EA's first football game after the FIFA name split launched on 29 September 2023 with Erling Haaland on the cover. The headline change is PlayStyles, 34 abilities drawn from Opta data that replace the old hidden trait system and decide how a player actually behaves on the ball. Ultimate Team added women players and Evolutions, which upgrade a card you already own instead of pushing you toward a better one in a pack.
This walkthrough takes you from your first session to endgame content. Each phase has specific goals, priorities, and milestones. New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Progression Summary
| Phase | Area | Focus | Role | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Start | Old Trafford | PlayStyles and PlayStyles+ basics | Inside forward winger | 1-2 hours |
| 2. Early | Anfield | HyperMotionV animation mastery | Inside forward winger | 3-5 hours |
| 3. Mid | Etihad Stadium | Ultimate Team Evolutions + gear | Target man striker or Inside forward winger | 5-10 hours |
| 4. Late | Signal Iduna Park | Build optimization | Target man striker | 5-10 hours |
| 5. Endgame | Allianz Arena | Min-max | Target man striker or Sweeper keeper | Ongoing |
See our maps guide for detailed area breakdowns.
Phase 1: Getting Started (Old Trafford)
Manchester United's fully licensed ground, scanned with authentic stands, tunnel and presentation. One of the most used venues in Career Mode and offline tournaments.
Level/Difficulty: Premier League Key Rewards: Full club licensing, authentic broadcast presentation
What to Do in Old Trafford
- Learn PlayStyles and PlayStyles+. There are 34 PlayStyles split across scoring, passing, ball control, defending, physical and goalkeeping. Spend your first session getting comfortable with this.
- Pick Inside forward winger as your starting role. See our builds guide for why.
- PlayStyles beat raw ratings on a card. An 84 rated striker with Finesse Shot+ converts curled shots from the edge of the box more reliably than an 88 rated striker without it, because the plus tier adds curve and accuracy the base version does not.
- Acquire your first equipment upgrade: Power Shot or whatever's available.
- Clear all main content before moving on.
Phase 1 Checklist
- Understand PlayStyles and PlayStyles+ fundamentals
- Inside forward winger selected and functional
- Old Trafford main content cleared
- Ready for Anfield
Phase 2: Early Game (Anfield)
Liverpool's ground with the Kop end recreated and the club's full presentation package. The tight touchlines make it a noticeably different feel from the wider modern stadiums.
Level/Difficulty: Premier League Key Rewards: Authentic crowd and matchday presentation
What to Do in Anfield
- Work on HyperMotionV animation. Volumetric capture from real matches feeds the movement system, which is why acceleration types like Explosive, Lengthy and Controlled visibly run differently. This system becomes critical from here on.
- Farm for Power Shot if you haven't already. It's the key upgrade for this phase.
- Power Shots are fired with both bumpers plus shoot and need manual aim, and the wind up is visibly longer than a normal shot. Take them from outside the area with space in front, never inside a crowded box where a defender closes you down mid animation.
- Complete all objectives before pushing to Etihad Stadium.
- Consider whether Target man striker might suit your playstyle better than Inside forward winger.
Phase 2 Checklist
- HyperMotionV animation integrated into gameplay
- Power Shot acquired
- Anfield fully cleared
- Ready for Etihad Stadium
Phase 3: Mid Game (Etihad Stadium)
Manchester City's home ground, and the default venue for anyone starting a Career Mode with the strongest squad in the game. Wide pitch dimensions favour the 4-3-3 shapes.
Level/Difficulty: Premier League Key Rewards: Full licensing, wide pitch suited to wing play
What to Do in Etihad Stadium
- Master Ultimate Team Evolutions. An Evolution takes a card you already own and raises stats or grants a PlayStyle, provided the card meets entry rules such as a rating or position cap. This unlocks a new layer of gameplay.
- Start working toward Finesse Shot. It's the best equipment and becomes accessible around now.
- Evolutions are permanent and make the card untradeable the moment you start one. Read the entry requirements for rating, position and existing PlayStyle count before committing, and only evolve players you actually intend to keep.
- This area is the main skill check. If you can clear it, you're ready for late game.
- Start investing in Chemistry links for the tactical depth you'll need going forward.
Phase 3 Checklist
- Ultimate Team Evolutions mastered
- Finesse Shot acquired or in progress
- Etihad Stadium fully cleared
- Ready for Signal Iduna Park
Phase 4: Late Game (Signal Iduna Park)
Borussia Dortmund's stadium, home of the Yellow Wall stand and one of the most distinctive atmospheres in the Bundesliga selection.
Level/Difficulty: Bundesliga Key Rewards: Distinct crowd presentation, Bundesliga licensing
What to Do in Signal Iduna Park
- Finalize your build. You should be running Target man striker or Inside forward winger with optimized gear.
- Finesse Shot should be your primary. If you don't have it yet, prioritize getting it.
- Chemistry maxes at 33 with three points per player. Icons count double for nation links and Heroes count double for league links, so one of each can hold together a squad drawn from four different leagues.
- Custom tactics and player instructions optimization starts here. Small improvements compound into massive advantages.
- Farm this area for the resources needed to push into Allianz Arena.
Phase 4 Checklist
- Build fully optimized
- Finesse Shot upgraded to max
- Signal Iduna Park fully cleared
- Ready for Allianz Arena
Phase 5: Endgame (Allianz Arena)
Bayern Munich's home ground with its lit exterior panels and modern bowl. A common neutral pick for online friendlies because sightlines are clean at every camera angle.
Level/Difficulty: Bundesliga Key Rewards: Clean camera sightlines, full Bayern licensing
What to Do in Allianz Arena
- Allianz Arena tests everything. Come prepared with your best build and gear.
- In Career Mode, set training plans by position group rather than tinkering with individuals every week. Coach quality changes development speed directly, so paying for better coaching staff outperforms micromanaging sessions.
- The endgame loop: run Allianz Arena, optimize gear, push harder content.
- Experiment with Sweeper keeper for a fresh take once you've mastered the standard builds.
- This is where Custom tactics and player instructions mastery separates good players from great ones. See our tips guide for advanced strategies.
Phase 5 Checklist
- Endgame content on farm
- Best-in-slot gear acquired
- Allianz Arena fully cleared
- Ready for challenge content
Common Progression Mistakes
- Buying meta cards in the first weeks. Prices fall hard once promos flood the market, and the same player is often far cheaper a couple of months in.
- Comparing cards by overall rating alone and ignoring PlayStyles, which is how people end up with an expensive striker who cannot finish the way they play.
- Starting an Evolution on a card you planned to sell later. Evolved cards are untradeable, and there is no way to reverse it.
- Holding sprint constantly. Sprinting kills close control and stamina, and most defensive breakdowns come from a full back caught sprinting the wrong way.
- Leaving the default tactics untouched. The stock setups are passive, and a defensive line that sits too deep to press loses more online games than any individual skill gap.
Key Tips for Smooth Progression
- PlayStyles beat raw ratings on a card. An 84 rated striker with Finesse Shot+ converts curled shots from the edge of the box more reliably than an 88 rated striker without it, because the plus tier adds curve and accuracy the base version does not.
- Power Shots are fired with both bumpers plus shoot and need manual aim, and the wind up is visibly longer than a normal shot. Take them from outside the area with space in front, never inside a crowded box where a defender closes you down mid animation.
- Evolutions are permanent and make the card untradeable the moment you start one. Read the entry requirements for rating, position and existing PlayStyle count before committing, and only evolve players you actually intend to keep.
- Chemistry maxes at 33 with three points per player. Icons count double for nation links and Heroes count double for league links, so one of each can hold together a squad drawn from four different leagues.
- In Career Mode, set training plans by position group rather than tinkering with individuals every week. Coach quality changes development speed directly, so paying for better coaching staff outperforms micromanaging sessions.
For more advanced strategies, see our tips & tricks guide.
More EA SPORTS FC 24 Guides
- EA SPORTS FC 24 EA SPORTS FC 24 Overview
- EA SPORTS FC 24 Best Builds
- EA SPORTS FC 24 Tier List
- EA SPORTS FC 24 Beginner's Guide
- EA SPORTS FC 24 Tips & Tricks
- EA SPORTS FC 24 Weapons Guide
- EA SPORTS FC 24 Combat Guide
- EA SPORTS FC 24 Boss Guide
- EA SPORTS FC 24 Maps & Locations
- EA SPORTS FC 24 Crafting Guide
- EA SPORTS FC 24 Classes & Characters
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