Mario Kart World Introduces New Way To Stop Dreaded Blue Shells

The upcoming Mario Kart World for Nintendo Switch 2 has a lot of massive changes, including a new way to stop those pesky Blue Shells. A Nintendo Treehouse stream on Thursday gave fans a closer look at the game and revealed the reappearance of the classic Mario Kart item that gives players an additional movement option. This power-up might help players avoid the dreaded Blue Shell if they use it correctly.

During the Nintendo stream (around timestamp 9:20), the Treehouse employees showcasing the game got to use the returning Feather item in gameplay. In one instance, during a Grand Prix race, they attempted to use the Feather's hopping ability to dodge an impending Blue Shell. The timing was off, and the attempt was unsuccessful, but it demonstrated that dodging the Blue Shell with the Feather is a possibility in Mario Kart World. However, timing is going to be crucial to make sure you hop away in time to avoid any lead-ending catastrophes.

What Else Is New In Mario Kart World?

Bringing New Characters, Items, And Modes To Mario Kart

Mario Kart World is a radical revamp of the classic kart racing franchise. The Switch 2 title includes new game modes like Knockout Tour, a series of elimination races where players must finish in a certain position to progress to the next round. There's also a Free Roam mode that allows players to explore the game's large open world, even off-road. New features like rail grinding, wall jumping, and kart transformations add new ways to maneuver in any race.

Every Mario Kart World Course Confirmed (So Far)

We just got our first extended look at Mario Kart World, some of the new courses in the game, and some old favorites that have been fully remade.

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There are also a few new power-up items, like bags of food, a classic Mario block filled with coins, and a deadly hammer-tossing ability. Eagle-eyed fans will notice Nabbit and a Chargin' Chuck driving around one of the tracks as new characters, but one of the cows from Moo Moo Meadows is undoubtedly the stand-out racer. With large 24-character races and so many racers to choose from, there could be even more new characters announced soon, particularly during the upcoming Mario Kart World Direct on April 17.

The More Ways To Stop Blue Shells, The Better

Keeping First Place Is The Game's Main Priority

While all of these new features are great, stopping those Blue Shells during a tense race is a big priority for many players. The return of the Feather, which only appeared in Super Mario Kart and the Battle Mode of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, is a big plus for the game. However, it is not the only way to keep those blue, spiky life-ruiners at bay. Racers have employed many tricks to hang on to the coveted first place spot.

One of the best ways to avoid the Blue Shell in Mario Kart 8 was having a Super Horn item on hand. This was probably the most reliable way to stop the shell, as you can activate it while it swirls over you, destroying the pesky projectile. A trickier way in past games to keep first is to gain an invincibility frame to avoid it. You can hit yourself with a banana or other item and gain invincibility for a few seconds. If you time it right, this can be a great way to avoid danger.

There is also the mushroom dodge, a tricky maneuverwhere you have to have perfect timing to use a mushroom boost and avoid the shell's impact. Other methods include simply falling off the map, allowing the shell to miss you, or ramming into course hazards to gain that invincibility glitch. WithMario Kart World, it seems the Feather is there to help you skip out on a Blue Shell attack and is likely your most handy option to do so.