FIFA Ultimate Team requires a lot of time and dedication to fully explore. The team-building mode debuted in FIFA 09 to universal praise thanks to its incredible attention to detail. Fans come back year after year for more features, tweaks, and the satisfaction of creating their own all-star roster.
Whether you've earned tons of coins winning Weekend League or don't know the first thing about trades, here are five common mistakes to avoid when stepping onto the pitch. This list includes everything from rookie trading window errors to tactical oversights. Learn how to create your own Ultimate Team quickly with some of the best beginner advice.
Don’t jump into online games too fast
High-level player loans make it enticing to take your squad right into competitive matches, but once your loan is gone, you’re stuck with your baseline team and only a few extra coins to buy more players. Instead, make the most of your loan and grab some easy online wins or complete SBCs to earn coins and construct a better all-around team. Once you’ve done that, head into your first five online Rivals matches with a more viable roster.
Play Squad Building Challenges the smart way
Complete basic SBCs to win easy coins. These challenges are specifically designed to ease you into building a squad and prepare you for more advanced challenges. When you’re ready, head into Advanced, League, or even Icon challenges to reap the benefits of pack rewards. However, some challenges require players you don’t own yet. Don’t overextend to purchase an expensive fill just to win a player from the SBC. Use a site like FUTBIN to help you find average cost players and reduce your chance of wasting time and money.
Don’t buy players on the weekend
Weekends are a popular time to play FIFA. People have time to game and division matches are active. That means the markets are active, but that’s not to your benefit as a buyer. The best window for purchasing is Monday to Thursday when prices are lower. Once the end of the week comes, people are looking to make a profit on those who aren’t checking in earlier. However, if you’re looking to sell some good cards, maybe the weekend will be your chance for higher returns.
Don’t build a lopsided team
Who doesn’t want Lionel Messi to lead their squad? While it’s clutch to aim for the best, it’s also important to buy based on player value and the coins you are willing to spend. There are popular players that are great on paper, but poor choices for your team. Make sure you consider chemistry, and look for the sleepers performing above their pay grade. If you’re aiming to purchase only a couple of heavyweights, you’ll end up with a lopsided team. Don’t forget that you have 11 players slots to fill, not just one or two.
Don’t forget to set team tactics
When playing against other competitors, you can’t overlook the importance of setting up team tactics. If you’re only playing offline Squad Battles or Single Player Drafts, then tactics may not matter as much, but you need to micromanage your mechanics against other players. Take some time to set up your formation and how your players attack or defend. You can set up individual actions too -- take your time and you’ll see better results in online matches. Take a look at Mausin Mirchandani talking strategy on the Competition Center’s Crossbar below for more tactical insight.
Overall, playing Fifa Ultimate Team is a commitment. If you’re ready for what some consider to be the “real” FIFA game experience, then take the time to watch videos and read guides. You might even want to follow how players are doing in their respective leagues to track the stats developing on your in-game roster. Remember that you can also play co-op modes with friends to earn rewards and make your FUT experience even more fun.
And don’t forget to sign up for one of the Competition Center’s Open Series events to put your fine-tuned FUT team to the test!