Blue Lock: Rivals Rin

So, you want to master Rin Itoshi in Blue Lock: Rivals? Good choice. You’ve heard the whispers, seen the insane curve shots, and maybe even felt the frustration of facing a skilled Rin player. Let’s cut through the noise – Rin isn’t just good; he’s S+ tier for a reason.

Let’s dive in and turn you into the Rin player everyone fears.

Core Mechanics: Rin’s Foundational Abilities

Let’s break down the two moves you’ll be using constantly. Understanding these inside and out is non-negotiable.

Curve Shot (C Key – 50 Second Cooldown)

This is Rin’s bread and butter. The signature move.

• What it does: Rin dashes slightly left or right (depending on your position relative to the goal line) and unleashes a powerful shot that curves dramatically towards the target.
• Why it’s effective: The bend makes it incredibly hard for goalkeepers (both human and AI) to predict the ball’s final trajectory. It can bypass defenders and curl into corners that seem impossible for a straight shot.
• Key Considerations:
  • Aiming is Crucial: As highlighted in gameplay videos, you often need to aim away from the net, letting the curve do the work. Aiming directly at the corner might send it wide or straight to the keeper. Experiment!
  • Power: The shot is inherently powerful, maintaining velocity well.
  • Cooldown: 50 seconds is significant. Don’t waste it on low-percentage chances.

Opposite Direction (V Key – 45 Second Cooldown)

This is Rin’s primary dribbling/engagement tool. Think of it as your way to create space or bypass a pressing defender.

• What it does: Similar to Sae’s Magical Turn, Rin performs a move that temporarily stuns a nearby opponent, allowing you to dash past them. It involves moving in the opposite direction briefly to fake them out.
• Why it’s effective: It grants I-Frames (invincibility frames) during the animation, meaning you can’t be tackled. It effectively creates space for a shot or allows you to continue your dribble.
• Key Considerations:
  • Range & Speed: It covers less distance and is slightly slower than Sae’s equivalent. You need to be relatively close to the opponent.
  • Stun: The stun duration is brief but usually enough to get clear.
  • Tactical Use: Use it when a defender closes in, forcing them into a bad position or freezing them just long enough for you to line up a shot or pass. Don’t just spam it in open space.

The Straight Shot: Removing the Curve

Sometimes, the best curve is no curve at all, especially against experienced GKs who expect the bend.

• How to Execute:
  1. Position your character sideways, with your shoulder pointing towards your target goal corner.
  2. Aim precisely at the corner you want to hit.
  3. Execute a normal shot (Left Click/Shoot button).
• Why it Works: The sideways stance cancels the typical curve animation, sending the ball in a direct, straight line. It punishes goalies who pre-emptively move to cover the expected curve.
• Best Use Cases: When the GK consistently anticipates your curve shots, or when you need pinpoint accuracy to a specific spot without bend.

The Grass Cutter: Low and Lethal

This technique keeps the ball skimming along the ground, making it incredibly difficult for jumping or diving GKs.

• How to Execute:
  1. Find a decent angle towards the goal.
  2. Aim specifically for the bottom corners of the net.
  3. Execute a normal shot.
• Why it Works: It produces a fast, low trajectory shot that stays close to the ground. GKs who jump early or expect a mid-height curve are often caught completely off guard. Especially effective against AI GKs programmed to jump frequently.
• Best Use Cases: Against GKs who pre-dive or jump predictably, or when you need the ball to arrive quickly without air time, such as close-range finishes.

The Reverse Curve Shot: Maximum Unpredictability

This is a higher-skill technique that flips the script entirely.

• How to Execute:
  1. Press W and S (forward and backward keys) simultaneously.
  2. Briefly look behind your character (requires precise camera movement, see settings below).
  3. Execute a normal shot.
• Why it Works: This complex input makes the ball curve in the opposite direction of a normal Rin curve shot. If your normal curve bends right-to-left, this will bend left-to-right (or vice-versa). It’s pure mind games.
• Best Use Cases: Sparingly, to completely throw off a GK who thinks they’ve figured out your patterns, or when you need to bend the ball around an obstacle in an unusual way.

Synergizing Rin: Choosing the Best Flows

Flows are passive abilities that enhance your style. Picking the right one for Rin can make a huge difference. Based on community consensus and available info:

Top Tier Flows for Rin:

• Dribbler: Often considered the BEST overall flow for Rin. It enhances dribbling speed and ball control, allowing you to get into optimal shooting positions more easily and complementing Rin’s need for precise setup. Faster movement helps utilize Opposite Direction (V) effectively.
• Snake: Another excellent choice. Snake’s movement enhancements pair well with Rin’s agile, technical style, helping create space and unpredictable angles.
• Awaken Genius: A solid complementary flow. It likely helps charge your Awakening faster or enhances its effects, which is valuable given Rin’s powerful (if sometimes debated) Awakening moves.
• Chameleon: Highly effective. Its ability to quickly refresh cooldowns means more frequent use of Rin’s crucial Curve Shot (C) and Opposite Direction (V), drastically increasing your offensive pressure.
• Prodigy (Rin’s Own Flow): While thematic, it might be slightly less optimal than Dribbler or Chameleon for top-tier play unless you heavily rely on basic shot curves. It does enhance basic shot curves significantly and offers stronger, faster shots, so it’s a viable choice if you master its nuances.

Flows to Potentially Avoid with Rin:

• Progi: If this refers to a specific flow that causes high stamina drain, avoid it. Rin needs stamina for positioning and using abilities. Clarification may be needed based on in-game names, but generally, avoid flows that cripple your stamina.

Recommendation: Start with Dribbler or Chameleon. Dribbler improves your fundamental positioning and control, while Chameleon maximizes ability uptime. Experiment to see which fits your playstyle best.

Advanced Strategies: Becoming the Ultimate Rin

Knowing the moves is one thing; applying them effectively under pressure is another. Here’s how to combine everything:

The Art of the Mix-Up

Rin’s greatest asset is unpredictability.

• Establish a Pattern, Then Break It: Start with standard curve shots (C). Make the GK used to that trajectory.
• Surprise Shots: Suddenly throw in a Straight Shot aimed at the opposite corner they expect the curve to go.
• Punish Pre-Jumping: If the GK starts diving or jumping early anticipating curves, hit them with a Grass Cutter along the floor.
• Mind Games: Use the Reverse Curve sparingly as the ultimate wildcard when they think they have you figured out.
• Combine with Dribbling: Use Opposite Direction (V) to create space before unleashing a shot, making it even harder to react.

Tactical Awakening Usage

Don’t just pop Awakening randomly.

• High-Pressure Moments: Activate it when you’re near the goal in a critical situation (e.g., tie game, final seconds).
• Combo Power: Use Center of Gravity (B) to floor a defender, then immediately follow up with SCORE (C) for an almost guaranteed goal if executed correctly.
• Post-Awakening Pressure: Remember you might still have a use of Center of Gravity left even after using SCORE. Use it to maintain possession or set up another chance.

Countering Goalkeepers (AI & Human)

• vs. AI GKs:
  • Grass Cutters: Extremely effective as AI often jumps predictably.
  • Vary Power/Timing: Don’t shoot with the same rhythm every time. Mix up quick shots and slightly delayed ones.
  • Straight Shots to Far Corners: Aiming straight for the corners the AI doesn’t expect the curve to reach can be effective.
• vs. Human GKs:
  • Mix-Ups are Key: Rely heavily on switching between Curve, Straight, and Grass Cutter.
  • Observe Tendencies: Do they pre-jump? Do they always cover the near post curve? Exploit their habits.
  • Reverse Curve Surprise: Use this very occasionally for maximum psychological impact.
  • Power Variation: Sometimes a less powerful, more accurately placed shot is better than raw speed.