Passing is one of the core aspects of Madden. If you can’t throw a good pass, you simply can’t win the game. Fortunately, Madden 26 allows you to play around with different passing styles, so you can tweak the settings according to your preference.
In essence, passing styles are just a mechanic that changes the way your quarterback throws the football. However, these can be crucial to the game. With enough practice, you can make any passing style the best one, but some are inherently better than others.
All Passing Styles In Madden 26
Here’s every passing style available in the game.
- Classic
- Placement
- Placement & Accuracy
- Revamped Passing
Previous Madden games, like Madden 25, offered three passing styles. However, College Football 26 introduced Revamped Passing to the franchise, bringing that total up to four. Revamped Passing is now available in Madden 26, and players can try it out with different NFL teams.
If you’ve played CFB 26 or previous Madden titles, you’ll already be aware of how the different passing styles impact the game. But if you haven’t, let us break down all of them.
Classic
The Classic passing style is for those who prefer to stick to the traditions established in previous Madden NFL titles. This one is considered the easiest, as it’s pretty simple to operate — just use the passing button at the right time. It doesn’t use placement or accuracy meters, and allows you to alter the ball’s trajectory using the left stick. Overall, you’ll have fair command over your passes while keeping things simple.
Although Classic is simple and easy, it’s not perfect. Using this passing style not only forces your receivers to make an effort to catch, but it also depends heavily on your players’ stats and abilities. So, even if you set up a clever route for a pass, you’ll still struggle if your QB doesn’t have the stats to back it up.
Placement
This one gives you more command over passes and can work as a decent transition if you plan on moving from traditional to advanced skill-based styles. Unlike Classic, Placement is sophisticated but forgiving enough to be considered beginner-friendly. Similar to the above, there’s no need for you to pass with an accuracy meter; just aim using the left stick, and call it a day.
However, there are some drawbacks to this passing style. As mentioned earlier, you don’t have to worry about accuracy here, but that can be a con, especially for competitive play. Due to limited power control, you won’t be in total control of your throws, causing bad passes. Additionally, you’ll need good left stick skills, or you’ll make a habit of aiming at coverage.
Placement & Accuracy
With Placement & Accuracy, you gain greater control over the passes, thanks to an additional accuracy meter that increases the chances of your ball reaching the intended spot. You also still have trajectory control, so mastering it gives you a competitive edge over those who adhere to the styles mentioned above. This overall increased complexity enables you to throw into tight windows or drop perfect passes over defenders (if you have the skills to do so).
Speaking of skills, beginners may struggle with this style, since it presents a steep learning curve. Trying to aim and time the pass simultaneously can be overwhelming. Under pressure, one wrong move can have a significant impact on your pass. Additionally, similar to other passing styles, your QB’s rating is another deciding factor. Once mastered, however, this style can make you unstoppable.
Revamped Passing
Also part of College Football 26, Revamped Passing is now available in Madden 26. Out of the four passing styles, this one stands out as the most complex. Here, the highlight is the power meter, which displays three colors: Red, Blue, and Gold, each defining the quality of your pass.
- Red – Too much power
- Blue – Accurate throw
- Gold – Perfect Pass
It’s a game-changer, since this clear color system allows you to make split-second, versatile decisions. For instance, you can sometimes keep the power low for the sake of accuracy, or go all-in if you want the ball to go as far as it can. Similarly, you can time a perfect strike if your surroundings are forgiving enough. All of this can be achieved by pressing the pass button at the right time. Overall, it provides the highest level of control and a more competitive approach than Placement & Accuracy.
However, it’s a high-risk, high-reward passing style. First of all, you need patience for it to work optimally. When the pressure is high, it’s natural for our inputs to be intense. This poses an issue, since managing the meter can be challenging, especially for newbies.
It won’t be surprising if you intended to go easy on the pass but ended up striking a red one due to pressure. Other than that, even the intended inputs can’t guarantee the desired outcomes: A gold pass may be dropped by your receiver, and a red one might still be caught. Since it requires you to be careful and patient, Revamped Passing can slow you down during fast-paced action.
Best Passing Styles In Madden 26
Now, coming to the million-dollar question, which passing style is the best? Well, that depends on the way you play. Some styles won’t work for you, but others will be dominating the field with them. Additionally, practice plays a key role. While certain mechanics might not click at first, getting used to them with a game or two can change the way you feel.
For me, the best ones are Placement & Accuracy and Revamped Passing. Here’s why:
Placement & Accuracy: Going for this style is better than the standard Placement. Although it’s not beginner-friendly, once practiced, every pass feels more satisfying and rewarding. With location control and an accuracy meter, the ball will listen to you. Be patient, get familiar with it, and passing will be at your fingertips.
To get the most out of Placement & Accuracy, check out this YouTube video. Here, SkimboMaddenPro explains the best settings for this passing style, helping you go beyond its capabilities.
Revamped Passing: This is another great passing style to go for, especially for those transitioning from College Football 26 to Madden 26. While practice also plays a vital role here, you can get used to it in no time. The indication through colors is a worthwhile addition, although it may slow you down during the learning stage.
It’s fairly simple to operate compared to other passing styles, and once your muscle memory develops, you’ll become unstoppable. Whether you are playing solo or looking to beat someone online, Revamped Passing can be your best friend if you master its timing.
