2021’s been an odd year already, but a futuristic dodgeball multiplayer game made by EAbeing so enjoyable and well-receivedtakes the cake.Knockout Cityjust released on the 21st, and it’s a game where players go three-on-three (typically) in a variety of stages, trying to knock each other out with dodgeballs. Luckily, it’s a decently priced game,constantly seems to be offering different trials, and is free on EA Playand Xbox Game Pass.
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The concept might sound simplistic, but this game actually has a fair bit of mechanical depth. So, to help all the new playersgetting beat down by the beta players, here are some pro tips from someone who already put 30+ hours into the game.
Updated June 29, 2025 by Jake Buchalter:Knockout City has been experiencing a lot of success, with many critics and players loving the fast-paced dodgeball action. With the ability to play for free until level 25, tons of players are flocking to the title to see what all the fuss is about. This is great news for the longevity of the title but Knockout City can be a bit intimidating for those that are just starting out. Joining matches against veterans who have been playing the game since launch can seem unfair and daunting. Because of this, the following list has been updated to give new players some tips and tricks to help even the playing field when just starting out.
15Master The Tutorials Right Away
First and foremost, the best tip for new Knockout City players is to make sure they fully understand all the tutorials before they go into online matchmaking.These are the developers who madeMario Kart Live, after all, so the game is a bit more complex than it seems at first glance.
For one, each tutorial grants 100 Holo-Bucks upon completion. Two, these tutorials go over every single mechanic in the game and explain them pretty well. And three, making an effort to understand all the basic mechanics of the game will almost guarantee happier teammates in the long run.
14Effectively Use Lobbed Throws & Curveballs
A tipKnockout Cityitself quickly emphasizes in its gameplay is that new players need to learn to utilize lobbed and curved throws right away. Curveballs allow players to hit their opponent around walls while lobs let them go over walls.
But, more importantly, both of these mechanics switch up where the opponent needs to look to catch the ball, as well as the timing for their catch. This might not sound like the most advancedKnockout Citytip, but it so drastically affects every aspect of its gameplay.
13Don’t Sleep On The Passing Mechanic
The passing mechanic inKnockout Cityis so vastly undervalued.One of the first things the game teaches new players is that every ball can become “overcharged.” To do this, players simply have to either catch an enemy ball thrown at them or pass a friendly ball to a teammate (or get one passed to them).
After catching a pass, the ball automatically gains overcharge level one. This makes a normal throw travel much faster, which usually takes opponents by surprise, speeds up the pace of matches overall, and adds another layer of depth to the mind games. Granted, truly utilizing the passing in this game works a lot better playing with friends,but with all the great games likeKnockout Cityon Game Pass, it should be pretty easy to convince them to get it and join in on the fun.
12Learn The Catch Timing & When To Counter It
the nextKnockout Citytip and/or trick is all about catching. This game works on a system of throwing dodgeballs at people, and either they catch it or they don’t. Pretty simple, right? Well, for players trying to get to Diamond or just trying to get good at the game in general, it turns out there’s a bit more to it they need to learn.
Players can spam the catch animation inKnockout City, but there is a short window of time between each animation where they’ll be entirely vulnerable. Essentially, if a player times their throw so that it hits right as the catch animation is ending, there’s nothing the opponent can do. Of course, abusing this vulnerability window is rather easy up close, but it gets harder and harder the further the throw.
11Time Throws To Match With The Team & Flank Opponents
There’s already been a bunch of discussions about passing to teammates, sticking with the team, and not getting singled out. But, to add onto those concepts a bit more, players who learn to time their throws with their teammates will find they get a lot more wins in general.
Just like how there’s a brief span of time after a catch attempt where an enemy can’t catch again, it’s the same for a successful catch too. So if two balls are thrown at the opponent at about the same time, and they don’t dodge out of the way, it’s a guaranteed hit. And that’s not all! For some reason, so manyKCplayers only throw at enemies from the front, but there’s a lot of value to keeping the enemy sandwiched between the team, since the catch mechanic only works in the direction the character is facing.
10Hold Aim & Leave It To The Team
As players get higher and higher inKnockout City’sLeague Play, they’ll start to come across opponents who just seem impossible to throw off. No delayed throw, fake out, curveball, lobbed throw, or even close-up throw seems to catch this person off guard.
In those instances, a good thing to try is just to back up, and hold aim at the person, especially if the rest of the team is nearby. Quite simply, as long as an enemy is being aimed at, they’ll have that distracting red border, and it’ll be a lot harder for them to tell when another ball is coming from out of view. Remember, for the most part, this is a team-based game, so try and strategize with that in mind.
9Try To Hit From Above
Here’s a little thing that the tutorials don’t tell players, balls can also come from above (and even below). Most lobs actually impact enemies at a diagonal angle, just low enough for the front-facing catch to work. But, if a player intentionally tries to modify their throw so that the ball hits right at the top of the enemy’s head, it’s a different story.
The most common example is when players hop over each other and lob toss a ball. Because of the auto lock-on, this throw tends to hit directly above the enemy 99% of the time, making for some easy KOs on inexperienced opponents. Players can also use the platforms to throw from above, their glider, or even use their teammates to throw them into the air so they can rain dodgeballs from the skies.
8Mastering Border Reaction Understanding & Timing
One of the most advanced tips forKnockout Cityactually takes the least amount of effort. This tip, of course, refers to changing the border thickness in the settings menu, making it easier to see when a player is locked on to or currently being chased by a ball. Now, for a simple as this UI is, it actually is masterfully designed.
This simple red border tells players when they’re aimed at, a ball is en route to them, a pass is incoming, a ball is just about to hit them, or even if an overcharged ball is coming at them. And, getting used to these different border changes until they become second nature is almost mandatory in order to climb the ranks ofKnockout City’sLeague Play.
7Dodging Breaks The Lock On & Homing
Another thing players will start to see more often the higher their rank gets is players who just spam dodge if they at all feel unsafe. The wayKnockout Cityworks, players don’t really need to aim all that much, since the game has lock-on/auto-aim.
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But, when a player dodges/dashes, that lock on is broken for a second, meaning that the ball thrown at them will usually only go so far as the actual location they first dodged away from.
