Best EA FC 24 custom tactics: Formations, player instructions, more

Nathan Warby
EA Sports FC custom tactics

EA FC 24 Ultimate Team matches can be decided by the smallest details, so ensuring you’re running the best formations and tactics is essential when grinding modes like Division Rivals and Champions.

Custom tactics are essential in EA FC 24, as they determine how your team will play once the whistle blows. While filling your Ultimate Team squad with quality players using the Evolutions feature or the dozens of promo cards is important, modes like Division Rivals and Champions will be a slog if your setup isn’t right.

So, here are the best EA FC 24 custom tactics, formations, and player instructions.

Best EA FC 24 formations for Ultimate Team

EA Sports FC logo over pitch
EA Sports FC marked a new era for football games.

The 4-3-2-1 setup is currently the best formation in EA FC 24. This is because of the balance it offers in all areas of the pitch and how versatile it can be in both attack and defense.

By setting the central midfielder to be more defensive you can keep your backline protected, while also freeing up the other two to join the attack or sit back as needed. Meanwhile, the CFs can act as wingers to create chances from out wide, without feeling too isolated from the main striker.

What stands this formation above the rest, however, is how easily it can be adapted to suit your needs. Throwing on three out-and-out strikers could see you grab a late goal and rescue the game while tweaking the three midfielders to be more defensive is perfect for holding onto a lead.

If you want to be competitive in as many situations as possible, 4-3-2-1 should be your go-to formation in EA Sports FC.

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

    Player Instructions

    • Left-back: Balanced attack, Overlap
    • Right-back: Stay back while attacking, Overlap
    • CM: Cover center, Stay back while attacking
    • LCM & RCM: Cover wing, Stick to position
    • CF & CF: Stay Central, Come back on defense
    • ST: Stay central, Mixed attack

    Defensive tactics

    • Defensive Style: Balanced
    • Width: 32
    • Depth: 72

    Offensive tactics

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

Best EA FC 24 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
  • CAMs: Stay forward, Get into the box for crosses
  • ST: Stay forward, Get in behind

Defensive tactics

  • Defensive Style: Balanced
  • Width: 40
  • Depth: 55

Offensive tactics

  • Build Up Play: Balanced
  • Chance Creation: Forward Runs
  • Width: 40
  • Players In Box: 70
  • Corners and Free Kicks: 2 bars
Jude Bellingham in EA FC 24
The best players mean nothing if the tactics are off.

Best EA FC 24 custom tactics for 4-2-2-2

Player instructions

  • Left-back: Stay back while attacking
  • Right-back: Stay back while attacking
  • CDMs: Cover center, Stay back while attacking
  • CAMs: Stay forward, Get into the box for cross
  • ST: Stay forward, Get in behind

Defensive tactics

  • Defensive Style: Balanced
  • Depth: 40

Offensive tactics

  • Build Up Play: Balanced
  • Chance Creation: Direct Passing
  • Width: 40
  • Players In Box: 50
  • Corners and Free Kicks: 2 bars

Best EA FC 24 custom tactics for 4-3-3 (4)

Player instructions

  • Left-back: Stay back while attacking
  • Right-back: Stay back while attacking
  • CMs: Cover center, Stay back while attacking
  • CAM: Stay forward, Get into the box for cross
  • LW & RW: Stay forward, Cut inside, Get in behind
  • ST: Stay forward, Get in behind

Defensive tactics

  • Defensive Style: Balanced
  • Depth: 50

Offensive tactics

  • Build Up Play: Long ball
  • Chance Creation: Direct Passing
  • Width: 40
  • Players In Box: 50
  • Corners and Free Kicks: 2 bars

Best EA FC 24 custom tactics for 5-2-2-1

Player Instructions

  • LWB: Join the attack, Overlap
  • RWB: Join the attack, Overlap
  • CMs: Cover center, Stay back while attacking
  • LW & RW: Stay forward,
  • RST: Stay forward

Defensive tactics

  • Defensive Style: Balanced
  • Width: 45
  • Depth: 40

Offensive tactics

  • Build Up Play: Long ball
  • Chance Creation: Direct passing
  • Width: 55
  • Players In Box: 50
  • Corners and Free Kicks: 2 bars

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

Player Instructions

  • RB: Join the Attack
  • CDM: Stay back, Cover center
  • CM: Get into the box, Cover wing
  • RM: Come short, Get into the box
  • LM: Come short, Get into the box
  • RST: Stay central

Defensive tactics

  • Defensive Style: Balanced
  • Width: 37
  • Depth: 65

Offensive tactics

  • Build Up Play: Long Ball
  • Chance Creation: Balanced
  • Width: 37
  • Players In Box: 70
  • Corners and Free Kicks: 1 bar

Those were the best custom tactics, formations, and player instructions that should dominate EA FC 24. Of course, the meta can see various changes, so we’ll be sure to update this page accordingly.

In the meantime, take a look at our other EA FC 24 guides:

Best strikers in EA Sports FC | Best midfielders in EA Sports FC | Best defenders in EA Sports FC | Best wingers in EA Sports FC | Best goalkeepers in EA Sports FC | Cheapest players in EA FC 24: Best SBC fodder in Ultimate Team | Best young players in EA Sports FC | Fastest players in EA Sports FC | EA Sports FC 24 Career Mode: Best free agents & contract expiry players

About The Author

Nathan is a Senior Writer at CharlieIntel. He’s an expert in EA Sports FC, Call of Duty, and Overwatch, as well as superhero games, including Marvel’s Spider-Man. With a master's degree in Magazine Journalism from Nottingham Trent University, he worked as a Trainee Reporter for Derbyshire Live before moving into games media, with bylines at Dexerto, Cultured Vultures, and more. You can contact Nathan by email at [email protected].