Dribbling is one of the most essential mechanics to master in EA FC 25. If you don’t know how to dribble, chances are that all your attacks are focused on passing. And, while that can be a great way to form an attack, it doesn’t work against more skilled defenders. So, knowing how to dribble is key when going against seasoned players.
While it can be daunting at first, dribbling isn’t that hard to learn if you know the basics. If you practice these movements just a bit, you’ll start stacking up wins consistently. That said, let’s explain how to dribble effectively in EA FC 25.
How To Dribble In EA FC 25
Simple Left Stick Dribbling
- Left Analog
To start, let’s take a look at the basics. The left stick dribble is the most essential dribbling mechanic that you should master. As the name suggests, in this technique, you don’t have to use anything other than your left stick, making it extremely simple.
To perform the left stick dribble, simply move your player with the left stick. By doing so, your player will start dribbling the ball. While this is the slowest form of dribbling, it has the most control. With every step, you’re in total control of the ball, and can make a play instantly. This tactic is perfect for baiting aggressive defenders. If you’re playing with someone who always rushes in aggressively to win the ball, use the left stick dribble to bait them and create space.
On top of that, you can use the left stick to dribble when you’re in the opponent’s box and need to create space before shooting. By letting go of all the other buttons and just using the left stick, controlling the ball will become easier and you can put all your focus on taking the shot. Overall, before learning anything else, it’s best to master the left stick dribble and learn how to move your players effectively. So, practice it in the game and once you’re good at baiting the defenders, pair it up with other mechanics to create scoring plays.
Left Stick + Sprinting Combo
- Left Analog + R2/RT
Talking about pairing it up, the left stick dribble can be most effective when paired up with sprinting. Once you master the art of basic dribbling, you should start capitalizing on the chances using the sprint button. Sprinting makes sure you cover more ground compared to just the left-stick dribbling. By using this combo, you can efficiently open up space for your attackers and build pressure.
To do this, use your left stick to control the ball and dribble. Once you start dribbling, your opponent will rush in to tackle. But, you’ll have total control over the ball and can easily bait them. Once your opponent commits to a tackle, move the other way. Now, you’ll have space opened up to make an attacking move. So, sprint into the open space by pressing down R2/RT and build an attack.
Sprinting will allow you to easily move away from your defender and cover a huge distance instantly. However, don’t overdo it as over-sprinting can get you dispossessed. Once you start the attack, use the sprinting button to run past your defenders, and then pass the ball to regain control. However, if you have enough open space, keep sprinting towards the goal and finish.
Sprinting + Knock-On
- R2/RT + Right Analog Flick
This technique can be extremely lethal when used during a counterattack. Since the defenders of your opponent are unsettled, you can easily create a scoring chance by sprinting and adding knock-on to the ball. A knock-on is basically when your player kicks the ball in a specific direction while sprinting. This makes them even faster since they don’t have to focus on the ball and can utilize their full pace.
Of course, since it’s focused on pace, it’s best used with players who have a pace advantage over the defenders. However, even with players who don’t have a pace-related playstyle, it’s quite effective.
To use the knock-on, wait till you have an opening. This is mainly during counter-attacks when your opponent doesn’t have all their defenders at the back. Once you have the ball, start sprinting by holding R2/RT and flick the right analog towards the direction you’re sprinting. Doing this, your player will kick the ball away from them in the flicked direction. During this, make sure you hold down the sprinting button and your player will continue running towards the ball. If you have a pace advantage, your player will get to the ball before the defender and you’ll have more space to work with. If you want to, you can knock on 2-3 times depending on where you are on the field. That said, there are three ways to perform knock-ons,
- Flick the right analog once (Your player will knock on once)
- Flick the right analog once and hold (Your player will knock on once but the ball will be kicked further away)
- Double tap R2/RT
The last way is similar to flicking the right analog once. By double tapping R2/RT, you’re essentially sprinting, then canceling the sprint, and then sprinting again. So, your player kicks the ball away each time you do it. This way, the ball doesn’t get kicked away too far and you’re in more control. If you want a more controlled knock-on, double tap R2/RT to utilize the full pace of your player.
To make the most of the knock-ons, use them at the wing positions. Here, you’ll have the most space and potentially the fastest players. When your winger has the ball and an open space, sprint towards the ball and knock on to leave the defender in the dust.
Controlled Sprint
- R1/RB
Now that we’ve extensively talked about sprinting, let’s take a look at the controlled sprint. This is the perfect blend of both left-stick dribbling and sprinting. To perform the controlled sprint, simply hold down R1/RB, and your player will initiate a controlled sprint. This is faster than the normal left-stick dribble but slower than the sprint. However, compared to the sprint, you’ll have more control over the ball.
In situations where simply sprinting will get you dispossessed, using the controlled sprint is the best tactic. For example, in tight spaces, like at the edge of the box, use the controlled sprint instead of sprinting and you’ll be able to manage the space more effectively. On top of that, you can use it to create an attacking play with a midfielder. Simply hold down R1/RB, and dribble your way across your markers. Also, keep in mind that if your player has the technical + playstyle, your controlled sprint will be enhanced even more. So, utilize it and dribbling will become easier.
Strafe Dribble + Sprint Boost Combo
- L1/LB + R2/RT
Pressing and holding the L1/LB button makes your player perform the strafe dribble. This allows you to make sharp turns quickly and is a great mechanic to bait your opponent. Similar to the left stick dribble, the strafe dribble grants you total control of the ball. This means you can use it in tight situations to create space. To do this, start the strafe dribble by holding L1 or LB. Now, you can use this to easily bait your opponent into tackling you and go the other way. This creates a ton of space and cracks the opponent’s defense. While your player slows down during strafe dribbling, it’s a great technique to use as you plan your next move.
To make the most of this technique, use it to quickly change directions while dribbling. While you could also change directions using the left stick, using the strafe dribble will allow you to be much quicker.
You can also pair it with the sprint button to create a sprint boost. To do this, first, start a strafe dribble by pressing and holding down L1/LB. Once you see the space to sprint, leave L1/LB and press the sprinting button. This will give your players a sprint boost, making them much quicker than the normal sprint. On top of that, if your player has the Quick step + playstyle, they’ll be even faster and run past the defenders without breaking a sweat. Overall, this is a great tactic to use against seasoned players as once you start sprinting, it becomes harder to defend. Use it to catch your opponents off guard and orchestrate an attack.
Effort Dribble Touch
- R1/RB + right analog flick
First touches are essential for dribbling. If you mess up your first touch, none of the dribbling tactics will matter as you’ll get dispossessed very easily. So, it’s essential to have a good first touch. This tactic allows you to have more control over your first touches, making them more precise. However, you can also perform it during dribbling to make a quick turn. In both scenarios, you can perform it by pressing down R1 or RB and flicking your right analog into the direction you want to go. This will make your touch more controlled and allow you to open up space.
That said, to perform it on the first touch you’ll need to input the commands before the ball arrives at your player. This is called the controlled first touch and can open up the defense. To do this, as your player is about to receive the ball, press R1 or RB and flick the analog into the direction where the space is open. By doing so, as your player receives the ball, they’ll flick it into the inputted direction with their first touch and open up space.
This is best used with wingers as they have the most space to work with. Once you pass the ball to them, you can perform a controlled first touch and move away from your opponent. This will create much more space for your winger than usual and you can easily create a scoring chance.
What Not to Do
As with all other mechanics, there are some dos and don’ts to dribbling. One of the biggest mistakes that beginners make in EA FC 25 is holding down the sprint button at all times. This is a big NO as holding down sprint all the time will allow you to get dispossessed very easily. For example, if you pass the ball to a player and hold down R2/RT to instantly sprint, your first touch will not be controlled. And if it’s a tight space, you’ll lose the ball. So, don’t overuse the sprinting mechanic. Instead, let the ball come to your player, and once you want to create an attack, start dribbling using any of the tactics we listed above. This will make sure that all your dribbles are more controlled and you’ll create more scoring chances.
