10 Best Machines for Air Ride in Kirby Air Riders

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If you’re new to the Kirby Air Ride series, you might have heard that the most fun part of both games is City Trial. That’s often true, and it’s always the first mode I play. However, we shouldn’t forget about Air Ride itself – it is in the game’s name, after all!

City Trial is a free-for-all battle where players fight until only one remains, while Air Ride feels more like a classic kart racing game, though it’s still pretty wild. In Air Ride, you choose your vehicle before the race and can’t switch it, so picking the right one is important. Here’s a look at some of the best vehicles to use in Air Ride, once you’ve unlocked them.

10. Winged Star

Live In The Air

Air Riders stands out from other kart racing games because it focuses more on flying and gliding. Almost every track has plenty of ramps for getting air, and some vehicles, called Machines, can even fly straight up. The Winged Star is one of the basic Machines designed for gliding.

The Winged Star is a classic Air Ride vehicle known for its exceptional gliding ability – it can float over almost anything. It’s not particularly speedy or agile on the ground, which might make you wonder why use it in a race. However, the Winged Star really shines when it’s in the air. Once airborne, it becomes much easier to handle and gains a significant speed boost.

Playing Winged Star means paying close attention to the landscape. You’ll always be looking for ramps and cliffs to launch off of and soar through the air. Whenever you find a chance to take flight, go for it – and try to stay airborne for as long as possible!

9. Jet Star

Every Ramp Matters

If Winged Star feels sluggish or isn’t performing well on land, consider other gliding Machines. Jet Star, for example, has slightly better stats and can still compete in races.

Jet Star and Winged Star both perform best when in the air, but they fly differently. Winged Star gets easier to control mid-air, while Jet Star focuses on gaining incredible speed. If you launch off a ramp on a straight path – especially with a skilled aerial Rider like Starman – you’ll really take off!

The Jet Star is a bit easier to control on the ground, meaning you won’t have to worry as much about finding ramps, though staying airborne is still best. Just remember that going faster in the air reduces your ability to turn, so be careful not to crash into walls or fly off course.

8. Turbo Star

The Drift Racing Experience

The game’s tutorial quickly teaches you the Boost Dash – a sliding technique for quickly rounding corners. You build up speed as you approach a turn, then release it right as you go around to shoot out the other side. If you’re confident in your Boost Dash skills, the Turbo Star is the perfect Machine to show them off.

Turbo Star is a unique Machine – it doesn’t charge well when stationary, but charges very quickly when moving at high speed. To get the most out of it, you’ll need to become skilled at using Boost Dashes and perfectly timing your movements around corners to maximize your boost.

Okay, so if you’re good at using Boost Dashes, the Turbo Star can be seriously fast – like, one of the quickest Machines out there! But you have to be super careful. If you crash, stall, or mess up in any way, it takes forever to get going again. It’s a bit tricky to master, but totally worth it if you can pull it off!

7. Chariot

Smooth And Reliable

Kirby Air Riders is known for being fast-paced and a little crazy, which is part of what makes it enjoyable. However, if you find yourself constantly crashing and prefer a more stable ride, the Chariot is a good alternative.

The Chariot is a basic vehicle type in Air Riders, designed for players new to the game. It drives on two wheels, providing excellent grip and making it easy to navigate corners and perform tight turns. If you’re struggling with handling, the Chariot is a great choice to improve your control and boost dash performance.

That’s great, because the Chariot isn’t particularly fast. While you can still win races with it, you’ll need to focus on skillful driving through turns and varied terrain, rather than relying on sheer speed.

6. Wheelie Scooter

Turn On A Dime

If you find the Chariot’s turning isn’t quick enough, you might be trying to move too fast. However, the Wheelie Scooter offers an even sharper turn if you need it.

The Wheelie Scooter is one of my favorite vintage machines! It’s the lightest one-wheeled minibike available and has a really cool style. It’s designed to be easy to use, with quick acceleration and a remarkably tight turning circle. While it’s not the fastest, its agility and quick start allow it to maneuver into action quickly.

The Wheelie Scooter truly has a remarkably tight turning radius. It charges so quickly that it can even cut off your momentum if you try to use a standard sliding Boost Dash. You can still perform the dash, but you’ll need to initiate it right before the corner instead of sliding in a bit earlier as you might with other vehicles.

5. Wheelie Bike

Get Your Motor Running

Enjoying your adventures with the Wheelie Scooter? If you’re ready for something with a bit more power, it might be time to upgrade to the full-sized Wheelie Bike – think of it like moving from a scooter to a motorcycle!

The Wheelie Bike is similar to the Wheelie Scooter – both are single-wheeled vehicles that roll along the ground. The Bike offers good charging, steering, and grip, and is a bit faster overall. While it doesn’t corner as sharply as the Scooter, it accelerates faster in a straight line, making it ideal for speed contests on Air Ride tracks.

The Wheelie Bike is sturdier and heavier than the Wheelie Scooter. This extra weight helps it stay stable on the track and makes it harder for opponents or obstacles to push you around. Keep in mind, though, that like other wheeled vehicles, the Wheelie Bike can’t fly, so avoid trying to jump ramps.

4. Bull Tank

There’s No Kill Like Overkill

Kirby Air Ride introduces Tank-type Machines, which float above the ground as you move and switch to tank treads when you accelerate. While the standard Tank Star is a bit sluggish for racing, the Bull Tank is a much better choice if you want to win with a tank. It prioritizes raw power and speed, letting you dominate the course.

The Bull Tank is a massive and powerful vehicle, one of the heaviest in the game. It easily pushes through the track and destroys obstacles with its thick armor. Similar to the Tank Star, it switches to treads while charging, letting you maintain momentum while lining up a Boost Dash. However, the Bull Tank’s defining feature is its incredibly high top speed. While it takes a little time to accelerate, once it gets going, almost nothing can stop it.

Bull Tank, like many racing games with powerful vehicles, takes a little getting used to. You’ll need to learn how its speed and weight affect handling. The key is to build up speed before entering turns, and you’ll quickly master the game.

3. Wagon Star

Keep Things Simple

People all have different tastes in cars. Some want something sporty and stylish, while others prioritize dependability and practicality. The Wagon Star definitely falls into the latter category – it’s a solid, dependable vehicle. Though, honestly, it’s so boxy, it almost looks like a little mobile temple. It’s hard to say for sure!

The most noticeable thing about the Wagon Star is that it can’t build up speed with boosts – it doesn’t have any at all. However, this is balanced by its overall strong performance. It has good speed, handles well with dependable turning and grip, and is very durable, keeping you on the track. While it’s too heavy for sustained flight, you can still get a small speed increase from hitting ramps.

Unlike most Machines, the Wagon Star can’t quickly accelerate from a stop because it doesn’t have a charging ability. It builds speed gradually, and you’ll need to steer through turns yourself. However, you can still use its charge as a brake to help maintain speed while cornering.

2. Paper Star

Light As A Feather

Unlike the sturdy Wagon Star or Bull Tank, the Paper Star is a super lightweight vehicle. If you enjoy playing as fast, nimble characters in kart racing games, the Paper Star is the perfect choice for you.

The Paper Star isn’t the fastest car overall, but it makes up for it with incredible acceleration and boost – it can launch off the line like a rocket! It also handles corners beautifully, with excellent grip, and can fly almost as well as the Winged Star.

Okay, so I’m obsessed with the Paper Star machine in Air Ride. It’s seriously the best for going fast while still feeling like you’re in control. The only downside? It’s super delicate! Which, honestly, isn’t a huge deal since you don’t have a health bar in Air Ride. But because it’s so light, even a little bump from another player can send you spinning. Basically, if you’re choosing Paper Star, you’re signing up to avoid fights and just focus on speed – it’s all about outrunning everyone!

1. Transform Star

Meet Any Situation

Can’t decide between Star and Wheelie Machines? You don’t have to! The Transform Star combines the strengths of both, letting you switch between modes as needed. It transforms with a cool, eye-catching motion.

Transform Star can switch between two forms – Star and Bike – with a Quick Spin. In Star mode, it’s easier to control while airborne and glides along the ground. Switching to Bike mode gives you more powerful boosts, faster energy recharge, and improved handling. You can change modes whenever you need to, but the transformation itself takes a couple of seconds.

No matter what form Transform Star is in, its maximum speed doesn’t change, so switching forms won’t slow you down or speed you up. It’s best to transform before you need to – that way, you can use Star mode for ramps and Bike mode for corners, making both much easier to handle.

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2025-11-26 22:11