Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: 13 Tips You Should Know Before Starting

While Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is an accessible racing game on the surface, it can also be highly competitive. Thanks to the portable power of the Switch, you can now challenge your friends to a race whenever you want--so why not learn how to completely destroy them? We've put together all the best tips for beginners so you can race like a pro.

For more Mario Kart, be sure to read our full review. You can also watch the video version of our Mario Kart 8 beginner's tips, and if you've mastered the racing basics, check out our video on the best shortcuts in Mario Kart 8.

If you time it right, you can get a speed boost at the beginning of a race and get out ahead of the first-lap chaos. To get the boost, press and hold A as the countdown fades from 2. If you do it too late, you might get a smaller boost, but if you're too early, you'll stall.

Press R when you're going off a jump or ramp to get a speed boost. Boost-able areas include regular ramps, logs, and wave-like rolling portions of the track. Boosting throughout a race can shave seconds off your time, which can mean the difference between first and second place.

Press X to look behind you during a race. You can use this to avoid oncoming items or opponents--just be careful not to drive off the track while you're seeing who's eating your dust.

If you're going into a turn too quickly, it's usually better to slow down than to fly off the track. Don't be shy about braking, especially in the faster engine classes (it's pretty much mandatory in 200cc).

Drifting is imperative for success in Mario Kart 8, since it'll help you turn as tightly and quickly as possible, lower your race times, and prevent you from flying off the track. Hold R during a turn to drift through it--the longer you hold R, the better your speed boost will be when you let go. You'll see sparks flying off your kart that change from blue to yellow to pink. Pink sparks are new in Deluxe and give the best boost, but it's hard to drift long enough to reach that level except on very long turns. (Note that auto-steer has to be off to get pink sparks. See slide 14.)

When and where you should begin drifting depends on your kart configuration (see slides 11, 12, and 13). But as a general rule of thumb (for karts at least), start drifting right before the curved part of the track starts. Bikes have much better handling than karts and require a lighter touch, so if you're new to drifting, start out on karts first to get a feel for it.

Rather than using an item immediately, you can carry certain items (like Bananas and Shells) behind you by holding L. When you're targeted by a Red or Green Shell, they'll protect you from getting hit--just don't try it with a Bob-omb, because it'll explode.

If you're in first place and you get a Super Horn, hold onto it for dear life. It can knock away items and other racers, but it's best used to protect you from the infamous Blue Shell, the nearly invincible item that targets the racer in first place. Use the Super Horn while the Blue Shell is hovering over you to destroy it.

When you get a Mushroom, save it until you reach a shortcut to make the most of it. The added speed from the Mushroom will help you make it over grass or other weird, off-road surfaces that usually stand between you and a great shortcut.

Check out our video on the best shortcuts in Mario Kart 8 if you aren't sure where to start. You can also race against Nintendo employees' ghosts in the Time Trials mode and stay behind them to see some shortcuts and efficient routes.

Coins are important for unlocking kart parts, but they're also great for racing! Having 10 grants you a very small top speed boost that can make a big difference.

Karts have five stats: speed, acceleration, weight, handling, and traction. Press the plus or minus button to see stats in the kart selection screen.

• Speed: The top speed of the kart under regular circumstances.

• Acceleration: How quickly the kart gains speed. High acceleration helps you recover more quickly from getting hit or falling off the track.

• Weight: The kart's weight. Karts with a higher weight can knock away those with lower weights.

• Handling: The kart's turning ability. High handling helps on tracks with frequent or tight turns and on the faster engine classes (150cc and 200cc). Note that bikes have higher handling than karts and make much sharper turns.

• Traction: The kart's grip on the road. High traction can help keep you from slowing down too much on off-road terrain or from slipping a lot on smooth tracks.

Kart stats are partially affected by the character you choose. There are three main weight classes: light, medium, and heavy. There's a small amount of variation within them, so always check your kart stats when you change characters.

• Light: Baby Peach, Baby Daisy, Baby Rosalina, Lemmy, Baby Mario, Baby Luigi, Dry Bones, Koopa Troopa, Lakitu, Bowser Jr., Toadette, Wendy, Isabelle, Toad, Shy Guy, Larry

• Medium: Cat Peach, Inkling Girl, Villager (female), Peach, Daisy, Yoshi, Tanooki Mario, Inkling Boy, Villager (male), Luigi, Iggy, Mario, Ludwig

• Heavy: Rosalina, King Boo, Link, Waluigi, Donkey Kong, Roy, Wario, Dry Bowser, Metal Mario (including Gold Mario), Pink Gold Peach, Bowser, Morton

Note: Miis can be any weight class depending on their size.

Heavier characters have higher top speeds but lower acceleration, handling, and traction, so tailor your kart to account for the character you pick.

Generally, your performance with a certain kart combination depends on your style. The best way to test new kart parts is to isolate them--that is, equip the standard kart, wheels, and glider, and then only change one category. It's an easy way to see how something like a set of wheels can affect your entire loadout.

For beginners, karts with mid-to-high speed, acceleration, and handling will work best. You can achieve this build easily with a medium or heavy character using the standard kart parts.

Nintendo's record best times on the Wii U version were set with heavy characters using the Sport Bike, Slick wheels, and Parafoil glider, for the most part.

There are two new settings in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: auto-steer and auto-accelerate. They're helpful for new players or anyone who has difficulty racing with the default controls, but they're on by default. If you'd like to race without help, be sure to turn them off before you start. Check these settings by pressing the + or - buttons when on the kart selection screen.

Note that auto-steer will keep you from straying off the track, but it will also prevent you from taking off-road shortcuts and will likely put you at a disadvantage when playing competitively.