Rocket Start
- Not to be confused with Start Dash.
Rocket Start (also referred to as Turbo Start, Boost Start, or Head Start) 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 each and every race, which easily accelerate racers to top speed from standing still. It is executed by holding the acceleration button at the correct time in the starting countdown, with each game having different timing to do so. If the player holds the button too early and over-revs when the final beep sounds, the player's vehicle will stall for a few seconds at the beginning of the course (sometimes known as a Dud Start or Fail Start).
Starting from Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, a Rocket Start can also be performed during a Battle Mode.
Strength
In Mario Kart DS, the player can achieve a much stronger boost than normal by beginning to hold 
roughly 0.25 seconds after the countdown reaches 2. If done correctly, the kart will rev higher than usual.
Since Mario Kart Wii, the strength of the Rocket Start depends on the power of the rev is currently at the moment before GO! appears onscreen. For example, if the player starts to rev 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 half a second to two seconds long, indicated by the flames coming off of the exhaust pipes of the vehicle.
Controls
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.
Mario Kart series
| Game | Control | Timing | Failure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Super Mario Kart | Hold  |
Between first and second lights | Kart's tires spin and accelerates slowly at the start |
| Mario Kart 64 | Hold  or tap it three times in sync with the lights |
When the light turns blue | Kart's tires spin with no forward movement |
| Mario Kart: Super Circuit | Hold  |
When the light turns green | Kart accelerates slowly at the start |
| Mario Kart: Double Dash!! | Hold or tap  |
Sparks appear between tires and ground and kart does not move | |
| Mario Kart DS | Hold |
When number "2" starts fading | Kart's engine backfires and stalls for a second or two |
| Mario Kart Wii | With Wii Wheel or Wii Remote –  With Classic Controller  With GameCube Controller – With Wii Remote and Nunchuck – 
| ||
| Mario Kart 7 | Hold  or  |
When the second beep sounds | |
| Mario Kart 8 | With Wii U GamePad/Wii U Pro Controller–  ,  or  (tilt forward) With Wii Wheel or Wii Remote – With Wii Remote and Nunchuck –
|
Arcade series
- Mario Kart Arcade GP – Same as Mario Kart: Super Circuit and Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, but with the gas pedal.
- Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 and Mario Kart Arcade GP DX - Pressing down on the accelerator when "1" appears on the screen, or same as Mario Kart: Super Circuit and Mario Kart: Double Dash!!.
Donkey Kong franchise
| Game | Control | Timing | Failure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diddy Kong Racing | Press |
As soon as the words "Get Ready" has almost completely faded | Vehicle accelerates slowly at the start |
| Diddy Kong Racing DS | Press |
As soon as the word "Go" appears onscreen | |
| Donkey Kong Barrel Blast | Shake the  and  simultaneously |
Right as the word "Start" appears onscreen | The player may either accelerate slowly or jump by accident |
Double Dash!!
The Double Dash!! is a technique that can be performed only in the co-op play mode of Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, which is named after the game's subtitle. Both players must press at the same time when the light turns green to perform this technique, which will make the kart be launched at a higher speed. Blue flames will follow the kart, showing that the technique was performed correctly. This move's control is slightly different to that of a normal Rocket Start.
Official descriptions
Mario Kart 64
- Instruction booklet: "When you start, if you press the 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
- Instruction booklet: "If you press the button at just the right moment before the light turns green, you'll start the race with a huge burst of speed."
Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
- Instruction booklet (Rocket Start): "If you press 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
- Instruction manual: "During the countdown to the start, hold down with the right timing to rev up your engine and give yourself a burst of speed off the starting line."
Mario Kart Wii
- Instruction manual: "Press and hold 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
- Digital manual: "If you press and hold or at just the right time during the starting countdown, you will launch off the starting line much faster than normal."
Mario Kart 8
- Digital manual: "Get off to a Rocket Start! To launch from the starting grid at a high speed, press and hold 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."
Gallery
- Rocket Start (Mario Kart Super Circuit).png
- Rocket Start (Mario Kart Double Dash!!).png
- Rocket Start (Mario Kart Wii).png
Mario Kart 7 (First-Person View)
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Names in other languages
Rocket Start
Double Dash!!
Trivia
- 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.
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