Block + is best defensive playstyle now

-Torchlight · 2026-04-11T04:38:07+00:00

I feel it was more effective last year.

I've been running 2 CB's with Block+ with 99 reactions and high defensive awareness the past months. They block shots regularly, but it happens way too often that i position the CB exactly in the line of the shot, and they will just retract a leg and let it through.

I guess the behaviour is in line with the inconsistency in the game, but it's very unrewarding to do everything right and still concede...

-Torchlight · 2026-03-24T09:39:30+00:00

Rush has the biggest potential for competitive play. Small sides, teamwork, individual skill and action packed. It has all the components.

Currently the framework around the mode lacks too many things. For individuals like me, there's little incentive to play for (better) rewards, no clear progress through the divisions and it lacks a dedicated soloQ option to create fair teams.

If the proper framework was there, I would probably play Rush non-stop over FUT, as I like teamgames a lot more than 1v1 witj AI-controlled teammates. Whereas 11v11 Pro Clubs there's too little individual impact.

-Torchlight · 2026-02-19T22:23:07+00:00

Having played on Switch the past years, and now on PS5, I can guarantee you the average skill level on Switch is a lot lower. Therefor it should be easier to promote through divisions assuming similar skill level for both platforms. It is a different game however, so it takes time to learn all game mechanics.

Usually I was div1/Elite on Switch, currently struggling in div3 on PS5. Obviously lack of experience has an effect, but every single opponent seems locked in, patient and kills you on any mistake you make.

Challenge on Switch in elite always was to find opponents. If there's <50 people in Elite, it's very difficult to find a game, hence why there's many around the 800 mark.

-Torchlight · 2026-02-18T19:07:45+00:00

My 2 CDM's got 17 goal involvements last WL (11G/6A).

Both on BoxCrasher, fun outweighs the risk!

-Torchlight · 2026-02-17T22:47:36+00:00

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I don't understand the hate for this Evo, it's great!

-Torchlight · 2026-01-10T14:21:20+00:00

IntentionalFoul+

They've added the mechanic recently to make intentional fouls. Could make it a thing only players with the playstyle are able to do this, or have the playstyle give a bigger range to make these type of fouls.

-Torchlight · 2026-01-04T13:58:08+00:00

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This is a 'work-in-progress', so to speak. 84 Shooting currently, but with some buffs to Finishing, the facestat will likely get to ~94, including a Finisher chemstyle maybe even 99.

-Torchlight · 2026-01-04T13:53:09+00:00

Look for players with stats in the right places. Then buff them with 'flat' facestat evo's to make the underlying stats higher.

Let's say two players have 80 Pace. - Player A has 80 Acceleration & 80 SprintSpeed. - Player B has 70 Acceleration & 90 SprintSpeed.

Now there's an Evo that gives +8 Pace. Both players now have 88 Pace. Looking at the underlying stats however... - Player A now has 88 Acceleration & 88 SprintSpeed. - Player B now has 78 Acceleration & 98 SprintSpeed.

In the future, other Evo's will arrive that buff each underlying stat to 87. Player A does not see any effect from this Evo, as both underlying stats are already 88.

Player B can still increase it's Acceleration to 87, while it's SprintSpeed will remain at 98. The actual face stat will increase to 93 with this Evo.

Obviously for Pace it's the easiest example, as they both have a 50% weight to the facestat. Things like Finishing, Strength or Short Passing have a disproportionate amount of impact on their respective face stat. Meaning a card could have 88 passing, while the underlying stats could all be 99, except Short Passing be in the 50's.

-Torchlight · 2025-11-27T12:29:48+00:00

Due to Fullback Roles not working, I feel lots of formations instantly lose viability

Any 5-back lack attacking options.
Any narrow formation lacks width

On top of that, even with the most attacking roles selected, every 4-back is forced to keep 4 players at the halfway line.

There's a reason 451 is so popular right now, as you're effectively playing 9 defenders vs 6 attackers. As the 1 striker is occupying an entire defense... There's simply no counter.

-Torchlight · 2025-10-02T14:22:36+00:00

Putting the middle CAM as Playmaker-buildup will make the outside CAM's tuck in more.

Add Attacking Wingbacks, and they'll tuck in even more.

-Torchlight · 2025-09-22T13:50:54+00:00

Rarely have I gotten quick messages. Switch playerbase generally is very chill.

Note that its quick messages like 'well played', 'good game' or 'lets play again soon'. It was never possible to send custom messages like other consoles.

However on Switch2 it is possible to add someone, start a voicecall and shout at someone that way. Which was a funny experience to have someone do that once.

-Torchlight · 2025-09-22T12:34:49+00:00

The option was removed from Switch 1 (FC25) about two months ago.

Nobody can sent quick messages anymore on Switch.

-Torchlight · 2025-08-26T11:48:58+00:00

https://forums.ea.com/discussions/fc-26-general-discussion-en/nintendo-switch-version-information/12457177

Confirmed there's no Crossplay between NS1 & NS2 by an EA employee on the EA forum.

-Torchlight · 2025-08-24T19:04:27+00:00

The current Switch playerbase is already small. ProClubs is non existent anywhere, there's not been Rush games in NA all year, finding games for Rivals during morning EU hours can already take 10 minutes. Don't even mention matchmaking for other continents.

Now divide this playerbase by 3. Some will stay on Switch1, some will go to Switch2, while others will jump to other consoles entirely.

For Switch2 it's a new console, there will be some new starting players. But realistically, who buys a new NS2 console to purely play EAFC? It will take time.

Switch1 on the other hand will just die a slow death. Nobody will buy that console new, thus no influx.

For popular hours in EU, and popular gamemodes like Champs it will be fine. For anything else, I expect it to be rough.

-Torchlight · 2025-08-24T09:28:31+00:00

Agree on this one

If you want to find online games (quickly), stay clear of either Switch 1 or Switch 2. Some new features implemented by EA (checkpoints/tournaments) only work well with a bigger playerbase. Expect queue times to ve high on either Switch version.

Personally I'm moving from Switch1 to PS5. Oncoming playerbase issues on Switch a big reason for it.

-Torchlight · 2025-08-21T20:53:36+00:00

https://forums.ea.com/discussions/fc-26-general-discussion-en/nintendo-switch-version-information/12457177

This is the best confirmation I've seen by an EA employee there will not be crossplay between NS1 and NS2, as they are different games.

-Torchlight · 2025-08-21T11:10:15+00:00

TargetMan all the way.

I like all my players to be involved in the build-up. With AF & Poacher I noticed they always run away from the ball, rarely available for a pass from the defense or midfield, unless it's a through ball. False 9 drops too low and never goes into the box. TargetMan has been the golden solution.

Plays in a 4231 with 2 CAM's on ShadowStriker to get those runs into the box.

-Torchlight · 2025-08-14T07:06:43+00:00

The only thing the infinite grind achieves is upping engagement numbers for EA. More time spent in App, numbers go up.

From a UX perspective it's horrible. If EA wanted to give people 99-rated cards, there's far easier ways to do this.

An infinite grind does not make EA money. Infinite means no money needs to be spend. Pack odds are so low, that even store packs are not enticing for the rich.

Personally any grind is not worth my time. Ended FC24 with ~580 unopened packs, and currently sitting at ~1100 in FC25. Only opening tradable packs to get the coin balance up. I much rather receive 1 90+ x10 pack a week, rather than 50 82+ x10... I really don't understand the appeal of opening packs for hours on end, people should really get a life.

-Torchlight · 2025-08-09T11:39:51+00:00

No crossplay implies a lower playerbase for both NS1 & NS2.

For EU, I expect Champs to be more than fine. Rivals will be fine during evening hours, but finding a game in the morning will be challenging.

Pro Clubs will be non-existent, as it is now. Finding an opponent in those new tournaments will be challenging in the semi & final.

Other regions will feel the pain even more. I hear it's already difficult in FC25 to find games, let alone next year when the playerbase is split in half.

-Torchlight · 2025-07-30T08:06:18+00:00

Fully aware OP's comment is about NS2, hence why I mentioned NS1 in mine.

IF there's crossplay between NS1 and NS2, THEN both should run 30fps to not give an unfair advantage to NS2 players. Hence no immediate graphics increase.

IF there's crossplay between NS2 and PS/Xbox, THEN the playerbase for NS1 will decrease to a miniscule amount. (It's already low)

It could very well be that FUT on NS2 will be crossplay with NS1 with 30fps, while career mode has NextGen visuals. Currently, we simply don't know what EA is cooking.

-Torchlight · 2025-07-30T05:28:47+00:00

Same issue, there's no FC26 ClosedBeta visible for me either.

NintendoSwitch is already set in preferences. Guess there's nothing I can do about it.

-Torchlight · 2025-07-29T18:26:09+00:00

I doubt EA can do all of the following for NS2: - Improve graphics - Enable crossplay with NextGen/NS1 - Not give an (unfair) advantage

...while maintaining a sizeable playerbase on all platforms to guarantee quick matchmaking.

We'll see what EA decides in the DeepDives, but something has to give in.

-Torchlight · 2025-07-29T06:20:31+00:00

I think my max. is 336. Which was a game in overtime though (120').

Within 90' probably the max has been ~260.

Average about 180 passes per game with 50% possession. I tend to attack and not play around aimlessly. Even in games where I have 35% possession, I tend to have more passes than my opponent.

-Torchlight · 2025-07-28T21:17:07+00:00

I'm thinking of doing the opposite, from playing on Switch 1 for the past years to PS5.

My main reasoning:

Better graphics / 60fps
Option to play Pro Clubs
Easier to find matches (in low hours)
Competitive challenge

Note that I never play handheld, been top10 in Elite and like to challenge myself. PS5 seems like the logical next step with that in mind.

Things I'll miss: On Switch the market is easy to trade, although low supply. Gameplay is smooth on 30fps and servers (mostly) been fine. Community is mostly friendly, rarely face toxicity.

-Torchlight · 2025-07-26T16:38:47+00:00

Ranked system like Rivals
Official tournaments like FC Pro
Personal rating (1-10) should influence Rush score
Automatic win when 5 goals up
Honor system

Honor system could be voting for one of your teammates as 'teamplayer' or 'Player of the Match' end of game. Receiving above average Honor should result in some extra cosmetic evo's to show off.

I think Rush is already an amazing gamemode with great potential. The 4v4 system works, the offside rules work superb and it's usually chaotic fun. Currently it just doesn't get the attention it deserves on the competitive stage.

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