Grand Prix

If you’re using a lightweight character and kart combination, be particularly careful as you cross the lake. Avoid jostling with other players, and try to claim one of the first four item boxes. If you receive a suitable item, equip it to protect yourself from heavier racers. If you’re using a heavy character and kart combination, this is a great place to knock your smaller opponents into the water. When the path bends at the small island, draft behind any unarmed racers ahead of you; the boost you’ll receive from a successful draft might just put you in an early lead.

The guardrails along the curved bridge make this an ideal spot to fire off a Green Shell. If you have one handy, use it to take out a leading opponent or toss it behind you to fend off encroaching racers. A stray attack has an excellent chance of ricochetting into a random target, so fire away!

If you’ve managed to collect a Mushroom during the race, cut across the grass to use the hidden path. Most of your opponents stick to the main track, so you have a great shot at collecting one of the item boxes along the alternate route. However, if you don’t have a way to boost across the grass, consider drifting up to the banked strip to the right. The extra coins can be a great help in the remaining laps, and the numerous dash panels prevent you from losing too much ground.

During a Grand Prix cup, the hot-air balloons move quite a bit. You shouldn’t have too much trouble finding an opening along the main track, but use caution when you take the hidden path. You may not have much time to adjust, so be ready to swerve as you drive across the glide panel.

With the right item equipped, you can cause a lot of trouble for airborne opponents. Triple Red Shells or Triple Green Shells can turn a basic jostle into a race-changing attack, and a well-timed Lightning strike can devastate multiple racers. It can be extremely satisfying to send tenacious opponents into the lake—just remember that the same tactics can be used against you!

If you follow the main path back across the lake, dodge the windmill blades and touch down on the track. Use the fountain at the lap’s final turn to perform a jump boost, then drift around the corner and Super Mini-Turbo along the straightaway. If you managed to take the hidden path, use the same tactics described in the “Time Trial” section.