Rocket League, the vehicular soccer phenomenon, offers players a plethora of ways to customize their rides and stand out on the pitch. One of the most exciting avenues for customization is through opening crates, now more commonly referred to as blueprints, and the items they contain. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about Rocket League’s crate (now blueprint) system, how to acquire them, and how to unlock the amazing cosmetic items within.
What are Crates (Blueprints) in Rocket League?
Originally, Rocket League featured a crate system. Players would earn crates through gameplay and then need to purchase keys to open them. However, Psyonix transitioned to a blueprint system in December 2019. Blueprints function similarly to crates in that they contain potential items. However, instead of gambling on a random pull, blueprints reveal the item you’ll receive, and you can then choose whether or not to pay credits to “craft” it.
Think of blueprints as recipes. You find a blueprint (recipe), and then you decide if you want to spend credits (ingredients) to create the item.
How to Acquire Blueprints
There are several ways to obtain blueprints in Rocket League:
- Post-Match Drops: The most common way to get blueprints is through random post-match drops. After completing an online match (casual or competitive), there’s a chance you’ll receive a blueprint. The drop rate is random, so you might get several in a short period, or go a while without seeing any.
- Rocket Pass: The Rocket Pass, a seasonal progression system, often includes blueprints as rewards at various tiers. Purchasing the premium Rocket Pass unlocks even more opportunities to earn blueprints.
- Item Shop: Occasionally, the Item Shop may offer bundles that include blueprints. These bundles are usually themed around specific events or collaborations.
- Trading: You can trade blueprints with other players. This is a great way to acquire blueprints that you’re specifically looking for. Use online trading communities or in-game trading to find players willing to trade blueprints. Be mindful of market prices and ensure you’re getting a fair deal.
Understanding Blueprint Rarities
Just like items, blueprints come in different rarities, which affect the potential value and desirability of the items they can create. The rarity tiers, from most common to rarest, are:
- Common: These blueprints typically craft into common or uncommon items.
- Uncommon: Crafting these blueprints yields uncommon or rare items.
- Rare: These blueprints can craft into rare or very rare items.
- Very Rare: These blueprints offer a chance to craft very rare or import items.
- Import: These blueprints craft into import items.
- Exotic: These blueprints craft into exotic items, often including painted versions.
- Black Market: These blueprints craft into the highly sought-after Black Market items, known for their unique and visually stunning designs. These often have the highest crafting costs.
How to Open (Craft) Blueprints
The term “open” is no longer applicable since the blueprint system reveals the item. Now, you “craft” blueprints. Here’s how to craft blueprints in Rocket League:
- Navigate to the Inventory: From the main menu, go to the “Garage” tab, then select “Manage Inventory.”
- Select Blueprints: In your inventory, you’ll find a section labeled “Blueprints.” Select this section to view all your acquired blueprints.
- Choose a Blueprint: Browse through your blueprints and select the one you want to examine.
- View Item and Crafting Cost: Once you select a blueprint, you’ll see a preview of the item it can craft and the credit cost required to craft it. Pay close attention to the item’s attributes, such as paint color and certification (if any).
- Craft the Item (Optional): If you like the item and have enough credits, you can choose to craft it. Click the “Craft” button. A confirmation window will appear, reminding you of the credit cost. Confirm your choice to craft the item.
- Item Added to Inventory: After crafting, the item will be added to your inventory, ready for you to equip and show off on the field.
Important Considerations Before Crafting
Before you rush to craft every blueprint you find, consider these important factors:
- Credit Cost: Crafting blueprints requires credits. Credits are the premium currency in Rocket League, which you can purchase with real money or earn through the Rocket Pass. Evaluate whether the item is worth the credit cost. Black Market items are the most expensive, while common items are much cheaper.
- Item Value: While you might like the look of a particular item, its trade value might be low. If you’re primarily interested in acquiring valuable items for trading, research the item’s market price before crafting. Check sites like RL.Insider for current prices.
- Personal Preference: Ultimately, the decision to craft a blueprint comes down to personal preference. If you love the item and will use it frequently, the credit cost might be justified, even if the item’s trade value is low.
- Blueprint Series: Blueprints belong to specific series (e.g., Revival Series, Ignition Series, Select Favorites Series). Certain series are more desirable than others, which can impact the value of the items they contain. Be aware of the series of a blueprint before crafting.
- Painted and Certified Items: Pay close attention to whether the item crafted from a blueprint is painted (different color variations) or certified (tracks specific stats). Painted and certified items are often more valuable than their standard counterparts.
Trading Blueprints and Items
Rocket League features a robust trading system that allows players to exchange blueprints and items with each other. This is a great way to acquire items you want and get rid of items you don’t need. Here are some tips for trading:
- Find a Trading Partner: Use online trading communities (Reddit’s r/RocketLeagueExchange, Discord servers, etc.) or the in-game trading feature to find players looking to trade.
- Negotiate Fairly: Research the market value of the items you’re trading to ensure you’re getting a fair deal. RL.Insider is a valuable resource for determining item prices.
- Be Aware of Scams: Be cautious of potential scams. Always double-check the items in the trade window before accepting to ensure they are the correct items and colors. Never trust anyone offering deals that seem too good to be true.
- Use a Trusted Middleman (Optional): For high-value trades, consider using a trusted middleman from a reputable trading community. A middleman will hold the items from both traders and ensure that both parties receive what they agreed upon.
- Trade Up System: Use the “Trade Up” system in your inventory to trade in five items of the same rarity for one item of the next higher rarity. This is a good way to get rid of unwanted common or uncommon items and potentially acquire rarer items. Note that items obtained from the Rocket Pass cannot be traded up.
Tips for Maximizing Your Blueprint Potential
Here are some additional tips to help you make the most of the blueprint system in Rocket League:
- Play Regularly: The more you play, the more chances you have to receive blueprints as post-match drops.
- Complete Rocket Pass Challenges: The Rocket Pass offers numerous rewards, including blueprints. Complete the weekly challenges to progress through the Rocket Pass tiers and unlock more rewards.
- Monitor the Item Shop: Check the Item Shop regularly for special bundles that may include blueprints or other desirable items.
- Stay Informed About Market Trends: Keep an eye on the market prices of items to make informed decisions about whether to craft or trade blueprints.
- Don’t Be Afraid to Trade: Trading is a great way to acquire specific items you want and get rid of blueprints you don’t need.
- Consider Blueprint Value before Crafting: Before crafting, check the price of the item on trading sites. Often, it is cheaper to simply buy the item outright than to craft it from a blueprint.
The Economics of Blueprints
The introduction of blueprints significantly altered the in-game economy of Rocket League. Before blueprints, players relied on random crate openings, creating an element of gambling. Now, players have more control over what they acquire, but it also means understanding the credit cost versus the item’s value is crucial.
The value of an item is influenced by several factors:
- Rarity: Black Market items are typically the most valuable, followed by Exotic, Import, Very Rare, Rare, Uncommon, and Common items.
- Paint: Painted items, especially certain colors like White (Titanium White) and Black, can significantly increase an item’s value.
- Certification: Certified items track specific stats and can add value, especially for popular certifications like Striker (tracks shots on goal) and Scorer (tracks goals).
- Series: The series an item belongs to can affect its value. Certain series are more desirable due to their limited availability or the popularity of the items they contain.
- Demand: Like any market, the value of an item is ultimately determined by supply and demand. Popular items that are in high demand will command higher prices.
Blueprint Management
As you play Rocket League, you’ll accumulate a large number of blueprints. Managing your blueprint inventory effectively is essential.
- Identify Valuable Blueprints: Regularly review your blueprints and identify those that can craft into valuable items (Black Market, painted Exotics, etc.).
- Trade Unwanted Blueprints: Trade away blueprints that you don’t want or that have low value. You can often trade multiple low-value blueprints for a single higher-value item or a small amount of credits.
- Consider Crafting for Trading: Sometimes, crafting a blueprint and then trading the item can be more profitable than trading the blueprint itself. Research the market price of the item before crafting.
- Be Patient: The market prices of items can fluctuate over time. If you’re not in a hurry to sell an item, you can wait for the price to increase before trading it.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Here are some common mistakes that players make when dealing with blueprints:
- Crafting Low-Value Blueprints: Avoid crafting blueprints that will result in low-value items. The credit cost is often not worth it.
- Overpaying for Items: Research the market price of items before trading to avoid overpaying.
- Falling for Scams: Be cautious of potential scams and always double-check the items in the trade window before accepting.
- Ignoring Market Trends: Stay informed about market trends to make informed decisions about crafting and trading.
- Hoarding Blueprints: Don’t hoard blueprints indefinitely. Trade away blueprints that you don’t need to free up inventory space and potentially acquire valuable items.
The Future of Blueprints
The blueprint system is likely to remain a core part of Rocket League’s customization and economy. Psyonix may introduce new blueprint series, items, and features in the future. Staying informed about these changes will help you maximize your blueprint potential.
Conclusion
The blueprint system in Rocket League offers a rewarding way to customize your vehicles and express your personal style. By understanding how to acquire blueprints, manage your inventory, and trade effectively, you can unlock a vast array of cosmetic items and enhance your Rocket League experience. So, get out there, play some matches, and start building your dream car!