FC 25 best formations & custom tactics explained
The best FC 25 formations and tactics will help you out big time.
Whether you’re playing Division Rivals, Squad Battles or Career Mode, making the most of the game’s custom tactics to get the most out of your players will see you scoring more goals and letting fewer in.
Unfortunately, the best formations and custom tactics are hard to find. It’s made trickier again thanks to the introduction of Player Roles.
Fortunately, you can enter another player’s tactics code to use whatever system they’ve built. It couldn’t be easier.
Keep reading to learn about the best FC 25 tactics and formations. Or, watch the video above!
Best formations and tactics to win in FC 25
The best formations and tactics will vary depending on how you wish to play in the game, but we’d recommend the 4-1-2-1-2 Narrow, the 3-4-2-1 or the 4-2-3-1 Wide.
Some players will prefer to sit a bit deeper, soak up pressure and hit teams on the break. Others will prefer to control the ball, dominate the game, and be on the front foot; regardless of how you wish to play, the biggest goal is to win, and the tactics below will help you achieve your goal.
4-1-2-1-2 Narrow
EA FC 25.
This formation has been one of the most popular in recent years, but with the new Player Roles in FC 25, this shape has even more options.
It’s nice and narrow, offering plenty of control and passing options while also providing some width if you have the right central midfielders. It also allows players to use two strikers, so multiple options operate in the box.
Tactical Preset: Custom
Code: L&j@lPnSv#7
Formation: 4-1-2-1-2 Narrow
Build-up Style: Short passes
Defensive Approach: Balanced
Goalkeeper: Defending, Keeper
Left and Right Back: Fullback, Balanced
Centre Backs: Defender and Defend
Central Defensive Midfielder: Holding, Roaming
Central Midfielders: Box-to-box, Balanced
Center Attacking Midfielder: Winger, Balanced
Striker: False 9, Build Up
Striker: Advanced Forward, Attack
Something to keep in mind this year is that some players perform better with specific instructions, so when recruiting, you check whether or not they fit the roles.
Alternatively, you can invert the fullbacks to flood the midfield, offering more passing options if that’s what you prefer.
4-2-1-3
EA FC 25
This formation defends in a 4213, but when attacking, switches to a 3331 with one of the midfielders dropping into defence and the full backs coming into midfield.
Width comes from the wingers, and the constant rotation of players causes all sorts of chaos. To pull off this formation, it’s crucial to have wingers who can go both ways and fullbacks with very good passing so that you can dominate all over the pitch.
Tactical Preset: Custom
Code: p#D#E?5&zqJ
Formation: 4-2-1-3
Build-up Style: Counter
Defensive Approach: Balanced
Goalkeeper: Defending, Keeper
Right back: Falseback, Balanced
Left back: Falseback, Balanced
Defensive midfielder: Holding, Defend
Defensive midfielder: Centre Half, Defend
Central Attacking Midfield: Playmaker, Balanced
Right Winger: Inside Forward, Balanced
Left Winger: Inside Forward, Balanced
Striker: Advanced Forward, Attack
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3-4-2-1
EA FC 25.
This formation is more defensively sound, offering little room at the back if you’re countered but also leaving plenty of options in attack for when you get the ball.
The key is to have all-rounders, athletic and strong players so you’re potent on the counter-attack. You will be playing a bit deeper, though, and likely to concede the majority of possession.
Tactical Preset: Custom
Code: DZcldmu%NBf
Formation: 3-4-2-1
Build-up Style: Counter
Defensive Approach: Defend
Goalkeeper: Defend
Defenders: Defender, Defend
Defenders: Stopper, Balanced
Right Midfielder/ Left Midfielder: Wide midfielders, defend
Central Midfielders: Box-to-box, Balanced / Deep Lying Playmaker, Defend
Center Attacking Midfielder: Shadow Striker, Attack
Center Attacking Midfielder: Playmaker, Balanced
Striker: Poacher, Attack
4-2-3-1 Wide
EA FC 25.
Right now, this is the most balanced formation around, offering just as much going forward as defending, with plenty of options for a pass and proving hard to break down.
The defenders can come inside to provide more in the middle, too, but it will rely on them having a good engine for all the extra running they’re going to do, so stamina is the key.
Tactical Preset: Custom
Code: xHJFfLF47x$
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Build-up Style: Short Passes
Defensive Approach: High
Goalkeeper: Defending, Keeper
Left back: Fullback, Balanced
Right back: Falseback, Defend
Centre Backs: Defender, Defend
Central Defensive Midfielder: Holding, Defending
Central Defensive Midfielder: Holding, Defending
Center Attacking Midfielder: Playmaker, Balanced
Right Midfielder / Left Midfielder: Inside Forward, Balanced
Striker: Advanced Forward, Attack
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Video ID: "fef57e9fcce572451634bca6cc055f95c4fad093"
Mix ID: ""
Player ID: "Tw3-XowQ"
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Best manager tactics in FC 25 Ultimate Team
EA FC 25.
Managers in the game have built-in tactics, so if you want to equip one of them and plug and play, as it were, these are some of the best options currently in the game that fit the meta.
Mikel Arteta
Antonio Conte
Thiago Motta
Hansi Flick
Roberto De Zerbi
Enzo Maresca
Unai Emery
Xabi Alonso
Carlo Ancelotti
Ruben Amorim
Hundreds of managers are in the game, so it is well worth looking at which ones you get in packs to see if any of them fit the particular way you want to play in Ultimate Team.
Read more on FC 25:
FC 25 review: Our final verdict
FC 25 ratings: The very best players
FC 25 soundtrack: Full list of songs
FC 25 wonderkids: Best young players
FC 25 strikers: Best forwards to use
FC 25 wingers: Best RW and LW
FC 25 midfielders: Best CDM, CM and CAM
FC 25 defenders: Best CB, RB and LB
FC 25 goalkeepers: Best GK
Best kits in FC 25: Our favourite shirts
FC 25 evolutions: Who should you upgrade?
FC 25 Squad Battle rewards
FC 25 FUT Champs rewards
FC 25 Division Rivals rewards
Check out more of our Gaming coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
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