How to stiff arm in Madden 21 Xbox

Rushing is huge in Madden 21.

If you have read our guide to running the ball you will already be a pro, winning games through pounding the rock.

One of the best moves in that list is the powerful Stiff Arm.

Here's how to use the move to add on yardage onto every run.

How to Stiff Arm in Madden 21

The Stiff Arm in Madden 21 is all about timing.

The action is one of the easiest in the game. To Stiff Arm you just press A (Xbox) or X (Playstation) when you are running with the ball.

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GAME CHANGER: Rushing is a focus in Madden 21

This will make the running animate with an arm out to push off the defender, and depending on lots of variables this will impact the play.

READ MORE: How to dominate RPOs on Madden 21

The biggest variable is timing, you need to press the button as the defender engages. Too early or too late and the impact won't be as good.

Best case scenario, your player will push them off and remain untackled. Worst case scenario, you will still be tackled but you will gain an extra couple of yards - which could be crucial.

Which players are best at Stiff Arm?

Another big variable in whether a Stiff Arm is successful or not is the Stiff Arm stat.

READ MORE: Russell Wilson joins the 99 Club in Madden 21

Obviously the higher the better chance you have of pushing the defender away.

PLAYER TEAM POS OVR SFA
D Henry TEN HB 93 99
A Kamara NO HB 89 92
C Carson SEA HB 87 91
J Conner PIT HB 83 90
M Gordon III DEN HB 84 90
E Elliott DAL HB 91 89
J Mixon CIN HB 88 88
J Smith-Schuster PIT WR 87 88
N Chubb CLE HB 92 88
V McDonald PIT TE 74 88

There must be something in the water of Pittsburgh as they have three players in the list.

You can see there's not much difference between the top 10 players, but Derrick Henry at 99 is a clear leader. If you can get hold of him in your MUT or Franchise, then this move can be a game changer.

READ MORE: Franchise Mode updates are late for Madden 21

Wondering how to stiff arm in Madden 22? This guide will have you shoving off defenders like Derrick Henry in no time.

The stiff arm has long been a fan-favorite move in Madden, and it remains so in Madden 22. With the flair of a Heisman Trophy pose, a well-timed stiff arm can swat would-be tacklers away like a big brother swatting a little brother in the yard, leaving them in the dirt as you march down the sideline. 

On the surface, the stiff arm is easy to pull off, but there are some tricks to using it that can make it even more powerful. If you want to learn how to stiff arm in Madden 22, you're in the right place.

Though it may be tricky learning the many different controls and button combos, the stiff arm is thankfully quite simple.

To stiff arm press:

  • "A" on Xbox One/Series X|S
  • "X" on PS4/PS5

Stiff arm when a defender is in range

Like every skill move, performing a stiff arm too early makes it easier for the defender to overcome your move, while doing so too late means you'll likely be tackled before you can even try. 

Let the defender get close enough to shove them off

A stiff arm can move a defender well out of the way, and in some cases even shove them to the ground, giving you a clear path downfield for a big gain or a touchdown.

10 Best Stiff Arm Ratings in Madden 22

Every player in Madden 22, from running backs and wide receivers to QBs, is given a stiff arm rating, and these are the 10 best offensive players (OVR 90+) according to their stiff arm rating. Here they are:

  1. Travis Kelce, TE, Chiefs (32)
  2. Davante Adams, WR, Packers (30)
  3. Stefon Diggs, WR, Bills (30)
  4. Allen Robinson II, WR, Bears (30)
  5. Tom Brady, QB, Buccaneers (28)
  6. Deshaun Watson, QB, Texans (27)
  7. Mike Evans, WR, Buccaneers (24)
  8. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Panthers (23)
  9. George Kittle, TE, 49ers (22)
  10. Michael Thomas, WR, Saints (22)

Now that you know how to stiff arm, you can use the skill move alongside the spin and the hurdle to rack up your yards after contact. For more Madden 21 tips, be sure to head over to our guides hub.

Published Aug. 23rd 2021

How do you stiff arm in Madden on Xbox?

Players can execute a stiff arm in Madden NFL 23 by holding the X button on PlayStation or holding A on Xbox. While holding X or A, the ball carrier will prepare for a stiff arm. The stiff arm will be executed when a defender comes in range.

What button do you press to stiff arm in Madden?

The stiff arm is basically a move where the running back will have a defender approaching from their side. The back extends their arm to push the defender away, sometimes even pushing them down. In order to stiff-arm in Madden 22, press the X button on the PlayStation controller while running with the ball.