FIFA 19’s regular head-to-head mode is markedly different from FUT; all teams are imperfect and there isn’t any way to change that unless you’re going for a fully offline experience, in which case you’ll be able to edit the stats assigned to players. So that's where stat-boosting cards known as chemistry styles come in.
Barcelona have a swift attack but their midfield isn’t physical enough; Juventus have pacey players but most of them have poor finishing; Chelsea have creative players but lack a proper focal point – the list goes on.
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Each club on the game has a weakness – some more than others – but where the regular online mode differs from FUT is that on the latter, you’re able to turn a weakness into a strength with chemistry styles. Unlike on FIFA 18, you’re now able to see the effect of them on your players in-game, so rest assured that they actually work and aren’t just placebos.
There are 19 outfield player chemistry styles on FIFA 19, all of which boost certain stats based on the amount of individual chemistry a player has combined with your team’s overall chemistry. Chemistry in itself is a bit complicated, so for a better understanding of how the system works, be sure to check out EAs detailed explanation here.
Here’s a look at all the chemistry styles in the game: their effects, costs, and the best ones for certain positions.
Basic
Basic is the default chemistry style every player is equipped with fresh out of packs. Unlike other chem styles, Basic provides boosts – albeit small – to all of the face stats a player has.
Recommended for… The best of the best: elite players who have most of their stats nearly maxed out. The stat boosts aren’t big enough to have much of an effect on an average player by FUT standards, such as Koke or Fernandinho.
Boosts: +2 pace, +1 shooting, +4 passing, +5 dribbling, +3 defending, +2 physicality
Cost: It comes free with every player you pack, but costs a measly 200 coins on the transfer market.
Hunter
Recommended for… Forwards with average pace and shooting stats – so it’s most definitely not worth applying it to speedsters such as Kylian Mbappe.
Boosts: Acceleration: +10, Sprint Speed: +10, Positioning: +5, Finishing: +5, Shot Power: +10, Volleys: +15, Penalties: +15
Cost: 5k coins – borderline extinct on the transfer market from Thursdays to Sundays.
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Marksman
Recommended for… As the name suggests, you’d do well to apply a Marksman chem style on players you rely on to find the back of the net. Their pace is an important factor as this chemistry style does not offer a speed boost.
Boosts: Positioning: +5, Finishing: +10, Shot Power: +5, Long Shots Accuracy: +10, Volleys: +10, Penalties: +5, Agility: +5, Reactions: +5, Ball Control: +5, Dribbling: +5, Jumping: +10, Strength: +5, Aggression: +5
Cost: 200 coins
Sniper
Recommended for… A chemistry style capable of turning a decent dribbler into an elite one capable of going past any player on the game, so we recommend applying it to decent forwards and midfielders who could use a tremendous boost to their agility and finishing.
Boosts: Positioning: +5, Finishing: +15, Volleys: +10, Penalties: +15, Agility: +10, Balance: +5, Reactions: +5, Ball Control: +5, Dribbling: +5, Composure: +5
Cost: 200 coins
Finisher
Recommended for… Forwards you intend to deploy as targetmen but lack that extra bit of physicality needed to really excel in the role.
Boosts: Finishing: +5, Shot Power: +15, Long Shots Accuracy: +15, Volleys: +10, Penalties: +10, Jumping: +15, Strength: +10, Aggression: +10
Cost: 200 coins
Maestro
Recommended for… Midfielders who already have the strength needed to keep the middle of the park on lockdown, but lack the agility and shooting ability to pose a threat on counter-attacks.
Boosts: Positioning: +5, Shot Power: +10, Long Shots Accuracy: +10, Volleys: +5, Vision: +5, FK. Accuracy: +10, Short Passing: +10, Long Passing: +5, Agility +5, Reactions: +5, Ball Control: +5, Dribbling: +10
Cost: 200 coins
Hawk
Recommended for… Strikers and attacking midfielders who possess good pace but lack solid shooting and physical stats.
Boosts: Acceleration: +5, Sprint Speed: +5, Positioning: +10, Finishing: +5, Shot Power: +10, Volleys: +10, Penalties: +10, Jumping: +10, Strength: +5, Aggression: +10
Cost: 800 coins
Deadeye
Recommended for… Players lacking a bit of finishing and passing accuracy. Put this on a winger like Felipe Anderson and watch balls fly into the back of nets.
Boosts: Positioning: +15, Finishing: +15, Shot Power: +10, Long Shots Accuracy: +5, Penalties: +5, Vision: +10, Crossing: +10, Free Kick Accuracy: +5, Short Passing: +10, Curve: +5
Cost: 200 coins
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Engine
Recommended for… Midfielders who feel clunky on the ball and slow off it. A player like Sergej Milinkovic-Savic will benefit from having this chem style.
Boosts: Acceleration: +5, Sprint Speed: +5, Vision: +5, Crossing: +5, Free Kick Accuracy: +10, Long Passing: +10, Short Passing: +5, Agility: +5, Balance: +10, Reactions: +5, Ball Control: +5, Dribbling: +10
Cost: 200 coins
Catalyst
Recommended for… Box-to-box midfielders who need a good pace boost, and some creativity to go along with it.
Boosts: Acceleration: +10, Sprint Speed: +10, Vision: +15, Crossing: +15, Free Kick Accuracy: +10, Short Passing: +5, Curve: +5
Cost: 200 coins
Artist
Recommended for… Creative types; players you want to dictate the flow of games and split defences open with one pass.
Boosts: Vision: +15, Crossing: +5, Long Passing: +15, Short Passing: +5, Curve: +5, Agility: +10, Balance: +5, Ball Control: +10, Dribbling: +10
Cost: 200 coins
Powerhouse
Recommended for… Defensive midfielders and defenders who struggle to pass the ball accurately under pressure.
Boosts: Vision: +10, Crossing: +5, Long Passing: +10, Short Passing: +15, Curve: +5, Interceptions: +5, Marking: +10, Standing Tackle: +15, Sliding Tackle: +10
Cost: 200 coins
Guardian
Recommended for… Midfielders with high/high work-rates who perform a variety of roles on the pitch, such as Brazilian midfielder Paulinho.
Boosts: Agility: +10, Ball Control: +5, Dribbling: +15, Composure: +5, Interceptions: +10, Heading Accuracy: +5, Marking: +15, Standing Tackle: +10, Sliding Tackle: +10
Cost: 200 coins
Sentinel
Recommended for… Defenders with intimidating height and muscles. This chemistry style turns them into tanks capable of halting any incoming attacker – so give it to someone like Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly and he’ll shrug even Patrick Vieira off the ball.
Boosts: Interceptions: +5, Heading Accuracy: +10, Marking: +10, Standing Tackle: +15, Sliding Tackle: +15, Jumping: +10, Strength: +10, Aggression: +10
Cost: 200 coins
Anchor
Recommended for… Full-backs with 80-ish pace such as Alessandro Florenzi and Alex Sandro.
Boosts: Acceleration: +5, Sprint Speed: +5, Interceptions: +5, Heading Accuracy: +10, Marking: +10, Standing Tackle: +10, Sliding Tackle: +10, Jumping: +10, Strength: +5, Aggression: +10
Cost: 1.2k coins
Shadow
Recommended for… Defensive-minded players who need a pace boost. As you can imagine, this chemistry style allows them to stay annoyingly close to opposition players.
Boosts: Acceleration: +10, Sprint Speed: +10, Interceptions: +10, Heading Accuracy: +5, Marking: +15, Standing Tackle: +5, Sliding Tackle: +15
Cost: 4.9k coins. Like Hunter, it goes borderline extinct towards the weekend.
Architect
Recommended for… Pirlo-esque players who sit deep in midfield, hold up play and distribute the ball.
Boosts: Vision: +10, Crossing: +15, Free Kick Accuracy: +5, Long Passing: +15, Short Passing: +10, Curve: +5, Jumping: +5, Strength: +10, Aggression: +10
Cost: 200 coins
Gladiator
Recommended for… CMs you intend to utilise in a 4-4-2 (or similar) formation.
Boosts: Positioning: +15, Finishing: +5, Shot Power: +10, Long Shots: +5, Interceptions: +10, Heading Accuracy +15, Marking: +5, Standing Tackle: +10, Sliding Tackle: +15
Cost: 200 coins
Backbone
Recommended for… Ball-playing defenders like Borussia Monchengladbach’s Matthias Ginter or Manchester City’s John Stones. The physical boost makes them useable in a competitive setting.
Boosts: Vision: +5, Crossing: +10, Long Passing: +5, Short Passing: +10, Curve: +5, Interceptions: +5, Heading: +5, Marking: +10, Standing Tackle: +10, Sliding Tackle: +10, Jumping: +5, Strength: +5
Cost: 200
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