The Whiplash is one of the coolest cars available in Rocket League. Initially added to the game as part of a crossover event with Fortnite, many players may overlook this vehicle or not fully understand its capabilities. However, with the right customization and driving style, the Whiplash can be an absolute beast on the pitch. In this guide, we'll break down everything you need to know to quickly unlock the Whiplash and master it in Rocket League.

How to Unlock the Whiplash

Unlike many of the standard or DLC cars in Rocket League, the Whiplash isn't available for direct purchase. Instead, it's part of the item drop pool that can be obtained by leveling up your Battle Pass. To unlock the Whiplash, you'll need to reach Tier 15 of any active Rocket League Battle Pass. Battle Passes run for the duration of each season, which typically lasts around 3 months.

Leveling up your Battle Pass is done by simply playing Rocket League matches and completing challenges. Each level corresponds to tiers that reward you with various items, like decals, wheels, boosts, etc. Reaching Tier 15 should take most players a few hours of regular gameplay. A faster method is to focus on completing all the easy daily and weekly challenges, as these provide big boosts of XP towards leveling up your pass. Playing extra modes like Rumble that tend to go longer can also help earn XP faster.

Once you hit Tier 15, you'll unlock the Whiplash blueprint which allows you to claim the car for free. This initial unlock comes with a basic config – to truly master the Whiplash, you'll want to customize it and find the right preset tune.

Customizing the Whiplash

Customizing your car's looks and performance tuning is a big part of Rocket League. With the Whiplash, you'll want to experiment to find a setup that complements its strengths. Here are some recommendations:

Body Customization

For the body, darker primary colors like midnight purple or lime black work well visually with the Whiplash's angular style. These darker tones also make the car look slimmer. You may want to match or contrast the secondary color to add some nice accents. For the decal, try matching designs like Zebra or stripes that follow the lines of the vehicle.

Wheels

When it comes to wheels, lighter, thinner designs allow the Whiplash to look low and fast. Try unpainted Zowie, Ultralex, or Gaiden wheels. Avoid thick, bulky wheels that make the car appear heavier. You want a wheel setup that emphasizes speed and maneuverability.

Boost

Good boost choices for the Whiplash include lighter colored plasma or standard boosts that don't visually overwhelm the car. You could also try boosts like cirrus or comet that emit a thinner vapor trail behind the vehicle. Avoid thick exhaust type boosts that weigh down the look.

Tuning

For tuning, focus on maximizing the Whiplash's speed and agility. Try lowering the ride height all the way and increasing acceleration. You'll want a faster top speed as well. Consider increasing steering sensitivity slightly while decreasing friction and stiffness to minimize drag. This creates a setup that feels very responsive.

Mastering the Whiplash Playstyle

With the right customization, the Whiplash is capable of being one of the fastest cars in Rocket League. To maximize its potential, you'll need to adapt your playstyle. Here are some tips:

Focus on Speed

The Whiplash's tuning emphasizes raw velocity over power or durability. Look for opportunities to boost and rush the ball at top speed whenever possible. Cut tight inside angles and rely on your momentum to outrun opponents.

Fast Resets and Flicks

The Whiplash's lightweight build makes it ideal for fast aerial resets and back-kick flicks. Practice these advanced techniques on the training packs to score from difficult angles. With the Whiplash's speed, you can catch enemies off guard.

Shadow Defense

On defense, try to pressure opponents from behind in their half using shadow defense. The Whiplash has good handbraking ability for tight turns. Cut off passing lanes and aim to quickly steal the ball rather than challenge directly.

Playmaker Role

Due to its balancing tuning, the Whiplash works best as a playmaker rather than power hitter. Look for passes to set up teammates for the finish. Fake challenges when defending to trick opponents into bad touches too.

Example Preset Tunes

To help get started, here are some example preset tunes that maximize different aspects of the Whiplash:

Speed Demon

Focus: Maximum velocity

Tuning: All acceleration stats increased, all weight reduction available, max top speed.

Twitch Streamer

Focus: Agility and dribbling

Tuning: Lowered steering sensitivity, lowered ride height, increased traction stats, decreased stiffness.

Shadow Defender

Focus: Tight turning and ball control

Tuning: Max steering, lower ride height, decreased acceleration, max traction and friction.

Experiment mixing elements from these presets to craft your perfect Whiplash build. Feel free to modify pieces as your playstyle evolves too. The key is understanding what each stat impacts and why certain tuning choices are beneficial for this unique car.

Master the Whiplash in Competitive Play

Once fully customized and with practice utilizing its advanced techniques, the Whiplash is more than capable of reaching the highest competitive ranks in Rocket League. A few final tips for ranked play success:

Play to Strengths in Team Modes

In 3v3, let your teammates play more defensively while you focus on speedy offensive plays. In 2v2, look for passing combinations with a teammate.

Practice Recoveries

Mistakes will happen, especially at high speeds. Drill recovering from aerial misses, bumps, and demos to minimize time spent out of position.

Adapt to Meta Changes

The Rocket League meta evolves constantly. Be ready to tweak your Whiplash build and playstyle if certain tuning balances get changed in updates.

Seek Continuous Improvement

Mastering any car is an ongoing process. Analyze replays and aim to refine a new element of your game each session for long term growth.

In Summary

The Whiplash may seem like an overlooked car initially, but with the right focus it can be an absolute monster. Take the time to unlock it, fully customize both its look and stats, and practice advanced techniques. Develop an understanding of the Whiplash's strengths as a playmaker and how to play to its speedy strengths. With dedication, you'll soon be dominating the competition with this sleek rocket-powered ride.