Are some of your stars in need of a boost? Don’t get scared by the plethora of options available – just dig into our handy guide
FIFA 18 Ultimate Team is a glorious timesink. There are moments, though, where things don’t quite go to plan with your supposedly meticulously crafted team.
That’s where Chemistry Styles come in. Star striker on a barren run? Midfield destroyer getting the runaround? These cards can be applied to give your players a much-needed boost.
Unfortunately, there are over 20 of these bad boys, so it can be tricky to know where to start. If only there was a handy guide...
Note: It’s worth mentioning that Chemistry Styles have no effect on players below 5 individual chemistry. Players with 9 or 10 chemistry will get the full +10 boost, while players with lower chemistry will have varying boosts depending on team and individual chemistry. Basically: the lower the player’s chemistry, the less effective the Chemistry Style boost.
EA have explained it in more painstaking detail here.
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Perfect for… Centre-backs who are a little on the slow side, as well as CDMs who need just to work as – you guessed it – an anchor for the midfield.
Price: 1,500
Architect
What does it do? +3 Physical, +3 Passing (Vision: +10, Crossing: +15, Free Kick Accuracy: +5, Long Passing: +15, Short Passing: +10, Curve: +5, Jumping: +5, Strength: +15, Aggression: +10)
Perfect for… Midfielders who need to be equally adept in the dark arts as well as driving a team forward. Handy for targetmen in a front two, also.
Price: 200
Artist
What does it do? +3 Dribbling, +3 Passing (Vision: +15, Crossing: +5, Long Passing: +15, Short Passing: +10, Curve: +5, Agility: +5, Balance: +5, Reactions: +10, Ball Control: +5, Dribbling: +15)
Perfect for… Those who want to channel their inner Messi. CAMs are the obvious choice, but wingers getting a bump in their passing stat can also work wonders.
Price: 200
Backbone
What does it do? +2 Defending, +2 Passing, +2 Physical (Vision: +5, Crossing: +5, Long Passing: +5, Short Passing: +10, Curve: +5, Interceptions: +5, Heading Accuracy: +5, Marking: +10, Standing Tackle: +10, Sliding Tackle: +10, Jumping: +5, Strength: +10, Aggression: +5)
Perfect for… Some who think Anchor is a little too defensive-minded. A midfield three with a Backbone working as a pivot is also a sure-fire bet to control the centre of the park.
Price: 300
Basic
What does it do? Reverts a player back to his original stats
Perfect for… Players who feel whatever Chemistry Style you’ve applied isn’t working. Rinse, repeat, and start afresh.
Price: 1,300
Catalyst
What does it do? +3 Passing, +3 Pace (Acceleration: +15, Sprint Speed: +10, Vision: +15, Crossing: +10, Free Kick Accuracy: +10, Long Passing: +5, Short Passing: +10, Curve: +15)
Perfect for… Players you want to control the game. The considerable boosts should speak for themselves.
Price: 1,200
Deadeye
What does it do? +3 Passing, +3 Shooting (Positioning: +10, Finishing: +15, Shot Power: +10, Long Shots Accuracy: +5, Penalties: +5, Vision: +5, Free Kick Accuracy: +10, Long Passing: +5, Short Passing: +15, Curve: +10)
Perfect for… Someone who needs a little more oomph in the final third. Wingers playing off a lone striker can find a lot of joy in this Chemistry Style.
Price: 200
Engine
What does it do? +2 Pace, +2 Passing, +2 Dribbling (Acceleration: +10, Sprint Speed: +5, Vision: +5, Crossing: +5, Free Kick Accuracy: +10, Long Passing: +5, Short Passing: +10, Curve: +5, Agility: +5, Balance: +10, Reactions: +5, Ball Control: +5, Dribbling: +10)
Perfect for… Workhorses with ‘High’ attacking or defending work rates. When they’re not buzzing up and down the pitch, they’re striking fear into defences.
Price: 600
Finisher
What does it do? +3 Physical, +3 Shooting (Finishing: +5, Shot Power: +15, Long Shots Accuracy: +15, Volleys: +10, Penalties: +10, Jumping: +15, Strength: +10, Aggression: +10)
Perfect for… Shock, horror: those who want to hit the back of the net: regularly.
Price: 550
Gladiator
What does it do? +3 Defending, +3 Shooting
Perfect for… Players who want to pose a threat to the goalkeeper, as well as an opposition player’s ankles. Think Fellaini, not Russell Crowe.
Perfect for… Full-backs who may lack a little defensively, but still want to bomb forward with reckless abandon.
Price: 800
Hawk
What does it do? +2 Pace, +2 Shooting, +2 Physical (Acceleration: +10, Sprint Speed: +5, Positioning: +10, Finishing: +5, Shot Power: +10, Long Shots Accuracy: +10, Volleys: +10, Penalties: +5, Jumping: +10, Strength: +5, Aggression: +10)
Perfect for… Well, this may as well be called the Jamie Vardy. Strikers who want to run in behind the defence, harass defenders and generally just bang in goals will find this right up their street.
Price: 1,000
Hunter
What does it do? +3 Pace, +3 Shooting (Acceleration: +15, Sprint Speed: +10, Positioning: +15, Finishing: +10, Shot Power: +10, Long Shots Accuracy: +5, Volleys: +10, Penalties: +15)
Perfect for… Midfielders and strikers who are already great at finding that extra bit of space, but need a bit of coercing to lash the ball home.
Price: 4,500
Maestro
What does it do? +2 Shooting, +2 Passing, +2 Dribbling (Positioning: +5, Finishing: +5, Shot Power: +10, Long Shots Accuracy: +10, Volleys: +10, Vision: +5, Free Kick Accuracy: +10, Long Passing: +5, Short Passing: +10, Reactions: +5, Ball Control: +5, Dribbling: +10)
Perfect for… Those who, frankly, want to do it all. Ideally, someone in the final third would be best-suited to this Chemistry Style but it’s not impossible to have success with those who play slightly deeper.
Price: 500
Marksman
What does it do? +2 Dribbling, +2 Shooting, +2 Physical (Positioning: +10, Finishing: +5, Shot Power: +10, Long Shots Accuracy: +10, Volleys: +10, Penalties: +5, Agility: +5, Reactions: +5, Ball Control: +5, Dribbling: +5, Jumping: +10, Strength: +5, Aggression: +5)
Perfect for… Wingers who love cutting inside: see exhibits Arjen Robben, Dimitri Payet and, yes, Andros Townsend. Full-backs will be ruing the day you applied this Chemistry Style.
Price: 200
Powerhouse
What does it do? +3 Passing, +3 Defending (Vision: +10, Crossing: +5, Long Passing: +10, Short Passing: +15, Curve: +10, Interceptions: +5, Marking: +10, Standing Tackle: +15, Sliding Tackle: +10)
Perfect for… Those who want to emulate Pep Guardiola’s infuriatingly brilliant/kamikaze (depending on your point of view) defensive play. David Luiz, for instance, is almost unstoppable with this applied.
Price: 200
Sentinel
What does it do? +3 Defending, +3 Physical (Interceptions: +5, Heading Accuracy: +10, Marking: +15, Standing Tackle: +15, Sliding Tackle: +15, Jumping: +5, Strength: +15, Aggression: +10)
Perfect for… Defenders who have graduated from the ‘take no prisoners’ school of defending. An essential Chemistry Style for those who aren’t the best at defending; a nice helping hand.
Price: 200
Shadow
What does it do? +3 Defending, +3 Pace (Acceleration: +15, Sprint Speed: +10, Interceptions: +10, Heading Accuracy: +10, Marking: +15, Standing Tackle: +15, Sliding Tackle: +15)
Perfect for… Those who don’t want to cheap out on the Guardian Chemistry Style, and would rather pour their hard-earned coin into defenders covering runs in behind.
Price: 4,500
Sniper
What does it do? +3 Dribbling, +3 Shooting (Positioning: +10, Finishing: +15, Volleys: +10, Penalties: +15, Agility: +5, Balance: +10, Reactions: +5, Ball Control: +5, Dribbling: +15)
Perfect for… Attacking players who may be a little disappointing when it comes to clinical finishing. That large boost to dribbling means whoever has this Chemistry Style should be your go-to focal point – and a massive thorn for defenders.
Price: 300
Don't feel left out, keepers...
Goalkeepers also have their own specific category. GK Chemistry Styles may seem a little samey at first glance, but each card can be the difference between winning and losing a match, so pick wisely.
Cat
What does it do? +2 Reflexes, +2 Positioning, +2 Speed
Perfect for… Keepers who not only want to pull off a save for the cameras but want to be consistently quicker to the ball than the striker bearing down on them.
Price: 650
GK Basic
What does it do? Reverts a player back to his original stats
Perfect for… Goalkeepers who, in your mind, have let in one soft goal too many with a Chemistry Style.
Price: 200
Glove
What does it do? +2 Diving, +2 Positioning, +2 Handling
Perfect for… More old-school (and, frankly, older) goalkeepers who let their hands – not gravity-defying leaps – do the talking.
Price: 300
Shield
What does it do? +2 Kicking, +2 Reflexes, +2 Speed
Perfect for… Those who are willing to be brave and start lightning-fast counter-attacks with the goalkeeper. The bump in reflexes and speed don’t hurt, either.
Price: 200
Wall
What does it do? +2 Diving, +2 Kicking
Perfect for… Players who can’t afford the pricier GK Chemistry Styles just yet. This is perfectly fine middle ground, but you may be best off waiting for one of the others, unless you desperately need it.
