AEW: Fight Forever — How to Increase Match Ratings

Knowing how to increase match ratings AEW: Fight Forever give you the ability to obtain higher cash rewards — and everybody loves making more money. However, there are some key actions you need to do to have the best chance of reaching a 5-star grade or the highest rating or 7 stars. Our guide tells you what those actions are.

Match Ratings Explained: Factors That Affect Your Grade

After finishing a bout, there’s always a potential to earn any of the match ratings depending on your performance. Generally speaking, the grade is affected by the following factors:

• HP — The more HP you have, the higher the score.
• Match Time — The faster you can complete a match, the higher the score.
• Move Selection — Executing more moves nets a better score.
• Match Evaluation — This considers the above factors and some hidden modifiers, which I’ll mention below.

In most cases, you’ll generally have 3-star or 4-star matches by adhering to those criteria above. However, if you maximize certain actions, you can reach a 5-star match rating or higher — perhaps even a 7-star grade.

The Guaranteed Way to Increase Match Ratings

Perform Signatures and Finishers

One of the key factors that can greatly increase match ratings in AEW: Fight Forever is being able to do signature moves and finishers. The idea is to keep on the offensive until you gain enough momentum for a signature move, which can be used over and over.

You’ll also want to perform a taunt when a signature is ready but before using it. This activates your special, which lets you do a finisher. Perform three to five signatures and finishers on your foe before pinning them for the win to increase your grade at the end of a match.

Use Thumbtacks in a Hardcore Match

Another key part to increasing match ratings is starting a Light’s Out (hardcore) match with thumbtacks. Once the bell rings, exit the ring, then press L2/LT when standing next to the ring apron. This will make your character pick up a weapon. With luck (and RNG on your side), you find a pouch with thumbtacks.

Once you have the pouch, re-enter the ring and pour thumbtacks by pressing L2/LT. Then, perform your signature/finisher on your opponent, making sure that they also hit the thumbtacks when you drop them. In some cases, you may need to reposition them via lifts and grabs.

Wrestlers that get hit with a signature or finisher on thumbtacks boost your match rating score significantly due to the violence and blood (something rabid pro-wrestling crowds love in the real world). Earning a 7-star rating also nets you the “Match of the Year” achievement/trophy.

But that’s the best way to increase your match ratings in AEW: Fight Forever. With these tips, you’ll get 5-stars or higher every time. For other tips and tricks, such as our Road to Elite skills guide, click the link or visit our AEW: FF guides hub.