The latest version of the EA Sports FC game, now called FC 25, has been released.

If you're like me and enjoy playing Ultimate Team, or if this mode is a big part of your gaming journey, you probably want to know what new features and changes have been added to this year's Ultimate Team. Stick with me as I walk you through some of the most important updates for this year's edition, and then share some tips to help you progress faster and build a stronger team. 

Ultimate Team Changes This Year

Once again, just like in recent years, there are some improvements and minor changes to Ultimate Team. These changes could have probably been added as an update, so it feels like we're paying $69 or $99 for those who wanted to play a week early for a slightly enhanced version of FC 24.

One reason EA hasn't made significant changes is the lack of real competition in recent years. I hope that changes soon and we see more heated rivalry between companies to bring us the best football simulator. 

Rush Mode

The most prominent new feature in the FC 25 Ultimate team is "Rush Mode." This is a 5v5 experience on a smaller field, with some twists on the rules (like blue cards instead of red). You can play Rush mode on Ultimate Team either solo against other players or with your friends.

You'll use any of your FC 25 Ultimate Team players in this mode, and you can earn points and rewards specific to Rush. I highly recommend playing this mode with friends for a much better experience than chasing passes in solo play. 

Duplicate Storage

One of the best quality-of-life changes in FC 25 is the "Duplicate Storage." This feature allows you to store any duplicate players you pack, so you can easily continue opening packs without worrying about wasting players in SBCs (Squad Building Challenges) you don't want to do or having to sell them quickly. 

Match Counts and Rewards

Another significant change is in the match count for different modes and how the point system works. 

Rivals Mode

Last year, you needed 4 wins for an initial reward and 7 wins for a full reward. This year, it's all about points—you get 3 points for a win and 1 for a draw, which is excellent since draws have value now. To get the initial reward, you need 15 points and 45 points for the full reward.

You'll need to spend more time playing for the full reward, but the prizes are better than last year. Another change is that you only have one option to choose your rewards (compared to three options last year). Plus, it's harder to progress your FC 25 profile in higher Divisions; there are no checkpoints in Div 2 and Div 1, so if you lose, you drop to the previous Division. Checkpoints overall have been reduced, so you'll need to work harder to level up.

Lastly, your Division from last year carries over—so if you were in Division 8 last year, you'd start in Division 5 this year. It's a nice touch because better players match up with others at their level from the start, and new players don't have to face pros right away. 

Squad Battles

The number of matches has decreased from 32 to 12, which is a solid change since most people stopped playing Squad Battles after a month or two last year because the rewards weren't worth the time. Most players only used it to complete challenges or objectives. With fewer matches and better rewards, Squad Battles is now a more worthwhile mode. 

Weekend League

The number of qualification matches has dropped from 10 to 5. Last year, you needed 4 wins to qualify; now, you only need to win 3 out of 5. The points system is the same as last year: 4 points for a win, 1 for a loss. In the finals, you play 15 matches instead of 20, with 1 point per win and none for a loss. With fewer matches and better rewards, each match feels more important, and players will put in more effort to climb the ranks. 

Removal of Contracts

Another small change is the removal of contracts. Last year, players needed contracts to play for their team, which you either bought from the store or got from packs. Since they didn't add anything to the gameplay, EA removed them, which makes sense. 

FC IQ

FC IQ is the new tactic system that lets you change how your players behave both when they have the ball and when they don't. It's now even easier if you follow tactics from content creators or YouTubers. Each tactic has a unique code, so you can input the code and apply the setup to your team without changing everything manually. 

Manager Presets

With this update, you can apply your favorite manager's tactics to your team by simply hiring that manager. 

Pro Tips for a Better Performance in FC25 Ultimate Mode  

Now that we've covered the changes in FC 25, let's discuss how to quickly build a stronger team and make progress early on. 

Moments and Objectives

Once you choose your kit and team logo, you'll have several modes to play. The easiest is "Moments," where you complete simple tasks to earn stars. These stars can be spent in the "Star Gallery" for rewards like draft tokens or rare player packs.

As your team gets better, you can start completing objectives, especially in the "Milestones" section, to earn valuable players and rewards that can significantly improve your team early on. You can complete these challenges in Squad Battles, Rivals, or even Weekend League, but the best way is to do them in Squad Battles to complete both the challenges and Squad Battle matches.

Once you've built a strong team this way, dive into Rivals mode to earn points for weekly rewards and Weekend League qualification. Don't miss playing Weekend League—it offers the best rewards. Another way to strengthen your team is to complete SBCs in the "Foundation" section, like "Hybrid League" and "Hybrid Nations," for great packs. 

FC Season

FC Season is similar to what we know as Battle Pass and your progress is rewarded with something called FC 25 SP, formerly known as XP. You can climb the ladder by accomplishing daily and weekly challenges. Also, sometimes it gives you packs and free great players. One great change this year is SP/XP can be earned in manager mode, career mode, and pro club, unlike last year when you could only get them from the Ultimate team.

Now that you know how to earn packs quickly and get good players, let's see how to make the most out of your squad. 

Pay Attention to Links

Links are super important when building your team. For example, a player with 3 full links will have better chemistry with teammates and benefit the most from any chemistry style you apply.

• Links work like this:

• Nationality: ## ### ###

• Club: ## ### ##

• League: ### ## ###

For example, two players from the same nationality will get one link each, and for the following link, you need to add three more players of the same nationality (a total of five players). Or if Eder Militao and Vinicius Jr. are on the same team, they'll get two links because they share the same club and nationality.

When your players are in the proper position and have full links, apply a chemistry style. These cards boost different stats depending on the style, and the stronger the links, the bigger the boost. For defenders, use styles like "Shadow" or "Anchor" to improve physicality and defense, and for strikers, use "Hunter" or "Finisher" to boost shooting and speed. 

Evolutions

This feature, added last year, allows you to upgrade your players by completing specific challenges based on certain requirements, such as their position. Once these challenges are completed, your player will be upgraded.

For example, Di Lorenzo's overall stat starts at 82, and after completing the evolution, it increases to 84 (See Fig X). A cool addition this year is the ability to change the FC 25 Ultimate Team card's cosmetic appearance and make it fancier. However, this is still new, and there is much more to be revealed. 

Rush Mode Tip

In Rush Mode, it's best to play with friends to earn more points, and don't forget to pay attention to the challenges when selecting your players. Another tip is to prioritize teamwork, as individual skills do not impact your final reward and evaluation. Lastly, player positioning is crucial—make sure one of the players always covers the defense and backfield to cause counterattacks are always around the corner. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1-     Do I need to spend much money to build a robust Ultimate Team?

You can purchase FC Points, the primary currency in the EA-FC universe, by spending money. FC Points allow you to buy packs, Evolutions, and Draft Tokens, the tickets you need for entering Draft competitions. This means that spending money gives you more opportunities to acquire high-quality players or an additional chance to enter the draft if you've lost a previous attempt.

However, while spending real money may improve your chances in some areas, it won't buy you the consistency or the gradually developed gameplay skills that are crucial for success in FC25 Ultimate Mode. Mastering these skills is essential for long-term progress and achieving the best results in the game.

 2-     How does the player drop from EA-FC packs work?

One of the most enjoyable and adrenaline-pumping experiences in Ultimate Mode has always been opening EA-FC packs and the anticipation of player drops. Every player, from beginners to experienced ones, dreams of pulling valuable "meta" FC 25 Ultimate Team cards like Ronaldo Nazario as an Icon card or top-tier Gold cards like Mbappé.

There has always been debate about the pack mechanism and the probability of player drops. According to EA-FC's guidelines, each pack opening is an independent event, meaning the chances of pulling high-value players do not accumulate by having too many cards, and there is no guarantee of receiving valuable players.

 3-     How important is it to know skills moves in Ultimate Team mode?

All of us, from newbies to veteran FC 25 Ultimate Team players, enjoy watching a smooth Elastico, whether in real life or on the EA-FC pitches. Mastering skill moves can help players escape tight situations where both sides are evenly matched. In my opinion, mastering all skill moves in practice is less important than mastering the "meta" skill moves and knowing when and where to use them.

The art of combining teamwork with a well-timed skill to surprise your opponent is far more effective than simply keeping the ball at the center of the field and throwing out random skill moves. It's worth mentioning that mastering skill moves and building muscle memory takes time, so be patient and focus on the most critical moves by watching content and practicing.

 4-     If I've played other EA-FC modes, does that guarantee success in Ultimate Team?

The short answer is no. We've all had those "FIFA nights" with friends, spending hours playing Season mode, Career mode, and, more recently, Pro Club mode. Watching better players and playing at neighborhood gaming centers helped us to develop skills, but does this guarantee good performance in Ultimate Mode?

The name "Ultimate" suggests that the developers behind EA-FC designed a mode that requires more than just passing the ball around or using advanced defending. A good Ultimate player needs a strategy to direct the team by choosing suitable leagues and managers and solving SBCs (Squad Building Challenge) puzzles. So, even if you're a great player, you'll need to develop management skills to ensure success in EA-FC Ultimate Mode. 

Best EA-FC Communities

The EA-FC Ultimate Team community has grown significantly, now consisting of hundreds of thousands of active players distributed across multiple online platforms. These vibrant communities, including Discord, Futbin, Reddit, and GamerTag, offer players a space to seek support, share strategies, and exchange tips with fellow enthusiasts.

Among these, GamerTag stands out as an interactive platform where FC players can showcase their squads, discuss hot-topic news, react to player drops, and socialize. The platform also allows users to follow friends or gaming influencers, fostering a dynamic environment for sharing gaming content and staying connected with the latest trends in the FC 25 world. Also you can read more about Fc25 career mode in GamerTag too.

Final Thought

I hope you have a great time playing Ultimate Team this year, and I wish you the best of luck with your pack openings! Use the Gamer Tag App to find teammates, complete challenges, or share your best packs, ranks, and tactics. Remember, football is more of a mental game than a skill-based one, so keep your cool, don't fear losing, learn new things, and, most importantly, have fun!