Tips On Super Mario Kart From The Nation’s Top Player
By day, 31-year-old Drew Blumfeld repairs and sells used iPhones. By night, he’s one of the best Super Mario Kart players in the world and the best in the country, coming in ninth in the latest Super Mario Kart Championships and representing #1 for America. Vox asked him what the best strategy is to finish first in both Battle Mode and Race Mode, and he was fully willing to spill his secrets…..
In Battle Mode, Bumfeld advises players to always pick Koopa Troopa or Toad. Their acceleration is low, but their steering controls are the sharpest, and that difference is key when you’re dealing with a field full of obstacles. Use the red shell whenever you can, as it’s the easiest weapon to operate — you just fire it and let it do its thing. Don’t go out of your way to get stars, and if you do get one, ramming opponents is a mistake for newbies because they could risk a crash. Blumfeld’s winning percentage for items to seek out is 93 percent red shells, 2 percent green shells, and 5 percent stars.
In Race Mode, go for the fastest two characters, Bowser and Donkey Kong Jr. A fast race time can be enough for beginners, but professionals always base their run on a strategic use of items.
Finally, what does Blumfeld have to say about Rainbow Road, the most frustrating track the game has to offer? Surprisingly, his suggestion was NOT to decelerate. “Don’t slow down. In general on all races, you never want to tap the brake. Take the inside of the course and hop the corners. That’s just the best strategy.”
For more on Blumfeld, including how he rose to the top of the Mario Kart playing circuit, check out the article on Vox.