EA FC 24 Evolutions explained: Best players, requirements & upgrades

In some ways, it's very much like an RPG. Now that's not to say it's on the same level as Baldur's Gate 3 or Starfield, but it's an interesting move made by EA to further gamify the football experience. Is this the start of something new for Ultimate Team?

In the meantime, here's everything you need to know about EA FC 24 Evolutions – including the best players to invest in, their requirements and potential upgrades.

What are EA FC 24 Evolutions?

EA FC 24's Evolutions system lets you upgrade Ultimate Team players by carrying out unique objectives and challenges. It's a new feature for FC 24, so don't worry if you find it confusing. Check out the video from YouTuber ELYYT if you're more of a visual learner:

There are multiple Evolution trees with different levels (it all feels very much like an RPG) that you can assign players with the required stat to upgrade them. We think the feature is great because it gives players the chance to develop their favourite players beyond the base card. Unlike in previous FIFA releases, you won't have to rely on EA's decisions on who to give special cards to via the likes of TOTW and RTTK.

Unfortunately, not every player will be eligible because each Evolution has specific requirements. We'll take a closer look at each available Evolution tree below.

EA FC 24 Evolutions - best players, requirements & upgrades

There are currently six different Evolution lines available in Ultimate Team, each with its own set of requirements and upgrades.

Many of the requirements are quite generic, so there are too many players to list for each Evolution line. So we've picked a handful who are most viable in the current meta. As a rule, we'd suggest upgrading players who are as close to the top of the requirements as possible, to get the most out of the Evolution mechanic. The FC 24 meta still values speed above all else, so we'd especially be trying to hit the upper limits of those pace stats.

Welcome to Evolutions

Best Players:

• Julián Álvarez
• Kaoru Mitoma
• Brahim Díaz
• Viviane Asseyi
• Juan Cuadrado
• Pierre Kalulu

Requirements:

• OVR: Maximum 80
• Pace: Maximum 90
• Defence: Maximum 80

Challenges:

• Level 1: Play one Squad Battles, Rivals or Champions match on minimum Semi-Pro difficulty with your Evolution player in-game.
• Level 2: Play one Squad Battles, Rivals or Champions match on minimum Semi-Pro difficulty with your active Evolution player in-game.

Upgrade:

• OVR: +1
• Pace: +1
• Dribble: +1
• Passing: +1
• Physicality: +1

Founders Evolution

Best Players:

• Darwin Núñez
• Arnaut Danjuma
• Callum Wilson
• Álvaro Morata
• Gerard Moreno
• Dušan Vlahović
• Kai Havertz
• Beto

Requirements:

• Position: ST
• Player Quality: Rare
• OVR: 75-83
• Pace: Maximum 91
• Physicality: Maximum 85
• Dribbling: Maximum 83

Challenges:

• Level 1: Win two Squad Battles, Rivals or Champions matches on minimum Semi-Pro difficulty with your active Evolution player in-game.
• Level 2: Win four Squad Battles, Rivals or Champions matches on minimum Semi-Pro difficulty with your active Evolution player in-game.

Upgrades:

Level 1

• OVR +1
• Pace +3
• Shooting: +3

Level 2

• OVR +1
• Weak Foot +1 Star
• Dribbling +3
• Physicality +3

Relentless Winger

Best Players:

• Ansu Fati
• Steven Bergwijn
• Giacomo Raspadori
• Julie Dufour
• Olga Carmona
• Saïd Benrahma
• Emile Smith Rowe

Requirements:

• Position: LW
• Positions: Maximum 3
• OVR: Max 79
• Pace: Max 91
• Shooting: Max 79
• Dribbling: Max 82
• Physicality: Max 79

Challenges:

• Level 1: Score four goals using your active Evolution player in Squad Battles, Rivals or Champions on minimum Semi-Pro Difficulty. Play five Squad Battles, Rivals, or Champions matches on minimum Semi-Pro difficulty with your active Evolution player in the game.
• Level 2: Assist four goals using your active Evolution player in Squad Battles, Rivals or Champions on minimum Semi-Pro difficulty. Win two Squad Battles, Rivals or Champions matches on minimum Semi-Pro difficulty with your active Evolution player in the game. Play five Squad Battles, Rivals or Champions matches on minimum Semi-Pro difficulty with your active Evolution player in the game.
• Level 3: Score and assist using your active Evolutions player in two squad Battles matches, Rivals or Champions on minimum Semi-Pro difficulty. Win two Rivals or Champions matches using your active Evolution player. Play five Rivals or Champions matches using your active Evolutions player.

Upgrades:

Level 1

• OVR +1
• Shooting +7
• Playstyle: Relentless

Level 2:

• OVR +2
• Position RW
• Passing +7

Level 3

• OVR +3
• Pace +4
• Dribbling +7

Pacey Protector

Best Players:

• Giorgio Chiellini
• Aritz Elustondo
• Leonardo Bonucci
• Joël Matip
• Victor Lindelöf
• Axel Disasi

Requirements

• Position: CB
• OVR: Max 80
• Pace: Max 65
• Passing: Max 75
• Defending: Max 84
• Physicality: Max 84

Challenges:

• Level 1: Win two Squad Battles, Rivals or Champions matches on minimum Semi-Pro difficulty with your active Evolution player in-game
• Level 2: Win three Squad Battles, Rivals or Champions matches on minimum Semi-Pro difficulty with your active Evolution player in-game.

Upgrades:

Level 1

• OVR +1
• Pace +7
• Passing +3
• Defending +3

Level 2

• OVR +1
• Pace +8
• Passing +3
• Physicality +5

Golden Glow Up (Part One)

Best Players:

• Matt Palmer
• Michał Walski
• Mario Dorgeles
• Kobe Hernandez-Foster
• Luis Arce
• Mustafa Amini

Requirements:

• Position: CM
• OVR: Max 64
• Pace: Max 75
• Shooting: Max 65
• Dribbling: Max 70
• Defending: Max 65
• Physicality: Max 73

Challenges:

• Level 1: Play one Squad Battles, Rivals or Champions match on minimum Semi-Pro difficulty with your active Evolution player in the game.
• Level 2: Win three Squad Battles, Rivals or Champions matches on minimum Semi-Pro difficulty with your active Evolution player in the game.

Upgrades:

Level 1

• OVR +8
• Pace +5
• Shooting +16
• Passing +14

Level 2

• OVR +8
• Dribbling +16
• Defending +15
• Physicality +12

Golden Glow Up (Part Two)

Best Players:

As this requires a previous evolution, the second Golden Glow Up requires some more planning. Here's a list of players we'd recommend, and from which other Evolution.

• Djibril Sow (Welcome to Evolutions)
• Jackie Groenen (Welcome to Evolutions)
• Yves Bissouma (Welcome to Evolutions)
• Alexandru Maxim (Welcome to Evolutions)
• Kobbie Mainoo (Welcome to Evolutions and Golden Glow Up Part One)
• Zidane Iqbal (Welcome to Evolutions and Golden Glow Up Part One)
• Naby Keïta (Welcome to Evolutions)
• Tyler Adams (Welcome to Evolutions)

Requirements:

• One Previous Evolution
• Position: CM
• OVR: Max 80
• Pace: Max 80
• Shooting: Max 81
• Dribbling: Max 86
• Defending: Max 80

Challenges:

• Level 1: Assist four goals using your active Evolution player in Squad Battles, Rivals or Champions in Semi-Pro difficulty. Play five Squad Battles, Rivals or Champions matches on minimum Semi-Pro difficulty with your active Evolution player in the game.
• Level 2: Score two goals from outside the box using your active Evolution player in Squad Battles, Rivals or Champions on minimum Semi-Pro difficulty. Play five Rivals or Champions matches using your active Evolution player.
• Level 3: Assist five goals using your active Evolution player in Rivals or Champions. Win five Rivals or Champions matches with your active Evolutions player.

Upgrades:

Level 1

• OVR +1
• Tiki Taka playstyle
• Passing +3
• Defending +3

Level 2

• OVR +1
• Shooting +3
• Dribbling +3

Level 3

• OVR +2
• Pinged Pass playstyle
• Pace +1
• Physicality +3

Read more on EA FC 24:

• EA FC 24 ratings: Best players - the best players in the game
• EA FC 24 Web App & Companion App - use the Transfer Market on the go!
• EA FC 24 soundtrack - full list of songs
• EA FC 24 cheapest 84, 85 and 86-rated players - boss that SBC
• Best formation in FC 24 - our favourite tactics
• Is FC 24 down? How to check EA server status
• EA FC 24 chemistry - changes explained
• Best kits in FC 24 - what to wear
• EA FC 24 starter pack - which nation to choose

EA Sports FC 24 is available across PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC.

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