What are items and how to get them
You can get items from by driving through “item boxes” on the track (colorful squares with a question mark in the middle). Items can be used to your advantage in the race, typically by momentarily boosting your speed, providing invincibility, or hitting other racers.
You can hold up-to two items at once. You can get two items either by driving through two item boxes or by driving through a double-item box, which automatically gives you two items. However, if you already have items in your items slot (which you can see in the top left corner of your screen) you will not receive any more.
You can drive through the same item box twice by driving through it once, stopping and waiting for it to reload, and driving through it a second time. However, this will cost you significant time and likely cause you to drop placements (which is bad unless you are purposely bagging. Learn about bagging in Shortcats Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Pro Guide).
The type of item you get from an item box depends on your currently placement in the race and how far ahead the racers in front of you are.
For example, the only items you can get in first place are: a coin, a green shell, a banana, and a super horn. In grand prix you can also get triple bananas in first.
How to use items
Once you have an item in your item slot, you will need to press the “Z” or “ZL” button to use it. If you press the “Z” or “ZL” button it will immediately activate the item.
Some items can be “spammed”. This means you can press the “Z” or “ZL” button more than once to get extra use out of the item.
Some items can be “trailed.” This means you can press and hold the “Z” or “ZL” button and the item will be trailed behind you until you release the “Z” or “ZL” button at which point the item will be dropped/thrown behind you (or in front of you if you push the joystick forward first).
Types of items and what they do
The Banana Peel:
You can get this in any top spot
If you hold the “L” or “ZL” button you will trail the banana peel. You can use this to block incoming red shells and green shells (which will be talked about below). You can push forward and press the “Z” or “ZL” button to throw the banana forward. You can hold back on the joystick and press “Z” or “ZL” and the banana will drop behind you (other racers will slip on the dropped banana and spin out. However, caution, you can also slip on your own banana if you swerve into it or hit it on a later lap).
The Triple Bananas:
You can get this item in most top placements
These automatically revolve around you. You cannot trail them, but you can throw them forward and drop them behind you. Even though you can’t trail them, while spinning around you, they will usually block a red shell or a stray green shell and hit other racers bumping into you. They can also protect you from bananas left on the track.
You can also drop bananas (if timed well) to block red shells or green shells (see below).
Green Shell:
You can get this item in most top spots
if you hold the “L” or “ZL” button you will trail the green shell, this will also block incoming red shells and green shells. If you push forward on the joystick and tap or release “L” or “ZL” the green shell will be thrown forward. It will move in a straight line until it falls off the track or hits a wall in which case it can bounce around a few times before breaking or hitting another racer (or yourself!). By the way, I’m a master at hitting myself 😦
You can hold back on the joystick and press or release the “L” or “ZL” button and the green shell will be thrown backwards where it will usually bounce off walls until it breaks or hits another racer.
Triple Green Shells:
You can get this item in most middle spots.
These automatically revolve around you. You cannot trail them, but you can throw them forward or behind you. Even though you can’t trail them, while spinning around you, they will usually block a red shell or a stray green shell and hit other racers bumping into you.
Red Shell:
Second place is the most common spot to get this, but it can also be obtained in most top spots.
You can hold the “L” or “ZL” button and you will trail the red shell, it will block red shells and green shells. If you push the joystick forward and press or release the “L” or “ZL” button the red shell will be thrown forward where it will automatically lock onto the racer in front of you and follow them until it hits them (or their trailed item). You can also throw the red shell backward where it will behave the same as a green shell but break as soon as it hits something (it won’t target).
Triple Red Shells:
Can be obtained in most middle spots.
The triple red shells is a devastating attack item. If timed correctly, you can throw all three shells at the same opponent, and if they have a revolving item, it will not revolve fast enough to block all three red shells. However, this timing is very hard and the red shells will more likely break on each other.
Alternatively, you can throw them one at a time (with time between) at the same racer, or at a different racer if someone else is now in front of you.
While the red shells are revolving around you, they can also block incoming red or green shells! They can also hit the racers who would otherwise bump into you.
Super Horn:
This can be obtained in most top spots.
When you press the “Z” or “ZL” button, the super horn sends out a “shockwave” that spins out racers around you and breaks nearby items.
You can even use the super horn to break the blue shell as it passes you (if you’re not in first) and break the blue shell before it hits you in first.
To do this in first, you just have to get the timing right (don’t worry, it’s very easy) just press the “L” or “ZL” button when the blue shell hovers above you.
If you’re trying to break the blue shell as it moves down the track (if you’re not in first), look behind you (press the “X” button) and if the shell is within two kart lengths behind you, use the super horn. The timing for this is hard at first, but over time you’ll get used to it. Fun tip: You can use this to help a friend who is in first by breaking the blue shell before it reaches them.
As mentioned above, the super horn will also break any attack item other than itself, and it will spin out any racer next to you. This makes it arguably the most devastating attack item in the game — if used to your best advantage.
The super horn cannot be trailed.
Boomerang:
If you get this item… don’t get excited.
You can get this item in most middle or top spots.
The boomerang has three throws (you must press the “Z” or “ZL” button each time) where the boomerang will move forward and come back to you (hitting players and items while moving in both directions). But on the final throw it will not come back to you and instead travel in a straight line really far forward and bounce off walls a few times before shattering.
A super horn can break the boomerang even on the first throw (and you won’t get the additional throws if so).
You cannot trail the boomerang, but you can throw it backwards.
Fire Flower:
If you get this item… don’t get excited.
You can get this item in most spots above 8th. You cannot get a fire flower in first.
The Fire Flower has about 7 throws, tossing a small fireball each time you press the “Z” or “ZL” button. It is extremely hard to control and will break any triple item. It can be thrown forward or backward but cannot be trailed. It is extremely hard to hit other races with this item, but when you do the racer spins out and smokes a bit… 
Blooper:
Arguably the WORST item in the game.
You can get this item as part of the Crazy 8 (see below) which can be obtained in last, but otherwise the blooper on it’s own can only be obtained in most middle spots.
The blooper affects every racer in front of you by spraying ink onto the racer and obstructing their view. This makes their kart slip slightly also. If you’re in first and you use the blooper you will also blooper yourself.
If you get inked, you can clear the ink by getting a large speed boost (a mini turbo won’t do the trick 😦 Or by activating an invisibility item, or by going into water.
Blue Shell:
Unless you’re trying to take out the racer in first, this item is basically useless.
This item can be obtained in most middle and low spots.
The blue shell will travel down the track and try to hit the player in first (it will also take out racers in it’s path if they don’t get out of the way).
Piranha Plant:
You can obtain this item in most middle spots.
It will chomp at other racers and hit them, breaking any revolving or trail items, it will also grab coins on the track, as it chomps.
Every chomp will also give you a short speed boost, and you can hit the “L” or “ZL” button to make it chomp faster.
The Piranha Plant will stay in your item slot until it runs out and then you can grab another item.
Coin:
The coin is one of the most hated items, even though it is very important for first place. And, if you are in first, you will mostly only get coins from item boxes.
You will also occasionally get the coin in second place (unfortunately).
You cannot get two coins at once from item boxes to hold in your item slots, but you can still collect coins on the track to add to your coin counter.
Coins from item boxes will go to your item slot until you press the “Z” or “ZL” button. This means that you can “hold” a coin from an item box in your item slot, and because you cannot get two coins at once, if you’re holding a coin in one slot, you will automatically get a defense item if you drive through a second item box.
Coins do not protect you from anything (except the boo – see below). They cannot be trailed. But they do add to your coin counter (bottom left corner). If you have ten coins, you will drive 6.6% faster (as of the latest 2026 software update). This speed increase can be significant and affect your entire race. But if you get hit or spin out, you will loose three coins. Any time your coin count drops back below ten, you will loose the speed advantage. You still get a small speed boost with fewer coins, but the difference is substantial (for example, 9 coins gives you a 3% speed boost, versus 6.6% with ten coins, however I have not confirmed if these are still the stats after the most recent update).
Boo:
This item can be obtained in most bottom spots. Before the 2026 software update, the boo was not be that good, but it’s much better after the update.
A boo will steal an item from a racer’s first item slot (from a racer in front of you). Note about the holding the coin for boo protection: if you’re holding a coin in your first item slot, your second item will be safe from the boo.
But if the boo cannot steal anything (like if you’re in first, or no one in front of you is holding any items) it will give you a single mushroom.
There can only be one boo at a time.
Nothing can hit you’re in an activated boo state. You’re also invisible to other players (though if you’ve got items spinning around you, or if you’re trailing an item, the player will still see those). The boo lasts for around 12 seconds (since update). And you can now drive off-road as if it were normal track and the off-road will not slow you down while using the boo.
Single Mushroom:
Can be obtained in most middle or top spots (but not in first).
The mushrooms gives you a big speed boost. In addition to simply momentarily increasing your speed, the mushroom can be used strategically to give you a boost after getting hit/spinning out, to get your through shortcuts, and to let you drive off road (while the boost lasts).
You cannot trail the mushroom and it will not protect you from any items.
Triple Mushrooms:
Can be obtained in most bottom spots.
Works the same as the single mushroom, but you can use it three times!
While the mushrooms are spinning around you, if another racer bumps into you, they will get a speed boost forward (but they will not steal your mushroom).
Golden Mushroom:
Can be obtained in most bottom spots.
At first most racers think this item is great! But… it’s not THAT great.
It stays in your item slot after you first use it. It’s the equivalent of 12 mushrooms, but there’s a time limit that starts as soon as you hit the “L” or “ZL” button. So to use all 12 boosts you just hit the “L” or “ZL” button rapidly. And if you’re on a twisty track (such as Neo Bowser City) this might end you as you fly off the track during the turns.
But the speed boosts can be helpful on straightaways and shortcuts.
The Star:
This can only be obtained in bottom spots.
The Star makes you invincible to everything (similar to the boo), and it gives you a very slight speed boost (but you can use any other item while in a star activation because the star leaves your item slot as soon as you activate it).
However, be careful, because the boo CAN steal the star as it can with any item.
Crazy Eight:
Can be obtained in most bottom spots.
When I first started playing, I thought the Crazy Eight was OP. However, it isn’t. You get items that you’d normally only get in top spots (even though you’re in the back), and the only good items it gives you are the star and mushroom.
You get eight items at once that rotate around you and timing their use is very difficult (when you press the “L” or “ZL” button you activate the item that’s directly in front of you in that moment, unless you have only one item left, then you will activate that item regardless of where it is around you.
Other racers can get hit by the attack items as the items spin around you, but the racers can also steal the star and mushroom from you and get a boost forward.
The Bomb:
Can be obtained in most top spots.
The bomb behaves similar to a banana, but it will explode once dropped spinning out other racers (and possibly yourself!).
The bomb will explode a few seconds after being dropped (or sooner if someone hits it).
If you’re on 150cc and you trail a bomb going at full speed, it will not hit you if a red shell comes. But if you’re slightly slowed down and a red shell hits your trailed bomb, you will be caught in the explosion.
If you are on 200cc the bomb will not hit you when it explodes if you’re at least going half-speed.
The Bullet Bill:
Can only be obtained in bottom spots.
When you use the bullet it will transform you into the enemy bullet bill. It will speed down the track hitting anyone in its way and will take some shortcuts. You don’t need to steer while the bullet is active, but you need to be prepared to resume steering as soon as the bullet disappears.
The bullet also makes you invincible to every attack item. It usually lasts for eight seconds, but if it passes more than five racers it will stop early.
However, if you take a bullet extension, it might last up to twelve seconds. See Shortcat.pro website for details.
There can only be three bullets at a time.
Lightening:
Most MK racers refer to this as “the shock”.
Can only be obtained in very low spots.
This item will hit every racer with a bolt of lighting that removes their items and scatters them on the ground (however some items will not fall on the ground, such as bullets, other shocks, blue shells…).
This also makes the racers spin out and become small. If you’re in a top spot you’ll be small for much longer, whereas if you’re closer to last you’ll only be small for a few seconds. Being small also makes you drive slower.
You can use these shocks strategically to make racers loose their items right after they drive through the item boxes.
You cannot hit yourself with the lightning.
If you’re in a boo, bullet, or star, when another racer activates the lightning, you will not be affected.
If you want to learn how to use your items strategically, check out ShortCat’s Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Pro Guide.
Yosh1Bro 