Jump Boost

A Trick (also called Stunt) is a technical move that first appeared in Mario Kart Wii. After being launched off of most ramps, or driving up the edge of the stage, characters can perform tricks. After performing a trick, the player will get a speed boost. If launching off of boost panels, karts flip horizontally while bikes flip vertically if using the Up or Down controls. Tricks can also be executed on Rainbow Ramps. Many basic tricks include the character looking backwards and waving or wagging their feet, but more notable tricks include Yoshi sticking out his tongue, King Boo shrinking and laughing, or Funky Kong's one-handed upside down flip.



Tricks reappeared for Mario Kart 7, with the same kind of properties and can be activated by pressing while going over a ramp, however, players can't spin or flip at all when performing one. It was also known as Jump Boost, which is shown on the e-manual.



Unlike Tricks in Mario Kart Wii, Mario Kart 7 has only 2 variations of a stunt per character. With the exception of Metal Mario, each character in Mario Kart 7 has at least one animation of them facing the screen, while the other animation doesn't (for Metal Mario's case, however, both of his animations show him not facing the screen, making him the only character with this trait). For example, Luigi has 2 stunts, the first being an animation of him punching the air, and the second being Luigi flailing his arms about. In Mario Kart Wii, however, Luigi has 6 stunt animations, 3 for bikes and 3 for karts. All stunts for each character can be seen below.

Tricks reappear in Mario Kart 8. This time, there is a new sound effect when a character performs one. There are a total of six tricks for each character; three types of them for karts, as well as bikes and ATVs. Two of the three trick types have no special requirements, though the second type is always used as a glider pad trick. The third type is only seen at certain anti-gravity segments. Tricks are known as Jump Boosts in the stats screen (in version 2.0 and later).

In an American commercial for the Nintendo DS, the game Mario Kart DS is featured in a CG animation where Mario is performing a trick over a ramp, even though the first game to introduce tricks is a later game, Mario Kart Wii.