Best FIFA 22 custom tactics, meta formations & player instructions
EA SPORTSFIFA 22 offers a plethora of formations, custom tactics, and player instructions – but which should you use to dominate FUT Champions Weekend League and Division Rivals in Ultimate Team?
Weekend League campaigns can be grueling, from qualification to the matches themselves – especially when your system lets you down. Whether you elect to use an attacking formation like a 4-2-2-2 or one of the new formations like the 5-2-3 (Diamond), choosing the right player instructions, and defensive, and attacking settings will be crucial in how that team holds up.
Selecting the right system will put you in a good position to get more FUT Rivals and Squad Battles victories.
Here, we will explain how EA has changed custom tactics in FIFA 22, which new formations have been added, and handy tips on how to improve your strategy in the game. If you’re looking for the best custom tactics in FIFA 23, we’ve got you covered too.
Contents
- New custom tactics explained for FIFA 22
- Best FIFA 22 formation for FUT Champions Weekend League
- FIFA 22 new formations
- FIFA 22 custom tactics explained
- Best tactics FIFA 22: Defending settings
- FIFA 22 tactics: Attacking Settings
Best FIFA 22 formation – Custom tactics for FUT Champs
We’d have to say that undoubtedly the best formation you can run in FIFA 22 this year is the 4-1-2-1-2 (narrow) as it allows you to really change up your game and dominate your opponent. Deploying four players in the middle of the park gives you plenty of options and ways to pass through your opponent going forward and conversely lots of coverage in defence.
Also, it’s up to your playstyle and the caliber of players you have at full-back, but it’s also possible to set your full-backs to join the attack and offer your attacks even more fluidity and creative outlets.
If you’re not interested in this formation, it doesn’t work for you, or you want out and out wingers in your team, then here are some other meta formations to try out:
- 4-1-2-1-2 (narrow)
- 4-2-3-1
- 4-4-2
- 4-3-3 (4)
Best FIFA 22 custom tactics for 4-1-2-1-2 (narrow)
EA SPORTSPlayer instructions
- Left-back: Stay back while attacking
- Right-back: Stay back while attacking
- CDM: Cover center, Stay back while attacking
- CM: Get into the box for crosses, Get forward
- CAM: Stay forward
- ST: Stay forward, Get in behind
Defensive tactics
- Defensive Style: Balanced
- Depth: 50
Offensive tactics
- Build Up Play: Balanced
- Chance Creation: Forward Runs or Direct Passing
- Width: 50
- Players In Box: 50
- Corners and Free Kicks: 2 bars
Best FIFA 22 custom tactics for 4-2-3-1
EA SPORTSPlayer instructions
- Left-back: Stay back while attacking
- Right-back: Stay back while attacking
- CDMs: Cover center on both, Stay back while attacking on one, Get forward on the other
- CAM: Stay forward, Get into the box for crosses
- ST: Stay forward, Get in behind
Defensive tactics
- Defensive Style: Balanced
- Depth: 50
Offensive tactics
- Build Up Play: Balanced
- Chance Creation: Forward Runs
- Width: 50
- Players In Box: 60
- Corners and Free Kicks: 2 bars
Best FIFA 22 custom tactics for 4-4-2
EA SPORTSPlayer instructions
- Left-back: Stay back while attacking
- Right-back: Stay back while attacking
- LM & RM: Cut inside,
- CM: Cover center (use box-to-box midfielders)
- ST: Stay forward, Get in behind
Defensive tactics
- Defensive Style: Balanced
- Depth: 50
Offensive tactics
- Build Up Play: Balanced
- Chance Creation: Balanced
- Width: 50
- Players In Box: 50
- Corners and Free Kicks: 2 bars
Best FIFA 22 custom tactics for 3-5-2
Player instructions
- CDMs: Cut passing lines, Cover center
- LM & RM: Come back on defence, get into box for cross, and stay wide
- CAM: Stay forward
- ST: Both Stay forward, Get in behind
Defensive tactics
- Defensive Style: Balanced
- Depth: 65
- Width: 45
Offensive tactics
- Build Up Play: Long Ball
- Chance Creation: Direct Passing
- Width: 50
- Players In Box: 5 bars
- Corners and Free Kicks: 3 bars
Best FIFA 22 custom tactics for 4-3-3 (4)
EA SPORTSPlayer instructions
- Left-back: Overlap
- Right-back: Overlap
- CM: Cover Center
- LW & RW: Cut Inside
- CAM: Get into the box for crosses, Stay forward
- ST: Stay forward
- GK: Comes for crosses, Sweeper keeper
Defensive tactics
- Defensive Style: Balanced
- Width: 50
- Depth: 75
Offensive tactics
- Build Up Play: Fast Build Up
- Chance Creation: Direct Passing
- Width: 75
- Players In Box: 60
- Corners and Free Kicks: 2 bars
Alternative 4-3-3 (4) custom tactics
Player instructions
- CM: Cover Center
- RM & LM: Come back on Defence, Get in Behind, Conservative Interceptions
- CDM: One on Get Forward, One on Stay back while Attacking
- ST: One on Stay forward, Stay Central. One of them on Come back on Defence
Defensive tactics
- Defensive Style: Balanced
- Width: 40
- Depth: 55
Offensive tactics
- Build Up Play: Long Ball
- Chance Creation: Direct Passing
- Width: 55
- Players In Box: 30
- Corners and Free Kicks: 2 bars
Best FIFA 22 custom tactics for 4-3-3 (3)
Player instructions
- CM: Cover Center
- CAM: Get forward, Get into the box for crosses
- ST: Stay forward, Stay Central
- LW & RW: Cut Inside
Defensive tactics
- Defensive Style: Balanced
- Width: 45
- Depth: 60
Offensive tactics
- Build Up Play: Balanced
- Chance Creation: Forward Runs
- Width: 50
- Players In Box: 60
- Corners and Free Kicks: 1 bar
FIFA 22 new formations
Three new formations will be added to FIFA 22, potentially changing the meta from FIFA 21 once again.
3-5-1-1
Another three at the back formation is on its way into FIFA, with a five-man midfield in front of it.
5-4-1 (Diamond)
The new formation will be a 5-4-1 similar to FIFA 21 and previous games but will take up a diamond shape.
5-2-3
The 5-2-3 formation will presumably feature three central defenders, two wing-backs, and three forwards upfront.
4-3-2-1 & 3-4-2-1 changes
These two formations will see their RF and LF positions change to CF roles in FIFA 22. How that will impact their chances of being meta formations remains to be seen.
FIFA 22 custom tactics explained
How do custom tactics work in FIFA 22?
Custom tactics will allow you to set your average defensive line in FIFA 22, whether it be a low, average, or high pressing block. From there, you can also select the style of football you wish to play, which may be standoff against the opponent, a possession-based game, or high pressing football.
These have changed since last year, for both defending and attacking.
Best tactics FIFA 22: Defending settings
EA SPORTSOn July 29, EA revealed the Gameplay Pitch Notes for FIFA 22, which revealed a number of defensive tactic changes. There are four main ones to look out for.
Sliders
- Depth and Width Sliders now range from 1 to 100, allowing for more nuanced customization.
Free Roam player instruction
- Free Roam instructions for CDMs allow for a deep-lying playmaker role coming closer to support the ball handler and also dropping deeper to receive a pass during possession or build-up.
Step Up player instruction
- Step Up instructions for Center Backs and Full Backs can have them step out of position and mark opposing attackers tighter when they are free to receive a ball. This is the inverse of the Stick to Position instruction.
Overlap player instruction
- Overlap Instructions for Center Backs (only for 3 or 5 defender formations) allow the CB to overlap wide when in the correct position and provide attacking support to teammates.
FIFA 22 tactics: Attacking Settings
EA SPORTSThere are now two types of attacking tactics. These are Build Up Play and Chance Creation.
Build Up Play
- Balanced: Stick to your formation when attacking. Players make support runs when needed.
- Slow Build Up: Not as many forward runs, but players will stand in support. Perfect for a short passing game.
- Long Ball: Players will run behind the defensive line, perfect for a target man with direct balls up the field. Fast strikers work best.
- Fast Build Up: Exposes you a little to counter-attacks, but players fly forward with dangerous runs.
Chance Creation
- Balanced: Maintain formation when attacking. Players will offer support and make runs when they think it’s the right time to do so.
- Possession: Perfect for teams with good passers. With short passing the main focus, there won’t be many penetrating runs but it will be difficult for the opposition to break your lines.
- Direct Passing: Players will create chances by making runs for passes, in behind. Fast strikers will be suited to this the best.
- Forward Runs: This tactic pushes players forward deep into attacking areas. It could leave you exposed to counterattacks, though.
Should any of the best custom tactics change for these formations, we’ll be sure to update this guide with more FIFA 22 tips. In the meantime, here are some more FIFA 22 guides for you to check out:
Best strikers in FIFA 22 Ultimate Team | Best goalkeepers to buy in FIFA 22 Ultimate Team | Best center-backs to buy in FIFA 22 Ultimate Team | Best midfielders to buy in FIFA 22 Ultimate Team | Premier League POTM | Serie A POTM | Ligue 1 POTM | Eredivisie POTM | LaLiga POTM | Bundesliga POTM