Upspike¶

Difficulty: Intermediate

Overview¶

An Upspike sends the rocket upward, either by looking up or dragging it up. Unlike downspikes, the outcome of an upspike is highly dependent on the server's configuration - specifically the rocket's turn rate and current speed.

How It Works¶

When you spike a rocket upward, what happens next depends entirely on the rocket's turn rate and speed:

flowchart TD
    A[You spike upward] --> B{Turn Rate?}
    B -->|High turn rate| C[Rocket curves down fast]
    C --> D[Comes at opponent's face quickly]
    B -->|Low turn rate| E[Rocket curves slowly]
    E --> F[May go behind opponent]

Turn Rate Effects¶

The turn rate determines how quickly the rocket can curve back toward its target:

Turn Rate	Behavior	Difficulty for Opponent
Very High	Rocket goes up, then sharply down into face	Hard - fast and unpredictable
High	Rocket arcs and comes down quickly	Moderate
Medium	Standard arc, predictable curve	Normal
Low	Rocket may overshoot and go behind	Can be easier or confusing
Very Low	Rocket goes way behind opponent	May miss entirely

Speed Effects¶

Speed also changes the upspike behavior:

Speed	Effect
Slow rocket	More time to curve, tighter arc possible
Fast rocket	Less time to curve, wider arc
Very fast	May barely curve at all before reaching target

The combination of speed and turn rate creates vastly different outcomes.

Execution Methods¶

Method 1: Look Up¶

Aim your crosshair upward when you airblast.

Method 2: Drag Up¶

Use dragging to pull the rocket's trajectory upward during the drag window.

Both methods achieve the same effect - the rocket goes upward initially.

Config Dependency¶

Server Configuration Matters

Upspike effectiveness varies dramatically between servers. What works on one config may not work on another. Learn how your server's rockets behave before relying on upspikes.

Config Setting	Impact on Upspike
`turn rate`	How sharply rocket curves back
`turn rate increment`	How this changes per deflection
`speed`	How far rocket travels before curving
`speed increment`	Speed gets faster each deflect

When Upspikes Work Best¶

High Turn Rate Servers:

Rocket comes down fast into opponent's face
Hard to predict exact angle
Good for aggressive play

Low Turn Rate Servers:

Rocket may go behind opponent
Can create confusion
May miss if opponent doesn't move

Position and Distance¶

Your position relative to opponent also affects outcomes:

Situation	Effect
Close range	Rocket may go over and behind them
Medium range	Standard upspike behavior
Long range	More time for rocket to curve properly
You're below them	Rocket approaches from below, curves up
You're above them	Different arc dynamics

Ceiling Interactions¶

Watch the Ceiling

On maps with low ceilings, upspikes can bounce off the ceiling, creating unpredictable results.

Defending Against Upspikes¶

Scenario	Counter
High turn rate	Look up quickly, expect fast descent
Low turn rate	Check behind you
Fast rocket	Less time to react
Slow rocket	Track the arc carefully

Upspike vs Downspike¶

Aspect	Upspike	Downspike
Config dependent	Very - turn rate critical	Less - bounces are consistent
Predictability	Varies by config	More consistent
Speed change	No bounce, maintains speed	Bounce slows then speeds up
Risk	May miss on low turn rate	Usually hits floor

Practice Tips¶

Upspike Practice

Learn your server's turn rate behavior first
Test upspikes at different speeds (early vs late round)
Notice how turn rate increment changes behavior over time
Practice both look-up and drag-up methods
Understand that this technique is config-specific

Downspike: Opposite vertical technique
Orbiting: Combines well with upspikes
Dragging: Alternative method to spike up

Next Steps¶

Ready for close-range action? Learn CQC (Close Quarter Combat) techniques.