In EA FC 25, much like in real-life football/soccer, the tactical setup of a team can either make or break that team during a match. You can choose from several preset tactical setups in the game. However, if you want to know exactly how they stack up against each other and which ones you should try, here is a ranking of the best EA FC 25 tactics.
The 10 Best EA FC 25 Tactics
4-3-2-1 Balanced
Build-up Style: Balanced
Defense: Balanced
Not everyone can play with a narrow formation. However, suppose you enjoy possession-heavy plays that focus on slow build-ups and short passing to get the ball into the back of the net. In that case, the 4-3-2-1 formation is perfect. Having five players in midfield gives you complete control of the center of the pitch. It allows you to overwhelm opponents with quick, short passes during the build-up goals.
Tip: While this is a tremendous tactical setup, it is susceptible to long, overhead through balls to the flanks because of your team’s narrow setup.
3-4-1-2
Build-up Style: Balanced
Defense: High
This tactical setup utilizes every position on the field. It simulates Johan Cruyff’s total football by involving every player. From the sweeper keeper, to the ball-playing defenders, to the forwards, this tactic utilizes a high line to overwhelm opponents and cause mistakes, blindsiding them with swift counterattacking maneuvers. With this formation, you risk injuring or tiring out your players. However, if you can find your rhythm, your opponents will have few answers for your repeated onslaught.
Tip: Players with great stamina and agility stats will serve you well.
4-4-2 Counter Attack
Build-up Style: Counter
Defense: High
The 4-4-2 is one of the most easily recognized tactical setups in football. It provides a balanced setup that gives your team structure and stability across the length of the pitch. With the counterattacking style and the high defensive line, you can capitalize on every mistake your opponents may make. It is a familiar and trusted tactic that works both for beginners and pros and with the right players on your team, you could have some fun playing with this tactic.
Tip: The best way to enjoy this setup is to have fast full-backs, skillful passers in midfield, and target forwards up front.
4-2-3-1 Defensive
Build-up Style: Balanced
Defense: Low
The 4-2-3-1 setup allows you to confidently go forward during attacks down the middle and through the flanks with the confidence of a solid defensive structure behind you. This formation combines a flashy, pacey, and creative attack with a solid defensive backline by utilizing attacking midfielders, wingers, a lone striker up front, two defensive midfielders, and a four-person backline in defense. With this tactical setup, you can confidently switch from attack to defense without any worries.
Tip: While this tactic has several ways to create chances, the best way is pairing pacey wingers with extraordinary crossing abilities with a target forward who can score from crosses.
5-4-1 Counter Attack
Build-up Style: Counter Attack
Defense: Balanced
The 5-4-1 tactical setup was designed to absorb your opponents’ attacks, no matter how relentless, without conceding a goal and pouncing on counterattacking opportunities. This tactic is a great way to frustrate your opponents. It’s most helpful if you’re playing against someone with more experience than you. Ultimately, it is a great way to maintain clean sheets and grind out those 1-0 or 2-0 victories that Jose Mourinho is known for.
Tip: This tactical setup would be most effective if you lined up with an explosive, pacey striker who can run onto over-the-top through balls and score goals. Timo Werner is a great example.
3-4-3 Wide
Build-up Style: Balanced
Defense: Balanced
Changing it up from the previous entry, the 3-4-3 allows you to sacrifice some of your defensive cover for more attacking options down the middle and on the flanks. With two wide midfielders, two creative central midfielders, and three forward players fulfilling whatever role you may require of them, you have your pick of how you want to attack. The downside to this formation is that despite having the extra center back, your team is exposed on the flanks, and certain passes and attacks may get through. You should be able to fend off most attacks with a few extra instructions to individual players. If not, you can always outscore your opponents.
Tip: This tactic works best with a team of creative passers with great stats in vision, long passing, short passing, and crossing.
4-1-4-1 Possession
Build-up Style: Balanced
Defense: High
As the name suggests, the 4-1-4-1 possession tactic is a possession-heavy formation that allows you to take your time and make the best decisions mid-game. With so many different passing lanes for each player on the ball at any given time, it isn’t easy to lose the ball once you get going. You can build up play from the back, transitioning from defense to attack with fluid passing and sound decision-making. This tactical setup allows you to dictate the game’s flow and take the lead during every play.
Tip: Having a team of skilled passers down to your goalkeeper and defenders is a great way to get the best out of this formation.
4-2-4 Balanced
Build-up Style: Balanced
Defensive: High
The 4-2-4 tactical setup offers you as many scoring options as possible. This tactic provides limited, but surprisingly effective, defensive cover and focuses heavily on the forward movement of the ball. With four attacking players up-front, you have no shortage of goal-scoring potential in this formation.
Tip: Line up your four attacking players as a winger, an inside forward for the wide players, an advanced forward, and a poacher for the central players, giving you as many goal-scoring options as possible.
4-1-2-1-2 Narrow
Build-up Style: Short Passing
Defense: High
This narrow lineup allows you to attack without worrying about defensive structure. With a defensive midfielder, two central midfielders, and an attacking midfielder, you have total control over the midfield and the match’s pace. The defensive midfielders ensure that your backline has an extra man to sure up defense, the central midfielders give you extra passing lanes and ensure the smooth transition of play from offense to defense and vice versa, and the offensive midfielder gives you an extra attacking outlet. The attacking midfielder can even contribute goals depending on the instructions you have set up.
Tip: Fielding players with great pace and passing abilities is the best way to unleash this tactic’s full potential.
4-3-3 Tiki-Taka
Build-up Style: Counter
Defense: Deep
The 4-3-3 is the standard of football as we know it today. Almost every team and manager uses some variation of the 4-3-3. Using tiki-taka, you can access one of the 4-3-3’s greatest strengths — versatility. The 4-3-3 allows you to field your squad in fluid, customizable roles that can be altered and reshaped as many times as needed mid-game. This tactic offers defensive coverage, offensive opportunities, and the ability to keep and retrieve the ball in case of turnovers. You can’t go wrong with the 4-3-3 tiki-taka.
Published: Feb 21, 2025 3:11 PM UTC