For better or worse, items have been a major part of the Mario Kart series since it first debuted on the SNES in 1992. While some are fairly innocuous, certain items have the ability to completely change the course of a race.
At its core, Mario Kart is a pick-up-and-play racer meant to appeal to players of all skill levels. However, anyone can attest to the frustration one feels when getting pelted by blue shells while seconds from the finish line or when having a particularly devastating item suddenly stolen by a boo. These are the 10 most frustrating weapons in Mario Kart history.
Blooper
While far from the most annoying item in Mario Kart, having a blooper obscure a racer's view with ink is far from ideal. Most of the time, players can still navigate the track, though it disproportionately affects new players unfamiliar with the game.
One positive is that the item affects everyone and causes the AI to swerve, slowing them down. However, we feel that Mario Kart's blooper was created with the express purpose of being annoying, which makes it deserving of a spot on this list.
Feather
Again, though annoying, the feather is one of the Mario Kart series' more innocuous weapons. That said, it's always a huge disappointment when a player nabs one of these out of an item box, as, outside of some very specific situations, it's pretty much useless.
First introduced in the original Mario Kart installment on the SNES, the item allows the player to hop in the air, creating opportunities to jump over obstacles. In Mario Kart 8, it's available exclusively in Battle Mode where it's slightly more useful, but, nine times out of ten, players will want to get rid of the feather immediately and search for something with greater offensive capabilities.
Fake Item Box
Much like the series-staple banana item, the fake item box definitely has its place, but, at the end of the day, it's more or less just a nuisance.
In some games, the fake item box doesn't block incoming projectiles the way a banana or green shell would, and, most of the time, it seems that the racer who put it down is the one most likely to collide with it. Additionally, there are a few instances of less-focused players accidentally mistaking them for real item boxes, which is always embarrassing.
Bowser Shell
Though they can provide an impromptu defense against incoming objects, most players would agree that the series-staple green shell item is, on the whole, pretty annoying. With that in mind, how might players feel about a much larger, much more destructive version?
Exclusive to the GameCube's Double Dash, the Bowser shell is a ridiculous item that wreaks havoc on a course and all racers in equal measure. Every bit as likely to hit the racer who threw it as their competitors, this item should only be used as a last resort. Plus, on the infamous Baby Park course, it's especially devastating.
Boo
The ability to steal items from other racers may sound neat on paper, but, in practice, the Boo is often annoying for both those who use it and those targeted by it. While it's meant to nab items from players in crucial moments, the items if often steals are usually ineffective, to say the least.
However, when a Boo does manage to steal something useful, it's incredibly frustrating for the player from whom the item was stolen. it's an example of how totally unfair the Mario kart games can sometimes be, and the Boo feels like an item implemented purely to upset players.
Giant Banana
Another Double Dash exclusive, the giant banana is a specialty of the DK crew, and it can cause a ton of chaos if placed in the right spot on the track.
A banana several times the size of the regular version, when hit, it splits into three more bananas, ensuring that the course will never quite be clear of the potassium plight. Yet another item that may well prove to be a hazard for the same racer who threw it in the first place, the giant banana can seriously clog up a track and cause a major headache for Double Dash players.
Lightning
Despite being a favorite of some players, the lightning item is one of the most annoying items in the game, bar none. With the ability to temporarily shrink every racer on the track save for the one who threw it, this item was clearly designed to help those bringing up the rear end of the pack.
Since only players nearing last place are typically able to get the item, it's relatively balanced. That said, there's nothing worse than getting struck by lightning seconds before crossing the finish line. Additionally, shrunken players can be run over by regular-sized racers, adding to the undeniable frustration.
Chain Chomp
The final Mario Kart Double Dash entry on this list, the Chain Chomp item is the ugly cousin of the bullet bill. The specialty item of the Baby Mario Bros., when earned from an item box, the Chain Chom attaches itself to the front of a racer's kart, launching them ahead and bowling over the competition.
However, the Chain Chomp's movements are erratic, and it can disappear at a moment's notice. This often leads to unsuspecting players being flung off of the course, and it comes as a major nuisance despite how obviously powerful the item can be. Pro tip: never use this one on Rainbow Road!
Thunder Cloud
One of the few out-and-out detrimental items found in any of Mario Kart's item boxes, this unfortunate find is a literal dark cloud over a player, shocking and shrinking them should they fail to get rid of it in time.
If a racer cursed with the thunder cloud bumps into someone else, the item will be transferred to them. Utterly annoying for all involved, picking this thing out of an item box is sure to cause an audible groan. While it can be fun to pass around in a pack of racers, most of the time, it's just a huge burden.
Blue Shell
Also known as a spiny shell, avid Mario Kart players would certainly agree that no item is more obnoxious than this one. A calamitous weapon often launched by those in the back of the pack, the blue shell targets whichever racer is in first and blows them sky-high.
Few items could be said to be as impactful as the blue shell, and they turn up at least once in just about every Mario Kart race. Ruining more first-place leads than any other item, the blue shell has likely caused more than a few controllers to be hurled in frustration.