NBA 2K25 Badges: Complete List and Progression Guide

In NBA 2K25, players can expect a reduced selection of Badges, along with additional perks and Badge Elevators that can enhance the level of a chosen Badge.

The release of NBA 2K25 is scheduled for September 2024, and as with previous versions, MyCareer will remain a significant aspect of the game. Players will have the opportunity to design their own personalized MyPlayer and bring them into the NBA. However, there will be noticeable changes in store for 2K25.

The upcoming update will include a redesigned MyPlayer builder and a modified selection of Badges. For those unfamiliar, Badges are unique characteristics that enhance a player’s on-court abilities.

Here is a comprehensive list of all the Badges available in NBA 2K25 and an explanation of how progression functions within the game.

Full list of NBA 2K25 Badges

Displayed below are the different types of Badges in NBA 2K25, organized for your convenience:

Inside Scoring

Name	Description
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 while 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 from drop-steps.
Post-Up Poet	Raises the chances of faking or getting by the defender, as well as scoring, when performing moves in the paint.
Posterizer	Increases the chances of throwing down a dunk on your defender.
Rise Up	Increases the likelihood of dunking or posturizing your opponent when standing in the painted area.

Scoring

Name	Description
Deadeye	Jump shots 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 effectively shoot three-pointers from deep.
Mini Marksman	Elevates the likelihood of making shots over taller defenders.
Set Shot Specialist	Boosts chances of knocking down stand-still jump shots.
Shifty Shooter	Improves a player’s ability to successfully make off-the-dribble, high-difficulty jump shots.

Tips for Rebounding

Name	Description
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.

Tips for Playmaking

Name	Description
Ankle Assassin	Increases the ability to break down the defender or cross them up.
Bail Out	Passing out of a jump shot or layup yields fewer errant passes than normal. Additionally, it helps with passing out of double teams.
Break Starter	After grabbing a defensive rebound, deep outlet passes made up the court are more accurate. Passes must be made quickly after the defensive rebound.
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 a player’s ability to thread and fit tight passes, including alley-oops, quickly and on time.

Defense

Name	Description
Challenger	Improves the effectiveness of well-timed contests against perimeter shooters.
Glove	Increases the ability to successfully steal from ball-handlers, or strip layup attempts.
High-Flying Denier	Boosts the speed and leaping ability of a defensive player in anticipation of a block attempt.
Immovable Enforcer	Improves a defensive player’s 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	Make players more difficult to get pas 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 ball.

General Offense: Types and Examples

Name	Description
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

Name	Description
Pogo Stick	Allows players to quickly recover and go back up for another jump upon landing. This could be after a rebound, block attempt, or even a jump shot.

🛡️ All 40 Badges that will be available in #NBA2K25 Which one are you already scoping out for your build? 👀 pic.twitter.com/mwQRcASqZx

— NBA 2K (@NBA2K) August 8, 2024

In comparison to NBA 2K24’s 77 Badges, NBA 2K25 has only 40 Badges. The development team of NBA 2K expressed their desire in August to reduce the number of Badges in order to increase their value and have a significant impact within the game.

How Badge Progression works

Progressions in 2K25 function similarly to those in 2K24. To improve a Badge, it is necessary to either use it during a game or upgrade it at the team facility. Badges can only be increased and will not decrease, even if they are not used in a match.

Before the year 2K25, Badges were ranked from Bronze to Hall of Fame, with Hall of Fame being considered the strongest level. However, a new level called Legend has been incorporated this year.

There are two levels of Badges: Tier 1 and Tier 2. Tier 1 Badges are the strongest, but they also require more effort to advance compared to Tier 2.

In the latest installment of NBA 2K, players can now access three additional Badge Perks. These perks allow for customization and enhancement of individual Badges. Each perk includes two slots, designated for Tier 1 and Tier 2 Badges respectively. Below are the newly introduced Badge Perks and their accompanying descriptions:

Max +1 allows you to increase a Badge’s level by 1 above its maximum potential. Before using this perk, you must first reach the maximum potential of the Badge. The Max +1 perk is unlocked at Level 15 for Tier 2 Badges and at Level 30 for Tier 1 Badges in each Season. However, at the end of the Season, any Badges equipped with Max +1 will return to their original level.
The perk of Participation ensures that badges equipped with this feature will earn a set amount of progression after each game, regardless of the number of times they are activated.
The perk Synergy allows equipped Badges to gain progression when your teammates earn progression with the same Badge.

The Season rewards in 2K24 allow players to earn Participation, Synergy, and Overdrive through rotation.

Moreover, the Performance Multipliers make a comeback. The ones that were present in 2K24 will also make their return in 2K25.

A student who consistently receives a Grade A in games will experience faster progression for all equipped badges when finishing with a high Teammate Grade.
In games that end with a victory, the progression of equipped badges is accelerated for all players.
Badge level progression is accelerated for all equipped badges in games played against challenging opponents. This allows players to be up for the challenge and improve their badges faster.

Badge Elevators

The Badge Elevator, a new addition in 2K25, permits players to increase the level of a Badge, as long as their potential is high enough to enhance it.

As an illustration, a Bronze Badge with Legend potential can be upgraded to Hall of Fame using a Badge Elevator. These elevators increase the level by up to three, providing a permanent boost. Nevertheless, Badge Elevators obtained in Seasons 1-4 will have a maximum of two levels.

The Season Rewards pool will include Badge Elevators.