GamesSportsMadden NFLMadden NFL 257 Madden 25 tips you should know before playingWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesSportsMadden NFLMadden NFL 257 Madden 25 tips you should know before playingWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: EA)
It’s that time of year where Madden 25 tips take on a new lease of life. With 31 teams doomed to failure when it comes to winning the Super Bowl,Madden 25suddenly becomes the only way of achieving every fan’s dream season. Even Giants and Raiders die-hards can believe in their current roster on the virtual turf. We explain Custom Stems, training camps and much more in your essential Madden 25 tips guide.
1. Roll with one of the top five teams
(Image credit: EA)
A no-brainer to kick you off with. Madden 25 isn’t perfect, but it’s a big improvement on last year, with plenty of new features to try out – such as the kicking meter ported over fromCollege Football 25, Switch Stick, and Custom Stem routes – both of which we’ll get to shortly. In order to fully grasp all the fresh additions, it’s worth cueing up a few matches with the game’s top rosters. Mahomes and Kelce make the Chiefs insanely fun, Miami’s speed is a riot on every play, and Ravens QB Lamar Jackson is even more OP than prime Michael Vick. The top five is below, and you can see all ratings on ourMadden 25 best teamslist.
2. Use the Custom Stem option with your receivers
(Image credit: EA)
Hot routing a receiver at the line of scrimmage has always provided a tactical edge. This year it gets even better with something called Custom Stem, which adjusts the breaking point of your receiver’s route downfield. Before the snap, press triangle (PlayStation) or Y (Xbox), then the corresponding button of the catcher you want to re-route. Now hold L1/LB and move the left stick or D-pad up to extend the distance, or down to shorten it. Finally, release L1/LB to lock in the new route. It’s a spectacular way to exploit man-to-man coverage, or precisely target the back pylon for a TD.
3. Master the Switch Stick
(Image credit: EA)
The much-vaunted return of the Hit Stick has scored plenty of hype on defense, but the new Switch Stick is an even bigger game-changer. As that name suggests, it enables you to instantly switch to the closest defender with a flick of the right stick. For instance, if the ball is in the air and you see a slot receiver sloping past your nickel back, you can adjust a CB1 or CB2 to drift inside, and block the pass or take down the WR as soon as he grabs the ball. It’s a super tough skill to master, but elite players are going to do exactly that online – and practise makes perfect. Note that you can only use the Switch Stick in Zone, and can’t switch to a player committed to a blitz.
4. Stop dropping back - and throw the ball away
(Image credit: EA)
5. Take Training Camp seriously
(Image credit: EA)
6. Know your X-Factors and Superstars
(Image credit: EA)
OurMadden 25 best playersguide will steer you on this year’s top 50, but it’s important to remember that some perform beyond their stats thanks to X-Factors and Superstar abilities. These can really help when starting out a franchise, or building an Ultimate Team. For instance, both San Francisco and Baltimore have five players with X-Factors – whereas the Patriots are the only team in the entire game without a single of either designation. Players newly upgraded with X-Factors include Jets CB Sauce Gardner (Shutdown) and Lions WR Amon-Ra St Brown (Double Me). See them all in GR’sMadden 25 X-Factorsguide.
7. Turn on all the classic Madden tracks
(Image credit: EA)
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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
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4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
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Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”