Madden is a game that welcomes innovation. Be it offset formations or never-before-seen plays, players are always encouraged to try new combinations. However, that doesn’t mean some plays don’t stand out above the rest. With Madden 26 recently being released, it’s time to revisit the best offensive plays.
This is especially important for this iteration due to the introduction of the auto-motion mechanic. Since it’s such a curveball in the game’s integral gameplay, there have been some major changes to the tier list. This list will comprise plays of all difficulties, so whether you’re a beginner or a veteran looking for something spicy, we’ve got you covered.
Best Offensive Plays In Madden 26
MTN Mesh Post
We’re going to start our list with one of the most popular plays right now, the MTN Mesh Post in the Gun Cluster HB STR formation. The MTN plays have really taken over Madden 26 since people are experimenting with them, finding new ways to juke defenders. The Gun Gluster HB STR has WRs on the wide side of the field. As soon as you hike the ball, your TE will move to the opposite side of your WRs, giving you more read options.
You have several options on this play, two of which exploit the soft center of the defense. In this play, you’ll have two receivers playing the drag routes. You can pass to either of them if you see the defense playing deep or covering the flat. Drag routes are better for man coverage over zone coverage, since the defenders are left behind.
Remember the TE that moved to the WK side? He’ll be running the corner route. If he’s open, pass to him for massive yard gains. Your final read is going to be the WR playing the post route. If your drag routes are covered, it’s likely the post route will be left open. As soon as the receiver cuts towards the middle, make the pass slightly ahead of him to avoid defenders. This is a top-performing play right now and can be played against the top defenses in Madden 26.
MTN RPO Read Flat
MTN RPO Read Flat is a simpler MTN play in the Gun Tight Open formation. Here, you’ll need to do two things before the hike: make sure your RB is on the wide side of the field, and identify the Read and Pass defenders. Remember that since this is an RPO play, your QB should have good AWR, and you should be decisive. On the hike, your receiver will move over to the strong side on a drag route, useful if the Pass key defender doesn’t move towards the flat.
The drag route is a great contingency plan, but there’s another read you can opt for. If the Read key defender moves in towards your RB, you should keep the ball with the QB and run towards the center. If the Read key is staying in place, don’t hold the ball since he’ll sack your QB. Instead, make the handoff to your RB, and he’ll follow the same route up the middle.
Due to the intense man coverage against RPO plays, the middle is usually left exposed. Don’t try to go for explosive yard gains with this play, as your players’ routes are divided between pass and run routes, which decreases the number of receivers open for passes.
Whip Y Cross
Next, we have the Whip Y Cross from the Gun Box HB STR formation. While the formation is similar to the one used for MTN Mesh Post, you can aim for a deep throw and score a TD. You’ll want your RB on the wide side of the field for this one. Unlike most plays, you’ll want two receivers with the RB, and a solo receiver on the weak side with a streak route.
The first read for this play is the WR on the strong side playing the flat route. If the defense is playing zone coverage, you should be able to steal some easy yards on this route. The next read is either your receiver on the drag, just behind the DT, or the RB on the wheel route. The drag route is only applicable if the defensive LBs are playing 8-10 yards behind the LOS; otherwise, they’ll stop you pretty quick. The wheel route is good against zone coverage if the defense is scattered.
You also have the cross and the solo WR on the streak route. Once all the routes have pulled apart the defense, your WR is free to run to the TD line with the streak route. The only thing you need is good catching stats since it’ll be a pretty long throw.
MTN Levels Y-Corner
Madden 26 comes with tons of new plays, one of them being the MTN Levels Y-Corner from the Gun Trips TE formation. In this formation, all three WRs are along the same line but spaced far out since you have two drag routes and a cross. Your WRs will always be on the strong side for this play. The unique part about this play is that during the hike call, your RB goes on a motion swing behind the QB towards the WRs.
Let’s get the easiest read out of the way: the motion swing. Your RB auto-runs towards the wide side while your WRs head the opposite direction, leaving the wide flat open. This is great for small but easy yard gains. Next up, you’ve got the two drag routes. Both routes can be considered, depending on where you find a gap in the defense. The outer WR running to the middle has a better chance of being open, especially against man coverage plays.
Your final read will be the receiver with the cross route. This will be your most beneficial route, if you manage to pull it off, that is. Against zone coverage, you’ll want to pass the ball a bit lower and towards the flat to avoid any safeties around that area.
SFT MTN Stack Shake N Up
The next play we have has a lot going on, as the name suggests. The SFT MTN Stack Shake N Up is part of the Gun Y Off Trio Wk formation and utilizes the TE on the wide side of the field. On pressing the hike button, your TE will auto-move towards the opposite side of the field while your outside receiver moves inwards before the snap.
Your first read will be the outside receiver that moved inside post-hike. This receiver runs the drag route with a slight stutter to throw off LBs. Since he’s running the drag route, he can trail defenders behind him while completing the pass. Next, you have your solo WR on the weak side running a deep out route. This is great for man coverage since you’re putting pressure on the weak side, creating space for him on the strong side. Once he breaks free from his defender, you can throw a deep pass towards the outside.
Your final read will be the slot receiver in front of the outside receiver. He runs a vertical into a deep cut-outwards, confusing defenders. This isn’t the best option to consider, but if the other routes are covered, you should look towards the sideline on the weak side for an opening. Overall, this play is ideal for beating man coverages.
Y Trail X-Cross
The Y Trail X-Cross has been super popular amongst Madden 26 players, and here’s why. This is one of the few plays on the list that doesn’t have auto-motion pre-snap. You’ll want your TE on the wide side of your formation, which is the Singleback Toad X Nasty.
The shortest route in this play will be the RB’s slant route down the middle, turning towards the weak side. If you’re looking for some easy yard gains, this is the safest play to make. The LBs usually fall back immediately post-snap, creating a gap between the defense. The second route is also pretty short. Your RB makes a quick run towards the flat. Both these routes work exceptionally well against zone coverage.
The last route is the TE we placed on the wide side. The TE will run something similar to a whip/pivot route, moving diagonally around the DE and in between the LBs. If you can wait until he breaks free from defenders, he can salvage double-digit yardage. The Y Trail X-Cross is preferred more for zone coverage rather than man coverage.
MTN HB Sluggo
Coming back to MTN plays, we have the MTN HB Sluggo from the Gun Doubles Z Close formation. This is by far one of the most explosive plays we’ve seen in Madden 26, a real high-risk, high-reward play. Your RB is on the weak side of the gridiron, but what’s surprising is that both your receiver and RB will run streak routes on either side of the QB.
Your TE, who is running the flat route, will be the first read. Against zone coverage, he should have no defenders on him and can run into the flat for some extra yards. Next, you have both streak routes. Your RB should be able to outrun his defender for a clean pass. Just make sure to pass it ahead of him and at a slight angle so he can swerve. The streak receiver is very rarely left open, but if against man coverage, he might be able to go for a TD.
One very important route is the dig-in route by your solo receiver. When up against zone coverage, you can usually find an open spot for him to squeeze into. If he’s open, run ahead to get as many yards as you can. All you need for this play is good AWR, passing, and catching attributes.
MTN Z Choice
Since we’re on the topic of explosive plays, we can’t skip out on MTN Z Choice, part of the Gun Tight Slot Flip formation. Starting off, your RB should be on the wide side of the field and will be blocked to cover for the QB. Your outside receiver will run a deep post while your inside receiver goes for the streak.
Now, there’s practically only one viable read on this play, and it’s the deep post. The streak receiver should be able to pull the LBs and safeties vertically, while your slot receiver runs out to create space there. After a few seconds, your outside receiver should be near the goal post for a free one-play TD. This play doesn’t always work, but it is great if you know what you’re doing or just need a Hail Mary moment.
MTN Verts Shallow Cross
Our final play for the day is the MTN Verts Shallow Cross from the Gun Bunch TE STR formation. We haven’t had a lot of plays from the Gun Bunch formation since players have been focusing on wider routes, but MTN Verts Shallow Cross will not disappoint. Your bunch receivers should be on the wide side of the field pre-snap. On the hike, your inside bunch receiver will move across towards the end of the formation on the weak side.
Your primary read will be the outside bunch receiver on the wheel route. If your opponent went with man coverage, your outside receiver should have space to move into the sideline for some extra yards. Another small read can be the TE on a drag route. As mentioned before, drag routes are great against zone coverage.
Your RB will also be running a wheel route, but on the weak side. If against man coverage, throw the ball slightly below to ensure the safeties don’t intercept it. The RB should be able to find a deep zone in the center without pressure. The last player you need to watch is the middle bunch receiver on the cross route. Cross routes are very hard to defend, especially if the defense is scattered after the wheel routes. Make a quick pass towards the sideline to get some good yards.
