The fighter perks system is back in EA’s UFC 4. It’s an aspect of a fighter’s ability that shouldn’t be overlooked. The perks are abilities that complement a fighter’s rating system and provide them with certain advantages inside the cage, and they’re more important than similar features in its predecessors.
Even if players of UFC 4 aren’t interested in creating their own fighter, it’s still absolutely crucial to know what perks their selected fighter has when playing locally or online. A player can check a fighter’s stats and perks by pressing the Y on the Xbox or the triangle button on the PlayStation 4. If strikers generally gel with your preferred playstyle, these are the perks to look out for.
Updated October 12, 2021 by Jerrad Wyche: Despite the UFC being the biggest and most popular mixed martial arts promotion in the world, it still doesn’t see an annual release in gaming the same way sports brands like the NFL, NBA, and MLB do. UFC 4 is the most recent entry in the series, and despite launching in 2020, fans are still flocking to it in order to get the best UFC gaming experience available.
12 Crafty
When you think about perks that might benefit a striking style fighter in UFC 4, the assumption is they need to be offensive in nature. Though that’s a good line of thinking, the game also has some defensive perks that could pay huge dividends. One of those perks, Crafty, makes it so your submission defense in bottom positions is drastically improved. Being submitted is the one glaring issue for strikers, so the easier you can get out and back to your feet, the greater chance for success you’ll have in the octagon.
11 Crazy Legs
Crazy Legs is the perfect perk for gamers that want to specialize in kickboxing. The perk allows their fighter to land faster and more accurate roundhouse kicks and switch kicks. Both the roundhouse kick and the switch kick throw the hit from the hip either to the body or the side of the head.
Both the roundhouse and the switch kick are great for catching fighters that like to circle right or circle left out of danger as it leaves them open for a big shot to the head or the body.
10 Laser Focus
The perk Laser Focus is great for players that like to box, and players on the end of the straight left and right combinations. It allows for straight, superman, and spinning punches to land with more accuracy and speed.
Although players should be careful trying to land risky shots like the spinning back fist and the superman punch, they are great for catching an opponent on the move. The superman punch and the spinning back fist are effective for catching a fighter lunging forward while trying to back away.
9 Marathoner
The Marathoner perk is for balanced fighters, so it’s effective for all styles of martial artists and archetypes because the fighter’s actions consume less stamina while moving. However, it’s particularly effective for players that want a fighter that’s capable of moving in and out of danger as quickly as possible. Unlike normal fighting games, players should plan for long fights.
Players that enjoy fighters that are quick on their feet and like to use a lot of head movement (like that seen in the Fight Nightseries) should definitely look to see if their chosen fighter has this perk. Moving around too much in the cage can be a massive drain on a fighter’s stamina, but keeping the distance and making the other fighter miss will drain their stamina instead.
8 Out The Gates
The Out the Gates perk is another stamina-based ability that allows fighters to consume less stamina while throwing more punches and kicks in the first two rounds. It’s an interesting perk that’s great for heavy strikers that want to try and finish the fight as quickly as possible.
In addition, it’s also a good combination puncher to land fast and damaging strikes in the early round, which could make a huge difference as the fight progresses.
7 Higher Altitude
The Higher Altitude perk works exactly like Out the Gates, except the player’s strikes will drain less stamina in the later rounds. This is a great perk for tactical fighters that like to slowly wear down their opponents by making them miss and landing body shots early on.
It also means that their strikes will be more effective in a flurry, and even counterpunching situations when an opponent’s stamina has been drained in the championship rounds.
6 Fast Hands
The Fast Hands perk is pretty self-explanatory, although it’s only effective for more powerful punches like hooks, uppercuts, and overhand punches. It gives these punches more speed and accuracy so it’s great for landing a devastating counterpunch.
Furthermore, the hooks and uppercuts are great for catching fighters or players online that like to overuse head swaying movements. This will mean that they’ll take even more damage when swaying into a devastating hook or uppercut.
5 Weathering Storms
Blocking is of paramount importance in UFC 4. Unfortunately, even the blocking ability has its limits, because there are only so many punches and kicks a fighter can take on their arms before their arms give out.
The Weathering Storms perk allows players to block more efficiently while swaying back and sideways. So when combined with the head sways to bob and weave in and out of danger, players will have a great defensive fighter on their hands.
4 Recharger
It doesn’t matter how good fighters are on their feet. At some point in the match, they will get into exchanges that will cause them to take some damage and drain their stamina. The Recharger perk will help alleviate some of this because of its ability to restore health in between rounds.
It’s especially helpful for fighters that have thrown a lot of big punches and kicks that haven’t quite hit their mark. Recovering some health and stamina will definitely help in getting their fighter back on track to try a new strategy for the next round.
3 Frontal Assault
The Frontal Assault perk is great for kickboxers that are adept at landing front and sidekicks as it makes these hit with more accuracy and speed. Front kicks are great for hitting opponents that like to charge forward. It can be remarkably difficult to avoid because with the right fighter it’s already a fast and devastating move.
Sidekicks are another great move for catching fighters coming forward, but they are also useful for creating distance and getting space between the player’s fighter and their opponent.
2 Slippery
The Slippery perk gives fighters the ability to deny transitions, as well as escape and counter with more ease when grappling on the feet and in the clinch. While this may sound like something that is more suited to wrestlers it can be invaluable for strikers too.
It will help the defending players that don’t want to get destroyed in the clinch and want to have a better chance of blocking the takedown attempts that will inevitably come from players that are more adept at wrestling.
1 Wrestle Clinic
Sometimes there will be no denying a strong wrestler that has intentions of taking a striker down to the canvas. However, strikers that have the Wrestle Clinic perk attached will have a better chance of defending on the ground.
The perk boosts a fighter’s grappling defense when they are in a ground position, which can either help them reverse the mount or take the fight back to the feet again.
NEXT: EA’s UFC 4: Best Things About The Game (And The Worst)
