Team Builder

Team Building Rules

Competing in Ultimate Champions requires you to register your teams in both Leagues and Tournaments. This step-by-step guide will help you optimize your team-building tactics! 📝

Formations

Begin team building by exploring the formation switcher at the bottom of the team builder interface. This tool lets you choose the best formation to suit your card collection. You can select from the following formations:

4-4-2 (default formation)
4-3-3
3-5-2
3-4-3
3-3-4
5-3-2
5-2-3

Once your formation is set, populate the pitch by manually selecting each player or opt for the autofill feature for a quick setup.

Standard vs. Entry-Level Formations In Ultimate Champions, Leagues and higher tournament divisions use standard 11-a-side formations, which are designed for more experienced managers. In contrasts, the first division in all tournaments offers a simpler 5-a-side format, providing an easy entry point into the game for newcomers.

Substitutes

Each formation includes three bench slots, one for each position: Defender, Midfielder, and Forward.

Although selecting substitutes isn't mandatory for team registration, it is highly advisable. Substitutes automatically replace any non-playing football player in the same position on the pitch, helping your team stay competitive.

Stacking Penalties

The Stacking Penalties, introduced in the 2023-24 season, penalize using multiple players from the same club to encourage diverse team formations.

Understanding Stacking Penalties

The penalty comes into play when the stacking limit for players from a single club is exceeded, reducing the score for those extra players. The penalty applies in order of selection: players chosen later will incur the penalty once the club's limit is breached.

Player Stacking Limits

First Penalty: Exceeding the stacking limit results in a -25% reduction to the player's score.

11-a-side Formation
- You can line up to 3 players from the same club.
- The 4th and 5th players from the same club will incur a -25% penalty.
5-a-side Formation
- You can line up to 2 players from the same club.
- The 3rd and 4th players from the same club will incur a -25% penalty.

Second Penalty: A -50% penalty applies to any players beyond the initial penalty limit.

11-a-side Formation
- The 6th player and beyond from the same club will incur a -50% penalty.
5-a-side Formation
- The 5th player and beyond from the same club will incur a -50% penalty.

Point Cap

Both Leagues and certain tournaments, specifically Ultimate Champions and Ultimate Champions U23, include an additional element to team building: a Point Cap. Here’s how it works:

Total Points Allocation: Managers have a fixed point budget to assemble their teams, e.g. 1500 Point Cap in the Leagues, which is displayed at the bottom of the team builder interface.
Player Values: Each player card is assigned a point value based on their L5 Average Score, which reflects their average fantasy points from the last five matches.
Strategic Choices: You must strategically select players to stay within the point cap while maximizing your team's overall strength.

Captain

Once your lineup is ready, the final step is to choose a Captain. Captains receive an additional +50% performance bonus on their score.

In the Team Builder section, you have the freedom to craft a team based on your card management strategies and make critical decisions to compete against other players. Here's a guide to help you navigate through the features.

Main Features in the Pitch View: Your Strategic Playground

As a manager, the pitch view is where your strategies come to life. Here are the main features that allow you to craft a winning team:

Selecting Players: Ensure to fill all starting 11 positions on the pitch to be able to confirm your team.
Autofill Function: Short on time or starting from scratch? Utilize the Autofill function to generate a random team that meets the game mode requirements.
Formations: Stand out from the crowd by choosing a unique formation. Pick from a range of available formations that align with your card collection and upcoming fixtures.
Sync Feature: Want to make changes on different devices or browsers? The sync feature allows for smooth transitions between devices, letting you edit, confirm, or revert to your last registered team easily.
Note: The function will be grayed out if no team has been registered, serving as a handy indicator to ensure your team has been properly registered.
Fresh Line-up: To start fresh, use the bin icon to clear the pitch and choose an available formation.
Captain Selection: Don’t forget to select your captain, which enables the confirmation option once all requirements are met.

Additional Features in the Right Panel: Your Management Toolbox

The right panel offers tools for refining your card search and selection process. Here’s what you can do:

Positions Navigation: Easily navigate to the positions you wish to view and manage.
Playing Next Gameweek Selector: This feature is enabled by default, filtering and displaying only players with scheduled fixtures for the upcoming gameweek to help you avoid selecting players who won't be playing.
Filter Options: Enhance your management strategy by filtering cards based on rarity, competition, clubs, or age, allowing for a more targeted approach.
Sorting Options: For quicker navigation, sort your cards by score or rarity, and choose to view them in ascending or descending order, saving you time and effort.
Player Search: If you have a specific athlete in mind, use this feature to find and select them quickly, streamlining the process.
Point Cap: The team's total budget must not exceed the combined L5 average scores of all players on the pitch.