EA SPORTS FC 26 Gameplay: New Skill Moves to Master

Hey ReFIFA fans! EA SPORTS FC 26 is rolling out some slick new skill moves to level up your game, whether you’re tearing it up in Competitive mode or kicking back in Authentic.

The dev team’s been hard at work tweaking the gameplay basics, and these new tricks are all about letting you show off your style on the pitch.

In our previous article, we discussed Physicality. Now, let’s jump right into a deep dive on Skill Moves.

New Skill Moves

EA SPORTS FC 26 drops five dope new skill moves that’ll have defenders second-guessing their life choices. Here’s the rundown:

Explosive Stepover (3-5 Star)

Standing still or jogging? Hold L1/LB, rotate the right stick forward to left or right, and flick the left stick to exit. It’s a quick, snappy way to fake out your marker and blast into open space.

Hold L1 + Rotate RS Forward to Left / Right (+ LS direction to exit)
Hold LB + Rotate RS Fwd to Left / Right (+ LS direction to exit)

Advanced Heel Flick (4-5 Star)

While jogging, flick the right stick forward, then back, and finish with a diagonal flick (left, right, or forward). This one’s a cheeky over-the-head flick—tough to nail, but it’ll leave defenders in the dirt.

Flick RS Forward, Back + LS diagonal left or right or forward 45/315/0

Drag To Chop (4-5 Star)

From a standstill, hold L2/LT and roll the right stick left, back, right (or right, back, left). Drag the ball back, chop it sideways—boom, you’re gone. Perfect for tight spots.

Hold L2 + Roll RS Left, Back, Right / Right, Back, Left
Hold LT + Roll RS Left, Back, Right / Right, Back, Left

Elastico Variation (5 Star)

Jogging along? Hold L2/LT, rotate the right stick right, back, left (or left, back, right). This twist on the elastico adds extra sauce to your dribble—5-star players only, though!

Hold L2 + Rotate RS Right, Back, Left / Rotate RS Left, Back, Right
Hold LT + Rotate RS Right, Back, Left / Rotate RS Left, Back, Right

New Trickster Rainbow (1-5 Star)

Stand or jog, flick the right stick back, then forward. It’s a flashy rainbow flick that anyone can use—great for flexing on your mates or embarrassing a defender.

Flick RS Back, Forward

Skill Move Upgrades

EA has also made a variety of quality-of-life updates and balance changes to existing skill moves:

Lane Change (La Croqueta): Quicker now, and the ball doesn’t roll away at the end. No more coughing it up after the move.
Drag Back (Jog Version): Boosted by 10%—it’s your new best friend for carving out room.
Sprint Skills: The ball hugs your feet tighter when you’re sprinting, so you stay in control.
Less Whoopsies: Skill moves fumble less across the board—more swag, fewer facepalms.
Fake Shot to Stop: Flows into dribbling faster, keeping your rhythm smooth.
Keeper Tricks: Goalies can now flex with ball rolls, body feints, and roulettes. Watch out, strikers!
Step-Overs Tamed: No more crazy speed boosts from spamming step-overs—balance is back.

Oh, and those laggy, unresponsive moves? Fixed. Everything’s snappier and more reliable now.

Simplified Skill Moves

For players seeking an easier way to perform skill moves, Simplified Skill Moves offers a more intuitive alternative:

How It Works:

Found in the Accessibility settings menu.
Activate in-game by pressing RS in any of the four main directions.
The move executed depends on your player’s Skill Move Star Rating.

Breakdown by Rating:

1–2 Stars:

RS Forward: Low Skill Roulette
RS Left/Right: Ball Roll
RS Back: Feint Forward and Turn

3–4 Stars:

RS Forward: Roulette
RS Left/Right: Stop and Turn
RS Back: Feint Forward and Exit

5 Stars:

RS Forward: 3-Touch Roulette
RS Left/Right: Drag Turn
RS Back: Flair Nutmeg 180

Final Whistle

The Skill Move updates in EA SPORTS FC 26 offer more layers to your gameplay—whether you’re a flair-focused dribbler, a clinical passer, or just trying to break through compact defenses.

These enhancements empower players at every level to find their own style and shine on the virtual pitch.

Stay tuned for more EA SPORTS FC 26 gameplay deep dives as we cover news, updates, and more essentials coming soon.