All Rocket Racing mechanics explained, from Drift to Turbo & more

All Rocket Racing mechanics explained, from Drift to Turbo & more
Images via Epic Games | Psyonix

Written by 

Jack Marsh

Published 

8th Dec 2023 15:20

Contents

Now that Fortnite and Rocket League have made a love child in Rocket Racing, you might want to get an early pit stop over your opponents and learn the mechanics.

The Rocket Racing mechanics appear to be much more streamlined in comparison to both of the parent titles, where you won't need to learn musty flicks or how to crank 90s, just a few sleek details which will see you soaring past the competition with finesse and power.

So, here are the four main Rocket Racing mechanics that you must learn in order to be victorious and climb the Ranked Unreal Leaderboards

Flying

Click to enlarge

No one likes potholes, they're the bane of every driver up and down the UK and US, constantly popping tyres. Well, fear not, you won't be catching any flats in Rocket Racing, as just like Epic's RL and its predecessor Super Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars, the key to winning is to fly.

This Rocket Racing mechanic will allow you to move off the ground and take to the air, which will be handy for taking shortcuts and avoiding bumps. You can do this by holding down the 'jump' button or tapping it multiple times to fly a little bit further.

Air Roll / Flipping

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Once you've figured out how to move forward and begin to fly, the next mechanic you need under your wing is Air Dodging, which is a staple in Rocket League.

In Rocket Racing, this mechanic will allow you to take to the skies and roll into walls or ceilings with a double-jump system. Pull off an air dodge by indicating a direction while pressing the air dodge button

Drifting

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With your wheels back on the floor, the most important Rocket Racing mechanic is Drift - something new to both Fortnite and Rocket League.

As a sharp turn approaches, players will be able to perform a well-timed drift which will allow them to gain speed while arcing their trajectory at a different angle.

Basic drifting will come into play automatically when you begin turning past a certain angle threshold, but when it comes to sharper turns, you will also be able to activate Rocket Drift.

By making a sharp turn and holding your Drift key bind, you will begin a Rocket Drift, which will boost your car in speed when you come out of it (a prime Mario Kart trick here). The longer you hold the Rocket Drift, the more boost you get coming out of your turn, but hold it too long and you'll be boosting into the walls.

Turbo

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Finally, it wouldn't be a Rocket-based title if there was no boost. This Rocket Racing mechanic will be the key to your early success, as filling up your boost tank will allow you to surge past the competition.

You'll be able to fill your tank in two ways: The Turbo meter will refill over time or you can make it refill faster by drifting. Filling your meter up to the brim will allow for a "triple Turbo threat", and you'll leave everyone in your dust after this. 

Now that you know how to control your vehicle in Rocket Racing, why not try out the new LEGO mode? We've got guides for playing multiplayer, inviting NPCs to live in your village, and all the weapons you can get.

Jack Marsh
About the author
Jack Marsh
Jack is an Esports Journalist at GGRecon. Graduating from the University of Chester, with a BA Honours degree in Journalism, Jack is an avid esports enthusiast and specialises in Rocket League, Call of Duty, VALORANT, and trending gaming news.
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