Weight Class, Speed, and Stats Guide for Mario Kart World
Written by Andrew Hammel
There are 50 total characters in Mario Kart World, and they’re split into four weight classes: Extra Light, Light, Medium, and Heavy. Each one changes how your kart handles, how fast you accelerate, and how hard you hit... or get hit.
Picking the right weight class isn’t just about character preference, but finding the right balance between speed, handling, and how badly you want to avoid being bullied off the track.
Here’s a table and more information below that.
| Character | Unlocked By | Speed | Acceleration | Weight | Handling | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baby Mario | Default | 1.4 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 2.6 | Extra Light |
| Baby Luigi | Default | 1.4 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 2.6 | Extra Light |
| Baby Peach | Default | 1.4 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 2.6 | Extra Light |
| Baby Daisy | Default | 1.4 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 2.6 | Extra Light |
| Baby Rosalina | Default | 1.4 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 2.6 | Extra Light |
| Dry Bones | Default | 1.4 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 2.6 | Extra Light |
| Sidestepper | Default | 1.4 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 2.6 | Extra Light |
| Goomba | Default | 1.4 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 2.6 | Extra Light |
| Para-Biddybud | Default | 1.4 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 2.6 | Extra Light |
| Spike | Kamek Item | 1.4 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 2.6 | Extra Light |
| Fish Bone | Kamek Item | 1.4 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 2.6 | Extra Light |
| Swoop | Kamek Item | 1.4 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 2.6 | Extra Light |
| Peepa | Kamek Item | 1.4 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 2.6 | Extra Light |
Extra Light Class
Extra Light characters are small, fast, and fragile. They reach top speed quickly and handle sharp turns with ease, but they also get shoved around by anything larger than a Goomba.
Perfect for players who want speed through drifting and boosting, not raw top speed.
Best Stats
Acceleration, Handling
Weak Stats
Weight, Speed
Notable Characters
Baby Mario, Baby Peach, Baby Daisy – High acceleration, but bounce around like ping pong balls
Dry Bones, Spike, Goomba – Great drift potential, very little staying power if hit
Para-Biddybud, Swoop – Oddball picks with solid stats in this class
Use if: You like boosting constantly, dodging hits, and staying light on your tires.
Light Class
Light characters have more control than mediums but aren’t quite as fragile as extra light. They’re still easy to knock around, but with stronger speed and better all-around use of mushrooms and boosts.
Great for newer players or anyone trying to survive 150CC with tighter steering.
Best Stats
Acceleration, Handling
Weak Stats
Weight, Speed
Notable Characters
Toad, Toadette, Shy Guy – Fast recoveries and clean turns
Yoshi, Lakitu, Bowser Jr. – Better speed, still vulnerable
Monty Mole, Dolphin, Coin Coffer – Strong picks with balanced upsides
Use if: You want solid boost recovery and tight handling without giving up too much speed.
Medium Class
Medium characters are balanced in every stat. They don’t have a standout specialty, but they don’t have a major flaw either. Think of them as the all-rounders of the roster.
This class is ideal for experimenting with kart builds or racing styles.
Best Stats
All stats balanced
Weak Stats
None
Notable Characters
Mario, Luigi, Birdo – Simple, dependable picks
Rosalina, King Boo, Pauline – Lean slightly heavier but still manageable
Piranha Plant, Rocky Wrench – Medium class muscle with solid stats
Use if: You like even stats and want a good balance of speed, weight, and turning.
Heavy Class
Heavy characters are built for power. They have high top speed and can ram lighter racers off the track, but they’re slow to recover and bad at tight handling.
If you want to go fast and don’t mind a little chaos, this is the class.
Best Stats
Speed, Weight
Weak Stats
Handling, Acceleration
Notable Characters
Wario, Waluigi, Bowser – Classic heavyweights with top-tier speed
Donkey Kong, Cow, Pianta – Huge speed, but sluggish off the line
Chargin’ Chuck, Wiggler – Strong picks that trade finesse for force
Use if: You want to hit hard, race fast, and don’t care about turning gently.
Final Blurb
Choosing the right weight class in Mario Kart World is more important than ever. Every kart handles differently depending on your racer’s weight, and that can mean the difference between flying through Mirror Mode... or flying off the track. Pick smart, build right, and you’ll feel the difference by the first corner.
FAQ
Q: What’s the difference between Extra Light and Light?
Extra Light has faster acceleration and better handling, but way less weight and staying power.
Q: Are Medium characters boring to use?
Not at all. They’re the most balanced and great for consistent performance.
Q: Which weight class is best for beginners?
Light or Medium. They offer control without being too slow or too heavy.
Q: Do stats change if I switch karts?
Yes. Each kart affects your base stats. This guide lists characters using the Standard Kart only.
Q: Can I win with any weight class?
Yes, but your driving style and kart setup should match the class to get the best results.
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