FC 27 Ultimate Team Week 1: How Squad Battles Rewards, SBCs, and Season Pass Are Shaping the Market?

Although players with the Standard Edition of EA FC 27 haven't officially entered the game yet, the launch of early access means Ultimate Team has officially kicked off its new season.

In this first week, the focus isn't really on squad strength, but rather on resource management and market trends. The first round of Squad Battles rewards has been distributed, and SBC, Season Pass, and the anticipated Team of the Week (TOTW) are already beginning to influence player prices. For players just starting the new season, every transaction made over these few days could directly impact the speed at which they can upgrade their squads in the near future.

Squad Battles Rewards: Is Elite 3 Actually Worth It?

The first batch of Squad Battles rewards has been released. Taking Elite 3 as an example, players receive 15,000 coins, an 11× 75+ Rare Players Pack (tradable), and an 8× 83+ Rare Players Pack (untradable).

Compared to Gold 1, the main advantage of Elite 3 is the inclusion of an extra set of tradable assets. Gold 1 rewards consist of 11,000 coins and a 10× 75+ tradable pack. The difference isn't massive, so if your time is limited, there is no need to invest heavily just to push for a higher rank.

Squad Battles itself has a relatively limited impact on the market. While the initial rewards increase the supply of some low-rated Gold cards, the current player base and reward volume aren't large enough to cause a major market crash.

If your goal is simply to boost your Battle Points, Featured Squad and TOTW Squad remain the top priorities to complete.

OTW Duo Pick 1: Which Option Should You Choose for 20K coins?

Among FC 27 Week 1 SBC, Ones to Watch Duo Pick 1 offers a choice between Rodrigo Mora and Pedro Gonçalves, with an SBC cost of approximately 20,000 FC 27 coins. There are distinct differences in the roles and attributes of these two players:

• Rodrigo Mora (83 CAM): 83 PAC, 84 DRI; features Explosive AcceleRATE type, offering excellent agility and balance. His strength lies in his fluid handling, making him a great fit for players who enjoy quick changes of direction and dribbling.
• Pedro Gonçalves (83 LM): He boasts more balanced stats, with SHO 83, PAS 83, DRI 84, and PHY 70. While his Controlled AcceleRATE type lacks the explosive burst of Explosive, he offers greater overall stability.

In terms of real-world performance, Pedro Gonçalves's team has had a more stable start to the season, whereas Rodrigo Mora is still building up his playing time. Weighing SBC costs against player potential, Pedro Gonçalves currently offers better value, though Mora's dribbling feel remains appealing to a specific segment of players.

It is worth noting that the dynamic upgrade mechanism for Ones to Watch cards is tied to the player's real-world league wins; if their team wins three of the next six league matches, the card receives a one-time stat boost.

Which cards are worth watching during the first week?

In the early stages of the game's launch, the market is generally seeing prices gradually settle. As rewards from Squad Battles, the Season Pass, and SBC resources enter the market, the prices of some popular cards are beginning to adjust.

There hasn't been a massive sell-off yet, and many cards are still finding their price points. Rather than chasing high prices, it is currently more worthwhile to focus on players whose prices have pulled back but who remain in high demand.

Karim Adeyemi (82 OVR)

As OTW reward for reaching Level 22 of Season Pass, Adeyemi's Gold card currently trades at around 14,000 coins. However, as more players unlock this tier, his OTW card will flood the market, potentially driving down the price of his Gold card.

If the price drops to the 12,000-13,000 range on Sunday, he is worth keeping an eye on. After all, his high pace makes him excellent for the early game, and there is potential for his price to rebound.

William Saliba (88 OVR)

William Saliba is currently one of the top CBs, sharing the highest rating for the position alongside Gabriel and Willian Pacho. Due to the extreme scarcity of his card in the early game, his price has remained high.

However, Maxence Lacroix's OTW card can be unlocked at Level 7 of Season Pass; this card is highly competitive among early-game defensive options. The widespread adoption of Lacroix could create a substitution effect for high-priced CBs like Saliba; if Saliba's price drops significantly, he could be considered a target for a medium-term hold.

Yan Diomande (84 RW OTW)

Diomande boasts exceptional pace stats - 93 PAC, 93 Acceleration, and 93 Sprint Speed - complemented by 4-star skill moves and a 4-star weak foot, making him an excellent choice for wing attacks. Since he is only unlocked at Level 30 of Season Pass, current market supply is limited, resulting in a price premium. If there is a noticeable price correction over the weekend, he could serve as a target for medium-to-long-term investment.

Regarding the low-to-mid price range, the following cards are worth watching:

• Ferran Torres
• Fikayo Tomori
• Pablo Barrios
• Matheus Nunes
• Pedro Neto

These cards see high usage rates in early-game squads and enjoy stable market demand, making them suitable targets for short-term trading. When acquiring them, it is advisable to look for cards already equipped with suitable Chemistry Styles - such as Shadow or Hunter - as this can boost resale value and speed up sales.

TOTW 2: The Next Wave of Market Hype

If Squad Battles rewards bring supply to the market, TOTW 2 is likely to generate new market expectations.

Raphinha is currently one of the most talked-about candidates. A recent hat-trick has already caused significant volatility in the price of his Gold card. If he ultimately makes TOTW squad, players will likely shift from the Gold version to the In-Form version, which could naturally impact the Gold card's price.

Players such as Claudia Pina, Olise, and Sophia Wilson are also worth keeping an eye on.

However, a common pitfall with TOTW investment is over-hyping a card before the official announcement. If a Gold card's price has already surged prior to the TOTW reveal, making the squad doesn't guarantee further price increases. Once the news breaks, many traders may sell to lock in profits, potentially causing the price to drop immediately.

Related: EA FC 27 Season 1 Ultimate Team Explained: Tokens, Ones to Watch & Early Game Strategy

Summary

In the early stages of FC 27, the market is still seeking a new price equilibrium. The supply from Squad Battles rewards, the gradual rollout of OTW cards, and the upcoming TOTW 2 release will all continue to influence market trends.

At this stage, there is no need to rush into chasing rising prices; the real opportunities lie in cards that have experienced a price correction but remain in high demand for actual gameplay. Whether or not you can earn coins during the first week depends not so much on the volume of purchases, but rather on finding the right price.