Thunder Cloud
- This article is about an item in the Mario Kart series. For the enemy from Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3, see Pikkarikun. For the boss from Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!, see Thunder Cloud (Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!).
| Thunder Cloud | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 A Thunder Cloud from Mario 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 | ||
| |||
The Thunder Cloud (originally Thundercloud), also known as the Lightning Cloud, cloud,[1] or lightning,[2] is an object from the Mario Kart series. It appears as an obstacle on 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.
In Mario Kart Arcade GP and Mario Kart Arcade GP 2, this item works similarly to the Time Bomb: it is attached to an opponent and activates after a fixed time, which causes it to shrink the victim, but it can be passed to a different racer by bumping into them.
Mario Kart Wii is its console Mario Kart debut, and only mainline Mario Kart appearance as a usable item. 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. Once a Thunder Cloud is obtained, another Thunder Cloud cannot be obtained until the current one disappears. Unlike other items, it makes a buzzer sound when received and is activated automatically, immediately attaching it to the receiver. In this state, the racer receives a constant speed boost and immunity to off-road slowdown, but once it expires, they are shrunk for ten seconds with all the same effects as being hit by regular Lightning. Bumping an opponent will transfer the item to them, giving them the speed boost and hot-potato timer, so using the item efficiently involves handing it off as late as possible. The item is destroyed if the racer it's attached to becomes immune to Lightning (by using a Star, a Mega Mushroom, or a Bullet Bill), falls off the track, or enters a cannon.
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 from Mario Kart Wii
Model from Mario Kart Wii
A Thunder Cloud in Mario Kart Arcade GP DX
Screenshot from Mario Kart Arcade GP
Luigi is shrunk by the Thunder Cloud.
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | カミナリぐも Kaminari Gumo |
Lightning Cloud | [3][4] | |
| Danish | Tordensky | Thundercloud | [5] | |
| Finnish | Myrskypilvi | Storm cloud | [6] | |
| French (Canadian) | Nuage d'éclair | Lightning Cloud | [7] | |
| French (European) | Nuage zap | Zap cloud | [8] | |
| German | Wolkenblitz | Cloud lightning | [9] | |
| Italian | Nuvola grigia | Gray cloud | [10] | |
| Portuguese | Nuvem de trovoada | Thunderstorm cloud | [11] | |
| Spanish (Latin American) | Nube de Rayos | Lightning cloud | [12] | |
| Spanish (European) | Rayo intra nube | Lightning inside Cloud | [13] | |
| Swedish | Åskmoln | Thundercloud | [14] |
References[edit]
- ^ Summer 2001. Nintendo Power Advance Volume 2. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 21.
- ^ Walsh, Doug (August 21, 2001). Mario Kart: Super Circuit Official Racing Guide. BradyGAMES (American English). ISBN 0-7440-0091-2. Page 103.
- ^ マリオカートＷｉｉ：アイテム. Nintendo. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
- ^ アイテム - マリオカート アーケードグランプリ デラックス. Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
- ^ 2008. Mario Kart Wii box art. Nintendo (Danish).
- ^ 2008. Mario Kart Wii box art. Nintendo (Finnish).
- ^ 2008. Mario Kart Wii instruction booklet. Nintendo of America (French). Page 31.
- ^ 2008. Manuel d'utilisation de Mario Kart Wii. Nintendo (French). Page 17.
- ^ 2008. Mario Kart Wii Spielanleitung. Nintendo (German). Page 17.
- ^ 2008. Manuale di istruzioni di Mario Kart Wii. Nintendo (Italian). Page 17.
- ^ 2008. Mario Kart Wii box art. Nintendo (Portuguese).
- ^ 2008. Mario Kart Wii instruction booklet. Nintendo of America (Spanish). Page 53.
- ^ 2008. Manuel de instrucciones de Mario Kart Wii. Nintendo (Spanish). Page 17.
- ^ 2008. Mario Kart Wii box art. Nintendo (Swedish).
