How to Win Big Prizes in FIFA 18 Squad Battles
Squad Battles is the big new addition to FIFA Ultimate Team, offering players the chance to earn lucrative rewards for playing single-player games. By competing against other players' CPU-controlled Ultimate Teams, you can earn an array of packs and coins based on your performances over a seven-day period.
Sound easy? It's not quite so simple. The prizes you accumulate are based on a real-time points leaderboard which continually updates throughout the week – ranking high enough to obtain the top rewards can prove a real challenge.
Follow these tips to reach the Top 100 and acquire Squad Battles' ultimate jackpots.
1. Enhance your squad
Acquiring a skilled side before heading into Squad Battles is crucial. The difficulty levels in this new mode are heightened, taking Chemistry into account for every team you face. The added toughness ensures each match provides a real challenge, particularly when facing an array of star-studded sides.
At the very least, take the time to upgrade your team before opting for Squad Battles' hardest difficulty levels. Equip a competent shot-stopper, defensive powerhouse and prolific striker, and you'll find it much easier to rack up the wins.
2. Find your difficulty level
If you're hoping to acquire Squad Battles' top rewards, Legendary difficulty is where it's at. That doesn't mean that Semi-Pro, Professional or World Class aren't worth your time – winning games is always more preferable to losing, but, if you're skilled enough, Legendary will grant you thousands of points per-game.
This is the result of a 'difficulty bonus', which increases the points total based on the level of challenge you opt for. For example, Semi-Pro multiplies parts of your score by 0.6, while the overly tough Ultimate level provides a x2.6 bonus if you can conquer it.
3. Scout your opponents
Of course, your upcoming opponent should also factor into the difficulty level you choose. Each Squad Battles side offers up a specific style and formation, and you can examine their lineup ahead of time. This is important, as the quality and tactics of any given team can have a major effect on how well they'll perform.
Don't forget to take a peek at the opposing team's subs bench, either. Many clubs pack superstar loan players in their ranks, causing utter devastation when introduced in the late stages of a game. Factor this into your game plan.
4. Plan your week
Squad Battles allocates four games per-day during the week. Saturdays and Sundays are then chopped into three different time slots, equalling 12 games per-day over the weekend. That's a lot of games, and during busy periods, you're going to find it tough to remain consistently high in the rankings.
Luckily, there's help at hand, as each period of games can be carried over for one turn if necessary. For example, you can carry Wednesday's games into Thursday, meaning you don't need to throw away those all-important points.
5. Win in style
The primary goal of Squad Battles is to win games and accumulate points. However, it's not just winning that pushes you up the rankings – there are many factors that determine how many points you can earn per-game.
For example, netting five goals or more adds a significant bonus to your total. Keeping a clean sheet grants you an extra 75 points, while shots on target, successful tackles and even corners all affect the amount you earn. There are many ways to add to your score, so don't just settle for the easy 1-0 victory.
