There are various shot types in FIFA 23, with flair, chip, and finesse being the most commonly used besides the tried and tested basic shot. However, there are times when none of the aforementioned shooting techniques quite fit the situation, which is where the aptly named Power Shot really starts to come into its own.
As the name suggests, the Power Shot allows players to dramatically increase the amount of power that they put behind their shots, which can make it much easier to score from distance or blast the ball across the goalkeeper so fast that they don't have time to react. This guide will explain both how and when to perform a power shot in FIFA 23.
How to Perform a Power Shot in FIFA 23
In order to perform a power shot in FIFA 23, players will need to hold both the left and right shoulder buttons while pressing the shoot button. When playing with a PlayStation controller and default controls, this means holding L1 and R1 and then using Circle to shoot, while those on Xbox will instead need to hold LB and RB and then press and hold the B button to power up their shot as usual.
If done correctly, the camera will begin to zoom in a little on the player who's in possession, at which point players will need to use the right analog stick to aim their shot. Unlike with regular shots, they'll receive zero assistance, and so will need to aim with precision if they want to get their shot on target. This is actually pretty simple, though may take a bit of practice to fully master.
When to Use Power Shots in FIFA 23
Sadly, the extra power provided by Power Shots comes at a price, with the wind-up animation taking noticeably longer than the ones used for other shot types. This means that opposition center backs have a little extra time to put in a tackle or a block, so players should generally avoid using Power Shots unless they have a yard or two of space around them.
The best time to use a Power Shot is when the player on the ball is clean through but doesn't have the pace needed to outrun the defenders to get into the area. This is quite often the case when playing with many of FIFA 23's best attacking players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Robert Lewandowski, and Harry Kane; none of whom are particularly pacey these days.
Players should also keep in mind that Power Shots can be queued up while the ball is being taken out of the air or as a player is running onto a through ball or knock-on, effectively minimizing the detrimental impact of the extended wind-up animation. This includes when a player is chesting the ball down or after they've flicked the ball up to tee themselves up for a volley by using the R3 button.
FIFA 23 is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, Nintendo Switch, and PC.