Inside Drift vs. Outside Drift

Before diving into specific tips, it’s important to understand the core differences between inside and outside drift in Mario Kart games. Outside drifting vehicles, such as karts, take wider arcs when initiating drifts, giving them a smoother transition between turns. This makes outside drift vehicles easier to control, especially for beginner and intermediate players.

On the other hand, inside drift is exclusive to certain bikes and has a much sharper turn radius when drifting. This means you can take corners much tighter, giving you an advantage on tracks with many turns. However, it also means inside drift bikes require more precision to use effectively — a small mistake can easily send you crashing into walls or flying off the track.

In Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, inside drift bikes are sometimes referred to as “hybrid drift” bikes by professional players because their drift mechanics are not as extreme as in previous titles like Mario Kart Wii. This hybrid drift model means that while inside drift bikes retain their tight cornering abilities, they feel slightly different, with a slower initiation of the drift compared to their Mario Kart Wii counterparts.

Available Inside Drift Bikes in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

In Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, there are five inside drift bikes available. These bikes are:

1. Comet
2. Sport Bike
3. Jet Bike
4. Yoshi Bike
5. Master Cycle

Each of these bikes offers slightly different stats, but they all share the characteristic of inside drift. Players who prefer taking tighter turns and controlling the race from the inside line will enjoy using these bikes, but there is a learning curve to mastering them.

Maximizing Mini-Turbos with Inside Drift Bikes

Mini-turbos are a core mechanic in Mario Kart, giving you a burst of speed after executing a drift. The longer you hold the drift, the bigger the boost, with Ultra Mini-Turbos being the most powerful version. For inside drift bikes, maximizing mini-turbos is especially important because their natural ability to take tighter corners allows for frequent drifts.

Here are some tips for optimizing mini-turbos while using inside drift bikes:

1. Brake Drifting for Tighter Turns

One of the most essential techniques for inside drift bikes is brake drifting. Because these bikes tend to turn extremely sharply, especially in 200cc mode, you’ll need to use the brake while drifting to prevent overshooting the turn. This helps you maintain control, especially on tracks with tight curves like Neo Bowser City or Cheese Land. By tapping the brake intermittently while holding your drift, you can keep your line tight and charge up a mini-turbo without losing too much speed.

When aiming for Ultra Mini-Turbos, it’s essential to hold the drift for as long as possible before releasing. Inside drift bikes make this easier because they allow you to take the corner tighter, meaning you can maintain the drift for longer stretches.

2. Initiating Drifts Later

With inside drift bikes, it’s often more beneficial to start your drift slightly later than you would with an outside drifting vehicle. This allows you to fully capitalize on the tighter turning radius, minimizing the risk of overshooting the turn and wasting time correcting your line. Starting the drift later helps you maximize the drift length, building up your mini-turbo more efficiently.

3. Track Familiarity Is Key

Some tracks in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe are better suited for inside drift bikes, while others can be much more challenging. Tracks like Rainbow Road and Grumble Volcano require extremely precise control due to their sharp turns and narrow paths, making them more difficult for inside drift bikes. Meanwhile, tracks like Toad’s Turnpike or Mario Circuit offer more opportunities for smooth drifting.

Knowing the layout of the track and identifying where you can maximize your mini-turbos is critical when using an inside drift bike. Tracks with a lot of tight corners are where you’ll shine, as inside drift allows you to take those corners with minimal speed loss.

4. Be Wary of Boost Pads and Mushrooms

While mini-turbos are a key part of your strategy with inside drift bikes, you need to be cautious when using boost pads or mushrooms on tight corners. Inside drift bikes are less forgiving when it comes to sudden speed boosts, especially when already navigating sharp turns.

One way to handle this extra speed is by hopping or braking before using the mushroom or boost pad. This technique helps you realign with the track and avoid flying off. Additionally, try to time your mini-turbos for after the boost, so you don’t overwhelm your control of the bike.

Handling Tight Turns and Weird Camera Angles

Inside drift bikes offer greater control in tight turns, but they can also present challenges in terms of camera angles and visibility. In tracks with sharp turns, such as Dragon Driftway or Neo Bowser City, the camera may give you a more limited view of the upcoming track as your bike takes the corner extremely tight. This can make it difficult to see what lies ahead, leading to mistakes.

To counter this, make sure you know the track inside and out. Memorize where the corners and hazards are so you can anticipate them even when the camera view is less than ideal. Practicing on Time Trials is a great way to become more familiar with the camera’s behavior on each track.

Avoiding Rapid-Fire Hop

One disadvantage of inside drift bikes is that rapid-fire hopping — a technique often used by kart users to recover from off-track mistakes — is much less effective. If you find yourself in a bad situation, such as approaching the edge of the track or flying off the course, rapid-fire hopping won’t save you like it might on an outside drifting vehicle.

Instead, rely on your braking and alignment skills to avoid mistakes before they happen. If you’re about to lose control, letting go of the A button or hitting the brakes may prevent you from falling off the track, but reacting quickly is key.

Inside Drift in Competitive Play

In professional Mario Kart 8 Deluxe play, inside drift bikes are not as commonly used as they were in earlier games like Mario Kart Wii, where they dominated most time trials. The hybrid drift mechanic in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe makes them slightly less powerful compared to outside drifting bikes and karts.

That said, there are still world record times set by inside drift bikes, notably on Toad’s Turnpike. While these bikes may not be as universally dominant as they were in earlier iterations, they are still highly effective on the right tracks, especially in 200cc mode.

Conclusion

Inside drift bikes in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe offer a unique and rewarding way to play the game, especially for players who value control and tight cornering. By mastering techniques like brake drifting and managing mini-turbos effectively, you can unlock the full potential of these bikes and give yourself a significant edge in races.

While they may take some getting used to, once you’ve mastered inside drifting bikes, you’ll be able to navigate tracks with precision and dominate in the trickiest corners. Whether you’re looking to set personal bests or compete online, these bikes provide an exciting challenge for any Mario Kart enthusiast.