It has already been eight years since FC Online (FCO) launched. There is a common perception that the older an online game is, the higher the barrier to entry. However, FCO is not as difficult as you might think. If you follow along step-by-step, you will find yourself eyeing the Challenger rank before you know it.

Today, we will look at FCO's training coaches. Once recruited, training coaches can be assigned to individual players to grant them special abilities. While the process used to involve steps like switching recruitment teams, it has become more streamlined, and with many high-quality coaches now provided through events, the burden on players has decreased. Utilizing training coaches is crucial for building a strong team, so please keep this in mind.

In FC Online, training coaches can be seen as a growth element that adds extra effects to your players. While player stats, upgrade levels, and team colors determine your squad's base tier, training coaches help with the 'feel' of the game, such as better movement and responsiveness during matches.

Even for the same player, the training coach equipped can change their movement and overall utility. If you are just starting to build your team, prioritizing recruiting good players and managing your salary cap is key, but once your squad is reasonably established, the importance of training coaches increases significantly.

Training coaches are essential. They aren't just 'nice to have'—they are a must for competitive play. Recruiting and assigning them is just as important as recruiting players. Of course, there is a wide variety of effects, and it can be confusing to know which ones to use. It is highly recommended to check the preferred trait combinations for each position in the 'Training Coach/Trait Helper' section on the official website's Data Center.

There are several ways to obtain training coaches: recruitment, coach packs, events, and the Training Coach DIY event. Of course, if you are just starting out in FC Online, you don't need to memorize everything. While it is good to secure basic coaches by leveling up your recruitment team, many decent coaches are provided through various events, so there is no need to overthink it.

To break it down, recruitment is the most basic way to acquire them. Unlike the old system that used headhunters, you now secure coaches by using your recruitment team level and resources. Increasing your recruitment team level allows you to target better coaches, which you can then select and assign to your players. You can spend extra CP to guarantee a 5-star coach, but getting a specific combination through recruitment is not easy.

That is why you should pay close attention to events. New and returning managers can obtain popular training coach chests through dedicated events, which is the most reliable way to get them when first building a team. You can also get them from seasonal events depending on the timing and type. Currently, you can obtain special coach packs through the FC World Festa cumulative attendance mission, or get a 11-type Training Coach Comprehensive Chest by playing minigames in the FC Online x Chzzk event.

The shop is also worth checking. While special coach packs are sold in the EC shop, they are not easy to exchange for since EC is not always easy to come by. There are also agents that can provide special coaches. You can obtain general coaches through recruitment, convert them into special coaches, and then use unused special coaches as materials to aim for better ones. However, this is not a guaranteed way to get specific combinations, so it is something to look into only when you have resources to spare.

For beginners, I recommend securing basic coaches through new/returning manager events and seasonal events, then upgrading to better ones using the Training Coach DIY system. It allows you to target specific combinations directly, making it very intuitive. Just keep in mind that gathering DIY points takes time, so approach it as a long-term goal.

You can increase the level of a coach's traits by consuming CP, BP, and training manuals. At lower levels, CP and BP are sufficient, while specific levels require training manuals. If you claim your basic rewards from events and play consistently, you likely won't run out of these resources. Note that from level 6 and above, there is a chance of failure when attempting to level up a trait.

Special coaches have grades. As you get more familiar with the game, you will notice there are 5-grade, 8-grade, and even higher-grade coaches. While higher grades offer the opportunity to grow traits to higher levels, in reality, not all traits can be raised beyond level 6.

Think of it this way: only 1-on-1 training traits that provide effects during contested situations can be grown beyond level 5. If you want to be sure, go to the Training Coach DIY event, select 'Create Training Coach,' choose a 8-star coach, and check the trait selection menu. For example, traits like 'Instant Response to Penetration Request,' 'Penetration Immediately After Through Pass,' 'Calmly Create Goal Chance,' 'Cross Improvement,' and 'Regroup' are capped at level 5.

Therefore, it is quite common for a 8-grade special coach to have certain traits that only grow up to level 5. In such cases, they are no different from a standard 5-star coach. Rather than focusing on the coach's grade, you should look at which traits they have and how far they can be grown. Even a high-grade coach isn't necessarily 'good' if they have traits that don't fit your needs or have growth limitations.

If you are just starting to set up your training coaches, your biggest concern will likely be which coach to assign to which player. Even if you get a decent-looking coach from an event, it is important to match the traits to the right player in the Training Coach Management menu.

As mentioned earlier, don't overthink it. If you visit the 'Training Coach/Trait Helper' page in the Data Center, you can see the most popular trait combinations by position. For example, strikers most commonly use 'Instant Response to Penetration Request,' 'Move Immediately After First Touch,' and 'Fast Tempo Attack,' while attacking midfielders also frequently use these. In general, for positions that are expected to score and have frequent ball touches, traits related to penetration based on 'Move Immediately After First Touch' are widely used.

For defensive midfielders, 'Skilled Body Check,' 'Move Immediately After First Touch,' and 'Regroup' rank high. For center-backs, it's 'Skilled Body Check,' 'Standing Tackle Improvement,' and 'Regroup.' For full-backs, 'Skilled Body Check,' 'Move Immediately After First Touch,' and 'Regroup' are popular. In short, 'Skilled Body Check' is a staple for any position that requires physical contact. 'Regroup' is also popular in defensive positions to counter counter-attacks.

Start by setting up your players according to this information based on their positions. Even if all three traits don't match, having just two of them will make a noticeable difference in gameplay. Then, you can focus on growing those assigned coaches. The Data Center also provides information on traits used for specific players, so feel free to look into that for more detail.

There is one more thing to know. Players with 11+ upgrades, often called 'Platinum,' can acquire one additional training coach trait. This means a Platinum player can utilize a total of 4 training coach traits. After equipping 3 popular traits as your base, you can choose the final one to fill in any gaps when using a Platinum player.

For reference, preferred training coach traits can differ in Manager Mode. Unlike 1vs1 official matches where you play directly, 'Skilled Body Check' is preferred for all positions, and traits like 'Long Shot Improvement' and 'Fast Penetration' are used for attacking positions. Similarly, defensive midfielders looking for scoring opportunities may also select long-shot traits. Full-backs might opt for 'Left/Right Defense Improvement' for more stability. As you can see, popular traits vary by game mode, so keep that in mind.