X-Factor Abilities List - Madden NFL 21 Wiki Guide - IGN

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New ChecklistAll ListsMy ChecklistsAllAll ListsMy ChecklistsHow creative can you get with your first free checklist?Create a free accountX-Factor Abilities ListBy Mark Delaney, Wiki_Creation_Bot, Miranda Sanchez, +4 moreUpdated: Aug 26, 2020 6:40pm UTC

First introduced in last season's game, Madden NFL 21 sees the return of Superstar X-Factor abilities. These game-changing abilities can be activated during games when certain parameters have been met. Each Superstar X-Factor has its own requirements, but once activated, they can swing momentum in a team's favor just like we see in real life on Sundays in the fall and winter.

Unlike Superstar abilities, which are passive skills many dozens of players have been awarded, including all X-Factor players, with some players even possessing several at once, X-Factors are only given out once to any player, and only 50 players total. They are much more exclusive and even more important in the flow of any game.

While each X-Factor requires different parameters to be met and can be deactivated in a game if the opposition meets its own requirements, when active, X-Factors represent the game's biggest influences. This year's list differs from last year's thanks to new stars rising and others fading.

Below we'll give you a rundown of every team's Superstar X-Factor players, what ability they've been bestowed, and what each ability does. We'll also highlight which team has the most X-Factor players and which teams, sadly, have none at all.

Keep in mind this is the launch list and throughout the season, players can acquire or lose X-Factor abilities based on their real-life performance.

Madden NFL 21 Full X-Factor List

Below is every X-Factor assigned in the game on a team by team basis, with special attention paid to teams with the most X-Factors and the teams without any X-Factors.

Chicago Bears

X-Factor: Khalil Mack

Ability: Unstoppable Force - pass runs wins lead to quicker block shedding

Other Superstars: Allen Robinson II

Cincinnati Bengals

X-Factor: None

Other Superstars: Joe Mixon, Geno Atkins

Buffalo Bills

X-Factor: Stefon Diggs

Ability: Rac 'Em Up - wins RAC catches versus single coverage

X-Factor: Tre'Davious White

Ability: Shutdown - tighter coverage and more INTs on contested catches

Other Superstars: Micah Hyde

Denver Broncos

X-Factor: Von Miller

Ability: Fearmonger - chance to pressure the QB while engaged with a blocker

Other Superstars: Justin Simmons, Courtland Sutton

Cleveland Browns

X-Factor: Myles Garrett

Ability: Unstoppable Force - pass rush wins lead to quicker block shedding

X-Factor: Nick Chubb

Ability: Wrecking Ball - high success rate on next three trucks or stiff arms

Other Superstars: Odell Beckham Jr.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

X-Factor: Mike Evans

Ability: Double Me - wins aggressive catches versus single coverage

X-Factor: Tom Brady

Ability: Pro Reads - highlights the first open target and ignores pressure

Other Superstars: Rob Gronkowski, Lavonte David, Chris Godwin, Shaquil Barrett

Arizona Cardinals

X-Factor: Deandre Hopkins

Ability: Double Me - wins aggressive catches versus single coverage

X-Factor: Chandler Jones

Ability: Fearmonger - chance to pressure QB while engaged with a blocker

Other Superstars: Budda Baker, Kyler Murray

Los Angeles Chargers

X-Factor: Keenan Allen

Ability: Max Security - high success rate on possession catches

X-Factor: Joey Bosa

Ability: Unstoppable Force - pass rush wins lead to quicker block shedding

X-Factor: Derwin James

Ability: Reinforcement - higher chance to defeat run blocks and disrupt catches

Other Superstars: Chris Harris Jr.

Kansas City Chiefs

X-Factor: Patrick Mahomes

Ability: Bazooka - max throwing distance increased by 15+ yards

X-Factor: Travis Kelce

Ability: Double Me - wins aggressive catches versus single coverage

X-Factor: Tyreek Hill

Ability: RAC 'Em Up - wins RAC catches versus single coverage

X-Factor: Tyrann Mathieu

Ability: Reinforcement - higher chance to defeat run blocks and disrupt catches

X-Factor: Chris Jones

Ability: Momentum Shift - on field opponents have their zone progress wiped

Other Superstars: Mitchell Schwartz

Indianapolis Colts

X-Factor: None

Other Superstars: Quenton Nelson, Deforest Buckner, T.Y. Hilton

Dallas Cowboys

X-Factor: Amari Cooper

Ability: Max Security - high success rate on possession catches

X-Factor: Ezekiel Elliot

Ability: Freight Train - increased chance to break the next tackle attempt

X-Factor: DeMarcus Lawrence

Ability: Unstoppable Force - pass rush wins lead to quicker block shedding

Other Superstars: Zack Martin, Tyron Smith, Dak Prescott

Miami Dolphins

X-Factor: None

Other Superstars: Byron Jones

Philadelphia Eagles

X-Factor: Fletcher Cox

Ability: Fearmonger - chance to pressure the QB while engaged with a blocker

Other Superstars: Jason Kelce, Brandon Brooks, Darius Slay Jr., Zach Ertz, Lane Johnson, Carson Wentz

Atlanta Falcons

X-Factor: Julio Jones

Ability: Double Me - wins aggressive catches versus single coverage

Other Superstars: Grady Jarrett, Matt Ryan

Washington Football Team

X-Factor: None

Other Superstars: Brandon Scherff, Ryan Kerrigan

San Francisco 49ers

X-Factor: George Kittle

Ability: YAC 'Em Up - increased chance to break the first post-catch tackle

X-Factor: Richard Sherman

Ability: Shutdown - tighter coverage and more INTs on contested catches

X-Factor: Nick Bosa

Ability: Relentless - rush moves no longer cost points

Other Superstars: Trent Williams, Fred Warner, Arik Armstead

New York Giants

X-Factor: Saquon Barkley

Ability: First One Free - high fakeout rate on next juke, spin, or hurdle

Other Superstars: None

Jacksonville Jaguars

X-Factor: None

Other Superstars: Leonard Fournette, Josh Allen

New York Jets

X-Factor: None

Other Superstars: None

Detroit Lions

X-Factor: None

Other Superstars: Kenny Golladay

Green Bay Packers

X-Factor: Davante Adams

Ability: Double Me - wins aggressive catches versus single coverage

X-Factor: Jaire Alexander

Ability: Shutdown - tighter coverage and more INTs on contested coverage

X-Factor: Aaron Rodgers

Ability: Gambler - faster passes that can't be picked off by AI defenders

Other Superstars: David Bakhtiari, Kenny Clark, Za'Darius Smith

Carolina Panthers

X-Factor: Christian McCaffrey

Ability: Ankle Breaker - high fakeout rate on skill moves following the catch

Other Superstars: D.J. Moore

New England Patriots

X-Factor: Stephon Gilmore

Ability: Shutdown - tighter coverage and more INTs on contested catches

X-Factor: Devin McCourty

Ability: Zone Hawk - More INTs in zone coverage

Other Superstars: Julian Edelman

Las Vegas Raiders

X-Factor: None

Other Superstars: Rodney Hudson, Josh Jacobs, Trent Brown

Los Angeles Rams

X-Factor: Aaron Donald

Ability: Blitz - on field blockers have their resistance bars wiped

X-Factor: Jalen Ramsey

Ability: Bottleneck - dominantly win man press attempts

Other Superstars: Cooper Kupp, Andrew Whitworth

Baltimore Ravens

X-Factor: Calais Campbell

Ability: Run Stuffer - block shedding is more effective versus run plays

X-Factor: Lamar Jackson

Ability: Truzz - can't fumble as a result of a tackle

Other Superstars: Ronnie Stanley, Marlon Humphrey

New Orleans Saints

X-Factor: Michael Thomas

Ability: Max Security - high success rate on possession catches

X-Factor: Cameron Jordan

Ability: Unstoppable Force - pass rush wins lead to quicker block shedding

X-Factor: Drew Brees

Ability: Pro Reads - highlights the first open target and ignores pressure

Other Superstars: Terron Armstead, Ryan Ramczyk, Alvin Kamara

Seattle Seahawks

X-Factor: Bobby Wagner

Ability: Avalanche - downhill hit-sticks force fumbles

X-Factor: Russell Wilson

Ability: Blitz Radar - highlights extra blitzers

X-Factor: Jamal Adams

Ability: Avalanche - downhill hit-sticks force fumbles

Other Superstars: None

Pittsburgh Steelers

X-Factor: T.J. Watt

Ability: Unstoppable Force - pass rush wins lead to quicker block shedding

Other Superstars: David Decastro, Cameron Heyward, Minkah Fitzpatrick

Houston Texans

X-Factor: J.J. Watt

Ability: Relentless - rush moves no longer cost points

Other Superstars: Deshaun Watson

Tennessee Titans

X-Factor: Derrick Henry

Ability: Freight Train - increased chance to break the next tackle attempt

Other Superstars: Kevin Byard

Minnesota Vikings

X-Factor: Harrison Smith

Ability: Reinforcement - higher chance to defeat run blocks and disrupt catches

X-Factor: Dalvin Cook

Ability: First One Free - high fakeout rate on next juke, spin, or hurdle

X-Factor: Adam Thielen

Ability: Double Me - wins aggressive catches versus single coverage

X-Factor: Danielle Hunter

Ability: Unstoppable Force - pass rush wins lead to quicker block shedding

Other Superstars: Eric Kendricks

Team with the most X-Factors

With five Superstar X-Factors in total, the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs have the most in Madden NFL 21 at launch.

Team with the most total Superstars (Superstars and X-Factors combined)

Though they have just one X-Factor in Fletcher Cox, the Philadelphia Eagles hold the current record for the most overall Superstars at seven total thanks to six other Superstar-level players on the roster.

Teams with no X-Factors

Almost a quarter of the league, or seven teams total, have no X-Factor players at all. These teams are the Bengals, Colts, Dolphins, Washington Football Team, Jets, Lions, and Raiders.

The New York Jets stand alone as the only team in Madden NFL 21 without any X-Factors or Superstars following the team's trade of Jamal Adams to the Seattle Seahawks.

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