Level Up Your Legacy: How to Master Development Traits in Madden 23

So, you want to turn your Madden 23 roster into a league-dominating dynasty? Then you need to understand development traits. Here’s the straight dope: development traits determine how quickly (or slowly) your players improve throughout their careers in Franchise Mode. A player with a higher development trait will earn XP faster and ultimately reach a higher overall rating than a player with a lower development trait. The goal is to transform those hidden gems and promising rookies into gridiron legends, and understanding how to manipulate dev traits is key to achieving that.

The primary way to improve your dev trait in Madden 23 is through on-field performance and earning awards in Franchise Mode. Exceptional play, consistent performance, and racking up accolades like Rookie of the Year, Offensive/Defensive Player of the Year, or even making the Pro Bowl contribute to the likelihood of a development trait upgrade during the season re-evaluation. Focus on maximizing your players’ stats and impact within your team’s scheme.

Understanding Development Traits

Before diving into the methods, let’s clarify the different development traits in Madden 23:

• Normal: Players with this trait develop at the slowest rate. Progress can feel like wading through molasses.
• Star: A step up from Normal, Star players develop at a noticeably faster pace, making them more valuable in the long run.
• Superstar: Now we’re talking! Superstar players receive a significant XP boost and are far more likely to reach their potential. They also get one ability slot.
• X-Factor: The cream of the crop. X-Factor players possess the fastest development rate and unlock powerful Zone abilities when activated in-game. They get multiple ability slots.
• Hidden: All rookies in Franchise Mode start with a hidden trait. You must play them for 500 snaps to reveal it.

Factors Influencing Development Trait Upgrades

Several factors impact a player’s chances of getting a development trait boost:

• Age: Younger players are more likely to see their development trait improve than older veterans. Time is on their side.
• Position: Certain positions, like quarterback and wide receiver, are generally prioritized by the game’s progression system.
• Performance: Consistently exceeding expectations in terms of stats, game impact, and fulfilling team roles is crucial.
• Awards: Winning individual awards like Rookie of the Year, Offensive/Defensive Player of the Year, MVP, or even being a first-time winner of the Best Offensive Lineman or Best Kicker award, is a guaranteed catalyst for a dev trait jump.
• Draft Position: While not a direct influencer, higher draft picks often come with higher initial development traits, giving them a head start.
• Coach Schemes and Training Packages: By focusing your training on scheme fits you can increase the weekly XP earned by the entire team, which can result in awards at the end of the year and a boost in Dev Traits.

Maximizing Your Chances for Development Trait Improvement

Okay, so how do you actively increase your chances of seeing those sweet development trait upgrades? Here’s your playbook:

1. Focus on Young Players: Invest your time and resources into developing young players with high potential. Age is a huge factor.
2. Playing Time is King: Ensure your targeted players get ample playing time. They need those snaps to showcase their abilities and earn XP. Don’t leave them on the bench.
3. Scheme Fit Matters: Draft and trade for players who fit your offensive and defensive schemes. Players performing within a scheme will have more opportunities to excel.
4. Targeted Training: Utilize the training tools in Franchise Mode to focus on specific attributes that align with your player’s strengths and your team’s needs. Tailored training boosts XP gains.
5. Game Planning: Create game plans that emphasize your targeted players’ strengths. Call plays that put them in positions to succeed.
6. Exploit Opportunities: Identify opponents with weaknesses that your targeted players can exploit. For example, if your WR is fast, attack slower cornerbacks.
7. Don’t Neglect Morale: Keep your players happy! High morale leads to better performance on the field, which translates to more XP and potential upgrades. Make sure your players aren’t on teams they will be unhappy on.
8. Win Awards: This is the big one. Push your players for those awards. Target players who have a chance at the end of the year awards.

The Guaranteed Development Trait Boost

As mentioned, there are guaranteed ways to upgrade a player’s dev trait, even from a normal one. Winning Offensive or Defensive Rookie of the Year or being a first-time winner of the Best OL and Best K awards will guarantee a development trait increase. This is the easiest way to get a dev trait boost. If a player has a Normal DEV trait and wins an award, he will now be guaranteed to increase in DEV trait.

Editing Development Traits: The Commissioner’s Power

If you’re the commissioner of your Franchise Mode, you have a powerful tool at your disposal: the ability to edit player attributes and development traits directly. This is the ultimate way to “force” a dev trait upgrade, but use it wisely. Overusing this feature can unbalance your league and diminish the sense of accomplishment that comes with organic player development. Many commissioners are hesitant to do this, as it feels like cheating.

Remember that every player, whether it’s the virtual athletes in Madden 23 or the students engaged in Games Learning Society initiatives, thrives on opportunity, mentorship, and a strategic approach to growth. So, go forth, build your dynasty, and sculpt those Normal dev trait players into legendary Hall of Famers! Visit GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more about how games are impacting learning.

Madden 23 Development Traits FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the nuances of development traits in Madden 23.

1. Can you edit dev traits in Madden 23?

Yes, you can edit the normal players’ development trait status (Star, Superstar, X-Factor, Normal) if you are the commissioner of your Franchise Mode. This gives you direct control over player progression, but use it judiciously to avoid unbalancing your league.

2. Can you change development traits in Madden outside of Franchise Mode?

No. The only way to change those is in a franchise. There are base dev traits that players have that cant be changed for exhibition games and other game modes.

3. Do traits matter in Madden 23?

Yes, traits matter more than you think. Traits impact a player’s performance, tendencies, and overall effectiveness on the field. Understanding and leveraging player traits is crucial for success in Madden 23.

4. How does the hidden dev trait work?

Rookies come in with “Hidden” development traits so you won’t immediately see whether a player has Superstar or Star development until they play 500 snaps in your league. This is also why if you are playing regular Head to Head games, rookies will not have superstar abilities.

5. Who is the strongest person in Madden 23?

Aaron Donald remains the strongest player in the game in Madden 23, with a 99 overall rating reflecting his dominance on the defensive line.

6. What is the funnest position to play in Madden 23?

Many players find Running Back to be the most enjoyable position in Face of the Franchise mode, offering a balance of running and receiving opportunities and a direct impact on the game’s outcome.

7. What is the weakest team in Madden 23?

The Houston Texans were one of the worst performers overall in the season, and they’re also the worst team in Madden 23 with a paltry 74 rating.

8. Is predictability a good trait in Madden?

For contract negotiations, if a player does not have the trait, they are ‘unpredictable’, which means they can retire before expected, or decide to become a free agent if you offer them less money then what they are worth.

9. What is the talent tree in Madden 23?

The Talent Tree in Franchise Mode allows you to allocate points to improve your coaching staff and team. Head to the Staff Management Page and click View Talent Trees to use those points. On the Talent Trees Page, the Coach can choose how they want to Focus team improvements.

10. Who are the best rookies in Madden 23 franchise?

The three top-rated rookies in Madden 23 are Jets corner Sauce Gardner, Lions receiver Jameson Williams and Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis.

11. Can you upgrade Madden 23 to the next generation console version?

Yes, with Dual Entitlement, you can upgrade your copy of the Madden NFL 23 All Madden Edition from PlayStation 4 to PlayStation 5, or Xbox One to Xbox Series X|S at no additional cost.

12. Is there a college mode in Madden 23?

No, there will be no high school or college games in Madden 23. Instead, your player has just completed his rookie contract and is entering his fifth NFL season.

13. What is the easiest position to play in Madden 23?

WR, edge, CB, OT, QB. WR is probably the easiest to produce though without much talent at the position and the easiest of the 5 to develop. CB is the hardest to develop.

14. Who has the best team in Madden 23?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers boast the highest overall rating in Madden 23, making them the team to beat with a rating of 92.

15. How do you power hit in Madden 23?

Learn how to tackle or hit-stick your opponents and dominate the gridiron. Hold A/X for a conservative ‘Breakdown Tackle’, press X/Square for an aggressive dive tackle, flick Right Stick up when in range of ball carrier to hit stick, or flick Right Stick down when in range to cut stick (take Ball carrier’s legs out).