NHL 22 brings back Synergies, which are essentially special abilities for players that must be activated in games. This time around though, Synergies only apply to the player that activates them but they’re still extremely potent when trying to turn the tide. It also doesn’t hurt that certain Synergies have been allocated to players that are lacking in key areas, thus making up for their weaknesses.
Let’s take a look at some of the better Synergies that you should get your hands on. When looking for certain cards, keep the player’s position in mind. Depending on the Synergy in question, you’ll want something that can benefit the position that they play. You don’t want to pick up a frontline-focused Synergy on someone that’s playing back, for instance.
- Distributor – Provides +2 Speed, +3 Passing and Puck Control, and +3 Durability. Recommended for frontliners and defenders alike.
- Wingman – Provides +4 Defensive Awareness, +4 Discipline, +2 Acceleration and +4 Passing, which is especially useful when claiming puck control.
- Booming Shot – Provides +3 to Agility, Strength and Body Checking along with +2 Slap Shot Power. Whether it’s a frontliner that can nail some great shots or a strong defender, this Synergy comes highly recommended.
- Thief – Provides +5 to Defensive Awareness, Faceoffs and Stick Checking along with +1 Slap Shot Power. Very good for defenders and players focusing on Stick Checking.
- Apple Sauce – Provides +2 Hand-Eye and Wrist Shot Accuracy along with +4 in Stick Checking and Passing. A great all-rounder that works very well with other Synergies.
- Workhouse – Provides +2 Acceleration, +5 Strength, +2 Puck Control and +3 Endurance. Good for players with a focus on weight.
- Spark – Adds +2 to Acceleration and Deking along with +4 to Body Checking and Strength. Another good all-rounder Synergy that’s perfect for shooters.
- Bombarded – Adds +2 to Slap Shot Accuracy and Slap Shot Power along with +4 to Aggression and Discipline. Recommended for defenders, though it’s not the prime choice.
Changing HUT Synergies
If you’re not a fan of some Synergies or seeking out certain ones, then it’s possible to change a card’s Synergy. However, this can only be done on X-Factor, Power-Up Icon and Master Set Player cards (that too at certain tiers). The majority of cards have fixed Synergies that cannot be changed.
First, select the card in question and press R3/Right Stick. Next, scroll to the Synergy in question and press Square or X. This will bring up a few options to choose from. For more details on HUT Synergies, the best ones to choose and so on, check out the video below by Sleeveless Gaming.
NHL 22 is out on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4 and PS5. Check out our review here for more details.
