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Guide: How To Win And Get 3 Stars In Mario Kart World’s Grand Prix

The Grand Prix format returns to Mario Kart World with a twist. In this guide, we will be outlining the changes made to Grand Prix, and show you how you can win and get three stars in every cup in Mario Kart World.

Grand Prix format

Grand Prix features a grand total of eight cups, with each cup having four courses each. The last cup, Special Cup, is unlocked after you beat all seven cups.

Race formats have changed in Grand Prix in Mario Kart World. In previous titles, players have to race 3 laps in each course. In Mario Kart World, you’ll race 3 laps only in the first course. For the second, third, fourth courses, the route connecting the previous and next course makes up 2 laps, with the final lap taking place in the actual course.

An intermission takes place after the end of the final lap of each course – this is where points are tallied depending on the player’s position.

To better visualize this, here’s an example for Mushroom Cup:

Mushroom Cup

  • Course 1, Lap 1 – Mario Bros. Circuit
  • Course 1, Lap 2 – Mario Bros. Circuit
  • Course 1, Lap 3 – Mario Bros. Circuit

Intermission (points are tallied for each player)

  • Course 2, Lap 1 – Mario Bros. Circuit to Crown City route
  • Course 2, Lap 2 – Mario Bros. Circuit to Crown City route
  • Course 3, Lap 3 – Crown City

Intermission (points are tallied for each player)

  • Course 3, Lap 1 – Crown City to Whistletop Summit route
  • Course 3, Lap 2 – Crown City to Whistletop Summit route
  • Course 3, Lap 3 – Whistletop Summit

Intermission (points are tallied for each player)

  • Course 4, Lap 1 – Whistletop Summit to DK Spaceport route
  • Course 4, Lap 2 – Whistletop Summit to DK Spaceport route
  • Course 4, Lap 3 – DK Spaceport

Points are rewarded to players depending on where they finish in the race. Here is the point distribution list:

PositionPoints Rewarded
1st15
2nd12
3rd10
4th - 5th9
6th - 7th8
8th - 9th7
10th - 12th6
13th - 15th5
16th - 18th4
19th - 21st3
22nd - 23rd2
24th1

Speed Classes

Similar to prior entries in the Mario Kart series, there are multiple speed classes in Grand Prix.

Currently, the 50cc, 100c, and 150cc speed classes have been confirmed. The higher the speed, the faster the karts are and the higher the CPU difficulty is.

Previous Mario Kart titles featured Mirror Mode (unlocked after beating all cups in 150cc) and 200cc in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. It is currently unclear whether these modes are present in the game, but we will update this guide once more information becomes available.

How to win in Grand Prix

In order to win in Grand Prix, you must finish first in every race. This means getting 15 points and crossing the finish line in every third lap at first place, for a total of 60 points in each cup.

Here are some tips and strategies to achieve this:

  1. Always aim to maintain your position in first place. Play defensively by ensuring you have items such as bananas, green shells, Bob-ombs, and Super Horns to fend off attacks from other players
  2. Max out your coins (20 coins) early in the race
  3. Get as much Dash Food as you can and use them strategically to pull off shortcuts
  4. Besides drifting and jump tricks, wall ride and rail ride as much as you can. These techniques can help you to dodge obstacles on routes and speed boost

How to get 3 Stars in every cup

Getting 3 stars in every Grand Prix cup is critical for 100% completion in Mario Kart World. You need to get 60 points in every cup by finishing first in every race in order to achieve 3 stars. This means that if you fail to finish first in even one race, you will not get 3 stars for that cup.

You don’t have to do this for every speed class, though – for example, getting 60 points in 150c Mushroom Cup unlocks 3 stars for 50cc, 100cc, and 150cc, and getting 60 points in 100cc Special Cup unlocks 3 stars for 50cc and 100cc.

What’s the reward for getting 3 stars in all speed classes and cups in Grand Prix?

Currently, the reward for getting 3 stars in all Grand Prix speed classes and cups is unknown, but we’ll update this guide once more information becomes available.

Conclusion

We hope you found this guide helpful. Don’t forget to check out our other Mario Kart World guides below:

Iggy

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