In FIFA series, the successful use of skill moves has always been the key to victory on the field. Especially at high-level matches, choosing the right Skill Move is not just a nice-to-have, but an essential element of your attack, making your attacks more dangerous and unpredictable. Failing to do so will put you at a significant disadvantage and potentially cost you victory.
So, how do you choose the best Skill Move for your players in FC 26 to easily bypass the opponent’s defense and score? IGGM has recommended some popular Skill Moves here, and we’ll tell you when to use them most effectively!
1-Star Ball Roll
Ball Roll has been a popular move in FUT series for years, arguably the most versatile Skill Move in the game. Not only can you use it to secure the ball with your back to your opponent, but you can also open up passing angles by switching from a full-speed sprint to a slight change of direction.
Although it’s only a one-star skill move, it’s extremely effective, and every player can perform it. Especially in the early stages of the game, when you don’t have enough FUT 26 coins for sale to acquire Icon players and dominate the field, Ball Roll is a crucial element in helping your players quickly establish the tempo of the game.
To perform a Ball Roll, simply hold the right stick left or right relative to your view. When you face right and hold the right stick, the ball rolls downward. When you face upward and hold the left stick, the ball rolls to the left.
Ball Roll is extremely effective for securing possession. If an opponent is right behind you, you can roll the ball to the side, always ready to pass cleanly to a teammate.
You can also use it to control tempo. Rolling the ball to the side after a full-speed sprint and then making a sharp turn helps maintain overall dribbling rhythm and control.
You can also use it to open up passing angles when you’re on the wing. Simply use Ball Roll to cut inside the passing lane, and you’ll easily pass the ball.
So, if you absolutely must master one skill move, it’s the Ball Roll; it lays the foundation for your attack.
5-Star Elastico Variation
Another skill move newly introduced in EA FC 26 is Elastico Variation. You can’t actually perform this move after a full Sprint; you must maintain a slow dribble. So, just dribble with the left stick, no need to press Sprint.
This is a 5-star skill move, and the input is similar to a regular Elastico or Reverse Elastico: use the right stick to draw a half circle behind the player, but hold down L2/LT at the same time.
Like other skill moves, you can perform it in two directions. When you draw a half circle from left to right, you exit on the right. When you draw a half circle from right to left, you exit on the left.
Elastico Variation is extremely useful when dealing with tackles, allowing you to change direction very fluidly while simultaneously pulling the ball out of their reach. It also allows you to continue moving forward, and the exit logic is the same as before.
You can use this skill move in midfield to get past a defender, opening up a passing angle, or inside the box to set up a shot.
4-Star Heel to Ball Roll
Next, let’s introduce another skill move, this time Heel to Ball Roll. This skill move helps you quickly penetrate the defense and directly drive past the opposing defender, allowing you to maintain your speed towards the goal.
To use Heel to Ball Roll, you need a player with a 4-star skill move. If you don’t currently have a suitable player in your team, you can buy FC 26 coins at IGGM.com and recruit them on the transfer market.
Then, hold down the L1/LB button and move the joystick forward, then backward, in the direction of your run.
A very important detail is that you can exit this move in two directions, depending on the left stick input. If you move the joystick to the left while executing it, your player will exit to the left, and vice versa. This is crucial when bypassing defenders.
This skill move is best used when you’re moving toward the goal and there’s a defender directly in front of you. You can back out in the opponent’s direction, as if you continue sprinting, they’ll move away from that position to cover you.
Executing Heel to Ball Roll in this situation not only allows you to protect the ball, but also allows you to maintain your high speed and head straight for the goal as you slightly change direction.
3-Star Lateral Heel-to-Heel
Another great 3-star skill move is Lateral Heel-to-Heel, which features a dramatic change of direction and is perfect for cutting inside from the wing.
To use it, hold down L1/LB and flick the right stick from left to right or right to left, depending on your camera angle. The end point of the right stick is the direction the ball will be released from.
This move is very effective while running, especially on the wing, because it allows you to suddenly stop and change direction. So, when you’re surrounded by a defender, you can use a lateral move from here to there to cut inside.
Because you change direction so suddenly and dramatically, this skill move significantly slows you down. This isn’t a big deal, as your opponent will probably continue running, which is exactly how you open up passing angles to the center while inside the box. Alternatively, you can use it to create a direct shot.
4-Star Roulette
The final skill move is perfect for 1v1 defense, especially inside the opponent’s box, as it offers tremendous potential for overtaking and even finishing the game. This is Roulette.
The input for this skill move is slightly more complex, and it might be helpful if you’re willing to spend some FUT 26 coins or FC Points to add Octopus evolution to your player. You must hold down L2/LT or LT/RB while using the right stick to move in a half-circle from back to front.
Roulette allows for two rotation directions: clockwise or counter-clockwise.
For example, if the opponent is coming from the right, we move in a half-circle from back to front, but in a counter-clockwise direction. This way, we’re more likely to rotate around the opponent. This is similar to Heel to Ball Roll, where the input direction is the opponent’s current direction. Conversely, when the opponent is to our left, we rotate clockwise, making it easier to remember their direction.
Note that we lose more speed when performing this skill move because we rotate. Therefore, Roulette tends to be more powerful inside the box and easier to shoot.
In short, to penetrate the opponent’s defense and achieve victory faster in FC 26, you must master the correct skill move. Especially in high-level matches, you also need to understand your opponent’s position, how they intend to receive the ball. These are all key to executing the skill move smoothly and achieving a successful shot. We hope that this IGGM skill move guide will help you choose the most suitable one and become unstoppable on the court!