Hi guys, welcome back to a new video on the channel! This time, we’re diving into something a bit different—ranking the top five formations in FC 25 and sharing custom tactics for each. I’ve collected five different custom tactic codes for the best formations in the game, and I’ll walk you through their strengths, weaknesses, and how to use them effectively. Let’s get straight into it!
4-2-1-3: The Easiest Formation to Play
Personally, I think the 4-2-1-3 is the easiest formation in the game to play. It’s straightforward: you soak up pressure, win the ball back, and immediately send a through ball up to your strikers who are waiting to pounce.
Tactics Breakdown:
- Defensive Style: Balanced
- Buildup Play: Balanced
- Defensive Line: 70 (High)
- Sideline Traps: Automatic (very OP after the patch)
Player Instructions:
- Goalkeeper: Sweeper Keeper
- Fullbacks: Defend
- Center Backs: Defend
- CDMs: Deep-Lying Playmaker (Buildup)
- CAM: Playmaker
- Wingers: Inside Forward
- Striker: Advanced Forward
Strengths:
- When you recover the ball, you can immediately find your forwards and launch a counterattack.
- The formation surrounds the box perfectly, with the CAM and inside forwards creating passing options.
Weaknesses:
- You’re defending with only six players (four defenders and two CDMs), which can be risky if your opponent overloads the attack.
Example Play:
In one clip, our opponent has the ball, and their fullbacks are pushed up. Our attackers don’t defend, which means when we recover the ball, we can immediately find them and go forward. The weakness here is that we’re defending with fewer players, but if you defend well, you’ll have a great chance to counter.
4-2-3-1 Wide: Defensive Rock
The 4-2-3-1 Wide is the opposite of the 4-2-1-3. It’s defensively solid but can be a bit lacking offensively.
Tactics Breakdown:
- Defensive Style: Balanced
- Buildup Play: Balanced
- Defensive Line: Balanced
Player Instructions:
- Fullbacks: Balanced (or Defend if your opponent plays 4-2-1-3)
- CDMs: Deep-Lying Playmaker (Buildup)
- Wingers: Inside Forward
- CAM: Playmaker
- Striker: Advanced Forward
Strengths:
- Extremely tough to break down. The two CDMs and wide midfielders close passing lanes, making it hard for your opponent to create chances.
- Perfect for players who are strong in attack but need defensive help.
Weaknesses:
- Less attacking firepower compared to formations like the 4-2-1-3.
Example Play:
In one clip, I held off my opponent for a full minute, closing all passing lanes. The formation’s defensive structure makes it nearly impossible for the opponent to find a way through.
4-4-1-1: Midfield Dominance
The 4-4-1-1 is a more attacking formation, using center mids (CMs) instead of CDMs.
Tactics Breakdown:
- Defensive Style: Balanced
- Buildup Play: Balanced
Player Instructions:
- CMs: Holding (to compensate for their natural attacking tendencies)
- CAM: Playmaker
- Wingers: Inside Forward
- Striker: Advanced Forward
Strengths:
- Excellent for play around the midfield. The CMs and CAM are close together, creating passing triangles and opening up gaps.
- The CAM is crucial in this formation, as everything flows through them.
Weaknesses:
- Defensively vulnerable because CMs don’t track back as effectively as CDMs.
Example Play:
In one example, my opponent broke through the midfield, and my CMs didn’t track back, leaving my defenders exposed. However, the formation’s attacking potential makes it worth the risk.
4-4-2: Counter-Attacking Beast
The 4-4-2 is a classic formation that’s great for counter-attacks.
Tactics Breakdown:
- Defensive Style: Balanced
- Buildup Play: High
Player Instructions:
- Fullbacks: Balanced (or Defend if you’re struggling against 4-2-1-3)
- CMs: Holding
- Wingers: Inside Forward
- Strikers: Advanced Forward
Strengths:
- Four attackers make it deadly on the counter.
- Wingers stay high up the pitch, ready to overlap and create chances.
Weaknesses:
- Similar to the 4-4-1-1, the CMs don’t track back as well as CDMs, leaving gaps in defense.
Example Play:
In one clip, my striker played a quick pass to an overlapping winger, who then crossed it into the box for a goal. The formation’s strength lies in its ability to transition quickly from defense to attack.
4-5-1: Controlled Midfield
The 4-5-1 is a formation used by many pros, including Ley and Abu Makaka.
Tactics Breakdown:
- Defensive Style: Balanced
- Buildup Play: High
Player Instructions:
- Fullbacks: One on Defend, one on Balanced (to create attacking options on one side)
- CMs: Deep-Lying Playmaker (Buildup) in the middle, Box-to-Box on the sides
- Wingers: Winger on one side, Inside Forward on the other
- Striker: Advanced Forward
Strengths:
- The three CMs act as a wall in front of the defense, making it hard for opponents to break through the middle.
- Great for controlling possession and surrounding the box.
Weaknesses:
- Fewer attackers mean you might struggle to create chances against deep-lying defenses.
Example Play:
In one clip, my opponent tried to build up through the middle but was constantly shut down by my three CMs. The formation’s strength lies in its ability to control the midfield and limit the opponent’s options.
So there you have it—the top five formations in FC 25, complete with custom tactics and examples. Try them out, see which one suits your playstyle, and dominate the pitch!