The Art of Braking in Mario Kart 8
I‘ll never forget the first time I fired up Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on my Nintendo Switch. As a longtime fan of the series, I smashed the A button and shot off the starting line, only to crash face-first into the first turn. Without braking, I didn‘t stand a chance at even the earliest corners of Mushroom Cup.
Little did I know that mastering brakes would be critical to success in Mario Kart. Learning when to tap, hold, and release the B button enables tighter turns, faster classes, and above all – victory.
The Mechanics: How to Brake in Mario Kart 8
Simply put, braking is done by pressing the B button on your Switch controller. But like drifting, what sets the greats apart is technique – knowing precisely when and how long to brake. Here‘s an overview:
- Light tap: A quick depress of the B button slows you moderately to make minor adjustments in trajectory.
- Hard press: Holding B longer activates stronger braking for sharper redirects and to prevent overshooting corners.
- Release timing: Letting go of B at the right moment will slingshot you into and out of turns.
The effect also depends on the speed class. The faster the CC, the longer and stronger you‘ll need to brake:
| Speed Class | Braking Distance |
|---|---|
| 50cc | 12 feet |
| 100cc | 25 feet |
| 150cc | 40 feet |
| 200cc | 60 feet |
As the table shows, 150 and 200cc require significantly more braking anticipaton and strength to compensate for the high speeds.
Advanced Technique: Drift Braking
Experienced Mario Kart players may have encountered "drift braking" before. It‘s a pivotal skill for navigating sharp corners efficiently.
As you drift into a tight turn, tap the B button to slow down without losing mini-turbo momentum. Time the brake release to coincide with exiting the drift, and you‘ll maintain the boost speed even on complex corners!
Pro drift brakers can tackle twisted sections nearly 30% faster than merely letting go of acceleration. Cuts precious seconds off any cup run.
The Need for Braking by Speed Class
Simply put, braking becomes more integral the faster your engine class is:
- 50cc: Minimal braking needed
- 100cc: Occasional braking around sharp bends
- 150cc: Frequent light braking required
- 200cc: Utilize brakes constantly, including on straightways
Compare a straightforward track like Mario Circuit below:
| Speed Class | Braking Points |
|---|---|
| 50cc | 2 points |
| 100cc | 3 points |
| 150cc | 5 points |
| 200cc | 7+ points |
As demonstrated above, braking ramps up enormously when jumping to 200cc. You‘ll brake nearly everywhere to tame the intense speeds.
Additional Braking Strategies
Besides basic cornering, braking comes into play with other key MK8 techniques:
- Straightaway braking in 200cc – Tap brakes even on straights to prevent dangerously fast speeds.
- Bump braking – Many tracks have bumps and ramps that launch you skyward. Apply brakes right after to avoid overshooting turns.
- Drift exit control – Lightly brake at the end of drifts to avoid skidding wide.
Learning when to integrate braking will transform perilous sections into smooth sailing.
Just weeks after my crash-filled Mario Kart beginnings, I now breeze through the sharpest 200cc corners thanks to braking mastery. No turn fazes me!
Hopefully this guide has demystified braking for you as well. Experiment with light and hard braking until finding the right ‘feel‘ for each track. Brave 150 and 200cc with smart braking points. And don‘t forget those advanced drift and exit techniques.
Now grab your controller and get ready to brake new records on the raceway! Just don‘t smash into the first turns.
