At higher levels, Rocket League can seem to become a bit formulaic; it may seem that the same rotations and decisions will be made repeatedly. Though these may be optimal, it can always be worthwhile to try and break the cycle. This article can discuss some ways to disorient opponents by mixing up your gameplay.
In Rocket League, gameplay is usually streamlined and straightforward as your ranks increase. Sometimes, it may even seem like there is a “correct” way to play, as advocated for by numerous YouTube videos and guides. However, at the highest levels, players make names for themselves through unconventional play, with nuances in their gameplay that help rather than harm them. Throwing your opponents off-guard can be valuable even when you’re not at the RLCS level; subverting expectations and doing something novel can earn you more than a few goals, taking advantage of your opponent’s expectations.
Before we dive into the content, a quick disclaimer: you shouldn’t neglect traditional rotation and decision-making for strategies such as these; though these can serve as a great way to change the pace of a game, they are best when used sparingly. Now that that’s out of the way, let’s get started.
Rotations are one of the most essential parts of high-level 2v2 and 3v3 gameplay. Ensuring that players are always in a position to respond to threats and create their own, the quality of rotations can make or break a team. No matter what mechanics a player may be able to execute, they will be worthless if they’re in the wrong place. However, it can still be beneficial to disobey the typical rules of rotation, in order to use the element of unpredictability to your advantage.
Let us quickly summarize how rotations should ideally work. On offense, there should be a first man who is on the ball, a second man waiting for a pass from the first or the chance to replace the first man, and a third man who will be in a midfield position in order to guard the possibility of a clear. The first man will replace the third man, who will replace the second man, who is replacing the first man, making sure that all players will play each position while giving opportunities to reposition and replenish boost.
On defense, the first man would instead challenge the ball, the second man would support in case the ball gets past the first man, and the third man would cover the far side of the net. This system seems to be solid, so how can we change it without damaging our chances at a win?
Image courtesy of Reddit user samexi
The main changes that you can make in rotation require some communication; your teammates should be aware of any breaks in rotation, as you don’t want to throw them off. Additionally, it’s best that the third man position doesn’t change, or is replaced, as you don’t want an all-in play that can backfire. With these stipulations in mind, there are a few ways in which you can stretch rotation to add in a new factor of variance.
On offense, there are quite a few strategies: the first or second man can demolish and allow the other to take possession, the ball can be pivoted to the third man and allow for an aerial play with much more space, or, a bit more risky, intentionally allowing the ball to be cleared to your side in order to try another offensive maneuver. On defense, options include demolishing passing options, challenging early to establish a more equal position, or baiting opponents into the corner for options favorable to defenders. These options are flexible, and they can prove to be useful to change the tide of the game, when your typical strategies just aren’t working.
Now that we’ve solidified the idea of unorthodox rotation, we can define some ideas that take advantage of this flexibility. One of the most terrifying things to see in Rocket League is your opponent coming at you from the air, with a flip reset, high speed, or simply just control. Once your opponent has established strong ball control, it becomes very difficult to stop oncoming attacks; even if you can swat the ball away, their teammates may be prepared to follow up. One way to do this is to prevent such a play from even developing.
Prejumping is a bit controversial; sure, it can be effective at shutting down plays, but it can also become a bad habit if used improperly. What exactly is a prejump? It’s exactly what it sounds like: you jump before your opponent starts their play, in order to block the ball or force them to do something else. Though they can be risky, prejumps are an invaluable asset that are used at the highest level of play. Prejumps break from the standard play of Rocket League due to the risk taken on by executing them, but they can be far less risky if your opponent doesn’t expect them. Let us consider some scenarios where prejumping can apply.
Firstly, let us consider the typical aerial play, off the side wall and going towards your net. Here, your opponent will hit the ball upwards off the wall, and then continue to carry it towards your net. There is a moment of vulnerability, and this is the main requirement for a prejump to be effective. If your opponent starts taking control and heading towards the wall, a prejump may be effective; when your opponent launches the ball off the wall, you’ll be in position to unleash a devastating challenge, guiding the ball in your favor. This both crushes their assault and fabricates one of your own. Even if your opponent can maneuver out of this, their attack won’t be as they expected, and your teammates will have far fewer options to account for on defense.
The perfect opportunity to block an attack before it develops!
Another situation we can consider is a play from a ball with a bounce. This can include a ground-to-air dribble or a power clear, where your opponent uses the momentum of the ball to increase the power of their touch. In both scenarios, there is a clear opportunity for a prejump; just after the ball bounces, your opponent can maximize their usage of the bounce, so a prejump to prevent this can be essential. This case is a bit more dangerous though, as your opponents have much greater control on the ground and can choose to fake should they see your prejump early enough; thus, it is only suitable to prejump in moderation, as doing any more than that puts you at risk of putting your team in a disadvantageous position. Prejumps, when used safely, can be a brilliant tool for taking possession from an opponent, allowing your teammates who are back to take the ball for themselves.
Rocket League, and most strategies in it, tend to center around the ball. However, the ball is only one of the up to nine entities on the field, and other players can prove to be much more dangerous than the ball alone. Typical rotations tend to consider the opponents as merely obstacles who can challenge and clear the ball, but breaking convention can make them far less effective.
If you haven’t figured it out yet, demolitions are a key way to take advantage of your opponent’s natural habits to succeed. Going for a demolition somewhat abandons the notion of a play on the ball, and also doesn’t result in a defensive position, but there are other benefits. Removing your opponent from the field for three seconds isn’t insignificant, and you can accomplish a great deal if you can pull it off successfully. However, you must keep your team in mind, as removing your opponent is no good if you remove yourself from the play in the process.
A demolition can relieve pressure on defense, or overload opponents on offense. Regardless, they are impactful, and are a great way to supplement solo plays. Once you lose possession of the ball, either to a pass or your opponent, a demolition can be the perfect way to use that downtime, wreaking havoc upon your enemies. They can be even more effective on controlled offensive efforts; should your opponent try to start something, you can rush at them in their moment of vulnerability and shut the play down. You can use demolitions to slightly deviate from rotation and be rewarded, creating a new threat for your opponents to try and play against.
Though playing to convention can work a significant amount of the time, there will always be opportunities to break the mold and throw your opponents off. We’ve discussed how you can break rotation, prejump, and target cars instead of the ball all for your advantage, defying your opponent’s expectations and using that level of uncertainty to create a threat. By seizing such opportunities whenever you can, sacrificing a bit of orthodox gameplay for a novel chance, you can enhance your gameplay with some variety that can be indispensable.
