Rocket Start

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Not to be confused with Start Dash or Rocket Kart.
Official LINE sticker for Mario Kart 8.
LINE sticker of Mario performing a Rocket Start
“Be patient, drivers! If you tap the screen too early, you'll fail the Rocket Start and be at a disadvantage.”
Lakitu, Mario Kart Tour

A Rocket Start (also referred to as a Rocket Boost,[1] Turbo Start,[2] Boost Start,[citation needed] or Head Start[citation needed]) is a technique used in the Mario Kart series as well as the racing games of the Donkey Kong franchise, such as Diddy Kong Racing. It is a powerful burst of speed that occurs at the beginning of every race, and it easily accelerates racers to top speed from standing still.

History[edit]

Mario Kart series[edit]

The start of the race at Ninja Hideaway in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
The flames coming out of the vehicle's exhaust pipes determine the strength of the Rocket Start, as demonstrated by a Mii riding on a Pipe Frame in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

In the Mario Kart series, the Rocket Start technique is executed by holding the acceleration button at the correct time in the starting countdown, with each game having different timing to do so, although the general timing of the technique in most games is to press the button sometime when the number 2 or equivalent appears onscreen. If the player holds the button too early and over-revs when the final beep sounds, the player's vehicle will backfire and stall for a few seconds at the beginning of the course (sometimes known as a Dud Start[citation needed] or Fail Start[citation needed]).

When 2 appears onscreen, that's means you're ready to Rocket Start.
The technique can be used by holding A Button or Y Button while 2 appears onscreen in Mario Kart 7.

Since Mario Kart DS, the strength of the Rocket Start depends on the power of the rev at the moment before GO! (START in Mario Kart DS) appears onscreen. For example, if the player starts to rev the engine when the countdown reaches 2, depending on when the player started to hold down the acceleration button when 2 was onscreen, the duration of the technique can be roughly between 0.5 and two seconds, indicated by the flames coming out of the exhaust pipes of the vehicle (ink when the player drives the Inkstriker or Splat Buggy, magic when the player drives Kamek's Zoom Broom or its variants, and soda when the player drives the Combo Cruiser). In other words, if the player starts to rev right at the moment the countdown reaches 2, the resulting launch from the starting grid would be longer than if the player started to rev half a second after the 2 came onscreen. In Mario Kart Tour, in addition to the technique from previous games, releasing the tap when GO! appears onscreen (due to auto-accelerate permanently being enabled) results in the Rocket Start being longer and awarding more bonus points than usual, with the character's "item success" animation indicating a longer boost. A bonus challenge called Ready, Set, Rocket Start grades players on how many points they earned for the Rocket Start.

To perform a Rocket Start, drivers must press and hold the corresponding acceleration button when the race is about to begin. How and when to use it depends on which installment in the series and which control scheme the player uses.

Game Control Timing Failure
Super Mario Kart Hold B Button Right as the beep sound from the first light stops The kart's tires do a burnout, and it accelerates slowly at the start.
Mario Kart 64 Hold A Button or tap it three times in sync with the lights When the light turns blue The kart's tires do a burnout with no forward movement.
Mario Kart: Super Circuit Hold A Button Halfway between the second yellow light and the blue light The kart accelerates slowly at the start.
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! Hold A Button or tap it in time with the lights When the light turns green The kart's rear wheels do a burnout, preventing movement for a few seconds.
Mario Kart DS Hold A Button When the number "2" starts fading The kart's engine backfires and stalls for a second or two.
Mario Kart Wii With Wii Wheel or Wii RemoteTwo Button

With Classic ControllerClassic Controller a Button

With GameCube ControllerA Button

With Wii Remote and NunchukA Button

Mario Kart 7 Hold A Button or Y Button When the number "2" fully appears
Mario Kart 8 With Wii U GamePad/Wii U Pro ControllerA Button, Y Button, or Classic Controller Right Stick (tilt forward)

With Wii Wheel or Wii Remote – Two Button

With Wii Remote and Nunchuk – A Button

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe / Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit With horizontal Joy-ConSingle Joy-Con Right Button

With Dual Joy-Con or Nintendo Switch Pro ControllerA Button

Mario Kart Tour Hold finger on the screen and release before "GO!" appears Before or as the number "2" fully appears

In Mario Kart Arcade GP, Rocket Starts are performed the same as in Mario Kart: Super Circuit and Mario Kart: Double Dash!! In Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 and Mario Kart Arcade GP DX, they are performed by pressing down on the accelerator when "1" appears on the screen.

In Mario Kart Tour, a number of karts have the Rocket Start Plus special skill, which increases boosting time and points from Rocket Starts. These karts are shown in the following table:

Special skill Karts
Rocket Start Plus icon from Mario Kart Tour
Rocket Start Plus
Increases Rocket Start boost time and points earned for performing one.
+30 points
Koopa Dasher from Mario Kart TourGreen Kiddie Kart from Mario Kart TourBullet Blaster from Mario Kart TourBull's-Eye Banzai
+50 points
White Royale from Mario Kart TourRed Turbo Yoshi from Mario Kart TourBlue Seven from Mario Kart TourBirthday Girl Daisy from Mario Kart TourLight-blue Turbo Yoshi from Mario Kart TourFlame Flyer from Mario Kart TourBarrel Train from Mario Kart TourLight-blue Turbo Birdo from Mario Kart TourRambi Rider from Mario Kart Tour
+80 points
Quickshaw from Mario Kart TourGhost Ride from Mario Kart TourCheermellow from Mario Kart TourRed B Dasher from Mario Kart TourKarp Kart from Mario Kart TourSweet Daytripper from Mario Kart TourSports Coupe from Mario Kart Tour.Gold Snow Skimmer from Mario Kart TourIron Cucumber from Mario Kart TourOrange Streamliner from Mario Kart TourJet Cruiser from Mario Kart TourSunny Surf Sailer from Mario Kart TourClassic B Dasher Mk. 2 from Mario Kart TourMetal B Dasher Mk. 2 from Mario Kart TourGold Pumpkin Kart from Mario Kart TourLunar Cruiser from Mario Kart TourGray Cat Cruiser from Mario Kart TourSneeker from Mario Kart TourStar Broom from Mario Kart TourFirefly from Mario Kart TourCoconut 1 from Mario Kart TourGoo-Goo Buggy from Mario Kart TourWhite Fast Frank from Mario Kart TourTropical Truck from Mario Kart TourWatermelon Kart from Mario Kart TourChocolate Banana Minibus from Mario Kart TourThe Gold Double-Decker from Mario Kart TourThe Gold Eagle from Mario Kart TourThe Holiday Speeder from Mario Kart TourWild Gold from Mario Kart TourThe Rainbow Taxi from Mario Kart TourGold 8-Bit Pipe Frame from Mario Kart TourGold Paintster from Mario Kart TourGold Comet from Mario Kart TourGold Cupid's Arrow from Mario Kart TourThe Gold Warrior Wagon from Mario Kart TourGold Wild Slugger from Mario Kart TourGold Soft Swerve from Mario Kart TourThe Gold Monarch Kart from Mario Kart TourGold Train from Mario Kart TourGold Cheep Snorkel from Mario Kart TourKoopa King from Mario Kart Tour.Pirate Sushi Racer from Mario Kart TourBlack Dozer from Mario Kart TourBlack Penguin Slider from Mario Kart TourPurple Bunny from Mario Kart TourCact-R from Mario Kart TourSakura Hop Rod from Mario Kart TourWhite Turbo Birdo from Mario Kart TourGreen-Yellow Capsule Kart from Mario Kart TourThe Gold Trickster from Mario Kart TourThe Gold Bruiser from Mario Kart TourThe Gold Fish Bone Ferry from Mario Kart TourGold Pipes from Mario Kart Tour

Donkey Kong franchise[edit]

The following table shows the controls required to perform a Rocket Start in racing games of the Donkey Kong franchise.

Game Control Timing Result Failure
Diddy Kong Racing Press A Button As soon as the words "Get Ready" have almost completely faded If the A Button is sustained, turquoise fire and black smoke will appear. If the A Button is released and then pressed again, green fire and rainbow smoke will appear. The vehicle accelerates slowly at the start.
Diddy Kong Racing DS Press A Button As soon as the word "Go!" appears onscreen
Donkey Kong Barrel Blast Shake Wii Remote and Nunchuk simultaneously Right as the word "Start!" appears onscreen The player may either accelerate slowly or jump by accident.

Paper Mario: Color Splash[edit]

In Paper Mario: Color Splash, the Rocket Start is used by Luigi in his Standard Kart before he transports Mario and Huey up the rainbow to Black Bowser's Castle near the end of the game. It uses Mario Kart 8's chimes.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie[edit]

The opening of The Super Mario Bros. Movie shows Stuart from the Despicable Me series revving up the kart engine at the starting line before backfiring as the Illumination logo lights up. The kart then goes very fast as if the Rocket Start had succeeded after Stuart hits the kart.

Double Dash[edit]

Double Dash
The Double Dash in action at Mushroom Bridge

A type of Rocket Start, the Double Dash,[3] can be performed only in the co-op play mode of Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, and it is named after the game's subtitle. Both players must press A Button at the same time when the three red lights on Lakitu's starting signal turn green to perform this technique, which launches the kart at a higher speed. Blue flames follow the kart, showing that the technique was performed correctly.

Profiles[edit]

Mario Kart 64[edit]

  • Instruction booklet: When you start, if you press the A Button Button when the signal changes from red to blue, you can make a dash start at maximum speed (called a "Rocket Start"). But if you press too early, the tires will spin and you will start even slower, so be careful.

Mario Kart: Super Circuit[edit]

It has been requested that this section be rewritten and expanded to include more information. Reason: which electronic manual is being quoted in this section? The one for the Wii U Virtual Console release, or the one for the Nintendo 3DS Ambassador Program release?

  • Instruction booklet: If you press the A Button button at just the right moment before the light turns green, you'll start the race with a huge burst of speed.
  • Electronic manual: When the race is starting, if you press on the accelerator after the second signal flashes--and with just the right timing--you will perform a Rocket Start and shoot off the starting line.

Mario Kart: Double Dash!![edit]

  • Instruction booklet (Rocket Start): If you press A Button just as Lakitu's start signal turns green, you'll perform a Rocket Start.
  • Instruction booklet (Double Dash): In co-op play you can get an even better launch if both the front and rear perform a Rocket Start at the same time. This is called a Double Dash.

Mario Kart DS[edit]

  • Instruction booklet: During the countdown to the start, hold A Button down with the right timing to rev up your engine and give yourself a burst of speed off the starting line.

Mario Kart Wii[edit]

  • Instruction booklet: Press and hold Two Button at just the right time during the countdown to rev up your engine and give yourself a burst of speed off the starting line.

Mario Kart 7[edit]

  • Electronic manual: If you press and hold Y Button or A Button at just the right time during the starting countdown, you will launch off the starting line much faster than normal.

Mario Kart 8[edit]

  • Electronic manual: Get off to a Rocket Start! To launch from the starting grid at a high speed, press and hold A Button at just the right moment during the countdown.
  • Guide: Timing a perfect Rocket Start can determine the whole nature of a Grand Prix race's first lap, and this technique is essential for posting record-breaking Time Trials. When Lakitu begins the countdown, start accelerating when "2" is on screen and the second red light is lit. If this is well timed, you'll have a perfect Rocket Start.
  • Play Nintendo: Wait for the countdown timer to hit “2” at the start of the race, and then hold down the accelerator button. You’ll blast off the starting line![4]

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe[edit]

  • In-game manual: Get off to a Rocket Start! To launch from the starting grid at a high speed, press and hold A Button at just the right moment during the countdown.
  • Guide: Timing a perfect Rocket Start can determine the whole nature of a Grand Prix race’s first lap, and this technique is essential for posting record-breaking Time Trials. Pay attention to Lakitu’s countdown, and begin accelerating immediately after the “2” appears onscreen, accompanied by a tone. Properly done, you’ll rocket off the line with a Mushroom-like boost. If you begin accelerating too soon, as the tone sounds and the 2 appears, rather than just after, you’ll stall at the starting line.

Mario Kart Tour[edit]

  • Tips & Tricks: At the race's start, tap the screen and hold on 2, then release at GO to take off with a Rocket Start! The closer you are to GO when you release, the longer your dash will last and the more bonus points you'll get. But be careful... You'll stall if you tap too early!
  • FYI! (From Ready, Set, Rocket Start): Tap and hold the screen when the countdown reaches 2, release at GO for a Rocket Start!

Nintendo Extra[edit]

  • At the start of a race, hold the accelerator button when the countdown reaches “2” to perform a Rocket Start! Get the timing right and you’ll zoom off the start line much faster than usual!

Gallery[edit]

Mario Kart series[edit]

Donkey Kong racing games[edit]

Other[edit]

Names in other languages[edit]

Rocket Start[edit]

Language Name Meaning
Japanese ロケットスタート
Roketto Sutāto
Rocket Start

Chinese 火箭起步
Huǒjiàn Qǐbù
Rocket Start

Dutch Superstart (Mario Kart 7)
Raket Start
Super Start
Rocket Start
French Départ turbo
Départ canon
Turbo Start
Rocket Start
German Raketenstart
Rocket Start
Italian Partenza a razzo
Rocket Start
Korean 스타트 대시
Seutateu Daesi
Start Dash

Portuguese (NOA) Saída turbo
Largada Foguete[5]
Turbo Start
Rocket Start
Portuguese (NOE) Inicio a Jato
Rocket Start
Russian Быстрый старт
Bystryy start
Fast Start

Spanish Turbosalida (since Mario Kart 7)
Salida rapida
Turbo Start
Fast Start

Double Dash[edit]

Language Name Meaning
Japanese ダブルダッシュ
Daburu Dasshu
Double Dash

French Double Dash
-
Italian Double Dash!!
-
Spanish (NOE) Doble Carrera
Double Dash

References[edit]

  1. ^ M. Arakawa. Mario Kart 64 Player's Guide. Pages 12, 32, 36, 44, 47, 48, 52, 56, 76, 79, 80, and 91.
  2. ^ Mario Kart: Super Circuit instruction booklet. Page 26.
  3. ^ Mario Kart: Double Dash!! instruction booklet. Page 13.
  4. ^ 5 ways to kart faster. Play Nintendo. Archived August 10, 2021, 00:45:58 UTC from the original via Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  5. ^ Mario Kart 64 Brazilian instruction booklet. Page 19.