NBA 2K25 Badge system explained – All new Badges & Perks

NBA 2K25 is all set to bring changes to the existing Badge system by trimming the total number of Bagdes, introducing new Perks and Performance Multipliers, and more.

The devs went into all these changes as part of a Courtside Report focused on MyCareer and MyPlayer. Alongside all the new gameplay features, these tweaks should result in a more streamlined experience that makes MyPlayer progression more intuitive.

With this in mind, here’s everything you need to know about Badges in NBA 2K25.

NBA 2K25 Badge system explained

The Badge system in NBA 2K25 has been trimmed to 40 Badges from the previous 77 Badges in NBA 2K24. At its core, the feature is largely the same as these Badges dictate the playstyle of your MyPlayer on the court.

There are two types of Badges, Tier 1 and Tier 2, with Tier 1 Badges being more powerful and harder to obtain. As for Badge levels, there’s a brand-new level beyond Hall of Fame called Legend. This level demands extremely high attribute requirements but offers the biggest bonuses on the court.

Categories have also been limited to Inside Scoring, Rebounding, Outside Scoring, Playmaking, General Offense, All-Around, and Defense.

Progression works the same as last year, as you’ll earn them based on how often those Badges are activated during gameplay. To upgrade your Badges to another level, you’ll have to trigger them more frequently during games and also meet the attribute requirements to rank up.

Progression can be sped up through new Badge Elevators which can permanently boost an individual Badge of your choice up to 3 levels within its maximum potential. These items can be earned via Season Rewards.

Every Badge in NBA 2K25

Inside Scoring Badges:

• Aerial Wizard – Increases the ability to finish an alley-oop from a teammate or a putback finish off an offensive rebound.
• Float Game – Improves a player’s ability to make floaters.
• Hook Specialist – Improves a player’s ability to make post-hooks.
• Layup Mixmaster – Improves a player’s ability to finish fancy or acrobatic layups successfully.
• Paint Prodigy – Improves a player’s ability to quickly and efficiently score when going to work in the paint.
• Physical Finisher – Improves a player’s ability to battle through contact and convert contact layups.
• Post Fade Phenom – Improves a player’s ability to make post fades and hop shots.
• Post Powerhouse – Strengthens a player’s ability at backing down defenders and moving them with dropsteps.
• Post-Up Poet – Raises the chances of faking or getting by the defender as well as scoring, when performing moves in the post.
• Posterizer – Increases the chances of throwing down a dunk on your defender.
• Rise Up – Increases the likelihood of dunking or posterizing your opponent when standing in the painted area.

Outside Scoring Badges

• Deadeye – Jumpshots taken with a defender closing out receive less of a penalty from a shot contest.
• Limitless Range – Extends the range from which a player can successfully shoot three-pointers from the deep.
• Mini Marksman – Elevates the likelihood of making shots over taller defenders.
• Set Shot Specialist – Boosts chances of knocking down stand-still jumpshots.
• Shifty Shooter – Improves a player’s ability to successfully make off-the-dribble, high difficulty jump shots.

Rebounding Badges

• Boxout Beast – Improves a player’s ability to box out and fight for good rebounding position.
• Rebound Chaser – Improves a player’s ability to track down rebounds from farther distances than normal.

Playmaking Badges

• Ankle Assassin – Increases a player’s ability to break down the defender or cross them up.
• Bail Out – Passing out of a jumpshot or layup yields fewer errant passes than normal.
• Break Starter – After grabbing a defensive rebound, deep outlet passes made up the court are more accurate.
• Dimer – When in the half-court, passes by Dimers to open shooters yield a shot percentage boost.
• Handles for Days – A player takes less of an energy hit when performing consecutive dribble moves, allowing them to chain together combos quicker and for longer periods.
• Lightning Launch – Speeds up launches when attacking from the perimeter.
• Strong Handle – Reduces the likelihood of being bothered by defenders when dribbling.
• Unpluckable – Defenders have a tougher time poking the ball free with their steal attempts.
• Versatile Visionary – Improves ability to thread and fit tight passes, including alley-oops, quickly and on-time.

Defense Badges

• Challenger – Improves the effectiveness of well-timed contests against perimeter shooters.
• Glove – Increases a player’s ability to successfully steal from ball-handlers, or strip layup attempts.
• High-Flying Defender – Boosts the speed and leaping ability of a defensive player in anticipation of a block attempt.
• Immovable Enforcer – Improves strength when defending ball handlers and finishers who are coming straight at them.
• Interceptor – The frequency of successfully tipped or intercepted passes greatly increases.
• Off-Ball Pest – Makes players more difficult to move past when playing off-ball, as they can grab and hold their matchup.
• On-Ball Menace – Hounds and bodies up while defending on the perimeter.
• Paint Patroller – Increases a player’s ability to block or contest shots at the rim.
• Pick Dodger – Improves a player’s ability to navigate through and around screens while on defense.
• Post Lockdown – Strengthens a player’s ability to effectively defend moves in the post, with an increased chance of stripping the opponent.

General Offense Badges

• Brick Wall – Increases the effectiveness of screens and drains energy from opponents on physical contact.
• Slippery Off-Ball – When attempting to get open off screens, the player more effectively navigates through traffic.

All Around Badge

• Pogo Stick – Allows players to quickly recover and go back up for another jump upon landing.

New Badge Perks in NBA 2K25

• Max +1 – Boost a Badge 1 level above its max potential. Progress a Badge to its maximum potential before equipping this perk. These are unlocked at Level 15 (Tier 2 Badge) and Level 30 (Tier 1 Badge) in each Season. At the end of the Season, your Badges equipped with Max +1 will revert to their original level.
• Participation – Badges equipped with this perk will earn a flat base amount of progression each game, regardless of how many times they are activated.
• Synergy – Badges equipped with this perk will receive progression when your teammates earn progression using the same Badge.

All Performance Multipliers

• Up For The Challenge – Games played against tough opponents boosts badge progression for all badges that are used in the game.
• Grade A Student – Finishing games with an A-, A, or A+ boosts badge progression for all badges that are used in the game.
• Winner’s Circle – Winning games boosts badge progression for all badges that are used in the game.

With MyCareer out of the way, we’ll learn more about NBA 2K25 MyTeam and The W in the coming weeks, plus a look at The City. If you’re convinced by what has been shown so far, make sure to check out our pre-order guide and how to play the game early.