Battle Mode

Mario Kart Wii Guide - Battle Mode

Battle Mode

Battle mode is not a race, as the name implies. Rather, it's a battle. You use items in a deathmatch-type arena to destroy the other players.

There are two modes: Balloon Battle and Coin Runners. Each are basically the same, except in Coin Runners your goal is to collect the most coins (by beating them out of other players with items) and in Balloon Battle you just beat on each other with items to score points.

Both game types are team battles. Six on a side. They are fought in best-two-out-of-three rounds, where in order to win, you must win two matches total. In between each match, you get to choose a new track to battle on.

In Balloon Battle, if you are hit with an item, the other team gets a point. If you loose all three balloons, your team looses a point. In Coin Runners, coins randomly spawn across the map, or if you are hit with an item you drop some coins (therefore your team looses some coins and the opposing team has a chance to pick some up).

Item specials in Battle Mode

I'll put in a small blurb here. Some items have different effect in Battle Mode then they do in races.

- All weapons will NOT harm your team mates. However, your team mate can de-activate an item by running it over, it just wont hurt them.
- Items glowing with your teams color wont hurt you (see above).
- Bullet Bill and Blue Shells are non-existent.
- If you run into an opponent while boosting with a mushroom, you steal one of their balloons.
- Red Shells are much stupider, and will normally lock on to the enemy you aren't aiming for.
- Fake Item Boxes are actually useful as traps.
- Banana Peels (and pretty much everything) wont make for good shields anymore. Shells will now often come from the side.
- Lightning will still shrink everyone, but it wont take away a balloon. You have to run them over while they are shrunk.

On with the courses!

Block Plaza

Block Plaza

Map

Strategy:
Block Plaza is only really good if you have a lot of players. The top makes for a good drop on everyone, but down below will get you more hits. The items are pretty scarce, relative to the size of the stage. Watch the holes and don't try anything fancy around them. After a bit, the large statues on the upper platforms will lower into the ground, making even more holes.

Delfino Pier

Delfino Pier

Map

Strategy:
A very hard map to accomplish anything, really. Item boxes are really scarce and the rising tide makes the little island get smaller and smaller. After a minute or so in, the bridge to the upper level lowers, and the gates to the lower (northern) area open as well, expanding the field, but there is still a lack of item boxes. If you're in a low area, watch the tide!

Funky Stadium

Funky Stadium

Map

Strategy:
I really like this course. It's big, but not too big. It has plenty of item boxes if you can get to them, and all the tricks make it fun. Constantly trick off stuff to avoid being locked on to.

Chain Chomp Wheel

Chain Chomp Wheel

Map

Strategy:
I HATE this map. With very few item boxes and a huge rolling Chain Chomp taking up half the map, it's more of just a contest to see who can dodge the Chain Chomp the longest. If there was a map you could get negative scores on, this would be it.

Thwomp Desert

Thomp Desert

Map

Strategy:
15 seconds in, the Thwomp in the center of the stage drops. If you are under him, you get crushed. If not, the entire field starts the wave like the ocean. He will continue to drop every 45 seconds or so. The sand wants to pull you in, so controlling your kart can be hard. Stay on the outside to launch shells into the center, and fill the center up with traps. Also, you take damage if you touch the cacti on the outer rim.

SNES Battle Course 4

SNES Battle Course 4

Map

Strategy:
This course makes red shells all but useless. Green shells and bananas rule here. Set traps by item boxes. Don't forget that you can launch bananas and Bob-ombs over the walls. Don't fight the map too much, pick a row and go with it for a ways before changing.

GBA Battle Course 3

GBA Battle Course 3

Map

Strategy:
A very simple map. You'll use a lot of drifts to continually stay in the center. The walls really don't do much, so don't worry about them getting in your way. The center item box is often trapped, so watch out.

N46 Skyscraper

N64 Skyscraper

Map

Strategy:
Don't fall in the holes! You can jump over them, but only if you trick. I like to stay on the outer course going in circles, but you can get in the center and use that to launch attacks on the people in the outer edge.

GCN Cookie Land

GCN Cookie Land

Map

Strategy:
The center is always full of death, so stay in the outer rim. Red shells wont do much here, so just dumb fire them if you can. If you get a star or mushroom, make a quick trip to the inner rim where it should be easy to ram people.

DS Twilight House

DS Twilight House

Map

Strategy:
This level is much improved from the DS version, as it's easier to control your kart. There also seems to be more item boxes. This is best with large groups of people, as it could be hard to find someone even with a large group. Don't stay on the outer rim for too long, as you're liable to fall off. Use your map to see where everyone is so you don't get ambushed.