In this FIFA 21 Tactics Guide, we will guide you on how you can use the tactics in FIFA 21 to your advantage and how to make your team play better according to different scenarios. Tactics are team-wide so every time you change your tactics, the whole team will be affected by them so it is necessary that you choose your tactics carefully because choosing the wrong type of tactics will cause you to lose the game pretty easily. There are multiple types of tactics that you can use in FIFA 21 and we have detailed all of them below in this guide.
Tactics Guide – FIFA 21
Our FIFA 21 Tactics Guide details everything that you need to know about tactics in FIFA 21 and how to use them to your advantage.
Offensive Tactics
There are four offensive tactics that you can use in FIFA 21.
Possession
If you choose Possession, your players will play a more support-type role and will stay behind rather than go ahead. Passes will be more backward oriented while the team will remain patient with its play. The team will continue to pass around the players defensively and is best for short passing. However, you should know that your team will build up much slower in Possession.
Long Ball
In Long Ball, your team will make runs for long balls into the space behind the opposing team’s backline. This is good for Strikers who run fast with a good attacking attribute. Close players tend to anticipate the long ball however the players farther from the ball will attempt to find space giving you a good option for long shots.
Balanced
Choose this if you want a more balanced formation from your team. The play is neither slow nor fast and your players will support mostly and only make runs when they think is the right time for it.
Fast Build Up
Unlike Possession which offers a slower build-up, this option is all about building up the game quickly. Players will push forward however losing the ball is not an option here because your players will mostly push forward with leaving the area behind open for a counter-attack. Even your defense will be more offense-focused if you choose the Fast Build Up so be very careful with this option.
Offensive Width Tactics
You have three options to choose from here.
Narrow
With this option selected, most of your players will narrow it down and will focus more in the middle of the pitch. This will encourage short passes but make sure that you are looking out at the outer edges because those sides will be open for your opponent to attack.
Wide
With this option selected, your players will spread far apart from each other and will thoroughly cover the ends of the field. However, the mid will suffer in this option so you will be open from the mid if you are not careful.
Normal
If you are unable to decide between Narrow or Wide, you can always go for Normal which allows for a good balance in the mid as well as the sidelines of the field. You can cover both the mid and the sides in this option pretty easily however depending on the scenarios, make sure that you are ready to switch to Narrow or Wide if the need arises.
Defensive Tactics
You have four options to choose from here.
Drop Back
Drop Back calls most of your team back for an ultimate defense formation but leaves the offense extremely weak. This tactic could be good for defending after you have scored some goals but if you still have to score, this tactic will not work in your favor. With this chosen, your strikers become more passive as well and will not avail of any attacking opportunities so you will have a great defense.
Balanced
This option allows for a decent balance between the positions in the middle of the field. This neither falls as a defensive or an offensive tactic. Your team will remain in the middle of the field and also neutral in terms of tactics.
Pressure on Heavy Touch
This option has two variations. Your team maintains its formation until it has to pressure the opposing team in cases such as a loose ball, the opposition takes a heavy touch, or a difficult pass facing your own goal. However, if your team loses the ball in this scenario, you must take it back in 7 seconds otherwise your team will fatigue and the players will be out of position as well.
Constant Pressure
This tactic offers the most pressure on your opponent’s offense. However, you must note that this option is very demanding and will greatly fatigue your team. If you push them too hard they will remain out of their position and will also have low stamina for when you really need it. However, it is also the most effective tactics option when you want to oppress the opposition team with maximum pressure.
Defensive Width tactics
Similar to Offensive, you can adjust the width of your defense as well with these tactics.
Narrow
With this option, you will set your defense as narrow as possible to cover the middle of the pitch as strongly as possible. However, with the focus being in the middle of the pitch, the sides will be completely open for attacks and your players will not focus too much on the sidelines. This is great when you want to win the central game however if your opponents take to the sides, you will be in trouble.
Normal
If you do not want a too compact or a too wide defense, choose Normal and you will have a balanced defense that covers both the middle and the sidelines. Your players will try their best to cover both the middle as well as the sidelines of the field.
Wide
Choosing this option will allow you to defend the sidelines at the cost of the middle of the field. Your players will be scattered towards the sidelines and will make it harder for the opposition to use the sidelines for their advantage however your middle will be pretty exposed.
Depth Tactics
You can also adjust the Depth tactics during the defense to give you an edge. You have three options to choose from here.
Deep
Deep allows your team to cover your own goal right to the very edge of the field. Yoru players will give very little space to the opposition even if they reach the very back of the field. This favors long passes and shots.
Medium
If you want to own the middle of the field, this tactic option is right for you. With this option selected, your team will adjust around the middle of the field with half your team behind the line and half in the enemy’s side of the field to allow you a good space to cover the middle of the field.
High
With this option selected, your team will positon itself very aggressively near your opponent’s side of the field. This option is excellent for applying as much pressure as possible at your opposition however you will leave your backline completely open so long shots or passes could possibly ruin your day.
Corners Tactics
These tactics allow you to adjust the number of players in the opposing team’s penalty area. You have three options to choose from.
Low Amount
This is a defensive approach and your team will mostly stay out of the opposition’s penalty box.
Normal Amount
This is a balanced approach as you will have a decent number of players in the opposition’s penalty box.
High Amount
This is an offensive approach and choosing this option will allow you to have the most number of players inside the opposition’s penalty box for a maximum offense.
Players in Box
These tactics are useful when you are in the crossing zone. You can choose from three different options.
Low Amount
You can choose Low Amount to have a smaller number of players in your crossing zone which will allow you to play a slower offense. Your players will remain outside the box and will await the next scenario that opens up according to your play.
Normal
With this option selected, as you pass into the crossing zone, a good amount of players will run into the box depending on if it is a good move. This decision will be made according to the current scenario in the game.
High Amount
With High Amount selected, as soon as you pass into the crossing zone, all nearby players will run into the box creating the biggest push into the goal however with all of the players pushing into the goal, it might open you up for a counterattack.
Corners
There are three options for you to choose your tactics for Corners.
Low Amount
Choose this option while taking a corner if you want to take a more defensive corner rather than an offensive corner. Your players will take a good formation that suits defense in case the opposition gets hold of the ball and tries to score on the opposite end of the pitch.
Normal
This option allows you to take a balanced goal as you have a balanced amount of players right at the goal as well as behind for defense.
High Amount
If you want to go all-in, choose High Amount and all of the players will be in the opposition’s penalty box and will offer a high pressure as you take the corner.
Free Kicks
You can set these tactics to define your player positioning while taking free kicks towards the goal. You have three options to choose from here as well.
Low Amount
Choosing this option allows you to have fewer players in the opponent’s penalty area for a more defensive approach. In case you miss your shot, you will have players at the back that will quickly move in to tackle the opposition trying to take a chance at your goal.
Normal
With the normal option selected, you will have more players standing in the penalty box however you will still some players at the back in case things do not go as planned.
High Amount
If you want to go all offense, choose High Amount and all of your players will shift towards the opponent’s penalty box. This will strengthen your offense but will reduce your defense if your opponent counter-attacks.
For more help with FIFA 21, check out the guides linked below:
This concludes our FIFA 21 Tactics Guide. If you want to add anything to this guide, feel free to use the comments section below.
