
How to unlock every character
This is how you do it:
Baby Daisy: Get a "One Star" rank or better in all 50cc cups.
Baby Luigi: Unlock eight Expert Staff Ghosts in Time Trials mode.
Birdo: Play 16 different courses in Time Trials mode. Alternately, get 250 Wi-Fi wins.
Bowser Jr.: Get a "One Star" rank or better in all 100cc Retro Cups.
Daisy: Win the 150cc Special Cup.
Diddy Kong: Successfully complete all 50cc Retro Cups.
Dry Bones: Win the 100cc Leaf Cup.
Dry Bowser: Get a "One Star" rank or better in all 150cc Wii Cups.
Funky Kong: Unlock four Expert Staff Ghosts in Time Trials mode.
King Boo: Win the 50cc Star Cup
Mii (Outfit A): Win the 100cc Special Cup.
Mii (Outfit B): Unlock all 32 Expert Staff Ghosts in Time Trials mode.
Rosalina: Get a "One Star" rank or better in the Wii Cup Series. Alternately, have a saved game file from Super Mario Galaxy and win 50 Grand Prix races.
Toadette: Play on all 32 courses in Time Trials mode. Alternately, get 1,000 Wi-Fi wins.
Karts on 100cc Cup Races
To unlock the ability to drive karts in 100cc cup races, earn all of the trophies on each 100cc cup race.
Koopa Cape: Hidden items
After making the first jump, keep going and you will notice a few Goombas walking in place. Fire a shell at one to reveal either nothing or a Super Mushroom. You can also run into one if in the status of a Mega Mushroom, Invincibility Star, or Bullet Bill.
Koopa Cape: Shortcut
Once you go over the ramp leading into the fast stream, keep going around and enter through the little arch with the ramp on the left. This requires something that gives speed, such as a Super Mushroom, Invincibility Star, or Golden Mushroom. Instead of going around the giant red hat, pass through the grass behind it, giving a straightaway path. This will help improve your ghost times in Time Trials and help you win the race.
Lap Skipping Glitch (Mario Circuit)
You'll need a Mushroom for this glitch to work, which makes it very useful in Time Trials. From the starting line, back up some and line up with the first tree to the left you see. Approach it and get next to it, lining your racer up so the angle between you and the wall in front of you is about 30-40 degrees (which varies upon the racer). Back up to the center line of the road without turning. Then accelerate. Pop a wheelie and, as you start it, use a Mushroom. You should be launched over the wall to the second half of the track. Back up into the tunnel and hit a wall in there, then you can finish the lap as normal.
Large Bikes
To unlock the large bikes listed below, fulfill the requirements listed.
Phantom - Win the Mirror Cup
Torpedo - Unlock twelve Expert Staff ghost data in Time Trial mode
Twinkle Star - Win the 100cc Star Cup
Large Karts
To unlock the large karts listed below, fulfill the requirements listed.
Aero Glider - Earn at least a one star ranking in each 150cc Retro Grand Prix races
Dragonetti - Win the 150cc Lightning Cup
Piranha Prowler - Win the 50cc Special Cup
Maple Treeway: Hidden items
There are many leaf piles here. Run through one to reveal a Super Mushroom or a Banana Peel. Once you get on top of the tree with the caterpillar creatures, an Invincibility Star may be found in one of the bushes on the left side of the treetop, but not on every lap. You may need to veer off to the left after hitting the bush, because the star pops out jumping left. This is useful in getting far ahead of the group if in first place, or to catch up as a bonus if near last place.
After going up the curved branch on the left (or the right if in Mirror mode), you will notice many piles of leaves and the caterpillar-like creatures. They may get in the way of this attempt, so avoid them at all cost. This may also require some luck. You must hit a certain pile on the left and a Star will pop out, giving you invincibility. It may only happen on the second lap, because it is difficult to find. Bananas and Speed Mushrooms can also be found throughout the entire course.
Medium Bikes
To unlock the medium bikes listed below, fulfill the requirements listed.
Dolphin Dasher - Win the Mirror Star Cup
Nitrocycle - Attain at least a one star ranking in all 100cc Wii Grand Prix cup races
Rapide - Win the 100cc Lightning Cup
Medium Karts
To unlock the medium karts listed below, fulfill the requirements listed.
Royal Racer - Win the 150cc Leaf Cup
Turbo Blooper - Win the 50cc Leaf Cup
Mirror Class
To unlock the Mirror Class, win all of the available 150cc Cups in the game.
Mirror Grand Prix mode
Win 4,800 races.
More than one person can be the same character
First, make P1 choose the character you both want to be. Then unselect the character and move off of it. Move P2 over, and select the character. Go back one screen, then go into the character select again. You should both be on the same character. Both of you select the character. Do whatever you want from there on. Note: In the character select screen and options, whenever one of you does an animation, both of you will. Also, if P2 chooses a different kind of vehicle than P1, P1 will look strange. Don't worry, this won't actually happen in the game. I haven't tested this with P3 or P4 yet, but in theory, it should work.
Mushroom Gorge: Hidden items
There are some Goombas around that contain Super Mushrooms or absolutely nothing.
Peach beach
When you get to the sea bit of the race go the shortcut first lap. Don't go the shortcut second time it will be covered by water. Go to the shorcut on the last lap [NOTE. it may be different if you are not a first place driver]
POW Block Immunity
When you see the POW block on your screen and its about to hit you, just do the function you would normally use for a trick to create a shockwave for youself to become immune to the spin out the POW block creates (Control panel on GCN controller, Shaking Wii wheel, etc.). This can be done on both bikes and carts. Even though you don't loose speed or spin out, you still will loose the items you were carrying.
Profile name stars
You can add a star next to your profile name on the results screen and the Wi-Fi races by completing all Grand Prix races with a certain rank.
One star profile name: Earn a "One Star" rank in all Grand Prix races.
Two star profile name: Earn a "Two Star" rank in all Grand Prix races.
Three star profile name: Earn a "Three Star" rank in all Grand Prix races.
Quick recovery after being hit with a POW
For this to work you must have drifting set to manual. Before the third strike from the Pow item, start to drift so that your bike will be in the air for the third strike. When you land you should spin only once and maintain about the same speed.
The moment the POW block has plundered its third strike, immediately pop a wheelie. You will not actually go into a wheelie, but the POW does not affect you and you will continue at almost the same speed. You will know that it worked when you see about four blue waves appear from underneath your kart.
If you are using the automatic transmission during a race, lift the Wii Wheel quickly just as the third blast of the POW goes off. You should only spin once and not lose any speed.
To avoid the effects of the POW block item, as soon as you see the POW icon begin shaking the Wii Wheel as much as possible. You can go unaffected by the POW with this technique. It is easier to shake the Wii Wheel and maintain control if you are in a powerslide before you start shaking.
Quick recovery from collision
When you fall into an obstacle, press 2 precisely when you land. You will get a short boost to start moving again.
Quick start
Hold 2 when the countdown reaches "2" and that number begins to fade.
While the timer to begin the race has just started, hold 1 + 2. As soon as it is about to say "Go", release both buttons and press 2 as you would normally do to start the race. If done correctly you will get very nice boost that will usually put you in first place while in the 50cc or 100cc classes. This may require some practice.
Quickly recovery on a motorcycle after being hit
When on a motorcycle, after you are hit or run into an item pull a wheelie to increase your speed quickly.
Rank requirements
The following are requirements to get a one, two, or three star rank.
Get a final score of 53 or above.
Lead most of the laps.
Stay in first place for a good period of time.
Do a lot of tricks on ramps.
Avoid having to use Bullet Bills to catch up.
Use lots of techniques such as wheelies, avoiding POW blocks, etc.
Do not fall off edges too much (one or two times is acceptable). If you get hit by many Spiny Shells and still win, this indicates that you are resistant and will probably have a high rank.
A perfect 60 is required for a Three Star Rank. A two star rank ranges from 55 to 60. A one star rank is 53 to 60 with most or all of these requirements.
Set Blue Shell
When you are on the final lap of the Delfino course in the Banana Cup, a Blue Shell will hit you on the bridge. This also happens when you are near the finish line, and also occurs almost every time you play this course, making the Blue Shell "set" to hit you.
Small Bikes
To unlock the small bikes listed below, fulfill the requirements listed.
Bubble Bike - Win the Mirror Leaf Cup
Magikruiser - Play Time Trial Mode on any eight courses
Quacker - Win the 150cc Star Cup
Small Karts
To unlock the small karts listed below, fulfill the requirements listed.
Blue Falcon - Win the Mirror Lightning Cup
Cheep Charger - Earn at least a one star ranking in all 50cc Retro Cup races
Rally Romper - In Time Trial mode, unlock the expert staff ghost data record
Team drafting boost
This trick requires two or more players. When playing in Vs. Team racing, draft by follow a friend behind somewhat close. Once you get the boost, go around him or her and take the lead in front of them. Have that friend draft behind you. Keep repeating this and you can quickly finish a race.
Tricks
When going off a jump turn the wheel sideways or the Wii remote sideways.
Turn Triple Shells into ramming weapon
After you get a triple shell item of any color, press 2 so that all three are spinning around you. Before you launch them you can use them to ram other cars. It does the same damage if you to launch them at an opponent.
Unlockable Karts
After meeting the requirements, some unlockables may require you to back out of your save file and reselect it. Note: In different countries, the karts have different names but the unlocking methods are the same.
Kart
How to unlock
Aero Glider (large kart)
Attain at least 1 Star in all 150cc Retro Cups.
Blue Falcon (small kart)
Win Mirror Lightning Cup.
Cheep Charger (small kart)
Attain at least 1 Star Rank for all 50cc Retro Grand Prix Cups.
Honeycoupe (large kart)
Win 150cc Lightning Cup.
Piranha Prowler (large kart)
Win 50cc Special Cup.
Royal Racer (medium kart)
Win 150cc Leaf Cup.
Sprinter (Medium Kart)
Unlocked 24 Expert Staff Ghosts.
Tiny Titan (small kart)
Beat 50 opponents during Wi-Fi play or unlock one expert staff ghost.
Turbo Blooper (medium kart)
Win 50cc Leaf Cup.
Use same character more than once at a time
This glitch works off the fact that you are automatically placed onto the character that you were last selected on. To do it, have one person select the character so it says "OK", then have them deselect and move. Then have the another person (up to all three other people, in turn) who wants the same character select so that it reads "OK". Then, have controller one go back to the previous screen and once going back to the character selection screen, everyone who selected that character will be piled on the same one.
Victory Photos
To unlock both victory photos available in the game (which is basically a shot of your Mii with various characters), you have to fulfill two requirements. To unlock the first photo (which is of your Mii with Mario and Peach), earn a trophy in every cup for each class available. To unlock the second photo (which is of your Mii with each racer in the game), win each and every Grand Prix cup available in the game.
Watching Players in Wi-Fi Races
When waiting to start a worldwide or regional race or a battle, and you're watching the other players in the room race, press the B button on your Wiimote to change which player you're watching.
Wheelies
When on motorbikes, lift the wheel up in a straight line to do a
wheelie and boost speed.
Dont try it going round a corner though.
Wi-Fi Stars
You can add stars to your profile name while Wi-Fi racing. You can do so by completing Grand Prix races with a certain rank. A one-star profile means you've earned a one star ranking on all Grand Prix races. A two-star profile means you've earned a two star ranking on all Grand Prix races. A three-star profile means you've earned a three star ranking on all Grand Prix races.
Winning online
A win counts as long as points are added to your total score. For example, if you get fifth, or sometimes sixth, place in an online race it is still considered a win. The same thing happens with Battle Online. You can be on the losing team, but if you scored enough coins or hits and it adds points to your score, then it can be a win.
Worst item combination
The worst item combination is the Red Shell and the Blue Winged Shell. For the Red Shell, hold a Banana, Green Shell, or another Red Shell behind you. It will break. For the Blue Winged Shell, use the "Avoid Blue Shells" glitch to avoid it. If you cannot and are unfortunately in first place, then expect to lose a lot of places. Alternately, break the Red Shell, let the person in second place get close to you, and you will be blown up together. You will still lose places, but if it is DK or Bowser, then you will want to.
