Mario Kart 8 Items Power Rankings

The chaos of Mario Kart 8 isn’t just about who drives the fastest — it’s about who uses their items the smartest. Races can flip upside down in seconds thanks to shells flying across the track, lightning striking the entire field, or a perfectly timed boost sending someone from the back of the pack straight into first place. Some items are simple tools for speed, while others can completely change the outcome of a race.

This list ranks every major item in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe from weakest to strongest based on usefulness, impact during races, and how much they can shift the standings. No nostalgia bias. No personal favorites. Just which items give players the biggest advantage when the final lap gets chaotic.

22. Coin

Effect: Adds 2 coins to your total (up to 10).

Let’s be honest — this isn’t really an “item.” It’s a passive boost you get instead of a real weapon. Yes, more coins make you faster and yes, it matters long-term. But pulling this in 1st when you’re being chased by shells feels like the game is mocking you.

21. Blooper

Effect: Inks opponent’s screen, slightly reduces traction.

Looks cool, adds chaos, but almost nobody actually loses a race because of a Blooper. Skilled players can still drive fine and it doesn’t actually block vision well on large TVs or handhelds.

20. Banana Peel

Effect: Causes racers to spin out when touched.

Basic but solid. Used defensively, it can block red shells. Dropped in the right spot, it can trip up a racer. Still, it’s a single-use, single-target tool with limited offensive value.

19. Boomerang

Effect: Boomerang flies forward and back 3 times.

Underrated. The fact that it comes back means it can clip people even if you miss initially. Great for packed races and can take out multiple opponents if aimed properly. Slightly hard to use at long range.

18. Fire

Effect: Shoot fireballs forward or backward.

A zoning item. In mid-pack, it applies real pressure — especially in close corners. The spread makes it harder to dodge, but it’s low damage per hit and doesn’t affect frontrunners.

17. Triple Bananas

Effect: Three rotating banana peels.

An upgrade over the single banana, especially for defense. The rotation blocks incoming shells, and you can drop them to trap shortcuts. But again, limited offensive potential.

16. Green Shell

Effect: Bounces off walls, hits racers on contact.

More useful than it looks — but only if you’ve got aim. Great for chaos in tight corners or mirror bounces, but very easy to miss and not ideal for defense unless you’re stacking.

15. Bob-omb

Effect: Explodes after delay or on contact.

Devastating in crowds or chokepoints, but the throw timing is tricky. Drop it behind you right before a pack comes in, and you might take out 3 racers. Mistime it, and you’ll bomb yourself.

14. Piranha Plant

Effect: Bites nearby enemies and items while boosting speed.

Fantastic in traffic. It attacks automatically, clears the road, and boosts your speed. The only reason it’s not higher is that it can slow you down slightly on sharp turns.

13. Triple Green Shells

Effect: Three rotating green shells.

Same logic as bananas — more defense, more potential. Better for pressuring nearby racers than aiming. Still kind of a chaos weapon. You’re more likely to hit yourself than others in tight maps.

12. Speaker

Effect: Destroys nearby items — including Blue Shells.

The only thing that can stop a Blue Shell. Holding this in 1st is the best insurance policy in the game. But that’s all it really is — defensive. Offensively, it’s weak and rarely worth burning unless absolutely needed.

11. Boo

Effect: Steals an item from another racer and makes you invisible.

Boo is a defensive and offensive tool rolled into one. You steal from the leader, dodge damage, and avoid lightning hits. It’s a clutch lifesaver and a troll move wrapped together.

10. Red Shell

Effect: Seeks nearest racer ahead of you.

The classic. Simple, effective, and a momentum killer. Good players can block it, but if you chain two or three in a row, you’ll ruin someone’s lap. Still, it’s best in mid-pack, not against 1st place.

9. Blue Shell

Effect: Seeks out 1st place and explodes on contact.

The most feared item in the game. It punishes dominance and creates intense risk in the lead. Proper timing or chaining with lightning can end a race. It only affects 1st, but that’s sometimes all it needs to.

8. Mushroom

Effect: Single speed boost.

Used through shortcuts, mushrooms become game-changers. They’re also perfect for recovering from hits. Simple, reliable, and always useful.

7. Triple Red Shells

Effect: Three homing shells rotate around your kart.

Insanely good in 2nd–5th. You’re basically bullying the person in front of you and blocking others behind you. The downside? They don’t all fire at once. Still, one of the best gap closers in the game.

6. Triple Mushrooms

Effect: Three speed boosts.

Everything the single mushroom is — but more. Used with map knowledge, these can chain shortcut after shortcut and change the leaderboard instantly. Essential in competitive play.

5. Golden Mushroom

Effect: Unlimited boosts for a short time.

Requires timing, control, and map knowledge. But in skilled hands, this turns 10th into 4th almost immediately. Just don’t burn out by spamming on turns or boost panels.

4. Star

Effect: Invincibility + speed boost.

Invincible, fast, and able to plow through other racers. If you hit a mushroom shortcut while using a star, you can gain five spots instantly. Bonus points for blocking lightning damage.

3. Crazy Eight

Effect: Gives you eight different items at once.

One of the most chaotic power-ups in the game. A perfectly timed Crazy Eight lets you chain mushrooms, shoot fire, defend, and detonate bombs in one lap. Overwhelming and hard to counter when used correctly.

2. Bullet Bill

Effect: Auto-pilot boost that knocks over racers.

The comeback king. Activates auto-steering and takes you up several places. The downside is you can’t control where it ends, and it disappears before corners — so timing is key.

1. Lightning

Effect: Shrinks and stalls all opponents (except you).

The ultimate equalizer. Strikes everyone except the user, stealing items and dropping coins. If timed with ramps, it can send 1st place tumbling. Its really has no drawback.