WWE 2K25: Beginner Tips and Tricks

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WWE 2K25 Isn’t A Fighting Game; It’s Sports Entertainment
- Win the crowd

Learn How to Counter
- Being about to reverse your opponent’s attacks in WWE 2K25 is crucial to success

Lean Into The High Tension Moments
- Dramatic moments need drama

Use Your Paybacks To Your Advance
- How did he kick out?!

In MyGM, You’re Not Drafting The Best Roster
- All about balance and synergies

WWE 2K25 is finally out for the masses, allowing them to experience the legacy of The Bloodline and acknowledge Roman Reigns as our tribal chief.

In our review, we said, “WWE 2K25 stakes its claim as not just one of the best wrestling games ever made but also an all-time great sports game. There’s an impressive amount of content that will keep you busy long after WrestleMania season ends. For those looking to consume more WWE content with its boon in popularity, you can’t go wrong.”

With WWE’s popularity at an all-time high in modern pop culture, I fully expect WWE 2K25 to attract a large number of newcomers to the franchise or fans who haven’t played much recently.

As someone who was in those very shoes, here are all the things I wish I had known before stepping into the virtual squared circle.

5. WWE 2K25 Isn’t A Fighting Game; It’s Sports Entertainment

Win the crowd

I know it’s cliche to talk about professional wrestling as an entertainment product, but it’s the truth. Whether we’re talking about WWE, AEW, TNA, or indie promotions, professional wrestlers are putting on a story in the ring.

WWE 2K25’s fighting style matches this perfectly. Yes, you can perform basic combos, punches, and kicks like any other fighting game, but it won’t take you where you need to be. You won’t perform enough offense, the crowd won’t respond favorably, and your opponent will catch on and easily counter and reverse your moves.

Instead, focus on entertaining the audience. Mix up your moveset and vary your offense. You can still perform combos, but have them lead into something else. Do a combo into some attacks while they’re down. Run off the ropes and hit a diving elbow. Punish them and transition into a power slam.

4. Learn How to Counter

Being about to reverse your opponent’s attacks in WWE 2K25 is crucial to success

Most WWE matches, with the exception of squashes, are filled with back and forth offense. No matter the discrepancy in WWE Superstar skills, everyone normally gets their time to shine and prove something to the crowd and producers backstage.

So yes, while you can beat the living crap out of your opponent and call it a day, it’s better to let them gain a little bit of offense every now and then. Thankfully, you can use this to your advantage with the game’s counter and reveal system.

Not only does it play into your opponent staging a comeback against all odds, but you get to score more bonus points for having defensive prowess. Whether you’re a heel squashing the babyface’s hopes and dreams or a babyface yourself fighting back against impossible odds, countering your opponent is key for success in WWE 2K25. It’s the tactic I wish I knew most when I started playing.

3. Lean Into The High Tension Moments

Dramatic moments need drama

Since this is entertainment over a traditional fighting experience, your match is scored based on key factors, most notably the drama and tension that build inside the ring. Constantly kicking out at 1, while effective, doesn’t lead to high drama. Give a little suspense on a pin count, wait until the ref’s 2 count, and then kick out.

Absolutely, this could be a precarious scenario as you don’t wish to end up in a predicament where you might lose the match. However, that’s what makes WWE 2K25 so thrilling! The risk is often rewarding, particularly when the crowd responds to your close call near the fall.

As a wrestling enthusiast, I’ve learned that it’s not all about delivering suspense during pin counts. When you’re back on the mat, take a moment to strategize. If your opponent attempts a high-risk move from the top rope, be patient and step aside at the last possible instant. These moves are easiest to counterbalance, and dodging at the last second not only adds excitement but also exposes your adversary’s weak spot.

2. Use Your Paybacks To Your Advance

How did he kick out?!

Paybacks are an additional ability or move your WWE Superstar has access to in WWE 2K25. Like your finishers, they require a meter to be filled to utilize them, but they’re incredibly crucial to turning the tide of a fight in key moments.

Every superstar has their unique advantages that help them thrive, but there are two in particular that prove to be the most useful.

First is Resiliency, which allows you to escape any pin, submission, or elimination easily. No matter how many finishers or signature moves you’ve been hit with, this lets you escape any count-out without having to win the sometimes difficult mini-game. I’ve spent so much time saving my Payback meter for this moment, wanting to get one last counter in on my opponent before I hit a finisher and put them away.

The second ability is called Iron Jaw. It allows you to quickly recover after being stunned. Although it’s not as powerful as Resiliency, opponents tend to try to finish you off when you’re stunned. This gives you a chance to regain your balance, dodge their finisher move, and begin your comeback.

These aren’t the only beneficial Paybacks in WWE 2K25; they’re all designed to let you get the upper hand in a fight, sometimes by nefarious means, but hey, whatever gets the job done.

1. In MyGM, You’re Not Drafting The Best Roster

All about balance and synergies

Most WWE 2K25 players, especially newcomers, will make this mistake the first time they draft a roster in MyGM mode.

It’s not about drafting the best players; this isn’t your fantasy football draft. Sadly, having the four or five best WWE Superstars won’t get you anywhere.

Instead, draft your roster to maximize depth, potential rivalries, and synergies between wrestlers. Even the best in the business aren’t always compatible in the ring.

It’s convenient that the game provides helpful suggestions on which Superstars complement those already on your roster, unlike some games where the advice isn’t always reliable. In this case, the recommendations tend to be accurate most of the time.

Now, it’s not gospel, and there are times when you might be prioritizing other fits or making the most out of your available budget. Remember that no matter what, it’s better to have a deep, well-rounded line-up than be headlined by the current champions. I can’t tell you how many times Cody Rhodes went undrafted.

2025-03-18 01:15