In this FIFA 21 Best FUT Formations guide, we’ll show you the best formations you can use in FIFA 21 Ultimate Team, and how you should play them.
FIFA 21 Best FUT Formations
- 3-4-3 Formation
- 3-5-2 Formation
- 4-4-2 Formation
- 4-2-3-1 Formation
- 4-2-2-2 Formation
- 4-5-1 Formation
- 5-3-2 Formation
- 5-4-1 Formation
3-4-3 Formation
This formation is a little similar to 3-4-2-1 with a little change in the forwards.
It is perhaps one of the best formations for those attackers who love crossing and long passes.
However, since it is an attacking setup, the defence gets pretty weak and vulnerable to counter attacks. In order to avoid such circumstance, you should be putting your strongest and fastest defenders in the defence line.
A causality that might occur for non-offensive players is that the CMs might get pretty isolated due to the wide distances between them. To cover this gap, you need to bring in as fast CMs as possible since this position is more like an offensive war and you should have your best soldiers.
3-5-2 Formation
3-5-2 is one of the most solid formations with 3 central defenders letting you totally dominate the field.
The formation heavily relies upon the wing-backs who are providing width, with CDMs being the most crucial players.
Your CDMs in this formation should be your best players as the whole formation relies upon them and if they are weak, you are setting up yourself for a fall.
3-5-2 is a good defensive formations but with good CMs and accurate and short passes, you can easily make your way up to a good attack too.
However, you must note that the formation is inadequate if the opponent plays with fast wingers since you have a defence gap due to wings
4-4-2 Formation
This Formation is seen everywhere in the football world. It has become the default formation for those players who aren’t sure which one they need to use. It works very well for both beginners and advanced level players.
This Formation works so well because its offense and defense are completely balanced.
If you haven’t figured out whether it’s your offense that’s weak or your defense, this Formation is the one for you.
To use this Formation to its maximum potential in FIFA 21, you’ll have to use some specific tactics and instructions.
In the Tactics menu, decrease the Depth to 3, Corners to 2 and Free Kicks to 2, and increase the Players in Box to 6.
You’ll want to decrease Corners and Free Kicks as having more players there is completely redundant. You only need to have two players there.
In the Instructions menu, apply the following instructions to your players:
- ‘Stay Back while Attacking’ to your left and right fullbacks.
- ‘Cover Center’ to your CMs.
- ‘Stay Forward’ to your Strikers.
- ‘Cut Inside’ and ‘Get in Behind’ to your Wingers.
4-2-3-1 Formation
This wide Formation has been a fan favorite for as long as the Ultimate Team has existed. This is simply because it works in every meta of the game.
With this Formation, you have the ability to play with a flat back four without worrying about a shield as the midfielder is there for you. This Formation is designed to rely more on shooting through balls rather than crossing.
The Formation benefits heavily from having a great attacking midfielder as it allows for super snappy movements around the pitch.
If you like to play through the middle, this Formation is perfect for you.
There are a few specific tactics and instructions that this Formation works really well with.
In the Tactics menu, change the offensive style to ‘Fast Build Up’, increase the Players In Box to 6; and decrease Depth to 3 and both Corners and Free Kicks to 2.
You’ll want to decrease Corners and Free Kicks as having more players there is entirely redundant. You only need to have two players there.
In the Instructions menu, apply the following instructions to your players:
- ‘Stay Back while Attacking’ to your left and right fullbacks.
- ‘Cover Center’ for your CDMs.
- ‘Stay Forward’ to your CAM.
- ‘Get in Behind’ and ‘Stay Forward’ to your Striker.
4-2-2-2 Formation
This Formation is the sibling of the 4-4-2 Formation, but with players more capable of defending and others to attack.
When they’re not in possession of the ball, the two attacking midfielders will be in very similar positions to the RM and LM.
This is because of the lower crossing rating in CAMs, which results in crossing with this Formation not being all that great.
Instead of constant crossing, this Formation relies on long passes to get the ball into the front four players.
You need to have one CDM who has high stamina and can help out with attacking really well.
To make this formation work to the best of its abilities, you need to pick some specific tactics and instructions.
In the Tactics menu, decrease the Depth to 3, and both Corners and Free Kicks to 2.
In the Instructions menu, apply the following instructions to your players:
- ‘Stay Back while Attacking’ to your left and right fullbacks.
- ‘Cover Center’ for your CDMs.
- ‘Get in Behind’ and ‘Stay Forward’ to your Strikers.
4-5-1 Setup
Like the 4-2-3-1 Formation, this one also enables you to get full control of the midfield. With five midfielders, the opponent will have a really rough time stealing the ball from you.
To execute this Formation properly, you need a good central midfielder who has a high pace, allowing him to assist the team in both offense and defense situations and fast wingers who have the potential to play similar to attacking wing-backs.
The striker will be the most important player, so you need to have a really good one. Two of your midfielders will be supporting the striker, meaning you’ll have to play them a bit more aggressively.
If you think you have really defensive and possession-based strategies in FIFA 21, then this is the best FUT Formation for you.
5-3-2 Setup
The CBs serve as the backbone of this Formation. The centerbacks have to be good enough to get the ball and set the shots up for the team.
So, you need to have really good CBs to make this formation work.
The wing-backs give this Formation the width it needs, which will help you get control of the midfield if you have two holding players with high pace.
When you’re in possession of the ball, it’ll become really hard for the opponent to defend against you.
If your passing and movement are good enough to get the ball to the striker, you’ll be able to take some really nice shots.
5-4-1 Setup
A very exquisite defensive position that has a densely packed defence and an isolated forward with a lone striker to counter when required.
Since the striker in this setup gets too lonely, the two wide players play a very crucial role by providing quality from wide areas and bringing support to the lonely striker.
The main intentions behind using 5-4-1 setup should be a rigid defence and strong possession of the football.
As the passing becomes highly smooth during this formation, focus through the CM positions to allow runners from other areas to keep a firm possession
