Editing Rocket Start

{{distinguish|Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit#Karts{{!}}Rocket Kart}}
[[File:MK8-Line-Mario-Start.gif|thumb|upright=1.4|[[LINE]] sticker of [[Mario]] performing a Rocket Start]]
{{quote|Be patient, drivers! If you tap the screen too early, you'll fail the Rocket Start and be at a disadvantage.|Lakitu|Mario Kart Tour}}

A '''Rocket Start''' (also referred to as a '''Rocket Boost''',<ref>M. Arakawa. ''Mario Kart 64'' Player's Guide. Pages 12, 32, 36, 44, 47, 48, 52, 56, 76, 79, 80, and 91.</ref> '''Turbo Start''',<ref>''Mario Kart: Super Circuit'' instruction booklet. Page 26.</ref> '''Boost Start''',{{ref needed}} '''Head Start''',{{ref needed}} '''Start Dash''',{{Ref needed}} or '''starting dash'''{{Ref needed}}) is a technique used in the [[Mario Kart (series)|''Mario Kart'']] series as well as the racing games of the [[Donkey Kong (franchise)|''Donkey Kong'']] franchise, such as ''[[Diddy Kong Racing]]''. It is a powerful burst of speed that occurs at the beginning of every race, and it easily accelerates racers to top speed from standing still.

==History==
===''Mario Kart'' series===
[[File:Ninja Hideaway Race Start MK8 Deluxe.jpg|thumb|The flames coming out of the vehicle's exhaust pipes determine the strength of the Rocket Start, as demonstrated by a [[Mii]] in ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]''.]]
In the ''Mario Kart'' series,  the Rocket Start technique is executed by holding the acceleration button at the correct time in the starting countdown, with each game having different timing to do so, although the general timing of the technique in most games is to press the button sometime when the number '''2''' or equivalent appears onscreen. If the player holds the button too early and over-revs when the final beep sounds, the player's vehicle will backfire and stall for a few seconds at the beginning of the course (sometimes known as a '''Dud Start'''{{ref needed}} or '''Fail Start'''{{ref needed}}).

[[File:MK7RocketStartReady.jpg|left|thumb|The technique can be used by holding {{button|3ds|A}} or {{button|3ds|Y}} while '''2''' appears onscreen in ''Mario Kart 7''.]]
Since ''[[Mario Kart DS]]'', the strength of the Rocket Start depends on the power of the rev at the moment before '''GO!''' ('''START''' in ''Mario Kart DS'') appears onscreen. For example, if the player starts to rev the engine when the countdown reaches '''2''', depending on when the player started to hold down the acceleration button when '''2''' was onscreen, the duration of the technique can be roughly between 0.5 and two seconds, indicated by the flames coming out of the exhaust pipes of the vehicle (ink when the player drives the [[Inkstriker]] or [[Splat Buggy]], magic when the player drives [[Kamek's Zoom Broom]] or its variants, and soda when the player drives the [[Combo Cruiser]]). In other words, if the player starts to rev right at the moment the countdown reaches '''2''', the resulting launch from the [[finish line (object)|starting grid]] would be longer than if the player started to rev half a second after the '''2''' came onscreen. In ''[[Mario Kart Tour]]'', in addition to the technique from previous games, releasing the tap when '''GO!''' appears onscreen (due to auto-accelerate permanently being enabled) results in the Rocket Start being longer and awarding more [[Point|bonus points]] than usual, with the character's "item success" animation indicating a longer boost. A bonus challenge called [[Ready, Set, Rocket Start]] grades players on how many points they earned for the Rocket Start.
{{br}}
To perform a Rocket Start, drivers must press and hold the corresponding acceleration button when the race is about to begin. How and when to use it depends on which installment in the series and which control scheme the player uses.

{| border="1" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2 align="center" style="background:#ffffbb; color:black; text-align:center" width=75%
|-
!colspan="1" style="background:gold"|Game
!colspan="1" style="background:gold"|Control
!colspan="1" style="background:gold"|Timing
!colspan="1" style="background:gold"|Failure
|-
|''[[Super Mario Kart]]''||Hold {{button|snes|B}}||Right as the beep sound from the first light stops||The kart's tires do a burnout, and it accelerates slowly at the start.
|-
|''[[Mario Kart 64]]''||Hold {{button|n64|A}} or tap it three times in sync with the lights||When the light turns blue||The kart's tires do a burnout with no forward movement.
|-
|''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]''||Hold {{button|gba|A}}||Halfway between the second yellow light and the blue light||The kart accelerates slowly at the start.
|-
|''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]''||Hold {{button|gcn|A}} or tap it in time with the lights||When the light turns green||The kart's rear wheels do a burnout, preventing movement for a few seconds.
|-
|''[[Mario Kart DS]]''||Hold {{button|ds|A}}||rowspan="2" |When the number "2" starts fading||rowspan="6" |The kart's engine backfires and stalls for a second or two.
|-
|''[[Mario Kart Wii]]''||With [[Wii#Wii Wheel|Wii Wheel]] or [[Wii#Wii Remote|Wii Remote]] – {{button|wii|2}} 

With [[Wii#Classic Controller|Classic Controller]] – {{button|wii|cca}} 

With [[Nintendo GameCube#Nintendo GameCube Controller|GameCube Controller]] – {{button|gcn|A}}

With Wii Remote and [[Wii#Nunchuk|Nunchuk]] – {{button|wii|A}}
|-
|''[[Mario Kart 7]]''||Hold {{button|3ds|A}} or {{button|3ds|Y}}||rowspan="3" |When the number "2" fully appears
|-
|''[[Mario Kart 8]]''||With [[Wii U#Wii U GamePad|Wii U GamePad]]/[[Wii U#Wii U Pro Controller|Wii U Pro Controller]] – {{button|wiiu|A}}, {{button|wiiu|Y}}, or {{button|wii|CCStickR}} (tilt forward)

With Wii Wheel or Wii Remote – {{button|wii|2}}

With Wii Remote and Nunchuk – {{button|wii|A}}
|-
|''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]'' / ''[[Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit]]'' || With horizontal [[Nintendo Switch#Joy-Con|Joy-Con]] – {{button|switch|jc-right}}

With Dual Joy-Con or [[Nintendo Switch#Nintendo Switch Pro Controller|Nintendo Switch Pro Controller]] – {{button|switch|A}}
|-
|''[[Mario Kart Tour]]''||Hold finger on the screen and release before "GO!" appears||Before or as the number "2" fully appears
|}

In ''[[Mario Kart Arcade GP]]'', Rocket Starts are performed the same as in ''Mario Kart: Super Circuit'' and ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'' In ''[[Mario Kart Arcade GP 2]]'' and ''[[Mario Kart Arcade GP DX]]'', they are performed by pressing down on the accelerator when "1" appears on the screen.

[[File:DoubleDash-MKDD.png|thumb|upright=1.1|The Double Dash in action at [[GCN Mushroom Bridge|Mushroom Bridge]]]]
A type of Rocket Start, the '''Double Dash''',<ref>''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'' instruction booklet. Page 13.</ref> can be performed only in the co-op play mode of ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]'', and it is named after the game's subtitle. Both players must press {{button|gcn|A}} at the same time when the three red lights on [[Lakitu (Mario Kart referee)|Lakitu]]'s starting signal turn green to perform this technique, which launches the kart at a higher speed. Blue flames follow the kart, showing that the technique was performed correctly.

In ''Mario Kart Tour'', a number of karts have the [[Special skill (Mario Kart Tour)#Rocket Start Plus|Rocket Start Plus]] special skill, which increases boosting time and points from Rocket Starts. These karts are shown in the following table:
{|class="wikitable"style="text-align:left"width=1000px
!width=40%|Special skill
!width=60%|Karts
{{:Special skill (Mario Kart Tour)|transcludesection=Rocket Start}}
|}
{{br}}

===''Donkey Kong'' franchise===
The following table shows the controls required to perform a Rocket Start in racing games of the ''Donkey Kong'' franchise.
{| border="1" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2 align="center" style="background:wheat; color:black; text-align:center" width=75%
|-
!colspan="1" style="background:#9C6936"|Game
!colspan="1" style="background:#9C6936"|Control
!colspan="1" style="background:#9C6936"|Timing
!colspan="1" style="background:#9C6936"|Result
!colspan="1" style="background:#9C6936"|Failure
|-
|''[[Diddy Kong Racing]]''||Press {{button|N64|A}}||As soon as the words "Get Ready" have almost completely faded||rowspan="2"|If the A Button is sustained, turquoise fire and black smoke will appear. If the A Button is released and then pressed again, green fire and rainbow smoke will appear.||rowspan="2" |The vehicle accelerates slowly at the start.
|- style="background:#FFF8DC"
|''[[Diddy Kong Racing DS]]''||Press {{button|DS|A}}||As soon as the word "Go!" appears onscreen
|-
|''[[Donkey Kong Barrel Blast]]''||Shake {{button|wii|Wiimote}} and {{button|wii|Nunchuk}} simultaneously||Right as the word "Start!" appears onscreen|| ||The player may either accelerate slowly or jump by accident.
|}

===''Super Mario Galaxy''===
[[File:SMG Freezeflame Frosty Cosmic Luigi Race.png|thumb|left|[[Luigi]] preparing for a Start Dash]]
At the beginning of a [[Cosmic Mario]] or Cosmic Luigi race in ''[[Super Mario Galaxy]]'', if the player holds {{button|wii|Stick}} up, then {{button|wii|Z}} when the timer reaches "2," and then hits {{button|wii|A}} just as the race starts, [[Mario]] or [[Luigi]] will get an extra boost at the beginning of the race. This can be shown by a yellow color appearing on Mario or Luigi, shrinking gradually, showing the end of the speed boost.
{{br}}

===''Mario & Sonic'' series===
{{Rewrite-expand|section=yes|Include starting dash in other events from other ''Mario & Sonic'' entries}}
[[File:M&S Start Dash.png|thumb|[[Mario]] preparing to do a Start Dash]]
In ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games]]'', the Start Dash is used at the beginning of a [[Athletics|track]] event. In the [[Wii]] [[Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii)|version]], players hold down the {{button|wii|B}} button to build up the energy of their character. Once the "GO" sign appears on the screen, releasing the button and swinging the {{button|wii|wiimote}} downward will make the racer rocket out of the blocks. In the [[Nintendo DS]] [[Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Nintendo DS)|version]], holding the {{button|ds|Stylus}} down on the touch screen will charge up the energy and releasing will activate the speed boost.

===''Paper Mario: Color Splash''===
In ''[[Paper Mario: Color Splash]]'', the Rocket Start is used by [[Luigi]] in his [[Standard Kart]] before he transports [[Mario]] and [[Huey]] up the rainbow to [[Black Bowser's Castle]] near the end of the game. It uses ''Mario Kart 8''{{'}}s chimes.

===''The Super Mario Bros. Movie''===
The opening of ''[[The Super Mario Bros. Movie]]'' shows {{wp|Minions (Despicable Me)|Stuart}} from the ''{{wp|Despicable Me}}'' series revving up the kart engine at the [[Finish line (object)|starting line]] before backfiring as the [[Illumination]] logo lights up. The kart then goes very fast as if the Rocket Start had succeeded after Stuart hits the kart.

==Profiles==
===''Mario Kart 64''===
*'''Instruction booklet:''' ''When you start, if you press the {{button|n64|A}} Button when the signal changes from red to blue, you can make a dash start at maximum speed (called a "Rocket Start"). But if you press too early, the tires will spin and you will start even slower, so be careful.''

===''Mario Kart: Super Circuit''===
{{rewrite-expand|section=y|which electronic manual is being quoted in this section? The one for the Wii U Virtual Console release, or the one for the Nintendo 3DS Ambassador Program release?}}
*'''Instruction booklet:''' ''If you press the {{button|gba|A}} button at just the right moment before the light turns green, you'll start the race with a huge burst of speed.''
*'''Electronic manual:''' ''When the race is starting, if you press on the accelerator after the second signal flashes--and with just the right timing--you will perform a Rocket Start and shoot off the starting line.''

===''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!''===
*'''Instruction booklet (Rocket Start):''' ''If you press {{button|gcn|A}} just as Lakitu's start signal turns green, you'll perform a Rocket Start.''
*'''Instruction booklet (Double Dash):''' ''In co-op play you can get an even better launch if both the front and rear perform a Rocket Start at the same time. This is called a Double Dash.''

===''Mario Kart DS''===
*'''Instruction booklet:''' ''During the countdown to the start, hold {{button|ds|A}} down with the right timing to rev up your engine and give yourself a burst of speed off the starting line.''

===''Mario Kart Wii''===
*'''Instruction booklet:''' ''Press and hold {{button|wii|2}} at just the right time during the countdown to rev up your engine and give yourself a burst of speed off the starting line.''

===''Mario Kart 7''===
*'''Electronic manual:''' ''If you press and hold {{button|3ds|Y}} or {{button|3ds|A}} at just the right time during the starting countdown, you will launch off the starting line much faster than normal.''

===''Mario Kart 8''===
*'''Electronic manual:''' ''Get off to a Rocket Start! To launch from the starting grid at a high speed, press and hold {{button|wiiu|A}} at just the right moment during the countdown.''
*'''Guide:''' ''Timing a perfect Rocket Start can determine the whole nature of a Grand Prix race's first lap, and this technique is essential for posting record-breaking Time Trials. When Lakitu begins the countdown, start accelerating when "2" is on screen and the second red light is lit. If this is well timed, you'll have a perfect Rocket Start.''
*'''[[Play Nintendo]]:''' ''Wait for the countdown timer to '''hit “2”''' at the start of the race, and then '''hold down''' the accelerator button. You’ll blast off the starting line!''<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210810004558/https://play.nintendo.com/news-tips/tips-tricks/5-ways-kart-faster/ ''5 ways to kart faster'']. ''Play Nintendo''. Archived August 10, 2021, 00:45:58 UTC from the [https://play.nintendo.com/news-tips/tips-tricks/5-ways-kart-faster/ original] via Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 1, 2023.</ref>

===''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''===
*'''In-game manual:''' ''Get off to a Rocket Start! To launch from the starting grid at a high speed, press and hold {{button|switch|A}} at just the right moment during the countdown.''
*'''Guide:''' ''Timing a perfect Rocket Start can determine the whole nature of a Grand Prix race’s first lap, and this technique is essential for posting record-breaking Time Trials. Pay attention to Lakitu’s countdown, and begin accelerating immediately after the “2” appears onscreen, accompanied by a tone. Properly done, you’ll rocket off the line with a Mushroom-like boost. If you begin accelerating too soon, as the tone sounds and the 2 appears, rather than just after, you’ll stall at the starting line.''

===''Mario Kart Tour''===
*'''Tips & Tricks:''' ''At the race's start, tap the screen and hold on 2, then release at GO to take off with a Rocket Start! The closer you are to GO when you release, the longer your dash will last and the more bonus points you'll get. But be careful... You'll stall if you tap too early!''
*'''FYI! (From [[Ready, Set, Rocket Start]]):''' ''Tap and hold the screen when the countdown reaches 2, release at GO for a Rocket Start!''

===[[Nintendo Extra]]===
*''At the start of a race, hold the accelerator button when the countdown reaches “2” to perform a Rocket Start! Get the timing right and you’ll zoom off the start line much faster than usual!''

==Gallery==
===''Mario Kart'' series===
<gallery>
MK64 Rocket Start.png|''[[Mario Kart 64]]''
MKSC Rocket Start.png|''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]''
MKDD Rocket Start.png|''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]''
MKDS rocket start.png|''[[Mario Kart DS]]''
MKW Rocket Start.png|''[[Mario Kart Wii]]''
MKW Fail Start.png|''Mario Kart Wii'' (Fail Start)
WaluigiStadiumAGP2BeginRace.png|''[[Mario Kart Arcade GP 2]]''
Rocket Start MK7.png|''[[Mario Kart 7]]''
Rocket Start (Mario Kart 7 First Person).jpg|''Mario Kart 7'' ([[First-Person View]])
MKAGPDX Rocket Start.png|''[[Mario Kart Arcade GP DX]]''
MK8 Twisted Mansion Rocket Start.jpg|''[[Mario Kart 8]]''
Rocket Start MK8 Deluxe.jpg|''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]''
MKT Rocket Start.png|''[[Mario Kart Tour]]''
MKT Icon Rocket Start.png|''Mario Kart Tour'' (Rocket Start Plus)
MKT 115CB.png|''Mario Kart Tour'' (Rocket Start Badge)
</gallery>

===''Donkey Kong'' racing games===
<gallery>
DKR Rocket Start.png|''[[Diddy Kong Racing]]''
DKBB Rocket Start.png|''[[Donkey Kong Barrel Blast]]''
DKRDS Rocket Start.png|''[[Diddy Kong Racing DS]]''
</gallery>

===Other===
<gallery>
PMCS Black Bowser's Castle take off.png|''[[Paper Mario: Color Splash]]''
</gallery>

==Names in other languages==
===Rocket Start===
{{foreign names
|Jap=ロケットスタート
|JapR=Roketto Sutāto
|JapM=Rocket Start
|Chi=火箭起步
|ChiR=Huǒjiàn Qǐbù
|ChiM=Rocket Start
|Dut=Superstart <small>(''Mario Kart 7'')</small><br>Raket Start
|DutM=Super Start<br>Rocket Start
|Fre=Départ turbo<br>Départ canon
|FreM=Turbo Start<br>Rocket Start
|Ger=Raketenstart
|GerM=Rocket Start
|Ita=Partenza a razzo
|ItaM=Rocket Start
|Kor=스타트 대시
|KorR=Seutateu Daesi
|KorM=Start Dash
|PorA=Saída turbo<br>Largada Foguete<ref>''Mario Kart 64'' Brazilian instruction booklet. Page 19.</ref>
|PorAM=Turbo Start<br>Rocket Start
|PorE=Inicio a Jato
|PorEM=Rocket Start
|Rus=Быстрый старт
|RusR=Bystryy start
|RusM=Fast Start
|Spa=Turbosalida <small>(since ''Mario Kart 7'')</small><br>Salida rapida
|SpaM=Turbo Start<br>Fast Start
}}

===Double Dash===
{{foreign names
|Jap=ダブルダッシュ 
|JapR=Daburu Dasshu
|JapM=Double Dash
|Fre=Double Dash
|Ita=Double Dash!!
|SpaE=Doble Carrera
|SpaEM=Double Dash
}}

==References==
{{NIWA|FZeroWiki=1}}
<references/>

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