Aerials are one of the game’s most essential mechanics, allowing players to leave the ground and make plays that can change the course of a match. Performing them at a consistent level unlocks a higher level of gameplay and is a key skill that separates lower-ranked players from the mid-tier and beyond.

In this article, with insight from Rocket League pro Gaspar "Stizzy" Rosalen, we’ll break down what aerials are, why they’re so important, and how you can start using them effectively. If you're stuck in Silver or Gold, learning to aerial might be the boost you need to take that next step.

What are Aerials in Rocket League?

Aerials are a core mechanic in Rocket League that allow players to fly through the air using boost.

There are two main types of aerials. Basic Aerials are the foundation: jump once, tilt your car back, and boost upward toward the ball. Fast Aerials are a more advanced variation that help you reach the ball quicker. To fast aerial, boost before jumping, then double jump, tilt back, and continue boosting toward the ball.

Aerials let you challenge plays early, cutting down your opponent’s options and helping your team control the pace. Instead of reacting to your opponents, strong aerial play puts them on the defensive and forces them to react to you.

Stizzy: Once you get the mechanic down it’s simple, you jump, tilt, and fly towards the ball. Once you’re in the air you can control the ball in all sorts of different ways.

How Essential is this Mechanic to Rank Up?

Aerials are probably the most crucial mechanic to learn if you want to rank up. Once you reach Gold or Platinum, you’ll start to feel slow and limited if you can’t reliably hit the ball in the air. You can scrape by in the lower ranks without them, but advancing beyond Platinum without consistent aerial ability is nearly impossible.

Why is that?

As you climb the ranks, the pace of the game speeds up. Faster players create faster play, and at those levels, the ball spends far less time on the ground. If you’re constantly waiting for the ball to drop, you’ll be beaten to it repeatedly. On top of that, there’s a shift in expectations. Teammates will start making passes assuming you’re able to get up and meet them mid-air. If you can’t, you’ll miss opportunities or even break down team plays.

This all ties into a bigger concept: ground play is reactive, while aerials are proactive. Don’t get me wrong, there’s still a place for smart ground plays. But most of the time, you’re waiting for the ball to bounce or fall low enough to make a move, which limits your options and slows your response time. Aerials flip that dynamic. Meeting the ball in the air allows you to cut off passes, take early shots, or make key saves before your opponent can react. Here is a clip of Stizzy pulling off a fast aerial to take down Team Secret at the Raleigh Major.

How to Perform an Aerial

We’ve discussed why an aerial is important. Now let's go into a step-by-step guide on how to perform it.

Basic Aerial

You want to perform a basic aerial consistently before you start learning how to do a fast one. First, jump once to lift your car off the ground. As you're rising, tilt your car backward by pulling down on the joystick to angle yourself upward. Then, hold boost to propel yourself into the air. While flying, use the joystick to aim and steer toward the ball, maintaining control of your direction. Once you're close enough, you can dodge into the ball for a bit of extra power on your shot or clear.

Fast Aerial

Fast aerials are a bit more complex than basic aerials but follow a similar pattern. To start, boost before you jump, giving you immediate upward momentum. Then, jump once, tilt your car back, and continue holding boost as you rise toward the ball. For extra height and speed, follow the first jump with a second jump (double jump) while still boosting. You’ll notice that this lets you rise much faster than with a basic aerial, allowing you to challenge high balls more quickly and effectively.

Stizzy: The importance of a fast aerial is speed. If I’m getting a ball high near our backboard, I have to use the fast aerial to jump for it, if I use a basic aerial I'll get beat to the ball and the opponent can drop an easy pass in front of the goal.

Common Aerial Mistakes

There are a few common mistakes players make when learning aerials that can seriously impact consistency and accuracy. One of the most frequent issues is overcorrecting mid-air. Once you're in the air, trying to make large adjustments with your car can throw off your control or even stall your flight entirely. Subtle movements go a long way, and smooth, controlled inputs are much more effective than jerky corrections.

Another mistake is jumping before reading the ball. If you leap into the air too early without fully understanding the ball’s arc or trajectory, you’re likely to miss or completely whiff the play. It’s often better to take a split second to read where the ball is headed before committing, this extra moment of patience leads to much more accurate challenges. This is a difficult mistake to correct and often takes hundreds of hours of playtime to develop the ability to accurately read where the ball will go after hitting walls or being deflected by other players.

Lastly, using too much boost too early can ruin what is an otherwise solid setup. Boost management is crucial during aerials, not just for conserving boost that can be used later, but for maintaining the appropriate speed you need depending on the situation. Instead of holding boost the entire time, feather it by tapping lightly while adjusting your position mid-air. This gives you more precision and helps you stay aligned with the ball. There are situations where holding boost is the right call, but in other cases, overboosting can cause you to overshoot the ball and completely lose the play.

Stizzy: When I was first learning how to aerial, I struggled with my car positioning. I would jump up and accidentally dodge the ball in the air. It was hard to read the ball properly and it took a while before I was able to get consistent.

Training Drills to Improve Aerials

Aerial Training Packs

Here are a few training packs to help including a four-level training plan developed by Waytoney.

Aerials for Beginners: A602-960D-CAD7-B3E2

Level 1 - Learning: AE34-6C1E-8CCD-D8A5

Level 2 - Reading: 876E-1C19-0086-8232

Level 3 - High Aerials: 76CD-1B72-20D9-53DC

Level 4 - Angled Shots: 04A6-F117-971F-3625

Free Play Practice

You can also use Free Play as a valid training method, just like Stizzy. Go into Free Play and hit the ball into the air, then practice flying up to meet it from different angles. Focus on hitting it mid-air without letting it bounce to build consistency and control.

Stizzy: I never do training packs; I just do Free Play. Just pass the ball up into the air and start by practicing hitting it, then work on controlling where you make contact to place it more accurately. That is the best way to learn for real in-game scenarios.

Aerials are a must-learn mechanic if you’re serious about improving in Rocket League. Whether you're just getting comfortable with the basics or starting to incorporate fast aerials into your play, the ability to take consistent control of your car in the air changes how you approach the game. It allows you to react quicker, play smarter, and match the pace of higher-ranked players. With regular practice, through training packs, free play, and in-game experience, you’ll not only gain consistency but also the confidence to win your challenges and stifle the competition.

Thank you Stizzy for helping us walk through the benefits of basic aerials. If you want to see more of him, you can follow him on Twitter or Twitch.