Red Balloons[edit]
- Missile
Collect one red balloon to get a missile that you can fire off.
- Homing Missile
Collect two to get a homing missile. Hold down the firing trigger, and you will see a set of crosshairs centered on the nearest opponent. Release the trigger and the missile will seek them out. They're not infinitely maneuverable though, so make sure you don't hit a wall with them.
- Pack of Ten Missiles
Collect three red balloons to get a set of ten single missiles. This can be frustrating if you were after a homing missile, as you now have to fire off ten non-homing missiles. But if used properly, you might find it a lot of fun. The only places you can't use a pack of ten missiles are Darkwater Beach and Icicle Pyramid.
Blue Balloons[edit]
- Orange Boost
Collect one blue balloon to get the modest orange boost, roughly equivalent to going over a zipper.
- Blue Boost
Two balloons give you a stronger blue boost.
- Purple boost
Three balloons give you a very strong purple boost.
Green Balloons[edit]
- Oil Slick
Collect one balloon and you can deposit an oil spill to trip up opponents.
- Mine
Collect two green balloons, and the oil spill becomes an explosive mine.
- Bubble
Collect three, and you will be able to leave behind bubbles, like the octopus boss. These trap opponents for a period of time and delay them.
Rainbow Balloons[edit]
- Yellow Magnet
Collect one balloon to use this. It pulls you closer to the player in front of you. It has a limited range, and if you use it while the other player is too far ahead, you will lose it. A good rule of thumb is to hold the trigger down and wait until the crosshairs appear.
- Red Magnet
Two balloons.
- Green Magnet
Collect three rainbow balloons to use it. This pulls another player back to you, and it seems to have an unlimited range.
Yellow Balloons[edit]
- Alpha Shield
One balloon. Shields all do the same thing; they protect you from weapons and hazards, and they cause players who hit you to lose control. The difference between the three shield levels is that each one lasts slightly longer.
- Star Shield
Two balloons.
- Lightning Shield
Three balloons.
Bananas[edit]
Collect bananas during the race to increase your top speed. You lose them if you hit a hazard (or are hit by a missile).
Bananas aren't really essential to winning any races, but they give you a slight edge.
Keys[edit]
There is one key hidden in each world that will enable you to unlock the tournament-style level for that world. If you collect it during a race, it doesn't matter if you win that race or not, you will find that world's tournament level becomes unlocked once you leave the race.