In the ever-competitive eFootball ecosystem, one controversial feature is drawing ire from high-level players: Smart Assist. This gameplay aid, originally introduced to help newcomers, is now appearing in Division 3 and above – the upper ranks where seasoned players compete. The result is a community outcry to remove Smart Assist from top divisions, as many see it as an unfair crutch that undermines skill. 

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If Smart Assist was meant for beginners, the question stands: “Why would a beginner be in Division 3 or higher?” It’s a disconnect that “makes no sense” to competitive players and threatens to erode the integrity of ranked matches. In this article, we break down what Smart Assist does, why it doesn’t belong in elite play, and the growing argument that eFootball should restrict or eliminate Smart Assist in high-ranked division matches.

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What is Smart Assist in eFootball?

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Smart Assist is a control automation feature introduced in eFootball (the successor to PES) as a “trial” to make the game more accessible. When enabled, Smart Assist takes over certain inputs for the player – for example, it automatically controls shot power and even adjusts dribble direction for you. According to the official update notes, the idea was that with Smart Assist “you will be able to perform brilliant dribbles and passes… all without having to input any difficult commands”. In other words, it’s like training wheels: the game’s AI helps execute moves that a less-experienced player might struggle to pull off consistently.

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This feature was clearly introduced with casual and new players in mind. Konami even hinted that Smart Assist is meant to let “more players, including beginners, enjoy the fun and exhilaration of matches” (as noted in their social channels). It’s no surprise then that Smart Assist is disabled in official eSports events, where Konami turns it off to ensure a level playing field for top competitors. In casual online matches or low divisions, having an optional assist can lower the entry barrier – helping newcomers learn the game without being discouraged.

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However, Smart Assist remains available in ranked Division matches up through Division 1, which has become a point of contention. The feature is supposedly still in a trial phase and “its usage may not be allowed in some modes and Events” per the patch notes. Despite this, in core matchmaking for divisions, players can freely toggle it on even at high ranks. To veteran eFootball players, that feels like a misstep: the training wheels never come off, even in top-tier competition.

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A Beginner’s Crutch in a Pro Arena

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The heart of the issue is that Divisions 3, 2, 1 (the pinnacle of ranked play) are not where beginners roam. These divisions are intended for the most skilled and competitive players – yet Smart Assist provides an automated boost that was never intended for expert play. As one frustrated player put it, “Remove noob assist from Division 3 upwards. This feature should only be for newbies playing the game”. High-ranked matches are meant to be a test of mastery: precise manual passing, strategic dribbling, and skillful shooting under pressure. Allowing an AI assist in those matches muddies that ideal.

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Competitive players argue that Smart Assist in upper divisions dilutes skill-based competition. Essentially, it can erase the gap between a good player and a great player by letting the AI correct mistakes or optimize plays. A Division 1 match could be decided not by who has better tactics or reflexes, but by who lets the AI handle the crucial moments. This feels fundamentally wrong to the community of die-hard competitors.

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Consider this scenario: A manual player carefully presses and intercepts a pass, only to see the opponent’s Smart Assist instantly loft the ball over the defender in a way no human could react to. Indeed, players have observed that with Smart Assist on, “you can’t just press, because most of the time you will not get the ball – the AI will change the pass to lofted” mid-flight. Similarly, shots taken with Smart Assist can come off unnaturally perfect. The AI calculates the ideal power and direction, resulting in strikes that are “not just strong, they are too accurate” to be believed. In essence, Smart Assist users get an auto-pilot for crucial mechanics: the system can turn a normal shot into a pinpoint “stunning” shot or ensure a pass magically avoids a defender’s reach by adding lift, all without the player’s skill.

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Such advantages skew the playing field. In divisions meant to showcase top talent, a feature nicknamed “noob assist” has no logical place. As angry posts have noted, “why would a beginner be in Division 3 or above?” The presence of Smart Assist at that level suggests either the ranking system is being gamed or that experienced players are willingly using a beginner aid to maintain an edge. Neither is a healthy sign for the competitive environment.

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Undermining Skill and Fair Play

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Perhaps the biggest problem is the psychological effect Smart Assist is having on the player base. There’s a growing paranoia; some players now suspect every unusually precise play might be the work of Smart Assist. Strong words aside, it captures how detrimental the feature feels to those grinding fair and square.

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Because Smart Assist automates aspects of play, it effectively reduces the skill gap. Normally, in Division 1 matches, you’d expect fine margins to decide games – the better manual dribbling, the smarter pass timing, the more skillful shot selection. But with AI assistance, a less skilled player can have the system compensate for their weaknesses (e.g. perfectly timing tackles or choosing an optimal pass trajectory). The “smart” in Smart Assist is essentially an AI coach taking over control in real-time. And when the AI plays part of the game for you, it’s no longer purely a contest of human skill.

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Players who refuse to use Smart Assist feel robbed of the satisfaction that comes from outplaying an opponent. Meanwhile, players who do enable it may climb the ranks more easily than their actual skill would merit. This dynamic is pushing the community toward a troubling fork: adapt or quit. In other words, high-level eFootball could devolve into an AI-assisted metagame where everyone is forced to use Smart Assist just to keep up – completely defeating the point of competitive play.

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It’s telling that Konami disables Smart Assist in its official esports tournaments. The developers themselves seem to recognize that in a true competitive setting, Smart Assist has no place. Their rationale for the feature – helping beginners enjoy the game – simply doesn’t align with the context of pro competition. By Division 3 (and certainly Division 1), players are no longer “beginners” in any sense. Those who made it that far have hundreds of hours of experience. Keeping Smart Assist active in these tiers is akin to allowing aim assist in the highest ranks of an FPS esports league – it would be seen as heresy.

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The Case for Removing Smart Assist (Division 3 and Above)

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The solution championed by most of the community is straightforward: remove or disable Smart Assist for Division 3 and higher. This could be done via a patch that either outright turns off the option once a player advances past Division 4, or by introducing separate matchmaking pools (one for manual play, one for assisted). At the very least, implementing a filter so that those who don’t want to face Smart Assist users can avoid them would help. This filter idea has been floated in community discussions as well – essentially an option to only match with players using similar control settings.

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Removing Smart Assist at upper levels would restore competitive integrity. Division 1 would go back to being a place where every outcome is earned purely by player skill, quick thinking, and mastery of the controls – not semi-automated by AI. It would also likely reduce the frustration and ambiguity; players could be confident that a miraculous pass or shot by their opponent was due to that opponent’s skill (or luck), not an algorithm’s intervention.

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From a design perspective, phasing out assists as players improve is nothing new. Many games have casual modes with forgiving mechanics and ranked modes with hardcore, no-training-wheels mechanics. eFootball could mirror this by keeping Smart Assist in low divisions (where it serves its purpose) and phasing it out as a mandatory “graduation” for higher divisions. After all, if a player truly cannot cope without Smart Assist, perhaps they shouldn’t be in Division 1 yet – a bit harsh, but competitive ladders are meant to be meritocratic.

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Conclusion: Keep Competition Human

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In summary, Smart Assist might be great for casual fun or learning the ropes, but it has no place in high-tier eFootball matches. When a “beginner mode” is influencing the outcome of Division 1 clashes, something is fundamentally wrong. Competitive gaming is at its best when it’s an even battleground where human skill reigns supreme. Features like Smart Assist, however well-intentioned, tip the scales artificially and breed resentment among players who want a fair fight.

Key takeaways and opinions:

• Smart Assist was designed for beginners, automating difficult controls so newcomers can enjoy the game. It makes less sense in Division 3+, where players are veterans and expect manual, skill-based play.
  
  
• In high divisions, Smart Assist confers an unfair advantage – e.g. perfectly adjusting shots and passes beyond human ability. This undermines the competitive integrity of matches.
  
  
• The eFootball community is united in calling for Smart Assist to be removed or restricted in top divisions, noting that even Konami turns it off for official tournaments (implying it doesn’t belong in serious play).
  
  
• If left unchecked, Smart Assist could force every top player to use it just to remain viable, effectively making high-level play an AI-assisted arena rather than a showcase of human skill. This scenario would drive away players who value true competition.
  
  

As eFootball continues to evolve, Konami needs to address this disconnect. The simplest fix is to let Division 3 and above be a pure test of skill – no assists, no gimmicks. Doing so will preserve the spirit of competition and ensure that when a player reaches those upper echelons, it’s because of their skill on the virtual pitch, not an AI co-pilot. Smart Assist has its place helping newcomers, but once you’re among the “strong hands” of Division 3 and beyond, it’s time to take the training wheels off and let players sink or swim on their own merit.

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