Custom tactics in EA FC Pro Clubs control how your AI teammates - and the overall team structure - behave when out of possession and when building attacks. Getting these settings right is the difference between a defensive line that holds shape and one that constantly leaves gaps at the worst moments.
What Custom Tactics Actually Affect
Custom tactics cover two main areas:
- Defensive tactics: Width (how compact or spread your defensive shape is) and Depth (how high or deep your defensive line sits)
- Offensive tactics: Build-up play style and attacking width when your team has the ball
These settings primarily affect your AI teammates. Human players will override AI positioning with their own movement, but the AI's default behaviour and the team's structural shape are set by your tactics. Getting them wrong means your AI players work against you rather than supporting the human players.
Defensive Width
The width slider controls how spread out your defensive shape is when out of possession.
- Lower width (40–45): Compact, narrow defensive shape. Harder to play through centrally but leaves wide areas more open. Good for formations that naturally provide wide coverage (4-4-2, 4-5-1).
- Medium width (50–55): Balanced coverage that adjusts reactively to where the ball is. Works well for most formations as a starting point.
- Higher width (55–60): Spreads wider, giving coverage against wide attacks but leaving central gaps. Use only with formations that have strong central cover - typically a double CDM setup.
For most Pro Clubs formations, 50–55 defensive width is the safest and most effective starting point.
Defensive Depth
Depth controls where your defensive line sits. High depth means a high press and short passing lanes but vulnerability to balls in behind. Low depth means a deep block that's hard to get in behind but surrenders midfield space.
- Low depth (35–45): Deep defensive block. Difficult to get in behind. Best when protecting a lead or facing much stronger opposition.
- Medium depth (50–60): The standard competitive range. Applies pressure without committing to a high line that fast strikers can exploit.
- High depth (65+): Aggressive pressing line. Works only with fast CBs and CDMs who can cover the space in behind. Extremely risky against any team with pacey strikers.
A reliable starting setup: 50–55 depth with 50–55 width. Balanced, consistent, and adjustable based on the opponent you're facing.
Build-Up Play Style
Controls how your team constructs attacks when in possession:
- Balanced: General-purpose build-up. Players look for both short and long options based on what's available. The best default for most squads.
- Fast Build-Up: More direct play - players look to advance quickly rather than recycling possession. Better for counter-attacking clubs who want to transition quickly.
- Slow Build-Up: Patient possession play. Players make themselves more available for short passes. Better for possession-based squads with accurate passers throughout the lineup.
Attacking Width
Controls how wide your players spread when in possession. Higher attacking width stretches the opposition defence and creates more central space - but requires wide human players to actually occupy those positions. With AI controlling wing spots, very high attacking width may produce overlapping runs that leave you exposed on the counter.
Match your attacking width to your formation's natural structure. A 4-2-3-1 with wide midfielders can use 55–60. A narrow 4-1-2-1-2 should stay around 45–50 to avoid exposing the flanks.
Key Player Instructions
Fullbacks (LB/RB)
- Stay back while attacking: Defensive fullbacks who don't bomb forward. Use when your wingers already provide width and you don't want to leave wide defensive gaps on the counter.
- Overlap / Join the attack: Creates overloads on the wing but requires your CDM or CM to cover the vacated space. Only use if your human midfield can track back.
Strikers (ST/CF)
- Get in behind: Makes your striker run constantly into the channels. Creates through-ball opportunities but requires a fast pro who can beat the last line.
- False 9 / Drop between defenders: Pulls opposition CBs forward and creates space for midfielders to run into. Effective with a Creative archetype striker.
CDMs
- Stay back while attacking: Essential for a holding CDM. Keeps defensive cover when your fullbacks or CMs push forward - without this, your defensive mid position is left empty.
- Free roam: For a ball-winning CDM who covers large areas of the pitch. Works best with a player who reads the game well and knows when to press and when to hold.
Recommended Starting Setup
| Setting | Recommended Starting Value |
|---|---|
| Defensive Width | 50–55 |
| Defensive Depth | 50–55 |
| Build-Up Play | Balanced |
| Attacking Width | 50–55 |
| LB/RB instruction | Stay back while attacking |
| CDM instruction | Stay back while attacking |
Adjust from this baseline based on the specific opponent. Against a fast counter-attacking team, lower your depth to 45. When chasing a game and needing goals, increase attacking width and switch to Fast Build-Up.
Tactics Change Mid-Match Too
Don't set your tactics once and forget them. Mid-game adjustments - lowering depth when protecting a lead, pushing width when chasing a goal - are powerful tools that most clubs underuse. Your manager or co-manager should be comfortable making these changes live.
Track Whether Your Tactics Work
After changing your tactics, monitor your win rate and goals conceded over the next 5–10 matches on PROCLUBS.IO. Fewer goals conceded and more clean sheets after adjusting depth means the change is working. See our formations guide for how these tactic settings pair with specific formation shapes.