Are you looking to improve your pass game on the field? You have come to the right place as this guide goes into detail about passing in Madden NFL 25 including controls, all pass types, settings, and more.
Madden NFL 25 passing meter explained
The passing meter is similar to previous Madden titles, where it determines how well you throw the football to your receivers. It also determines the type of pass you’ll throw such as lob, bullet, or touch. The passing meter changes a bit depending on which passing type you select in settings, so read further to learn more about that.
Best Passing mechanics and settings in Madden NFL 25
We have a full settings and sliders guide for you to check out on PC Invasion, but we’ll give you a rundown in this guide on what to adjust for passing in Madden 25. Here are my recommendations for the best passing settings.
- Passing Type: Placement and Accuracy
- Passing Slowdown: Off
- Pass Lead Increase: Small
- Reticle Speed: 7
- Reticle Visibility: User Only
- Meter Visibility: User Only
- QB Accuracy: 40
- Pass Blocking: 55
- WR Catching: 45
Best passing type in Madden 25
There are three passing types in Madden NFL 25: Placement, Placement and Accuracy, and Classic Passing. The default passing type of Madden 25 is Placement, but you can easily change this by heading into the Game Options menu and settings and scrolling down to Passing Type.
The best passing type in Madden 25 is Placement and Accuracy, mainly due to the amount of control the player has over the ball. With Placement and Accuracy, you don’t have to entirely rely on your QB’s ratings and it focuses more on your skill as a Madden player. If you’re a beginner to the Madden franchise, then Placement is better for you since it’s more forgiving and leans on the QB’s ratings.
I recommend testing out all three in practice mode to determine which feels best to you. But before you do that, let’s discuss how each passing type works.
Placement
The Placement passing type enables visual targets to control the pass placement and power. When you throw a pass with Placement, a circle appears near your receiver where you can control the ball’s trajectory within that circle. For example, if you want to throw it further and lead the receiver, you can do so by pushing the left analog stick upward.
The Placement passing type is perfect for players who want an easy system, while also having some control over the ball. Keep in mind that accuracy is determined by the QB’s ratings.
Placement and Accuracy
Placement and Accuracy is similar to Placement, except it enables a timing element for perfect accuracy on bullet passes. The accuracy is now determined by a throwing meter and the aiming of the left analog stick, instead of the QB’s ratings. Visual targets to control the pass placement and power are also available in this passing type.
Placement and Accuracy can be pretty difficult to master, but after enough practice, you’ll notice that it’s the best passing type in Madden 25. It gives the player the most control over their passes, including placement, trajectory, power, and accuracy.
Classic passing
Lastly, we have the Classic Passing type in Madden 25. Classic passing is the old-school system from older Madden titles and focuses purely on players’ ratings. There are no timed presses or throwing meters. However, you can use the left analog stick to change the direction of the throw.
The Classic Passing type is arguably the hardest one to master in Madden 25. I only recommend choosing Classic if you miss the older Madden games and want to return to that era.
How to throw different pass types in Madden NFL 25
It’s important to know how to throw different passes in Madden 25. For example, you can throw a lob, bullet, or touch pass. Each is used for different situations and the type of play you’re running. Let’s discuss how to throw each and the best time to throw them.
How to throw a touch pass
A touch pass is your standard pass in Madden 25. It’s one that you’ll be using frequently, and can easily be done by pressing and holding down the button for a brief period. Hold the receiver button down long enough for it not to be a Lob Pass, and short enough so the game doesn’t register as a bullet.
The best time to use a touch pass is when you find a receiver wide open or if you’re simply running a screenplay. Touch passes are the most accurate, so there’s no reason to use any other pass in these situations.
How to throw a lob pass
A lob pass is when the QB throws the ball high up into the air, mostly leading to the receiver having to jump up and get it. Players can easily throw a lob pass by tapping the corresponding button of the receiver.
The best time to throw a lob pass is on verticals or long downfield passes. Using the lob pass in these situations increases the chance of the ball floating past the defenders, giving your receiver a chance to jump up and catch the ball. It’s a very risky pass to throw, so make sure you’re certain before attempting it.
How to throw a bullet pass
A bullet is the fastest pass you can throw in Madden 25. To throw a bullet pass, hold down the receiver’s corresponding button until the throwing meter fills up.
The bullet pass is the most useful since it gets the ball to the receiver the quickest, reducing the chance of interception or a knockdown. The best time to use a bullet pass is on quick routes, such as slants or curls.
How to throw the ball away
Throwing the ball away is when the QB throws the ball out of bounds and into the sidelines. Players can easily throw the ball away by tapping R3 on PlayStation or RS on Xbox.
The best time to throw the ball away is when you can’t find any receiver and the line is collapsing, potentially leading to a sack. If you feel that you’re about to lose yards when the QB has the ball, then go ahead and throw the ball away.
We hope this guide has helped you improve your passing game in Madden 25! Now it’s time to work on your run game. Head over to our run pass option guide for Madden 25, so you can learn how to better utilize the valuable play.
