What are Specialities?
They seem to cause a lot of confusion which is why I’m putting this guide together. I was curious about them from the first few games that had specialities. Curious enough to have made (very untidy) notes a long time ago, which I will now attempt to translate into something that makes sense.
The simplest way I can define or explain a speciality in FIFA is to call it a qualification. Say you need 80 marks out of 100 on a test to achieve an A grade. If you got 79 marks, you wouldn’t have earned an A grade, but you would only be one mark away. It’s purely a reflection of a player’s attributes, it doesn’t add anything at all. It’s simply a way of making it easier to spot the best players (although if you think back to my test analogy, players can be marginally lower in stats but look worse because of the absence of one of these speciality badges).
Another thing to point out is that they are not the same as traits. I’ve seen people use the two terms interchangeably and it just adds to the confusion.
What Can I Use This Information For?
If you’re new to the game, you might just be wondering what each badge means. More experienced players might be interested in training specific attributes in manager or player career mode to earn a specific badge. You can also use this information as a template when creating a player or virtual pro.
There are 17 specialities in total, so I’ve tried to sort them into the following categories. Physical/Generic, Defensive, Midfield, Attacking and Complete. Not all of them fit perfectly but I think it makes a bit more sense this way.
The Complete Specialities all require the presence or combination of other badges. Where this is the case, I will also point it out on the relevant speciality.
Physical and Generic Specialities
Most of the badges in this category can definitely be described as physical. The others are a bit more generic or technical but I’ve kept them in here for simplicity.
Speedster
Top of the list mainly because it’s so sought after, everybody wants fast players on FIFA.
This is a simple one to work out. If you add together a player’s Acceleration and Sprint Speed attributes and the total is 180 or higher, they qualify for the Speedster badge.
Don’t be lazy and assume that you need 90 acceleration and 90 sprint speed, it’s 180 combined. A player with 82 sprint speed could still qualify, but his acceleration would need to be 98.
Speedster Examples
Kylian Mbappe definitely is a Speedster (96 Acceleration + 96 Sprint Speed = 192) Cristiano Ronaldo is just about a Speedster (89 Acceleration + 91 Sprint Speed) but Lionel Messi is not (91 Acceleration + 86 Sprint Speed).
Strength
This one is also fairly simple but has to be explained in a slightly different way. The two key factors for this are Strength (obviously) and Weight.
A player that weighs 183 lbs or more only needs their strength attribute to be 86 or above.
However, a player that weighs 181 lbs or less needs their strength attribute to be 90 or above.
Strength Examples
Under the first criteria, Harry Maguire would qualify (220lbs and 89 strength) but Mats Hummels wouldn’t (203lbs and 85 strength).
Under the second criteria, Geoffrey Kondogbia would qualify (176lbs and 91 strength) but Sergej Milinkovic-Savic wouldn’t (168lbs and 88 strength).
Also see: Strongest Players in FIFA 19.
Acrobat
This is another one that can be explained just like strength was.
A player that has a Reactions attribute of 80 or above needs their Agility to be at least 86 to be an ‘Acrobat’.
But, if a player’s Reactions attribute is 79 or less, they need to have 90 Agility or better.
Acrobat Examples
From that first rule, Antoine Griezmann qualifies as an Acrobat (90 reactions, 90 agility), but Luis Suarez does not (92 reactions, 82 agility).
Under the second rule, Hirving Lozano qualifies (77 reactions, 91 agility), but Memphis Depay does not (79 reactions, 82 agility).
Aerial Threat
Aerial Threat is a little bit more complicated but simple enough if you read through it slowly.
Players that are 6’5″ and over only require a Heading attribute of at least 75.
Anyone between 6’2″ and 6’4″ however will require a Heading attribute of at least 90.
If a player is 6’1″ or under, they will have to meet the following two criteria:
- Heading attribute of at least 90.
- Either their Jumping or Strength attribute to be 85 or over.
Aerial Threat Examples
Bas Dost (94 heading) is an Aerial Threat but Marcao isn’t (73 heading), despite them both being 6’5″ tall.
Olivier Giroud (6’4″ tall and 90 heading) is an Aerial Threat but Harry Kane (6’2″ tall and 85 heading) isn’t.
Mauro Icardi (5’11”, 91 heading and 94 jumping) qualifies for Aerial Threat but Raul Garcia (6’0″, 90 heading but only 76 jumping and 82 strength) does not.
Engine
For a player to be considered an ‘Engine’, they need to meet the following three criteria:
- Attacking Work Rate = High
- Defending Work Rate = High
- Stamina attribute must be 86 or above
Work rate is a slightly strange one as it affects both the Engine badge and the Poacher badge. To try and make sense of work rate, I’ve included a table at the very bottom of this page.
Engine Examples
Luka Modric (89 stamina) qualifies for Engine but Ivan Rakitic (84 stamina) does not, despite both players having H/H work rates.
N’Golo Kante has 96 stamina but doesn’t qualify because his work rates are M/H.
Dribbler
The first requirement to be considered a ‘Dribbler’ is to have a Dribbling attribute of 86 or higher.
Secondly, unless you have 5* skill moves, you’ll need at least 75 Balance.
Dribbler Examples
Douglas Costa (92 dribbling, 5* skill moves and 91 balance) and Mohamed Salah (89 dribbling, 4* skill moves and 88 balance) qualify for ‘Dribbler’.
Gareth Bale (87 dribbling, 4* skill moves and 65 balance) and Gelson Martins (85 dribbling, 5* skill moves and 92 balance) do not.
Defensive Specialities
This doesn’t mean that these only apply to defenders, but they indicate that a player has an aptitude for defensive play. There are only two badges to go through here.
Tackler
This is a super easy one to figure out. Only two criteria to meet:
- Player must have a Standing Tackle attribute of at least 86.
- Player must have a Sliding Tackle attribute of at least 85.
Tackler is required for Complete Defender.
Tackler Examples
Jan Vertonghen (87 standing tackle, 88 slide tackle) is considered a tackler.
Gerard Pique (86 standing tackle, 84 slide tackle) and Lucas Hernandez (83 standing tackle, 86 slide tackle) are not.
Tactician
Another simple one for you. The player in question must meet both of these criteria:
- Interceptions attribute is 86 or above.
- Reactions attribute is 80 or above.
Tactician Examples
Sergio Busquets (87 interceptions, 87 reactions) is considered a Tactician.
Nicolas Otamendi (86 interceptions, 79 reactions) and Marco Verratti (84 interceptions, 85 reactions) are not.
Midfield Specialities
Again, these don’t just apply to midfielders but they are more common in midfielders.
Playmaker
You know how I just said these don’t just apply to midfielders, well I lied. The Playmaker badge is only for Central Midfielders. To qualify for this badge a player has to meet all four of the following criteria:
- Can play as either CDM, CM or CAM. (Doesn’t have to be main position, just listed in their bio)
- Short passing attribute of 86 or above.
- Vision attribute of 86 or above.
- Long Passing attribute of 73 or above.
Required for Complete Midfielder.
Playmaker Examples
David Silva (CAM/CM, 92 short passing, 92 vision, 85 long passing) is a playmaker.
Lionel Messi (CF/RW/ST, 90 short passing, 94 vision, 87 long passing) and Bernardo Silva (RW/CAM/CM, 85 short passing, 86 vision, 79 long passing) are not.
Crosser
A slightly simpler one. A player must meet both of these criteria:
- Their Crossing attribute must be 86 or higher.
- Their Curve attribute must be 80 or higher.
Crosser Examples
Kieran Trippier (91 crossing, 87 curve) and Benjamin Mendy (87 crossing, 80 curve) both qualify for the Crosser badge.
Marcos Alonso (85 crossing, 85 curve) and Andrew Robertson (86 crossing, 74 curve) don’t.
Free Kick Specialist
To have a specialism with Free Kicks, any player must meet both of these criteria:
- Their Free Kick Accuracy has to be at least 86.
- They need at least an 85 rating for EITHER Curve OR Shot Power.
Free Kick Specialist Examples
Christian Eriksen (87 free kick accuracy, 86 curve, 84 shot power) and Hakan Calhanoglu (90 free kick accuracy, 92 curve, 86 shot power) are Free Kick Specialists.
Juan Mata (86 FK, 84 curve, 75 shot power) and Toni Kroos (84 FK, 86 curve, 87 shot power) aren’t Free Kick Specialists.
Distance Shooter
This is similar to the Speedster calculation that I already covered.
To be a ‘Distance Shooter’, the combined Long Shots and Shot Power Attributes of a player must total 174 or higher.
Distance Shooter Examples
Youri Tielemans (88 long shot, 88 shot power) and Philippe Coutinho (93 long shot, 83 show power) are Distance Shooters.
Paulo Dybala (88 long shot, 82 shot power) and Paul Pogba (81 long shot, 90 shot power) are not.
Attacking Specialities
These two are much more likely to be found in Strikers but could reasonably be found in Wingers or Attacking Midfielders.
Poacher
Three criteria:
- Attacking Work Rate must be either Medium or Low. It Cannot be High.
- Finishing must be at least 85
- Heading must be at least 75
Poacher Examples
Romelu Lukaku (Medium, 87 finishing, 86 heading) is a Poacher.
Robert Lewandowski (High, 91 finishing, 85 heading), Mario Balotelli (Medium, 85 finishing, 67 heading) and Karim Benzema (Medium, 81 finishing, 75 heading) don’t quite qualify.
Clinical Finisher
Two criteria
- The player’s finishing attribute must be 86 or more.
- The player’s Long Shot attribute must be 80 or more.
Clinical Finisher Examples
Sergio Aguero (93 finishing, 83 long shot) and Gonzalo Higuain (92 finishing, 80 long shot) are Clinical Finishers.
Edinson Cavani (89 finishing, 79 long shot) and Alexis Sanchez (81 finishing, 83 long shot) are not.
Complete Specialities
These are slightly different, in that eligibility for them is based on the presence of other specialities.
Complete Defender
To be considered a Complete Defender, a player must meet the following criteria:
- Must have TACKLER
- Must have TACTICIAN
- At least one of Aerial Threat, Acrobat or Strength.
Complete Defender Examples
Sergio Ramos and Kalidou Koulibaly are both Complete Defenders.
Complete Midfielder
To qualify as a Complete Midfielder, a player must meet both of these requirements:
- Must have PLAYMAKER
- Must have at least TWO from this list.
- Dribbler
- Engine
- Tackler
- Distance Shooter
- Crossing
- Free Kick Specialist
- Clinical Finisher.
Complete Midfielder Examples
Hakim Ziyech, Daniel Parejo and Marco Reus are all Complete Midfielders.
Complete Forward
Eligibility for Complete Forward status is based on the following points:
- Must have at least one of Poacher or Clinical Finisher.
- If the player has only one of Poacher or Clinical Finisher, they must also have at least two out of these four:
- Speedster
- Aerial Threat
- Dribbler
- Strength
- However if they have both Poacher and Clinical finisher, only one from that list is required.
Complete Forward Examples
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Quincy Promes and Radamel Falcao are all Complete Forwards.
Work Rate Table for Engine and Poacher
[table id=14 /]
See Also: High Work Rate Players in FIFA 19.
