Balloon
Balloons are an equippable item and gameplay element of KartRider: Drift.
Balloons were previewed in several of the game's beta periods as purely cosmetic items before being added in Season 2 with gameplay applications.
Overview
Balloons can be obtained via the Shop, Events, Momentum Rewards, or Racing Boxes. All Balloons grant the same bonuses when equipped, so the choice of which one to use is purely for aesthetics.
Balloons have a finite number of charges, with one charge from the currently-equipped Balloon being removed whenever the player begins a race in any mode. The player can recharge a Balloon by spending 
Lucci, at a rate of 300 Lucci per 10 charges. After finishing a race equipped with a Balloon with 3 or fewer charges, the game will warn the player to recharge.
Balloons are attached to a Kart's rear. In the event a player does not want to see their own Balloon, there is an option to hide it while racing while retaining the Balloon's benefits, though it will remain visible to other players.
While equipped, Balloons have several effects based on its rank, with higher ranks also including the effects from all ranks below it. As of the Northeu Update, the maximum rank for a Balloon is Heroic.
| Rank | Effect | Upgrade Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Common | The user spins out when hit with Missiles instead of exploding. | n/a |
| Fine | Increases the user's automatic Boost building rate in Speed Mode by 10%. | 500
|
| Rare | The user requires fewer inputs to escape from a bubble. Increases the user's automatic Boost building rate in Speed Mode by 7% (to 17%). |
1,000
|
| Heroic | Reduces the duration of UFOs and Lightning affecting the user. Increases the user's automatic Boost building rate in Speed Mode by 7% (to 24%). |
1,500
|
Gallery
Trivia
- In CrazyRacing KartRider Balloons only had a chance of reducing Missile explosions into a spin out. Each time a Balloon successfully reduced a Missile attack, it would lose a charge and give the player 2-5 Lucci.
- The Heroic rank effect of reducing UFO duration was provided by Headbands in CrazyRacing KartRider.