Rules:
- This is all just my opinion.
- My opinion is "Law". (You are still allowed to disagree)
- There is no rule number 3
"Hey everyone! I'm back with another top ten post, and today I'm excited to dive into the world of Mario Kart! We all know that the items can make or break a race, so I’ve put together my picks for the top five best and worst items in the game. But enough about that—let’s get started and see how these items stack up!"
"Let's talk about number five on the worst items list: the Fake Item Box. This item first appeared in Mario Kart 64 and lasted until its final appearance in Mario Kart Wii. By that point, it seemed Nintendo realized it was a pretty useless item and decided to retire it. And honestly, I can't blame them for that.
The Fake Item Box was way too easy to identify compared to regular item boxes. For instance, the version in Mario Kart 64 had an upside-down question mark, while the standard item boxes had the regular upright question mark. In Mario Kart DS, the Fake Item Box was also colored differently, making it stand out even more. It was just too obvious!
Another major issue was that it didn’t move. Whenever players placed it down, it was often in an obvious spot that made it easy to dodge. Placing it among other item boxes to create a convincing setup was a complicated task, at least in my opinion. Maybe it’s not challenging for everyone, but it certainly is for me.
Now, the main reason this item is on my list is that it fails at both offense and defense. Much like the Banana Peel and shells, you can hold the Fake Item Box behind you. However, unlike those other items, holding it behind you does not protect you from incoming attacks. If you get hit while holding it, you still take the hit, which seems pretty silly. If you’re holding it behind you, it should at least provide some level of defense. Unfortunately, it fails to serve its purpose in both aspects, with its defensive capabilities being especially lacking."
"Anyway, that wraps up my thoughts on the fifth worst item, so let’s move on to the fifth best item: the Super Horn. You’ve probably heard me mention the Blue Shell earlier, and it’s a common complaint among players that the Blue Shell punishes those in first place. Many have been looking for a solution to this problem. Sure, you can use a Mushroom to try to avoid it, but why settle for that when you have the Super Horn?
What makes the Super Horn fantastic is that it’s not just effective against Blue Shells; you can use it to deflect any incoming item, whether it’s a Green Shell or a Red Shell. Plus, you can even use it to attack other racers! The Super Horn made its debut in Mario Kart 8, so unfortunately, I don’t have visuals from other games to share here. But overall, it's a versatile and powerful item that definitely deserves a spot on this list!"
"Coming in at number four on the worst items list is the Pow Block. Oh boy, do I have a bit of a history with this item! For a while, I considered it the worst item in Mario Kart, but after some reflection, I realized it’s not completely terrible; it just has a lot of room for improvement.
One major flaw is how easy it is to dodge. To avoid the shockwave, all you have to do is shake the Wii Remote or hit the D-pad if you’re using a GameCube controller. It’s pretty simple! However, even if you successfully dodge it, there’s a significant downside: you lose your current item. This really stinks, especially if you’re holding onto something powerful like a Bullet Bill or a Lightning Bolt. Suddenly, that great item you had is gone, and you're left empty-handed because of this pesky block. Overall, while it’s not the worst item ever, it definitely leaves a lot to be desired!"
"While it might seem frustrating that dodging the Pow Block means you don’t get to keep your item, it’s worth noting that all the other racers lose their items too. So, it’s not the end of the world!
Now, moving on to the number four best item, we have a tie! That’s why I’m specifically on the category page instead of the actual items page. This tie is between the Crazy Eight and the Lucky Seven. Since the Lucky Seven came first, I’ll start with that one.
The Lucky Seven and the Crazy Eight both have similar mechanics, allowing players to collect multiple items at once. For example, with the Lucky Seven, you can receive items like a Green Shell, a Red Shell, a Banana Peel, a Mushroom, a Blooper, a Star, and a Bob-omb. In my opinion, this is fantastic because it provides you with seven opportunities to use items strategically.
Now, are all those items great? Not really—one of them is even on my worst items list. However, many are quite useful! If you want to become a master player in Mario Kart, I’d recommend timing your usage of each item rather than just using them all at once (which is something I often do).
As for the Crazy Eight, it includes most of the same items as the Lucky Seven but adds one extra item that also appears on this list. So, it's a powerful option to have in your inventory!"
"Moving on to number three on the worst items list: the Blooper. Remember how I mentioned that the Fake Item Box was a useless item? Well, the Blooper takes that to a whole new level.
The Blooper is one of the few items in Mario Kart based on a species—specifically, the Blooper itself. It first appeared in Mario Kart DS and has only become less useful with each subsequent game. So, what does it do? When activated, it swims up and splatters players with ink, obscuring their screens and making it harder to see what’s ahead. However, it doesn’t make it impossible to see.
If you've played Mario Kart enough, you’ll know the tracks so well that even with ink covering your screen, you could still navigate without a problem. In fact, I’ve often wondered: is it possible to play Mario Kart while blindfolded? I’m not going to try that, but if anyone else wants to give it a shot, be my guest!
Now, is there a way to improve the Blooper? Absolutely! A simple solution would be to make it so the ink obscures not just the screen but the actual racetrack itself. This would slow down other racers and make the Blooper more effective.
You might be wondering why I didn’t suggest improvements for the other items on this list. For the Fake Item Box, I’d suggest enhancing its defensive capabilities and making it harder to distinguish from other item boxes. As for the Power Block, turning it into a throwable item could add a layer of strategy. But for the Blooper? It needs a complete overhaul to be worth using."
"Now, moving on to number three on the best items list: the Starman, also known as the Superstar or simply the Star. This item is quite rare and has appeared in nearly every Mario Kart game to date.
When you obtain it, the Starman grants you a small speed boost and makes you invincible for a limited time. Plus, you get to enjoy the classic Super Star theme while using it, which is always a nostalgic touch.
While the Starman is already a fantastic item, I think there’s room for improvement. For the next Mario Kart installment, it would be great to change the accompanying music slightly. Perhaps they could base it off the theme you hear when using the Wing Cap in Super Mario 64. Imagine adding that iconic “Da Da Da Da Da Da Da” section to enhance the experience!"
"Now, moving on to number two on the worst items list, and this might surprise you: the Thunder Cloud. Yes, it’s not number one! Shocking, right? A lot of people probably dislike this item even more than the Blue Shell, but let’s talk about it.
The Thunder Cloud, also known as the Lightning Cloud or TC, originally debuted in the Mario Kart arcade games. I didn't mention those earlier because I haven’t played them, but that's beside the point.
So, how does it work? Unlike most items, which you activate yourself, the Thunder Cloud activates automatically once you acquire it. It's one of the few items that behaves more like an enemy than an ally. While it does provide a speed boost, you have a limited time—about 10 seconds—to get rid of it. If you don’t, you better hope you’re not in a high position, like third or fourth place, because you’ll lose everything.
Imagine getting this item just before crossing the finish line in third place. Getting hit by your own Thunder Cloud would force you to start over! It’s a frustrating experience that can ruin your race."
"Well, that's all I have to say about the Thunder Cloud! Now, moving on to number two on the best items list. And for this spot, it's the Bullet Bill. Really, what else could it be? Many people might argue that this is the best item, but wait until you see what I consider to be the true best!
So, how does the Bullet Bill work? It briefly transforms the player into a Bullet Bill. I’m not quite sure what that feels like for the characters, but it gives you an enormous speed boost—far greater than items like the Mega Mushroom or the Superstar, which only offer a small increase. When you use it, you zoom ahead—perhaps not to first place, but definitely close!
There's another item from Mario Kart: Double Dash!! called the Chain Chomp, which is somewhat similar. However, I’d argue that the Chain Chomp is superior because it’s more controllable. You can tell when it’s about to run out, as it slows down and makes a distinct sound. This feature is especially helpful when you’re approaching a ledge; you’ll know when to turn around to avoid falling.
The Bullet Bill first appeared in Mario Kart DS and has been in every Mario Kart game since. The likelihood of obtaining it varies by position, ranging from sixth place to eighth place, all the way down to positions like 999,999!
Now, let’s move on to the honorable mentions!"
"What was that about 999,999th place? Oh, that’s referring to distant units, not actual positions in the race. I got a bit confused there! So, that’s the Bullet Bill for you—a fast item with a significant speed advantage.
Now, let’s move on to the honorable mentions for both the best and worst items.
Worst Items:
- Green Shell: It doesn’t lock onto other players when you throw it. However, it’s not entirely useless. Hitting someone with a green shell can feel more rewarding than hitting them with a red shell, which is much easier to aim.
- Banana Peel: Where else would you put that? It’s a classic but often leaves players slipping.
- Super Leaf: Another defense item that doesn’t quite do its job effectively.
- Boo: Half the time, you don’t even get an item when using it!
Best Items:
- Blue Shell: I know this isn’t a beloved item among many players, but it does add a level of balance to the game. If that sounds familiar, it might be because it’s a point made by another YouTuber in their top ten list about the best and worst Mario Kart items. I won't mention names, as I’m not sure if that’s a good idea.
- Fire Flower: It allows players to shoot fireballs, which is a fun and effective attack.
- Red Shell: Obviously better than the green shell, as it locks onto opponents.
- Boo: Again, it’s an interesting item, though its effectiveness can be hit or miss.
"Now, let’s move on to the number one worst item. We’ve covered a lot of useless items in this video, like the Fake Item Box, which is ineffective for defense, and the Blooper, which doesn't help much in categories like offense or defense. But now we have an item that is not just useless in those areas, but also completely pointless: the Coin.
The Coin first appeared in Super Mario Kart and was removed from all subsequent Mario Kart games until it returned in Mario Kart 7, where it was on the racetracks, and then re-became an item in Mario Kart 8. Honestly, I don't think "re-became" is even a word, but whatever.
Let’s look at the few positives about the Coin. It provides a small speed boost when you collect a lot of them, and it helps unlock certain features in the game. However, those are the only redeeming qualities it has. The negatives? Well, there’s more than one, and they greatly outweigh the good.
As you may have noticed in Mario Kart 8, the Coin is an item you can get from an Item Box, right? That wouldn’t be such a problem if it didn’t already exist on the racetrack! If you need coins, just look around; there are plenty on the track.
What makes this item particularly bad is when you receive it. In Mario Kart 8, you're most likely to get it when you're in first place. That’s right: receiving a Coin while in first place! This is useless because you don’t need a speed boost when you’re already leading the race. What you really want when you’re in first are defensive items like Banana Peels, Red Shells, Green Shells, or even a Boombox—things that can protect you from incoming attacks.
In summary, the Coin may give you extra points and help unlock things, but in the heat of the race, it does absolutely nothing to help you defend yourself. I don’t think I need to say much more about this item; it’s clear that it deserves the title of the worst item in Mario Kart!"
"You all know why the Coin is considered the worst item ever, so let’s move on. Now, for the number one best item: the Thunderbolt, also known as the Storm Shock or Lightning Bolt. You probably saw this coming, but let’s dive into what makes it so great.
This item first appeared in Mario Kart 64 and has continued to appear in every game up to Mario Kart Tour. However, if you don’t consider Mario Kart Tour to be canon, then its latest appearance would be in Mario Kart 8.
What makes the Thunderbolt great—and why some people might dislike it—is its ability to affect every player on the racetrack, except the user. Most other items, besides the Power Block, can only hit a limited number of players—usually two or three. The Thunderbolt, on the other hand, shrinks everyone else, slows them down, and makes them easier targets. If a player happens to be near a pit, and they get hit by a Thunderbolt—well, unless they’re in a game like Mario Kart 8, where Lakitu is extremely responsive, they’re likely to fall.
I know "destroyed" isn’t the most popular slang these days, but I’m not going to start using trendy language anytime soon! As for where you can get the Thunderbolt, well, it’s pretty rare, and I can’t pinpoint exact placements for it. But just remember: it’s very rare!
In summary, that’s my take on the best item in Mario Kart. Thank you for watching this video! If you enjoyed it, please show your support by hitting the like button and subscribing.
Also, let me know in the comments what other top 10 lists or video ideas you’d like to see next. What do you think is the best Mario Kart item? Is it the Bullet Bill, the Thunderbolt, the Red Shell, or the Super Star? And what do you consider the worst item? Is it the Coin, the Thunderclap, or the Blue Shell? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. I'll see you all in the next post!"