P2P Snacks #2 - Can you actually build your Ultimate Team?
Hello my friends,
As I write the second issue of this new newsletter, my wife and I are prepping to move on Monday and expecting baby #2 due Oct 1. While I’m sure the months ahead will be filled with challenges, I’m excited. We are starting a new chapter…change is a funny thing. It’s often an uncomfortable necessity required to improve. Personally (luckily?), I like change.FIFA 23 marks a new chapter for EA - the chemistry system is finally changing. I don’t care if it turns out to be good or bad, I’m just happy they’re trying.
The goal is to, “increase squad variety to enable more diverse teams, make squad building easier and to remove common pain points.”
Here is how the revamped chemistry system works…
Welcome to the 3-stripe life. JK, EA hasn’t collaborated with Adidas on chemistry, but they have introduced a magical three-square image to indicate how much chemistry a player has.
I like the visual change. It simplifies the system. There was a lot more confusion than you’d think around the 0-10 system. Players now get chemistry points from the following:
Will this add diversity? I believe it will. Between this system, the new leaked ratings (just do some googling), and a semi-nerf to chemistry styles, my bet is full chemistry is less relevant than in previous FIFAs.
I think this will be the year that …wait for it…you can actually build your Ultimate Team.
But, the shift will be painful. Change is uncomfortable.
Accepting players at less than full chem will be a challenge for most. The majority of the FUT players (not you newly dubbed Snackers) have been conditioned to feel the need to get full chemistry. When I look at the chem boost system (chart below), the difference between 3 chem and 2 chem for most chemistry styles is ~2-4 attribute points…but let’s be real. The difference between winning and losing will not be 2-4 attribute points.
What about Hunter & Shadow?! They’ve received nerfs. Now at 3 chem, players will get an 8-point boost vs. 4 points on 2 chem. Is it a lot? In the beginning, it will likely matter more, but as promo cards are released, I’ll be less focused on full chem. 2 chem will do the job for me.
Defenders are almost always the ones that *need* pace boosts, but this year, I’d imagine there are plenty of defenders that have 80+(ish) pace and the difference between getting 88 pace and 84 pace is likely to matter less with the new Accelerate feature.
My early 3 chem focus will be on attackers that can use major boosts in specific areas. Finisher gives a +15 to finishing and dribbling. That matters.
A few more observations...
There isn’t a single chemistry style that boosts defensive awareness or interceptions by +15
Likewise, attacking positioning can only be boosted by +8
Maestro is the only chem style to boost reactions by +8
That’s all for this week. Please feel free to jump into my Discord and offer any feedback, suggestions or just drop a question you’d like to see featured in a future issue.
Thank you to all that have subscribed so far. I look forward to enjoying 23 together!
Catch you all next time,
Japes