WWE 2K20 Payback Abilities Guide

Among the various new abilities in WWE 2K20 at the player's disposal are the payback abilities which allow you to dish out some major pain

By Arqam

WWE 2k20 has the two categories of abilities just like the previous year and they are ‘Standard Abilities’ and ‘Payback Abilities’. These abilities were first introduced in WWE 2K19 and became a fan favorite pretty soon.

Keep in mind to not confuse abilities with Skills and OMG moments. They are the scenario and character-specific moments. OMG moments are scenario specific while Skills are superstar specific movements. Here we have a full detailed guide of WWE 2k20 Abilities.

WWE 2k20 Payback Abilities

Before we get into Payback abilities, first it is important to familiarize yourself with all the standard abilities available in WWE 2K20 and how they affect gameplay as you progress through different tiers of them.

Standard

As you know it is very similar to last year, so similar to that all the abilities in this category come in three different levels and will have a different effect on gameplay. In 2k20, each superstar can have up to 10 abilities assigned to them.

Pin Combo

  • Following a certain attack, it will allow superstars to perform a pin.
  • Press O/B during an attack to perform pin.
  • Level 1: Opponent’s kick-out gauge reduced by 10%
  • Level 2: Opponent’s kick-out gauge reduced by 20%
  • Level 3: Opponent’s kick-out gauge reduced by 30%

Dirty Pin

  • Pin the opponent with your feet on the ropes.
  • Can be performed when the opponent is laying parallel to the ropes. Hold O when prompted.
  • Level 1: Can be used once per match. Will reduce kick-out gauge of an opponent by 20% and the probability of getting caught by the referee is 24%
  • Level 2: Can be used once per match. Will reduce kick-out gauge of an opponent by 35% and probability of getting caught by the referee is 34%
  • Level 3: Can be used once per match. Will reduce kick-out gauge of an opponent by 50% and probability of getting caught by the referee is 50%

Immovable Object

  • Chance of a superstar falling decreases significantly when hit by a strong or running strike. It can only be used by Heavyweight and Super heavyweight superstars.
  • Always active ability.
  • Level 1: Chance of falling decreased by 40%
  • Level 2: Chance of falling decreased by 55%
  • Level 3: Chance of falling decreased by 65%

Mouthpiece

  • Manager of the superstar will distract referee and will get you a stamina boost.
  • Always active ability when superstar is accompanied by a manager.
  • Level 1: Small stamina boost and can only be used one time.
  • Level 2: Level 1 stamina boost + 50% and can be used two times.
  • Level 3: Level 2 stamina boost + 50% and can be used two times.

Team Work

  • Double team move and tag team damage increased.
  • Always active ability when in tag team.
  • Level 1: Double team damage increased by 12%.
  • Level 2: Double team damage increased by 17%.
  • Level 3: Double team damage increased by 26%.

Rope Break

  • It affects the probability of referee to see the rope break during the first pin count and momentum rewarded.
  • When you get pinned closed to ropes, just press O/B to do a rope break.
  • Level 1: Probability of referee to see the rope break is 60% and if successful 15% momentum is also awarded.
  • Level 1: Probability of referee to see the rope break is 50% and if successful 45% momentum is also awarded.
  • Level 1: Probability of referee to see the rope break is 40% and if successful 75% momentum is also awarded.

Technician

  • It will lower the stamina cost for reversal.
  • Always active ability.
  • Level 1: -10% reversal stamina cost.
  • Level 2: -30% reversal stamina cost.
  • Level 3: -50% reversal stamina cost.

Fan Favorite

  • It will increase the time sequence for you to make a superstar comeback.
  • Always active ability when you have comeback ability.
  • Level 1: You get 16 seconds to complete comeback sequence.
  • Level 2: You get 20 seconds to complete comeback sequence.
  • Level 3: You get 25 seconds to complete comeback sequence.

Taunt

  • It eliminates the lowest scoring promo answers.
  • Press R1/RB during a promo to trigger this one but it has no effect during the match.
  • Level 1: One low score promo answer will be removed and can be used once per promo.
  • Level 2: Two low score promo answer will be removed and can be used once per promo.
  • Level 3: Three low score promo answer will be removed and can be used once per promo.

Brawl

  • Attack the opponent during a promo and transition into a Brawl.
  • Press R2/RT during a promo to trigger.
  • Level 1: Target’s health will be reduced by 90%.
  • Level 2: Target’s health will be reduced by 85%.
  • Level 3: Target’s health will be reduced by 80%.

Payback

These are some special abilities that can just turn the tables on your enemy and can change the momentum of the match to your favor. When you unlock the level 1 ability a payback meter will come and will fill up as you take damage during a match. And if you wait long enough you can unlock level 2 ability.

One superstar can have one level 1 (Minor) and one level 2 (Major) ability assigned to it and can be customized very easily from the superstar selection screen.

You can trigger a payback ability by holding R2 + triangle on PlayStation and RT + Y on Xbox One.

Payback Level 1 (Minor Payback)

Speed Buff

  • It enhances your speed and agility. And also improved the stamina regeneration rate.
  • Hold R2/RT and press Triangle/Y to trigger.

Auto-Reversal

  • You can use this ability to perform minor reversal and it does not consume any reversal stock.
  • Hold R2+Triangle/RT+Y before the attack and don’t worry about the timing.

Fists of Fury

  • It increases the striking power significantly and also gives minor speed and striking reversal boost.
  • Hole R2/RT and press triangle/Y to perform.

Possum

  • You can catch your opponent off guard with a pin or attack by playing Possum.
  • Hold R2/RT to enter the possum state while supine, leaning against the ropes. Then press O/B to perform pin or press triangle/Y to attack.

Reversal

  • Earn an extra reversal stock.
  • Hold R2/RT and press triangle/Y to trigger.

Instant Recovery

  • Instantly recover after being knocked down, it also includes minor speed boost.
  • Hold R2/RT and press triangle/Y while in knocked down state.

Payback Level 2 (Major Payback)

Tank Buff

  • It will heavily increase your defense but at the cost of overall mobility.
  • Hold R2/RT and press triangle/Y to activate.

Resiliency

  • Easily escape a pin, submission or a mini-game.
  • Press R2+triangle/RT+Y during the mini-game to escape.

Low Blow

  • Perform a low blow from standing or kneeling position at the risk of being eliminated.
  • Press R2+triangle/RT+Y to initiate the dirty move timer. And then press R2+triangle/RT+Y again to perform low blow.

Finisher

  • Earn a finisher.
  • Hold R2/RT and press triangle/Y to earn. It can be used once per match.

Adrenaline Buff

  • It will allow you to fit more weight while simultaneously increasing momentum.
  • Hold R2/RT and press triangle/Y.

Poison Mist

  • Spit the poison mist in your opponent’s eyes at the risk of elimination.
  • Press R2+triangle/RT+Y to initiate dirty move times and press the same buttons again to perform poison mist.

Blackout

  • Lights will turn off and when they turn back on you will be behind your opponent to gain the advantage.
  • Press R2+triangle/RT+Y when both superstars are inside the ring.

Run-in

  • It will allow you to summon an ally down the ring side to help you out and give you an upper hand.
  • Hold R2/RT and press triangle/Y while downed state inside the ring.

Power of the Punch

  • Hit your opponent with brass knuckles at the risk of elimination.
  • Press R2+triangle/RT+Y to initiate dirty move times and press the same buttons again to perform power of the punch.

Move Thief

  • It will allow you to use your opponent’s move set to finish him off.
  • Press R2+triangle/RT+Y to trigger.

Fortify

  • It will summon a steal shell to make you almost invincible but also increasing your weight and damage.
  • Hold R2/RT and press triangle/Y to trigger.

Electrifying

  • It will earn you a lot of momentum at a faster rate, like electricity is running through you.
  • Hold R2/RT and press triangle/Y to trigger.

Beast Mode

  • It will enhance your grappling speed and damage, when it is activated a golden glow will highlight your arms.
  • Hold R2/RT and press triangle/Y to trigger.

Rush

  • It will trigger an unstoppable charge attack and each successful hit will take one finisher away from your target.
  • Press R2+triangle/RT+Y to activate and then hold L2/LT to charge at your opponent.

Charged Fury

  • It will deal huge damage with just a single punch. Longer you charge the strike more the damage will be.
  • Press R2+Triangle/RT+Y to initiate the Charged Fury timer. Then hold square/X to charge your strike. Once charged, press square/X again to perform the charged strike.

Hands of Fire

  • It will allow you to summon minions of the underworld to grab and hold your opponent.
  • Press R2+triangle/RT+Y to trigger
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