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How to make Dynamic Tactics work for you in FIFA 19
Need a plan B? Check out this FIFA 19 Dynamic Tactics tips guide to discover how to change the game when you're protecting a lead or you desperately need a goal.
Dynamic tactics is one of the big new FIFA 19 features. These are essentially preset formations and roles that you can change on the fly in-game, minus substitutions. Long gone are the days of Park The Bus and All Out Attack – now you can customise your four game plans however you like, to deal with any and every scenario.
How do Dynamic Tactics work?
In-game, the system still works the same. Left and right on the D-pad will select from Ultra Defensive, Defensive, Attacking and Ultra Attacking. You kick-off on Balanced but once you’ve navigated away, Balanced is no longer an option, forcing you to choose from one of your four presets.
In the Team Management menus before the game, change your squad however you desire for the start of the game. Once you’re happy with the line-up, hold L2/LT to select a game plan to edit. These allow you to change the team’s mentality depending on prospective situations. For example, if you’re 2-0 up with 10 minutes to go and you want to maintain your lead, you’re going to want Ultra Defensive.
You can set your tactics to Ultra Defensive to defend a 1-0 lead
© EA Sports
How to use Dynamic Tactics to defend a lead
Thing is, the standard Ultra Defensive mindset may not be suitable for your team. This is where the custom game plans come in. You can change up the formation, defensive style, team width and more to take advantage of your team’s strengths. Of course, a five-defender formation is going to be optimal for defending a lead but if you’ve got great wingbacks, you can alter the game plan to play much wider.
Hit R1/RB to go to Tactics and you’ll see the defensive style options. Defending a lead means you’re likely going to want a rigid set-up, so we’d recommend opting for the Drop Back defensive style. Combine that with a deep defensive line and your opponent will have a hard time creating any goal scoring opportunities, especially if you’re rocking the Long Ball offensive style to clear the ball from your half.
How to use Dynamic Tactics when you need to score
On the opposite end of the spectrum, you’ve got Ultra Attacking. This is for when you absolutely need to score a goal or two to take the lead. There are plenty of attacking formations in the game – you just need to know which is right for your team. Got two pacy wingers and a solid central midfield trio? Consider 4-3-3 Attack. Prefer to run with two strikers and can rely on your full-backs to deal with the wings? Look toward 4-1-2-1-2 Narrow.
Offensive game plans allow more freedom, especially when it comes to the defensive style. For example, if you’ve got players with a lot of stamina, applying constant pressure is the same as the High Pressure option in previous games. Your players will hound the opposition for the ball back, similar to teams like Manchester City in real life. When they lose the ball, they don’t give up until they’ve won it back.
In the offensive options, you’ve got a bunch of options to work with. Cycle through them, experiment with your team and find which works for you. Possession allows you to dictate the pace of the game, for example, while fast build up is great for intricate passing and through balls. Adjust the offensive width to your liking and eventually you’ll find something that works when you’re desperate for a goal or two.
Included in the offensive section are options for how many players you want forward during attacking play, corners and free kicks. While the diagram may show a specific number of blue dots, this isn’t directly representative of the number of players in-game. It simply indicates less or more players – for example, with three blue dots in the box, we found that it translated to five players in-game. Experiment and see what works for you.
How to use Dynamic Tactics from the kick-off
With the standard Defensive and Attacking presets, we’d recommend setting them to be ones you can switch to from the kick-off. If you’re expecting to lose a game and want to start defensively, make a defensive tactic that is fairly balanced but with a deep back line. You can then adjust your tactic as the game progresses.
These game plans don’t incorporate substitutions in any way, though – if your Ultra Attacking preset requires a sub, you’re going to have to remember to do that manually each time. As always, you can adjust each player’s individual instructions depending on their position, too.
There’s no ultimate guide to setting up game plans and dynamic tactics. For most players, it’ll be a case of experimenting with different options and customising them to suit your playstyle. Especially in Ultimate Team, as you constantly build and develop your squad, you’ll want to keep a keen eye on what works and what doesn’t.
