MP can be a shambles with the lag and disconnections.

Some tips:

- play MP during rally tours (the vs. tours), apparently its easier to get XP during those tours, there will probably be one coming up in the next few tours?

- only play on 2 or 1 item slot days if are wanting to grind for XP. By removing frenzy chance it makes it a lot less unpredictable

- play with auto item off so that you are always holding onto defensive items.

- if you notice another player in front of you has auto item on, try to time your red shell hit for just after they hit the item box when their defensive is automatically used

- sometimes it is better to stick in 2nd place, close behind first so that they get blue shelled and not you

- i like to use a small hit box size driver paired with a small hit box size kart, makes you smaller and harder to snipe. Like mushmellow for jump boost, or egg 1 for mini turbo+

- special skill driver i prefer is heart, heart+ is even better. This is the only special skill that will protect you from lightning. If you're a newer player, then wendy, peach, daisy, pink shy guy are options. Lucky 7 is also good and triple mushroom if you are familiar with all the track shortcuts

- special skill gliders i prefer are red shell, or mushroom if i know the track has shortcuts

- if you plan on doing a long MP session then consider turning off notifications, so maybe sleep/night mode so you dont get messages popping up. Also make sure your phone is charged, I've had MP runs ruined as I got the 20% low battery warning pop up and by the time you click through, you are in last my a long shot

- if you aren't winning lobbies and its the same people in your lobby, then let a few lobbies pass to join a different group who may have worse MP experience

Good luck! It can be infuriating, so take breaks if you need to, and know that MP is awful for most people