Hope NHL 10 is treating you well. Let’s get into the nitty gritty of NHL 10 Unlocks.

Looks like there is some debate about the way the NHL 10 Unlocks work. Lets clear this up right now so you can get back to figuring out the best combination of boosts and equipment for your player. We are going to start off at the very beginning just in case someone is coming in to read this with no idea of what this system is and how it works, so you experienced guys please be patient :)

First, let’s start off with how to unlock the equipment and boosts. There are 2 ways, earn the unlocks by completing tasks in game or purchase the equipment with your 1st party accounts. The tasks to unlock the equipment and boosts get harder as the items get better. For a complete list of the unlocks associated with each piece of equipment and boost check the list below.

Let’s talk about the equipment: Equipment has boost slots. Equipment can have 1, 2, or 3, boost slots associated with them. These slots can be filled with 1, 2, or 3 attribute boosts but, only certain attribute boosts can be placed into certain slots. Example of this, speed attribute boost can only be applied to a skates slot. One exception to this rule is the Helmet. The Helmet can have any attribute boost placed into one of its slots, except speed. The Helmet is the wild card of equipment, you can place all/any attribute into the helmet slots (except speed) it can allow for some really creative adjustments. Here is the breakdown of attributes associated with equipment.

Skater:
Helmet - All attributes. Except speed.
Skates - Speed, Agility, Acceleration, Aggressiveness, Balance, Checking, Endurance
Gloves - Discipline, Shot blocking, Toughness, Deflections, Passing, Durability, Puck Control, Deking
Stick - Slap shot power, Slap shop accuracy, Wrist shot power, Wrist shot accuracy, Faceoffs.

So to recap boost slots, equipment has 1, 2, or 3 boost slots that can be filled with attribute boosts. The boost slots have certain attribute boosts associated with them. The helmet is the wild card, as any attribute boost can be applied to it, except speed.

Now for the attribute boosts and Boost Packs:

For the actual attribute boosts themselves they come in 3 boost levels: +1, +3, and +5 levels. Each attribute has one at each level. Ex. Speed has a single +1, +3, +5 attribute boost only and these are the only three attribute boosts for speed. They cannot be used multiple times, meaning if you place +5 speed into your skate slot 1, you cannot also place it in slot 2. All attribute boosts can only be placed into one slot at a time.

Boost packs on the other hand, boost key attributes based on the player type. Example, you unlock and equip the sniper boost pack and you boost attributes for accuracy, agility, etc, etc. However, some attributes will not get boosted as high as these key attributes. I will get a list of the key attributes for each player type boost pack and post them here later to make sure everyone knows exactly what gets boosted. But needless to say the key attributes are the most logical based on player type.

IMPORTANT NOTE - Boost packs can only be combined with helmets. I’ll give an example of this just to be clear:  Equip the sniper boost pack, then back out and enter into the equipment section of hockey shop, select the helmet and then apply any boost I want, except speed, to the helmet and these attribute boosts will be added together with the attribute boosts from the boost pack. This will only happen with the helmet and no other equipment type. This means you could have just bought the sniper pack which boosted your accuracy way up and then go and apply more accuracy attribute boosts to the helmet slots to get a higher boost to accuracy.

Let’s go over how the equipment + boosts and the boost packs differ when combined with your regular XP purchases.

Individual boosts add onto your existing attribute level and serve as an addition onto existing attribute levels. So as you increase your players attributes with XP the attribute boosts are added onto those levels. Again, an example. I am at level 85 accuracy with only my XP attributes, no boosts at all. I apply a piece of equipment and a + 5 accuracy boost. I now have 90 accuracy. If I earn more XP and up my accuracy by 3 then my new XP attribute level is 88 and the boost is added on top of this to make my overall a 93. Hope that helps :)

Boost packs do not act the same way as the individual boosts. Boost Packs cannot be added on to existing XP attribute levels. So if I equip the sniper boost pack and then earn some XP and buy some attributes I will be increasing my XP attribute levels overall, but I will not be increasing my Boost Pack levels at the same time. The boost pack attribute levels are a constant level and are not added on top of your XP levels. The helmet plays in this system in a unique way, you are able to apply any boost, except speed, to the helmet and the helmet can be combined with any boost pack and any pieces of equipment. So, the boost pack + the helmet are like an uber boost. This is the ultimate combo set up. Explained another way, boost packs and attribute boost can only be combined with the help of the Helmet. However, and please remember this, Gold Helmets can be added to anything. This means you can add a gold helmet to a boost pack or existing attribute boosts. The gold helmet is the ultimate piece of equipment to have for this very reason.

Ok. This should clear up the confusion and make it understandable. This whole system was designed to give the most flexibility based on player type and player style. It would be really hard to argue there is a perfect combination of all boosts and boost packs that allow for you to play every position at the highest level. Or is there? I will let you guys decide.

Time to get back to NHL 11.

Thanks,
Matt