Mario Kart Wii Battle Tips

Coin Runners

• Coin runners is one of two battle modes in Mario Kart Wii. In coin runners, the object of the game is to drive around the course and collect as many coins as possible before time runs out. The team with the most coins at the end wins, although for online play, it is more important to have many individual coins than to be on the winning team.

  In coin battle, getting hit by an item will cause you to drop half of your coins if you have six or more coins. This means that hitting others with items and avoiding being hit is more important than collecting coins. Always hold a shell or banana peels behind you to block incoming projectiles that might hit you. If you have triple red or triple green shells, do not shoot them--use them as protection as you gather more coins. It is a good idea to always keep moving, since a stationary target is easy for other players to hit with items.

  Save your items to target other players that have a lot of coins build up. Star man and mega mushroom are especially useful, since they make you invulnerable to normal items fora while, and allow you to crush anyone you ram into. If you get normal mushrooms, use them immediately, since they provide no protection.

Balloon Battle

• The other battle mode on Mario Kart Wii is Balloon Battle. In this battle mode, players drive around the same arenas as in coin runners, but the object is to collect items and use them to hit as many enemy players as possible before the time is up. Each hit will pop a balloon over the other player's head, and when all three are popped you must wait a while to respawn (for your player to reappear on the stage).

  In balloon battle it is best to play offensively and try to score as many hits as possible. Target players with one or two balloons, since if they run out of balloons they will be forced to respawn without items, so they will not be able to retaliate immediately. Like coin battle, you should hold shells and other items behind you until you use them to protect yourself from attacks. When you are the target of a red shell, attempt to drive around a corner or close to a wall so the shell hits the wall. It is always a good idea to stay moving. Stationary targets are much easier to hit with green shells, starman or mega mushrooms.

Mini Map

• Mario Kart battle modes contain a small mini map which shows the position of each character on the stage with a small icon. Proper use of the mini map will help considerably with success in battle mode. In coin battles, use the mini map to locate enemy players and help plan routes to avoid them. In balloon battle, use the mini map to find nearby enemy players and track them down to hit them with items. The map can also be useful simply for getting our bearings as to where you are in a level. It is also useful for checking weather an enemy player is behind you and may be ready to attack you with an item.

  If you notice an enemy player behind you on the mini map, make sharp turns, throw on the brakes and go in reverse, or make other evasive maneuvers to throw them off your tail.