, __ _ ,__ __ ______ ___, __
/|/ \ | | /| | | | (_) | / | / \
| __/ __, _|__|_ | | _ | | | __ __| _ _|_ | | | __ |
| \/ | | | |/ |/ | | | / \_/ | |/ / | || | |/ \|
|(__/\_/|_/|_/|_/|__/|__/ | | |_/\__/ \_/|_/|__/ (_/ \__/\_/\__/\_/
By A_Black_Dragoon (Puppy Chow in Mario Kart online)
Version 1.3, I'll update as I see/learn more tactics and make grammar
corrections.
Due to the fact that so many guides are about VS mode and there's no
Battle Mode love, I thought I'd make a guide for it =). Not much more
to say, so...
--------Contents--------
-1 ~ Overview
---1a ~ Coin Runners
-----1aa ~ Coins Lost Chart
---1b ~ Balloon Battle
-2 ~ What to Use?
---2a ~ Kart or Bike?
---2b ~ Which Weight?
---2c ~ Auto or Manual?
-3 ~ General Tips
---3a ~ Coin Runners
---3b ~ Balloon Battle
---3c ~ Mini-Map (yes, it's THAT important)
-4 ~ Item by Item Analysis
-5 ~ Course by Course Analysis
---5a ~ Wii Courses
---5b ~ Retro Courses
-6 ~ Version History
-7 ~ Credit, Thanks, and Contacts
*To go to a certain section, like 8) (if there was an eighth section),
press Ctrl + F and type in 8)*
===========
1) Overview
===========
Battle mode is the alternative to Vs mode, and there's two different
types of it (okay, who didn't know that?) The general idea is to use
items to wail on opponents, and there are 5 new courses and 5 old ones,
and all will be covered later.
++++++++++++++++
1a) Coin Runners (the zomg i jus lost half mi coinz 2 a blu shell an
nowz im in lazt place! game)
++++++++++++++++
The idea of coin runners is for you and/or your team to collect as many
coins as possible. The more people you're playing with, the more coins
appear on the course. Online, don't worry if your team loses - if you
have all the coins on your team chances are you'll still place high.
If your team wins, it's like points get added on to all member's score.
I'm not sure how much.
If you get hit with an item, you lose half or more of your coins (see
chart). So try to avoid being hit. More on this in the strategy section.
++++++++++++++++++
1aa) Coin Lost Chart
++++++++++++++++++
It's not vital, and it's easy to figure out by yourself, but why not?
+--------------------+
| Coins | Coins Lost |
+-------|------------+
| 1 | 1 |
|-------|------------|
| 2 | 2 |
|-------|------------|
| 3 | 3 |
|-------|------------|
| 4 | 3 |
|-------|------------|
| 5 | 3 |
|-------|------------|
| 6 | 3 |
|-------|------------|
| 7 | 4 |
|-------|------------|
| 8 | 4 |
|-------|------------|
| 9 | 5 |
|-------|------------|
| 10 | 5 |
+--------------------+
Only went up to 10, but here's how to know: if you have an even number
then you lose half. If you have an odd number, you lose half rounded up.
Unless you have 1-4 coin(s).
++++++++++++++++++
1b) Balloon Battle
++++++++++++++++++
This has been in every Mario Kart game so far, but a new twist is put
on it in this game. You play in teams, and you get points by hitting an
opponent - it's not the last man standing, it's the team with the most
points. As in Coin Runners, it's still possible to get a high ranking
if you lose. If you lose all three of your balloons, you will
disappear, drop all your items, and respawn. Your team is subtracted
one point and you yourself have one point subtracted from your points.
===============
2) What to Use?
===============
Sadly, you don't have use of hardly any of the bikes/karts available in
Vs mode. Your only choices are the standard kart or standard bike.
Generally in Vs mode bikes are more useful due to wheelies, but in
Battle mode they're about equal. You also can, of course, choose a
character and therefore a weight class (again, though character's have
hidden stats, they're not nearly as important in Battle), and Automatic
or Manual. Remember -
Battle mode is more strategy than anything else though.
+++++++++++++++++
2a) Kart or Bike?
+++++++++++++++++
Again, they're mostly equal, so choose whichever you like most. I, for
one, use the kart for Battle.
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
| .:.: KartS :.:. |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
| *Pros |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
|-Orange mini-turbo (obviously) |
|-Larger, making certain techniques easier |
|-Generally heavier (though weight doesn't matter much in Battle) |
|-Faster when not using wheelies |
|-More maneuverable on straights (to be faster, a bike must wheelie,|
| decreasing its maneuverability and ability to avoid items) |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
| *Cons |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
|-Basically worse in all categories except for weight and speed |
|-No wheelies |
|-Larger, making for larger targets |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| .:.: BikeS :.:. |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| *Pros |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|-Better acceleration |
|-Able to use wheelies |
|-Smaller, making a smaller target and can squeeze through walls of |
| items much better |
|-Better in all categories except for speed and weight |
|-Generally better at turning |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| *Cons |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|-Wheelies are generally not useful, due to the risk of someone dropping|
| a banana right in front of you and you not being able to avoid it |
|-No orange mini-turbos |
|-Lower top speed without wheelies |
|-Smaller, making some techniques harder |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
So make a choice or test each out and decide which one you like most.
++++++++++++++++
2b) What Weight?
++++++++++++++++
In my opinion, Lightweight and Mediumweight are superior to Heavyweight
for Battle due to speed being less important and acceleration being far
more important. (No matter what, you'll likely be hit a lot). But
anyway:
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| .:.: Lightweight :.:. |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| *Pros |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|-Best acceleration |
|-Best handling/turning |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| *Cons |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|-Low top speed so may have trouble getting the first coins on courses |
| like GCN Cookie Land. |
|-Low weight (again, weight not that important) |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Summary: I may be biased, but the best choice - it has the best in the |
|two most important Battle mode stats, and its cons are the least |
|important in Battle. |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| .:.: Mediumweight :.:. |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| *Pros |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|-Average in everything, everything is good |
|-Can catch up to lightweights so it can beat them to the first coins |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| *Cons |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|-No standout strengths, everything is average (>_<) |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Summary: To me, the second best choice. Average in everything. Good if |
|you want an okay acceleration and want to be able to catch up to |
|somebody. (Hopefully you won't be doing that much). |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| .:.: Heavyweight :.:. |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| *Pros |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|-Best speed (so it can be first to coins) |
|-Best weight (who cares, m i rite?) |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| *Cons |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|-Worst acceleration <-- Makes them suck |
|-Worst handling |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Summary: Only reason you'd use this is if you really like a heavy |
|weight character. You'll get hit more than once at a time often due to |
|your slow acceleration (you're invincibility period will run out, and |
|then the same person will still be right behind you), and it'll be |
|harder to turn from an item or incoming person with mega mushroom. |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
So choose one, and move on.
+++++++++++++++++++
2c) Auto or Manual?
+++++++++++++++++++
(zomg auto iz 4 the lozerz!!1!!1one!)
No, it's not. But yes, manual is generally better, unless you're using
something with low drift and mini-turbo, and you're not in Battle mode.
So I'd go ahead with manual here, but I'll list all pros/cons I can
think of anyway.
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| .:.: Automatic :.:. |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| *Pros |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|-Better swerving ability |
|-Can focus on item use more because you don't have to press a drift |
| button (this goes away when you get used to manual...) |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| *Cons |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|-Drift/Mini-turbo stats nulled |
|-Can't hop |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Summary: Good if you're starting out or hate drifting. >_<. Or you just|
|like being different. |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| .:.: Manual :.:. |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| *Pros |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|-Has mini-turboing + drift |
|-Can hop to change angle faster (just press the drift button and |
| release it fast) |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| *Cons |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|-Worse swerving ability (XD) |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Summary: Use it because the con is very minor, and its pros are much |
|better than automatic's. |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
*Remember people, this is Battle, not Vs mode. >_<*
===============
3) General Tips
===============
So now we come to what makes a lot of people suck at Battle Mode:
strategy. All of that above? It really hardly matters in Battle, as
long as you're not running into walls all over the place. There are
many course specific/item specific tips and tactics, but here I'm just
giving basic ones.
+++++++++++++++++
3a) Coin Runners
+++++++++++++++++
Already explained the game, let's get to the tips!
****Avoiding Items****
Obviously, just driving around with 20 coins on top of your head is a
red flag to other players: "Hit me! I'll drop 10 coins for you!" So we
need to keep them from hitting us. Here's a couple tips on how:
1) Whenever you have an item that you can hold behind you, do so.
But this isn't the best form of protection due to mega mushrooms,
stars, and people firing red shells at you when they're coming at
you. It does protect you from behind, however.
2) If you have triple reds or triple greens, resist the urge to use
them unless the person has over 10 coins (estimate by the stack
on their heads). This is better than just bananas or shells
because they protect you from the front too. When you only have
two left though, you might as well use them - otherwise there's
the risk a shell might get through.
3) If you have a mega mushroom or star, again, resist the urge to
use them unless the person you see is the one with the most coins
on the other team. Reason? This protects you from everything
(unless you have a mega shroom and the enemy uses a star, but
then it's only 3 coins). See a blue shell coming at you? Use it.
See a red shell coming at you? Use it. See a huge person coming
at you? Use it.
4) Wall red shells as often as possible. On wide open courses it's
nearly impossible to do, and I'll give more information on how to
do this on specific courses in the track by track analysis.
5) Use normal shrooms right away. They don't help much.
6) If you have somebody tailing you and you don't have protection,
brake suddenly; they'll pass by not expecting it, and then go
another way.
7) If you do get hit, look at who hit you and if they have more red
shells or green shells, collect a few and run, or you'll get hit
again. If they have a mega mushroom, then don't worry - they
can't hit you again as long as you're flat. And with stars, there
won't be anything to collect.
****Hitting Others****
Unless you get tons of coins in the beginning, then you're probably
going to have to make someone else drop them to get some. Besides using
the later mentioned item tactics, there are some things to notice:
1) Try to find somebody with lots of coins and no protection.
Otherwise you might only get a coin or two, or nothing at all.
2) After you hit somebody, you should take some of their coins, but
don't stay too long, or you'll be a sitting duck for other people
coming to the crash site.
****Other****
Just some more tips:
1) Never stay still with coins. It puts another red flag up for
people with red shells, triple greens, and mega mushrooms, and,
and... >_<: "I'm stupid enough to sit still! Come run over me!"
2) If someone gets hit on the other side of the course, unless it's
GCN Cookie Land, stay away.
3) Make as many turns as possible. Just don't go in a circle. >_>.
4) If you do stop, start again with a mini turbo. It surprises
people coming in with a mega mushroom.
++++++++++++++++++
3b) Balloon Battle
++++++++++++++++++
I like this game better because there's less of a chance of you being
unlucky at the last second, and there's just as much strategy (more
item usage). This section is short - it's more item strategy in Balloon
Battle and less general strategy.
****Avoiding Items****
This is not nearly as important as it is in Coin Runners, and you
should really only pay attention to it whenever you only have one
balloon left. And even then, the only time to be using the tips (use
the ones in the coin runners section) is if you have a green shell and
that's it. Offense > Defense in Balloon Battle.
****Hitting Others****
1) Try to hit somebody with one or two balloons, if possible
2) Be wary of what item the person you're going after might have
3) Have a projectile with somebody tailing you? Brake suddenly, not
only do they fly past you because they didn't expect you to
brake, you get a clean shot with a red/green shell.
****Other****
1) Again, try not to stay still - it makes you an easy target and
doesn't help you hit somebody
2) If an item can be held behind you, do so - it allows you to get
another item without using the first
3) Don't sit at an item box using everything right away until you
get a mega mushroom. I see people doing this all the time, and
it's not very smart for the above reason
4) Credits to inviso87 for reminding me about this - after being
hit by a person with triple something, go ahead and ram them
during your brief invincibility period to take away the rest
of their items.
++++++++++++
3c) Mini-Map
++++++++++++
The mini-map is so important to Battle mode that I gave it its own
special section. Here is what you should use it for: (BB = Balloon
Battle, CR = Coin Runners)
1) Finding nearest target (BB)
2) Finding nearest threat (CR)
3) Finding closest coin/place with the most coins (CR) <-- Most
important use, to me
4) Finding where you are in relation to everything else - useful in
Cookie Land, Twilight House, etc. (BB, CR)
5) Seeing if somebody is tailing you without looking behind you (BB,
CR)
It may only be 5 tips, but they're useful and it's why after the start
you see so many people without any coins - they don't look at the mini-
map. Trust me - it helps.
========================
4) Item-by-Item Analysis
========================
Here I will go through all items and tell what to do with them, giving
specific strategies for Coin Runners and Balloon Battle for each.
---Green Shell---
-Coin Runners: Hold behind you until you get another item. Then let it
fly.
-Balloon Battle: Same. But let it fly when you're near somebody, at
least. Try to aim it.
-What not to do: In Balloon Battle, don't just fire it off thinking its
useless.
---Banana---
-Coin Runners: Hold behind you until you get another item, and then
drop it in a narrow passage way or near an item box.
-Balloon Battle: Use it near an item box, or drop it in a narrow
passageway. (>_<).
-What not to do: Drop it in any old place because you hate bananas.
---Blooper---
Use it... It doesn't do much...
---Blue Shell---
Fire. Need I say more?
---Bomb---
(I see too many people throwing these things...)
-Coin Runners: Hold behind you and drop it behind you if you see
somebody on your tail.
-Balloon Battle: When you and somebody else are heading toward each
other, drop it behind you - they won't expect it and will run right
into it. Be warned that they could have a mega mushroom or star,
though, in which case it won't do anything. Obviously, keep it held
behind you. You can also use it if somebody is following you.
-What not to do: Throw it (a few exceptions).
---Fake Item Box---
-Coin Runners: These are useless for protection. Use them right away,
preferably on a real item box.
-Balloon Battle: Use it right on top of a real item box.
-What not to do: Use it randomly...
---Golden Mushroom---
(See normal mushroom, but you don't have to be as close...).
---Lightning---
Use. O RLY? Note that you don't get any points and the other team
doesn't lose coins.
---Mega Mushroom---
-Coin Runners: 10 or over coins, hold it unless you see a person with a
large number of coins. Otherwise use Balloon Battle tactics.
-Balloon Battle: a) Try to get someone to head towards you, like these
arrows: -> <-. At the last second, use it and trample them. They won't
know what hit them. Many times they'll have a red shell or something
which won't do squat. Watch out for stars, though. b) Alternatively,
if you see someone being still or waiting at an item box or braking,
just use it and run them over. Much less risk. c) If you're in a narrow
passageway (like SNES Battle Course 4) with someone right behind you,
and when I say right behind you, I mean close enough that on the mini-map
you look pretty much like one person, use it and brake. They'll run right
into you.
-What not to do: Use it and try to chase somebody down. More often than
not they'll turn fluidly without braking and you'll have to slow and
turn because you weren't expecting it.
*Note: It's easier to hit somebody with this item using a kart because
they're bigger*
---Mushroom---
-Coin Runners: With a good amount of coins, just use it. Otherwise use
Balloon Battle...
-Balloon Battle: Try to tail someone (going head on generally isn't
smart - they might have a red shell or mega mushroom or star), and when
you're close enough use it. Or just waste it...
-What not to do: Hold it for the whole match trying to find someone to
use it on.
---POW Block---
Press the item button... >_>.
---Red Shell---
-Coin Runners: If you have 10 or over coins, hold it behind you as you
would a green shell. Otherwise, try to hit somebody with it.
-Balloon Battle: Try to aim it like a green shell, and don't be far
away from your target - they don't automatically home in on next place
like in Vs, and have limited range, so firing it with the best angle
and not being far away helps. Make sure the person doesn't have
anything protecting them too. If you have someone right behind you,
brake and then when they pass, use it. Try to fire in a straight or
open area - less chance of being walled then.
What not to do: Use it as soon as you get it - usually there's nobody
that it'll home in on.
---Star---
-Coin Runners: 10+ coins, you should hold it to save you from an item.
Otherwise use Balloon Battle tactics... Remember, this steals three coins
for you, which can end up being better because you don't have to slow
down to pick up coins.
-Balloon Battle: a) Get somebody to head towards you, they might have a
Mega Mushroom but that makes it even better. At the second before
colliding, use the star and you'll steal a balloon. b) Stay still >_<.
I know I said not to, but now you have fire power. Go to where a lot of
people are and wait. Someone with a mega mushroom will likely come up
to you, not expecting to be starred. XD.
-What not to do: Use it as soon as you get it. Because you don't grow
in size and the person you're chasing knows what they're going to do
before you do it's very hard to chase somebody down.
*Note: It's easier to hit somebody with this item using a kart because
they're bigger*
---Triple Bananas---
-Coin Runners: If you haz coins, use them for protection. Else use
Balloon Battle tactics.
-Balloon Battle: Make a wall of them in a narrow passageway (>:D) or
drop each behind a different item box.
-What not to do: Drop them all around a single item box. That's a waste
of two bananas.
---Triple Green Shells---
-Coin Runners: 10+ coins, use them for protection. Otherwise use
Balloon Battle tactics.
-Balloon Battle: With all three, try to ram somebody - they'll get hit
by one. Or if you're tailing somebody in an alley like the ones in
Block Plaza, just fire them all. Use normal green shell tactics if you
have two or one. I'd recommend firing both at once, however, after you
ram somebody.
-What not to do: Use it right away thinking they're useless.
---Triple Mushroom---
(See normal mushroom, but you don't have to be as close).
---Triple Red Shells---
-Coin Runners: With a good amount of coins, use them for protection.
Resist the urge to use them. Otherwise treat each like a single red
shell. It's really fun to hit somebody, and while they scramble to
collect coins they dropped hit them again (when they stop flashing...).
-Balloon Battle: Treat each like a single one.
-What not to do: Fire them all at once. They run into each other >_<.
============================
5) Course-by-Course Analysis
============================
Here I'll go through each course and offer specific strategies for each, as
well as what I believe is the best coin runners line at the start of each
battle. In some courses, certain item usages are changed, and I'll explain
those here as well. I've added in a 1 vs. 1 strategy for running and hiding
too, because that's what it usually comes down to: whoever gets the most coins
first runs away and tries to avoid the other person. I think there are always
21 coins in a 1 vs. 1, but could someone confirm this? Sometimes I'll add in a
"General Tips" part or a "Fun Stuff" part, though not all courses have these.
*Note: Coin Runners lines and number of coins are all for 12 person
battles, though they mostly hold true for all battles.*
--------WII--------
-----Block Plaza-----
(wait, it's basically Block Fort! >_<)
---Coin Runners Tips: Walling red shells is easy here - just take a
corner tight and the shell will likely hit the wall. And with lots of
coins, neither staying up top or on the bottom is better - up top it's
harder to avoid shells and the like, but on the bottom people can drop
down on you from above. Try to take as many turns as possible, when all
the coins are gone.
---Coin Runners Path: There are basically two types of starting points
here: in an alley heading to the center or in a corner. If you are in
the corner, then you should head straight and go up and collect the
coins around that center. Hopefully you'll get there first and collect
those 6 coins, possibly more. (1 on the block you come up on, 1 heading
to the center, 4 on the center). If you start in an alley (more likely)
drive straight ahead and get the 3 coins ahead of you. Then collect as
many coins around the center as you can, and look for alleys where the
person didn't get them. No matter where you start, you should then
drive around the edge - a total of 24 coins will appear there (in 12
person battles) later. Also keep an eye on the mini-map for where the
coins are appearing on the edge and the alleys - 4 appear in the
straight alley (and later, bridge) on the green section, and 5 appear
on the yellow one. I average about 12+ coins after all of this. Don't
be afraid to go up if the coins haven't appeared around the edge yet
and you see some above you - it's only a brief detour.
---Balloon Battle Tips: After everything sinks, if you're about to be
hit by a red shell and there's nothing you can do to avoid it, you
should intentionally fall off - it's still a one balloon loss and the
other team doesn't get a point. Fake Item Boxes are just as good in the
corridors as on top of item boxes here - but put them right around a
corner so people don't see them until it's too late.
---1 vs. 1 Tips: Hopefully you get up first, or there's nothing to do
except try and cut the other person off. If you do get up, then run
away and turn erratically.
-----Delfino Pier-----
(Why the heck is the tide going all the way up to a rooftop?!?!)
---Coin Runners Tips: I hate this stage, because of the irregularly put
coins. The only tip I can think of is protection is important due to
how open the stage is.
---Coin Runners Path: Again, there is really no path to take. Get the
closest coins to you, and notice that later two rows of coins appear on
each side of the main area - a line of 7 and a line of 9 on each side.
A good way to enter the upper area when it opens is v.i.a. the bottom -
there'll be coins in the basement to get.
---Balloon Battle Tips: If you're going to drop an item, do it at the
top of the starting area or in the upper area - that way it won't be
engulfed by water. Dash panel ramps are wide, so items are pretty easy
to avoid on them. Better to put an item near an item box.
--- 1 vs. 1 Tips: Due to how open the course is, it's harder to run. If
you do try to run, stay on the bottom and when you do go up, use the
dash panel ramps...
-----Funky Stadium-----
(Wait, we just played there 50010923902352 times!!!)
---Coin Runners Tips: With lots of coins, try to avoid the item boxes
in the sand, and take lots of jumps. In the end stunt sections, jumping
over the barrier usually results in red shells following you being
walled.
---Coin Runners Path: The path you should take changes with the number
of people. With a lot of them, here's what you should do: After the
starting jump, do a trick (obviously) and drive over to the closest end
stunt section, and then go to the farthest end of that stunt section.
If that makes sense, you should be at a section with a three sided dash
panel ramp and 4 item boxes. Jump like so, where -s are walls, +s are
ground, and =s are dash panels:
---------
=+++++=
-> =+++++= <-
=======
There are a total of 9 coins on each of these in a 12 vs. 12. If you
have a small amount of people (let's say, 7 or less), head toward the
three coins in the middle then go to the above mentioned. After these,
you should look on the mini-map for coins that are just starting to
appear or haven't been gotten yet. Some (4, I think) appear at the top
of the center platform (gotten to by driving up the corners of the center).
Get these when they appear because a lot of people don't know about
them. CrimsonCerberus says it's a good hiding spot too.
---Balloon Battle Tips: Place your droppable items near the four
question mark boxes in the sand (people traveling through the sand also
make for good targets). Other than that, the course is wide open, but
there are many places to wall red shells because of jumps.
---1 vs. 1 Tips: If you get ahead early, make jumps to get to the far
side. The other person will probably follow you - turn around and wait
for them to start making the last jump towards you, and when they're in
the air you should jump back towards the other end - they'll land, and
you'll already be halfway to the other end and they still have to turn
around. >:D.
-----Chain Chomp Wheel-----
(Stupid chain chomp! I hate this course!)
---Fun Stuff: The item boxes in the center seem to always have a star
or mushrooms, and I get stars way more often than shrooms.
---Coin Runners Tips: Try to go with the flow as often as possible, and
avoid the chain chomp! Watch the mini-map half the time so you know
where it is! (To get away from it fast, use the dash panels).
Protection here is important because the course is so open. With lots
of coins, you could stick to doing lots of low angle take-offs from the
vertical dash panels, then coming back and doing another - a lot of
people will be preoccupied in the middle. Another option, though in my
mind not as good, is to go off the dash panels, don't do a trick, and hit the
side of the rotating star. You'll fall on the center part, where you should
go in circles around the star. But you're not completely safe - red shells
can still hit you, and you're in the middle of the action. It's better to go
to the outside.
---Coin Runners Path: From your starting point, look for the closest
row of 3 coins and take them. Follow this by looking for another, and
if you can, go with the "current", not against it. Note that all coins
(except for the ones that appear around the vertical dash panels, but
those are hard to aim for) appear in 3 rings around the course.
---Balloon Battle Tips: Try to get the item boxes in the center a lot -
stars own! And going against the wheel makes you a sitting duck for
people going with the wheel. Again, the chain chomp provides a problem
because it costs you a balloon (and sometimes a point) and makes you
lose your items.
---1 vs. 1 Tips: It's harder to run here due to it being open - when
you're up stick to using the vertical dash panels tons of times at low
angles, and then when the opponent gets close go down and use the dash
panels to get to the other side fast.
-----Thwomp Desert-----
(Only one thomp?! No fun in that!)
---General Tips: During the thwomp stomp, it's easier to get an item if
you trick off of the bumps.
---Coin Runners Tips: All coins appear in two rings around the outside,
and avoid the cacti - they hurt!
---Coin Runners Path: Try to get one of the outer rows of 4 and then an
inner row of 3. Then go get an item and circle around the outside
waiting for more to drop. (Mini-map, again!)
---Balloon Battle Tips: Besides using normal tactics, there's really
nothing to it.
----------*NOTE: During the thwomp stomp, throw bombs you have in the
center!*
---1 vs. 1 Tips: One of the hardest courses to avoid people in - all I
can say is avoid the stomp if you're winning.
--------RETRO--------
-----SNES Battle Course 4-----
(Wow, they had creative names back then!)
---Coin Runners Tips: This is the easiest course to wall red shells,
provided you don't go out in the edge and don't go in the very center.
---Coin Runners Path: You have a choice of two ways: Go to the second
farthest out path and go around it (two coins in each section) or go
around the second inner most path (two-three coins in each section).
More people take the inner path though, so the outer may be better,
depending on what happens. Later, about 25 coins appear around the edge
of the course and 3 in each of the alleys leading out to the edge.
Watch the mini-map!
---Balloon Battle Tips: Due to no corners being blind, an item box is
still the best place for a fake one. Green shells are good here - fire
them in an alley with a person. With three bananas you can wall off an
alley.
---1 vs. 1 Tips: When you're up, try to stay in a different lane than
your opponent. It's really easy to run away in this course.
-----GBA Battle Course 3-----
(Another creative name!)
---Coin Runners Tips: Since this course is so open, it's hard to keep
coins. Better be good at protecting yourself! Avoid the sand in the
center at all costs.
---Coin Runners Path: Try and get the 4 or 3 coins directly in front of
you, and then go behind a "L" block (picking up coins as you go) and
get the coins behind them. Later, 4 more coins appear behind each "L"
block and 5 coins bridge them _|-----|_ where -s are coins.
---Balloon Battle Tips: Look for idiots in the center to hit - they're
easy targets. It's possible to wall red shells around the "L" blocks.
This is one of the more high scoring courses.
---1 vs. 1 Tips: It's hard to hide here, but make use of the "L" blocks
a lot.
-----N64 Skyscraper-----
---Coin Runners Tips: Though it's open, it's easy to avoid shells
because you can jump the gaps (do a trick just to be safe). Remember
that most of the coins appear in the center. If you're on the outside
and see somebody heading towards you, jump the ring - they probably
have a mega mushroom or something to hit you with.
---Coin Runners Path: Ignore everything. Drift (or turn) hard toward
the middle, do a trick over the gap, and then drift around the center
hole, collecting the 8 coins there. Then stay in the center collecting
all the coins you see and can get to. Later tons of coins appear here -
almost all of them.
---Balloon Battle Tips: Use red shells in the center - anybody smart
will be able to avoid them when you're on the outer ring, unless you're
really close to them when you fire.
----------*NOTE: Instead of putting bananas around item boxes put them
around the center hole - if someone runs into it and falls in they lose
two balloons, and a lot of people jump it and then run into the banana.
I laid 3 down there one time, and all got me a point.
---1 vs. 1 Tips: Since it's a circular course, it's hard to run. Focus
on hitting the other person.
-----GCN Cookie Land-----
(XD Smallest course EVAR!)
---Coin Runners Tips: XD good luck holding on to coins here! Best
course for Balloon, worst for Coin Runners. Anyway, try to hold on to
your coins as best as you can, and steal coins when somebody else gets
hit, which will happen a lot, and since the course is so small it's
easy to get to a crash site fast.
---Coin Runners Path: Try and get an inner ring of three coins, and
then try to get one of the sets in the outer ring. A total of about 35
appear in the inner ring, and 25 in the outer. 3 Also appear in the
little ways leading to the outside from the inner (or vice-versa).
---Balloon Battle Tips: Thank you duffjr, for correcting me here. He
says that the best plan is to drive around the inner ring, and fire your
red shells at people going around the outer one (through the alleyways,
obviously). If I may suggest something though, I would say go to the outside
if you get a Mega Mushroom or Star because there's more people there.
---1 vs. 1 Tips: Another small course, don't even try and hide. Just
play normally.
-----DS Twilight House-----
(Oooooh... I'm scared! Not...)
---Coin Runners Tips: This is one of the easier courses not to get hit
on - just simply turn a lot, and it's easy to wall red shells by taking
a tight turn. Try to avoid going out on one of the small corner
platform thingys - you have to brake to turn around.
---Coin Runners Path: Travel straight and get the coins in the corner
across from you - 3 or 2. Then go and travel around the outside -
there's always 4 at first and another 6 appear later for a total of 10
on each edge, 11 if you count a corner. The four corner rooms end up
having 9 each, if you count the starting ones. And the four middle
rooms end with having 4 each. So after you're done with the sides look
at the map.
---Balloon Battle Tips: One of the more fun ones, try to only fire a
red shell if you're both in the same room. Other than that, all normal
tactics apply.
---1 vs. 1 Tips: One of the easier courses to run away on, just make
turns erratic and try not to slow down at all.
==================
6) Version History
==================
++++Version 1.0++++
The first version, also the first complete version. Not much else to
say.
++++Version 1.1++++
First update - added in Version History and added/corrected a few tips
(like 3 XD). More to come - don't worry.
++++Version 1.15++++
Changed Thomp Desert general tip (found out you can trick off of bumps),
corrected the current version at top of FAQ, and added a little bit to the
Funky Stadium coin runners path.
++++Version 1.3++++
Added Coins Lost chart, not that it was needed... Added small Chain Chomp
Wheel tip. Added the ASCII title and made the "What to Use" section better.
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
7) The Cheesy Credits Section
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
Thank you to GameFAQs, for hosting this guide.
Thank you to Nintendo, for making Mario Kart.
+++Credits+++
duffjr - Correcting me on a tip.
inviso87 - Reminding me about a tip I had forgotten about.
CrimsonCerberus - Small Funky Stadium tip.
(all contributions listed, no matter how small)
___________________________________________________
If you wish to contact me about this guide, email me at
puppychow1211@yahoo.com, but I don't look at that email often, so also
make an ATTN: A_Black_Dragoon topic on the GameFAQs Mario Kart Wii
message board if you have information. Thank you! I do not mind if you
use this guide on another website, as long as you contact me at my
email about it and provide full credit to me.
