Mario Kart World makes major strides in making the core gameplay loop of Mario Kart more interesting. Some of the new interesting additions include new tracks, a full open-world to explore, and some brand new modes. The best mode in this new game is the Knockout mode, a series of connected races with 24 racers all competing to win. It’s a continuous race, and a ton of fun to play online. It even features split-screen support.
Surprisingly, it gets very challenging, especially if you want to be at the top by the end of the race. If you’re looking to get 3 stars in Knockout Tour, it won’t be easy. We’ll break down how the mode works, what you need to achieve 3 stars, and some pro-tips on increasing your chances of winning.
Mario Kart World: Knockout Tour Explained
The Knockout Tour is probably the most fun you can have on any Nintendo Switch 2 racing game. Unlike traditional Grand Prix races that consist of three laps on one track, the Knockout Tour is a continuous multi-stage race. The race takes place across different locations that feature multiple checkpoints throughout each map. At each checkpoint, a certain number of players are knocked out of the race.
There are generally five checkpoints between six continuous rallies, and the last four positions are knocked out. For example, in the first checkpoint, racers in the 21st to 24th range are knocked out. By the fifth checkpoint, you have to maintain 4th place or higher to stay in the tour. Then there’s the finish line, where the leader wins the tour.
How To Get 3 Stars In Knockout Tour
The game doesn’t give you explicit instructions on a scoring system in Knockout Tour. If you do want to get 3 stars, you will need to finish in first place at all six checkpoints throughout the entire tour. Essentially, you almost always want to stay in the lead. If you lose the lead through even one checkpoint, you won’t get 3 stars. Leading each checkpoint and winning the Knockout Tour will get you the 3 stars and the gold trophy. There should be some sort of in-game reward for such a major feat, but the game sadly gives you nothing.
As you can probably guess, it is easier said than done, especially if you’re playing with friends. Things can get very chaotic and competitive, so here are some tips that can help you get 3 stars:
- At the start, focus on nailing the boost and try to avoid the chaos at the back of the pack.
- Save items like Triple Mushrooms, Stars, and Golden Mushrooms for the final stretch of each checkpoint.
- Use shortcuts as much as you can. You’ll have to play the game a lot to memorize most of the shortcuts, so a few practice runs before Knockout Tour will help.
- When in the lead, use defensive items like Bananas, Green Shells, and the Super Horn
- A trick to avoid the Blue Shell is to use a Mushroom at the perfect time. Use it just before the Blue Shell hits to get a quick boost that will carry you away from the Blue Shell radius.
- Use new mechanics like the Charged Jump to gain boost, grinding on rails to gain speed, and collecting coins to increase top speed.
- Pairing heavy racers like Wario or Bowser with a high-speed kart is the way to go. This way, you’re less susceptible to getting knocked off course and have a higher chance of maintaining top speed for longer periods.
Easier Said Than Done
At the end of the day, Mario Kart is always going to be chaotic and unpredictable. Getting 3 stars in a Grand Prix isn’t always easy either, but achieving this in Knockout Tour is even more difficult. However, if you utilize the right mechanics, make good use of power-ups, and practice enough to memorize shortcuts, it is achievable.
