FC 26 Guide | How to Perform All Skill Moves

Here's a guide on how to perform skill moves in FC 26.

Game Guide by Navid Kabbo on Jul 26, 2026

Skill moves are one of the best ways to beat defenders in EA SPORTS FC 26. No matter what mode you play – Ultimate Team, Career Mode, Clubs or Kick-Off – learning the right dribbling techniques can help you open up space, break down stubborn defenses and score more goals.

Every move has a purpose, from the most basic Ball Rolls to the most advanced Elasticos. In this guide, you'll learn how the FC 26 skill move system works, which controls the most useful tricks, and when you should use them during a match.

What are Skill Moves in FC 26?

Skill moves are special dribbling moves with the use of your controller’s Right Stick (RS). These moves allow the player to fake out a change of direction, blow past defenders, and keep control in tight quarters.

FC 26 Skill Moves window

All FC 26 players have a Skill Moves Star Rating of 1 to 5. The rating determines what tricks they can do in a match. Higher-rated players have access to more advanced and more effective moves, making them especially dangerous in one-on-one situations.

1 star Players: Basic tricks only
2 star Players: Simple dribbling moves
3 star Players: Intermediate skill moves
4 star Players: Advanced attacking skills
5 star Players: Every skill move in the game

When building your squad, checking a player's Skill Moves rating is just as important as looking at their pace or dribbling attributes.

New Skill Moves in FC 26

EA SPORTS has added new skill moves to the dribbling system in FC 26. These bonuses add variety to attacks and allow skilled players to outplay defenders in more ways.

While some of these moves are beginner-friendly, others require precise timing and are best suited for experienced players.

Explosive Stepover (3 star –5 star)

PlayStation

Hold L1
Rotate the Right Stick forward to the left or right
Exit using the Left Stick

Xbox

Hold LB
Rotate the Right Stick forward to the left or right
Exit using the Left Stick

This move creates a sudden burst of acceleration after a fake step, making it extremely effective when attacking down the wings or breaking away from full backs.

Advanced Heel Flick (4 star–5 star)

Flick Right Stick Forward
Flick Back
Push the Left Stick diagonally left, right, or forward

The Advanced Heel Flick is designed for quick direction changes while maintaining momentum. It's especially useful near the edge of the penalty area when defenders expect you to continue running in a straight line.

Drag to Chop (4 star–5 star)

PlayStation

Hold L2
Roll the Right Stick Left → Back → Right

Xbox

Hold LT
Roll the Right Stick Left → Back → Right

This move allows attackers to stop suddenly and cut inside, often creating enough space for a finesse shot or an extra pass.

Elastico Variation (5 star )

PlayStation

Hold L2
Rotate Right Stick Right → Back → Left

Xbox

Hold LT
Rotate Right Stick Right → Back → Left

This faster version of the traditional Elastico is one of the most difficult but rewarding skill moves in FC 26. It's best used against isolated defenders in one-on-one situations.

Trickster Rainbow Flick (1 star–5 star)

PlayStation / Xbox

Flick Right Stick Back
Flick Right Stick Forward

The Trickster Rainbow Flick lifts the ball over an opponent and can completely bypass aggressive defenders. While risky, it's one of the flashiest moves in the game when executed successfully.

Best Skill Moves Every Beginner Should Learn

If you're new to FC 26, there's no need to learn every trick immediately. A handful of reliable skill moves will help you improve much faster than trying to memorize dozens of complicated combinations.

These are the moves most players use regularly, even at competitive levels.

Ball Roll (2-star)

How to Perform

Hold the Right Stick left or right relative to your player's movement.

The Ball Roll is simple but incredibly effective. It lets you glide past defenders, improve your shooting angle, and avoid tackles with minimal risk.

Best For

Avoiding tackles
Creating shooting angles
Keeping possession

Step Over (2-star)

How to Perform

Rotate the Right Stick around the front of your player.

The Step Over tricks defenders into committing to the wrong direction before allowing you to sprint away. It's especially useful for wingers looking to beat their marker.

Best For:

Wing play
Quick acceleration
Counterattacks

Roulette (3-star)

How to Perform

Rotate the Right Stick 180° in the direction you want to turn.

The Roulette allows your player to spin around incoming challenges while shielding the ball. Timing is important, but it's very rewarding when used correctly.

Best For:

Escaping pressure
Central midfield dribbling
Turning away from defenders

Heel to Heel Flick (4-star)

The Heel to Heel Flick propels the ball forward while increasing your player's momentum. It works particularly well when there's open space ahead.

Best For:

Fast breaks
One-on-one situations
Sprinting into space

La Croqueta (4star)

La Croqueta shifts the ball quickly from one foot to the other while keeping it close to the body. It's one of the safest skill moves to use inside crowded penalty areas.

Best For:

Tight spaces
Creating passing lanes
Opening shooting opportunities

Elastico (5-star)

The Elastico remains one of the signature moves in EA SPORTS FC. A quick outside-to-inside touch can completely wrong-foot defenders if timed properly.

Best For:

Elite dribbling
Attacking the box
Beating the last defender

Simplified Skill Moves

FC 26 introduces Simplified Skill Moves, making the dribbling system much more accessible to beginners.

Rather than memorizing dozens of separate stick combos, players have to flick in certain directions, and the game will automatically pick a suitable skill move depending on the footballer’s star rating.

When enabled:

Flick Right Stick Forward
Flick Right Stick Back
Flick Right Stick Left
Flick Right Stick Right

This feature is ideal for players who are learning the game or want a more casual gameplay experience.

Tips for Using Skill Moves Effectively

Learning the controls is only part of becoming a better dribbler. Knowing when to use each move is just as important as knowing how to perform it.

Don't Spam Skill Moves

Using the same move repeatedly makes your attacks predictable. Mix your dribbling with passing and changes of pace to keep defenders guessing.

Choose Players with High Dribbling Stats

Skill moves are most effective when performed by players with:

High Dribbling
High Agility
High Balance
4-star or 5-star Skill Moves

These players execute animations more quickly and maintain better ball control under pressure.

Practice Before Going Online

Spend time in the Practice Arena or Skill Games to build muscle memory. Learning the timing offline makes it much easier to perform moves consistently during competitive matches.

Combine Multiple Skill Moves

Experienced players rarely rely on a single trick. Instead, they chain moves together to create unpredictable attacking patterns.

Examples include:

Ball Roll → Heel to Heel Flick
Step Over → Sprint
La Croqueta → Shot
Elastico → Finesse Shot

When Should You Use Skill Moves?

Skill moves are most effective in specific situations rather than every possession. Don’t spam skill moves at every opportunity; use them intentionally. Stop trying to do tricks all the time.

When you get the ball, instead of trying to do tricks all the time, use them in situations where they can create space, beat a defender, or improve your attacking options.

Use them when:

You're facing a defender one-on-one.
You need space for a shot.
You're cutting inside from the wing.
You're protecting possession under pressure.
You're trying to beat the last defender.

Avoid using unnecessary tricks in your own half, as losing possession in dangerous areas can quickly lead to counterattacking opportunities for your opponent.

Final Thoughts

You don’t have to learn every trick to become a better player, but practice makes perfect when it comes to mastering skill moves in FC 26. Focusing on a small group of reliable moves, such as the Ball Roll, Step Over, Roulette, and Heel to Heel Flick, will immediately improve your attacking play.

And as you gain more confidence, you can start to add more advanced tricks such as the Elastico, La Croqueta, and the new FC 26 skill moves into your game. If you practice every day and make good decisions, you will be a lot more dangerous 1-on-1 and create a lot more scoring chances in every game.

Also, check our FC 26 Review and other guides below:

Navid Kabbo

Editor, NoobFeed

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