Rocket League

Game Design

In Rocket League you try to shoot the most balls into the opponent's goal within five minutes. For this purpose, the player has cars at his disposal. The game is played in 1-vs.-1, 2-vs.-2, 3-vs.-3 or 4-vs.-4 mode. Here, further game mode specifications can be set. Foremost and most played modes are the Ranked mode ("Ranked") and a normal mode ("Casual"). Until the Rocket Pass update on September 5, 2018, a "Rocket Labs" mode (experimental arenas), a "Snow Free" mode (using a puck instead of a ball), a "Baskets" mode (inspired by basketball), a "Rumble" mode (using various power-ups), and a "Dropshot" mode (scoring by shooting the ball through holes in the ground) also existed, all exclusively in the "Casual" variant. Rocket Labs mode has been scrapped (experimental arenas are still playable in Rumble and private modes, however), with the remaining game types only available as ranked matches.

Gameplay

Before the game

In the menu before starting the game it is possible to customize and design your car in the garage. Apart from different bodies and the associated difference in ball handling, these changes are purely visual. Examples include the paint job, tires, boost, etc.

Completing games unlocks the various items.

In the game

The arenas resemble a football field in their construction, but are limited by walls. The physics of the vehicles and the ball differ significantly from reality, especially with regard to gravity. Thus, you can drive along walls and, with sufficient speed, along the ceiling for a short period of time. In the arena, there are recurring "boost" cells that you can collect to give your car a short-term turbo boost. Furthermore, it is possible to perform various jumps with the vehicles.

As a rule, a match lasts five minutes, and at the end of this time the match does not end until the ball touches the ground or a goal is scored. In the event of a tie, there is an overtime period until a decisive goal is scored. As a rule, Team Orange always plays against Team Blue. Since the update in August 2018, teams that have already been combined before the start of the game can also choose other colors.

During the game, there are always icons in the upper right corner that represent game actions that are happening at that moment. Own actions are displayed enlarged in the upper half of the screen. Each player receives points for some of his actions.

Actions followed by winning points are:

• one touch of the ball (+2)
• a goal scored (+100), possibly additional points through
• Goal from own half of field (+10)
• Goal in reverse (+10)
• Goal by bicycle kick (+10)
• Goal where the car was on the roof when the shot was taken (turtle goal) (+10)
• Goal where you have pushed the opponent in such a way that he has kicked the ball into his own goal (bank shot) (+10)
• Goal scored after touching the ball in the air, above the height of the crossbar (volley goal) (+30)
• Goal in injury time (Golden Goal) (+50)
• one shot on goal (+10)
• a successful goal for a team partner (+50)
• blocking a shot on the own goal (parry) (+50)
• defending the ball on the goal line (brilliant save) (+75)
• removing the ball from one's own penalty area (free kick) (+20)
• destroying enemy vehicles seven times in one game (obliteration) (+25)
• a pass into the opponent's penalty area (entry) (+20)
• three saves and/or brilliant saves (saviour) (+25)
• three goals scored (hat trick) (+25)
• three assists (playmaker) (+25)

Actions without a subsequent point win are:

• finishing the game as the winner
• finishing the game as the player with the most points (Most Valuable Player)
• the first contact with the ball at kick-off

League system

Rocket League has a distinct, multi-tiered league system. A player can obtain a rank in any mode for which ranked competition ("Ranked") is offered (1v1, 2v2, 3v3, Solo 3v3, Rumble, Dropshot, Baskets, Snow Free) after ten ranked matches. This rank only applies to the mode currently being played, so a player may have a different rank in 1v1 mode than in 3v3 mode.

Rank	Division	League
Supersonic Legend
grand champion	III	1–4
	II
	I
Champion	III
	II
	I
Diamond	III
	II
	I
Platinum	III
	II
	I
Gold	III
	II
	I
Silver	III
	II
	I
Bronze	III
	II
	I
Unranked

A rank is pronounced as follows: Diamond II, III results in "Diamond Two, League Three". Higher numbered leagues and divisions are ranked higher than lower ones. Diamond II is therefore better than Diamond I. The highest rank available, Supersonic Legend, no longer has a division. Classically, rank refers to the rank in the league system, not the misleadingly named level rank or the corresponding rank designation.

ascents and descents

MMR subdivision 3v3
Rank	Div I	Div II	Div III	Div IV
Supersonic Legend 38 players (0.00 %)	1.915 – 1.918	- —	- —	- —
Grand Champion III 272 players (0.02 %)	1.796 – 1.813	1.814 – 1.844	1.848 – 1.881	1.893 – 1.905
Grand Champion II 1,453 players (0.13 %)	1.671 – 1.693	1.695 – 1.726	1.728 – 1.750	1.762 – 1.779
Grand Champion I 5,244 players (0.45 %)	1.554 – 1.573	1.575 – 1.607	1.608 – 1.637	1.642 – 1.659
Champion III 11,705 players (1.01 %)	1.435 – 1.453	1.455 – 1.486	1.488 – 1.518	1.522 – 1.539
Champion II 18,770 players (1.62 %)	1.335 – 1.348	1.351 – 1.375	1.379 – 1.405	1.407 – 1.424
Champion I 29,331 players (2.52 %)	1.233 – 1.248	1.253 – 1.277	1.284 – 1.305	1.307 – 1.319
Diamond III 43,017 players (3.70 %)	1.134 – 1.148	1.150 – 1.174	1.181 – 1.204	1.207 – 1.220
Diamond II 60,720 players (5.22 %)	1.035 – 1.048	1.050 – 1.077	1.084 – 1.103	1.107 – 1.120
Diamond I 71,601 players (6.16 %)	935 – 948	951 – 976	978 – 1.005	1.007 – 1.020
Platinum III 60,610 players (5.22 %)	854 – 863	865 – 887	888 – 910	912 – 920
Platinum II 67,873 players (5.84 %)	775 – 783	785 – 807	808 – 830	832 – 841
Platinum I 78,705 players (6.77 %)	695 – 703	704 – 727	728 – 751	752 – 760
Gold III 67,992 players (5.85 %)	615 – 623	624 – 647	648 – 671	672 – 681
Gold II 41,309 players (3.55 %)	550 – 558	559 – 577	578 – 596	597 – 603
Gold I 31,406 players (2.70 %)	492 – 498	499 – 517	518 – 536	537 – 544
Silver III 19,651 players (1.69 %)	429 – 438	439 – 457	458 – 476	477 – 482
Silver II 11,653 players (1.00 %)	365 – 378	379 – 397	398 – 416	417 – 433
Silver I 5,975 players (0.51 %)	309 – 318	319 – 337	338 – 356	357 – 373
Bronze III 2,224 players (0.19 %)	241 – 258	260 – 277	282 – 295	297 – 300
Bronze II 791 players (0.07 %)	192 – 197	206 – 217	226 – 236	237 – 252
Bronze I 269 players (0.02 %)	116 – 116	- —	155 – 164	178 – 179
Unranked 531,600 players (45.74 %)	424 – 1.580	- —	- —	- —

 

MMR subdivision 2v2
Supersonic Legend 134 players (0.01 %)	1.865 – 1.885	- —	- —	- —
Grand Champion III 536 players (0.05 %)	1.752 – 1.773	1.775 – 1.807	1.808 – 1.832	1.843 – 1.857
Grand Champion II 3,023 players (0.26 %)	1.627 – 1.653	1.654 – 1.674	1.688 – 1.709	1.722 – 1.739
Grand Champion I 14,702 players (1.27 %)	1.515 – 1.533	1.534 – 1.566	1.568 – 1.595	1.602 – 1.618
Champion III 20,508 players (1.77 %)	1.413 – 1.428	1.432 – 1.457	1.463 – 1.485	1.487 – 1.503
Champion II 28,452 players (2.46 %)	1.313 – 1.328	1.332 – 1.357	1.358 – 1.385	1.387 – 1.399
Champion I 42,654 players (3.68 %)	1.214 – 1.228	1.233 – 1.256	1.262 – 1.285	1.287 – 1.304
Diamond III 52,747 players (4.56 %)	1.115 – 1.128	1.130 – 1.156	1.159 – 1.185	1.187 – 1.200
Diamond II 62,476 players (5.40 %)	1.014 – 1.028	1.032 – 1.056	1.058 – 1.085	1.087 – 1.100
Diamond I 58,843 players (5.08 %)	934 – 943	945 – 967	968 – 988	992 – 1.002
Platinum III 58,057 players (5.02 %)	854 – 863	865 – 887	888 – 909	912 – 920
Platinum II 63,766 players (5.51 %)	773 – 783	785 – 807	808 – 829	832 – 840
Platinum I 70,886 players (6.12 %)	694 – 703	704 – 727	728 – 750	752 – 762
Gold III 68,371 players (5.91 %)	614 – 623	624 – 647	648 – 670	672 – 680
Gold II 49,586 players (4.28 %)	547 – 558	559 – 577	578 – 596	597 – 605
Gold I 42,717 players (3.69 %)	491 – 498	499 – 517	518 – 536	537 – 545
Silver III 29,096 players (2.51 %)	430 – 438	439 – 457	458 – 476	477 – 485
Silver II 20,076 players (1.73 %)	369 – 378	379 – 397	398 – 416	417 – 425
Silver I 11,390 players (0.98 %)	312 – 318	319 – 337	338 – 356	357 – 360
Bronze III 5,196 players (0.45 %)	247 – 258	261 – 277	278 – 296	297 – 307
Bronze II 1,980 players (0.17 %)	192 – 198	202 – 217	218 – 236	237 – 250
Bronze I 908 players (0.08 %)	0 – 0	126 – 139	150 – 170	173 – 178
Unranked 451,531 players (39.00 %)	388 – 1.540	- —	- —	- —

 

MMR subdivision 1v1
Rank	Div I	Div II	Div III	Div IV
Supersonic Legend 181 players (0.02 %)	1.348 – 1.372	- —	- —	- —
Grand Champion III 302 players (0.03 %)	1.287 – 1.298	1.300 – 1.316	1.318 – 1.333	1.337 – 1.352
Grand Champion II 1,145 players (0.12 %)	1.226 – 1.238	1.240 – 1.254	1.258 – 1.276	1.277 – 1.291
Grand Champion I 3,212 players (0.33 %)	1.166 – 1.178	1.180 – 1.187	1.200 – 1.215	1.217 – 1.225
Champion III 3,720 players (0.38 %)	1.105 – 1.118	1.120 – 1.133	1.139 – 1.155	1.157 – 1.165
Champion II 4,478 players (0.46 %)	1.045 – 1.058	1.060 – 1.074	1.078 – 1.095	1.097 – 1.106
Champion I 6,112 players (0.63 %)	987 – 998	1.000 – 1.013	1.018 – 1.034	1.037 – 1.044
Diamond III 7,191 players (0.74 %)	925 – 938	940 – 957	960 – 975	977 – 985
Diamond II 10,115 players (1.03 %)	867 – 878	880 – 896	898 – 915	917 – 926
Diamond I 15,056 players (1.54 %)	807 – 818	820 – 836	839 – 855	857 – 866
Platinum III 17,237 players (1.76 %)	747 – 758	759 – 777	779 – 795	797 – 802
Platinum II 23,309 players (2.38 %)	687 – 698	699 – 717	718 – 735	737 – 745
Platinum I 32,970 players (3.37 %)	635 – 638	639 – 657	658 – 676	677 – 686
Gold III 30,132 players (3.08 %)	573 – 578	579 – 597	598 – 616	617 – 626
Gold II 31,626 players (3.24 %)	513 – 518	519 – 537	538 – 556	557 – 565
Gold I 25,066 players (2.56 %)	454 – 458	459 – 477	478 – 496	497 – 502
Silver III 12,656 players (1.29 %)	389 – 398	399 – 417	418 – 436	437 – 453
Silver II 7,028 players (0.72 %)	323 – 338	339 – 357	358 – 376	377 – 394
Silver I 2,764 players (0.28 %)	275 – 278	279 – 297	302 – 316	317 – 334
Bronze III 913 players (0.09 %)	208 – 218	220 – 237	239 – 256	257 – 259
Bronze II 183 players (0.02 %)	- —	- —	187 – 195	197 – 207
Bronze I 110 players (0.01 %)	0 – 0	- —	- —	- —
Unranked 741,988 players (75.91 %)	453 – 1.180	- —	- —	- —

In Competitive Mode in Rocket League, players are ranked according to an MMR (Match Making Rating) system. However, a player's MMR value is not normally viewable and is only visible on PC with the BakkesMod modification.

During the first ten placement matches, the player receives or loses up to 50 MMR per match won and lost. This quickly assigns appropriate ranks to players. After the placement matches, the player receives either +8 or -8 MMR per match.

Seasons and inactivity

The ranks earned do not remain permanent. They are only valid for one season, which usually lasts for several months. At the end of each season, all players receive special rewards depending on the rank they have earned. To receive a season reward for a rank, a player must have ten wins at that rank or higher. Each reward must be earned; a silver reward cannot be earned until the bronze reward has been earned. Therefore, in order to receive all rewards, the player must play at least 70 matches (6 ranks of 10 wins + 10 placement matches).

After the end of a season, the next one starts immediately afterwards. Each player will be subject to a soft reset in each mode in which they have earned a rank. This resets all ranking matches and the player must replay them in each mode. As a rule of thumb, if the player wins half of the games, he will get his previous rank back. If he wins more or less games, they will count as a normal ranked game. So you always end up near your outdated rank.

In case of inactivity, i.e. not playing a competition-based mode for several weeks during an ongoing season, the player is subjected to a Slightly Soft Reset. This requires him to replay a portion of his placement matches, usually two or three. The games are scored as normal competitive play and count towards rank. The season reward progress remains.

Ranks and Items

The points (XP) earned in the game increase the level. A level increase is rewarded with a random item, and ranks can also be unlocked depending on the level. These are displayed under the name and give an indication of the approximate total playing time of the player.

Level	Rank
from 20	Veteran
from 40 up	Expert
from 60	Master
from 80	Legend
from 100	Rocketmaster
from 200	Elite challenger
from 300	All-Star
from 400	Superstar
from 500	Biggest rival
from 600	Outstanding champion
from 700	Supersonic Legend
from 800	Ultimate ball artist
from 900	Rocketmaster Elite
from 1000	Rocket Demigod

Just like points, until the December 2019 update, after playing a game with a certain probability, you received crates that contained items and could be opened with paid keys or free decoders. Psyonix announced a new looting system on October 1, 2019, to replace crates and keys at the end of the year. The move was explained as trying to make the whole process less luck-based and show players directly what exactly they're getting for their money. The new system is called "Blueprints". Since the Blueprint update, instead of boxes, the player receives so-called Blueprints, which are attributed to a special cosmetic item. By paying credits, the new real money currency introduced in this update, you can craft and use this item. Since the March 2020 update, Blueprints can be traded with other players, just like crates before.