~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~4. Items~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Master Mario Kart 8 Deluxe items! Learn about new and removed items, how to get them from item boxes, and effective offensive and defensive strategies for each item.

It wouldn't be a Mario Kart game without a plethora of items that you will be using throughout each race. Using items effectively is key to winning most races. Mario Kart 8 introduces four new items, and has removed some from Mario Kart 7.

Removed Items: Super Leaf, Lucky Seven

New Items: Super Horn, Boomerang Flower, Piranha Plant, Crazy Eight

Items are collected from the numerous item boxes located in multiple spots on each track, usually in rows or groups. When you run into an item box, a roulette appears in the upper-left corner of the screen. Eventually, an item will be selected (you can speed up the roulette by tapping the item button, though about two seconds must have already passed). The item you will received is chosen semi-randomly. The type of item you get roughly depends on how far away you are from the person in first, and NOT solely in place value as in previous games.

On top of this, Mario Kart 8 allows you to carry only one item, even if you're dragging it behind you. This forces you to be a bit more strategic in your item use.

When talking about all of the items in Mario Kart 8, I will talk about four things:

• Placement: This is how far back from the person in first you have to be to get this item. This is VERY rough, so don't take this as a fact. It's best to use as a comparison between items, but it's very possible for you to get a Green Shell and the person next to you to get a Star.
• High: 1st or right behind
• Mid-High: Decently close
• Mid: Fairly far behind
• Mid-Low: Quite far
• Low: 1st is like 1/2 a lap ahead
• Remember that this is by no means your "limit" in getting these items, especially if you have races set to Frantic mode. This is just a general guide so you know what to expect. It is very important to keep in mind that your place DOES NOT MATTER.
• I will also talk about how often you'll see this item when in a certain position. For example, though Mushrooms can be gotten in first, they are quite rare, while when you're in Mid placement, they're pretty common. If I give a specific statement like "Uncommon when High" and I say you can get the item from High to Mid-High, assume that it is Common when you're Mid-High.
• Common>Uncommon>Rare
• Description: This is a general description of what the item does, and how you use it.
• Offensive Techniques: This describes how you can use the item for offense. This generally refers to passing racers or attacking those in front of you.
• Defensive Techniques: This describes how you can use the item for defense. This generally refers to maintaining your position or hitting those behind you.
• Avoiding It: Here I will talk about how to avoid being affected by this item if it is used against you, either by dodging the item or lessening its affects.

Also when talking about getting hit, I will be using two different phrases. 'Spinning out' refers to when your character spins around in a circle, slowing significantly but not completely stopping. 'Flipping' or getting 'knocked over' is when your character actually flips around in the air and comes to a complete standstill. Flipping is more costly than spinning out.

4.1. Coin

Placement: High to Mid-High (Very common in first)

Description: The Coin item gives you two coins automatically. If you already have 10 coins, this item is relatively worthless.

Offensive Techniques: None. Use it immediately and look for another item.

Defensive Techniques: Notice how I said relatively worthless earlier. Getting coins boosts your speed, and this includes the Coin item. You can use this to slightly help you recover from being hit. Of course, if you can get a Banana or Shell that's much better, but if you're in first, you may want to save the Coin until the next set of item boxes just in case.

Avoiding It: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH IT'S A COIN RUNNNNNNNNNNN

4.2. Banana

Placement: High to Mid-High (Common)

Description: You can do three things with the Banana. By tapping the button you will drop it directly behind you onto the track. By holding Up and tapping the button you will lob the Banana in an arc ahead of you. Lastly, by holding the item button you can drag the peel behind your vehicle. A Banana will remain on the track or attached to your vehicle until it's hit by a racer or another item. Touching a Banana will cause you to spin out.

Offensive Techniques: It's difficult to use Bananas to affect racers in front of you, as all you can really do is lob the Banana ahead of you, which is very difficult to aim. Tossing a Banana directly on top of a racer's head is the best strategy, as it gives them no time to react, but this is very challenging.

Defensive Techniques: Bananas are definitely more suited to defense. There are two main strategies you can take when it comes to Banana defense. The first is to drag the Banana behind you. This shields you from any rear attacks, and is very useful in defending against Red Shells. Keep in mind that items from the side and in front of you will still hit, as will explosive items. The other strategy involves placing Bananas in strategic places along the track where opponents will slip on them. Narrow passages are ideal as there is little room to dodge the Bananas. You can also place Bananas on ramps or boosts, as if a racer hits a Banana on these they will often spin clean off the ramp or boost. For ramps, this can cause them to fall into a pit and they will have wasted a lot of time. Another option is to place Bananas right behind item boxes as they are difficult to see and people are always going for item boxes. One more thing: holding Bananas behind you is a great way for dealing with drafters, as they will likely draft right into your peel.

Avoiding It: Bananas on the track are usually fairly easy to avoid as long as you're alert. Pay special attention to narrow corridors or blind turns where tr