Here’s the truth most players don’t realize: the simple fake shot (circle/X then immediately square/A) is the most underrated skill move in EA FC 26. It’s not just for skipping past a keeper in a one-on-one. In the hands of a savvy player, it’s the foundation for a suite of advanced, unpredictable moves that can freeze defenders and carve open spaces that don’t seem to exist.
Let’s move past the basics and dive into the advanced applications of the fake shot—the timing, the exits, and the mind games that make it a true elite-level tool.
The Core Principle: It’s All About the “Freeze Frame”
When you execute a fake shot, your opponent’s defender—whether controlled by AI or a human—experiences a split-second animation lock. They have to respect the possibility of a shot or pass. This creates a frozen moment, a “frame” where you are the only one free to move. The advanced technique is about what you do in the next 0.5 seconds.
The Advanced Exits: Three Ways to Destroy Pressure
The Directional Fake Shot Exit (The Most Important Skill)
The Input: Perform the fake shot (O/B then X/A), but immediately after pressing the pass button, hold your left stick in your desired direction. This isn’t a gentle nudge; it’s a committed push.
Why It Works: Your player will take a sharp, accelerating touch in that direction, often with a unique, burst-like animation. It’s faster and more direct than a normal turn.
When to Use It:
In the Box: Receive a pass with your back to goal, fake shot, and exit directly towards the near or far post. Defenders rooted to the spot.
Against Sideline Press: Trapped near the touchline? Fake shot and exit sharply infield. It’s the best way to beat a player pressing you from the side.
The Fake Shot Stop & Go (The Rhythm Breaker)
The Input: Execute the fake shot but release all inputs for a split-second as the animation ends, then explode forward with sprint.
Why It Works: This mimics a player completely stopping the play, which often causes the defender to ease off their jockey or lunge. The sudden re-acceleration catches them flat-footed. It’s devastating after a long sprint down the wing.
When to Use It: Perfect against aggressive defenders who mirror your every move. The stop-and-go change of pace is something the game’s mechanics struggle to defend against smoothly.
The Fake Shot Into Skill Move (The Glitch)
The Input: Perform the fake shot and, during the wind-up animation, input a simple skill move like a ball roll (right stick left/right) or a heel-to-heel (right stick forward, then back).
Why It Works: The game “queues” the skill move to come out instantly after the fake shot animation ends, creating one fluid, confusing sequence. It looks and feels like a single, new move.
When to Use It: In the final third when you’re facing up a defender. The fake shot draws them in, and the queued skill move takes you away from their tackle radius. This is how you beat elite defenders who are good at reading basic skill moves.
The Mind Game: Using It Without the Ball
The most advanced use isn’t with the ball at your feet.
The Fake Shot Receiving Touch:
The Scenario: A teammate is about to pass to you. As the ball is in flight, input a fake shot command.
The Result: Your player will perform a first-touch fake shot, often sending the defender marking you lunging in the wrong direction while you let the ball run across your body into space. It’s a guaranteed way to create separation before you even have possession.
The Crucial Details Most Players Miss
Player Quality Matters: This move feels completely different with a player who has the Flair or Technical PlayStyles. The animations are faster, smoother, and more deceptive.
Don’t Be Predictable: If you fake shot every single time you get the ball in the box, you’ll become easy to read. Mix it with simple passes, holds, and real shots.
Practice the Timing: Go into the Arena. The magic happens in the immediacy of the left-stick exit after the pass button. A delayed push does nothing.
Mastering the advanced fake shot is about understanding the game’s rhythm and injecting a moment of your own controlled chaos. It doesn’t require 5-star skills, just practice, timing, and the confidence to try it in a tight game.
Of course, pulling off these fluid, glitchy sequences feels infinitely more responsive with players whose agility, balance, and dribbling stats are top-tier. Building an attack full of players who can execute this level of technique often requires targeted investment. For managers who want to focus purely on mastering the skill itself, having the FC 26 FUT Coins to acquire the perfect, responsive players for the job removes the final barrier between knowing the move and actually making it work when it counts.