Mario Kart Wii beginner guide: drifting, wheelies and tricks
Get faster in Mario Kart Wii: manual drifting and mini-turbos, bike wheelies, tricks, rocket starts and weight classes.
Original 2008 Wii release. Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection online play ended in 2014; fan-run servers and modified versions are outside this guide.
Manual drift and mini-turbos
Choose manual drift, hold the drift button into a corner and keep steering until blue sparks appear (and orange for karts), then release for a mini-turbo. Longer corners with karts can build a stronger boost.
Wheelies on bikes
Flick the controller upwards on a straight to pull a wheelie for extra speed. It cannot steer sharply and ends if you are hit or bump something.
Tricks and rocket starts
Flick the controller as you leave a ramp or bump to perform a trick and land with a boost. For a rocket start, press accelerate as the countdown's 2 appears.
Weight classes
Light, medium and heavy characters each use their own vehicles. Heavier characters hit harder and reach higher top speeds; lighter ones accelerate faster and recover quickly from hits.
Practise manual drifting in Time Trial on Luigi Circuit: there are no items or rivals to interrupt you.
Picture details
Game artwork belongs to its respective rights holders.