You’ve probably come across those brown kettleball icons scattered around the map in City Trial mode. Weight isn’t just another stat in Kirby Air Riders, and while it may seem complicated at first, it really isn’t once you understand it.
So let’s dive in below as I walk you through the Weight stat and how it works.
The Speed Multiplier You Didn’t Expect
Adding weight to your machine actually makes you faster. Sounds weird, right? However, weight works with Top Speed patches as a multiplier, so when you stack both, the boost gain is even bigger.
This is why pros always make weight a core part of any machine built for speed; it’s not just an extra, it’s essential.
Improved Braking And Handling Grip
Weight power-ups significantly improve your braking power and overall stability. This may sound like a basic upgrade, but it really holds its ground in precision racing. Better braking ability and grip on the track come with Weight patches.
However, that extra weight also makes it harder to decelerate. When paired with Turn power-ups, you can compensate for reduced turn ability. So plan and don’t ignore that brown kettleball power-up when you see one.
Combat By Ram
Weight impacts your ramming power, and damage hit when we talk about the offensive. The heavier you are, the harder you hit, and having more weight means you’ll do more damage, knocking out enemies and item boxes faster.
It’s actually a huge help in City Trial, where almost everyone is scrambling around for rare loot. So having those Weight patches means you can snatch up contested boxes before your rivals — boosting your stats and always keeping you a step ahead in the game.
Gliding Trade-off
It’s not all happy boosts with Weight, though; it’s a bit of a double-edged sword. On one hand, it brings all those boosts we talked about. But on the other hand, it drags down your Lift stat, in turn making holding altitude and gliding harder.
You’ll notice that machines built around Weight will often struggle in High Jump or Glide Stadium events. However, Weight provides fight stability. So if you’re bouncing off bumps and losing control easily, that extra Weight smoothens out your trajectory and keeps you grounded.
On tracks with those rolling air hills like in Drag Race 3, a little Weight actually helps glide down the line consistently, without bouncing.
Knockback Impact & Defense Patch
Suppose you’re looking to cut down on knockback when hit, pairing Weight with Defense power-ups is the way. When paired with high HP and Defense, you’ve suddenly got a tanky build that eats up any focused attacks and just plows through the storm.
No more getting tossed all over the place during Derby matches — reduce the knockback impact.
Finding The Balance
To sum it up in a nutshell, Weight isn’t a stat you should neglect. It holds a vital part of any Air Rider Machine, but you shouldn’t just pile on it either. Stack on it if you’re chasing a combat or speed-focused build, and leave it out when you want to become a glide specialist.
The best riders understand this tradeoff and adjust their approach accordingly on the track. A little Weight keeps just about any machine steady, but go overboard, and you’ll lose the air control that high-glide machines thrive on.
