FIFA 23 Best Ever 5122 Formation Custom Tactics

Struggling with the new 5-1-2-2 formation in FIFA 23? Need decent custom tactics to get good enough attacking buildup and defensive play?

This is just the right place for you. In this guide, I will teach you how to play the new 5-1-2-2 formation in FIFA 23 Ultimate Team and also show you the best and most meta Custom Tactics that you could use with it.

FIFA 23 Best Ever 5122 Formation Custom Tactics

The 5-1-2-2 is a new formation added to FIFA 23. Normally whenever we have new stuff added to the game, it stays a little overpowered until they nerf it. This is exactly the case with this formation.

I am pretty sure they would not nerf a formation in general, so I would recommend anyone who is struggling with defense or offense in this game to use this formation along with the custom tactics I am about to show.

This is basically a 5 man at the back formation with another CDM. Now you could call me a rat for recommending this but trust me it is not as defensive as it sounds. In fact, it is quite offensive in nature.

Most Meta 5-1-2-2 Custom Tactics in FUT 23 :

Use these tactics with this formation. These would help you build up amazing counter-attacks:

Defense : 

  • Balanced works so well this year. You should not go high pressure with this formation.
  • The Width should be 40 and the Depth should be 55.

Offense :

  • Fast Build Up works best for quick counters. This year dribbling is slow and sluggish, especially with servers making it slower. So use Fast Build Up to focus more on through balls and fast passing.
  • Chance Creation should be Direct Passing. Our main objective is to lob to the full-back or through balls to the strikers.
  • The Width should be 35 and not more. The strikers will only drift apart with higher width.
  • Players in the box should be 6. Corners and Free kicks should be 2 each.

Player Instructions to use on the 5-1-2-2 formation in FUT 23 :

Instructions are extremely important. Use these :

  • Back 3 on Stay Back While Attacking.
  • LWB and RWB on Join Attack and Overlap.
  • CDM on Stay Back While Attacking and Cover Center.
  • Keep the 2 CMs on Balanced.
  • 2 STs on Balanced.

How to Play the 5-1-2-2 Formation in FUT 23 :

Well, the 5-1-2-2 is a more defensive variant of the 5-3-2. We have a CDM instead of the CM which makes it more defensive.  Currently, in FUT a lot of people are using formation to win matches.

Trust me, it works like a charm as you can easily beat players who are more skilled than you with the help of the player movement that you get with this formation. I am not a fan of the park-the-bus strategy but this one is more offensive than you think.

Your main goal would be to lob the ball as much as you can to your wing-backs who are making those overlapping runs. They create 90% of the chances for you in this formation. There is not much hope for holding the ball in midfield. This formation does not work for possession play.

So you need to adapt to the meta. Spamming through balls, and using the wings would give you better results. Hey, it sounds sweaty but I didn’t make the game. Let’s say the game is programmed that way. If you do not do it, your opponent will.

Play the ball around a bit in the midfield and then pass it to your strikers. When you spot your wingback making the overlapping run, pass the ball to him. Run diagonally towards the goal and do a cutback pass or just cross. You will be surprised at the success rate for this kind of play style.

That is all you need to know about the best Custom Tactics for the 5122 and how you should play with this formation.


I hope the guide was helpful. Please let us know in the comments section down below. Also, keep following FPS Index for more content related to FIFA 23.

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