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. 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. 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 for Mario Kart Wii 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 trick types has no special requirements, though the second type is always used as a glider pad trick. The third type is only seen in anti-gravity segments.

It should be noted that 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. This is inaccurate, as tricks were never introduced in Mario Kart DS.

Trivia

 * The only character to not swivel and show their own face while performing a trick in Mario Kart 7 is Metal Mario.
 * Mario Kart 7 is the only game of the three where karts never preform a spin or a flip when a character does a trick off a normal ramp.