Being faster than opponents in Rocket League is vital. It enables players to outplay and confuse others, as well as to cover more of the field efficiently. Contrary to popular belief, playing faster is not simply about pressing buttons more quickly.
High-ranked players and professionals go beyond button speed. They utilize mechanics, tricks, and recovery techniques to accelerate their play. These mechanics are essential for those aiming to win more games and keep up at higher ranks.
The following nine mechanics are used by top players and will help you implement faster play instantly.
| Mechanic | Core Idea |
|---|---|
| Wall Dash | Variation of wave dash; utilizes a quick fall off and jump back onto the wall for speed boost. |
| Mina Flip | Speed flip into the wall, then speed flip away to cancel, chaining with wall dashes for rapid recovery. |
| Flip Cancel Recovery | After an air roll shot, speed flip cancel to land sideways on the wall and recover faster. |
| Curve Dash | Jump off the end of the wall curve to pop the nose up and wave dash down, enabling quick ground contact. |
| Zap Dash | Land with front wheels first, then early jump for a jump speed boost, used for rapid acceleration. |
| Wall Stop | Recover onto the wall after a touch to quickly reset the jump timer and allow multi-touch plays. |
| Flip Reset into Wave Dash | Land with the ball after a reset, then wave dash for an instant pop and fast dribble initiation. |
| Empty Jump | Use a jump with no directional input during air dribbles to regain control and maintain height. |
| Power Slide | Hold power slide on all landings to buffer friction and maintain momentum for follow-up plays. |
The wall dash is essentially a variation of a wave dash. To perform it, mash the jump button while pulling the car down the wall and then quickly back up. This creates a fall off and jump back on effect, providing a partial wave dash speed boost.
Wall dashes are especially useful when low on boost and help maintain speed with minimal resources.
The Mina flip, popularized by Mina players, is performed by speed flipping into the wall, then air rolling and speed flipping away to cancel the animation. This allows chaining with wall dashes for rapid recovery and a quick speed boost.
After an air roll shot, top players use either a front flip cancel or speed flip to land sideways on the wall, enabling faster recovery and follow-up shots. This technique is essential for keeping up with play at higher ranks.
After landing on the wall post-shot, a curve dash is performed by jumping off the wall's curve at the right moment to pop the nose up and wave dash down. Timing is crucial; jumping too early will "eat" the jump.
Wall stops are used to recover onto the wall after a touch, allowing for a faster second touch and resetting the jump timer. This is a massive advantage for multi-touch plays and maintaining possession under pressure.
After securing a flip reset, instead of shooting, land with the ball and perform a wave dash. This creates a quick pop and enables a fast dribble, catching defenders off guard and allowing for creative, unexpected plays.
An empty jump is a jump with no directional input, commonly used during air dribbles to regain height and control. This technique saves failing dribbles and allows for recovery into the next shot.
The power slide is an underrated input. Holding power slide when landing on surfaces eliminates friction, enabling seamless transitions into ground doubles, musty flicks, and other follow-up plays.
These nine mechanics are essential for taking gameplay to the next level. Top players break down and utilize these movement techniques to play faster and smarter, making them crucial skills for anyone seeking improvement in Rocket League.