Salem, OR — Madden is known for its somewhat realistic portrayal of football. The game offers various difficulty levels to cater to players of all skill levels. If you’re ready to take your Madden skills to the next level, then All-Madden difficulty is where you want to be. This setting is significantly more challenging than All-Pro, and this guide will help you adapt your gameplay to dominate the CPU opponents at the highest level.

Differences Between All-Madden and All-Pro

Before we delve into strategies, let’s clarify the key differences between All-Madden and All-Pro difficulties:


  1. AI Intelligence: The most significant difference is the CPU’s intelligence. On All-Madden, the AI is more aggressive, makes quicker decisions, and adapts to your strategies better. It will read your plays and react faster, making it more challenging to outsmart.
  2. Player Ratings: The CPU-controlled teams on All-Madden tend to have higher-rated players compared to All-Pro. This means you’ll need a deeper understanding of the game to compete effectively.
  3. Player Skill: The AI is more proficient in executing plays and is less prone to making mistakes. On All-Pro, CPU players can drop passes or make poor decisions, but this is less common on All-Madden.
  4. Game Speed: All-Madden games often have a faster game speed, requiring quicker reflexes and decision-making from the player.

Strategies to succeed on All-Madden difficulty

Now that you understand the differences, let’s move on to some strategies.

  1. Mix Up Your Plays: On All-Madden, the AI can quickly catch onto your playcalling tendencies. To keep the CPU defense guessing, mix up your plays. Don’t rely on the same few plays repeatedly. Use a variety of formations and plays to keep your opponent off balance.
  2. Pre-Snap Read: Pay close attention to the defensive alignment before the snap. If you see that the defense is stacking the box against the run or is in a Cover-2 defense against the pass, adjust your play accordingly. Audible or hot route your receivers to exploit any mismatches you see.
  3. Master User Control: On All-Madden, it’s crucial to control a linebacker or safety to make plays on defense. By manually controlling a player, you can react faster to passes and make tackles more effectively. Focus on improving your user skills.
  4. Clock Management: A smart clock management strategy can be your best friend on All-Madden. Chew up the clock to limit the CPU’s possessions and reduce the opportunities for them to score. Be patient and take what the defense gives you.
  5. Defense Wins Championships: A strong defense can make the difference in a close game. Focus on creating turnovers, sacking the quarterback, and using coverage plays that can bait the CPU into making mistakes. Master user-controlled interceptions to turn the tide in your favor.
  6. Special Teams Matter: Don’t underestimate the importance of special teams. Use your punter and kicker effectively to pin the CPU deep in their territory, and be aware of the wind conditions when attempting field goals.
  7. Practice and Learn: The more you play on All-Madden, the better you’ll become. Learn from your losses, adapt, and practice different strategies. This will help you become more proficient in dealing with the heightened AI difficulty.

All-Madden difficulty in Madden NFL is a significant step up from All-Pro and requires a more profound understanding of the game’s mechanics and strategies. By adapting to the AI’s intelligence and honing your skills, you can consistently outperform the CPU opponents. Remember that patience and practice are the keys to mastering All-Madden, so keep refining your gameplay to dominate the gridiron and achieve victory. Good luck, and may your virtual touchdowns be aplenty!