Intro: Master the Track with These Must-Know Tricks
Whether you're new to the track or getting back behind the wheel, Mario Kart on the Nintendo Switch 2 brings a lot of fresh mechanics and features. To stay competitive, you’ll need more than just luck and red shells. This guide breaks down the most essential tips and tricks to help you move from casual racer to front-of-the-pack finisher.
We’ll cover the most useful mechanics, including how to nail jump boosts, charged tricks, drift techniques, parkour moves, and even coin strategies. From customizing your cart to optimizing your corners, these tips will help you stay ahead of the competition in every race.
Let’s dive into the key strategies every player should know.
Mastering Jump Boosts and Charged Jumps
One of the easiest ways to gain speed in Mario Kart Switch 2 is by using jump boosts. Anytime you hit a ramp, bump, or ledge, press the drift button just before your kart leaves the ground. This triggers a jump trick that gives you a quick burst of speed when you land. It might not seem like much, but over the course of a race, these boosts add up and can be the difference between first and fourth place.
The game also introduces a new move: charged jumps. Instead of just tapping the jump button, you can hold it down while moving in a straight line with enough momentum. Your kart will rise much higher—even without a ramp—and grant you a stronger speed boost. You can also press the jump button multiple times while airborne to perform extra tricks and extend your boost duration. These mechanics give you more control over movement and help with navigating long stretches, gaps, or tricky shortcuts.
Use Terrain to Your Advantage: Wall Jumps and Riding
In Mario Kart Switch 2, environmental obstacles are no longer just things to avoid—they’re opportunities to gain speed. With proper timing, you can charged jump into objects like trucks, walls, or barriers. If the surface is long enough, follow up with another jump to kick off and get an extra burst of speed. This wall jump mechanic opens up new ways to navigate the track.
Even better, if you land a charged jump along a smooth or extended wall, you can wall ride for continuous movement and additional style points. This not only looks cool but can give you key shortcuts during complex sections. Mastering these parkour-like moves helps you maintain momentum while others might be slowing down.
Grinding Rails for Speed Boosts
Another advanced trick that’s easy to miss is rail grinding. Certain sections of the track include grindable rails, pipes, or ledges. You can ride onto these directly or use a charged jump to land on higher rails. Once grinding, your kart builds up a colored boost glow—blue, orange, or rainbow—indicating how strong your upcoming boost will be.
When you're ready, press the jump button to launch off the rail with a trick. The more glow you’ve built, the stronger your boost on landing. If the rail is straight, you can even tap jump repeatedly to trigger back-to-back boosts. Knowing how to grind and when to jump lets you use parts of the track others ignore, giving you more consistent speed throughout the race.
Nailing the Start Line Boost
Getting a quick launch off the starting line is still one of the most effective early-game moves. To trigger the start line boost, don’t hold the accelerate button right away. Wait until just after the countdown hits “2”, then hold down accelerate. If you time it right, your kart will shoot forward with a burst of flames out the back—putting you in a great position before the first turn.
A good trick to help with timing is to watch Lakitu, the character floating above with the race signal lights. As soon as he lowers his hand for “2,” that’s your cue to hit the accelerator. This method works on every race and gives you a strong opening before any items start flying.
Turn Off Smart Steering for Better Drifting
By default, smart steering is turned on in Mario Kart Switch 2. While it helps new players stay on the track, it actually limits your ability to pull off advanced techniques—especially maximum drift boosts. With smart steering enabled, you can't hit the highest level of drift boost, which means you're losing valuable speed on every turn.
To turn it off, press the + button during a race or in free roam, then press X to access settings. Toggle smart steering off from there. It might feel harder at first, but once you're used to manual control, your racing will become noticeably faster. With full control, you can take tighter corners and hold longer drifts, maximizing your momentum.
Perfecting Drifts and Using Brake Drifting
Drifting is at the heart of every competitive Mario Kart strategy. When approaching a turn, always initiate your drift on the inside line—this is the shortest path around the corner. Hold the drift to build up your boost. You’ll cycle through blue, then orange, and finally rainbow sparks. Releasing the drift at the rainbow stage gives you the strongest speed boost available.
For sharper turns or high-speed CC levels, use brake drifting by lightly pressing the B button while holding a drift. This helps you stay on track during intense corners. Mastering this technique is crucial for advanced play and can give you a serious edge when navigating complex circuits.
Why Coins Matter More Than You Think
Coins may seem like small extras, but in Mario Kart Switch 2, they play a big role in helping you win. First, collecting coins increases your top speed—the more you gather, the faster your kart can go, with 20 coins being the maximum. Second, each time you grab a coin, you get a tiny speed boost, making every single one valuable during close races.
Lastly, coins contribute to unlocking new characters, carts, and customization items. You can collect them on the track or inside item boxes. If you’re in the top 3 positions, you’ll often receive coins from item boxes instead of weapons. If that happens, it’s smarter to hold the coin item until you hit the next box—doing so improves your chance of getting a more powerful item next.
Use Slipstreams and Off-Road Boosting
One underrated way to pass opponents is with a slipstream. By tailing another racer closely for a few seconds, your kart will catch their draft and automatically speed up, letting you slingshot past them. It’s especially effective during straight sections or right before a finish line.
Off-road terrain like grass or sand normally slows you down, but using a mushroom boost lets you cut through these areas without losing speed. To get even more from this move, tap the drift button right before using your mushroom to jump into the rough area. You’ll maintain better momentum and gain a larger advantage during shortcuts.
Understand Character and Kart Stats
Customization in Mario Kart Switch 2 has been simplified. There's no more wheel or glider selection—instead, your kart’s performance is based on two core factors: your character and your kart. Each character has unique stats, primarily based on weight class, which affects speed, acceleration, and handling.
The karts themselves also vary in stats, such as top speed, off-road capability, and mini-turbo strength. You can press Y on the selection screen to view detailed stats for each build. Experiment with different combinations to find the setup that matches your racing style. Whether you prefer light and nimble or heavy and fast, the right combo can improve both your performance and comfort on the track.
Practice and Explore Free Roam for Better Skills
Mario Kart Switch 2 is packed with features, tracks, and mechanics to master. One of the best ways to improve is by using the free roam mode. It’s perfect for testing out new character/kart combos, learning the layout of new tracks, and practicing advanced tricks like grinding, wall riding, and tight drifting without the pressure of a race.
The game offers more content and complexity than any previous entry, so take time to explore everything. Find your rhythm, get used to the new mechanics, and don’t be afraid to switch things up. The more time you spend learning outside of competitive races, the more confident and skilled you’ll be when it counts.
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