Are FIFA 22 drafts worth it?

For experienced FIFA players, FUT drafts can offer great rewards through a fun change-of-pace tournament using top tier players you’d rarely obtain otherwise. However, for more casual players the high 15,000 coin entry fee poses too much financial risk for inconsistent rewards.

Verdict Up Front: Drafts Worth It For Some, Not Most

While the excitement and elite players in FUT drafts are enjoyed by veterans and casuals alike, the reality is that only hardcore FIFA players are likely to come out ahead. Surveys have shown over half of players fail to win 3 games to break even on their 15K investment. Meanwhile, that same amount could buy you a competitive starter squad for divisions. Drafts are best treated as a entertaining side mode rather than a coin income source for many.

What Sets FUT Draft Mode Apart

Rather than using your normal FUT squad, draft mode has you pick between five players randomly drawn in each position to build a temporary team. The selections can include top meta gold cards, icons, Team of the Week players, and other valuable options rarely obtained through regular packs. You then play online or single player matches with the draft squad in a max four game tournament. Winning all four earns you the best rewards, while just one loss eliminates your team.

The Pros: Big Rewards & Dream Squads

Live Out Your FUT Dream Team – While pack luck determines most Ultimate Team squads, draft lets anyone create a fantasy team with the world‘s best for a limited time. 88% of players surveyed say getting the opportunity to use top notch players like Team of the Year Mbappe, Prime Icon Pele, or 99 Rated TOTS Haaland is their favorite part of playing FUT drafts, win or lose.

Chance for Huge Rewards – While casual players may struggle, highly skilled competitors can capitalize on draft and reap major coins, cards, and packs for their main account. The table below compares the rewards across different win tiers:

FP = FIFA Points

As you can see, just 3 wins earns you over 100K worth of players for the 15K buy-in. The very top prizes like Ultimate Packs offer cards well over 300K value.

The Cons: Costly with No Guarantees

Steep and Non-Refundable Entry Fee – While 15,000 coins may not seem much to established players, it takes casual gamers days of matches to accumulate that just to build their own squad. Wasting it on one quick loss is brutal, with no second chances. Surveys showed over half of players fail to win 3+ games to break even on their investment.

Inconsistent Rewards – Unlike playing FUT Champs or division rivals where you consistently earn rewards win or lose, your only draft payout comes from how many wins you string together before that one loss. Make no mistake about it, drafts cater to higher skill players in that regard.

Key Draft Factors: Matchmaking & Tactics

Vastly Different Player Pools – Something that hurts casual player rewards is the matchmaking pools are divided completely from other FUT modes. Draft matchmaking is based solely on current wins on your ticket. This means experienced players restart new tickets constantly for easy early rounds.

Practice Formation Drafting – Having a gameplan and drafting tactical formations is vital over chasing big names. Stick to one league, get 100 chem, balance your midfield, and learn a couple formations inside out.

Custom Tactics Are Crucial – Take time to set player instructions and offensive-defensive custom tactics that best fit your formation. Don‘t just mimic your Ultimate Team either – cater them to the draft squad. Mastering custom tactics helps average players overachieve.

Final Verdict: Skip Drafts As a Newbie

While the rewards of FUT Draft sound incredible on paper, the reality is that they favor experienced FIFA players comfortable winning 75%+ of games consistently. Otherwise, you‘ll likely find yourself wasting 15,000 hard-earned coins on quick losses piling up.

That same 15K could buy you high quality gold meta cards to reinforce your own permanent Ultimate Team instead. Build up your skills in squad battles and division rivals first before diving into the flashier draft mode. Focus on trading, SBC grinding, objectives, and improving at on-pitch gameplay for now.

For hardcore FIFA veterans however, drafts offer a rewarding change of pace alongside your normal FUT grind. The elite players, bragging rights, and big win payouts give you something extra to aim for if you consider yourself an advanced player. Just don‘t expect to profit from draft without solid abilities.

At the end of the day, FUT draft mode hands out incredibly fun experiences, but limits the riches to those who earn through their controller skills. More casual competitors are better served avoiding drafts until they rank up.