Bad pun is bad, Mat. Just stop now.
Fullbacks are easily one of my favorite positions in Goal Line Blitz. I personally love the diversity you get from the position. Even beyond rusher vs blocker, both sides have a good variation of builds that are commonly used. Focusing on solely the offensive side you have power oriented rushers, spin oriented rushers, elusive oriented rushers, receiving fullbacks, short yardage fullbacks, etc. There are so many possibilities and to me that is what makes the position great.
Fullback Attribute Breakdown
- Physical Attributes
- Strength - Break tackle, pancake, push while blocking, fighting for yards post-tackle
- Speed - Max speed, acceleration
- Agility - Acceleration, minimizing speed loss when altering direction, max cut angle, balance, spin, fake
- Jumping - Anti-swat, catch ball, avoid diving tackles
- Mental Attributes
- Stamina - Energy
- Vision - Pathing, fakes, locate defender to block, anti-swat
- Confidence - Morale
- Football Skills
- Blocking - Hold Block, pancake, range to grab defender
- Tackling - Irrelevant
- Throwing - Irrelevant
- Catching - Catch ball, anti-swat, catch in stride, catch 'radius'
- Carrying - Spin, fakes, max cut angle, minimizing speed loss when altering direction, break tackle, not fumble, knocked loose prevention, fight for yards post-tackle, Special Ability activation
- Kicking - Irrelevant
- Punting - Irrelevant
- Must-Haves
- None
- Good
- Lead Block (for blockers), Pancake (for strength loaded blockers), Sticky Hands (for receiving FBs), Power Thru (for rushers), Quick Cut (for both blockers and rushers)
- Waste
- Hands, Spot Blitz, Strong Arm, Cover Up, Dive for Yardage
Okay so let's get into some actual builds and attribute priorities. I certainly cannot discuss them all but I will target a few popular choices.
The Power Rushing FB
This should be the most straightforward build for users. The only logical choice for the archetype is the rusher one. The key to this build really comes at getting your strength/carrying/speed at caps where they should be. Certainly agility is a major so it may be tempting to push it pretty hard, but you really have to be smart and budget enough skill points for speed.
The Big 3:
Speed - Top Speed, Acceleration
Strength - Break Tackle, Fighting Out Extra Yards
Carrying - Break Tackle, Not Fumble, Fighting Out Extra Yards, Special Ability Activation
All three of those attributes absolutely need to be at least at the 6th cap (80.53). I am sure some will debate that carrying needs to be pushed that high but it really is a necessity when it comes to getting your Power SAs triggering like you want. And of course all the other great things carrying can help with get bundled in.
AEQ/Extra SA Selection:
Personally, I would recommend three stacked +% break tackle pieces. You can certainly trim down to two and go for another power SA if you would like to as well. Lower the Shoulder and even Spin can be worthwhile. In terms of your extra SA, definitely think about adding Lower the Shoulder or First Step. Remember that First Step works at low speeds, not just a complete stop, so it speculatively helps post-broken tackle if there is significant slowdown. Surge can likewise be great on inside FB runs.
Equipment Distribution:
At this current time, stacking all in speed really seems like the best option. This may not hold true forever, but pulling out some equipment points for strength (and extra broken tackles) just does not make up for the yards you would have gained with the extra speed.
Additional Notes:
Make sure to be conservative in your investments in non-crucial attributes. This means vision can stay at just 40 (enough for the Short Yardage Monster VA). Confidence as a major can be virtually ignored as well. You really do not need more than 40 to single capped. You are better off trimming from vision and confidence for the addition of some catching abilities. Even if you are not interested in a little catching, you would be better off adding extra stamina or more SAs. Don't forget about Quick Cut's benefit to a power rusher!
The Spin FB
This really has become a more popular option with the rusher archetype. Strength, Agility, and Carrying are all majors so it produces a good base for double digit Spin SA. I won't replicate all that is written above for the power FB, but the builds are relatively similar. Strength, Speed, and Carrying are still vital to the FB's success. The only real change comes from the Spin investment and a stronger focus on agility. You will want to discount strength a bit in favor of higher agility and carrying.
The Receiving FB
One of the great things that archetypes brought around was a much easier route to building a super fast fullback. Previous to archetypes, fullbacks had absolutely no automatic level gains in speed. This was just a huge wheel lock on many FB builds that users wanted to create. The Scat Back archetype gives us speed, agility, and catching (along with lolvision) all as majors. For all of us who yearned for 140+ speed, FBs, this archetype was our big ticket to getting that.
The Big 3:
Speed - Top Speed, Acceleration
Agility - Acceleration, Minimizing Speed Loss When Changing Direction, Max Cut Angle
Catching - Anti-Swat, Catch Roll, Catch Radius
AEQ/Extra SA Selection:
This really is open because there's generally more to a receiving FB than just his receiving. The receiving archetype does see no ALGs for strength, but one could certainly push fakes if they wanted to. So in that regard, if you did not have any sort of tackle avoidance in your build I would recommend First Step and stacked +% catch ball. Otherwise you'll need to look at +% fake if you go for Juke as your extra SA. I would definitely recommend always sticking to at least one +% catch ball, though.
Equipment Distribution:
Speed, no excuses for anything else.
Additional Notes:
This build is again open due to the slight variations, but the general idea is going to be to jack speed to abnormal highs no matter what. Everyone loves a FB with 95+ natural speed. Definitely work your speed and agility caps to high marks (once again 6th cap+). Remember to go for catching right after speed and agility as it is not only a major but an important attribute. As you will read about Monday, it is always wise to attack an opposition's weakness and with FBs they are almost always blessed with a LB with a poor swat score (and if you are super lucky they are a slower MLB that you can burn with your speed). There are some easy catches even in single coverage if you have any sort of decent anti-swat/catch roll coming out of your FB.
So GLB Nation...what's your favorite kind of FB?
blocking FB
ReplyDeleteFB is one of my favourite positions too ! I like the power rusher build, but Im tempted to build a Scat Back now Ive read this !
ReplyDeleteyou dont mention the rushing slider in the article.
I used to think that full on power was the way to go, but after a heap of fumbles, Ive toned that down ... what do you think ? Bruiser and Power or Slippery and Elusive ?
The fumbling issue is likely just a product of running directly at defenders instead of trying to avoid them (as you would on elusive). Plus with a power oriented back you are likely running inside, directly at some heavier hitters (as opposed to CBs/safeties on the outside).
ReplyDeleteBruiser still provides a larger bonus than slippery, so unless you have Spin (creating a need for higher elusiveness) I wouldn't make a move.
I do use -51 on my personal power-ish FB.
Not real fond of Pancake anymore. The number has'nt changed much on players I've dropped it off that had it previously. Might want to add a Pure Blocking FB to that discussion. Pretty much every team needs/wants one, most are to slow to stay ahead of the back on outside runs though.
ReplyDeleteYeah... I build my FBs like I build my HBs, except instead of giving them carrying I give them blocking. That way you have a lead blocker who is able to get in front of your super fast 145-150 speed HB and make give your HB a bit more room to move.
ReplyDeleteI try not to give the ball directly to the FB, but I do love Scat Back FBs who are built as speedy types and I give them carrying and catching instead of blocking. Most of the time I don't need my second FB to hold the block for more than a second and the HB is already at the next level. This lack of investment in Blocking gives my FB the ability to catch the ball and make a move with it once they've got it. Spin SA is key to making the first tackle miss and get that YAC.
-Time Trial