Basics of Drifting

Getting started with drifting is simple. While driving forward, press and hold the ZR button to perform a small hop. Tilt the joystick left or right as you hop, and your character will begin a drift. Release the ZR button to stop drifting. Here’s how to control your drift: Tight Drift: Tilt the joystick toward the turn to make your angle sharper. Wide Drift: Tilt the joystick opposite the turn for a wider angle. Neutral Drift: Release the joystick for a middle-ground angle. For sharp turns, use brake drifting, where you simultaneously hold the gas, brake, and drift buttons.

Mini Turbo Basics

Drifting builds up Mini Turbos; boosts released when you end a drift. There are three levels: Mini Turbo (MT): Blue sparks, and a short boost. Super Mini Turbo (SMT): Orange sparks, a longer boost. Ultra Mini Turbo (UMT): Magenta sparks, the longest boost. To charge higher-level Mini Turbos, focus on your joystick angle during drifts. Sharper angles charge faster but reduce speed, so balance is key.

Outward vs. Inward Drifting

Vehicles in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe fall into two categories: Outward Drifting Vehicles: Most karts and bikes. Start your drifts early and stay close to the inside of turns for tighter lines. Inward Drifting Vehicles: Includes sports bikes like the Yoshi Bike. These vehicles commit to turns with a tight initial cut but a wider overall radius. Start your drifts later and further outside. Outward-drifting vehicles generally outperform inward-drifting ones, but both have their uses.

Advanced Drifting Techniques

Neutral Drifting: Avoid tilting the joystick during a drift to maintain speed. Use this on long turns where speed is more important than Mini Turbos. Soft Drifting: Hold the joystick at a shallow angle (around 2 or 10 o’clock) to maximize Mini Turbo charge without sacrificing speed. Brake Drifting: Essential in 200cc, brake drifting keeps you on the track during tight turns. Hold the brake while drifting to reduce speed without losing control. Mid-Air Mini Turbo Charging: Drifting off ramps preserves momentum while continuing to charge Mini Turbos. Use this technique on courses like Rainbow Road and Water Park.

Practice and Perfect

Pick a track like Sweet Sweet Canyon in 200cc mode to refine your drifting skills and experiment with different angles and techniques. Try eliminating unnecessary “wiggle drifting” and focus on maintaining smooth, consistent lines. Drifting is a game-changer in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and these techniques will give you the edge in competitive play. 

Join HyperX’s weekly Mario Kart tournaments to put your skills to the test and share your favorite drifting tips in the comments. See you on the track!