Alright lads, let's dive into the top four formations and custom tactics I use to dominate in Elite and climb the ranks in Foot Champs. Let's get it!
4-2-3-1 Wide: The Balanced Beast
This is my go-to formation right now, especially if you're looking for a balanced approach. We've built this to counter the 4-2-1-3, which is a solid starting formation itself.
- Build Up Play: Short Passing is key. This helps you break down those opponents with 95 depth. Your players will show better passing options when under pressure, making it easier to escape and score those simple goals.
- Depth: 70. We're pretty much using 70 depth across the board for these tactics, with maybe one or two exceptions.
- Team Shape: With the ball, the team looks like this:
- Fullbacks: Stay Back.
- Right Mid: Winger. This creates width.
- Yamal: Comes inside, playing next to the striker and shadow striker.
- Midfield: There might be a gap between the two CDMs and the CAM, but the left and right mids are always there for passing options, especially with short passing.
- Shadow Striker & Advanced Forward: This gives you two strikers up top, which is really nice.
This is, in my opinion, the most solid formation in the game. If you're looking for a starting point, this is it.
4-2-1-3: The Counter King
This is my plan B, especially when I need to apply more pressure later in the game. I might even crank the depth up to 95 if I'm chasing a goal.
- Build Up Play: Short Passing is crucial. You still want to counter those 95 depth defenses. The left and right wings show better passing options, which is super helpful. If you attack too quickly on the counter, the wingers can sometimes disappear behind the opposition's fullbacks.
- Depth: 70.
- Team Shape:
- Fullbacks: Stay Back. They don't do much because we have four forwards.
- CDMs: One on Deep Line Playmaker (defend), the other on Holding (defend). They help the backline. We're defending with six, like you'd see traditionally.
- CAM: You can use Shadow Striker here, but I prefer the CAM to link the play. When the left and right wings run down the wing, the CAM will often come in behind them to show a passing option, especially on short passing.
- Wingers: Inside Forward.
- Striker: Advanced Forward.
This is by far the most OP counter formation in the game. If you're looking for 4-2-1-3 custom tactics, give these a go. I prefer build-up play, but this is the best counter formation in the game.
4-4-2 Holding: The Underrated Gem
This is another one of my favorites. I think it offers everything the 4-2-1-3 does. It's an incredibly underrated formation.
- Build Up Play: Short Passing is key. I feel like this is the cure for 95 depth.
- Depth: 70.
- Team Shape:
- CDMs: Both on Deep Line Playmaker. I want them getting forward a bit more. Their main job is to defend. If I'm losing, both will go into Build Up every single time.
- Fullbacks: Fullback Defend.
- Wingers: Creates width. Exploiting those wide areas is going to help you a lot.
- Strikers: Both Advanced Forward.
- Left Striker: Support. The support striker should have the best passing out of your two strikers.
This is a super underrated formation. If you're looking for balance, I think this gives you the most balance out of any of the formations I've shown you today.
4-2-2-2: The Comeback Kid
This is probably the most popular formation in FC25 right now. Everyone thinks it's the cure to the 4-2-1-3. I don't agree as much, but it's a very solid formation, especially when you're losing and trying to get back into a game. You're exploiting a lot of the space that the 4-2-1-3 leaves. Defensively, it's not the strongest, I would say.
- Team Shape:
- CDMs: Stay Back.
- CDMs: Ball Winning (Holding) and Playmaker (Defend).
- Fullbacks: Fullback Defend.
- CAMs: Left CAM - Shadow Striker, Right CAM - Half Winger. We're looking to create space on the right-hand side with Trior. He's not going to play like a CAM; he's going to play like a winger, which is very important in this formation.
- CAMs: If you want more defensive solidity, changing the right CAM to Playmaker will help a lot.
- Strikers: Left Striker - Poacher (Support). The support focus allows your player to put in a bit more AI press.
- Strikers: The other striker is Advanced Forward.
That's my full custom tactics rotation, lads. I recommend you set them all up. You'll need a couple of players on your bench to switch between formations. Having subs on your bench that you can rely on to use different formations is always good.