All Superstar X-Factor Abilities in NHL 23 – Full list and descriptions

It’s a new year for the NHL franchise, as NHL 23 is now out worldwide. Superstar X-Factors and Zone Abilities were introduced into the NHL franchise in 2021, and this feature is back for another season. So, what are the different kind of Superstar X-Factors and Abilities that are available for this year? Let’s take a look.

Related: How to pull the goalie in NHL 23

All Zone X-Factors in NHL 23

These special zone abilities have been broken down into six categories: Skating, Shooting, Passing, Defending, Goaltending, and Hockey IQ. The full list is as follows:

Cover Athlete Zone Abilities

• Skilled Up – Elite Lacrosse Moves
• Relentless – Great Off Balance Shots and Passes

Skating

• Wheels – Elite Skating with Puck
• Elite Edges – Elite Agility in Direction Changes
• In Reverse – Elite Back Skating Ability
• Ankle Breaker – Elite Dekes at Higher Speed

Shooting

• Make it Snappy – Elite Snap Shot in Stride
• Shnipe – Elite Puck Settling
• One Tee – Elite One Timers
• Thunderclap – Elite Slap Shot from Point
• Heatseeker – Elite Wrist Shots
• Beauty Backhand – Elite Backhand
• Shock and Awe – Elite Shooting out of Toe Drag
• Close Quarters – Great in Close Shooting
• Seeing Eye – Great Shot through Screens
• Off the Rush – Great Slap Shot on the Rush

Passing

• Tape to Tape – Elite Passing Within Vision
• Send It – Elite Long Passing
• Magnetic – Elite Pass Reception and Puck Pick Up
• Third Eye – Elite Peripheral Passer

Defending

• Yoink! – Elite Defensive Stick Lifts
• Stick ‘Em Up – Elite Defensive Stick
• Shutdown – Great Rush Defending

Goaltending

• Contortionist – Elite Wild Saves Ability
• All or Nothing – Elite Poke Checking
• Dialed In – Maximize Saves when on a Roll
• Post to Post – Elite Post to Post Saves
• Butterfly Effect – Elite Butterfly Goalie

Hockey IQ

• Puck on a String – Elite Stick Handling
• Quick Pick – Elite Puck Interceptions
• All Alone – Elite Breakaway Finishes
• Quick Draw – Elite Faceoff Ability
• It’s Tricky – Elite Trick Shooting
• Crease Crasher – Elite Rebound Opportunist
• Big Tipper – Elite Shot Deflections
• No Contest – Elite puck battling
• Truculence – Great Hitter
• Total Eclipse – Great Goalie Screening
• Back at Ya – Increase Payback to Hitters
• Unstoppable Force – Great Strength with the Puck
• Bouncer – Great Net Battling
• Big Rig – Great Drives to Net

Superstar Abilities

Now here’s a look at the Superstar abilities:

• Dialed In* – Boosts saves when on a roll
• Butterfly Effect* – Great Butterfly goalie
• Handled It* – 1-on-1 saves boost team energy
• Contortionist* – Great wild saves ability
• Last Stand* – Great 1-on-1 saves
• Whirlwind* – Consecutive saves boost energy
• Adventurer* – Great goalie skating
• Sponge* – Great rebound control
• All or Nothing* – Great poke checking
• Post to Post* – Great post to post saves
• X-Ray* – Great vision through screens
• Heatseeker – Great wrist shots
• Seeing Eye – Great shot through screens
• Send It – Great long passing
• Big Rig – Great drives to net
• Unstoppable Force – Great strength with the puck
• No Contest – Great puck battling
• Quick Draw – Great faceoff ability
• Quick Pick – Great puck interception
• Ankle Breaker – Great dekes at higher speed
• Third Eye – Great peripheral passer
• Tape to Tape – Great passing within vision
• Yoink! – Great defensive stick lifts
• Puck on a String – Great stick handling
• One Tee – Great one timers
• It’s Tricky – Great trick shooting
• Wheels – Great skating with puck
• Shnipe – Great puck settling
• Born Leader – Boosts team energy on goals
• Total Eclipse – Great goalie screening
• Big Tipper – Great shot deflections
• Close Quarters – Great in close shooting
• Magnetic – Great pass reception and puck pick up
• Stick ‘Em Up – Great defensive stick
• Bouncer – Great net battling
• Shutdown – Elite rush defending
• Ice Pack – Great shot blocking
• Spin-o-rama – Great spin-o-rama ability
• Back at Ya – Increase payback to hitters
• Shock and Awe – Great shooting out of toe drag
• In Reverse – Great back skating ability
• Make it Snappy – Great snap shot in stride
• Elite Edges – Great agility in direction changes
• Off the Rush – Great slap shot on the rush
• Truculence – Great hitter
• Beauty Backhand – Great backhand
• Crease Crasher – Great rebound opportunist
• Thunder Clap – Great slap shot from the point
• All Alone – Great breakaway finishes
• Relentless – Great off balance shots and passes

Note: * denotes goalie-only ability. Italics denotes returning ability.