How to Win at Mario Kart 8 Deluxe in 150cc

Tired of being red shelled to death right at the finish line? Frustrated by being Mario Karted at the finish line? Well, I have a strategy to beat the bots in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe in 150cc.

The computer is reactive to your level of play. If you go all out so does the computer. Which makes it frustrating at times but it can also be exploited. What I found is if you play bad so does the computer!

Many, many times I’ve been in the lead with the finish line is sight only for a computer to be pass me like I’m standing still or get hit by 3 items in a row. We’ve all been there. Wouldn’t it be nice to be on the other end of that scenario for a change?

To have the computer slow down to let you pass? Or NOT throw their items with the finish line in sight? Well, it is possible with this method.

In my experience there are two ways to win a Mario Kart 8. Spend three hours a day practicing for months….. or cheat. If you’re like me, I’m a casual gamer. I don’t have hours each day to invest in the game. So I’ve found a kind of cheat for noobs like me.

While I love playing Mario Kart, getting 3 stars for all the Grand Prix’s is frustrating, especially in 200cc. With enough practice I can consistently win now and finish the time trials. But even with skill the game requires some luck to get 1st four races in a row.

After much trial and error, I’ve found a way to exploit the computer racers. Here is an easy way to win at Mario Kart 8 Deluxe:

• Finish the first lap in 8th place or lower
• Then finish the second lap in 4th place or lower
• Save good items for the last lap and go all out to win

The computer responds to your lap times. If you go slow for the first two laps so does the computer. If you don’t use items aggressively neither does the computer. At least to some extent.

By following these three steps I’ve got 3 gold stars in all the Grand Prix races. Obviously this won’t work for the time trials but it does reduce the frustration of placing 2nd in the last Grand Prix race. In fact it leads to some hilarious races where the computer racers go out of their way to let you win.

Instead of being frustrated because my golden dash mushroom couldn’t pass a computer racer that didn’t even drift. I’ve actually seen them slow down to let me pass at the finish line.

You don’t want to cross the finish line in 7th place or higher, even at the start. Don’t move at the start. Let everyone pass then cross in 12th place.

If you use auto accelerate, intentionally burn out or try to turn around. Anything to avoid crossing the finish line above 8th place at the start.

The first lap is primarily about collecting coins. Avoid doing tricks, drifts, or taking shortcuts. Items are based on your distance from 1st place. Usually the second set of item blocks yield the best items for a comeback.

Hold on to good items for the last lap. Holding on to these items for 3 laps increases the chances a shock or boo steals them. But it’s worth the risk.

Try to get 10 coins if you can but under no circumstances finish the first lap in 7th place or higher. The game punishes you later for this.

This lap is tempting to leap ahead to 1st. It’s very easy with a few drifts or tricks to jump ahead many places. On some courses this is fine. Especially on courses you’re comfortable front running.

Otherwise, stay in 4th place or lower. If you finish the second lap in 10th, 11th or 12th, it’s still possible to come back on most tracks. However, you have to get as many trick boosts, drift boosts, and use as many shortcuts as possible.

It’s much easier to win by finishing the second lap in 4th to 6th place. Focus on collecting coins and keeping the good items you got from the first lap.

I’ve noticed the beginning of the third lap is a common time for a shock to occur. Using a star or bullet near the finish line before starting the third lap is a good choice.

Saving it for a hard part of the track is another option. Watch the mini-map to gauge your distance from first place. If you’re close you can save it. Otherwise use it to quickly close the gap.

This is when the racing begins. Doing a few drift boosts and trick boosts quickly slingshots you into the lead. However, now you’re exposed to blue shells and other items.

If you haven’t already, use the star, golden dash mushrooms, bullet bill, or shock you got from the first lap. Once in the lead all you get is a coin and defense item. Get double item boxes or hold onto the coin until you get a defense item.

Take good racing lines, do as many drift boosts, and trick boosts as you can to keep a breakaway lead. In my experience, this bagging method (or “Foxy Magic” as we like to call it) turns the tables on the computer races. Even if you get hit by a blue shell, fall off the course, or make a mistake. The computer racers are more likely let you win.

I’ve still won after falling off the track near the finish line. Once second place held on to their red shell to let me win! It’s weird but fun to be on the other end of the photo finishes for a change.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is made so the computer players are given advantages to keep it competitive. While this makes the game challenging fun most of the time. It can make the game frustrating at times. Getting hit by a shock followed up by a blue shell on the last lap is incredibly common on Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

Slipping from 1st to 2nd at the finish line is just part of the game. You can invest countless hours developing skills or exploit the programming to your advantage to win more often.

The game is rigged so computer racers finish with specific lap times. Giving them unfair acceleration, speed, and handling to achieve those times. They go as fast or as slow as you make them. I exploit this to my advantage to win.

Getting 1st in all four Grand Prix races requires some luck. It takes a few attempts to get all 3 gold stars. This method can reduce the amount of attempts considerably.

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