6.7. Customizing Presets & Loadouts
Your car is your avatar in Rocket League, and personalization is a huge part of the experience. This section guides you through customizing your car's appearance, from body types and decals to wheels and goal explosions. Learn how to create unique presets and express your style on the field.
Rocket League offers an unparalleled level of car customization, allowing players to craft unique identities for their in-game vehicles. From the sleek lines of a sports car to the ruggedness of a truck, your choice of car body is just the beginning. This section will explore the vast array of customization options available, including decals, paint finishes, wheels, rocket boosts, toppers, antennas, and goal explosions. Learn how to create stylish presets and make your car stand out on the pitch.
The Garage: Your Customization Hub
All customization options are accessed through the 'Garage' tab in the main menu. Here, you can:
- Select Car Bodies: Choose from a wide variety of officially licensed and original car bodies, each with a different hitbox and turning radius.
- Apply Decals: Decals are skins that cover your car's body, offering intricate dess and patterns.
- Choose Paint Finishes: These determine the texture and reflectivity of your car's paint (e.g., Anodized, Matte, Pearlescent).
- Equip Wheels: A vast selection of wheels can drastically change your car's aesthetic.
- Select Rocket Boosts: Customize the visual effect of your boost trail.
- Add Toppers & Antennas: Cosmetic items that sit on top of your car or hang from the back.
- Equip Goal Explosions: The spectacular visual effect that plays when you score a goal.
Understanding Car Hitboxes
While customization is primarily cosmetic, the car body you choose does affect its hitbox (the invisible shape that determines how the car interacts with the ball and other cars) and turning radius. Common hitbox types include:
- Octane: A popular all-around hitbox, good for aerials and ground play.
- Dominus: Longer and flatter, excellent for flicks and dribbles.
- Plank: Wider and flatter, favored by some for its large surface area.
- Hybrid: A blend of Octane and Dominus characteristics.
- Breakout: Longer and narrower, good for precise shots.
Experiment with different car bodies to find one that suits your playstyle.
Creating and Saving Presets
You can save multiple 'Presets' of your customized cars. This allows you to quickly switch between different looks without having to reapply all the items each time.
- Create New Presets: In the Garage, you'll see slots for 'Preset 1,' 'Preset 2,' etc. Select an empty slot to start customizing a new car.
- Save Your Work: Once you're happy with a des, it's automatically saved to that preset slot.
- Switching Presets: You can easily switch between your saved presets from the Garage menu or even during a match via the quick menu.
Acquiring Customization Items
Items can be acquired through several methods:
- Rocket Pass: Each season features a Rocket Pass with free and premium tiers offering a wide array of cosmetic items.
- Item Shop: A rotating daily shop features specific items for purchase with Rocket League Credits.
- Blueprints: After matches, you may receive Blueprints for specific items. You can then use Credits to build these items.
- Trading: You can trade items with each other (platform restrictions may apply).
- Drops: Special item drops can be earned through gameplay or events.
Desing a Stylish Preset
- Theme It: Consider a theme for your car – a specific color scheme, a favorite team's colors, or a particular aesthetic (e.g., futuristic, retro).
- Color Coordination: Pay attention to how your primary and accent colors, paint finishes, and decals work together.
- Match Your Wheels: Wheels are a prominent visual element. Choose wheels that complement your decal and overall theme.
- Don't Overdo It: Sometimes, less is more. A clean, simple des can be just as striking as an elaborate one.
Your car's appearance is a personal statement in Rocket League. Take the time to explore the customization options, experiment with different combinations, and create presets that reflect your unique style and personality on the field.