Starter racers are ready from the start, so you can race with one right away. Every other racer is unlocked by clearing its Grand Prix cup or by getting transformed into that racer by a Kamek item in a race or a UFO in Free Roam.
Racer
Starters
Version 1.1.0 added several racers to the starting lineup. Cow and Snowman were unlocks before that.
Baby Daisy
Available from the start.
- Status
- Starter
- Weight class
- Lightweight
Baby Luigi
Available from the start.
- Status
- Starter
- Weight class
- Lightweight
Baby Mario
Available from the start.
- Status
- Starter
- Weight class
- Lightweight
Baby Peach
Available from the start.
- Status
- Starter
- Weight class
- Lightweight
Baby Rosalina
Available from the start.
- Status
- Starter
- Weight class
- Lightweight
Bowser
Available from the start.
- Status
- Starter
- Weight class
- Heavyweight
Cheep Cheep
Available from the start since version 1.1.0.
- Status
- Starter
- Weight class
- Lightweight
Cow
Available from the start since version 1.1.0.
- Status
- Starter
- Weight class
- Heavyweight
Dry Bones
Available from the start.
- Status
- Starter
- Weight class
- Lightweight
Goomba
Available from the start.
- Status
- Starter
- Weight class
- Lightweight
Hammer Bro
Available from the start.
- Status
- Starter
- Weight class
- Middleweight
Koopa Troopa
Available from the start.
- Status
- Starter
- Weight class
- Lightweight
Luigi
Available from the start.
- Status
- Starter
- Weight class
- Middleweight
Mario
Available from the start.
- Status
- Starter
- Weight class
- Middleweight
Monty Mole
Available from the start since version 1.1.0.
- Status
- Starter
- Weight class
- Middleweight
Nabbit
Available from the start.
- Status
- Starter
- Weight class
- Lightweight
Para-Biddybud
Available from the start since version 1.1.0.
- Status
- Starter
- Weight class
- Lightweight
Pauline
Available from the start.
- Status
- Starter
- Weight class
- Middleweight
Peach
Available from the start.
- Status
- Starter
- Weight class
- Middleweight
Penguin
Available from the start since version 1.1.0.
- Status
- Starter
- Weight class
- Middleweight
Piranha Plant
Available from the start.
- Status
- Starter
- Weight class
- Heavyweight
Pokey
Available from the start since version 1.1.0.
- Status
- Starter
- Weight class
- Middleweight
Shy Guy
Available from the start.
- Status
- Starter
- Weight class
- Lightweight
Sidestepper
Available from the start since version 1.1.0.
- Status
- Starter
- Weight class
- Lightweight
Snowman
Available from the start since version 1.1.0.
- Status
- Starter
- Weight class
- Heavyweight
Stingby
Available from the start since version 1.1.0.
- Status
- Starter
- Weight class
- Lightweight
Toad
Available from the start.
- Status
- Starter
- Weight class
- Lightweight
Toadette
Available from the start.
- Status
- Starter
- Weight class
- Lightweight
Waluigi
Available from the start.
- Status
- Starter
- Weight class
- Heavyweight
Wario
Available from the start.
- Status
- Starter
- Weight class
- Heavyweight
Wiggler
Available from the start.
- Status
- Starter
- Weight class
- Heavyweight
Yoshi
Available from the start.
- Status
- Starter
- Weight class
- Middleweight
Racer
Grand Prix Cup Unlocks
Birdo
Clear the Banana Cup Grand Prix; finishing position does not matter.
- Status
- Unlockable
- Weight class
- Middleweight
Bowser Jr.
Clear the Lightning Cup Grand Prix; finishing position does not matter.
- Status
- Unlockable
- Weight class
- Middleweight
Daisy
Clear the Flower Cup Grand Prix; finishing position does not matter.
- Status
- Unlockable
- Weight class
- Middleweight
Donkey Kong
Clear the Mushroom Cup Grand Prix; finishing position does not matter.
- Status
- Unlockable
- Weight class
- Heavyweight
King Boo
Clear the Leaf Cup Grand Prix; finishing position does not matter.
- Status
- Unlockable
- Weight class
- Heavyweight
Lakitu
Clear the Shell Cup Grand Prix; finishing position does not matter.
- Status
- Unlockable
- Weight class
- Lightweight
Rosalina
Clear the Star Cup Grand Prix; finishing position does not matter.
- Status
- Unlockable
- Weight class
- Heavyweight
Racer
Kamek and UFO Unlocks
If Settings/Controller > Dash Food is set to “Doesn't transform,” a UFO abduction won't transform you, so the UFO route is shut off. Kamek items in races aren't affected.
Cataquack
First Kamek transformation into Cataquack during a race, or first UFO abduction and transformation into Cataquack in Free Roam.
- Status
- Unlockable
- Weight class
- Heavyweight
Chargin' Chuck
First Kamek transformation into Chargin' Chuck during a race, or first UFO abduction and transformation into Chargin' Chuck in Free Roam.
- Status
- Unlockable
- Weight class
- Heavyweight
Coin Coffer
First Kamek transformation into Coin Coffer during a race, or first UFO abduction and transformation into Coin Coffer in Free Roam.
- Status
- Unlockable
- Weight class
- Middleweight
Conkdor
First Kamek transformation into Conkdor during a race, or first UFO abduction and transformation into Conkdor in Free Roam.
- Status
- Unlockable
- Weight class
- Heavyweight
Dolphin
First Kamek transformation into Dolphin during a race, or first UFO abduction and transformation into Dolphin in Free Roam.
- Status
- Unlockable
- Weight class
- Middleweight
Fish Bone
First Kamek transformation into Fish Bone during a race, or first UFO abduction and transformation into Fish Bone in Free Roam.
- Status
- Unlockable
- Weight class
- Lightweight
Peepa
First Kamek transformation into Peepa during a race, or first UFO abduction and transformation into Peepa in Free Roam.
- Status
- Unlockable
- Weight class
- Lightweight
Pianta
First Kamek transformation into Pianta during a race, or first UFO abduction and transformation into Pianta in Free Roam.
- Status
- Unlockable
- Weight class
- Heavyweight
Rocky Wrench
First Kamek transformation into Rocky Wrench during a race, or first UFO abduction and transformation into Rocky Wrench in Free Roam.
- Status
- Unlockable
- Weight class
- Middleweight
Spike
First Kamek transformation into Spike during a race, or first UFO abduction and transformation into Spike in Free Roam.
- Status
- Unlockable
- Weight class
- Lightweight
Swoop
First Kamek transformation into Swoop during a race, or first UFO abduction and transformation into Swoop in Free Roam.
- Status
- Unlockable
- Weight class
- Lightweight
Opening racers through Grand Prix cups
Donkey Kong comes from the Mushroom Cup, Birdo from the Banana Cup and Bowser Jr. from the Lightning Cup. Clear that cup's Grand Prix in any position and the racer unlocks.
Opening racers with Kamek and UFOs
A Kamek item in a race can transform you into racers like Cataquack, Conkdor or Swoop. The UFO route runs through Free Roam, where a UFO can abduct you and transform you the same way. The first transformation into a racer unlocks it, whether a Kamek item or a UFO does it.