Player control is one of the most critical aspects of Madden 23 play. Mastering the right stick will improve your game from amateur-tier to pro, allowing small yardage situations to go deep.
Jukes and hurdles are good ways to beat a defender, but if you want to inspire fear in your opponents, the stiff arm is the way to go. This is the ultimate Madden controls guide to using stiff arms.
A stiff arm is a move that sees a player (often a running back) extend their arm out in order to prevent a defender from making a tackle. The objective of a stiff arm is to keep an approaching defender at bay, stifling a potential tackle to gain more yards and keep the ball to hand.
How to stiff arm in Madden 23
In order to perform a stiff arm, press:
- X button on PS4/PS5
- A button on Xbox One/Series X|S
- E key on PC
You’ll be able to extend a stiff arm when one of your players is in possession of the ball and running down the field. A successful stiff arm can result in the defender being thrown into the air or to the ground.
Who has the best stiff arm in Madden 23?
- Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee Titans (99)
- Nick Chubb, RB, Cleveland Browns (94)
- Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts (93)
- James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals (92)
- Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints (91)
- Joe Mixon, RB, Cincinnati Bengals (90)
- Najee Harris, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers (89)
- Josh Jacobs, RB, Las Vegas Raiders (88)
- Deebo Samuel, WR, San Francisco 49ers (88)
- Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys (87)
Stiff arm tips and tricks for Madden 23
Here are some tips and tricks to make sure that you can use the stiff arm move in Madden 23 effectively to gain those extra yards:
1. Line up the defender
In order to perform a successful stiff arm, the tackling defender should be directly lined up to the left or right of the ball carrier. This will allow your player to extend their arm straight across the path of the defender, stopping their advances for as long as the stiff arm will hold.
2. Keep the momentum
Stiff arms occur at a higher rate if the ball carrier is already in a high-speed running motion. That means that stopping in order to perform a stiff arm does not produce consistent results. So, if you see a defender powering over from either flank, keep rushing forward and see if they then line up for a well-timed stiff arm.
3. Be mindful of your stamina
A good amount of stamina is necessary to perform a successful stiff arm. Tired players not only risk getting tackled but also fumbling the ball, so it’s always best to take note of your stamina bar before committing to a stiff arm.
4. Use a stiff arm to reduce speed
This is an advanced move and quite tricky to get right. Still, by triggering a stiff arm animation, the ball carrier slows down a little bit. This could be used in a similar way as the stop-and-go move.
The concept is simple: the player reduces their speed in order to avoid defenders diving in front of them. Although it is a simple concept, it is an advanced move that requires practice to get the timing right.
5. Beating the MUT stiff arm challenges
Madden Ultimate Team is an online mode filled with challenges. Some of these challenges require the player to perform a certain number of stiff arms. Here, a good trick is just to spam the A/X/E button, even if the defender does not engage in the stiff arm. You’ll get a check on the challenge just by triggering the stiff arm animation.
So, that’s what you need to know to master the stiff arm move and keep your enemies at bay in Madden 23.
Looking for more Madden 23 guides?
Madden 23 Best Playbooks: Top Offensive & Defensive Plays to Win on Franchise Mode, MUT, and Online
Madden 23 Sliders: Realistic Gameplay Settings for Injuries and All-Pro Franchise Mode
Madden 23 Relocation Guide: All Team Uniforms, Teams, Logos, Cities and Stadiums
Madden 23: Best (and Worst) Teams to Rebuild
Madden 23 Defense: Interceptions, Controls, and Tips and Tricks to Crush Opposing Offenses
Madden 23 Running Tips: How to Hurdle, Jurdle, Juke, Spin, Truck, Sprint, Slide, Dead Leg and Tips