How FIFA 23 chemistry works in Ultimate Team: Changes explained from FIFA 22

Nathan Warby
Manchester City player celebrating in FIFA 23FIFA 23

FIFA 23 Ultimate Team has reveamped how Chemistry works in one of the biggest changes to a core FUT feature we’ve seen to date. Here’s how FIFA 23 Chemistry functions compared to FIFA 22, so you can complete SBCs with ease.

FIFA 23 has rolled out changes to nearly all of its major modes. Career Mode has been overhauled and players can now take control of authentic managers, while Pro Clubs is introducing skill games to make leveling up easier.

There’s a boatload of new animations too, thanks to HyperMotion 2, but it’s FUT that will no doubt take center stage for most players. The formula for EA’s lucrative mode has stayed pretty much the same for many years, but FIFA 23 has a new Chemistry system that will completely change how squads are built.

Here’s how Chemistry works in FIFA 23 Ultimate Team and how Heroes and Icons play their part.

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FIFA 23 Chemistry explained

FIFA 23 does away with the links system seen in previous years where players could only get Chemistry from those close to them within a specific formation. Going forward, all players in the starting 11 can boost each other if they are from the same league or nation.

Chemistry will also no longer be shown by a number out of 100 for the overall squad or 10 for an individual player. Instead, FIFA 23 will hand players a star rating out of three, based on the number of players in the rest of the team that share the same links.

For example, last year a lone striker might only link to the wingers and one midfielder, while in FIFA 23, having Mbappe and Donnarumma in the same 11 would increase both of their Chemistry ratings. This offers FUT fans more flexibility when building their teams, as they don’t have to worry about linking positions.

Check out a full breakdown of the different combinations of links that can be used to achieve maximum Chemistry in FIFA 23 below:

One ChemistryTwo ChemistryThree Chemistry
ClubTwo playersFour playersSeven players
NationTwo playersFive playersEight players
LeagueThree playersFive playersEight players

Of course, you can use multiple different methods to achieve three Chemistry. If you have a player in the squad along with four players from the same club, they would be on two out of three, but throwing in two more stars from the same nation would give them the extra star.

FIFA 23 Chemistry: Heroes & Icons

FIFA 23 FUT Heroes
FIFA 23 FUT Heroes and Icons will offer Chemistry boosts once again.

FUT Icons and Heroes have always been major assets when it comes to Chemistry, and the same will be the case with the new system. However, since links are no longer dictated by positions, they have been tweaked.

In FIFA 23 Ultimate Team, Icons will count as two players from their nation, meaning they offer twice the Chemistry to every player in the squad from the same country. For example, Ronaldinho would boost every Brazilian player twice as much as a normal player like Neymar.

Similarly, FUT Heroes will count as two players from their league. For example, Yaya Toure will offer double the Chemistry to every player in the starting 11 who plays in the Premier League.

Does Chemistry matter in FIFA 23?

In FIFA 23 Ultimate Team, players on zero Chemistry will no longer see their stats decrease. This means that even someone out of position with no links to any other player will still keep the stats listed on their card, which is perfect for trying out newly packed items.

However, Chemistry does still offer stat boosts, so it does pay to consider how your players match together when crafting your Ultimate Team. These boosts become more noticeable with each extra star of Chemistry.