FIFA 15 Formations Tips and Strategy

Formations are complemented by your individual play style and players in your squad. Thus, there are no good or bad formations, but how you set up your game around a particular formation.

In this guide, I have provided some of the formations that have been proven to work well for a number of players. I have also provided some of the drawbacks and strengths of these formations to give you an idea of how to use them most effectively.

3-5-2

The basic idea behind this formation is to crowd the area near the middle of the pitch. By doing so, you’ll render the efforts of opponent team to keep possession almost useless. However, there is one major drawback: because of the crowded midfield, your backline will not remain stable.

When going with this formation, try and use a couple of your CDMs to push back and focus on getting the ball to the attacking side of your squad. With a couple of passing options at your disposal, your opponent will never be able to predict your next move.

Coming to countering this formation; like I’ve already mentioned, this formation is weak when it comes to fullbacks so you’ll always be vulnerable from both wings.

In addition to this, fake shots seem to work really well against opponents with this formation. While near the goal, your first strike should be a fake one – towards the goal and away from the defender. This will bring up opportunities for a score.

4-1-2-1-2

I wouldn’t exactly call this to be a purely attacking formation, but somehow I felt putting it in here. With this formation, you’ll receive a lot of room to pass around with almost every player, which is one of the biggest strengths of this formation.

On the negative side, your RM and LM tend to get somewhat weak due to the strong spine. This drawback, however, can easily be counted by having decent wide players like Bale.

In addition to the things stated above, you need to have huge focus on the CAM. A couple of good plays and sharp passes from him can be enough to turn the outcome of the game.

And like I’ve already stated, I don’t consider this formation to be purely attack-based. This is more of a balanced formation which allows players to adapt to different play styles.

4-2-2-2

This is another pretty balanced formation with a lot of attacking options. Whether you’re going with attacking or defending, you’ll always find good number of players at your disposal.

With a couple of CDMs and another couple of fullbacks as well as the GK himself, this will provide you quite a strong defensive formation. On the negative side of things, the position of the CAMs is not at all ideal.

While playing with this formation, you need to put huge focus on the 2 CDMs at your disposal. With four players up front, four players at the back, and 2 midfield players; you need to ensure that the two players are strong enough.

I would recommend playing mildly-aggressive. Rely on the longer passes to pass the ball to the 4 players up front because you won’t have many players in the center of the pitch.

4-3-3-(4)

When we talk about attacking formations related to 4-3-3-, this formation really stands out. With this formation, one of the CM players in your squad becomes a CAM and is placed behind the front attacking line – behind the striker.

This formation allows you to put pressure on your opponents by using your top 3. However, keep in mind that going all out on your opponent will not work in your favour.

When going with counter-attacking, make sure to intercept the ball when it is between your attack and the midfield. You should always rely on your three attackers when you’re going for a counter-attack.

In case you’re getting pressurized by your opponents, you should always rely on your CMs, the most. Once you get hold of this formation, you will know when and how to play the ball while pressurizing opponents and getting out of trouble yourself.

4-2-3-1

While playing the FIFA Ultimate Team, you’ll often come across players with this formation. The basic idea behind this formation is to use two Central Defensive Midfielders in addition to a single CAM right behind the position of the single striker.

One of the best things about this formation is the flexibility that it provides when it comes to different play styles. Whether you’re planning on keeping possession or hitting opponents on the break, this formation will come in really handy.

Not only this, but you can also go with a crossing game or short passes to make plays.

You need to put all your focus on the midfield area with your five midfielders – these are the players who will be running the most. If you’re planning on keeping possession, consider the interplay between Central CAM, wide CAM, CDM, and your fullback.

5-4-1

One of the key strengths of going with this formation is restrict the ability of the opponent team to dribble in the open. In addition to this, the numbers of defenders with this formation will pin down the opponent’s attacking squad.

In fact, the formation is so good that it’s often banned in some of the local competitive matches. Do note that if you’re going with this formation, you’ll be required to engage in continuous attacks with one player up top.

When we talk about beating this formation, you’ll need attacking formations like 4-1-2-1-2 or 3-5-2. I’ve already discussed 3-5-2 in the Attacking Formations; you can check it for more details.

If you’re not comfortable with these formations, you can also change your squad’s mentality to attacking. When it comes to attacking, I wouldn’t recommend going down the center of the field!

With most of players agglomerated in the middle, you need to plan your attack down the wings. It’s generally a good idea to initiate the attack with wide midfielder and fullback. In the end, you can also go for counter-attack mentality.

You need to bait your opponent by losing the possession and let them advance. Once you’ve received the ball, kick off a counter-attack with a long pass to your strikes to make plays.

4-1-3-2

It’s no news that the best strategy to use midfielders is to use them for a counter-attack. Keeping this thing in mind, the basic strategy behind this formation is to have three midfielders play ahead and in a more aggressive manner.

However, do note that you must have a decent/strong defensive center midfielder to make this formation work effectively. Another small thing that you need to keep in mind is to play with accurate vertical passes.

In case an opponent is using this formation, your best bet is either skill moves or faking shots. Since this formation is mostly based on the strength and position of the CDM, you can easily get past him using one of the skill moves or fake shots followed by a finesse shot from any of the strikers.

4-5-1-(2)

Electronic Arts has brought in a couple of new formations in FIFA Ultiamte Team 15. This flat midfield 4-5-1-(2) is one of the new formations that has seen its way to the game this year.

The thing that distinguish this formation from the standard 4-5-1 formation is that this formation is much crowded on the midfield. Yes, you will have a single striker at the top, but you will also have five midfielders to back him up.

With quite a lot of support at his disposal, the striker up top will be able to make plays.

4-1-4-1

When going with this formation, you will be most dependant upon the CDMs. Your CDM will play the role of both a holder and a link-up passer. However, you need to make sure that all these plays are make while the CDM is in his position.

When going with this formation, it is a good idea to switch from Balanced to Attacking. The reason for this is that in other case, the CMs quite a lot passive to pressurize te opponent’s half of the field.

You can also go for ultra-attacking if you feel like more pressure is needed. In case you get a player sent off, you can switch to ultra-defensive and substitute as needed.

Talking about skill moves, you can go with feints and ball rolls, both of which will work really effectively with this formation.