It’s undeniable that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe currently stands as the king of the kart-racers. With over 48 tracks (and counting), it boasts an impressive variety of places to burn some rubber and a wide selection of characters to take to the races.
But on top of that, it also features a crazy number of parts you can attach to your kart to improve the speed, acceleration, handling, weight, etc. With 61 customisable parts available at the time of writing, putting your kart together can be somewhat overwhelming; you may find yourself at a loss for how to find the best possible combination.
If you wish to get the full rundown on all the various pieces and how they work together, you can do so here.
Also, remember that none of these will transform you into an unstoppable god overnight magically. No matter how incredible a kart’s speed stat is, it’s not going to save you from the impending dread of an approaching blue shell.
To help you amp up and improve your racing game, we came up with these lovely Mario Kart 8 Deluxe combos.
Best combos in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
The Balanced Option
Wario/Scooty/Roller/Paper Glider
| Speed: 3.25. | Acceleration: 4.5. | Weight: 3. |
| Handling: 3.5. | Traction: 3.25. | Mini-turbo: 4.5. |
I’m putting this one in the top spot because this baby is mine.
The ever-reliable Wario/Scooty combo is what I’ve driven through various competitive tournaments and friend rooms, and it’s never let me down.
The great thing about this combo is that it covers all the bases. It boasts a strong weight stat while keeping its speed and acceleration pretty high, and it has a remarkable top speed in the air and underwater. There isn’t a single track where this combo doesn’t come out glowing.
But what I love about the Wario/Scooty is the agility. The Scooty is an incredible beast in the corners, and drifting to get those mini-turbos to pop just feels so satisfying. There’s no sense of drag and stiffness, which I cannot say for many of the following Mario Kart 8 Deluxe combos.
It could be said that this combo is a master of none, and sure while it does everything to a substantial level, it doesn’t excel in anything, but I prefer to see the Wario/Scooty as an excellent jack-of-all-trades.
I will also add that you can replace Wario with Waluigi to boost your mini-turbo stat. Still, I find the trade-off in handling not to be worth it, so this is for you to experiment with and then decide on, but either way, the results are super satisfying.
You will need to experiment with these combos to determine which one suits you best. And I believe that if you’re the kind of racer who likes to be in total control, slamming out mini-turbos on every tiny change in the track layout, then the Wario Scooty is absolutely for you.
Plus, if you’re not fond of driving with the somewhat obnoxious yellow man, you can always swap him out for Dry Bowser as the two characters have the same stats, but the Bone King has always felt a little too big for my screen. Like seriously, I struggle to see things coming at me because he takes up over half the screen.
But either way, this combo will provide you with an adrenaline-fuelled race.
The Competitive Meta
Waluigi/Wild Wiggler/Roller/Paper Glider
| Speed: 3.5. | Acceleration: 4.25. | Weight: 3. |
| Handling: 3.5. | Traction: 3.25. | Mini-turbo: 4.25. |
And here it is, the nightmare fuel of many a competitive player.
Suppose you’ve ever entered a high-level online lobby. In that case, you probably have experience seeing the track littered with very competitive, very angry Waluigi’s on Wigglers, and it’s a pretty terrifying experience. But there’s an excellent reason why this is a favourite among the try-hards of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe combos.
The most impressive thing about this combo and the reason it absolutely kills it in online lobbies is that it maintains an awe-inspiring top speed without sacrificing much of its mini-turbo stat. This means you can launch yourself to 1st place in next to no time with some good mini-turbo use and driving agility with no hopes of any lesser combos catching you.
It’s quite the vehicle, and the ride is very comfortable and reliable because the kart itself feels like a tank, and that’s probably the best word to use when talking about this thing. The Wiggler is a tanky ride which means it might take a little bit of adjusting if you’re used to more agile karts like my precious Scooty.
This is why I like to stick with the previous entry. While Wiggler may be a beast in a straight line, it does feel a lot stiffer in the corners, and once you’ve adjusted, that’s fine, but I never get the same level of satisfaction from driving this as I do the Scooty. The Scooty is much more agile, making it more of an involving experience for me personally.
I’ve always said that regardless of stats, a Mario Kart player should play with what feels the most fun for them because you’re never going to improve while playing a combo that you don’t find fun to drive, and I personally just don’t see this one as entertaining.
The Waluigi/Wiggler then is the inverse of the previous one. Scooty is for the player who likes to be involved in every moment, and this is for the gamer who wants to kick back and chill while they race—comfortably resting on their incredible top speed to come out on top.
Lookout; you will take your life in your hands if you decide to take this combo out on the online roads. Angry competitive players might choose to use you as target practice to satiate their hatred of this combo. After all, the higher you go in the competitive scene, the more of these things you’ll find, to the point that the Waluigi/Wigger is now just a punchline in the competitive community.
It is a very effective punchline, but a punchline nonetheless, and it’s essential for any list of top combos in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
You can also swap out the purple boy for Donkey Kong or Roy, which might be the safer option when playing online.
The Time-Trial Combo
???/Biddgybuggy/Roller/Peach Parasol
| Stats depend on the character |
We’re doing something slightly different here because there is no ‘one-fits-all’ combo for time trials (specifically 150cc time trials). Every track is different. Some like Excitebike are mainly straight Iines, while some like Yoshi Circuit are nothing but tight turns. You will need a drastically different approach to achieve maximum potential for these two examples.
My general rule is that if you’re facing a track with long stretches of straight road that you can chill and relax on, you’ll want a heavy character with a good weight stat to boost that top speed as high as possible. Whereas if you’re dealing with a twisty track where a lot of tight drifting is required, you’ll want a lighter character with less weight and a tremendous mini-turbo stat.
Feel free to go and check the top-time trial attempts on each track to determine what you’re going to need, and what you’ll most likely find is that most of them have a character sitting confidently in the Biddybuggy. This kart compliments both types of character weight perfectly, and it’s great no matter where you decide to challenge yourself.
While this kart does feature the same stats as my Scooty, it’s used a lot less in the online world as it boasts a much larger hitbox than the petite little bike, which isn’t great when you have angry projectiles whistling past your ears at all times. However, this hitbox is an advantage in time trials as it allows you far more room for error when doing those intricate tricks.
For these reasons, the Biddybuggy is the definitive time trial combo and the one you’ll typically find resting at the top of the leaderboards. It might not be for everyone, and I usually don’t recommend changing your combo to get a better time on a track as this makes everything you’ve learned somewhat unreliable when you return to your main. Still, if your main objective is to show a track who’s boss, then you can’t go wrong with the Biddybuggy.
The 200cc racer
Yoshi/Standard Bike/Roller/Flower Glider
| Speed: 2.5. | Acceleration: 4.75. | Weight: 2. |
| Handling: 4.25. | Traction: 4. | Mini-turbo: 4.75. |
I know all of you 200cc players will scream at me to replace the Biddybuggy with the Standard Bike, but this is a subjective list, and I find that this works better for my money.
There’s a solid meta in store for you, for those masochists who get a kick out of flying away at mach speed only to be put right back in your place by a turbo-charged red shell. I have adapted it slightly for this list to what I find works best for me, so feel free to adapt it yourself.
Now, as 200cc will have you blasting away at terminal velocity, you will have a more challenging time sticking to the track and making turns and cuts effectively. Top speed shouldn’t be your main priority, but good handling should be what you strive for.
For this reason, it’s best not to go for a super-heavy character in 200cc but instead to go for one that’s a little more balanced, and Yoshi (slash Princesses Peach and Daisy) fits the bill very well. Now the commonly accepted meta will have you driving in the Biddybuggy instead of my choice, but I’ll explain why I’ve adapted this combo in a moment.
200cc is fast enough, and you’ll find that the faster you go, the more challenging time you will have to stick to the track. This is a double-edged sword, and for sure, you’re going to be lightyears ahead of everyone, but you’re going to have to work damn hard not to fly off of every corner. Plus, no amount of top speed will numb the pain of having your speed killed by an angry red shell, so I prefer to prioritise acceleration in 200cc.
Putting Yoshi on the Standard Bike allows for great acceleration while not lowering the speed too much. The handling and traction are both excellent. Making those critical corners count will be much easier. Also, it has a solid mini-turbo stat, so the whole gang is here.
The only area in which this kart suffers is in its weight stat, but this is only a minor issue in 200cc because, as I say, your top speed is so incredible that a dip in the weight of your combo shouldn’t be a massive problem. It can even be an advantage when making cool-looking jumps off-road and such.
The big difference between the Standard Bike and the Biddybuggy here is that the latter is way more balanced and handles slightly better from my experience. But like I say, this is a subjective list, and you should feel free to experiment with your combos as much as you can to find what works.
The Beginner’s Meta
Metal Mario/Wild Wiggler/Roller/Paper Glider
| Speed: 3.25. | Acceleration: 4.75. | Weight: 3.5. |
| Handling: 3.75. | Traction: 3.5. | Mini-turbo: 4.25. |
This one is a heavy boy.
This combo isn’t massively different from the Waluigi variation, only really packing more power in the weight stat, but what makes this one stand out to me personally is the handling. This thing controls like a dream, and it’s a nice combo for when you’re starting your competitive career.
Now I said before that I’m not the biggest fan of Wiggler due to its tanky feel when cornering, and that still stands true here, but the increased weight and better handling make this selection work far better for me.
Experienced players may scoff as it’s not the strongest in an online room, but for getting you used to this combo and how it handles, especially if you plan to move up to putting Wario or Waluigi on the wiggly kart, you really can’t go wrong here.
We’ve all been bumped off the track by a bigger fish when going over a ramp. Well, that’s relatively unlikely when you’re packing as much weight as this bad boy. Plus, that boost in the weight stat is a significant advantage when facing off opponents as it will allow you to be large and in charge when driving overtricks and ramps with your enemies.
It does come with a few disadvantages, such as its handling underwater not being the most fantastic thing, and sure it doesn’t exactly boast the most outstanding top speed. Still, this is one of the perfect beginner meta combos in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and shouldn’t be ignored when choosing which weapon you want to enter the track with.
The Stylish Choice
Wario/Cat Cruiser/Roller/Bowser Kite
| Speed: 3.5. | Acceleration: 4.25. | Weight: 3.5. |
| Handling: 3.5. | Traction: 2.5. | Mini-turbo: 4.25. |
I am putting this one in here purely as a form of self-indulgence.
The Cat Cruiser is just a beautiful machine, and I adore driving this thing. And for strategic purposes, it’s not as bad as you might first expect. If you’re predominantly going for style, you can’t go wrong with this sexy beast.
It may suffer a bit in the traction department, but in every other way, the Cat Cruiser is such a versatile beast that covers all the bases wonderfully. Its stats are very similar to the Wild Wiggler (only packing an incredibly high style count), and it’s very balanced in top speed, weight, and acceleration.
You could say that this is one of those tanky vehicles that I claimed earlier that I didn’t enjoy so much, and you’d be right there, but the Cat Cruiser is what I first entered the competitive scene in and as such, I have a robust affinity with it. Plus, I feel this thing controls much more likeable than when Wario saddles himself in the Wiggler, and I’m not sure if that’s just me, but the handling on this feels so much smoother.
This might not fly in a competitive environment, but the Wario/Cat Cruiser for your casual worldwide is a beautiful change of pace that can easily keep up with the meta. Give it a shot, and you may be pleasantly surprised.
And those are the 6 Mario Kart 8 Deluxe combos.
As I said, these are not a ‘one-fits-all’ deal. You’ll still need to experiment to work out which one is best for you, and also, don’t limit yourself to just one combo if you find another one working out well.
Having multiple combos for different tracks and scenarios is the mark of a great competitive racer. It would be best to keep experimenting even when you find one that works for you.
Also, don’t be afraid to alter these combos to fit your driving style. Check out this kart builder to assess the stats for yourself and try out your creations on the track.
Happy racing, and good luck out there!