MK64 Tactics

This page is under construction.

Racing Tactics used in the world of Mario Kart 64 time trials competition. This page is a must-read before moving on to the course specific strategies, as it will provide the necessary building blocks for understanding more complicated strategies. This page will explain in detail everything you need to know about Mario Kart 64 game physics, and make it easier for you to spot the small mistakes in your runs. All tactics on this page are for non-shortcut, unless noted otherwise.

Controls

Acceleration (A button) and Brakes (B button)

For non-shortcut, always press A and never press B, no exceptions.

Shrooming (Z button)

Hopping/Sliding (R button)

AB-spinning (A+B+left/right while standing still)

Can be used in combination with a Rocket Boost, or in combination with a shroom or shroomslide if you are not moving when you shroom (shortcut only). Press down+left/right while AB spinning to do a reverse-AB-spin (shortcut only).

Reverse (B+down)

Shortcut only.

Change view (C-up)

Switch between zoomed in and zoomed out.

Dashboard (C-right)

Switch between course map, speedometer, and big progress-rectangle.

Basic Tactics

Weight Class

• All 3 lightweights are identical. Lightweights have faster speed, faster acceleration, and faster off-road speed than middleweights and heavyweights.
• The 3 lightweights and Bowser are the only 4 karts with fast acceleration ability.
• Always use a lightweight (Toad, Peach, or Yoshi), except...

  Exception

  Wario Stadium shortcut flap: Use Bowser.

Rocket Boost

• To get a speed boost at the beginning of a race:
  • Press and hold A after the 2nd red light finishes dimming, and before the blue light is halfway lit up.
    • You have 10 frame (1/3 second) time frame to press A, but earlier is better.
• To save an extra .01 (known as Everettstart):
  1. Start holding A much earlier (before Lakitu gets into position).
  2. Release A before reaching the aforementioned 10 frames. Then press A again during those 10 frames, as you would for a normal rocket boost (again, earlier is better).
  3. The less time you spend releasing A is better.
     • If you release A too soon, you wipe out with gray smoke. If you release A too late, you wipe out with orange smoke.
• As when shrooming, sliding is faster, so typically you want to start a slide as soon as possible, and then either MT or shroom at the end of the rocket boost.
  • If you need to turn sharply at the beginning of a race (e.g. FS or YV), do a quick AB-spin before starting the slide.
• If you need to go in reverse at the beginning of a shortcut race (e.g. FS or DK), do a reverse-AB-spin.