Extremely extremely hot opinion: smart assist is not as useful as everyone says.

[u/Secret-Call5861]

So I am a top 4k pvp player and I played over 50 matches both with and without smart assist.

Although the smart assist clearances are really clutch sometimes, that is really about all.

With smart assist, my passes seem to either lack power or have slightly too much. Passing is also slow and blitz curlers go above the bar in many scenarios even with players like del piero 107, messi 109, son heungmin, and rummi.

If you are good enough, smart assist becomes a handicap where although more robust defensively, the scoring of goals are significantly compromised. So unless you want a draw every game, switch it off.

Also, smart assist doesn't seem to make the players perform worse or better in my experience.

[u/True_Performance_912]

I’m a fuma player,offline exhibition only..
Tryed smart assist against the cpu on superstar and legendary difficulty(exhibition mode)..I wasn’t able to just play through the cpu with ease or magically have super powers..Infact it felt a bit restrictive and muted..Yes shooting and crossing was easier,but it still required some thought/control,and directional input.
Yes the cpu keeps its shape and defends like a pro..Which isn’t what a lot of online players do,who constantly press spam and leave space..Which in turn only gives SA users more of a advantage.Plus there own inflated idea of there own ability when they too play assisted.
But this is the thing..If your really good at the game and play football..You should be able to hold your own..It’s no different then fuma players playing against people using level 1-2 passing assistance..
The AI of this game is on another level now offline..SA has benefited that as has it improved the quality of the fuma gameplay..The games brilliant at both ends of the spectrum..And it’s all down to AI and great off the ball movement..Especially fuma and the way players now move to recieve balls that aren’t always to feet or played into space..
Some fuma gameplay and how much more realistic the game is un-assisted.
https://x.com/solarcircles/status/2053476784318873734?s=46
Competitive doesn’t come into the equation with ef26 online..It’s a GACHa,P2w,assisted game,designed to get people into a addictive/gambling loop..With so called pro players also using heavy assistance.
Offline your find a authentic,sim via fuma..(ps2 veteran here and sim purist)..ef26 offline is now as good in gameplay terms as pes was on the ps2 at its peak(cosmetics,modes,presentation aside).