Summary

  • Heavy characters like Donkey Kong offer fast top speeds while sacrificing acceleration with the right kart setup.
  • Characters like Bowser and Morton, combined with certain karts and tires, can reach the game's maximum speed of 5.75.
  • Lighter characters like Baby Daisy can prioritize acceleration and handling over speed for better control on tracks with obstacles.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has become one of the best kart racing games of all time, and this eighth entry in the series has been around in some form for a decade. The game offers a huge selection of customization options for players to choose from to get the fastest runs possible on each track. Racers, karts, tires, and gliders can all be mixed and matched, and each changes the stats that will be used in the race itself.

In Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, it is important to pay attention to how the stats of speed, acceleration, weight, handling, and traction all work together. Getting the speediest setup depends on each portion, not simply the kart alone. This includes the character choice, as the heavy characters can weigh down karts, providing a slow acceleration, but ultimately, they also have the highest top speed when unimpeded. Thus, when looking for the best Mario Kart 8 setups, heavy characters are preferred. In addition, while there are no gliders that increase speed, there are some to be aware of that reduce it.

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13 Donkey Kong, B Dasher Kart, Triforce Tires & Super Glider

Total Of 5.25 Max Speed Possible

Character

Kart

Tires

Glider

Donkey Kong

B Dasher

Triforce Tires

Super Glider

Donkey Kong has the second-highest base speed of all characters, as long as the player is adept at not hitting any obstacles. As one of the heavy class characters, he has a very slow acceleration stat, but then can reach exceptionally high speeds once he gets moving.

Combining the B Dasher kart, the Triforce tires, and the Super Glider, his stats all balance out to create a fast kart that isn't horrible with handling, mostly thanks to the Triforce tires, which can help some with grip. Though it can seem more boring, the default glider is preferred so that the kart's speed will not suffer from the penalties other gliders have.

Speed

5.25

Acceleration

2.25

Weight

4.5

Handling

2

Traction

2.75

12 Roy, Standard ATV, Metal Tires & Plane Glider

Total Of 5.5 Max Speed Possible

Mario Kart Roy Standard ATV Metal Tires and Plane Glider

Character

Kart

Tires

Glider

Roy

Standard ATV

Metal Tires

Plane Glider

In the same category as Donkey Kong, Roy is another heavy-class character who is tied for having the second-highest possible base speed. When given the best opportunity with the perfect kit, he can be very fast. Both the Standard ATV and Metal tires provide him with extra speed but come at the cost of acceleration and handling. Lastly, the Plane Glider slightly increases his traction at the cost of a small increase in his weight. This is an overall fast build, reaching 5.5 max speed, making it one of the best Mario Kart 8 setups.

Speed

5.5

Acceleration

1.25

Weight

5.25

Handling

2

Traction

2.5

Many items have identical stats, such as the Metal tires and Gold tires for example. If you don't have a specific item, check to see what else might work.

11 Baby Daisy, Biddybuggy, Roller, Cloud Glider

Total Of 1 Max Speed Possible

Mario Kart Baby Daisy Biddybuggy Roller and Cloud Glider

Character

Kart

Tires

Glider

Baby Daisy

Biddybuggy

Roller

Cloud Glider

Baby Daisy's combination here may appear a bit unorthodox for high speeds, yet this build can be extremely effective under the right circumstances. While it only has a max speed of 1, it does offer a 5.5 in acceleration. For players who struggle with avoiding obstacles or for any non-professional Mario Kart racer on a higher cc course, this kart is the answer. Her 5.5 in acceleration allows for quick recovery from mistakes, and on some tracks, a high speed may prove to be a detriment. In the right situation, with the right player behind the controls, Baby Daisy can easily take the trophy home.

Speed

1

Acceleration

5.5

Weight

0.75

Handling

5.75

Traction

4.25

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10 Wario, Circuit Special Kart, Metal Tires & Wario Wing

Total Of 5.75 Max Speed Possible

Mario Kart Wario Circuit Special Metal Tires and Wario Wing

Character

Kart

Tires

Glider

Wario

Circuit Special

Metal Tires

Wario Wing

As a character, Wario has the highest possible character speed in the game. This makes him a go-to for speed-focused kart configurations, and adding the Circuit Special Kart and the Metal tires adds an extra 1.0 speed at the cost of acceleration, handling, and traction. While this kart is certainly not for beginners, in the right hands it can become a powerhouse of speed. Finish the build with his iconic Wario Wing to reach 5.75 max speed, making this one of the fastest builds in the game.

Speed

5.75

Acceleration

1.25

Weight

5.25

Handling

2

Traction

1.75

Great speed comes with great risk, as racers will have to contend with some less-than-optimal kart handling when using this Wario build, as well as several others in this list.

9 Bowser, P-Wing Kart, Metal Tires & Hylian Kite

Total Of 5.75 Max Speed Possible

Mario Kart Bowser P Wing Kart Metal Tires and Hylian Kite

Character

Kart

Tires

Glider

Bowser

P-Wing Kart

Metal Tires

Hylian Kite

Bowser is known throughout all Mario lore for being a massive entity and, therefore, it is fitting that he is the heaviest character in Mario Kart 8. Being the heaviest also means he is among the fastest, however, as long as drivers can control his poor handling and traction. Combining Bowser's default 4.75 base speed with the P-Wing kart and Metal tires brings him to the speed cap of the game, which is 5.75. Adding the Hylian Kite ensures that Bowser isn't losing any speed for the glider while also not gaining any extra weight, which could make this build impossible to control, as it will already require a steady hand to manage this kart effectively at top speed.

Speed

5.75

Acceleration

1.25

Weight

5.25

Handling

1.75

Traction

1.75

8 Morton, P-Wing Kart, Cyber Slick Tires & Waddle Wing

Total Of 5.75 Max Speed Possible

Mario Kart Morton P Wing Kart Cyber Slick Tires and Waddle Wing

Character

Kart

Tires

Glider

Morton

P-Wing Kart

Cyber Slick

Waddle Wing

Another character in the category of heaviest, and therefore fastest, in Mario Kart 8 is Morton. Although the P-Wing kart significantly reduces Morton's other stats, the maximum speed increase is too good to ignore. Combining Morton and the kart with Cyber Slick tires, Morton reaches Mario Kart 8's speed cap of 5.75, while the Waddle Wing glider ensures that he doesn't lose speed or get weighed down. Given how little he's seen in standard Mario games, Morton is an oft-overlooked driver but should be considered more often for his beneficial stats that will sneak up on unsuspecting opponents.

Speed

5.75

Acceleration

1.5

Weight

5

Handling

1.75

Traction

1.25

7 Dry Bowser, GLA, Slick Tires & Hylian Kite

Total Of 5.75 Max Speed Possible

Character

Kart

Tires

Glider

Dry Bowser

GLA (Mercedes)

Slick

Hylian Kite

Despite this skeleton form being slightly lighter than the other characters of his size, Dry Bowser maintains a high base speed of 4.75. In addition, the good-looking GLA and the Slick tires allow Dry Bowser to reach an exhilarating 5.75 max speed, the fastest possible in the game. This is also a good combination of stats for those who may struggle with karts that have low grip, particularly on certain tracks, as this combination offers high speed while still providing 2.5 in traction.

Speed

5.75

Acceleration

1.25

Weight

5

Handling

1.75

Traction

2.5

6 Baby Daisy, Pipe Frame, Standard Tires & Wario Wing

Emphasis On Acceleration And Handling

Mario Kart Baby Daisy Pipe Frame Standard Tires and Wario Wing

Character

Kart

Tires

Glider

Baby Daisy

Pipe Frame

Standard

Wario Wing

Baby Daisy in the Pipe Frame kart is another setup that doesn't focus on all-out speed but instead emphasizes acceleration and handling. While heavy characters like Wario could be doing laps around this lightweight kart and character, there are always going to be some circumstances where this will be the better option. It seems like an odd trade-off, but, at some point, increased speed becomes reckless and can result in slower lap times, particularly for certain tracks and higher cc levels that are heavy in curves and obstacles.

Speed

2

Acceleration

4.5

Weight

2

Handling

5.5

Traction

4.25

While there are certainly some advanced Mario Kart players who can make just about anything work on any setting, for normal players, measured builds such as these will often prevail.

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5 Bowser, Badwagon Kart, Cyber Slick Tires & Super Glider

Total Of 5.75 Max Speed Possible

Mario Kart Bowser Badwagon Kart Cyber Slick Tires and Super Glider

Character

Kart

Tires

Glider

Bowser

Badwagon

Cyber Slick

Super Glider

Bowser is integral to some of the fastest builds in Mario Kart 8 due particularly to his heavy size and speed at least as long as he is able to pick up and keep the momentum. With the Badwagon kart and the Cyber Slick tires, he can reach a max speed of 5.75. In addition, the default Super Glider ensures that Bowser doesn't have to sacrifice multiple stats for this high speed. Not only is he a challenging villain to deal with in platformers, but Bowser is also one of the fastest opponents to face in Mario Kart 8.

Speed

5.75

Acceleration

1.25

Weight

5.25

Handling

1.5

Traction

2.25

4 Morton, Circuit Special Kart, Slick Tires & Plane Glider

Total Of 5.75 Max Speed Possible

Mario Kart Morton Circuit Special Kart Slick Tires and Plane Glider

Character

Kart

Tires

Glider

Morton

Circuit Special

Slick

Plane Glider

Morton's high base speed of 4.75 can skyrocket with the Circuit Special kart and the Slick Tires, up to the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's cap of 5.75. Although this build significantly reduces acceleration and traction, it is a worthwhile price to pay for being so fast. Skilled drivers who can maintain max speed can make this build really shine, although for many the low traction stat of 1 will be problematic. Even for advanced players, on 200cc, this setup becomes something of a nightmare to control, as do most of the ultra-fast kart setups in the game.

Speed

5.75

Acceleration

1.5

Weight

5.25

Handling

1.75

Traction

1

3 Bowser, Landship, Standard Tires & Cloud Glider

Total Of 4 Max Speed Possible

Character

Kart

Tires

Glider

Bowser

Landship

Standard

Cloud Glider

As opposed to other Bowser builds that strictly prioritize speed, this is more of a jack-of-all-trades heavy kart that maintains a relatively high max speed of 4 without sacrificing acceleration or handling. While the handling stat could be a bit sturdier at 2.75, with 3.75 acceleration, this Bowser build is a good choice for those who are working on handling the higher speeds of heavy characters but have not yet mastered control at reduced traction and handling.

This build is much more practical for the above-average player who is not an expert, giving a little more allowance for anything slowing him down. While most speed builds focus purely on just that stat without accommodating inevitable heat-of-the-moment mistakes, this setup is as fast as it needs to be, while still giving the player a sense of control.

Speed

4

Acceleration

3.75

Weight

3.75

Handling

2.75

Traction

3.75

2 Wario, GLA, Metal Tires & Plane Glider

Total Of 5.75 Max Speed Possible

Mario Kart Wario GLA Metal Tires and Plane Glider

Character

Kart

Tires

Glider

Wario

GLA (Mercedes)

Metal Tires

Plane Glider

Wario's high base speed of 4.75 combines with the beautiful Mercedes GLA and the Metal tires to effortlessly do the trick if players are looking for speed. Wario reaches the 5.75-speed cap at the cost of greatly reducing his acceleration, which can, admittedly, be a real problem in chaotic situations. Nevertheless, the GLA offers increased handling and reduced weight compared to most of the other fastest cars in the game. As long as the players can reach the maximum speed without problems, this setup will help make it easier to maintain than many of the Mario Kart 8 setups.

Speed

5.75

Acceleration

1

Weight

5.5

Handling

1.75

Traction

2.75

1 Dry Bowser, B Dasher Kart, Metal Tires & Super Glider

Total Of 5.75 Max Speed Possible

Mario Kart Dry Bowser B Dasher Kart Metal Tires and Super Glider

Character

Kart

Tires

Glider

Dry Bowser

B Dasher

Metal Tires

Super Glider

Dry Bowser is able to maintain the same maximum speed as Bowser and Morton with the added bonus of slightly reduced weight. Equipping him with the B Dasher kart and the Metal tires ensures he can effortlessly reach the cap of 5.75. If the player manages to get ahead and reach max speed while also utilizing some items like blue shells, bananas, and fake item boxes, victory is almost guaranteed. Dry Bowser also has a slightly improved handling and traction than some of the other fast kart setups, which helps him to more easily secure that Mario Kart 8 trophy.

Speed

5.75

Acceleration

1.25

Weight

5

Handling

2

Traction

2

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Mario Inkling
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Nintendo Switch

Publisher
Nintendo
Genre
Racing
Mode
Racing
Platform
Nintendo Switch
Release Date
2017-04-28