Rocket League continues to be one of the most popular multiplayer games worldwide. With its unique blend of soccer and cars, there's a high skill ceiling that makes it fun to learn even for new players. However, the game can also feel overwhelmingly competitive for those just starting out. In this beginner's guide for 2023, we'll break down ten essential tips to help you improve quickly and have more enjoyable matches as you learn the ropes in Rocket League.
Adjust Your Camera Settings
The default camera can be difficult for new players to see everything on the field. Experiment raising your camera height and distance to avoid looking too closely at your car. Also, try increasing your field of view setting for better spatial awareness. Take the time in free play mode to find a camera you're comfortable with to better spot teammates and opponents.
Play Casual Matches First
Jumping straight into ranked competitive play can be stressful for beginners. Instead, start in casual matches where mistakes don't affect your rank. This lower pressure environment allows you to learn maps, practice basic car control, get used to bouncing balls, and acquaint yourself with other players' styles without the serious competition of ranked.
Focus on Rotations and Positioning
Rotating properly on offense and defense is fundamental in Rocket League. Learn when to go for the ball versus hanging back and supporting teammates. Give space for your teammates to hit and avoid clustering in one area of the field. Proper positioning will help your team control possession and prevent opponents from easy counterattacks.
Master Basic Car Control
Take time to simply drive around free play, hit balls off walls and practice aerial hits without opponents. Get a feel for acceleration, braking, power slides, reversing, and using boost. Handling your car confidently with precision is the foundation for advanced skills. Drills in the training mode are also excellent for sharpening basic movements.
Slow Down Your Pace of Play
Beginners often rush into challenges and hits too quickly without thinking. Slow down, be patient looking for opportunities, and let plays develop. Look for teammates making runs or opponents out of position rather than randomly hitting the ball. A slower, more thoughtful style will yield far better results than just chasing balls mindlessly.
Learn Basic Aerials
While flashy aerial goals aren't necessary, being able to reliably hit aerials is important. Start by focusing on simple straight jumps, boosting into floating balls, and light tapping shots on goal. Drill these basics regularly in training until you feel confident attempting them in games. Mastering aerials takes time but expands your options greatly as a player.
Communicate with Quick Chats
Using quick chat options like "I got it!" and "Defending…" helps coordinate with random teammates who don't use mics. Calling out passes, shots, and challenging opponents helps your teammates position better. Be encouraging of mistakes to foster positive team chemistry too. Communication is key in Rocket League even without voice chat.
Watch Rotation & Positioning Tutorials
Visual examples are extremely helpful compared to just reading tips. Search YouTube for rotation guide videos from popular RL content creators to see positioning best practices demonstrated. Pay attention to when third man hangs back, where players sit on offense versus defense, and how teams seamlessly pass responsibilities back and forth.
Turn Off Chat If Too Toxic
Sometimes random teammates or opponents will use quick chat to be toxic if you make mistakes. For a really new player, this can negatively impact your enjoyment of the game. Do not hesitate to temporarily mute chat in the options if players start being rude or blaming you unjustly as you're learning.
Find Teammates to Improve With
Playing alone with randoms makes coordinated gameplay much harder. Seek out a Rocket League discord server or subreddit to find other players around your skill level to party up with. Having teammates who are also communicative and willing to give feedback helps accelerate learning through constructive criticism and teamwork.
Dive into Training Packs
Rocket League has a vast assortment of community-created training packs for honing every imaginable skill. Browse the featured or top-rated packs section and focus first on drills for the basics you're still working on perfecting. Regular short training sessions, even just 10 minutes, go a long way in supplementing your in-game experience.
Focus on having fun as you learn Rocket League. Remember, it takes most new players dozens if not hundreds of hours to start to feel truly comfortable with advanced techniques. Follow these tips to help accelerate your early growth so you can more easily hold your own and enjoy competitive play.
Above all, stay positive and keep practicing. Rocket League has a very high skill ceiling, so continuing to learn should always be the goal regardless of your current rank. As long as you're focused on self-improvement, you'll be improving in no time. So get out there, jump in some casual games, and most importantly – have fun!