Interception
Better actionChecked
In one sentence
He reacts 40 % sooner to a pass aimed at the man he is marking, and in the CPU's interception decisions his Defensive Engagement counts 5 higher.
Who does this affect?
Mostly CPU-controlled: all four effects sit in the defender AI. For the player you steer, your own timing decides.
How it works
Interception adds no interception chance; nothing in its code rolls dice. When an opponent passes to the player he is marking, his reaction delay is cut to 60 %. In the CPU's interception decisions his Defensive Engagement counts 5 higher: he waits less before going for the ball, re-plans a little more often, starts sprinting slightly earlier and accepts slightly wider angles.
When it applies
- A pass is played to the opponent he is marking: his reaction delay × 0.6.
- CPU interception attempt: the wait before he goes for the ball uses Defensive Engagement + 5.
- CPU interception re-planning uses Defensive Engagement + 5 (max 99).
- CPU off-ball movement: the sprint start and angle limit use Defensive Engagement + 5.
Without it
Normal reaction delay (× 1.0, or × 0.8 under one team tactic) and his real Defensive Engagement in the AI.
Which stats it reads
Defensive Engagement sets how strong
The wait before an interception attempt shrinks from 0.74 s at 50 or less to 0 at 99. With the skill it reaches 0 at 94 and saves about 0.07 s in between. From 99 there is nothing left to save.
Defensive Engagement (off-ball movement) sets how strong
+5 means he starts sprinting 0.05–0.08 s earlier and accepts about 6° more angle, up to 94.
Defensive Engagement (re-planning) sets how strong
About one tick (0.04 s) quicker re-planning; minor. The +5 stops at 99.
In numbers
Defensive Engagement (match value, boosters included) → · seconds
Chart values
| 60 | 0.52 | 0.59 |
| 80 | 0.22 | 0.30 |
| 99 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| 120 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
Common questions
Does Interception raise a percentage chance to intercept?
Short answerNo
All four parts only shorten delays or loosen limits; none of them uses a random roll.
Does it help the defender I control?
Short answerNo
Every part is in the defender AI; for your own player, your timing decides.
Is it wasted at 99 Defensive Engagement?
Short answerPartly
The Defensive Engagement parts are, but the 40 % faster reaction to passes aimed at his man still works.
Not yet confirmed
- Under one team setting, two of the decisions use Defensive Engagement + 20 for everyone and ignore the skill; which setting that is has not been identified.
- The base pass-reaction delay before the × 0.6 (it depends on distance and roles).
- Whether the faster pass reaction also affects any automatic movement of the player you control.
The maths
DetailNo random chance anywhere in the skill: it only shortens delays and waits.
ConditionThe 40 % faster reaction only applies when the pass is aimed at the opponent he is marking.
DetailThe × 0.6 replaces (does not stack with) the × 0.8 from a team tactic.
LimitThe Defensive Engagement parts stop mattering at 94 with the skill (99 without). The 40 % faster reaction has no stat input, so it still works at 99.
DetailThe reaction delay is capped at 1 s in every case.
DetailNot used by this skill: Defensive Awareness — it feeds the base reaction delay the same way with or without the skill; the 40 % cut is the same at any value.; Speed, Acceleration — not read by the skill.
Booster points per stat
Defensive EngagementBooster points count only partly here.
Defensive Engagement (off-ball movement)Booster points count only partly here.
Defensive Engagement (re-planning)Booster points count here.