FIFA 23 introduced a major overhaul to the FUT Chemistry system, revolutionizing how you build and manage your team in Ultimate Team. The new system provides more flexibility and creative freedom compared to previous versions, allowing for hybrid squads and a fresh approach to team-building strategies. Here’s everything you need to know about FIFA 23’s Chemistry System and how to make the most of it in FUT.

1. What Has Changed in the Chemistry System?

In FIFA 23, EA Sports redesigned the traditional chemistry link system, breaking away from the positional links of past iterations. Previously, players needed to be adjacent on the pitch and shared nationality, league, or club for chemistry links to work. Now, this is no longer the case. Here's a breakdown of the changes:

  • No More Positional Links: Players do not need to be directly connected (next to each other) to contribute to chemistry. Chemistry is now calculated globally across the squad.
  • Star Ratings (0–3): Players can now have a chemistry rating of 0 to 3 stars instead of a numerical value from 0 to 10. This new system simplifies chemistry while still rewarding team-building.
  • Individual and Team Chemistry: While players have individual chemistry ratings (0-3 stars), the team’s overall chemistry is calculated based on the chemistry levels of all 11 players. Team Chemistry can be anywhere from 0 to 33 stars, a change from the previous cap of 100.

2. How Chemistry Is Calculated

Chemistry in FUT 23 is based on three key factors:

  • Nationality: Players from the same nation boost each other’s chemistry.
  • League: Players from the same league contribute to each other’s chemistry.
  • Club: Players from the same club provide a chemistry boost to one another.

Each factor contributes towards a player's chemistry star rating. If a player shares any combination of club, nationality, or league with teammates, it increases their individual chemistry score.

For example:

  • A player in the Premier League with several teammates from the same league will gain chemistry even if they aren’t positioned next to each other on the pitch.
  • A player from Real Madrid (club) who also plays for Spain (nationality) will receive bonuses for both club and nationality if paired with other Spanish or Real Madrid players.

Chemistry Star Breakdown:

  • 0 Stars: The player receives no chemistry bonus but will still perform at their base stats.
  • 1 Star: Small chemistry boost for one of the factors.
  • 2 Stars: Chemistry boost for two factors (e.g., club and nationality).
  • 3 Stars: Maximum chemistry boost from all three factors.

3. Positional Importance

Though positional links are gone, player positioning still matters. Playing a player in their natural position yields better chemistry. If a player is out of position, their chemistry score drops or they might get no chemistry. For example:

  • A player assigned to their correct position (e.g., a striker in the striker role) gets full chemistry potential.
  • A player in an incorrect position (e.g., a left-back playing as a right-back) could lose chemistry altogether, so it's crucial to use position modifiers to align them correctly.

4. Impact on Gameplay

The new system offers several key gameplay advantages:

  • More Flexibility: Without the need for direct links, you can create more varied squad combinations. This allows you to mix players from different leagues and nationalities more easily while still maintaining good chemistry levels.
  • Less Restrictive Squad Building: Since links between players are no longer essential, you can bring in star players or fan favorites without worrying too much about breaking your squad’s chemistry.
  • Star Players on Zero Chemistry: Even if a player has zero chemistry, their base stats remain unchanged. This means you can include superstar players who may not share any chemistry links and still perform at a high level without any penalties.

5. How to Maximize Chemistry

Maximizing chemistry in FIFA 23 requires strategic planning. Here are a few tips:

  • Focus on key links: Use key players from the same league, club, or nationality to maximize chemistry in certain areas. For example, having several La Liga players or players from Manchester City will provide significant chemistry boosts.
  • Hybrid squads: One of the advantages of the new system is building hybrid squads. Combine players from different leagues while still maintaining chemistry by ensuring they share nationalities or clubs. For example, using a mix of Serie A and Premier League players with the same nationality will help boost chemistry across your team.
  • Use Icons and Heroes: Icon and FUT Heroes cards provide unique chemistry benefits. Icons offer a full chemistry boost to any player regardless of their league or nationality. FUT Heroes provide league chemistry to all players in the same league, making them valuable assets for hybrid squads.

6. Icons and Heroes in Chemistry

In FIFA 23, Icons and FUT Heroes play an even bigger role in squad building:

  • Icons: Icons offer full chemistry to all players, regardless of their nationality, league, or club. This makes them invaluable for any squad.
  • FUT Heroes: These players give strong league-based chemistry boosts, perfect for league-based hybrid squads. Heroes still offer chemistry even when not linked to players of the same nationality.

For example, using Thierry Henry (Icon) can give chemistry to players from any league, nationality, or club, making it easier to maintain flexibility in your squad.

7. Strategic Use of Substitutes

The chemistry system only applies to starting players, meaning your substitutes will not affect your team’s chemistry. You can use this to your advantage by having high-rated super subs, who may not fit your starting XI chemistry-wise, but can make an impact later in the game.

8. When to Sacrifice Chemistry

With the flexibility of the new system, you might find that sacrificing chemistry for a high-rated player can sometimes be worth it. Since even players with zero chemistry perform at their base stats, adding a world-class player like Kylian Mbappé or Cristiano Ronaldo with low or zero chemistry might still give you the edge over an opponent.

Conclusion

The new FIFA 23 Chemistry System in Ultimate Team provides greater flexibility in squad building while still rewarding those who focus on key relationships like nationality, league, and club. It eliminates the strict positional link requirements, allowing for creative squad combinations. By understanding the star rating system and maximizing chemistry links where possible, you can build a stronger, more versatile team without being locked into rigid formations or lineups.

Happy team-building, and good luck in FUT!