The rumors are flying, and if the latest leaks from Twitter are to be believed, Icon Swaps is finally making its return to Ultimate Team. The campaign is rumored to start on January 29th, right as the Team of the Year promo concludes and the new season begins.
For those new to the concept or needing a refresher, Icon Swaps allows you to earn tokens through gameplay objectives which can then be exchanged for high value rewards. Current leaks suggest we are looking at a total of 25 tokens to be released during this campaign.
However, it is important to manage expectations regarding time. Historically, EA Sports splits these tokens across two different seasons. If that pattern holds, the full 25 tokens might not be available until the second batch is released, meaning you might have to wait until the end of March to unlock the most expensive rewards.
Here is the full breakdown of the leaked rewards and their token costs.
Leaked Icon Swaps Rewards
| Cost (Tokens) | Reward Type | Description |
| 19 | Icon Player | Ronaldo (R9) (ST) |
| 17 | Player Pick | 1 of 3 93+ Campaign Icon Pick |
| 14 | Icon Player | Rio Ferdinand (CB) |
| 12 | Player Pick | 1 of 3 92+ Campaign Icon Pick |
| 11 | Icon Player | Eric Cantona (ST) |
| 11 | Player Pick | 1 of 3 91+ Campaign Icon Pick |
| 10 | Player Pick | 1 of 3 90+ Campaign Icon Pick |
| 9 | Icon Player | Hristo Stoichkov (ST) |
| 8 | Player Pick | 1 of 3 89+ Campaign Icon Pick |
| 7 | Icon Player | Gianluca Zambrotta (RB) |
| 6 | Pack Reward | 86+ x 25 Players Pack |
| 5 | Icon Player | Gianluigi Buffon (GK) |
| 3 | Icon Player | Xabi Alonso (CDM) |
| 3 | Pack Reward | 85+ x 15 Players Pack |
| 2 | Pack Reward | 84+ x 20 Players Pack |
| 1 | Pack Reward | 82+ x 25 Players Pack |
Which Rewards Should You Choose?
With 25 tokens potentially on the table, the combinations are massive. But the big question remains: do you have the patience to hold your tokens?
The Ultimate Grind: Ronaldo + The Big Pack
Cost: 19 Tokens (Ronaldo) + 6 Tokens (86+ x 25 Pack) = 25 Tokens
This is the dream scenario for anyone willing to complete every single objective. Ronaldo Nazário is an insane end game player to have on your team. He is arguably the most complete striker in the game and will be a must have for your squad unless you were lucky enough to pack a TOTY striker or you already have Mbappé leading your line.
If the 25 token count is accurate, you can pair R9 with the 86+ x 25 Players Pack. This pack is incredible value and almost guarantees you high rated players to improve your squad or complete premium SBCs. It is the perfect combination of a guaranteed legend and a high chance at modern meta cards.
The Catch: This route requires extreme patience. You will likely have to wait until late March to claim Ronaldo. You need to ask yourself if you can wait that long while other power curve players are released.
The Rock at the Back: Rio Ferdinand
Cost: 14 Tokens
If your attack is already sorted but you are leaking goals, Rio Ferdinand is a fantastic choice. He is widely considered a top tier defender in Ultimate Team due to his pace, body type, and defensive AI.
At 14 tokens, he is more accessible than Ronaldo. This leaves you with 11 tokens leftover, which is enough to unlock a 91+ Campaign Icon Pick or a combination of the massive 86+ x 25 and 85+ x 15 packs to hunt for other promo cards.
The Instant Gratification: All The Packs
Cost: 12 Tokens Total
If you cannot wait two months for a single player, you might want to dump your tokens into the packs immediately. Unlocking the 86+ x 25, 85+ x 15, 84+ x 20, and 82+ x 25 costs a total of 12 tokens.
This gives you a mountain of players to open during a big promo. While you lose the guarantee of an R9, the sheer volume of high rated cards gives you a massive chance to hit something big or craft a high end SBC player available at the time.
