To activate air roll in Rocket League Sideswipe, you simply tap and hold anywhere on your screen away from other active user interface (UI) buttons while your car is airborne, then drag your finger to control the roll direction.
Air rolling in Rocket League Sideswipe is a core mechanic for advanced aerial control, enabling precise shots, intricate saves, and nimble recoveries. Unlike some settings or actions that have a fixed toggle, air roll is performed through a specific touch input during gameplay.
Activating Free Air Roll
The most common and default method for performing an air roll in Sideswipe is via "free air roll" input. This method offers dynamic control and is essential for most aerial maneuvers.
- Be Airborne: Your car must first be in the air. This can be after a jump, an aerial launch, or being bumped into the air.
- Tap and Hold an Empty Area: While your car is airborne, tap and hold your finger anywhere on the screen that is not occupied by an existing UI button. It is crucial to tap on an empty space. For instance, if you have elements like chat stickers or other quick-access buttons on your screen, tapping on them will not activate air roll. You must find an open area between these buttons to register the air roll input.
- Control Direction: Once you are tapping and holding, drag your finger across the screen to control the direction and speed of your air roll.
- Dragging horizontally (left or right) will cause your car to roll along its longitudinal axis.
- Dragging vertically (up or down) will cause your car to pitch (nose up or down).
This combined input allows for a high degree of precision, letting you adjust your car's orientation exactly as needed for complex aerial plays.
Customizing Controls for Dedicated Air Roll Buttons
For players who prefer a more consistent and button-driven approach, Sideswipe allows for UI customization to add dedicated "Air Roll Left" or "Air Roll Right" buttons.
- Accessing Custom Controls:
- From the main menu, go to Settings.
- Select Controls.
- Choose Edit UI or Customize Controls.
- Adding Dedicated Buttons:
- In the UI editor, you can add new buttons or rearrange existing ones. Look for the options to add "Air Roll Left" and/or "Air Roll Right" buttons.
- Once placed and saved, these buttons will allow you to activate a specific, consistent air roll direction by simply pressing them, without needing to tap and drag. This can simplify certain aerial mechanics, such as consistent aerial dribbles or flips.
Tips for Mastering Air Roll
- Practice in Free Play: The dedicated Free Play mode is the ideal environment to experiment and get comfortable with air rolling without the pressure of a match. Practice flying around and making small, controlled adjustments.
- Combine with Boost: Effective air rolling often involves simultaneously using boost to maintain altitude and momentum, allowing you to sustain aerial maneuvers for longer periods.
- Fine-Tune Sensitivity: Experiment with the touch control sensitivity in your game settings. Finding the right sensitivity can significantly improve your ability to make precise air roll adjustments.
- Target Specific Outcomes: Practice air rolling to orient your car perfectly for power shots, precise touches, or defensive blocks.
Mastering air roll is a significant step in elevating your Sideswipe gameplay, providing you with superior aerial control and opening up advanced playmaking opportunities.
Air Roll Method Comparison
| Feature | Free Air Roll (Tap & Hold) | Dedicated Air Roll Left/Right Buttons |
|---|---|---|
| Activation | Tap and hold any empty screen space while airborne. | Press a specifically assigned button (e.g., "Air Roll Left"). |
| Control | Directional drag for variable, nuanced rotation. | Consistent, fixed rotation direction. |
| Setup | Default; no special setup required for activation. | Requires UI customization in settings. |
| Flexibility | High flexibility for minute adjustments. | Predictable for specific rotational maneuvers. |
| Common Use Case | General aerial adjustments, fine-tuning shots, recovery. | Consistent aerial dribbles, specific directional flips. |
