How the dex works

Every player in six leagues and 33 national teams gets one Pokémon. Nobody picks them by hand: the dex does.

The pairing

A player’s six EA FC face stats line up with a Pokémon’s six base stats:

The match score is mostly shape: which stats stand out against the rest, not how big they are. A winger who lives on pace and dribbling finds a Pokémon built the same way. The rest is size (a better player gets a stronger Pokémon) and build (a tall, heavy centre-back leans towards a big Pokémon). The MATCH % on each page is that score.

Each Pokémon is used once per league, so the best fit is shared out across every squad at the same time. Sometimes a player’s closest Pokémon is already taken and he gets the next one.

Legendary and mythical Pokémon only go to players rated 87 or higher.

Pairings stay put when ratings change, so an EA update doesn’t reshuffle anyone. New signings are matched to the Pokémon still free in their league.

Natures

A Pokémon’s nature raises one stat and lowers another. In the dex it comes from the player’s EA PlayStyles and his stats against others in his position. Saka’s Whipped Pass+ and Technical make him Quiet: Sp. Atk (passing) up.

Status conditions

FNT

Fainted: out injured. The return date shows when it’s known.

PAR

Paralysed: suspended.

PSN

Poisoned: one yellow card from a ban.

PKRS

Pokérus: elite form. At least 4 starts in his club’s last 5 league games, averaging 8.5 with none below 7.5. Very rare.

Shiny: in his league’s Team of the Week (the best-rated XI) until the next one. This week’s shinies

Where the numbers come from

• Player ratings and PlayStyles: EA SPORTS FC. A starter with no rating is estimated from his club’s typical player and his FotMob season rating, with the usual stats for his position.
• Lineups, match ratings, injuries, suspensions and cards: FotMob and ESPN, refreshed on matchdays.
• Pokémon stats, types and sizes: PokéAPI.