The 1v1 game mode in Rocket League is quite controversial; some players enjoy the unique gameplay, while others despise it. However, this article will show you how all players can benefit in all game modes by playing 1v1!
One of the best features of Rocket League is a variety of game modes, allowing you to have many different ways to play. The most popular modes are 2v2 and 3v3, team-based modes which most players tend towards. However, a more polarizing way to play is 1v1; players either love or hate it. However, despite your opinion on it, this game mode is a fantastic way to improve, and these improvements are applicable to nearly any other game mode. Exercising your 1v1 instincts is crucial to becoming a better player overall, and we will discuss some ways in which you may immediately improve your overall gameplay.
The kickoff is a part of Rocket League that is often neglected; though important, it is generally not as crucial to plays, especially when used traditionally. However, in a solo duel, kickoffs are half of the game; if you can manipulate kickoffs in your favor, you will have already done much of the work to win. Playing 1v1 consistently will allow you to improve this aspect of your gameplay, and a solid kickoff in team-based modes will allow you to enable your team to create threats right off the bat. Let’s take a look at kickoffs being applied in a professional game. In this clip, professional team KRN uses the brilliant kickoff of a high-level 1v1 player, Yazid "Kiileerrz." Abdullah, to immediately convert a goal against high-level opposition:
Though there is not a specific way in which kickoffs improve in duels, the constant practice is something that helps with executing safe, effective kickoffs in team-based modes. As a Grand Champion, I still see poor kickoffs at a high level, and my solo experience allows me to capitalize, providing some easy goals which can prove to be the difference between a win and a loss. Developing a solid kickoff is a crucial part of any game mode, and 1v1 is the best vehicle to foster a winning method.
One of the most obvious differences in the 1v1 game mode is far fewer players on the field; compared to the six or four players in team-based modes (eight, if you prefer playing Chaos), the two players in a duel can make the field seem rather empty. However, this grants you a much greater amount of space, allowing you to practice things that you would rarely have the chance to otherwise. For example, 1v1 games are one of the best opportunities to practice aerial plays; your opponent cannot immediately challenge you, as failure would be catastrophic, so you can take your time and set up aerial attacks that can increase your proficiency with mechanics such as flip resets and aerial control. A similar benefit comes to dribbling, as well; normally, the first man may challenge your dribble and stifle any attempt to attack, but in a duel, you can set up creative flicks and maneuvers that can translate to other modes. Players such as John “Evample” H, a prominent freestyler, have pushed the limits of mechanics in this mode:
It may seem that such preparation is not that useful, as you won’t have the same space to execute in 2v2 and 3v3. Though that argument does have some merit, 1v1 gives you a level of consistent, strong execution that will allow you to take advantage of the opportunities you are given. Possession is something that you will learn to be comfortable with in duels; it is a bit rarer in team modes, however, and using it effectively will enable your team to maximize offensive output. In essence, 1v1 can help you train mechanics against a competent opponent, working far better than a simple training pack to prepare you for in-game situations.
Just as it is a bit easier to set up offensive plays, defense is in turn far more demanding in a 1v1. A lack of teammates means that you must take much more care in your defensive plays, as even a single blunder may lead to concession. Without anybody to rely on, this game mode forces you to play as a last man, all the time. This seems a bit stressful and is the reason that many do not like the game mode; a single mistake can lead to goals, and the large consequences of small blunders can prove to be infuriating. However, if you are able to refine your defense in a mode where it is so crucial, it will be far easier to execute when you have backup.
In a 1v1, a common method of defense that you will have to use is shadow defense. As opposed to simply challenging the ball, which can be exploited in this mode, shadowing involves covering your opponent’s options from the side, preparing to save any shot. This is one of the safest ways to defend, allowing you to keep tabs on your opponent’s position. The 1v1 game mode provides an excellent opportunity to practice this method of defense and leads to a far greater ability to defend against threats in team modes. Such deliberate methods of defense are severely underutilized in team modes, and employing the tactics from 1v1s, in addition to traditional challenges, can make your defense impenetrable across all modes!
Finally, recoveries are an aspect of Rocket League that players may not notice weaknesses in, especially in the lower ranks; slower gameplay is unlikely to expose deficiencies in recovery, but such weaknesses are far more obvious in higher-ranked lobbies. When playing 1v1, these weaknesses are exacerbated by the lack of teammates; just as defense is incredibly difficult due to a lack of reinforcement, poor recoveries will lead to an incredibly high scoreline. From personal experience, playing 1v1 has forced me to learn how to utilize powerslide, speedflips, and wavedashes far more than any other mode has, out of necessity. A sense of risk-assessment is also instilled in you, as risky plays have a far higher chance of conceding than scoring. By requiring you to make defensive plays immediately after attacks, recoveries are forced to improve by playing 1v1, and I would earnestly recommend it to anyone who wishes to supplement their fundamentals. With a high proficiency in recoveries, you open up a far greater arsenal of attacks in team modes, allowing you to improve your attacks while remaining able to defend your net.
Recovery methods such as half-flips (depicted) are trained very effectively in 1v1 matches.
As you can see, the applications of 1v1s are incredibly broad. The additional space will allow you to exercise offensive muscles that you never knew you had, enabling you to practice a wider array of mechanics. The fast-paced gameplay forces recoveries and solid kickoffs, to prevent immediate concession. At last, defense is a completely different beast in 1v1s, and the calculated method of defense is greatly applicable to other modes. I hope that this article has shown you how playing 1v1 can greatly improve your gameplay, regardless of the mode. I’d recommend that you give the mode a try; even though it is quite different, it can help with confidence and increase your mechanics, which are crucial to improving as a player. Thanks for reading, and good luck with your games!
