Rocket League has introduced countless cars to the game, from tall and bulky to short and fast - all with pros and cons that make them better at some things and worse at others.
Most of the time, players want to know the cars that will make them the best high-flying strikers on the pitch, but what about the dedicated goalkeepers in the crowd?
These players can single-handedly save games when playing correctly, so we made a list of some of the best goalkeeping cars in Rocket League to get the most out of the goalie experience.
Before we get into the best cars for goalies in Rocket League, it’s important to highlight the fact that there aren’t any stat changes across any of the cars.
It might seem like some cars are slower than others, but that’s only a placebo effect. As the developers confirmed, all the cars have the same speed, dodge timing, and jump height.
That’s not to say that all of their hitboxes are the same.
This is the one area where Rocket League cars have unique properties from one another, although not wholly unique.
When Rocket League was first released, a lot of the cars had their own, unique hitboxes.
With the addition of new cars and even more being added in the future, Psyonix introduced an update to make hitboxes more uniform. There are now six unique hitboxes in Rocket League:
This is the area that we’ll focus on more than the exact cars since the hitbox type is more important than the particular design you’re using.
The Merc is the car that most people probably think of when reviewing the best cars for goalkeeping in Rocket League.
It has the biggest hitbox in the game (the original Merc hitbox style), so you can naturally cover more of the net without relying on mechanical skill.
This car is also great for 50/50 balls, demolitions, and clears.
Aerial saves aren’t as easy as some of the other cars on this list, but the Merc can dominate low-level ranked matches before players are skilled enough to consistently keep the ball off of the ground.
The Merc isn’t the best two-way threat in the game, but some players still love it - especially for dedicated goalies.
The Octane is one of the best all-around cars in the game, so it should come as no surprise to see it listed as one of the best goalkeeping cars in Rocket League. The hitbox of the same name, Octane, provides a balanced mix of agility, reach, and aerial control, making blocking shots in the air a lot easier to pull off.
The hitbox of the Octane is one of the better choices for contesting 50/50 balls against defenders, and the turning radius allows you to keep your positioning clean when setting up a high-risk save attempt.
If you’re a player who likes to flex in and out of the net, the Octane is a good choice, as you can seamlessly save, clear, and put pressure on opponents.
The Breakout, with a hitbox of the same name, is another good decision for goalies who don’t mind losing a bit of height on their car.
While the Merc has the tallest hitbox, the Breakout has the longest, giving you that extra bit of space to hit diving saves against other players.
This is also one of the better aerial dribble cars in Rocket League, so you can turn the momentum after a save and run it back onto your opponent’s end of the pitch. Similarly, the hitbox allows you to clear the ball consistently.
Although the Breakout is a decent two-way goalie, it can work great for players who stay back, hold the net, and clear. That extra bit of length goes a long way when making critical saves.
The Plank hitbox is another great choice for goalkeeping and two-way threats, with several DLC cars operating within this category.
The first-ever Plank car was the original Batmobile, but several other cars, including the Formula 1 pack, have followed the same design.
The Breakout is long, the Merc is tall, and the Plank is wide. It’s the widest hitbox in the game, which isn’t as useful for goalkeeping in Rocket League as being long or tall, but can still come in handy in some niche instances where you save a ball that would have otherwise gone right past you.
The width of the Plank hitbox also allows for easier clears and a slight edge on 50/50 balls, with more room for error. These cars have slower turning controls than some of the others, but are still good choices for aerial saves and contesting close-range shots.
Hybrid hitbox cars, might not have the statistical advantage in weight or size, but they’re still a great choice if you find yourself making consistent high-flying saves.
It can be more difficult to get the Merc off of the ground and maneuver aerials with Plank cars. This is where the Hybrid hitbox shines.
If you’re more focused on 50/50 contests and demolitions, you might want to look elsewhere.
If you want to spin in the air with a highlight reel save, then the Hybrid is an excellent choice. It might not be the best dedicated goalkeeper car in Rocket League, but it’s still a strong choice and a great flex option for rotational gameplay.
At the end of the day, the best goalie car in Rocket League will depend on your playstyle. Dedicated goalkeepers who want to win their 50/50s and block the most shots may prefer the Merc or Dominus.
Those who want to flex in and out of the goal may be better served picking the Octane or Plank-style cars.
Whichever car you choose, just make sure it’s the one that makes you the most comfortable.
The best goalkeeping car is always the one that gives you the best chance at making the save.
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