EA FC 24 Best formations, custom tactics & player instructions to dominate games

If you want to succeed in EA FC 24, you’ll need to use the best formations available in the game so here’s a rundown of the best formations in EA FC, the best custom tactics, and the best player instructions that can lead you to victory.

This year, EA has added a whole new dimension to Career Mode with Tactical Visions, meaning there is even more tactical customization for players to try out. However, best formations and meta systems are more widespread than just Career – as Ultimate Team players will need the best to compete in Champions on the weekends.

In order to help you get a headstart on the rest of the competition in early access, here we’re going to run through the best formations in EA FC 24 and the custom tactics that are best suited for each.

Contents

• Best EA SPORTS FC 24 formations
  • 4-3-2-1 custom tactics
  • 4-1-2-1-2 (narrow) custom tactics
  • 4-2-3-1 custom tactics
  • 3-4-2-1 custom tactics
  • 5-4-1 custom tactics

Best EA SPORTS FC 24 formations for FUT Champions

The best formation in the current EA FC 24 meta is the 4-2-3-1, although with the game being in early access, this will rotate quite frequently as the meta settles.

Here is a list of the best formations in EA FC 24 so far – and below, we’ll show you the exact custom tactics you need to unlock their potential:

• 4-3-2-1
• 4-1-2-1-2 (narrow)
• 4-2-3-1
• 3-4-2-1
• 5-4-1

EA FC 24: Best custom tactics for 4-3-2-1

Player instructions

• Left-back: Stay back while attacking
• Right-back: Balanced
• CM: Cover center, Stay back while attacking
• LCM: Cover center, stay back attacking
• RCM: Cover wing
• CFs: Get in behind
• ST: Stay central, get in behind

Defensive tactics

• Defensive Style: Balanced
• Width: 45
• Depth: 65

Offensive tactics

• Build Up Play: Balanced
• Chance Creation: Direct passing
• Width: 45
• Players In Box: 5 bars
• Corners and Free Kicks: 1 bar

Everything depends on the strong foot of your attacking player in center mid. If the player is right-footed, use them as an RCM, and vice versa. The fullback with stay back while attacking goes on the same side as the attacking central mid, while the other outside back remains balanced.

Following those step ensures that the team will attack in a 4-2-4 and defend in a 4-4-2.

EA FC 24: Best custom tactics for 4-1-2-1-2 (narrow)

Player instructions

• Left-back: Stay back while attacking
• Right-back: Stay back while attacking
• CDM: Cover center, Stay back while attacking
• CMs: Get into the box for crosses, Get forward
• CAM: Stay forward
• ST: Stay forward, Get in behind

Defensive tactics

• Defensive Style: Balanced
• Width: 40
• Depth: 50

Offensive tactics

• Build Up Play: Balanced
• Chance Creation: Forward Runs
• Width: 40
• Players In Box: 70
• Corners and Free Kicks: 2 bars

Packing out the midfield gives you plenty of options when trying to build an attack and play through the lines, while also making it hard for your opponent to find space in the middle of the park.

It’s also possible to add some width if you don’t mind committing bodies forward. Picking two center midfielders with pace can simulate the effect of having wingers, or you can set the full-backs to bomb forward and deliver crosses.

EA FC 24: Best custom tactics for 4-2-3-1

Player instructions

• Left-back: Stay back while attacking
• Right-back: Stay back while attacking
• CDMs: Cover center on both, Stay back while attacking on one, Balanced on the other
• CAM: Stay forward, Get into the box for crosses
• ST: Stay forward, Get in behind

Defensive tactics

• Defensive Style: Balanced
• Width: 35
• Depth: 55

Offensive tactics

• Build Up Play: Direct Passing
• Chance Creation: Forward Runs
• Width: 40
• Players In Box: 70
• Corners and Free Kicks: 2 bars

This formation is the epitome of well-balanced. With both CDMs and outside backs staying back on the attack, it makes it incredibly different for opposing sides to even attempt a counter-attack. Mounting any sort of quick attack yourself also becomes difficult, but smart passes and patient play should still result in plenty of goals.

We recommend using a 4-2-3-1 if you are struggling on offense or defense. Practicing these tactics should make it easier to get more comfortable before transitioning to a more advanced formation.

EA FC 24: Best custom tactics for 3-4-2-1

Player instructions

• LM & RM: Come back on defense, Stay wide, Stay on edge of box for cross  
• CMs: Cover center, Stay Back while attacking, Stay on edge of box for cross
• ST, LF & RF: Stay Central, Get in behind, Stay Forward

Defensive tactics

• Defensive Style: Balanced
• Width: 35
• Depth: 55

Offensive tactics

• Build Up Play: Balanced
• Chance Creation: Direct Passing
• Width: 50
• Players In Box: 6 bars
• Corners and Free Kicks: 2 bars

The depth is so low because through balls can be an issue if your center backs aren’t deep enough. Keeping the left and right mid on defensive tactics is crucial because you don’t want them to over-commit and expose an easy counter-attack.

All three of the forwards wait in the attacking third for passes to be sent directly to them. This formation works best when you get them the ball as fast as possible. From there, it should be easy with three attackers going at once.

EA FC 24: Best custom tactics for 5-4-1

Player instructions

• LWB: Join the attack, overlap
• RWB: Join the attack, overlap
• CMs: One on Cover center, Stay Back, and the other stays Balanced and Cover Center
• LM & RM: Come back on defense, Get in Behind, Get into the box for cross
• ST: Stay forward, Stay central, Get in Behind

Defensive tactics

• Defensive Style: Balanced
• Width: 35
• Depth: 50

Offensive tactics

• Build Up Play: Long Ball
• Chance Creation: Direct Passing
• Width: 50
• Players In Box: 8 bars
• Corners and Free Kicks: 3 for corners & 2 for free kicks

The 5-4-1 is very strong defensively and is a good option for high-level competitive matches. If you are in the final few matches of a Weekend League and absolutely need to win a match, these tactics work perfectly.

Players who like to play through the middle of the field won’t like this formation. The goal on offense is to use the outside midfielders and outside backs to overload a wing and create openings in the final third with a cross.

That’s everything you need to know about the best formations in EA FC 24! For more content on the game, check out our guides below:

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