Like most sports games, NBA 2K14 uses a 0 to 99 rating system as its primary means of deciding what happens during a given possession of basketball.

The addition of 50-plus personality badges and signature skills is where Visual Concepts' algorithms differ from traditional sports gameplay models.

Signature skills like lockdown defender, for instance, can be the difference between forcing a difficult, contested shot and getting shamefully posterized.

This guide compiles information from NBA 2K14's menus about how each signature skill impacts the on-court action.

Since the My Team and My Career modes force gamers to select their own signature skills, this guide will also suggest the type of player who can best utilize each skill.

My Career will even allow you to "level up" many signature skills and increase their attribute boosts beyond the base figures you'll find listed below.
 

Sprite Posterizer

What it does: When attacking the rim, players have a greater chance of triggering a "contact dunk" animation instead of a "contact layup" animation. Posterizer dunks can only be performed when the player has at least 80% stamina. If the posterizer dunk is successful, it gives every on-court teammate a 5% boost to his stamina.

Who will benefit from it: Athletic slashers like Gerald Green and DeMar DeRozan.

Highlight Film

What it does: The player's dunk animations frequently involve fancy windmills and body spins instead of simple one-handed or two-handed slams. Triggering a highlight film dunk requires at least 80% stamina. If successful, it will boost each on-court teammate's stamina by 5%.

Who will benefit from it: Speedy perimeter players like John Wall and Eric Bledsoe who can outrun the defense and finish fast break opportunities above the rim.

Finisher

What it does: The shot penalty for absorbing body contact during a shot attempt is reduced by 10%.

Who will benefit from it: Explosive penetrators like Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook who can finish shots through body contact.

Acrobat

What it does: The shot penalty for changing your shot in mid-air is reduced by 10%. The player also receives a five-point attribute boost to his hop, spin, and euro layup ratings.

Who will benefit from it: Smaller penetrators like Tony Parker and Allen Iverson who need to use gather moves to create more space for inside shots.

Catch and Shoot

What it does: The penalty for early or late shot timing is decreased by 15% whenever the player attempts a shot from a distance of at least 12 feet immediately after receiving a pass.

Who will benefit from it: Three-point shooters like Ray Allen and Steve Novak who primarily play off the ball.

Shot Creator

What it does: If the player attempts a shot off the dribble after using moves like the hop step, step-back or fadeaway, the shot contest penalty is reduced by 40%.

Who will benefit from it: Scorers like Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard who like to use dribble moves to create extra shooting space.

Deadeye

What it does: The contested shot penalty that is enforced at the beginning of a shot animation is reduced by 40%. The contested shot penalty that is enforced at the release point of a shot is still applied normally.

Who will benefit from it: Any player who relies on jump shots to score the majority of his points.

Corner Specialist

What it does: If the shooter is standing still and is left open for a three-pointer in the corner, the shot's chance of going in increases by 2%.

Who will benefit from it: Forwards like Shane Battier and P.J. Tucker who play in a four-out, one-in offense and like to spot up for three-point shots in the corner.

Post Proficiency

What it does: The chance of a post move faking out a defender increases by 10%. All post shots are 2% more likely to go in.

Who will benefit from it: Inside scorers like Zach Randolph and Pau Gasol who prefer to play offense with their back to the basket.

Post Playmaker

What it does: Passing from a post-up position will eliminate the chance of an off-target pass and will add a 4% chance of the shot going in if it will count as an assist.

Who will benefit from it: Interior threats like Shaquille O'Neal and Wilt Chamberlain who demand a double team whenever they touch the ball down low.

Brick Wall

What it does: Defenders are either knocked to the ground or forced to work harder to get around the player's screens.

Who will benefit from it: Big men like Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett who frequently set screens.

Screen Outlet

What it does: If a player takes a shot immediately after setting a screen, he will receive a four-point boost to his shooting attribute.

Who will benefit from it: Skilled bigs like Channing Frye and Kevin Love who can knock down jump shots after fading out to the perimeter.

Pick & Roll Maestro

What it does: The ball handler receives a one-point boost to his shooting attribute if he takes a shot immediately after dribbling off a ball screen. Additionally, any pass to the screener will receive an unspecified accuracy boost.

Who will benefit from it: Point guards like Tony Parker and Goran Dragić who run offenses that emphasize ball screens.

Dimer

What it does: All passes, aside from alley-oops and passes thrown from a post-up position, will not be off-target and will add a 4% chance of the shot going in if the pass will count as an assist.

Who will benefit from it: Any player who acts as your team's primary ball handler whenever he is on the court.

Alley-Ooper

What it does: All alley-oop passes will have a 20-point boost applied to the player's passing rating. The chance of throwing a successful alley-oop pass is also increased by 20%.

Who will benefit from it: Ball handlers like Chris Paul and Goran Dragić who have many athletic teammates that can catch lob passes.

Flashy Passer

What it does: The accuracy penalty enforced to all flashy passes is reduced by 20%.

Who will benefit from it: Creative passers like Ricky Rubio and Rajon Rondo who frequently find unorthodox ways to get the ball to their teammates.

One Man Fastbreak

What it does: The player will receive a two-point boost to his speed, quickness and ball handling ratings when dribbling the ball from one end of the court to the other after a change in possession.

Who will benefit from it: Super athletes like LeBron James and Kevin Durant who can grab a defensive rebound then fly past the other team for a fast break score.

Break Starter

What it does: Following a defensive rebound, the player's next pass becomes 15% less likely to be off-target.

Who will benefit from it: Rebounding machines like Dwight Howard and Kevin Love.

Hustle Points

What it does: Following an offensive rebound, the player's close shot, standing layup, and driving layup ratings will receive a five-point boost for three seconds.

Who will benefit from it: Scrappers like Kenneth Faried and Chris "Birdman" Andersen who live around the rim.
 

Lockdown Defender

What it does: The player will automatically disable all the offensive signature skills of whomever he is guarding.

Who will benefit from it: Easily the most power skill in NBA 2K14, lockdown defender should be the first purchase for your My Player and a mandatory inclusion for everyone in your My Team lineup.

Pick Pocket

What it does: The probability of a steal is increased by 50% if the ball handler is attempting a dribble move.

Who will benefit from it: Elite on-ball defenders like Chris Paul and Rajon Rondo who spend lots of time guarding the other team's primary ball handler.

Interceptor

What it does: A 10-point boost is applied to the player's steal attribute whenever he attempts to deflect an airborne pass.

Who will benefit from it: Slower defenders like Shane Battier and Thabo Sefolosha who excel at ball denial and off-ball positioning.

Active Hands

What it does: The likelihood of a strip is increased by 50% whenever the ball handler is attempting a shot or layup.

Who will benefit from it: Skilled post defenders like Joakim Noah and Tyson Chandler.

Charge Card

What it does: The player is 20% more likely to earn a charge call whenever he is run over. All of his on-court teammates will receive a 5% stamina boost if the charge is successfully drawn.

Who will benefit from it: Defenders like Tony Allen and Paul George who are frequently asked to guard the other team's best perimeter player.

Pick Dodger

What it does: The player is immune to the effects of brick wall screens and will frequently overpower weaker screeners.

Who will benefit from it: Any defender who spends most of his time guarding the other team's primary ball handler.

Eraser

What it does: A successful shot block will raise all on-court teammates' stamina by 5% and will reduce the shooting attributes of the player who got blocked by 5 points for 15 seconds.

Who will benefit from it: Swat specialists like Serge Ibaka and DeAndre Jordan.

Chasedown Artist

What it does: During fast breaks, the defender will receive a five-point boost to his speed and quickness ratings, as well as a 60% increase to the probability of blocking any layup or dunk attempts.

Who will benefit from it: Fast defenders with tremendous leaping ability like LeBron James or Andre Iguodala.

Bruiser

What it does: All contact animations with this player will drain an additional 20% stamina from his opponent.

Who will benefit from it: Inside bangers who log heavy minutes like Zach Randolph and Al Jefferson.

Scrapper

What it does: When the ball bounces loose, the player will receive a five-point boost in speed and quickness, plus he will dive 10% further than other players.

Who will benefit from it: Expendable bench players whom you aren't afraid of losing to an injury.

Tenacious Rebounder

What it does: The player is 30% more likely to win box out battles and poke the ball loose during rebounds.

Who will benefit from it: Any forward or center who plays predominantly inside the paint.