Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Courses:

• Wii Moo Moo Meadows
• GCN Dry Dry Desert
• SNES Donut Plains 3
• N64 Toad's Turnpike
• Mario Circuit
• Toad Harbor
• GCN Sherbet Land
• N64 Yoshi Valley

Hey there! Welcome to the FAQ for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, the latest installment in the awesome Mario Kart series. This game shakes things up with some cool new features like antigravity, ATVs, seven different weight classes, four brand-new items, sixteen fresh courses, and a whole bunch of new vehicles to play with. It's a lot to take in, but we're here to help you get the hang of it!

This guide is a big project, put together from tons of different sources. Because of that, you might find some info that's a little off or even missing. If you spot any errors or have extra info that could make this guide even better, don't hesitate to shoot me an email at kirbydude385@gmail.com or send me a private message on GameFAQs. Your input really helps!

Just a heads-up: sometimes course names can be a bit different depending on where you are in the world. This guide sticks to the American names. Here are a few examples of how the names differ between American (NoA) and European (NoE) versions:

• 3DS Music Park (NoA) is called 3DS Melody Motorway (NoE)
• 3DS Piranha Plant Slide (NoA) is known as 3DS Piranha Plant Pipeway (NoE)
• 3DS Neo Bowser City (NoA) is referred to as 3DS Koopa City (NoE)

We might also see some differences in vehicle part names. If you notice any, let me know so I can update the guide!

Oh, and one more thing: I'll be using the term 'Grip' instead of 'Traction' throughout this guide. It was officially called Grip early on, and I'd already written most of the guide using that term, so I'm sticking with it for consistency.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe retains most mechanics from Mario Kart 7, but introduces new ones. This section covers core gameplay elements and introduces terminology used throughout the guide.

Accelerating (Driving): Hold the accelerate button to move forward. Speed depends on character and vehicle. This is the primary control used 99% of the time.

Braking: Hold the brake button to slow down or reverse. Rarely used except in Balloon Battle and 200cc mode to avoid obstacles or falling.

Steering: Basic directional control. Handling varies by character and vehicle. Primarily used to avoid items or position for item boxes.

Drifting: Hold the drift button to turn sharply without losing speed. Essential for navigating corners and a core strategy. Different vehicles have different drift capabilities. Inward and automatic drifting from Mario Kart Wii are removed, though some bikes offer similar handling.

Miniturbo: Achieved by drifting long enough to create a blue spark under the tires. Releasing drift grants a boost. Holding drift longer turns the spark orange for a larger boost. Tighter drifts charge miniturbos faster. Aim for at least a blue miniturbo on every drift; an orange miniturbo is secondary to maintaining course.

Hopping: A short hop performed when initiating a drift. Can be used to cross small gaps or make tight turns without significant forward movement by tapping the button, especially useful in Balloon Battle.

Tricking: Perform a trick off ramps, ledges, bumps, or wavy surfaces for a speed boost upon landing. Always perform tricks when possible to maintain speed.

Boosting: Two main types exist outside of miniturbos and items. 1) Start Boost: Hold accelerate just as the '2' appears during the countdown for a significant boost. Timing is crucial. 2) Boost Pads: Colorful pads on tracks provide a speed boost but may be out of the way.

Drafting: Drive closely behind another racer to gain a speed boost after a short period, indicated by air streaks. This is risky as you are vulnerable to items.

Jostling/Bumping/Ramming: Physically bumping opponents can push them into hazards or off the track. Effectiveness varies by character and vehicle combination.

Offroad: Driving on non-track surfaces (grass, dirt) significantly slows you down and prevents drifting. Character and vehicle affect the severity of slowdown.

Underwater Driving: Similar to Mario Kart 7, underwater sections are slower and result in floatier jumps and drifts. Prefer land driving when possible.

Gliding: Initiated by driving or tricking off a blue ramp. Pulling back on the stick makes you rise, pushing forward makes you dive (faster). Gliding is generally faster than land driving. Cannon launches provide constant speed with no directional control but leave you vulnerable to items.

Antigravity: A major new addition where players drive on walls and ceilings in antigravity sections, marked by a light blue strip.