FIFA 23 is shaking up the series with many major gameplay changes made possible by HyperMotion 2. One of them is coming with a major overhaul to set pieces, completely changing how players take free kicks, corners, and penalties. So in this article, we've put together a guide on how penalties, free-kicks, and corners work in FIFA 23.
FIFA 23 Free Kicks
Free Kicks have been revamped once again in FIFA 23, as the set pieces were rather easy to execute in previous iterations of FIFA, but this time around, they've become a lot trickier, as this year, players will need to use both thumbsticks to land the perfect kick.
Once you're set-up, you'll want to use the left stick to align the camera angle correctly so you can see where you want to shoot perfectly. You'll also have to use the right thumbstick to adjust where you want the ball to land. Once you have this perfect, you'll want to press the shot button, and as soon as your player is about to hit the ball, hit the shot button again, ensuring the timing mechanic is activated.
To perform a free kick in FIFA 23, it's best to choose a player with the following attributes: Shot Power, Curve, Crossing, and Free Kick Accuracy. Such as Lewandowski, you'll benefit a lot from his 94 Positioning and 94 Finishing. He is also a reliable Penalty taker with 90 on the skill and 85 for Free Kick Accuracy, making him an important set-piece specialist for your team. If you meet him in FUT 23 mode, using some FIFA 23 Coins to obtain him is absolutely worth it.
Here's a recap of how to take free kicks in FIFA 23:
Use the left stick to choose a direction
Choose a shot type and apply spin with the right stick
Hold the shoot button to power up the shot
Press shoot again to activate Timed Finishing
Wheel away in celebration
FIFA 23 Corners
FIFA 23's corners work much the same way as free-kicks, only you're delivering the ball into the box instead over a wall of defenders. A line will mimic where the ball will go over the first few yards. The left stick dictates the direction, while the right stick adjusts where the crosser will strike the ball, affecting the type of delivery, meaning you can get under the ball to float it to the back post or go for an outswinger to try and draw the goalkeeper out of position. All of this, combined with the amount of power you put on, will determine roughly where the corner will land.
Here's a step-by-step guide on how to take corners in FIFA 23:
Use the left stick to choose a direction
Choose a cross by applying spin with the right stick
Hold the cross button to power up the cross
FIFA 23 Penalties
Penalties have been changed drastically in FIFA 23 to recreate the pressure and difficulty that real-life spot-kick takers face. Penalties now work on a timing system indicated by an expanding and shrinking composure ring seen around the ball. Before a penalty is taken, a small circle will surround the ball, repeatedly starting off small and growing larger. Players need to hit shoot when the circle is at its smallest to perform the perfect, accurate penalty. The speed that the composure circle changes size depending on the skill of the penalty taker and how significant the spot kick is. So, expect a 90th-minute penalty to win the game to be much faster than it would be in the first 10 minutes.
Here is a recap on how to take penalties in FIFA 23:
When standing over the penalty, watch the circle surrounding the ball
Press shoot when the circle is at its smallest to begin the run-up
Hold down R1/RB or L1/LB to execute a finesse or chip shot
Use the left stick to direct the shot before the ball is struck
That was everything you need to know about set pieces in FIFA 23. These seem rather complicated at first, but they've made it relatively easy for players to find their footing quickly. For more FIFA 23 content, be sure to check here.
