How to Use Coins on Mario Kart Switch

Imagine racing through the colorful tracks of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Nintendo Switch, drifting around corners with precision, and launching red shells at your competitors. What if I told you that the simple coins scattered across the course could give you an edge? The coins in Mario Kart might seem insignificant, but in the world of competitive racing, they can make a real difference. So, how exactly do you use coins to your advantage, and why are they so crucial?

You’ve probably noticed that the more coins you collect, the faster you seem to go. This isn't your imagination. In Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, coins directly influence your kart's maximum speed. The more coins you gather, the faster your kart becomes, though there’s a cap to this speed boost. By accumulating coins, you unlock incremental speed bonuses that can be the difference between first and second place. But there’s more to these shiny gold tokens than just speed.

The Mechanics Behind Coins

In Mario Kart, you can collect up to 10 coins in any given race. Once you've reached the limit of 10, any additional coins you pick up won't increase your speed further, but they can still serve a purpose—replenishing lost coins. When you get hit by an item (which is inevitable in Mario Kart), you lose some coins. This not only reduces your speed but also puts you at risk of falling behind. By picking up extra coins, you can maintain your momentum and stay competitive.

A Breakdown of How Coins Work in the Game:

1. Speed Boosts: Coins add a small but significant speed boost to your kart. For every coin you collect, you get a slight increase in your maximum speed, up to a cap of 10 coins.
2. Acceleration Impact: Collecting coins can also improve your acceleration, helping you get back up to top speed more quickly after slowing down.
3. Strategic Importance: On tougher tracks and in higher speed classes like 150cc or 200cc, having the full set of coins can be critical to maintaining your lead against skilled opponents.
4. Unlocking Customizations: Coins also serve another function in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe—unlocking vehicle parts. Every time you collect a certain number of coins across all races, you unlock new parts to customize your kart, including tires, gliders, and bodies. The more you collect, the more customization options you get.

This dual role of coins—enhancing your in-game performance and unlocking new items—adds an interesting layer of strategy to Mario Kart. So how should you be using coins effectively in your races?

How to Use Coins Strategically

Many players overlook the importance of coins, focusing instead on item boxes and racing lines. But here’s where a well-timed collection of coins can make all the difference.

Early Game Coin Collecting

At the start of the race, it's important to gather as many coins as possible, as quickly as possible. This is particularly true in the first lap, where everyone is vying for position. The faster you reach 10 coins, the sooner you’ll be operating at your kart’s full potential. Taking a slight detour to grab a few extra coins might seem like a risk, but it can pay off if it helps you reach your maximum speed ahead of the pack.

Middle of the Race: Balance and Risk Management

During the middle of the race, balancing between maintaining your speed and staying safe from attacks is key. While it’s tempting to hug the inside line for the shortest distance around corners, don’t ignore coins that are slightly off the optimal path. Additionally, after taking hits from opponents’ items, your first priority should be to recover lost coins. Look for opportunities to replenish them while maintaining your lead.

Late Game Strategy

In the final lap, coins become more about maintaining your lead than gaining a speed advantage. At this point, you should have a full set of 10 coins, which means your focus should shift to defense. If you lose coins from an item hit, quickly recover them to avoid dropping below 10, but don’t go out of your way to grab coins if it compromises your racing line or leaves you vulnerable to attack.

Coin Boxes

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe also introduced a new item: the Coin Box. This special item, available in some game modes, spills coins all over the track. If you're lucky enough to get one, make sure you grab as many as possible to not only boost your speed but also unlock more vehicle parts. Just be careful: other racers can also pick up the coins you drop, so don’t leave too many for your opponents!

Using Coins in Multiplayer and Time Trials

The importance of coins in multiplayer races can't be understated. When racing against human opponents, every small advantage counts, and having the full set of coins can give you that edge. In multiplayer, you’ll often find yourself in chaotic situations with frequent item hits, so being diligent about recovering lost coins can make the difference between maintaining your lead and losing it in the final stretch.

In Time Trials, coins are equally important. The best time trial racers optimize their routes to collect coins efficiently while maintaining the fastest possible racing lines. Top players will often restart a time trial if they don’t have 10 coins by the second lap, as they know this puts them at a disadvantage for setting record times.

Unlocking Parts with Coins

Beyond the immediate benefits in a race, coins also serve a long-term purpose in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe by unlocking customization parts. The more coins you collect, the more vehicle parts you unlock. Here’s a breakdown of how this works:

• Every 50 coins you collect unlocks a new vehicle part until you’ve unlocked a significant portion of the customization options.
• After collecting 500 coins, the rate slows down, and you’ll need 100 coins for each new unlock.
• Coins are cumulative across all game modes, so whether you’re playing Grand Prix, Time Trials, or Online Multiplayer, every coin you collect brings you closer to unlocking more parts.

Tip: If you’re looking to unlock parts quickly, consider playing in 50cc races, where the competition is less fierce, and you can focus on collecting coins without worrying as much about aggressive opponents.

Common Mistakes Players Make with Coins

Despite their importance, many players don’t use coins effectively. Here are some common mistakes:

1. Ignoring Coins Early: Some players focus too much on racing lines and forget to pick up coins in the first lap. This puts them at a disadvantage for the rest of the race.
2. Not Recovering Lost Coins: After getting hit by an item, it’s crucial to recover the lost coins quickly. Many players don’t prioritize this and end up losing out on the speed boost.
3. Underestimating Coins in Multiplayer: In online races, every small advantage counts. Ignoring coins can cost you a win, especially in higher-stakes races where everyone is evenly matched in skill.

Final Thoughts: Mastering Coins for the Win

Coins may seem like a minor aspect of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, but mastering their use can give you a significant edge. By understanding the mechanics behind them and developing a strategy for collecting and managing coins throughout the race, you can gain an advantage over your opponents. Whether you’re playing in casual races, intense multiplayer matches, or trying to set record times in Time Trials, don’t underestimate the power of coins.

With a little practice and attention to detail, you can use coins to boost your speed, unlock new customizations, and ultimately secure more victories on the track. Next time you fire up Mario Kart on your Switch, remember: every coin counts!