Rocket League is addictive based on its uniqueness. No other game behaves like it; therefore, getting good inherently brings you back to the same dopamine rush and satisfaction of a win.
While some play for fun, others aim tirelessly at that subsequent division, rank set, and ultimately player title. It can be fleeting and defeating to get so close with a lucky streak only to stumble back down, stitching L’s together, losing MMR left and right.
Well, consider it luck no more. The ranked randomness ends with the controller in your hands. If you want to rank like the pros, you need to play like the pros. With that said, these are 26 tips to rank Grand Champ in 2026, from an RLCS caster.
- Dominate the speed flip
Kickoffs are the most essential part of the game. Every match needs at least one kickoff and one goal to win it, and since scoring is a series of decisions crescendoing to a goal, you want to control as much of the rhythm as possible. Get to the ball first and get your team quality time with it to start on the right foot.
- Don’t go for boost on kickoff
Forget all about going hard left or hard right after the countdown. This essentially eliminates you from a follow-up touch, gives up the first possession, and consequently forces you to play defense until the opponent makes a mistake or scores. Instead, cheat up carefully with whoever is going for kickoff, and ask your teammate to do the same. If your teammate doesn’t come with, try to win your kickoffs to your own corners for possession.
- Call out your kickoffs to your teammate
Make sure you map “On your left.” and “On your right.” to your team chat bindings. Communication is your only tool when queueing in a team setting. If they know, they can help.
- Rotate through the pads
You’ll be amazed at how much boost you can garner if you follow the pads’ path. Picking up pennies through your rotation will keep you in play much longer instead of constantly waiting for 100s to spawn.
- Learn to dribble-flick in the slightest
Even if it’s for a second and a half, a dribble is way more likely to be respected by the defense on a counterattack, assist attempt, or 1v1 towards the net. The point is to become an unpredictable threat, so learn the basics and start implementing them in your offense.
- Bump on your way back
Say you miss a flick, shot, or pass on the opposite end of the field. If you can’t make it back between the ball and the net, you have two priorities while rotating: pick up pennies and bump anyone on sight. This destabilizes offenses and can even create an opportunity for a counterattack.
- Time your Squishy saves
Counterattacks are essential to ranking up. They’re make-or-break games on both sides of the ball. It’s fundamental to rotate in and out of defense as quickly as possible, and what better way than to time your Squishy save to keep the ball out of your net and push towards the opponent's side in one swift move.
- Motivate teammates
A well-timed “Nice shot!”, “What a save!” or just “Nice one!” will do wonders for self and teammate confidence.
- Say sorry to teammates more often
This same principle applies to mistakes. The slightest acknowledgement provides the clarity to move on to the next ball as a team.
- Trash talk or close chat
Chat is rarely wholesome between opposing teams, so if you aren’t going to clap back at trash talkers, you'd better turn it off. Mental is the key to victory, and talking trash is one way to shut that door.
- Get good at comms
You need to be well-versed in “I got”, “backpost”, “can’t”, and “full boost”. Letting your teammate know what you can and cannot do will broaden their perspective on what needs to be done.
- Open your mic online
If you constantly play with the same squad, hop on a call. Otherwise, open your mic to voice chat. On the off chance they also have it open, do full comms. If not, go for text quick chats.
- Warm up before Ranked
Take 2-3 casual games on top of the mindless free play. Pace and situations are different when you’re not in control, and dropping your first game ranked is never a good mental start.
- Install Bakkes mod
Either to insta-gg the lobby, install training packs, or make your car look as clean as possible. They say if you look good, you feel good, you play good, and Bakkes mod does just that.
- Run rings and shooting maps
Replace regular free play with training packs that focus on specific skills, such as aerial, dribbling, and shooting. Way more beneficial than aimlessly blasting the ball.
- Queue 1s more often
The better equipped you are for 1v1s, the easier it is to rank up, so dive nose-first to the 1s playlist without worrying about your rank – worry about your shots, rotations, and saves.
- Queue Rumble more often
Unpredictability forges the best players out there, and while many don’t like it, Rumble’s quirky nature makes for some of the fastest reads in the game.
- Aim for the crossbar after a score
Every second on the pitch is practice, so use the time and even the blast of the goal to try to hit the crossbar or reverse Squishy out.
- Be comfortable slowing down
No need to hold your throttle all game. Take it slow when you have space; you’ll know what to do when you run out of it.
- Get used to the ceiling
Ceiling shots and dunks have a fat chance of catching the opposing team off guard. Practice it and give it a chance once you're comfortable.
- Speed it up
You can go slow if space allows it, but you need to reach top speed quickly, too. Flips, wave dashes, recoveries, half flips, and fast aerials are all important to get to the ball first.
- Forget easily, strengthen mental
Last game was last game. All games start 0-0, so whether it's a win or a loss, shake it off and move on to the next one.
- Look for passing lanes
I don’t know why passing isn’t more popular. Instead of mastering mechanics, look for each other on the field. For a save, clear, possession, or shot, passing means control, and you need it to tie, lead, and close out games.
- Cut off rotation if need be
When getting back, you’ll notice the invisible lines from which the opponent team will attack. If you happen to be in one of these lanes, it is your responsibility to interrupt them to leave an easier ball for your teammate, and your teammate must understand they need to shadow-defend until you get back or cut the play from underneath.
- Commit to creating a window
Defense wins championships because it creates opportunities for all teammates. Don’t be afraid to jump to an impossible 50 if you know your teammate is ready behind you to close the gap.
- Recognize opponents’ roles
Check to see if they’re partied up. Look out for who’s the conservative player and who's the flashy attacker. Are they passing? Are they waiting for you to mess up? The game goes by so fast that you need to identify playstyles and adapt before the clock runs out.
Think you got what it takes to make it? Share this list with your teammate to chase that Grand Champion player title in 2026 and thank me later. Like – Rocket League 2 later.
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