Madden 21 Superstar Abilities Tier List For Each Archetype In Franchise Mode

One of the most important decisions you will make in franchise mode is to determine which archetype you want to pursue to develop your young players.

Each archetype comes with unique superstar abilities so you will want to make sure you fully understand all of your options before you start using your XP to progress a young player.

The list below goes over the archetypes for each position in Madden 21 franchise mode, and which abilities players with them can earn.

As of now, we are missing a few superstar abilities and of course these can change at any time but the information we cover in this article is about 95% accurate.

For the most part, tier 1 abilities unlock at 70 overall and tier 2 abilities unlock at 85 overall. Quarterbacks and offensive linemen are the exceptions.

Quarterbacks unlock their superstar abilities at 60, 70, 80, 85, and 90 while offensive linemen unlock their abilities at 70 and 80.

One additional thing to keep in mind when you are going through this list is abilities listed under “Any” are available to all archetypes for that specific position.

If you are curious about what these abilities do, you can learn more about them here.

Quarterback X-Factor Abilities

Quarterback X-Factor abilities unlock at 60 overall.

Strong Arm: Bazooka

Scrambler: First One Free

Improviser: Gambler, Blitz Radar, Run N Gun

Field General: Omaha, Brick Wall, Hi Lo Deadeye, Pro Reads

Any: Truzz

Quarterback Superstar Abilities

Tier 1

Tier 1 abilities for quarterbacks unlock at 60 overall.

Strong Arm: Quick Draw

Scrambler: Quick Draw

Improviser: Sleight Of Hand

Field General: Inside Deadeye

Tier 2

Tier 2 abilities for quarterbacks unlock at 70 overall.

Strong Arm: Anchored Extender, Gutsy Scrambler, Fearless

Scrambler: Spin Cycle, Juke Box

Improviser: Bulldozer, Roaming Deadeye

Field General: Pocket Deadeye

Tier 3

Tier 3 abilities for quarterbacks unlock at 80 overall.

Strong Arm: Red Zone Deadeye, Set Feet Lead, Pass Lead Elite

Scrambler: None

Improviser: No Look Deadeye

Field General: None

Any: Clutch, Homer

Tier 4

Tier 4 abilities for quarterbacks unlock at 85 overall

Strong Arm: Sideline Deadeye, Long Range Deadeye, Comeback, Gunslinger

Scrambler: Fastbreak, Safety Valve

Improviser: Agile Extender, Gunslinger

Field General: Red Zone Deadeye

Tier 5

Tier 5 abilities for quarterbacks unlock at 90 overall.

Strong Arm: Lofting Deadeye,

Scrambler: Dashing Deadeye

Improviser: Escape Artist, Dashing Deadeye, Threat Detector

Field General: Protected, Hot Route Master

Halfback X-Factor Abilities

Halfback X-Factor abilities unlock at 70 overall.

Elusive Back: First One Free

Power Back: Wrecking Ball

Receiving Back: Satellite, Max Security, Ankle Breaker

Any: Truzz

Halfback Superstar Abilities

Tier 1

Tier 1 halfback abilities unlock at 70 overall.

Elusive Back: Spin Cycle, Balance Beam, Return Man

Power Back: Tank, Bulldozer, Second Wind

Receiving Back: RB Apprentice, Short In Elite

Tier 2

Tier 2 halfback abilities unlock at 85 overall.

Elusive Back: Leap Frog, Juke Box, Evasive, Energizer, Reach For It, Human Joystick

Power Back: Arm Bar

Receiving Back: Grab-N-Go, Backfield Mismatch, Matchup Nightmare, Playmaker

Fullback Superstar Abilities

Fullbacks cannot get X-Factor abilities.

Tier 1

Tier 1 fullback abilities unlock at 70 overall.

Utility: Arm Bar, Mid Out Elite

Blocking: Secure Protector, Screen Protector, Bulldozer

Any: Reach For It

Tier 2

Tier 2 fullback abilities unlock at 85 overall.

Utility: RB Apprentice, Backfield Mismatch

Blocking: Matador, Nasty Streak

Any: Energizer

Wide Receiver X-Factor Abilities

Wide receiver X-Factor abilities unlock at 70 overall.

Deep Threat: YAC ‘Em Up, Double Me, Mossed

Slot: First One Free

Route Runner: Rac ‘Em Up

Physical: Max Security, Wrecking Ball, Grab and Smash

Wide Receiver Superstar Abilities

Tier 1

Tier 1 wide receiver superstar abilities unlock at 70 overall.

Deep Threat: Energizer, Evasive, Spin Cycle, Return Man

Slot: Route Technician, Juke Box, Mid In Elite, Short In Elite

Route Runner: Deep In Elite, Mid Out Elite

Physical: Bruiser, Matchup Nightmare, Second Wind

Tier 2

Tier 2 Wide receiver superstar abilities unlock at 85 overall.

Deep Threat: Short Out Elite, Deep Out Elite, Reach For It

Slot: Grab-N-Go, Slot Apprentice, Slot-O-Matic

Route Runner: WR Apprentice, Outside Apprentice, Route Apprentice

Physical: Leap Frog, Red Zone Threat

Tight End X-Factor Abilities

Tight end X-Factor abilities unlock at 70 overall.

Vertical Threat: Yac ‘Em Up, Rac ‘Em Up, Double Me, Mossed

Possession: Max Security

Blocking: Vanguard

Tight End Superstar Abilities

Tier 1

Tier 1 tight end superstar abilities unlock at 70 overall.

Vertical Threat: Short In Elite, Balance Beam

Possession: Short Out Elite, Mid Out Elite, Slot-O-Matic, Tank

Blocking: All Day, Arm Bar, Bulldozer, Screen Protector

Any: Reach For It, Second Wind

Tier 2

Tier 2 tight end superstar abilities unlock at 85 overall.

Vertical Threat: Leap Frog, Spin Cycle, Juke Box, Deep In Elite, Deep Out Elite, Route Technician, Slot Apprentice, Grab-N-Go

Possession: Route Apprentice, Matchup Nightmare, Red Zone Threat, Mid In Elite, TE Apprentice

Blocking: Secure Protector, Bruiser, Matador

Offensive Line Superstar Abilities

Offensive lineman do not get X-Factor abiliies.

Tier 1

Offensive lineman tier 1 abilities unlock at 70 overall.

Power: Puller Elite

Agile: Screen Protector

Pass Protector: Tear Proof, All Day, Secure Protector, Unspun

Any: Post Up

Tier 2

Offensive lineman tier 2 abilities unlock at 80 overall.

Power: Matador (Guard and Center only)

Agile: None

Pass Protector: Edge Protector (Tackle Only)

Any: Tough Nut (Guard and Center Only), Natural Talent, Fool Me Once, Threat Detector, Nasty Streak

Defensive End X-Factor Abilities

Defensive end X-Factor abilities unlock at 70 overall.

Speed Rusher: Fearmonger

Power Rusher: Unstoppable Force

Run Stopper: Run Stuffer, Blitz, Momentum Shift

Defensive End Superstar Abilities

Tier 1

Tier 1 defensive end superstar abilities unlock at 70 overall.

Speed Rusher: Strip Specialist

Power Rusher: Extra Credit, Under Pressure

Run Stopper: Goal Line Stuff, Inside Stuff, No Outsiders

Any: Secure Tackler, Unfakeable

Tier 2

Tier 2 defensive end superstar abilities unlock at 85 overall.

Speed Rusher: Edge Threat, Swim Club, Instant Rebate, Mr. Big Stop, Spinner, Speedster

Power Rusher: Ripper, Double Or Nothing, Unpredictable

Run Stopper: Reach Elite, Unpredictable, Run Stopper, Defensive Rally, B.O.G.O, Adrenaline Rush, Stonewall

Defensive Tackle X-Factor Abilities

Defensive Tackle X-Factor abilities unlock at 70 overall.

Speed Rusher: Fearmonger

Power Rusher: Unstoppable Force

Run Stopper: Reinforcement, Relentless, Blitz

Defensive Tackle Superstar Abilities

Tier 1

Tier 1 defensive tackle superstar abilities unlock at 70 overall.

Speed Rusher: Strip Specialist

Power Rusher: Under Pressure

Run Stopper: Inside Stuff, Goal Line Stuff

Any: Unfakeable, Secure Tackler

Tier 2

Tier 2 defensive tackle superstar abilities unlock at 85 overall.

Speed Rusher: Mr. Big Stop, Swim Club, Spinner, Speedster

Power Rusher: Ripper, Double Or Nothing, Unpredictable, El Toro

Run Stopper: Reach Elite, Defensive Rally, Run Stopper, B.O.G.O., Adrenaline Rush, Stonewall

Outside Linebacker X-Factor Abilities

Outside linebacker X-Factor abilities unlock at 70 overall.

Speed Rusher: Selfless, Fearmonger

Power Rusher: Unstoppable Force, Relentless

Run Stopper: Reinforcement, Selfless

Pass Coverage: Zone Hawk, Shutdown

Outside Linebacker Superstar Abilities

Tier 1

Outside linebacker tier 1 superstar abilities unlock at 70 overall.

Speed Rusher: Spinner, Strip Specialist

Power Rusher: Under Pressure, Ripper, Extra Credit

Run Stopper: Reach Elite, Inside Stuff, No Outsiders, Out My Way

Pass Coverage: Pick Artist, Mid Zone KO

Any: Secure Tackler, Unfakeable

Tier 2

Outside linebacker tier 2 superstar abilities unlock at 85.

Speed Rusher: Instant Rebate, Edge Threat, Mr. Big Stop, Swim Club, Speedster

Power Rusher: Double Or Nothing, El Toro

Run Stopper: Adrenaline Rush, Run Stopper, B.O.G.O.,

Pass Coverage: Short Route KO, Medium Route KO, Outmatched, Lurker, Lumberjack

Any: Stonewall

Middle Linebacker X-Factor Abilities

Middle linebacker X-Factor abilities unlock at 70 overall.

Field General: Reinforcement, Momentum Shift, Selfless

Pass Coverage: Shutdown

Run Stopper: Avalanche

Middle Linebacker Superstar Abilities

Tier 1

Middle linebacker tier 1 superstar abilities unlock at 70 overall.

Field General: Under Pressure, Strip Specialist

Pass Coverage: Pick Artist, Mid Zone KO, Tip Drill

Run Stopper: Out My Way, No Outsiders

Any: Secure Tackler, Unfakeable

Tier 2

Middle linebacker tier 2 superstar abilities unlock at 85 overall.

Field General: Closer

Pass Coverage: Short Route KO, Medium Route KO, Lurker

Run Stopper: Enforcer, Run Stopper, Reach Elite, Inside Stuff, Lumberjack, Outmatched

Any: Stonewall

Cornerback X-Factor Abilities

Cornerback X-Factor abilities unlock at 70 overall.

Man To Man: Shutdown, Bottleneck

Zone: Zone Hawk

Slot: Reinforcement, Selfless

Cornerback Superstar Abilities

Tier 1

Tier 1 cornerback superstar abilities unlock at 70 overall.

Man to Man: Return Man

Zone: Flat Zone KO

Slot: Mid Zone KO, Strip Specialist

Any: Acrobat, Tip Drill, Unfakeable

Tier 2

Tier 2 cornerback superstar abilities unlock at 85 overall.

Man to Man: Short Route KO, Deep Route KO

Zone: Chuck Out, Deep Out Zone KO

Slot: Medium Route KO, One Step Ahead

Any: Pick Artist, Bench Press

Safety X-Factor Abilities

Safety X-Factor abilities are unlocked at 70 overall.

Zone: Momentum Shift

Run Support: Reinforcement, Selfless

Hybrid: Shutdown, Universal Coverage

Safety Superstar Abilities

Tier 1

Tier 1 safety superstar abilities unlock at 70 overall.

Zone: Deep In Zone KO, Deep Out Zone KO, Flat Zone KO

Run Support: Tackle Supreme, Reach Elite, Strip Specialist, Out My Way, No Outsiders

Hybrid: None

Any: Tip Drill, Unfakeable, Secure Tackler, Acrobat

Tier 2

Tier 2 safety superstar abilities unlock at 85 overall.

Zone: Medium Route KO, Mid Zone KO, Deep Route KO, Lumberjack

Run Support: Lurker, Outmatched, Stonewall,

Hybrid: Short Route KO

Any: Pick Artist, Bench Press