EA FC 24 best formation & custom tactics: Pro player recommendations

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So, what is the best formation to use? RadioTimes.com has once again teamed up with pro coach NealGuides, who runs his own FC school, to help you stop smashing your controllers and start winning.

Best Formation in EA FC 24

The best formation in EA FC 24 is the 4-2-3-1, according to FC 24 pro coach NealGuides.

This meta staple includes two CDMs, adding some much-needed protection for your back line, while the remaining four attacking players can quickly break forward when you win the ball.

Some of the other top formations in the FC 24 meta are also:

• 4-2-2-2
• 4-1-2-1-2
• 4-4-2
• 3-5-2

You'll notice the above formations all have two strikers. NealGuides noted that some players have been having trouble with one striker, due to players parking the bus.

So, if you're having trouble with attacking, we'd also suggest trying out formations with two strikers, such as a 4-2-2-2 or a 4-2-4 instead. While uncommon nowadays in real football, the link-up play between two strikers helps break defenders apart.

In the video below, we can see NealGuides using a more traditional 4-4-2.

We'd also recommend trying out a formation with wingers, or at least wide CAMs, over the more narrow formations that worked well in previous games.

Through our current experience climbing the Division Rivals ladder, players can easily get overrun in the midfield, and so playing out wide helps give you the breathing room to avoid making unforced errors.

Best Custom Tactics in EA FC 24

As we're still early in the meta, the best EA FC 24 custom tactics you should try out are relatively conservative in their approach.

"When starting a new FIFA (or new FC in this case) you don’t want to be trying anything extreme," NealGuides said in his video, advising players instead to tinker when they get more comfortable with their play style.

So, to begin with, NealGuides recommends the following tactics:

Defence

• Defensive Style: Press After Possession Loss
• Width: 50
• Depth: 40

Attack

• Build Up Play: Balanced
• Chance Creation: Forward Runs
• Width: 50
• Players In Box: 7
• Corners: 3
• Free Kicks: 3

Best Player Instructions in EA FC 24

Your player instructions will depend on the formation, but generally, we'd recommend using the following:

• GK: Balanced, Balanced
• LB/RBs: Stack Back While Attacking, Normal Interceptions, Overlap, Stick To Position
• CBs: Stay Back While Attacking, Normal Interceptions, Stick To Position
• CDMs: Balanced Defence, Stay Back While Attacking, Normal Interceptions, Cover Centre, Stick To Position
• CMs: Stay Back While Attacking, Balanced Crossing Runs, Normal Interceptions, Stick To Position, Cover Centre
• CAMs: Stay Forward, Balanced Crossing Runs, Stick To Position, Normal Interceptions
• LW/RW/LM/RM: Come Back On Defence, Balanced Width, Get in Behind, Balanced Crossing Runs, Normal Interceptions
• ST: Stay Central, Get In Behind, Normal Interceptions, Stay Forward

The trend here is to ensure your most attacking players are ready to counter with their fast pace and dribbling, while defensive players stay back. This will make sure you don’t overcommit to an attack and leave yourself vulnerable to a counter-attack.

EA FC 24: 4-2-3-1 Formation Guide

Back again to dominate another year of Ultimate Team, the 4-2-3-1 is a reliable staple that is perfect for the players coming back to EA FC 24 after a few months (or years) off.

We really can't overstate the importance of your CDMs here, who will help protect your defence from quick counter-attacks - often the reason new players lose in Division Rivals. Here's the Custom Tactics we'd pick:

Defence

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

Attack

• Build Up Play: Balanced
• Chance Creation: Forward Runs
• Width: 50
• Players In Box: 7
• Corners: 3
• Free Kicks: 3

And our Player Instructions:

• GK: Balanced, Balanced
• CB: Stay Back While Attacking, Normal Interceptions, Stick To Position
• LB/RBs: Stack Back While Attacking, Normal Interceptions, Overlap, Stick To Position
• CDM: Balanced Defence, Stay Back While Attacking, Normal Interceptions, Cover Centre, Stick To Position
• Wide CAMs: Stay Forward, Get Into Box For Cross, Stick To Position, Normal Interception
• Central CAM: Balanced Defence Support, Balanced Crossing Runs, Stick To Position, Normal Interception
• ST: Stay Central, Get In Behind, Normal Interceptions, Stay Forward

While it can be tempting to have all three CAMs as Stay Forward and Get Into Box For Cross, we found that having at least one playing more conservatively helps provide some vital coverage for our midfield during turnovers in play.

EA FC 24: 4-2-2-2 Formation Guide

Over here on RadioTimes.com, one formation we're currently having success with has been the 4-2-2-2.

Taking on advice from NealGuides in using two strikers, we’ve been climbing the ranks of Division Rivals and are well on our way to FUT Champs.

Our Custom Tactics are as follows:

Defence

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

Attack

• Build Up Play: Fast Build Up
• Chance Creation: Balanced
• Width: 50
• Players In Box: 7
• Corners: 3
• Free Kicks: 3

Our Player Instructions are:

• GK: Balanced, Balanced
• CB: Stay Back While Attacking, Normal Interceptions, Stick To Position
• LB/RBs: Stack Back While Attacking, Normal Interceptions, Overlap, Stick To Position
• CDM: Balanced Defence, Stay Back While Attacking, Normal Interceptions, Cover Centre, Stick To Position
• CAM: Come Back On Defence, Balanced Crossing Runs, Stick To Position, Normal Interception
• ST: Stay Central, Get In Behind, Normal Interceptions, Stay Forward

Of course, your tactics and formation are only one part of your game plan. You’ll need to pick the right players to complement your tactical set-up.

So far, players with high pace and dribbling appear to be controlling the meta, so consider choosing cards with these attributes, and you’ll hopefully start winning in no time!

Read more on EA FC 24:

• EA FC 24 Career Mode Teams - the best teams to manage
• Best Kits in EA FC 24 - what to wear
• Cheapest 84, 85, 86, 87 and 88-rated players in EA FC 24 - for your SBCs!
• EA FC 24 coins - how to make them
• EA FC 24 evolutions - who and what are they?
• EA FC 24 PlayStyles - the best ones
• EA FC 24 RTTK - track the cards
• How to earn XP in EA FC 24 - the best objectives
• EA FC 24 soundtrack - full list of songs

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