POWER UP YOUR KART!
As your character flashes with multiple colors, they also become invincible until the special "Star" music stops playing. While invincible, they can make other racers spin out by simply ramming them. They can also destroy some obstacles like trees or rocks by running over them. However, they automatically lose the effect if they fall into deep water or off a ledge. Plus, their speed increases while using the Star.

The Mushroom is a handy item, but can be dangerous if used improperly. It gives your character a rocket boost, which increases their speed greatly for about a second or two. The character goes VERY fast after using a Mushroom, so steering is naturally effected. Be sure to use Mushrooms only in straight stretches to avoid running into a wall or flying off a cliff. If used on a speed bump, the height you jump will be increased greatly! In Time Trial mode, you get a Triple Mushroom, which is basically three Mushrooms for use. You cannot get a Triple Mushroom in other modes of play.

ATTACK OTHER RACERS!
After using Lightning, every racer except for you will automatically stop dead in their tracks. After being shocked, the players will also shrink down to size and drive slower. This is only temporary. If a shrunken racer is hit by another racer, the shrunken racer will become squashed. If two shrunken racers ram each other, they both become squashed. Players will the effect of Boo or Star will not be effected by Lightning.

STEAL ITEMS!
The deadly Boo is quite a handy item indeed. After using Boo, you will become invisible to other players temporarily. Also, you will steal an item from the closest racer. While invisible, you can move through obstacles, other racers' items, and even other racers themselves! The effect of Lightning will not harm you while invisible. A new feature that Boo does: Boo will begin to annoy the racer in first by slowing them down and making them drop some coins temporarily. If you are first and use Boo, it will not effect you.

BLOCK OTHER RACERS!
The Banana Peel is by far the weakest item in the game, but if used properly, it can do some leathful damage! Drop the Banana Peel behind you and any racer that drives over it will slip and spin out. However, racers can sometimes prevent spinning out (see Helpful Techniques). Try leaving a Banana Peel on a narrow bridge where a racer must hit it. If you hold UP and use the Banana Peel, you can throw it forward. It takes a lot of practice to use this method effectively.

ATTACK THE LEADERS!
The Red Shell is one of the best items in the game. As soon as you use it, it will track down the closest racer and knock them out of the road! The Red Shell is actually smarter than ever. An even better feature is added! Hold DOWN when using the Red Shell to drop it like a Banana Peel. However, when a racer behind you comes near it, it will begin to track down that racer! Now the Red Shell is effective no matter what!

The less effective Green Shell takes practice to use. Instead of homing onto a racer, the Green Shell will fire straight forward and bounce off of walls. The Green Shell takes a lot of practice to be able to hit racers with it. Try to line yourself up with the racer in front of you in straight stretches and launch it towards them. Since the Green Shell bounces off of walls, it can harm you too, making it dangerous in narrow tracks (like Bowser's Castle). If you hold DOWN while using it, you will fire it backwards.

Without a doubt, the Triple Red Shell is the best weapon in the game. Use it and three Red Shells will begin spinning around your racer. Press L to throw one of the Red Shells and it will be used like a normal Red Shell. Plus, the spinning shells will act as a shield. If you run into a Banana Peel or someone tries to hit you with a Shell, one of the Shells will block it, but be discarded at the same time. You cannot drop any of the Red Shells behind you, however.

Though its better than the single Green Shell, a single Red Shell still beats this. This acts just like the Triple Red Shell, however they don't home, yada yada. You can't fire them backwards either. Just be sure not to go on a frenzy and fire shells everywhere, because you'll most likely get beaned with each one (its happened). The Triple Green Shell is much more effective as a shield.

The rarest item in the game, the Spiny Shell is only useful for racers that are losing badly. The Spiny Shell will travel forward, going through any racers, until it hits the racer in the lead. It will not disappear unless it hits the lead racer or runs into a wall. If you hear a wailing sound and you're in the lead, let someone else in front of you so they'll get beaned. Fire the shell backwards and it will act like a Red Shell, but it will home after the first place driver whenever he/she approaches it.

* Keep in mind that the item you get is usually determined by your place. You're most likely going to get a Star if your losing, and probably Banana Peels if you are winning. Lightning Bolts are very rare, and you have to be losing very badly to get one. Surprisingly, I get Red Shells often, and I'm usually in the lead. Spiny Shells are incredibly rare. I've yet to get one. Whenever you see a little item box sitting out by itself, and if you are losing, it will most likely give you a Spiny Shell if you let it stop the roulette on its own.