Most Hated Items in Mario Kart History

Mario Kart has countless entries, incredible memories, and more power-ups from item boxes that players will ever know what to do with. The item boxes and power-ups of Mario Kart are a core part of this kart racer’s DNA, and the creativity and introduction of fun Mario concepts are what make Nintendo the top dog when it comes to fun racing games, and one that continues forward with Mario Kart World.

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However, despite the immense fun to be had with the power-ups and item boxes, there are some hazards that are truly annoying to come up against, and we’ve compiled some of the most frustrating items in Mario Kart history to share the annoyance.

8 Coin

The Humble Coin Provides Speed But Nothing Else

The Coin is great for early laps, as it will allow players to hit the maximum of 10 Coins so that they have the best speed possible. However, the Coin is also very annoying because it’s so common. The track is scattered with Coins, so they’re never in short supply, so the chance to get one in 1st place is so ridiculously high that it’s essential to have one just so the second item isn’t a Coin. Coins might be good for getting speed, but their minor speed increase won’t stop the piercing ability of a Red Shell or Green Shell, so players will be desperate to get rid of it for a banana, at the very least.

7 Bob-omb

A Cute and Exploding Bomb to Disrupt the Race

The Bob-omb might seem cute and friendly, but it’s not an item players should attempt to hug. The Bob-omb is extremely deadly, and it has a very sensitive fuse, so even if players are near it, it will explode. The Bob-omb has a large explosive radius, so anyone nearby is going to have a hard time avoiding this weapon’s blast, causing the player to spin out and lose all momentum. The Bob-omb can even be used as a risky weapon to protect from Red Shells, but try to let go of it at the last second to avoid being caught in its blast. While fun, it can be very frustrating to see it be thrown to blow up players who are just trying to get to first place.

6 Boo

A Pranking and Invincible Thief

The Boo is a ghost that will be great for players who have it as an item, as it will not only provide players with a minor speed boost and invisibility so that they can avoid Red Shells and Lightning strikes, but it will also be sent out to steal an item from a player in front. This is where the Boo frustrates, as not only is it annoying to have an item stolen by a pesky Boo, but it can sometimes bring back a worthless item for a player desperate to get into 1st place, by giving them a Coin. What’s someone in 7th place going to do with a measly Coin?

5 Thunder Cloud

An Inescapable Solo-Attacking Lightning Strike

The Thunder Cloud is a dreadful weapon that all must fear, as whoever gets unlucky enough to pull the Thunder Cloud from its item box restraints will know the wrath of lightning. The Thunder Cloud is a high-risk, little-reward weapon that gives players a speed boost as a Thunder Cloud charges an attack above them. Players have 10 seconds to hit another player to transfer the Thunder Cloud, and failing to do so will see the player electrocuted, forcing them to shrink down as if they alone have been hit with a Lightning Strike.

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4 Blooper

A Squid That Inks All Over the Screen to Obscure Vision

The Blooper is a cute squid that everyone hates for good reason. The Blooper, when summoned through the item box, will appear on every player’s screen, no matter what position they are in during the race, and unleash ink onto the screen. Players are practically blinded by the ink and can easily crash into walls or fall off the course, desperate for the ink to dissipate. While speed boosts will destroy the ink immediately, it’s unlikely that every player has a way to remove the effect without being patient.

3 Bullet Bill

An Invincible Rocket to Take Players to First Place

The Bullet Bill has become a staple of the later years of Mario Kart, and it’s here to stay. Bullet Bill is essential for the racers out there who just can’t keep up, as it’s reserved for players who are too far behind to reach first place with just their wheels. Once activated, the Bullet Bill will propel them in an autopilot rocket, sending them so far ahead that it might just win them the race. The Bullet Bill also ignores anything lethal, like Lightning and Blue Shells, and will tear a path through other racers to win. While all of that sounds amazing, the Bullet Bill is extremely frustrating to come up against as it's basically a weapon to get back in the race while leaving everyone else behind.

2 Lightning

An Unpreventable Attack to Shrink Everyone

The Lightning attack is easily one of the worst power-ups to be found in Mario Kart for a simple reason: it shrinks everyone. It’s always a gamble whether someone gets the Lightning, and players in first place might never know when it’s time for them to lose their items and shrink down. It’s a weapon that can only be countered with well-timed luck with the use of a Boo, Bullet Bill, or Star, so most players are going to be impacted by this weapon that spins them out, shrinks them, and forces them to lose their items. It’s an inevitable weapon that everyone gets hit with.

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1 Blue Shell

An Unstoppable Weapon That Hunts Down First Place

The Blue Shell roars into action with its unstoppable nature, refusing to back down as it crashes through other racers just trying to get by. The Blue Shell only cares about one thing: blowing up whoever dares to be in first place. With the Blue Shell, players dread the first-place spot, even if a well-timed Mushroom Boost or a Super Horn can destroy it. Being in first place and having one of these weapons ready to defend against the Blue Shell is extremely rare, and the only alternative is relinquishing the first-place spot to avoid being exploded, thus making the Blue Shell extremely frustrating, considering how it disrupts and juggles who could be the next racer in first place.

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Mario Kart World

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Released

June 5, 2025

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Where to play

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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL

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ESRB

Everyone // Mild Fantasy Violence, Users Interact

Developer(s)

Nintendo

Genre(s)

Racing, Open-World

Platform(s)

Nintendo Switch 2

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