One of the best new additions to Madden 20, football’s most enduring game franchise, is Superstar X Factor skills. Players have typically been rated Normal, Stars, and Superstars in Madden, but this year sees the Superstar X Factor class, which bestows certain players with contextual and powerful abilities that differentiate themselves from their regular Superstar counterparts.
With this new contextual skill system, it’s tough to immediately grasp how these abilities impact moment to moment play. This guide is for folks to understand each X Factor skill and which players you can try these abilities out with.
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Superstar X Factor skills are broken up into Offensive and Defensive categories.
Offensive X Factor Skills
Bazooka
Max throwing distance increased by over 15 yards when triggered. Max throwing distance is up to 80 yards when activated.
Trigger Conditions: One completed pass for 30+ yards in the air (no RAC yards included) – two completed passes in Competitive Mode
Knockout Conditions: One sack, fumble, or interception
Players with ability: Patrick Mahomes (KC)
Blitz Radar
Highlights extra blitzers after the ball is snapped. Extra blitzers are defined as non-defensive lineman coming to attempt to sack the QB.
Trigger Conditions: Three scrambles (runs with QB) of over 10 yards (requires five scrambles in Competitive Mode)
Knockout Conditions: Two sacks, one fumble, or one interception
Players with ability: Russell Wilson (SEA)
Double Me
Wins aggressive catches versus single coverage. When activated, receiver will secure aggressive catches vs. a single defender.
Trigger Conditions: Three catches for 20+ in the air (RAC not included) – five catches in Competitive Mode
Knockout Conditions: One dropped pass, forced interception, or fumble
Players with ability: AJ Green (CIN), Adam Thielen (MIN), DeAndre Hopkins (HOU), Juju Smith-Schuster (PIT), Julio Jones (ATL), Michael Thomas (NO), Mike Evans (TB), and Travis Kelce (KC)
Fearless
Throw accuracy is unaffected by defensive pressure. QB’s passing accuracy is never impacted by a pass rusher when ability is activated.
Trigger Conditions: Three consecutive completed passes for 5+ yards in the air (RAC not included) – five passes in Competitive Mode
Knockout Conditions: One sack, fumble, or interception
Players with ability: Drew Brees (NO), Philip Rivers (LAC)
First One Free
High fake-out rate on next juke, spin move, or hesitation move. When activated, skill allows ball carrier to fake a defender with first move at a high rate.
Trigger Conditions: Three rushes of over 10 yards (five rushes in Competitive Mode)
Knockout Conditions: Tackled for loss or fumble
Players with ability: Ezekiel Elliott (DAL), Le’Veon Bell (NYJ), Melvin Gordon (LAC), Saquon Barkley (NYG), and Todd Gurley (LAR)
Freight Train
Increased chance to break the next tackle attempt. When activated, skill allows ball carrier to always break the first tackle attempt from a defender.
Trigger Conditions: Three rushes for 10+ yards (five rushes in Competitive Mode)
Knockout Conditions: Tackle for a loss or fumble
Players with ability: Cam Newton (CAR)
Gambler
Can’t be intercepted by AI defenders when ability is activated.
Trigger Conditions: Three consecutive passes for 5+ in the air (no RAC included) – five passes in Competitive Mode
Knockout Conditions: Two incomplete passes or any sack, fumble, or interception
Players with ability: Aaron Rodgers (GB)
Max Security
High success rate on possession catches. Prevents catch knockouts on possession catches when ability is active.
Trigger Conditions: Four consecutive catches (six in Competitive Mode)
Knockout Conditions: One dropped pass, forced incompletion, or fumble
Players with ability: Zach Ertz (PHI)
Pro Reads
Highlights the first open receiver while in the pocket when ability is active.
Trigger Conditions: Three consecutive passes for 5+ yards in the air (no RAC included) – five passes in Competitive Mode
Knockout Conditions: One sack, fumble, or interception
Players with ability: Andrew Luck (IND), Ben Roethlisberger (PIT), and Tom Brady (NE)
RAC’em Up
Wins RAC catches versus single coverage. Receive will win RAC catches against contested single coverage when ability is active.
Trigger Conditions: Three catches for 20+ yards (RAC included) – five catches in Competitive Mode
Knockout Conditions: One dropped pass, forced incompletion, or fumble
Players with ability: Antonio Brown (OAK), George Kittle (SF), and Odell Beckham Jr (CLE)
Satellite
Wins RAC and possession catches against single coverage. Backfield receiver will secure contested catches when ability is active.
Trigger Conditions: Four catches for 10+ yards (RAC included) – six catches in Competitive Mode
Knockout Conditions: One dropped pass, forced incompletion, or fumble.
Players with ability: Alvin Kamara (NO) and Christian McCaffrey (CAR)
Defensive X Factor Skills
Fearmonger
Chance to pressure the QB while engaged with a blocker. Pass rusher will increase pressure penalties to opposing QBs when ability is active.
Trigger Conditions: Two sacks (three in Competitive Mode)
Knockout Conditions: 20 offensive yards allowed
Players with ability: Aaron Donald (LAR), Fletcher Cox (PHI), JJ Watt (HOU), and Von Miller (DEN)
Reinforcement
Higher chance to defeat run blocker and disrupt catches. When ability active, defender will dominate run blockers, prevent broken tackles, and force catch knockouts with catch tackles.
Trigger Conditions: Two forced incompletions or tackles for loss (three in Competitive Mode)
Knockout Conditions: 20 offensive yards allowed
Players with ability: Derwin James (LAC) and Harrison Smith (MIN)
Shutdown
Tighter coverage and more interceptions on contested catches. When ability is active, defender will plaster receiver routes and will excel at intercepting passes on contested catches.
Trigger Conditions: Two forced incompletions or one interception (three forced incompletions or one interception in Competitive Mode)
Knockout Conditions: 30 offensive yards allowed
Players with ability: Bobby Wagner (SEA), Byron Jones (DAL), Chris Harris Jr (DEN), Jalen Ramsey (JAX), Luke Kuechly (CAR), Richard Sherman (SF), and Stephon Gilmore (NE)
Unstoppable Force
Pass rush wins lead to quicker block shedding. Defender will always win with any pass rush move against a single blocker when ability is active.
Trigger Conditions: Two sacks (three in Competitive Mode)
Knockout Conditions: 10 offensive yards allowed
Players with ability: Calais Campbell (JAX), Cameron Jordan (NO), Demarcus Lawrence (DAL), Geno Atkins (CIN), Joey Bosa (LAC), Khalil Mack (CHI), and Myles Garrett (CLE)
Zone Hawk
More catch knockouts and interceptions in zone coverage. Defender will force catch knockouts and interceptions in contested catches from zone coverage assignment when ability is active.
Trigger Conditions: Two forced incompletions or one interception (three forced incompletions or one interception in Competitive Mode)
Knockout Conditions: 30 offensive yards allowed
Players with ability: Earl Thomas (BAL) and Eddie Jackson (CHI)
