Rocket League Wiki: Best Boost Management in Rocket League - What Do You Need to Know?

So, what's the deal with Rocket League and the boosts available for the ultimate gameplay experience? Rocket League plays like a soccer game, using rocket-powered vehicles. Each match assigns two teams of eight players each. There are single-player and multiplayer modes that can be played locally and online. Rocket League players can also access cross-platform play between the PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo consoles, and on PC.

There are also game modes using basketball and ice hockey. Regardless of which mode is used, players rely on boosts as part of their competitive play strategy to best their opponents. How a boost looks, sounds, and feels in the game plays a key role between a nice vehicle that can dominate and a disappointing one that fails to make an impact.

The Rocket League community features many players who participate regularly in the Rocket League battle arena. Some of the best within the Rocket League know the game well enough to share their in-game experiences to help newcomers and struggling veterans overcome certain obstacles. These include sharing which items in Rocket League work best as the game's coolest boosting services.

From start to finish, you're using boosts all the time. Since that's the case, finding the best Rocket League items that optimize in-game performances is vital. In this article, boosts on this list range between common boosts and the rarest. Ideally, you want the rocket boosts in Rocket League to thematically match your car. We're going to cover some of the rocket boosts available and the many different methods of these boosts used while equipped.

How to Boost in Rocket League

All boosts in Rocket League offer players customization opportunities to build their rocket-powered vehicle by utilizing the Rocket League garage. Perhaps you've observed the top pros always have the best boosts in RL. They're always flashy with the most beautiful rocket boost car bodies that outperform the competition. They come in various shapes and forms and seem to sport the best rocket boosts in the Rocket League.

The best players and the pros owe their impressive track record and RL rank to optimal boost management. The right boost is one of the most important factors in the game. So are the in-game decisions and the team positioning when determining who goes for the ball.

There are four RL boosting services in the game. Big boost pads, small pads, spawning for kickoff, and spawning after being demolished offer players an opportunity to gain even the slightest edge as they work with their teammates to best their opponents. What exactly do these four boost access points offer?

• Kick-Off Boosts and After-Being Demoed Boosts - each player is given thirty-three (33) boosts in every game. These become available during every kickoff and after being demoed.
  
  
• Big Boost Pads - These boosts can be found evenly along the edge of a standard soccer map. There are six of them in total. Each of these boosts gives a 100% Refill to your boost meter. It also has a ten-second respawn time once they're picked up.
  
  
• Small Boost Pads - Twenty-eight (28) small boost pads are scattered across a standard soccer map. Each small pad adds 12 Boost to the boost tank. These boosts have their name and are sometimes referenced as pennies, dimes, orbs, and pads. These each have a five-second spawn time after they're picked up. In total, 336 boosts are scattered across the map.
  
  

Each boost pad features a unique hitbox, boost amount, placement, and spawn time. Keep in mind the maximum amount of boost you can have in the tank is 100. Anything beyond that won't be saved.

What Are RL Boost Hitboxes?

Boost hitboxes are something players can enter to access a boost pad. These cylinder-shaped hitboxes are described as invisible geometry that tells a game how and when things collide. Small boost pads have a ground radius of 144 Unreal Units while the big post pads are measured at 208.

The key to picking up the best boosts in Rocket League is to learn how to use specific boost paths. This is what the best players do. They've learned to take advantage of a boost path without sacrificing their position on the field. Some of these are curved, some are straight. Some rely on angles for optimal defensive and offensive results.

The Best Rocket League Boost Strategy: When to Use Boost and When Not to Use Boost

The best boost for Rocket League won't do you much good if you don't know when to use it while in-game. The Rocket League competitive arena can be a nightmare if the slightest mistakes are made. Knowing when to boost in a match is vital during gameplay. So are proper rotations and positioning.

Understanding how the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd man roles and their positions work will help determine how effectively you use the boosts. The 1st man is in charge of challenging (baiting) the ball in defense while bringing the ball forward for a pass or goal in defense. The 2nd man is mainly in charge of receiving passes from the 1st man or the mistouch of the opponent. As for the 3rd man, that one is in charge of receiving and making big clears in defense. The primary role is to support the 1st or 2nd man on offense positioned the furthest back.

Learning the basics of players' roles at given times makes it easier to know where to position yourself and what balls you should go for. It'll also help determine when to use your boost. Ideally, you want to keep as much boost in the tank as possible when you don't need to go for the ball just yet. If you're playing as the 3rd man, save the boost because you'll have no possession of the ball and won't be waiting for a pass.

When going for an aerial, don't hold your boost button when unable to hit the ball. Also, if you hit the ball hard there's no need to boost trying to follow it up. The only exception to this rule is if you're going for a double touch or a dunk on the opponent. Furthermore, don't hold boost when Supersonic on the ground. Tapping the boost once in Supersonic mode already maximizes the speed your car can reach.

Which Are the Best Rocket Boosts in the Rocket League?

So, what is the best boost to use in Rocket League? The best rocket boost in Rocket League is debatable as each player has a preference. Our list features the ten most popular boosts that many players in the RL gaming community agree are among the best looking and effective. They'll agree the best RL boosts are the ones that look, sound, and feel awesome.

#1 - Alpha Boost (Gold Rush)

What is the rarest boost in Rocket League? That trophy goes to Alpha Boost. Otherwise known as Gold Rush, it's the most recognizable and coveted boost in Rocket League. This is attributed to its import rarity. The Alpha is perhaps the best Rocket League boost among the rocket boosts listed. The sound it makes when used is amazing. This is also one of those rare boosts that can work with any car, even if it doesn't match thematically.

#2 - Dark Matter

While Dark Matter may not classify as a top 10 rarest boost in Rocket League, it is worth its weight in gold. Not only does it look great in all its variations, but it also fires a plasma gun firing a sound that's nothing short of amazing. Usually, you can access this boost shortly after you buy Rocket League and start your RL career journey. Dark Matter is one of those rare boosts that looks great with many vehicles, especially with purplish and dark-themed cars.

Dark Matter is perhaps the coolest boost in Rocket League because of its versatility and how it looks and performs. It may not be the rarest Rocket League boost but it's certainly one of the most entertaining.

#3 - Fish Boat

The Fish Boat features a trail of goldfish streaming out the back as a boost that's just as fun to watch as it is to listen to. There are different color variants of these fish and the water they're dancing in. For competitors favoring a nautical-themed vehicle, you can't go wrong with the Fish Boat.

#4 - Hypernova Boost

When in action, the Hypernova and its variants let off an awesome sound as it sets off impressive trail rings and other particle effects. For many players, the Hypernova is a standard favorite used often. The cosmetics of this boost make it easy to pair up with any vehicle and it is easy enough to come by through trade ups.

#5 - Lightning

The crackling visual Lightning produces when used is stunning. Different color combinations work well with any vehicle. If you're into minimalism, it works. If you're looking for something more dramatic, you can easily work out a theme that suits your personality. It's an ideal boost for newbies as they work toward that perfect boost that gives off the ultimate "wow" effect. For veterans, Lightning remains a solid favorite.

#6 - Popcorn

Popcorn is a free boost that's relatively easy to redeem. The visual "popping" from the kernels as they come out of the fire produced by your vehicle makes it look cool. Combine that with the popcorn goal explosion and it's a great boost to engineer an amazing RL vehicle.

#7 - Phosphor

The visual appeal of the liquid-like proton rocket boost when Phosphor is used is simply spectacular. The array of colors as they shoot out is cool to watch. Fans of flashy cars will find the default skin easy to work with. As for the variants, this is best left to designers who know how to work with the colors so their vehicles don't look awkward.

#8 - Rainbow

The Rainbow is built with RGB enthusiasts in mind. So has another rainbow-themed boost, Accelerato. These are great boosts for gamers building a multicolored vehicle. The primary difference between the Rainbow and the Accelerato is the visual effects. The Rainbow shoots straight lines out of the back while Accelerato drifts musical notes.

#9 - Sparkles

What makes Sparkles so popular is the minimal distraction effects. Among the players striving for the ultimate Rocket League rank boost, Sparkles witnessed a surge in popularity. The titanium white is the most coveted boost item among the Sparkles variants. What's great about this boost is it works with just about any car.

#10 - Titanium White

Members of the RL community will universally agree that anything featuring Titanium White makes a great boost for any vehicle used in the arena. That's because their clean look can pair up with any car without appearing awkward. On the market, anything to do with titanium parts usually fetches a high price as they're among the most sought-after items in the game.

Summing Up Best Rocket Boosts in Rocket League and Best Rocket League Items

What is the best boost in Rocket League? Since rocket boosts were introduced, many players will argue it's Alpha. When this boost is paired with some of the rarest items in the game, it also becomes the best-looking boost in Rocket League. Those items include Gold Antenna, Gold Cap, Gold Rush, and Goldstone Wheels.

Among the players who participated in the alpha test run in 2014, the Gold Rush was the alpha reward for their efforts. It's been the hands-on favorite among several professional players since then. This is an exclusive item not typically found in crates dropped in the game. You'll have to find a copy through trading if you can.


As rare as these are, nothing beats the White Hat Topper. This cosmetic is awarded to players who find game-breaking glitches and other exploits in Rocket League. If you're looking to find one in the marketplace, it's almost impossible. Because of its rarity, the White Hat also fetches a high price.