"Mario Kart Double Dash" Strategy Quiz

Answer: Rainbow Road

Red Shells can easily be deterred either by dropping something behind you, but that may not be necessary on Rainbow Road. On this course, strangely enough, shells will bounce on the track instead of going straight. This wreaks havoc on their homing abilities and will often send them bouncing OVER their target rather than hitting them. Unfortunately for the racer in the pole position, the Spiny Shell will never miss, even on Rainbow Road.

The second most common track to have Red Shells miss is Wario Colosseum, where they'll sometimes hit a wall on the winding parts of the track.

Answer: The inside track

No, this actually does not depend on the weight of your kart. Regardless of whether or not you use the dash panels, sticking to the inside part of the track will shave at least one second off of your lap time. I tested this by doing the Time Trial for this course, taking the inside one lap and the outside on the other, using no Mushrooms on either lap.

The inside lap was faster by one and a half seconds.

Answer: True

If you look away from the road for a second, you will see stars streaking overhead. Occasionally, one of those stars will collide with the track. When it does, there's a chance it'll leave a Star item behind that you can grab. Finding a Star on the track is the only way for someone in the pole position to get one of these items.

Answer: Light

Although heavyweight karts have a higher top speed, the grass that precedes this jump will slow them down too much for them to make it over the water. The same is true for a middleweight kart. The lightweight karts have a lower top speed, but can sometimes maintain that speed across the grass and make the jump.

It's rare to make this jump successfully without an item, but it can be done.

Answer: Spiny Shell

If you're in first place, even with the Hearts around you, you have no defense against the dreaded Winged Shell. This shell will hit you regardless of what items you have to defend yourself with. If you're in the air or invincible for some reason, it'll wait until you're vulnerable again before hitting you.

The Hearts also can't grab a Star if they're hit by someone using one. Other items they can't grab include the Chain Chomp, Mushroom, Thunderbolt, Hearts, and I don't think they can grab Bob-Ombs or Fireballs either.

While the Hearts are around you, you can still throw other items.

Answer: True

The first one is located on the bridge. After leaving the tunnel, turn your kart to the right to find dash panels on a side part of the bridge. Control your kart well here to avoid going off the track. The second shortcut is in the tunnel with the geysers, and ALL KARTS WITH NO EXCEPTIONS will slow down too much to make the jump safely without using an item to speed them up.

Answer: When you're close to other karts

Taking this shortcut, your kart will slow down both when falling and when hitting the ground. A heavy kart should not take this shortcut, as it actually takes more time than the normal route since they have such poor acceleration. If you're in a tight pack with other karts, these slow points will actually cause you to LOSE ground with them.

A light kart is at an advantage here, since they accelerate quickly, and a miniaturized kart won't hit the opposite side of the hole and thus not slow down as much while falling.

Answer: Just after the Start/Finish line

This can be a shortcut if you know what you're doing. There are a couple of sharp turns to get to the entry point, so you'll need to control your kart carefully. One benefit to this pipe is that you'll automatically get a double item box when you exit.

Answer: Peach Beach

This pipe is only here for aesthetic value. If you drive into it, you'll get shot out the same end. This can never be used as a shortcut, since you have to turn in the wrong direction to even reach the pipe, and all it does is shoot you back onto the track. There is no item box nearby to benefit you either.

Answer: Diddy Kong

Diddy Kong is just barely a lightweight character, as he gets all the benefits of being a lightweight, with some of the benefits of a middleweight. Yoshi is a light-middleweight, leaning more on the middle side. Both of the Koopas are extreme lightweights (Paratroopa is lighter than the normal Koopa Troopa), and Bowser Jr. is in the middle of the lightweight category.