Track Boosts and Shortcuts

Even when tracks have boosts along the outer edge, it's often quicker to hug the interior of the curve. Many tracks also have shortcuts you can take.

Defensive Hints

When you have a single shell or banana, you can hold ZL to keep it behind your kart as a defense, although they won't shield you from strikes to the side. You can also evade attacks by taking sharp turns, jumping, and putting other players or characters in between you and the pursuing item.

Get Boost

To get a boost at the start of the race, press and hold the accelerator button when you hear the second beep in the countdown.

Directional Items

Some items lock on to players ahead of you, but they won't lock on to players behind you if you shoot them behind.

Collect Coins

Coins increase your speed, so collect as many as you can. You will drop some if you are hit, and if you hit other players with items, they will drop coins you can collect.

Small Boost

Move the analog stick or D-pad left/right as you turn to drift and build up a small boost.

Using Shells

If you get three shells, don't throw them all at the same racer. If you hit the racer with your first shell, try to get ahead of them so you can use your next shell on someone else.

Unlockable Parts and Vehicles Guide

In addition to giving you accumulative speed boosts, the coins you collect during races also unlock new vehicles and parts when you reach certain totals, although the order in which you unlock them is random.

• Cushion Wheels (Wheels)
• Mr. Scooty (Bike)
• Blue Standard (Wheels)
• Pipe Frame (Kart)
• Tri-Speeder (Kart)
• Slick (Wheels)
• Wild Wiggler (Kart)
• Button (Wheels)
• Cloud Glider (Glider)
• Varmint (Bike)
• Plane Glider (Glider)
• Yoshi Bike (Bike)
• Flower Glider (Glider)
• The Duke (Bike)
• Circuit Special (Kart)
• Prancer (Kart)
• Crimson Slim (Wheels)
• Landship (Kart)
• Flame Rider (Bike)
• Retro Off-Road (Wheels)
• Steel Driver (Kart)
• Azure Roller (Wheels)
• Wario Wing (Glider)
• Comet (Bike)
• Off-Road (Wheels)
• Metal Wheels (Wheels)
• Jet Bike (Bike)
• Teddy Buggy (Kart)
• Waddle Wing (Gliders)
• Bowser Kite (Glider)
• Hot Monster (Wheels)
• Cat Cruiser (Kart)
• Sponge (Wheels)
• Peach Parasol (Gliders)
• MKTV Parafoil (Gliders)
• Cyber Slick (Wheels)
• Sports Coupe (Kart)

You can also unlock a gold kart, tires, and accessory.

• Gold Kart - You must earn a star (by coming in 1^st place in at least 3 of the four races) for every cup in the Grand Prix at 150cc and in Mirror Mode.
• Gold Tires - You must beat all of the Nintendo staff ghost times in Time Trial Mode.
• Gold Accessory - You must accumulate 10,000 total coins.