Hypothetical Abilities System in Season 45

June 3, 2023 dan

This cycle has seen an increasing level of support for an Ability Points (AP) system where users get to pick the SS and XF abilities they want on their team given they remain within AP cap restraints.

There is no easy way to implement a system like this in franchise. The hardest part is deciding which abilities deserve what amount of points, as well as determining the overall cap restraints.

After a party chat with two dedicated Better Leagues (SBs 29 and 35 champions respectively), we decided to come up with a quick hypothetical system using the Madden School ability tier list . Madden School’s list is best for us because, in Connor’s words, they rank abilities “in a vacuum” by their strength, and not necessarily the perceived AP value they have in MUT (mut.gg has a similar tier list that does just that.)

Hypothetical Ability System

Once again, using the Madden School ability tier list as a reference:

You will have 25 AP to pick abilities for your team.
No “Easy Mode” Allowed! (no PLE or SFE on QBs)

Here are the worth of abilities:

Elite-Tier = 5 Points
Great-Tier = 3 Points
Mid-Tier = 1 Point
Abilities to Avoid = 0 Points

We agreed that 25 may be on the low end of the spectrum, especially with XF abilities costing points. Of course, in a real BL system, we will find the right balance that works for us.

Example: The Season 45 Dallas Cowboys

QB Damon Chambers (12 Points)

X-Factor: Omaha (3)
Hot Route Master (5)
Fearless (3)
Identifier (1)
Protected (0)
Pocket Deadeye (0)

OLB DeAndre McAllister (8 Points)

Double or Nothing (5)
Under Pressure (3)

CB John Ward (5 Points)

Acrobat (5)
Chuck Out (0)

TE Doug Green (0 Points)

XF: Vanguard (0)
Matador (0)
Tank (0)

WR Parker Grant (0 Points)

Second Wind (0)

SS Roman Mabry (0 Points)

Bench Press (0)

For those curious, my team as it stands with current abilities only adds up to 12 points.

Note: this is far from a formal proposal. We will decide in the coming months exactly how we are going to do this by September. But I believe this is a great baseline to get the ball rolling, and I’m excited for the league’s future.

Look out for future posts where other BL members pick abilities for their teams using this system.