The most under-the-radar of all EA Sports franchises, NHL has nonetheless been making a name for itself over the last few years due to the sheer depth of content that it offers- so much, in fact, that it can get entirely overwhelming for new players and veterans alike. Add to this the fact that, like all sports simulation games, the mechanics and nuances of NHL 18 can be hard to follow for people on the outside, and you can understand why there might be some needing help.
If that includes you, then you have come to the right place! In this guide, we cover basic tips and tricks, top rated players, earning a lot of coins in the game, a basic guide to the Ultimate Team mode, and a guide to some of the Achievements and Trophies in the game. Okay? So let’s get started!
BASIC TIPS AND TRICKS
- First things first- the game has an unusual control scheme. If you decide you want to play it, spend some time getting used to it, possibly by playing some matches on a lower AI difficulty.
- Passing is paramount- don’t just hold the puck to yourself, or to one player- pass it around so that it is harder for it to be intercepted
- Use the opposing team to your advantage- take advantage of weak points in their formation, leverage their goalkeeper and defenses for rebounds, and do whatever is necessary to gain an upper hand
- Don’t just play offensively! Sometimes, retreat or defensive plays can net you some points in the long run. Be smart about how you play
- If you play as a goalkeeper, the L2 button is your friend. It will help you line up more precise shots.
Make sure to check out the video below to get some better strategies for performing better at the game, as well.
Dekes
Dekes have changed substantially in NHL 18, thanks to the franchise’s drive to be ever more realistic and nuanced. This can entail everything, from altered controls for existing dekes to brand new kinds entirely- in the video below, you will find tutorials for every kind of deke in the game. Good luck!
PLAYER RATINGS
Whether it’s to settle an argument about which of two players is better in real life, or just something you want to know to be able to assemble the best possible team for yourself, these NHL 18 ratings for the top 10 players of each kind will undoubtedly be helpful for all hockey fans.
Right-Wings:
- Joe Pavelski: 88
- Blake Wheeler: 87
- David Pastrnak: 87
- Jakub Voracek: 87
- Patrick Kane: 91
- Vladimir Tarasenko: 90
- Nikita Kucherov: 89
- Wayne Simmonds: 86
- Patrik Laine: 86
- Phil Kessel: 86
Defensemen:
- Duncan Keith: 90
- Ryan Suter: 89
- Erik Karlsson: 91
- Drew Doughty: 91
- Brent Burns: 90
- Victor Hedman: 90
- Shea Weber: 89
- Kirs Letang: 88
- Roman Josi: 88
- Alex Pietrangelo: 88
Left-Wings:
- Johnny Gaudreau: 87
- Max Pacioretty: 87
- Artemi Panarin: 86
- Alex Ovechkin: 92
- Jamie Benn: 90
- Taylor Hall: 87
- Brad Marchand: 87
- Filip Forsberg: 86
- Eric Staal: 85
- Gabriel Landeskog: 85
Goalies:
- Matt Murray: 88
- Henrik Lundqvist: 88
- Devan Dubnyk: 88
- Tuuka Rask: 88
- Carey Price: 92
- Braden Holtby: 90
- Sergei Bobrovsky: 89
- Cory Schneider: 89
- Corey Crawford: 87
- Cam Talbot: 87
Centers:
- John Tavares: 90
- Nicklas Backstrom: 89
- Patrice Bergeron: 89
- Connor McDavid: 93
- Sidney Crosby: 93
- Evgeni Malkin: 92
- Steven Stamkos: 91
- Ryan Getzlaf: 89
- Tyler Seguin: 89
- Jonathan Toews: 89
HOCKEY ULTIMATE TEAM GUIDE
Every EA Sports game has its own variant of the Ultimate Team mode that was pioneered in FIFA. And so does NHL. If you’re a series veteran, or indeed, if you have played any sports game at all in the last five years, you already know what Ultimate Team is, and what it does. If not… well, here’s a quick primer:
- Hockey Ultimate Team lets you build your own fantasy team from players around the world
- Hockey Ultimate Team has a Synergy mechanic- Synergies can either be Players based (so only for players who share a certain trait) or team based (for the entire team). When in effect, they enhance the performance of everyone
- Completing team sets in the game unlock fan favorite players called HUT Heroes
- HUT Legends are even better players you can gain by opening packs, or through the auction house
- Completing sets, participating in competitive seasons, completing Challenges, and opening packs net you new cards, which you can use to build or boost your team, depending on if you get a player card, or if you get an item card
- Booster packs can either be bought with currency earned in game, or with real world money
- Hockey Ultimate Team involves a larger metagame of trying to get higher rated players on your team, as well as using items that can help you gain advantages in games
- Hockey Ultimate Team has multiple different modes you can play- offline matches, online games, competitive seasons, and Challenges
Challenges
HUT Challenges are specific objectives within the larger HUT metagame that you can try and complete to gain valuable rewards. HUT Challenges can be completed either solo or with friends, and fall into the following categories:
- 3-Star Challenges: Play-style and technique specific challenges
- Synergy Challenges: Drop Synergy items as rewards
- Team challenges: Challenges revolving around you playing through various teams to unlock better ones
- NHL Journey Challenges: Longer challenges for your constructed team
- Co-op Challenges: Can be completed with a friend, online or local
Completing the objectives for each challenge can net you valuable rewards: a lot of these can be very simple, and you will complete them naturally. Some might require you to go out of your way a little but given just how great the rewards can be, you should consider doing so.
Sets
As if Hockey Ultimate Team wasn’t already addictive enough, the Set Mechanic takes it to a whole new level- collecting all items within a denoted set net you bonuses, and completed sets can be hugely valuable. There are multiple kinds of sets:
- Collectibles: You can get these from packs of their corresponding rank (Bronze, Silver, Gold). To get Carbon Collectibles, you will need to use an Upgrade set on your Gold set.
- Player Upgrade Sets: Let you trade up your unwanted Silver and Bronze player items for Gold player items. Can only be used once
- Collectible Upgrade Sets: Upgrade your Collectible sets
- Team Upgrade Sets: Use these to upgrade you team jerseys, logos and arenas
- Limited Time Sets: Available for a limited time only, usually to commemorate real life hockey events
- Draft Champions Sets: Winning games in Draft Champions can net you these cards, which you can use to complete these kinds of sets
- HUT Hero Sets: Complete NHL Themed sets to get a HUT Hero card- multiple of these can complete a set
Returning User Bonus:
If you have played Ultimate Team in NHL 15, 16, or 17, you get a bonus jersey in NHL 18‘s Ultimate Team Mode. If you played Ultimate Team in NHL 17, you can get a one-time bonus of up to five Returning User Packs, each of which will contain 4 Bronze, 4 Silver, and 4 Gold items. How many packs you get will depend on:
- The current Coin balance in HUT 17
- The number of HUT games played
- The number of items in your HUT 17 collection.
HOW TO EARN COINS QUICKLY:
Coins are the currency in NHL 18– ordinarily, you ave to grind for these in game, or you can buy them with real world money. That said, there appear to be certain cheats in game that you can leverage to earn more coins: please keep in mind that these may be patched out at any time. So just because they work now, does not mean that they will work forever.
ACHIEVEMENTS/TROPHIES
Someone Get That Kid The Puck!
Play and score your 1st NHL goal in a regular season game in Be a Pro.
That’s Number 50!
Play and score your 50th NHL goal in a single season as a rookie in Be a Pro Mode.
Win it for Dale 15
Win the Stanley Cup® in Be A Pro mode.
Goose Egg
Play an entire game and have your 1st shutout in a regular season game in Be a Pro.
Drafted
Have your Be a Pro player drafted in Be a Pro mode while playing an entire season in the CHL.
Practice Makes Perfect
Complete all training camp drills.
Knighted
Win the Stanley Cup as the Vegas Golden Knights after doing an expansion draft in Franchise Mode.
Cup Champs
Win the Stanley Cup as the 32nd NHL team after doing an expansion draft in Franchise Mode.
Bobble Head Star
Score the hat trick goal with a player on their Bobble Head night in Franchise Mode.
Developer
Have a player that you drafted grow to 90+ overall in Franchise Mode.
3 Star Performance
Complete and win a NHL Three’s Circuit Game with 3 Stars.
King of the Pacific
Defeat the final boss of the Pacific Circuit in NHL® Threes.
Cooperative
Complete and win an Online Co-op NHL® Threes Circuit Game.
Star Collector
Collect all the stars in a NHL® Threes Circuit.
Circuit King
Win the final circuit trophy for NHL® Threes Mode.
Mascot Sniper
Have a mascot on your team score 5 goals in a single game in a NHL Three’s game.
League Champions
Be a member of an EASHL club that has recently won the League Title and return to the Seasons HUB.
Conference Champions
Be a member of an EASHL club that has recently won a Division Title and return to the Seasons HUB.
On A Roll
Be a member of an EASHL club that had a perfect record last season and return to the Seasons HUB.
Victorious
Be a member of an EASHL club that has recently won a playoff cup and return to the Seasons HUB.
Triple Threat
Complete 3 EASHL 3 on 3 games.
Overtime Heroics
In an EASHL club game, score the game-winning overtime goal.
You’ll always remember your first
In an EASHL game, score your first goal as a skater or complete and win your first game as a goalie.
Veteran Club Members
Be a member of an EASHL club that has reached Level 25.
How Prestigious
Level up your EASHL pro past Player Level 50.
Flip Biscuit
Score a goal by flipping the puck back against the grain from the backhand toe drag in any mode.
Extend the Twig
Deflect a shot with the Defensive Skill Stick in any mode.
Kid’s a Beauty
Score a goal with a between the legs shot in any mode.
Not My Bottle!
Knock off the opposing goalie’s bottle from the net by scoring a goal.
Manual Sauce
Get an assist from a manual saucer pass in any mode.
Tee it up
Score a goal with a manual one timer in any mode.
Own the crease
Have a shutout and win a game as a user-controlled goalie in any mode.
Costume Party
Score a goal as a Mascot in a NHL® Threes game.
Tuck me in
Score a goal with a one hand tuck in any mode.
Apple a Day
Get an assist with a between the legs pass in any mode.
First Timer
Complete a Hockey Ultimate Team Set for the first time.
Master!
Complete a Hockey Ultimate Team Master Set.
You’ve Been Counting Stars
Earn a total 50 Stars in HUT Challenges.
Championship Belt
Recently win the title in a Hockey Ultimate Team Season and return to the Hockey Ultimate Team Hub.
A Little Help From My Friends
Complete a Co-op challenge with a friend.
You’re Crafty
Complete 50 Hockey Ultimate Team Sets.
Buzzer Beater
Complete a limited time Hockey Ultimate Team Set.
Competitor
Earn a HUT Competitive Seasons reward.
Synergized
Activate a Synergy Style in Hockey Ultimate Team.
OP!
Have every player on your active Hockey Ultimate Team Lineup have an active Synergy Style.
Drafted!
Complete a NHL® Draft Champions Draft.
All the Way!
Win every game in a NHL® Draft Champions Draft.
Ultimate Competitor
In HUT Competitive Seasons, earn a ranking within every round of a season.
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