The Importance of Triple Items

The Ultimate Guide

Now, the triple items are some of the most useful items in the game, yet no one ever writes about them. Why? probably just because of their non-existence on wifi. Well I am going to change all that right now, with the ultimate guide to the triple item! This guide will tell you where to lay and use bananas, how to use triple shells as a shield, defensive positions and where to cut huge corners with mushrooms. It will even say if the tricks work in 100cc. Ready for the best item related essay yet?

Triple bananas

Bananas are often misleadingly known as some of the worst items in Mario Kart games since the start, and this is a bad misconception. Because with practise, any item (except the blooper) can be a brilliant part of a professional players strategy. Here are how to use bananas.

At the end of ramps- This is often seen as a bad idea when it is in fact the place in the game to use them. Why? Because work this out:

1-2 second spin out will cause them to miss the jump and fall to their doom. But what's crueler, is that the 3 second or so time when they are immobilised out of the race, their rivals could be zooming way ahead of them. In fact, on courses like Yoshi falls, this is totally lethal, as it is nigh on impossible to catch up to a good player if you fall off.

At the landing spot

Use them where they land from the jump and they will automatically hit it, not being able to controll the kart much in mid-air, and spin out of control.

To cancel out items

One of the most useful things about bananas and fake item boxes, is that with a well-timed hit, you can avoid the effects of a blue shell or bob-omb. This is tactical, and to succeed, you must hit the item just as the blue shell is about to strike.

Special Triple Banana strategies

1- Make a line

Making a line to block a narrow path can be so funny if you get that chance. This makes the alleyways in Delfino Square especially lethal.


2- Blockade

Go in front of an opponent repeatedly. They will be drafting almost automatically, then blam! They hit a banana that's dangling from the back of the kart and spin out while you merrily snake off into the distance, leaving them in a cloud of exhaust smoke!

3- Across an item box line

Lay them across a line of item boxes and no computers or human rivals will be able to pass that line, causing mass chaos and letting you race into the distance.

Triple Shells

Unlike the banana, there are two different types of triple shells in Mario Kart DS.

Green Shells

he two uses are holding them as a shield, and ramming your opponent with that shield, or firing them and hoping to hit. The second option is good for professional players, but I really recommend using them as a shield and ramming others off the edge. In Battle, stand on an item box and watch the sparks fly!

Or stand at the entrance to a pipe to screw up your opponents badly!

Red Shells

Use them as normal, with one exception. Fire one, then wait until the effect wears off before firing a second shell. This way, the effect won't be cancelled. Do not use them if:

Opponent is under rolling log in Bowser Castle

In Alleyway in Delfino Square

Far off the course

Behind coffin in Banshee Boardwalk

Behind a ramp

Right next to you

This way, the item will actually hit, and not miss/be destroyed by wall or item.

Mushrooms

The final item requires good use. Here are some good places to use them:

1- Cut through second waterfall in Yoshi falls, after hopping the first bit.

2- Cut through water in Cheep Cheep Beach

3- Cut across grass in Luigi's Mansion

5- Cut behind the Pyramid or bounce off the hills at the end at Desert Hills.

6- Use through Alleyway shortcut in Delfino Square.

7- Cut across bank to get secret item box in DK Pass.

8- Cut across sandy area in Mario Circuit to save time.

9- Cut across mud next to ramps in Wario Stadium

10- cut across first flowerbed in Peach Gardens

11- Use for either first, second or third glitch shortcut in Rainbow Road.

12- Cut across sand in Mario Circuit 1

13- Cut the snowbanks at the start (second one for sure) in Frappe Snowland.

14- Cut through hole in fence in Donut Plains 1.

15- Cut through hole in fence in Choco Island 2.

16- On Sky Garden you can either use it on a ramp shortcut, use on cloud at end, jump to other side of track to the left of booster ramp and normal ramp, jump to vine bridge, jump at vine bridge and get Lakitu to put you there or cut a corner to save a whole load of time.

17- Use to cut areas with piranha plants in Yoshi Circuit. You can mini-turbo first shortcut effectively.

Well, this guide may help you with learning how to use triple items, so I hope you improve your times in Time Trial and own people online so badly!

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