Knockout City is a fast-paced dodgeball game developed by Velan Studios and published by EA. It features a variety of powerful dodgeballs to pummel opponents with. Players can even start a private lobby with friends to take out their frustrations. It features cross-play and can be played on all major systems. Upon initial release, the game featured 4 maps and released a fifth with the start of its season 1 ranked leagues four days later.
Whether playing casual or ranked, the game is far more enjoyable when players and friends are able to dominate the enemy team. To do so, players will need to know the ins and outs of the various maps, making the most of their environment to stay ahead of the competition. Players have to be especially careful on Rooftop Rumble.
7 Avoid The Bridge
The Rooftop Rumble map is a treacherous map and easy to fall off of. Especially when there is high traffic near the bridge. The bridge is a very narrow structure made of rickety wood planks that look as if it could crumble at any moment. Don't worry, the bridge won't collapse, but opponents might make use of your position to knock you off the map.
If you are hit with a ball or dodged at from the right angle, the knockback will often be enough to throw you out into open space. So, when deciding to cross the bridge, be wary of any enemies nearby. Or lye in wait for the first poor soul that passes and knock them off.
6 Don't Walk Backwards When You Spawn
Aside from the bridge, many spots on this rooftop don't have a wall or railing to keep players from walking off. Due to the random nature of player spawns, players never know where they are going to spawn. So, don't give the enemy a free point by respawning and stepping backward off the map.
Make sure to get your bearings for a moment before moving around. The game is pretty good about spawning players away from opponents, so the area should be relatively safe for you to developed a game plan and get back in the fight.
5 Remember To Glide
The glider can be an important lifeline on Knockout City. There are many moments where players will find themselves knocked off the map by a player dodge or the knockback from a ball hit. Players will need quick reflexes to survive falling off the map, and the glider is the way to do that.
Additionally, on the Rooftop Rumble map specifically, there are strong wind gusts between the two buildings that can be used to glide from one to the other. They don't provide any upward velocity, but they do provide forward velocity so players are not so vulnerable while transferring between rooftops. Players are more vulnerable on their glider out in open space, though. Make sure opponents don't have a lock before floating across.
4 Remember To Dodge
Another way to quickly get back over solid ground is your dodge. Players may be able to dodge once or twice before falling below the rooftop. Dodging also breaks tracking on any opponent throws that may be trying to take advantage of the player's unfortunate positioning. Additionally, players can dodge into an incoming projectile to knock it away.
In circumstances where a player is knocked a ways off the map, gliding for a while then dodging to cover the last bit of distance is probably the safest bet. There will often be opponents sitting and waiting for the player's return to knock them away again. A well-placed dodge will help players get past opponents or knock them away instead.
3 Dodge To Knock Players Off
In circumstances where players find themselves without a ball weapon, they can still be useful and get knockouts for their team. Due to the nature of this map and its many drop-offs, players can shove each other off with a well-placed dodge.
When a player dodges into an opponent, it will knock them backward and make them drop any balls they were holding. If timed and aimed properly, a player can use this ability to push an opponent over the edge of the map. If the opponent isn't quick enough in pulling out their glider, they will plummet off the map and give your team a point.
2 Be Careful When Throwing Teammates
In Knockout City, players can ball themselves up to be thrown by teammates. This tactic provides a potent area of effect attack that is difficult for opponents to avoid. When a held player is fully charged, they become a bomb that is thrown into the air. The thrown player will remain airborne for a short time, during which they can control where they land.
Due to there being a large space between rooftops, if players throw a teammate in this manner toward the other rooftop, they need to make sure they will get to the other side before crashing down. If the balled player doesn't make it, they will plummet straight into open space and give a free point to the enemy team.
1 Use a Controller
Even if playing on a PC, using a controller is very useful for this game. The layout of a controller makes it much easier to perform the special moves required to get the drop on the competition. There are several special moves that require a player to press a directional key and an action key at the same time.
These keybindings can be difficult on a PC unless you have a plethora of mouse buttons. They require players' fingers to use key combinations that most games don't, which sets their whole hand position off. This leaves you vulnerable for a moment while resetting. It doesn't happen often, but in this game, if playing crossplay, the controller players have the leg up over keyboard and mouse players.