In the fast-paced world of Racket Rivals, many players focus on powerful smashes and flashy abilities. However, a smart serve is the true foundation of a winning strategy. While it rarely scores a direct point, a well-executed serve can control the flow of the entire rally by severely limiting what your opponents can do.
This guide will teach you a specific, effective serve technique designed to bounce the ball dangerously close to the opponent’s net, forcing them into a disadvantageous position from the very start.
The Secret to an Effective Serve
This serve technique is engineered to make the ball bounce right near the opponent’s net, pressuring them to waste their valuable abilities. Follow these steps precisely for the best results.
Step 1: The Initial Stance
When you begin your serve, it is crucial that you do not move your character. Stay completely still—do not move forward, backward, or sideways. Any movement can throw off your alignment.
Step 2: Execution for the Blue Team
If you are on the Blue Team, here is how to perform the serve:
Aim: Precisely aim your shot at the green speaker located at the very top of the court on your opponent’s side.
Toss: Throw the ball into the air.
Swing: Let the ball fall and hit your character’s head. Immediately after it makes contact, press your swing button.
Step 3: Execution for the White Team
If you are on the White Team, the process is similar but with a different target:
Aim: Precisely aim your shot at the light blue speaker located at the same high point on the opponent’s side of the court.
Toss: Throw the ball into the air.
Swing: Let the ball fall and hit your character’s head. Immediately click your swing button.
The Strategic Impact of This Serve
Successfully performing this serve creates a significant strategic advantage for your team.
Forces a High Return: Since opponents cannot smash a serve, they are forced to hit the ball high into the air for a pass or a set. This gives your team a perfect opportunity to take a dominant position for the next shot.
Baits Out the Set Ability: If the opponent chooses to use their set ability (which sets up a smash for their teammate), you have successfully baited that ability, putting it on cooldown. This creates a perfect opening for your support unit (like Hinari) to use their ability without the threat of an immediate counter-smash. This can further chain into baiting out other defensive abilities from the opponents, like Gou’s freeze or Jin’s set pull.
How to Counter This Serve
Every strategy has a counter. If you are facing this tricky net-bounce serve, here is how to deal with it:
The opponent receiving the serve should position themselves behind the net and perform a set. This action will send the ball back to their own side, neutralizing the immediate threat.
Important Note: Even though this counter successfully returns the ball, it still forces the set ability into cooldown. This means you have successfully baited a key ability, which remains a strategic win for your team.
The Importance of Racket Statistics
It is important to remember that every racket in Racket Rivals has different statistics. Power, angle, and other hidden attributes can affect the serve’s trajectory.
You may need to slightly adjust your specific aiming point on the map to make this serve work optimally with the racket you are using. The instructions provided are a baseline, often tested with rackets like one with Soul Smash level 5 stats. Experiment in practice to find the perfect aim for your gear.
FAQ
Q: Can this serve score an ace (a direct point)?
A: Typically, no. The primary goal of this serve is not to score directly but to limit the opponent’s options and bait their abilities, giving your team a strategic upper hand for the rest of the rally.
Q: Why do I let the ball hit my head?
A: Letting the ball drop to your head before swinging helps create the unique, short-angle trajectory needed for the ball to bounce near the opponent’s net. Swinging too early will result in a different, likely less effective, serve.
Q: Is this serve considered an exploit?
A: No, this is a advanced game mechanic that utilizes precise aiming and timing. It is a legitimate strategy that can be learned and countered by skilled players.
Conclusion
Mastering the net-bounce serve in Racket Rivals is a game-changer. It transforms your serve from a simple rally-starter into a powerful tactical tool. By forcing your opponents into predictable returns and baiting their crucial abilities, you seize control of the match from the very first shot. Remember to practice the aiming points, stay perfectly still, and account for your racket’s unique statistics. Incorporate this serve into your gameplay, and you’ll quickly find yourself winning more rallies through superior strategy.