-My Brother after I conked him with a Green Shell
Mario Kart is a beautiful thing. As an individual that often jokes about being created by the Nintendo Gods to dominate Mario Kart, you wouldn’t be wrong guessing that it’s been a big part of my gaming life. I mean, I even mentioned it in my wedding speech – so there you go.
But like all beautiful things, there’s an ugly side. I am, of course, talking about the items. Playing Mario Kart, I spend a lot of time in 1st place, so other than the coins, banana skins, and constant barrage of Blue and Red shells, I was non-the-wiser of these “other” items that are awarded to people in 2nd position and lower. I mean “Golden Mushroom” what even is that and how come I’ve never got one up there at the head of the pack?
Jokes aside, the items in Mario Kart contribute massively towards the chaotic fun the series is known for. The items have changed and adapted throughout the series starting with Super Mario Kart on the SNES, all the way through to Mario Kart Live – the new remote-controlled VR Switch title.
So in this blog, I’ve put aside my biased “1st place” opinions and have ranked my Top 10 Mario Kart Items based on what they do, how they balance the race and the enjoyment you get out of using them on the unknowing racers around you.
Did You Know?
- Only 6 items have appeared in every Mario Kart iteration: Banana, Green Shell, Lightning, Mushroom, Red Shell, & Star.
- Double Dash is the only Mario Kart to date with character specific items.
- Mario Kart 8 is the first game to introduce an anti-Blue Shell item; the Super Horn!
10) Red Shell
The Red Shell is a great, beginner-friendly Mario Kart item – but it’s definitely not fun being on the end of one. The homing-nature of this shell, when unleashed, will tenaciously follow the driver until it lands that finishing blow! The single Red Shell was first introduced in Super Mario Kart, whilst the upgraded, more aggressive Triple Red Shell item first appeared in Mario Kart 64. The Red Shells in Mario Kart 64 were a little more clumsy, and less guaranteed, sometimes firing themselves into the nearest wall at a crushing speed. However, in Double Dash onwards, this little fiend would lock in, and never let up!
9) Bob-omb
Quite a few items in the Mario Kart series can be propelled forwards, or dropped behind you. With most of these items, the decision to launch them ahead, can be a double-edged sword, and come back to bite you. However, of these, perhaps the most dangerous, is the Bob-omb. When dropped, or thrown, onto the track, this little guy will waddle around and explode when a driver gets near. The blast radius can catch multiple characters, and the sweet pay off of catching 2 or 3 drivers with a well timed throw, can propel you several places in the race. However get the timing wrong and miss, and the Bob-omb will detect you as you draw near, and blow up in your face. The high-risk, high-reward nature of this item could fill you with glee, or fear! (or you could just drop it behind you, and forget all about it)
8) Fire Flower
One of the newer items on this list, the Fire Flower was introduced in Mario Kart 7 and it’s almost as if Nintendo thought there just wasn’t enough chaos in each race already. With this fiery bad-boy you’re armed with 10 fireballs (or 10 ten seconds worth – whatever runs out first), that you can launch forwards, backwards, left or right, or a combination of all 4! It allows you to take out a multitude of enemies all around – or yourself! That’s right, these great balls of fire bounce off walls, so make sure you’ve not made any mathematical boo-boos when you start carelessly mashing the L button to take out the opposition!
7) Banana
Another veteran of the Mario Kart series, this slippery little devil has seen me through some tough times over my Mario Kart career. I’ve mentioned my lengthy time spent in the number one spot, and the game likes to reward that position, item-wise, with the majestic banana. The banana can be used to take out enemies behind, or in front of you. However, my most common use for this potassium pal is as a shield from all the red shells launched by the racer in 2nd! It’s not the most fun item (although hurling it forward can provide some memorable, clutch moments), however I do love it and, in particular, the Diddy/DK Giant Banana version, in Double Dash. This massive banana (grow up!), complete with grumpy face, explodes into three regular bananas on impact, creating an even more cumbersome race track for those that follow!
6) Lightning
Having appeared in every single Mario Kart to date, just missing out on a top 5 finish, is the Lightning. This item is great at balancing the race, especially if the person at the back, is lagging behind. On use, all players except the user are hit by a vivid bolt of lightning, shrinking the racers down to teeny-tiny versions of themselves. In this height impaired state, you’ll be driving super slow and, worse still, are subject to being crushed as 12th position starts climbing up to pole! Racers regain their pre-lightning size in descending order, moving from 11th, to 10th, and so on. It means for those people at the head of the pack, you’re more likely to take a crushing as the racers behind you gain territory and lurk with their large, heavy bodies – so watch out – objects in the rearview mirror are DEFINITELY larger than they appear.
5) Mushroom
A staple foodstuffs of the series, the Mushroom appears in almost every Mario game there is. Mario Kart is no different. Unlike in other games where this item turns Mario into the larger Super Mario, in Mario Kart the Mushroom provides a speed boost, helping propel you through the race. On the surface, it’s not overly exciting, but combined with the race track’s terrain, this item offers endless possibilities. A lot of tracks have hidden shortcuts that can only be accessed with a well timed Mushroom. Finding these shortcuts, executing them to perfection, and going on to take the win, definitely gives you full bragging rights. A particular favourite of mine is Yoshi’s Circuit, where a Mushroom can be used to speed off the edge of a cliff, and land you in an opening in the rock’s face. This underground pass shortcuts a lot of the sharper turns, giving you an easy ride and an easy win.
4) Golden Mushroom
One step above the Mushroom, is the Triple Mushroom. BUT one step above this, is the Golden Mushroom. Normally awarded to the lower placed racers, this version of the Mushroom can be used as many times as possible within the time frame that is given. Unlike the Mushroom which is gone after it’s used, you can aggressively mash the L button with the Golden Mushroom to keep an intense speed boost, and create some karting chaos. It’s great for traversing terrain like deep sand or mud, which usually slow the racers down, at full pace! It’s a nifty, middle of the pack item that help 7th or 8th get up to a podium spot and, although super fun, the Golden Mushroom, just misses out on my list’s podium spots.
3) Chain Chomp
Useable only in Mario Kart Double Dash, the Chain Chomp takes the podium’s 3rd spot! Mario Kart Double Dash is, to date, still my favourite Mario Kart game. I love the combination of having two racers per kart, and how you can tactically grab an item, and swap the holder to the driving position, storing this for later. There are many other reasons why this is my favourite, and the Special Items, is one of these reasons. Each racer has a unique powerful item, and the Chain Chomp belongs to Baby Mario and Baby Luigi. When used, this thing attaches itself to the kart, wrenches the racers forwards through the course, whilst also taking out nearby drivers in the process. After a short period, the Chain Chomp detaches and continues to run riot through the course, before fleeing once it’s satisfied with the carnage it’s caused. This multipurpose item is great fun, especially when it’s used on the claustrophobic Baby Park!
2) Starman
The Starman / Power Star / Super Star (whatever revs your throttle) is another multi-purpose item that I love in Mario Kart. The item gives the racer invincibility from all other items, speeds them up, and will destroy other racers and items that you come into contact with whilst the star is active! The delightful Power Star music plays whilst in use, lifting up not only your morale but also your race position…probably. There’s no sweeter feeling in Mario Kart (well except for what’s in the number one spot on this list) than when you use the Star, and someone else has then used the Lightning, leaving you unaffected through the star’s invincibility. The star tears up the course in normal circumstances, but now that everyone else is really small and slow, it gives you that easy pass to that number 1 spot!
1) Green Shell
Here it is, the item that represents the mark of true skill. The humble, no-nonsense, Green Shell. There are no gimmicks here; the Green Shell doesn’t “hone-in”, it doesn’t do the work for you, it’s no easy-pass. The Green Shell launches forward, and that’s it. But what the Green Shell does do is reward a skilled driver, as landing a hit with a Green Shell really is the best feeling in Mario Kart. Seeing the racer in front of you off in the distance approaching a bend, and launching the shell with timing perfection to watch said driver turn into the shell’s path, is pure delight. It’s even hard to be mad when you’re on the receiving end of such a wonderful manoeuvre. The Triple Green shell is of course even more dangerous for those with precision like aim – but just be careful you don’t bounce that shell off a wall, as you’ll be watching it head right back towards you!
I hope you appreciate my podium choices and the other items on this list. Of course, there was no Blue Shell here, as that item, is stupid. You’d be right in guessing that I’ve been hit with Blue Shells more than any other item in Mario Kart and although I understand why it exists, my hatred for it will not lessen.
I love Mario Kart, and it’s probably, the most competitive thing I’m best at. I can hold my own in Smash, and I’m pretty average at sporting titles. But when it comes to Mario Kart, I do alright. Although I don’t use many of the items, I appreciate it when I do get to use them, and how they help add to the balance and fun that makes this series, so successful.