Best Cars for Aerials in Rocket League

Aerials and air dribbling are two of the most important advanced mechanics in Rocket League. Not only does it look cool to pull off a cross-map dunk, but mastering these strategies can catapult you up the ranks above players who still have trouble getting off the ground.

There are a few cars that make it easier to aerial, which is why the most popular cars consistently sit at the top. Ahead, we’ll explain how hitboxes work in Rocket League and the best cars for aerials.

• Also read: All Rocket League ranks explained

Rocket League Hitboxes Explained

Rocket League hitboxes have been standardised across all cars. Although two cars may look visibly different, they often share hitboxes that make them perform the same in practice.

This wasn’t always the case, but modern Rocket League has only six hitboxes under which all cars fall:

• Breakout
• Dominus
• Hybrid
• Merc
• Octane
• Plank

There are countless cars to choose from, with more being added each season. With only six hitboxes, though, many of them are essentially the same as one another. For that reason, we’ll rank the best car hitbox types for aerials rather than specific cars since this is more important. Otherwise, this list would likely exclusively contain Octane and Dominus cars.

Octane

The Octane is one of the most popular hitbox types in the game for a reason. It’s incredibly well-rounded and intuitive to use.

It turns quickly and offers forgiving aerial control, which is great for beginners who are just learning how to get up off of the ground.

Once you get your bearings and start to air dribble, the Octane offers superior balance and air roll control compared to some of the other cars in the game.

Several popular car models use this hitbox type, including the Fennec, one of the most desired cars in Rocket League.

You can’t go wrong with any of the Octane cars, and they’re a great starting point if you’re looking for a main hitbox style.

Fennec

The Fennec shares a hitbox with the Octane, but it deserves its own spot on this list due to its sheer popularity. Many Rocket League pros consider the Fennec to be the best car for aerials, despite it being technically identical to the Octane.

Although it may have the same hitbox, the visual shape of the car makes it feel a bit cleaner and smoother to use.

The hitbox, after all, isn’t always directly in sync with the shape of the car. For the Fennec, the hitbox can feel more intuitive than the plain Octane.

Dominus

If the Octane is the most popular car for aerials in Rocket League, the Dominus is a close second. It’s longer than the Octane and a bit less nimble, but the length makes it easier to hit those contested balls in the air.

It’s also the favorite hitbox style of players who like to flip reset and hit trick shots, as it offers a bit of a higher style-point ceiling than the Octane does.

You can’t go wrong between the Octane and the Dominus, so the choice is up to you. We recommend trying them both out and seeing which one you prefer for overall gameplay.

Both come with a distinct aerial and air dribble style, so get comfortable with one of them and start hitting some shots.

Plank

The Plank is another popular hitbox for aerials but falls short of both the Octane and the Dominus. It shares the drawback of being shorter than the Octane, making 50-50 balls feel a bit less consistent in the air.

It can also feel a bit awkward and slow to turn, making it difficult to get used to - especially if you’re an Octane player.

Despite this, the Plank hitbox provides players with a long, flat surface that, like the Dominus, lends itself to flicks and impressive plays.

There are plenty of cool cars that sport the Plank hitbox, and it is relatively popular, but those looking to pick the META car for aerials in Rocket League might be better served with the Dominus.

The Breakout begins the next tier of aerial cars in Rocket League. It’s not the most popular in the game, but some players prefer it as an off-brand Dominus for its long reach.

It’s decent for air dribbling and has an above-average ability to flip reset, but the downsides are there as well.

The low profile of the car makes it difficult to win the mid-air battles with taller cars. With the Octane being one of the most popular choices in the game, that means they’ll be shooting the ball by you more often than not.

Players also find the Breakout more difficult to control in the air, making it feel more awkward when compared to the top choices.

Hybrid

The Hybrid, as the name suggests, is a middle-ground between the popular models of the Octane and Dominus. It has good mid-air mobility and a balanced hitbox that makes use of both length and height, rather than sacrificing one for the other.

Unfortunately, it’s these benefits that make the Hybrid feel a bit lackluster when compared to the top cars in the game. It can feel a bit like a jack-of-all-trades but a master of none.

Merc

We included this hitbox type on the list so that we can cover all of our bases. The Merc is not one of the best cars for aerials and aerial dribbling in Rocket League.

It’s the tallest hitbox in the game, has a wide turning radius, and feels clunky once you get it off the ground.

The Merc is a good choice if you’re looking for a dedicated goalkeeping car, but not for striker-style aerials. It’s one of the least popular choices for a reason, and we suggest trying any of the other options on this list over the Merc.

Of course, it’s all personal preference, and you can certainly ball-out with the Merc. If you’re looking for the most optional selection, however, you’d be better served looking elsewhere.

Choosing the Car That Fits You Best

At the end of the day, the best Rocket League car for you is all about what you like and are comfortable using. If you have 200 hours in free-play with the Merc, you can still climb the ranks with it as an off-meta pick.

However, if you’re looking for the consensus best cars for aerials in Rocket League, you’ll probably want to spend your time practicing with the Octane and Dominus. These are consistently picked above the rest for a reason.