Tips for Defending in '23
Seems like many people have some gripes about defense - myself included. Over the last couple of weeks, I've refined and adjusted defensively, and I feel that I've gotten more comfortable in defendin...
Forum Discussion
@EA_Aljo wrote:
@unisopure01 wrote:
@KidShowtime1867Nice post. I find the best way to defend is to not use your own defensemen in your own zone that way they watch for the one timer better. Pokecheck early and often and stay in front of the net. Also tie up on the boards if possible. Don’t be afraid to dump and chase and keep those shots on net for that juicy rebound.If you do this in HUT, your AI defense won't take any action against the carrier. They won't poke, stick lift or hit so they can be easy to get around and generate good scoring chances.
But why tho. It's one thing to ensure the A.I. isn't too effective by way of making them less aggressive in pursuing a puck carrier, but it's another thing to completely neuter them. Just because top HUT influencers decided that they don't like having to compete with people who utilize their A.I. in defending doesn't mean EA should be so quick to please them.
What about the offensive side of the puck? Why is the A.I. getting in to open positions and how is that any different than an A.i. defender simply stick lifting or poke checking when the puck carrier is literally on top of them? Why do the offensive HUT players get to have their A.i. get in perfect scoring position for them, but when someone who can only control 1 defender at a time, they get accused of 'skill zoning' and told they 'let the CPU defend for them'. The offensive player is just 'letting the CPU get open for them'. It's the same thing, but for some reason it's been decided that defensively, you're going to be put at a disadvantage?
EA_Aljo
Community Manager
Community ManagerIt wasn't just the influencers. There was a huge amount of feedback from the community that they hated playing against the "skill zone" style of play. The game is meant to have as much manual control as possible. Not just sit in the middle of your own zone and let the AI players defend for you.
While I get they are similar, there's still a big difference between your offensive players getting open and defensive players not taking action. They still get in to position like offense does. Offense also doesn't shoot for you whereas skill zoning had defenders playing defense for you.
@EA_Aljo wrote:It wasn't just the influencers. There was a huge amount of feedback from the community that they hated playing against the "skill zone" style of play. The game is meant to have as much manual control as possible. Not just sit in the middle of your own zone and let the AI players defend for you.
While I get they are similar, there's still a big difference between your offensive players getting open and defensive players not taking action. They still get in to position like offense does. Offense also doesn't shoot for you whereas skill zoning had defenders playing defense for you.
Getting into a scoring position where the user can just hold 'shoot' after a pass (for a one-timer) is literally the a.i. scoring for you.
Like I said, the CPU A.I. doesn't need to 'play defence for you' but they absolutely should take some actions here:
Literally right on top of the puck carrier:
Why am I being forced to frantically swap defenders due to an effort to coherce 'manual control' whereas the offensive player just needs to wait for their A.I. to get in to position to score with the added luxury of being able to just skate through the 4 other players I have no ability to control at the same time?
Literally in a perfect spot to strip the puck... but nothing.
Meanwhile, his A.I. gets in to the perfect spot to obtain the loose puck:
While the defensive A.i. is aloof to the puck carrier in front of him:
What's even more insane is when the 'muted a.i.' takes active steps to expose you defensively:
- @KidShowtime1867 Just perfect examples as always.
- EA_Aljo
I'll agree with you on the AI exposing you. We're very aware the AI could be improved. As far as your other examples go, I get what you're saying, but they can also be manually defended. These also are often the result of someone not taking control of their defenders and letting someone walk in and get a good scoring chance. Had they stepped up and defended that play to begin with, they wouldn't have made it that far.
@EA_Aljo wrote:they can also be manually defended.
Ya I'm not disagreeing with that. However, there's an imbalance of responsibility regarding the offensive/defensive side of the puck and the puck carriers are getting a clear advantage over the defenders.
@EA_Aljo wrote:These also are often the result of someone not taking control of their defenders and letting someone walk in and get a good scoring chance.
Again - we don't have a button or a mechanic that allows us to control all 5 skaters on the ice at once. The HUT players complaining about skill zoning simply lacked the skills to play against the 4 other CPU defenders that they need to contend with. As a result of their complaining (and the subsequent ignoring of people on the other side of the puck) - they were awarded with the ability to play against 1 defensive player while simultaneously being given the luxury of the A.I. getting into open scoring lanes for them.
Meanwhile, the people (like myself) in favor of more CPU actions are told they aren't 'taking control of their defenders' and we're 'letting someone walk in'.
When we do swap controls to take the puck carrier, we get met with this:
It's completely imbalanced and unfair and players know this and abuse it.
Here's a case where you can see the offensive player has free reign in my zone. This isn't due to me not swapping controls of players. He only has to contend with ONE defender trying to strip him of the puck - while I need to meticulously swap control of defenders, ensuring I'm covering the open scoring lanes. He does the same tired tactic of circling down low, enticing a chase because he knows the other 4 defenders are flat footed - so when I swap control, they KNOW they've already got a step on me:
At the end of the clip when he scores, I swap control, he rolls off the hit and now he has the slot-goal (which he scores) but also an open man to the side of the net - which required ZERO input from him:
