Summary

  • Perks in UFC 5 enhance fighters' abilities, including movement, stamina, defense, and health recovery.
  • Like Glue, Out The Gates, and Bulldog are top Perks prioritized for their usefulness in matches.
  • Carved Of Wood allows players to make a comeback by reducing damage when weaker than the opponent.

Perks in UFC 5 are little more than small boons that players can attach to a fighter. However, they can make a massive difference in an actual fight, considering what they offer. Perks can be used in the Online Career Mode as a way to upgrade and enhance the player's character. While all of them bring something unique to the table, there's a select few which have proven to be the most reliable and effective when it comes to winning consecutive matches.

Alongside bolstering specific attacks and movements, Perks can also enhance a fighter's base attributes, making them useful for covering up any weaknesses. These are the perks in UFC 5 which are well worth prioritizing thanks to the usefulness of their specific abilities, paired with how often they are likely to be used.

UFC-5-Best-Strikers-In-The-Game
UFC 5: Best Strikers In The Game

Striking is the most popular aspect of UFC 5, and these fighters excel at it.

8 Like Glue

Ability: Initiates, Advances, & Counters More Easily When Grappling On The Feet

  • Requirement: No Unlock Requirements

Initiating a clinch is far from easy, but those who fancy their chances at the ground game will be able to slip into a position much faster with the Like Glue perk equipped. It can also be handy for applying pressure when up against the cage, allowing players to go low under without needing to put themselves at too much of a risk.

What also makes this such a great Perk, aside from its ability, is that it doesn't have any requirements in terms of stats to unlock. This makes it accessible for any kind of fighter, regardless of technique and style. It can become incredibly useful in an intense match where the opponent needs to be taken down a peg.

7 Out The Gates

Ability: Strikes Consume Less Stamina During Rounds 1 & 2

  • Requirement: 4 Stars Footwork

When throwing out a chaotic barrage of kicks and punches against the opponent, it can be easy to forget about the Stamina bar. Draining this meter too quickly, however, will leave a fighter wide open, which can make the game feel punishing for anyone who is looking to close a fight in the first few rounds.

UFC-5-The-Best-Kickboxing-Combinations
UFC 5: The Best Kickboxing Combinations

Learn how to use some of the best kickboxing skills in UFC 5 to take down opponents with ease.

Thankfully, Out The Gates negates this issue by gifting a fighter a head-start for those first two rounds of a fight. While it's useful from a strategic point of view, Out The Gates can also help to speed up matches for players who want to focus on their offense rather than hanging back and waiting for their opportunity to strike.

6 Skirmisher

Ability: Faster Movement When Moving Backwards

  • Requirement: 4 Stars Switch Stance

Admittedly, most people will prefer to add points to other attributes rather than Switch Stance, which is required for Skirmisher. However, this can be a game-changing Perk for those who can afford it. Shuffling backwards a little quicker can be a huge benefit when playing online, where a lot of players will be well accustomed to the limits of their attack ranges. Being able to get out of the way fast enough can help players avoid an early knockout.

Though it can be easy to try and rush in with flying fists when playing the game for the first time, it quickly becomes clear that backing up is a vital part of the gameplay loop when it comes to avoiding damage. Better safe than sorry, as they always say.

5 Bulldog

Ability: Blocks More Effectively When Standing Still Or Moving Forwards

  • Requirement: 3 Stars Cut Resistance

It goes without saying, but knowing when and where to block is an absolute must for anyone who wants to survive online matches. Having a sturdier block makes it much easier to pull off a counter-attack when the opponent is wide open for a punish. On the other hand, it can also come in handy for players who have a hard time preventing their stamina from being drained in a match.

The real reason so many players opt to use Bulldog, though, is because it contributes to chin resistance, which should always be at least a minor priority to prevent being humiliated online. Bulldog is perfect for defensive fighters who don't mind tanking hits and biding their time before going on the offensive.

4 Recharger

Ability: Recover More Health Between Rounds

  • Requires: All Health Attributes At Five Stars

Recharger can be crucial for fighters who are built to go multiple rounds. If a fight is dragged out long enough, Recharger can instantly give the player a leg-up over their opponent. Though the added health is only a minimal amount, every bit counts when the going gets tough in the fourth and fifth rounds.

UFC-5-The-Best-Boxing-Combinations
UFC 5: The Best Boxing Combinations

Putting together boxing combos is the key to success in UFC 5. Here are some of the best.

Players who enjoy getting in on the action right from the get-go and depleting stamina to throw out heavy-hitting moves won't benefit as much from this Perk's unique ability. However, it will prove useful for anyone who prefers taking a slower approach, alongside beginners who will gain a little more defense to keep them going until the end of a match.

3 Crazy Legs

Ability: Roundhouse & Switch Kicks Are Faster And More Accurate

  • Requires: 3 Star Legs Strength
  • Style: Kickboxer

Though spamming kicks in a match is an easy way to get opened up, it's much easier to get away with throwing out a roundhouse kick now and again because of its speed. With that being said, executing any move with such a high damage potential is always going to be something of a risk. That's why equipping Crazy Legs to keep the attack on the mark is such a blessing.

Having faster kicks can help with overwhelming opponents and getting in their head over the course of a match, making it an incredibly useful Perk to have activated. Needing only three stars for the Legs attribute is also fairly generous, considering how much offensive power this Perk gives the player.

2 Laser Focus

Ability: Straight, Superman, & Spinning Punches Are Faster And More Accurate

  • Requirement: 4 Stars Jab And Straight
  • Style: Boxer

Any player who wants their fighter to excel at throwing out consecutive damage through quick and lethal straight punches needs to have Laser Focus in their Striking slot. The old reliable straight punch technique may not be all that flashy, but it can drive down the other fighter's guard quickly when Laser Focus is active.

The Superman and Spinning Punches are pretty situational, and use up a good amount of stamina, but they can become reliable parts of a fighter's kit when given this much-needed boost. The speed provided by Laser Focus forces the opponent to keep their high guard in check throughout the entire match, as dropping it for even a second can lead to disaster. With how often straights are thrown in a typical match, giving them a tad more speed and accuracy can only ever be a good thing.

1 Carved Of Wood

Ability: Decreases Incoming Damage When You Have Less Health Than The Opponent

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  • Requirement: Weathering Storms

Simple but effective, Carved of Wood can allow players to turn a match around and make a comeback if they find themselves on the backfoot. Of course, this does also come with the risk of the fighter needing to be weaker than their opponent. Thus, it is often more effective in the late stages of a match where players have figured out the habits and attack pattern of their opponent after taking a beating.

Being able to get a little more aggressive, thanks to the significant damage reduction, can throw the opponent off their game, making Carved of Wood ideal for players who enjoy switching up their style throughout the course of a fight. On the other hand, Carved of Wood can simply act as a nice last resort, giving players one final boost to try and turn the round in their favor if they find themselves getting hit a lot.

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Top Critic Avg: 79 /100 Critics Rec: 74%
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Released
October 27, 2023
ESRB
M For Mature 17+ // Blood, Strong Language, Violence
Developer(s)
Electronic Arts
Publisher(s)
Electronic Arts
Engine
Frostbite
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer, Local Multiplayer
Franchise
EA Sports UFC
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info

Genre(s)
Sports, Fighting