Team tactics in EA Sports FC 25

The latest release from EA Sports brings us an updated tactical system. The changes aim to create a more dynamic team-based game where tactics are more important in determining a player's ability. From formations to defensive approach, Team Tactics lets you create your strategies and share them with friends.

What will Team Tactics look like in Ultimate Team?

Unlike individual player parameters - such as physical and mental attributes, movement, and skills on and off the ball - team tactics relate to the team as a whole. They allow you to reflect actual playing styles and give you control over the strategies you create. To change the team tactics in UT:

1. Select “Club” by pressing R1/RB three times on the UT main screen.
2. Select the “Squa”' option.
3. Press the L3 button to display the “Team Actions” screen.
4. Select “Team Management”.
5. Select and edit a tactic.

There are three areas of tactical customization in EA FC 25:

• Formations;
• Build-up styles;
• Defensive approach.

Formations

Team tactics play a key role in shaping your team's style of play. The first step in the creation of any tactic is the selection of the main structure on which it will be based. In EA FC 25, you can choose from 29 different formations. In the latest version, formations will no longer play such a major role in dictating the style of play, but will still be an important factor in determining positions and roles. Formations will determine how your team defends and positions itself without the ball.

Build-up styles

The new edition features 3 styles that affect how the way your team moves forward with the ball. These styles define the speed of the transition from defense to attack and the approach to winning the opponent's territory. Depending on the situation on the pitch, you'll be able to launch quick attacks or perform multi-pass moves while still focusing on keeping the ball. Here's how each style affects your game:

• Short Passing - players will focus on short passing with the player in possession, a cautious and patient approach to the game, maintaining the defensive formation longer when switching to attack.
• Balanced - players will maintain a balance between running forward and coming close to the player with the ball, a stable transition to attacking at a normal pace.
• Counter - a quick transition from defense to attack, with players exploiting the space behind the opponent's defensive line.

Defensive approach

EA FC 25 will have 4 defensive approach styles directly linked to defensive line height, pressing, and run tracking. You can also set the height of your defense to suit your needs. The available styles are:

• Deep - an approach based primarily on safety, with a low-dropping defensive line to mark the opponents, without applying pressure.
• Balanced - a flexible approach to the game, with the defense adjusting depth and run tracking, without applying pressure
• High - a more risk-taking approach with a more advanced defense, with situational pressure and virtually no tracking of your opponents' movement.
• Aggressive - the most proactive approach, with a high defensive line. Focuses on pressing immediately after losing possession and setting offside traps. It places considerable physical demands on the players.

Preset and custom tactics

The preset tactics are pre-prepared configurations that have been inspired by the most popular football strategies. A good option for new players who aren't familiar with or don't want to customize tactics. Experienced players will find the basic tactics to be a great starting point for building their strategies.

Any changes you make to the basic tactics will make them custom, while a tactic reset will return it to the state it had when you entered the tactics screen.

Customizable tactics give you complete control over every detail of your team's strategy. EA FC 25 allows you to create up to 5 tactics. Each custom strategy can have a unique name, formation, tactical objectives, and player roles.

Once you have set up your team, tactical objectives, and player roles, you will receive a dynamic analysis of your tactics. The three strengths and weaknesses will allow you to identify the positive aspects of your strategy and the elements that need improvement.

Sharing tactics

EA Sports FC 25 allows you to share your tactics with other players. Each tactic has an 11-digit code and includes information on formation, building-up style, defensive approach, 11 selected roles and focuses. Working in any mode, on any console, and across any generation, the tactics code is universal. Simply select Import Tactics from the Custom Tactics menu and type in the code to use it.

Conclusion

Tactics are undoubtedly one of the most important aspects of football. In EA Sports FC 25, we will see it in a reworked and improved version, but only time will tell if the changes are for the better. You can check it out and see for yourself if you buy the game here.