How to use MLB The Show 25’s Ambush Hitting system

Ambush Hitting is one of the most important, and confusing, new features of MLB The Show 25, an extra tool in your batting arsenal that you can choose to use before every pitch. While the game offers a brief explanation of how the system works, we’ve got a slightly deeper dive that can help you make the most of every at-bat.

How to use Ambush Hitting in MLB The Show 25

The basics of the Ambush system are extremely simple. When you’re at the plate, you can push the right stick either left or right — ahead of the pitcher releasing the ball — to predict which side of the plate the pitch is headed toward. When you guess a side, you’ll notice that your hitting indicator gets bigger on that side of the plate, and smaller on the other side, making contact easier on the side you guessed at and more challenging on the side you didn’t. If you change your mind and don’t want to guess a side after all, you can click the right stick (aka the R3 button) to reset and deactivate your guess.

Of course, a mechanic that simple allows plenty of room for adjustments and mind games, so here are a few tips on how to use the system to your advantage.

To answer the biggest question first: No, you don’t have to use the Ambush system if you don’t want to. There’s no penalty for not using it — it just avoids either the bonus or the penalty associated with your guess. As for when you should use it, there are a few different ways to approach that.

First, when you’re in a count where you can afford to be choosy about what you swing at, like 0-0 or 3-1, you could guess toward whichever side of the strike zone you tend to be better at hitting in, and hope for a pitch there. In other words, use Ambush Hitting in situations where you can be picky at the plate, and focus on just one area of the strike zone.

For example, I often open at-bats with Ambush Hitting activated on the outside part of the plate for the first pitch, and just sit on low breaking balls. If the pitcher throws a low breaking ball away, I tend to crush it. If they don’t, I just take the pitch and move on, repeating this until the pitcher gets ahead in the count. Additionally, if you have the hot zones turned on while hitting, you could use Ambush Hitting on the side of the plate where your hitter has more hot zones. But this is also best used while ahead in the count, since you can’t be so picky with two strikes.

Another option would be to follow the trends of the pitcher, or player, you’re facing. Pitchers sometimes favor one area of the strike zone, especially in matchups with certain hitters, so you could guess the side they tend to prefer. Even more useful, though, is the fact that many human players online have particular pitches that they turn to in high-pressure situations, regardless of the pitcher they’re using. Pay attention to the frequency with which your opponent uses certain locations, and the situations they use them in. Does this person like to start lefties with a fastball up and in? Is a low curveball their main strikeout pitch? Observing these patterns will help you with Ambush Hitting (and with hitting overall).

In general, don’t use Ambush Hitting in two-strike situations unless you are extremely confident in your read on the opposing pitcher. It’s a risk-reward scenario, and it’s usually better to approach your at-bats more defensively (even when using the contact swing) when you’ve got two strikes on you. But Ambush Hitting can give your offense a big boost earlier in the count if you use it right — especially if you pay attention to what your opponent likes to throw.