In EA Sports FC, pick two players in the same position with the same overall rating. They should play the same. They don’t. One easily glides past defenders. The other can hardly beat one. PlayStyles are usually why.
PlayStyles are EA Sports FC’s way of highlighting what a player is actually good (or best) at. They highlight the qualities that define a player’s game rather than simply increasing ratings and attributes. Every player in FC 26 has a handful of them, and the very best get upgraded versions called PlayStyle+. The standard PlayStyle provides a small boost: a player with Power Shot will strike power shots a bit more accurately and with more pace than someone without it. PlayStyle+, on the other hand, is more noticeable. For instance, with Power Shot+, those same shots become significantly more accurate from distance, harder to save, and more likely to find the corner. For experienced players, PlayStyles matter just as much as ratings when choosing a club in Kick Off or comparing cards in Ultimate Team.
PlayStyles are grouped into seven categories, and every ability comes in both a standard and PlayStyle+ version.
Scoring
- Acrobatic: Perform volleys with increased accuracy, acrobatic volley animations.
- Chip Shot: Faster, more accurate chip shots.
- Dead Ball: Faster, accurate set pieces with longer trajectory preview.
- Finesse Shot: Faster finesse shots with more curve and accuracy.
- Low Driven Shot: Enhances a player’s ability to execute low driven shots with increased accuracy, faster ball travel, and quicker shot execution.
- Power Shot: Faster power shots with increased speed.
- Precision Header: Performs headers with increased accuracy and power.
Finishing
- Gamechanger: Fancy and Trivela shots are performed with improved accuracy.
Passing
- Incisive Pass: Accurate through passes, curvier swerve passes, faster precision passes.
- Inventive: Fancy and Trivela passes are performed with improved accuracy.
- Long Ball Pass: Accurate, faster Lob and Lofted Through Passes.
- Pinged Pass: Faster ground passes without affecting receiver’s trapping.
- Tiki Taka: Accurate first-time Ground Passes.
- Whipped Pass: Accurate, faster crosses with more curve.
Ball Control
- First Touch: Reduced trapping error, faster dribbling transition.
- Press Proven: Close control at jog speed, shields ball more effectively.
- Rapid: Higher sprint speed while dribbling, reduced error on knock-ons.
- Technical: Faster Controlled Sprint, precise wide turns while dribbling.
- Trickster: Performs unique flick Skill Moves.
Defending
- Aerial Fortress: Performs higher jumps and has physical defensive presence before and during aerial duels.
- Anticipate: Improved standing tackle success, possibility of stopping ball at feet.
- Block: Increased reach and success in blocking.
- Intercept: Increased reach and possession retention in interceptions.
- Jockey: Faster Sprint Jockey, better transition speed.
- Slide Tackle: Stops ball at feet during slide tackles.
Physical
- Bruiser: Stronger physical tackles.
- Enforcer: Performs dribble Shoulder Challenges and Shielding with increased effectiveness.
- Long Throw: Powerful throw-ins for greater distance.
- Quick Step: Faster acceleration during Explosive Sprint.
- Relentless: Increased half time fatigue recovery, longer teammate contain and press.
Goalkeeper
- Cross Claimer: Unique punching animations, powerful punches, faster crosses coverage.
- Deflector: Unique deflection animations, powerful parries to safer areas.
- Far Reach: Unique far dive animations, better long shot saves.
- Far Throw: Unique goalkeeper throw animations with longer throw distance.
- Footwork: Exclusive foot saves, better performance on low shots.
- Rush Out: Unique reflex saves, better close shot reads, faster rush.
Finding PlayStyles on FCRatings.com
Every player profile on FC Ratings shows that player’s PlayStyles and PlayStyle+ abilities at the top of the page. If you’re looking for a specific ability, the All Abilities directory lists every PlayStyle in FC 26 and lets you click through to see exactly which players carry it.