DS DK Pass

Revision as of 10:12, April 14, 2025 by AmossGuy (talk | contribs) (add rallies to infobox)
Not to be confused with Wii DK Summit.
DK Pass
DK Pass
Information
Appears in Mario Kart DS (2005)
Mario Kart 7 (2011)
Mario Kart Tour (2019)
Mario Kart World (2025)
Cup(s) Star Cup (DS, World)
Leaf Cup (7)
Tour(s)
Rally(s) Spiny Rally
Acorn Rally
Online play No longer available (DS, 3DS)
Music sample
Mario Kart DS
Shinobu Nagata
0:30
Mario Kart 7 / Mario Kart Tour
0:30
Mario Kart 7 (frontrunning)
0:31
Course map
Mario Kart DS
DK Pass mapMario Kart DS
Mario Kart 7
DS DK Pass bottom screen mapThe Mini Map for DS DK Pass
Mario Kart Tour
The map of DS DK Pass from Mario Kart Tour
Mario Kart World
DK Pass minimap in Mario Kart World
Staff ghost(s)
DS Ninten★™NN
2:14.607 Donkey KongWildlife
7 Ret★Sean
2:35.045 Donkey KongBarrel TrainWoodSuper Glider
7 Expert Nin★MaTU
2:16.534 Donkey KongBolt BuggyRed MonsterParafoil

DK Pass is the first course of the Star Cup in Mario Kart DS. It takes place in a snowy mountain lined with winding roads overlooking a frozen lake. It is one of Donkey Kong's home courses in the Mario Kart series, but the only elements themed after him are the sponsors, all appearing in the form of trackside banners.

DK Pass reappears in Mario Kart 7 as the second course of the Leaf Cup, in Mario Kart Tour starting with the 2019 Winter Tour, and will make its home console debut in Mario Kart World as the first course in the Star Cup. DK Pass and Desert Hills are the only courses in the series to appear in two separate games in both the same cup and same slot, both instances being between DS and World.

Mario Kart DS

 
The course's select icon

The stage takes the player over a mountain and back down. Numerous snowballs roll around, and racers lose their item and spin backward if they crash into one. Snowmen also appear in the course, similar to the ones in Frappe Snowland in Mario Kart 64. Collision with them has an identical effect as crashing into a snowball. An isolated Item Box appears up on a snowy cliff at the peak of the hill, after the second set of normal item boxes. The player can avoid slowing down by using a Mushroom to get through the snow to the item box, but in it contains one of these items: Star, Mushroom, Triple Mushrooms, or a Red Shell. Any of them can be received in any position, including in Wi-Fi play, but it will usually yield Triple Mushrooms or a Star.

Missions

Two missions take place on DK Pass, both involving driving through the course in reverse: Mission 4-1, where Wario has to beat Donkey Kong in a single-lap race, and Mission 5-7, where Toad has to pass through 8 gates within 45 seconds.

Mario Kart 7

 
DS DK Pass in Mario Kart 7

DK Pass makes its classic course debut in Mario Kart 7 as the second course of the Leaf Cup. Trees in the off-road sections were removed, and some wooden ramps have been placed in the off-road area of this track, allowing players to perform a trick and gain a boost. The Dash Panel in the large jump is replaced with a Glide Ramp. Landing outside the barriers will result in an "out-of-bounds". The secret item box on the hill still holds a Mushroom, Triple Mushroom, or a Star, but will more often yield only a Mushroom than before, and no longer yields a Red Shell. Much like DK Summit from Mario Kart Wii, the race starts out foggy in the first two laps, but the fog clears up on the final lap. It is also now snowing throughout the race, which did not happen in the original.

An shortcut can be performed by leaning off the log ramp on the right before the Glide Ramp, using a Mushroom and tricking to gain air time, and bypassing the cliff to the right to land behind the finish line. The player now must simply cross back over the finish line in the right direction to make the lap count.[1]

Mario Kart Tour

 
The course in Mario Kart Tour

DK Pass returns in Mario Kart Tour, first appearing in the 2019 Winter Tour. The tunnel at the start of the course is redesigned, being of a rounded shape. Near the end of the track, the small village was redesigned and made more visible. Similar to Mario Kart 8, the Mario Kart logo uses a modern design instead of the classic design. Due to a lack of Stars and the Triple Mushrooms being a special item, the secret Item Box only gives normal items. From its debut up until part two of the 2019 Holiday Tour, a festive tree is found by the small village.

In Mario Kart Tour, it is the first course to serve as the signature course in two tours (the 2019 Winter Tour and the Jungle Tour). Like with most other courses, the course has variants known as DK Pass R (reversed), DK Pass T (with ramps), and DK Pass R/T (reversed with ramps); the former two debuted alongside the regular variant in the 2019 Winter Tour, while the latter debuted in the Ice Tour.

In the R/T variant, racers drive across a pair of mushroom trampolines.

Appearances

For this course's tour appearances, see List of DS DK Pass tour appearances in Mario Kart Tour.

Top-tier and middle-tier items

Select "show" to reveal the drivers, karts, and gliders for which DS DK Pass and its variants are always favored or favorite courses. For instances in which additional drivers, karts, and gliders temporarily had this course and its variants as favored or favorite courses, see List of DS DK Pass tour appearances in Mario Kart Tour.

Course Three-item drivers Bonus points ×2 karts Combo bonus ×3 gliders Two-item drivers Bonus points ×1.5 karts Combo bonus ×2 gliders
 
Normal variant
                                               *   ** **             *   ** **   *** *  ** **   *    *     
                    
     
 
R variant
                                                  **  *   *    **       **  ** *      *   *   *    ***  
                
     
 
T variant
                                          *   *  **           *        ** **    ** *     * *       * ** ***  
                     
     
 
R/T variant
                                               *  *** *   *   * *     ***   *   *  ** * **   *    ***  *      * ***    
            *  
* indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 3.
** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 6.
*** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 8 for High-End items.

Bonus challenges

Ring Race
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Grand Star scores Tour appearances Cup
  Regular  
Wario
 
Pipe Frame
 
Super Glider
  • 10
  • 28
  • 42
Ice Tour  
Wario Cup
  • 20
  • 36
  • 42
New Year's Tour (2023)  
Waluigi Cup
Note: There is a lone ring (with a Red Coin in the center) on the snowy shortcut at the first hairpin turn; when passed through, 7 more rings spawn ahead of the driver in a row. Prior to this area, there is a row of Item Boxes that only provide Mushrooms, which the player can use to reach said rings if they have Smart Steering enabled.
Do Jump Boosts
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Grand Star scores Tour appearances Cup
  Regular  
Donkey Kong
 
Pipe Frame
 
Super Glider
  • 5
  • 10
  • 15
Winter Tour (2019)  
Bowser Jr. Cup
Wild West Tour  
Wendy Cup
  • 8
  • 12
  • 16
Halloween Tour (2021)  
Peach Cup
Big Reverse Race
Icon Course variant Opponents Tour appearances Cup
7th 6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd 1st Extra
  Regular Driver  [2]  [2]  [2]  [2]  [2]  [2]  [2]  [3] Exploration Tour (2020)  
Yoshi Cup
Kart                
Glider                 Frost Tour  
King Boo Cup
Goomba Takedown
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Item Box
type found
Number of item slots Grand Star scores Tour appearances Cup
  Regular  
Donkey Kong
 
Pipe Frame
 
Super Glider
 
Green Shell

 
Bob-omb
3
  • 25
  • 50
  • 85
London Tour  
Peach Cup
  • 25
  • 45
  • 84
Kamek Tour  
Kamek Cup
Glider Challenge
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Grand Star distances Tour appearances Cup
  Regular  
Shy Guy
 
Pipe Frame
 
Super Glider
  • 200
  • 500
  • 700
Winter Tour (2019)  
Lakitu Cup
Frost Tour  
Monty Mole Cup
Sundae Tour (2023)  
Dixie Kong Cup
Steer Clear of Obstacles
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Obstacles Tour appearances Cup
  Regular  
Toadette
 
Pipe Frame
 
Super Glider
 
Snowball
Winter Tour (2019)  
Morton Cup
Snow Tour
Holiday Tour (2022)
 
Dry Bowser Cup
Vs. Mega Donkey Kong
Icon Course variant Mega opponent information Tour appearances Cup
Driver Kart Glider Items used
  Regular  
Donkey Kong
 
Pipe Buggy
 
Super Glider[4]
 
Bananas[4]

 
Giant Bananas[5]
100cc and higher only
Winter Tour (2019)  
Peachette Cup
Winter Tour (2020)  
Morton Cup
Smash Small Dry Bones
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Grand Star scores Tour appearances Cup
  Regular  
Donkey Kong
 
Pipe Frame
 
Super Glider
  • 5
  • 8
  • 12
Hammer Bro Tour  
Birdo Cup
Penguin Tour  
Daisy Cup
Break Item Boxes
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Item Box
type found
Number of item slots Grand Star scores Tour appearances Cup
  Regular  
Mario
 
Pipe Frame
 
Super Glider
 
Fire Flower

 
Coin
2
  • 10
  • 20
  • 30
Vancouver Tour  
Metal Mario Cup
  • 8
  • 18
  • 28
Singapore Tour  
Lemmy Cup
Time Trial
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Grand Star scores Tour appearances Cup
  Regular  
Morton
 
Pipe Frame
 
Super Glider
  • 2:40.00
  • 2:25.00
  • 1:52.00
Holiday Tour (2019)  
Baby Rosalina Cup
Los Angeles Tour (2020)  
Toad Cup
  • 2:30.00
  • 2:14.00
  • 2:04.00
Mario vs. Luigi Tour (2022)  
Mario Cup
Combo Attack
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Highest combo counts Tour appearances Cup
  T  
Birdo
 
Pipe Frame
 
Super Glider
  • 5
  • 15
  • 28
Yoshi Tour (2020)  
Birdo Cup
  • 7
  • 15
  • 25
Mario vs. Luigi Tour (2022)  
Yoshi Cup
Take them out quick!
Icon Course variant Chosen driver information Item Box type(s) found Opponent information Starting time Grand Star times Tour appearances Cup
Driver Kart Glider Number of balloons Number of item slots Driver Kart Glider Number of balloons Items used
  Regular  
Metal Mario
 
Pipe Frame
 
Super Glider
3 1  
Green Shell

 
Red Shell

 
Fire Flower

 
Frenzy
(Green Shell)
 
Bowser
 
Yellow Offroader
 
Safety Glider
5  
Banana

 
Giant Banana
1:15.00
  • 0:00.00
  • 0:05.00
  • 0:10.00
Sundae Tour (2023)  
Boomerang Bro Cup

Mario Kart World

File:Mkw dkpass icon.jpg
The course icon in Mario Kart World

This section is referring to a subject in an upcoming or recently released game. When the game is released, or more information about this subject is found, this section may need major rewriting.
This notice should be removed after a month has passed since the game was first released.

DK Pass makes its home console debut in Mario Kart World, appearing as the first course of the Star Cup. Unlike its previous incarnations, DK Pass now has a skiing theme,[6] though Snowboarding Shy Guys are present as well, similar to DK Summit in Mario Kart Wii.[7]

Sponsors

Mario Kart DS

Mario Kart 7

Mario Kart Tour

Profiles

Mario Kart DS

  • Website description:
    • English (American):
      Covered with snow and ice, DK Pass is as dangerous as it gets. Tight turns and runaway snowballs make for nail-biting fun on DK's home turf.
    • English (British):
      Brr, it's chilly in them thar hills... Pack your winter woollies through for this sub-zero speed through snow-capped peaks, as you dodge rolling snowballs and negotiate rows of rock-solid snowmen that bring your kart to an abrupt halt. Keep moving or your engine might freeze up...

Mario Kart Tour

  • Mario Kart Tour Twitter: "As soon as the race begins, the once-peaceful slopes of DK Pass transform into a fighting frenzy for first place! Grab your kart and hit the hill in #MarioKartTour!"[8]

Gallery

Mario Kart DS

Mario Kart 7

Mario Kart Tour

Course icons

For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Mario Kart Tour race course icons (DS courses) § DK Pass.

Screenshots

Mario Kart World

Naming

Internal names

Game File Name Meaning

Mario Kart DS snow_course Snow course

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese DKスノーマウンテン[?]
DK Sunō Maunten
DK Snow Mountain
Chinese DK雪山[?]
DK Xuěshān
DK Snow Mountain
Dutch DK's Piste[?] DK's Ski Track. In Dutch, a Piste is a snow slope prepared for skiing
French Alpes DK[?] DK Alps
German DK Alpin[?] DK Alps
Italian Vette di DK[?] DK's Peaks
Korean DK 스노우 마운틴[?]
DK Seunou Mauntin
DK Snow Mountain
Portuguese Passagem DK[?] DK Pass
Russian Перевал ДК[?]
Pereval DK
DK Pass
Spanish DK Alpino[?] Alpine DK

Notes

References

  1. ^ new MOMIジ (April 24, 2020). [MK7 WR Replay] DS DK Pass (Glitch) 1:54.946. YouTube (English). Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Andruidus (July 22, 2020). Mario Kart Tour - Exploration Tour: Yoshi Cup. YouTube. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  3. ^ TheMadWeazel (July 15, 2020). Exploration Tour “Yoshi Cup” - Mario Kart Tour. YouTube. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  4. ^ a b TheMadWeazel (November 30, 2019). Winter Tour “Peachette Cup” - Mario Kart Tour. YouTube. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  5. ^ Andruidus (December 6, 2019). Mario Kart Tour - Winter Tour: Peachette Cup. YouTube. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  6. ^ Nintendo of America (April 2, 2025). Mario Kart World – Nintendo Direct | Nintendo Switch 2. YouTube. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  7. ^ File:Mkw dkpass icon.jpg
  8. ^ mariokarttourEN (November 22, 2019). Post on X. X (English). Retrieved March 13, 2020.