Mario Kart World Item Tier List – Comprehensive Ranking of Every Item in the Series’ Latest Entry

Since its release, Mario Kart World has re-energized the iconic racing franchise with a bevy of new gameplay mechanics and items, offering the largest and most diverse roster of items ever seen in a Mario Kart title to date.

Developed by Nintendo and available on the Nintendo Switch, Mario Kart World continues to expand on the legacy of innovation and competitive excitement synonymous with the series.

With dozens of unique items—including returning favorites and all-new power-ups—the game's eShop rating reflects its popularity among both veteran and new players.

After amassing nearly 100 hours of gameplay and in-depth analysis, we present a comprehensive tier list evaluating every item in Mario Kart World, highlighting their unique attributes and impact on competitive racing. Standing at the pinnacle in the S tier, the Mega Mushroom has earned top marks as the definitive best item in Mario Kart World.

Its immediate use is recommended, generating a momentous advantage: players benefit from a dramatically increased hitbox, the ability to flatten other racers, total invincibility, and even the power to evade the disruptive Lightning item.

As a result, the Mega Mushroom remains unmatched in terms of moment-to-moment impact.

The Golden Mushroom closely follows, excelling particularly in online intermission courses where its ability to cut large portions of the racetrack offers a substantial lead.

While vulnerable if struck by Lightning when off-road, its utility—when timed with precision—positions it among the most powerful items in the game. The A tier is stacked with versatile and strategic selections.

The Boomerang Flower rewards skilled players with its multi-target potential and extended final throw.

Both Triple and single Mushrooms, while not as game-breaking as the Golden Mushroom, afford crucial dodging abilities—most notably against the Spiny Shell—and can tilt the balance in heated races.

The Super Star grants full invincibility, a speed boost, and eliminates off-road penalties, providing a valuable edge.

Key defensive and offensive items such as the Triple Red Shells and Super Horn can shield racers and disrupt adversaries, with Super Horns also effectively neutralizing the ever-present threat of Spiny Shells.

Additionally, the Boo item delivers the tactical advantage of off-road mobility and item theft, ideal for seizing critical shortcuts. Shifting to mid-tier rankings, the Bullet Bill has seen a reduction in potency in Mario Kart World.

Although now limited to pushing rather than damaging and encountering potential course obstructions, it remains a reliable comeback item for lagging racers.

Items like the Hammer, Fire Flower, and Ice Flower offer mid-level offensive and defensive benefits, while Triple Green Shells and Triple Bananas build defensive barriers that can stave off shell attacks—though not always consistently, as experienced competitors can circumvent these protections. Lower in the rankings, the C tier includes items like single Red Shells, which often lack the punch needed to change race outcomes, and the Feather, prized for evasion but sometimes resulting in lost speed.

Defensive staples like single Green Shells and Bananas require precision for offensive use.

The Dash Food provides minimal speed boosts, adequate for small shortcuts but inferior to regular Mushrooms. In the D tier, Spiny Shells and Golden Shells can devastate the race leader or provide coins and attacks, yet are less likely to hit targets when opposed by skilled human opponents who avoid their paths—limiting their practical value.

At the bottom, in the F tier, are the Coin, Question-Mark Block, Blooper, and Kamek.

The Coin, while beneficial for accumulating speed through coin collection, offers no tangible defensive or offensive utility.

The Question-Mark Block disperses coins benefiting other racers, providing little direct help.

Blooper barely disturbs the field, and Kamek’s item can be counterproductive to its user. Mario Kart World continues Nintendo’s legacy of crafting finely tuned gameplay experiences, and item selection remains a cornerstone of competitive strategy.

Every player has their favorites, but a clear hierarchy of effectiveness has emerged in this Switch-exclusive racer.

For further updates and deeper insights, visit Nintendo’s official website for Mario Kart World, and share your thoughts on the ultimate Mario Kart item tier list.

Mario Kart Nintendo Switch Mario Kart World Nintendo Mario Switch Kart eShop Mega Mushroom Golden Mushroom Boomerang Flower Triple Mushrooms Super Star Red Shell Super Horn Boo Bullet Bill Hammer Fire Flower Ice Flower Green Shell Banana Spiny Shell Golden Shell Coin Question-Mark Block Blooper Kamek