Dream League Soccer 2024 Formations and Tactics Guide: Everything You Need to Know

In the entire mobile gaming universe, not a lot of football titles are built exactly like the Dream League Soccer (DLS) franchise. First Touch Studios designed the game focusing on individual player control, so the impact of formations and tactics hits differently than it would in other soccer games.

Since you have the ability to steer anyone your control cursor touches, formations simply act as suggestions or templates. Like almost everywhere else, suggestions and templates can be ignored and altered. That may sound like something negative, but we guarantee you that it is not.

We created this Dream League Soccer 2024 (DLS 2024) Formations and Tactics guide to tell you what you need to know about the best formations, what playstyle(s) each can support, their pros and cons, and any tips to use them effectively.

But before we jump in and scan through the page of the Dream League Soccer 2024 playbook, here are quick facts about formations and tactics in the game:

1. You can switch your formation multiple times in a match, but each change will only take effect on resets during kickoffs. Goal kicks, free kick pauses, or sending the ball out of bounds will welcome substitutions but not formation changes.

2. No matter how many formations you have used in a match; your opening formation will be your default on the next. Keep this in mind so you won’t have to endure the early part of your next encounter assuming a formation you are not satisfied with. This will likely apply in times that you have used an unfamiliar one because it is part of the Daily Challenges.

3. Access to more formations is not free. You have to spend diamonds to upgrade your Training Centre and each upgrade lets you unlock up to three new formations. We generally suggest pushing just up to Level 2, since you will have a total of 15 to choose from by then.

4. Some formations are closely similar to each other in terms of how they dictate the spacing and positioning of your players. This is another reason why we would not recommend upgrading the Training Centre to Level 4 or 5. There are better uses for your diamonds and you can read our recommendations in our Dream League Soccer 2024 beginner’s guide.

5. The selection for tactics in Dream League Soccer 2024 does not pertain to actual tactics or playstyles. They are rather the equivalent of mentality in football management games.

Tactics simply dictate player spacing and their height on the pitch, with Attacking as the loosest and highest and Defending as the tightest and lowest. It holds a little level of relevance, but tweaking it may offer some fine-tuning that can favor certain playstyles.

To avoid confusion, we will still address them as “tactics” from this point on in this guide and refer to actual real-world tactics as strategies or playstyles.

APPLICABLE PLAYSTYLES IN DREAM LEAGUE SOCCER 2024

Speaking of playstyles, below are real-world strategies that you can pull off in Dream League Soccer 2024. These playstyles vary in complexity. Implementing them would require a great degree of familiarity with the game, by this, we meant that you must already know how to control your passing strength and direction. Beyond that, you need to have a fairly high understanding of predicting the movements of players—both yours and your opponents’.

Park the Bus: a defensive playstyle designed to keep the ball among midfielders and defenders, essentially burning the clock. This tactic is primarily used to safeguard a lead and keep low-scoring matches. Easily, this is best for teams who have a lot of defenders and slow midfielders.

Route One: a risky and aggressive playstyle that puts a lot of trust in the players higher up the pitch to receive long ball passes and through balls to convert them into blitz goals. The aim here is to catch the opposing team off-guard and use faster players to outmaneuver the opposition without getting offside calls.

Wing Play: an attacking playstyle that gives the upfield ball delivery task to wingers instead of a series of infield passes through midfielders. Wingers are expected to keep the ball on their side and attempt to swoop or pass diagonally infield only upon reaching the final third.

Control Possession: a fundamental football tactic that holds equal preference on passing upfield, downfield, or cross-field. It is somewhat related to Tiki-Taka, but it relies more on player positioning rather than individual passing and ball control skills because it aims to look for openings rather than mismatches.

Tiki-Taka: a playstyle characterized by multiple short passes with a preference for direct passes instead of gambling with through-balls, long balls, and crossings. Compared to Dream League Soccer 2022, the developers have now optimized the game; it is now actually much more viable to execute crisp, close-range passes with a lesser danger of getting intercepted. Tiki-Taka is ideal for teams laden with players who have a high PAS attribute.

A variation of it is called Vertical Tiki-Taka which is simpler as it prioritizes bringing the ball to the strikers using the least passes as possible.

Gegenpress: a playstyle that employs an aggressive defense to shorten the possession time of the other team. It seeks to engage ball handlers in a 1v1 or corner receivers, priming them to commit poor passes or get tackled easier when they get caught on the wrong foot. This requires every player—strikers included—to actively contest ball handlers at the soonest possible time.

Just to clarify, there is no part in Dream League Soccer 2024 where you can select what playstyle to use; using one demands your conscious effort, especially those that require multiple passes and more precise aiming.

Additionally, you must consider the skill level (rarity rating) of the players yet available to you because the better their attributes are, the easier it would be to improvise and stick to a tactic.

Since you can control players, you can practically implement multiple playstyles at a time that best suits your chosen formation. For every formation we will digest here, we will briefly mention their offensive and defensive characteristics, the playstyles you can abide by, and our opinion to make it easier for you to identify which one suits your taste and skill.

Formations are not made equal. Dream League Soccer 2024, being primarily a skill-based game is complicated to program. We can only imagine how hard it is for the developers to build the game the way it is now.

What we’re trying to say is that the game has some inconsistencies and it reflects in how players “behave” in a match. Sometimes players move away from the ball, “give up” on distant chases, lose aerial battles against players who did not even jump, and simply move out of position seemingly ignoring or even nullifying what a formation ideally presents.

To take into account that reality of Dream League Soccer 2024, we are focusing on 12 of the 28 formations available. The ones that made it in our selection are those that require less effort when you need to compensate against the said issues.

We have also classified formations based on how easy or hard it is to use them plus the benefit they can bring in improving your overall mechanical skills and understanding of the game. Get your drawing boards and notebooks ready, managers, and let’s now get into it!

EASY FORMATIONS

4-4-2 | Slots for GK, LB, CB, CB, RB, LM/LW, CM/AM/SS, CM/AM/SS, RM/RW, CF/LW, CF/RW

The default formation in almost all football iterations in games and real life. With a balanced midfield and defense, your team always gets enough space and passing options to cook an upfield approach until either striker gets a good look to finish.

This versatile and simple formation can welcome any tactic and playstyle and the adequate gaps between your players makes it a perfect formation for beginners. Once you have mastered moving the ball around with a 4-4-2, it should be a breeze to adapt to most formations.

Strengths:

– Presents a square, symmetrical player distribution that opens balanced opportunities to attack at either side.

– Beginner-friendly and ideal to keep until you get a set of players with high SPE and ACC ratings.

– Effectiveness will not be affected regardless of what tactic you select.

Cons:

– As a three-layer formation, it is technically shallow, making it susceptible to long ball passes against teams with pacey Centre Forwards (CF).

– Compact formation may invite opposing defenders to crowd infield; you may want to select Attacking as your tactic if you cannot maneuver well.

Tips for success: When in possession, you should extensively use your two players taking the slots for Central Midfielders (CM). They will be your key to reaching your CFs with a full-strength B-pass if passing lanes are open. In case the ball gets to them late and a clean pass is unlikely, you can kick it out to your wingers–the Left Midfielder (LM) or Right Midfielder (RM)–who should then have a better look for a controlled cross-pass to the strikers.

In higher divisions or against better opponents, it will increasingly become difficult to get the ball safely from your defenders to either CM, so you may want to use your Left Back (LB) or Right Back (RB) to deliver the ball to their midfielder counterparts. Either way, the ultimate objective is to time a clean, diagonal cross-pass to the CFs before you get deep into your opponent’s final third.

Verdict: Nothing special. It is simply a formation that you should use when you do not have a “colored” 11 yet. Use this formation to build your patience and practice Control Possession.

4-1-2-1-2 | Slots for GK, LB, CB, CB, RB, DM, CM/LM/LW, CM/RM/RW, AM/CM/SS, CF/LW, CF/RW

A top-tier formation in terms of being well-rounded. The four-defender line and a spot for an anchoring Defensive Midfielder (DM) ensure that you can respond against both infield and wing attacks. As for offense, all modes of upfield delivery are available especially if you assume an Attacking tactic.

The “cross” formation of the midfielders allows you to find an open cross-pass or patiently wait with a Control Possession playstyle until both CFs get in position. The sheer height of this formation also makes it the most feasible in pulling off Route One and it will only get deadlier when you already have a pair of tall and strong strikers. Remember, the taller the player, the better he is at rerouting the ball through headers.

Pros:

– Easily one of the best—if not the best—formations since it can welcome every single playstyle

– Conserves the stamina of your Center Backs (CBs); you can essentially send them to the next match with full or almost full stamina.

– Opens a chance to implement Vertical Tiki-Taka, especially on Defensive tactic

– Favorable for counter-attacking

Cons:

– The players you assign on the slots for Attacking Midfielder (AM) and DM have a great tendency to line up instead of being parallel. This means you have to cover quite a distance when chasing opposing ball handlers that got past your strikers.

– Requires a lot of conscious effort on defense and will quickly burn the stamina of midfielders

– It may not be as effective as designed if you do not yet have a competitive 11; gold wingers, especially.

Tips for success: When gunning for Route One, let the long ball C-pass come from either CB with a pass strength of around 75% to 90%. This pass should be done with the CB just a few yards away from the penalty box and should be diagonally aimed near the edges of the opposition’s penalty box. Going further will make the landing area “smaller” for the through-balls and this will cut your strikers’ room to win position against defenders.

Note that about 90% of the defenders are poor passers and this translates to longer charge time when making a B-pass. This is exactly why you’ll be better off relying on their natural STE in sending the ball far with a C-pass.

As soon as you released the C-pass, be alert about who will have the control cursor. If the player with the cursor remains standing still, brace yourself to redirect the ball with a header; if the player selected is mobile, it means they are eligible to run at the through-ball’s landing area. We have to emphasize that being alert and precise is required to take advantage of 4-1-2-1-2.

Verdict: Use this formation as soon as you have a pair of Wingers and CFs who have green/blue SPE as they will be your key in sudden interceptions and counterattacking. Their quickness will also be the key to positioning themselves quickly to redirect the ball or finish when they are near the landing areas of the passes from your defenders.

4-4-1-1| Slots for GK, LB, CB, CB, RB, LM/LW, CM/DM/CB, CM/DM/CB, RM/RW, AM/CM/SS/CF, CF

Set to have four defenders and midfielders, it’s not hard to imagine how effective this formation is when it comes to locking attackers down. But defense is not entirely the name of the game in 4-4-1-1 because it is also versatile in offense.

You can paint a nice and secure Tiki-Taka game plan because of the parallel third and fourth lines while your two attackers position themselves, ready to break out when the opportunity arises. Also, since the wings are pre-activated due to the formation’s sheer width, Wing Play serves as a sweet, secondary pocket strategy.

Pros:

– You can deny both infield and wing-based attacks quite easily due to having two layers of defense.

– Offense just requires two strikers or a CM with a high PAS attribute to help a good finisher.

– Less amount of cursor juggling is required; if your LM or RM gets outran, your LB or RB shouldn’t be too far to halt advancing wingers.

Cons:

– Patience is required to thrive within a Tiki-Taka system; prematurely kicking the ball out when opponents are not yet too drawn in will make it difficult for your two attackers to get an open look.

– Presents a high chance that your attackers will be overwhelmed by defenders in resets

– Your attacking wingers (the ones assigned to the LM and RM slots) will likely reach orange stamina early.

Tips for success: If you do not have an elite AM or CM yet, you can use a tall defender to take up the slot. He will be your primary receiver when an attacking window opens as he holds a good chance to send the ball to the solo CF with a header. The big man and your finisher will be your scoring bread-and-butter.

Be patient in keeping the ball among your defenders and midfielders. The idea is to frustrate the opposing team so they will commit more players to go lower which will open some space that your two attackers need.

When in transition and you see your two attackers already in position, aim a C-pass out to the CM and pray that you can make a decent header upfield delivering it to your CF.

Verdict: This formation is like marching into battle with a sword and shield; you have the right tools, but you must be steady in keeping your guard up (maintaining possession) whilst being attentive when an opportunity to attack opens. If you’re the hyper-aggressive type, 4-4-1-1 is not for you since the topmost requirement for it is timing and patience.

It’s not all that, it also caters to multi-pass approaches like Control Possession and Tiki-tika. If you’re not exactly the patient type, you can set a target forward (a tall CF with high STR) and a finisher to receive and shoot at the tail end of every Route One effort.

4-1-3-2 | Slots for GK, LB, CB, CB, RB, DM/CB, LM/LW, CM/AM/SS, RM/RW, CF/LW, CF/RW

Closely related to 4-1-2-1-2 just with a slight yet functional height adjustment for your RM and LM. This formation offers a wide passing angle from your defender line to the midfielders that would inevitably teach you to explore and be comfortable with the power of Wing Play.

The shorter distance between the wingers from the strikers lets them play as Inside Forwards, thus essentially doubling your scoring options. It offers the same lower-formation perks in defense as 4-1-2-1-2, provided that you already know how to predict and pre-empt your opponents’ advances.

Pros:

– It serves as the most technically sound formation for Wing Play.

– You will find it relatively easy to invade your opponent’s penalty box.

– With an easier upfield build-up due to having five attackers, you literally have more heads available to receive and header up long ball passes.

Cons:

– Sets for a longer chase time when trying to corner opposing wingers

– The movement required for the five players upfield and defensive wingers (RB and LB) consumes a lot of stamina.

– Every infield approach is likely to be met with a lot more frequent tackles regardless of whatever tactic you pick. Translation: increased chances of injury.

Tips for success: If long balls for Route One attempts aren’t landing well (or you always lose in aerial battles), do not shy away from Wing Play. The gap between the RB to RM and LB to LM is long and wide enough that you’re almost always guaranteed to complete a full wing delivery. Just make sure to stick with high-powered B-passes.

If your wingers are quick enough to enter the penalty box before receiving contact, enter the zone by all means and only attempt to C-pass infield when you’re inside. In this way, you can invite penalties or at least be able to set volley finishes for your CFs or whoever gets in front of the goal.

Depending on your appointed strikers’ skill levels, a good volley is possible by double tapping on the screen (skill shot), directing a full-powered B-kick, or a quick tap (under 10% power) A-kick.

Verdict: The best formation to acquaint yourself with Wing Play especially since it can work even if you don’t have elite wingers yet. It is a potent attacking formation for intermediate and advanced players.

5-3-2 | Slots for GK, LB, CB, CB, CB, RB, LM/LW, CM/DM, RM/RW, CF/LW, CF/RW

Wide spaces with a full line of defenders—this is what makes 5-3-2 a safe passing playground. With the midfielders arranged as serrated above and in between each defender, there will always be a man to receive an open, downfield pass; the same is true for strikers should they need to abort advances.

This formation is as suitable as 4-4-2 in concocting Control Possession because it will take a while even for an aggressive defense to disrupt any passing fiesta. Should defenders fully commit to taking the ball away, the two strikers upfield will have plenty of room to catch long balls and do damage.

Pros:

– Beginner-friendly in multiple ways

– Can welcome any combination of strikers

– Hard to congest; opponents will be out of position first before they can threaten the possession.

Cons:

– Regardless of the tactic you select, midfielders will go deep infield so it may take a while to challenge opposing wingers.

– Requires a reset nearly 100% of the time to achieve full potential

Tips for success: Burn as much time as possible trying to move the ball around safely. The passes don’t have to be serrated always, in fact, you can complete two cycles of cross-field passing just with the defenders.

Only involve the midfielders when your opponents go deep and just keep passing the ball around with properly-powered diagonal and cross-field passes. As soon as the central section loosens up, aim a B-pass to your centermost player. Getting clear access to this area is the most crucial part. Shall you succeed with that, the receiver should be able to make an unchallenged C-pass to either CFs upfield.

You must then observe if the CF the cursor appoints is moving or stationary. If he is on the move, prepare to capitalize on the through-pass and find a finishing angle; if he’s locked for an aerial battle, try your best to win it and aim a C-pass directly to the other striker or slightly higher. Make sure to control the strength because applying too much power would likely send the ball within the opposing goalkeeper’s sweeping range.

Overall, do not rush; if defenders are blocking your strikers’ path, don’t fret to send the ball downfield. You can always open a better window since Control Possession is your blueprint for this formation

Verdict: This is one of the few formations that will not degrade in terms of effectiveness as you move up through divisions. We recommend mastering it because it is a good secondary formation when you are up ahead in goals or if the game you’re in happens to be your main 11’s turn to rest.

MODERATE FORMATIONS

4-3-1-2 | Slots for GK, LB, CB, CB, RB, LM/LW, DM/CM/CB, LM/LW, SS/AM/CM/CF, CF/LW, CF/RW

With seven players set for defensive roles, this playstyle has a clear objective: limit your opponents’ movement in your final third and make shooting angles awkward. It may make you feel shorthanded on offense, but it all depends on the quality of your strikers and your mastery in making sharp, precise long balls.

The gap and imbalance in this formation is something that you should let work for you and not against you. When on defensive phases, only begin an active chase when the ball passes the centerline, do not engage early as it will tire your players out quicker. It may take a while to master 4-3-1-2 but being comfortable with it lets you juggle between Route One and Park the Bus whether you’re the one chasing or protecting a lead.

Pros:

– Minimal effort is required on defense regardless of whatever ball delivery your opponent chooses

– The center slot for a DM can be hollowed up if you have one player sent off (given a red card).

– It will work even if your defenders are just whites.

Cons:

– Scoring potential heavily relies on your quality of attackers and your ability to target long-range passes.

– It may become hard to score in the final 25 minutes when your strikers are already tired or cannot outmaneuver defenders anymore. You can use late-game substitutes to counter this, of course.

– Can potentially be nullified if the opposing team has a clear speed advantage on most positions

Tips for success: Your CFs and CM have two usable spaces (the gaps) to receive C-passes, redirect the ball with headers, or get clean receptions which would allow you just about the right window of time to send the ball further upfield with a B-pass.

If defenders get to wrap around the receiver quickly, you can send the ball higher to an empty space near the CF with lesser coverage as he can likely get a better look for a finish.

In the event you are constantly losing aerial batters, you can draw your opponents on one side above your final third then look to suddenly send the ball to your player that is nearest the opposite sideline. He should have about 3 seconds to run with the ball upfield and eventually be in range for a long B-pass to the CM or CF. By this time, you’re just 1 to 2 passes away from earning a shooting angle.

When on defense, go for a partial Gegenpress while above the centerline. If your CFs and AM fail to dispossess ball handlers, be on a reactive guard with your DMs and defenders. The aim is to block passing lanes and then tackle when your opponents dare to get close.

Verdict: With two accessible playstyles that require patience and skill, 4-3-1-2 is considered an intermediate position. Only use this when your mechanical skills are already attuned with the game; an easy way to tell that is if you have already advanced three divisions higher and you consistently win Cups.

4-5-1 | Slots for GK, LB, CB, CB, RB, LM/LW, DM/CM/CB, CM/DM/CB, DM/CM/CB, LM/LW, CF

With a fully-loaded midfielder line and four defenders, 4-5-1 lets you preserve the ball longer. There is a huge room for error in terms of putting the right amount of strength and direction when making “jagged” cross-field passes or alternating passes to send the ball upfield then downfield and then back up to switch sides.

This characteristic makes 4-5-1 the supreme choice when implementing Control Possession or Park the Bus. In terms of tactic, we’re ranking the suitability as Balanced > Attacking > Defending. Selecting Moderate minimizes the chances of being penalized when players go out of position which is dangerous since this is essentially a shallow formation.

Strengths

– It can work even if your lineup still has a lot of white/common players.

– The wings are easy to activate on offense.

– Midfield cluster offers good infield defensive traffic even with little effort

Weakness

– Midfielders tend to clump up on one side so it might be a bit difficult to quickly react against a Wing Play attack from the opposite side if the opposing team dishes a cross-field pass.

– The lone striker will find it extremely difficult to receive long balls.

– Heavily reliant on creating an opening which may take a while to happen

Tips for success: Tosomewhatminimize the tendency of your players to crowd on one side, choose either Attacking or Balanced tactic. It would at least lengthen the time they need to needlessly crowd in one area. The aim is to allow them to respond to cross-field passes quicker.

Since players from both teams will likely cluster along infield, always go for Wing Play when advancing the ball. The player nearest to the delivering winger will likely be open for a second or two—use this window to C-pass the ball to them. If they’re free; they can C-pass the ball to your striker without the need to win aerial battles.

When you’re using the wings, only use B-pass if you’re aiming for the CF; C-pass if it’s for midfielders. Meanwhile, if you are managing a Control Possession well, slowly advance upfield and then try to sneak a clean and well-targeted B-pass if you feel that your striker can win a 1v1 against his designated defender (or can at least outpace them if you’re aiming for a through-pass).

Verdict: 4-5-1 is best used as a reactionary tactic when you want to preserve the score or if you simply prefer a low-scoring match. The amount of focus, skill, and micro-decisions you have to do when attacking is essentially three times the effort you need to put in when defending. If you have more defenders than midfielders, going for 5-4-1 will exactly give the same “feel.”

4-2-3-1 | Slots for GK, LB, CB, CB, RB, DM/CB, DM/CB, CM/LW/LM, AM/CM/SS, CM/RM/RW, CF

A five-layer formation with a decent spread for four attackers, 4-2-3-1 is one of the best formations for Gegenpress and counterattacking. The slots for DMs give you a fairly decent chance to always have a man who can contest high-angle, long balls. They can also create a pocket to trap strikers should they try to keep passes low.

The defensive pressure your attacking wingers can apply links well with the LB and RB, giving you plenty of chances to gain extra possessions which, in turn, will allow you to reset or gamble with a sudden Route One. It is fairly easy to use and provides many benefits, but the room for error is not too much, so we are only considering it as a moderate formation.

Pros:

– It rewards a heavy-pressuring playstyle since the spread of players somewhat ensures there will be an open man to kick the ball out to.

– With the attacking wingers and DMs doing most of the defensive work, the four backline defenders can conserve their stamina.

– Shuts down infield approaches so you will mostly have to deal with Wing Play attacks.

– Has a fairly good cursor passing nomination when on defense

Cons:

– As a single-striker formation, the solo CF should have a high SPE and STR; low STR strikers will likely be swallowed by defenders.

– Has a very minimal room to attack with a Wing Play

– Requires at least three high-stat attackers (left-laying CM, right-laying CM, and CF) at a time and qualified substitutes to maintain counterattacking potency.

Tips for success: Attacking is the best tactic for 4-2-3-1 and you should double it up by carrying an aggressive mindset. Even when you are ahead, you have to play like your team is behind. You should actively look for traps and tackles since that is the strength of this formation.

If you can intercept the ball above the centerline, try to kick the ball out to the less-covered side-laying CM and make him move diagonally toward the sidelines as he moves upfield. This will likely draw the attention of two defenders. When that happens, make a well-aimed, full-powered B-pass to the striker who should be a short A-kick away from the goal.

Never appoint a slow CF because the height offered by this formation will be negated. Remember, this position technically has no spots for attacking wingers so the ones you’ll assign on the CM slots will merely act as a decoy while your CF finds a good position.

Verdict: Since it demands a handful of elite players, 4-2-3-1 is not recommended for beginners or an “unprepared” team because it will be tricky to convert interceptions into goals. There’s no denying that playing aggressively is fun, but being able to score while you put up a gritty defense is exponentially way more enjoyable.

5-2-1-2 | Slots for GK, LB, CB, CB, CB, RB, DM/CB, DM/CB, CM/AM/SS/CF, CF/LW, CF/RW

Armed with a fully-loaded defender line and two slots for DMs, one would think that the intent of assuming 5-2-1-2 is to make the final third air-tight. The truth is, the lack of bodies upfield is meant to give attackers the maximum freedom of movement, making it lethal in offense.

It is a superb formation that essentially lets you carry two attacking strategies at a time as long as you have the right players in place and your passing game is on point. You can essentially dedicate one side for Wing Play and the other for Route One or Vertical Tika-Taka.

Pros:

– There is plenty of loose spaces to move the ball around or send it to an open ground upfield

– It is ideal if you are still building your team and you only have one trusty striker and a quick-footed winger.

– The default infield crowding will limit your opponents to stick to Wing Play.

– Permits counterattacking regardless of how low or high on the pitch where the ball was intercepted.

Cons:

– The infield build-up increases the time needed to respond early to Wing Play even if you choose to go with an Attacking tactic.

– It takes a bit more effort to attack with a Wing Play.

– When not counterattacking, you’re required to stay low and lure defenders while passing the ball around and this heightens the danger shall you lose the ball.

Tips for success: To carry a two-faced threat with this formation, you should make your main striker and fast winger stay on the same side—that will be your Wing Play face. The opposite would be your Route One/Vertical Tiki-Taka face and it requires assigning a tall player (preferably 185cm or above) to play as a target forward—someone you can trust to win aerial battles. Refer to the tips for 4-1-2-1-2 to get the idea.

When going for a Route One or Vertical Tiki-taka, course the ball to where the target forward would sit for a better chance to send the ball to your finisher. Take note that it is also the correct side to take when counterattacking.

Meanwhile, only go for Wing Play each time you manually reset or start possession from a goal kick. Try to draw the opponents near your final third and when you see an opportunity to send the ball to your winger, execute a clean pass. Your winger should be in a good range to dish a sharply-aimed B-pass up to your striker before defenders can catch up and this is your way to frame goals.

Verdict: You can’t go careless with 5-2-1-2 as you will end up tiring your players without converting goals. Discernment is the top requirement here. If you’re already good at brewing up plays and reading movements, then it’s time for you to explore the magic that you can make with this formation.

ADVANCED FORMATIONS

4-2-2-2 | Slots for GK, LB, CB, CB, RB, DM/CB, DM/CB, LW/LM/CM, RW/RM/CM, CF/LW, CF/RW

An interesting formation characterized by a huge infield crevice. This gap is simply an illusion as the space actually allows clearer lanes for cross-field passing and a direct route for upfield delivery. It ticks the same checkboxes as 4-1-2-1-2 except that it isn’t as conducive for Control Possession.

The true asset of 4-2-2-2 is how it can welcome whatever roles you have for strikers. Speedy forwards who can out-position defenders, finishers with deadly range, trequartistas and poachers who need just a one-second opening, target forwards who can muscle against defenders—name it, this formation can make them bloom.

Pros:

– It requires less creativity to move the ball upfield.

– With six positions dedicated assigned to defend, it is excellent in neutralizing infield approaches.

– Apart from catering to all types of strikers, it is friendly to wingers too; you can even assign natural RBs and LBs to take the higher slots.

Cons:

– The dynamic nature of this formation may backfire if you need to reset your offense and pass the ball downfield.

– Your defense has to be active and it requires a lot of chase-downs.

– It can be considered as the most stamina-intensive, attacking-inclined formation.

– Since it is an advanced formation that demands an established team; having whites on the pitch will create absolute weak points you can be punished for.

Tips for success: Although fun to use, you must be super active when using 4-2-2-2 which means you must be on a constant chase when on defense, thus implementing a Gegenpress. The natural spread of players that this position offers lets you counterattack at will from the moment you’re able to intercept the ball.

This is one of the formations that does not require you to “reset” to be effective. It is a fluid formation, so you must be quick to send the ball to the more open CF with a short-range A-pass, a precise C-pass, or a full-strength B-pass.

As hinted above, it is welcoming to all modes of attacking so feel free to experiment and check whether the match you’re in is more conducive to Route One or Wing Play. Although you can whip a decent Vertical Tiki-Taka with 4-2-2-2, counterattacking still should be your priority. And so, even if your possession begins from a goal kick or around your own final third, going for faster approaches would serve you better.

Verdict: A dual-edged sword—the less effort needed in offense; the more is required to employ an effective defense. We wouldn’t recommend this until you have a full rotation of attackers as you may need to sub-out some, if not all, of them by around the 60-minute mark of the match. If you’re a fan of fast-paced attacks, you have to try it!

4-1-4-1 | Slots for GK, LB, CB, CB, RB, DM/CB, LW/LM/, CM/AM/SS, CM/AM/SS, RW/RM, CF

Despite having a resemblance with 4-4-1-1, an easy formation, 4-1-4-1 finds itself at the other end of the spectrum. The parallel and balanced spread of midfielders and defenders looks good on the surface but it offers more challenges than advantages.

To its credit, this formation surprisingly serves Vertical Tiki-Taka well despite having a wide structure, so if your passing skill is pro-level and you have elite players you can set as attackers, it can do wonders. As for defense, as long as you don’t slack, you will enjoy a shorter chase time regardless of where the attack comes from—thanks to its width and the player spacing it dictates.

Pros:

– The gap from the defenders to the midfielders presents wide passing angles to deliver the ball upfield.

– It provides excellent defensive coverage for the game’s inherent difficulty in lower divisions (up to Division 4).

– You can expect that you will have at least 2 players on the opponent’s penalty box when on the attack.

Cons:

– With five players in attacking roles, it invites defenders to crowd their final third making it hard to get open looks.

– Even with a team of golds and blues, you need extra precision with your passes and a hustle-capable (high STR) striker to stand a chance to finish.

– Regardless of what tactic you choose, the movement of the higher line (your attackers) will be mixed and this will prevent you to be flexible.

– Has a noticeably iffy cursor passing cycle when on defense.

Tips for success: The tight triangle formed by the slots for the CF and two CMs is a “dead zone” that you should avoid passing the ball into. You must wait for a CM to pop sideways or for the CF to advance toward the penalty box before attempting a cross-pass from the wings or lower.

You need an elite striker who has a high SHO attribute because you will likely need to shoot early (outside the penalty box) or from difficult side-leaning angles. Setting players with a high STR or TAC high up helps too because, on defense, the dead zone can form a tackling trap that may permit a counterattack.

When you’re able to intercept the ball using the dead zone trio, have a controlled C-pass or a quick-tap A-kick upfield and then try your best to maneuver your striker and attempt a finish.

Verdict: This formation requires a lot of work in offense and is only recommended for players who find playing Dream League Soccer 2024 too easy (yes, there are such people; just check the content creators on YouTube). Since you have to sweat for every proper Shot on Target, goals done while assuming a 4-1-4-1 formation simply feel extra rewarding.

3-4-1-2 | Slots for GK, LB/CB, CB, RB/CB, LB/LM/LW, DM/CB, DM/CB, RB/RM/RW, CM/AM/SS, CF/LW, CF/RW

Packed with seven defenders and just three attackers, the true intention behind 3-4-1-2 cannot be seen until it hits. The light and loose upper half mean shorter deployment time, so it spells quicker and smoother counterattacks through Route One.

Naturally, the bulk at the lower half means your opponents will encounter traffic before they can encroach your final third. Overall, a pretty safe-looking formation despite only having three predetermined slots for CBs.

Pros:

– Large infield areas to receive high-angle long ball passes

– CBs will remain with relatively fresh stamina all match long

– Customizable; enabling Wing Play or intensifying your defense will all depend on who you will deploy as wingers

Cons:

– Long gaps for follow-up pressure defense when attackers get past your frontline

– The occupants of the DM line have a high tendency to unnecessarily cluster together, similar to what happens in 4-5-1.

– Demands an elite pair of strikers to maximize counterattacking potential.

Tips for success: The attacking blueprint for 3-4-1-2 is fairly easy to remember—thanks to the concave shape of the rear line. You should start by passing the ball around between the CBs and the DMs to lure the opposing frontliners (CFs). This should be done above your final third.

Keep in mind that most strikers have a high SPE and because their primary attribute is usually SHO, you’re essentially playing with fire. Be extra careful. Don’t delay your passes.

Like how one would throw a looping punch or a haymaker, the force starts from far back. When you see that one winger is freed of defensive coverage, send the ball to the lowest CB first then dish the ball to him. Let the winger advance by the sideline. Regardless of which side you take; the open spaces will always let you find a passing lane up to your striker. Aim your pass well and work to finish.

As for defense, use the numbers to your advantage and apply unrelenting pressure only when above your final third. This will ensure that your three attackers would remain fresh and have enough stamina to counterattack.

Verdict: One of the most demanding formations in the game and something that you should only try when you have maxed out your player slots (for lineup versatility). The level of alertness it requires when looking for openings on attack and the delay you must endure before you can apply full defensive pressure makes 3-4-1-2 a legit enjoyable formation for expert players.

The formations we did not tackle share certain traits of what we’ve included in the article. The main reason we did not choose to discuss them anymore is that the tips to “cure” their weaknesses would feel like a drag.

Some formations have terrible cursor cycling on defense and need a rework; this includes 5-2-3, 4-3-2-1, 4-2-1-3, 3-2-3-2, 5-2-2-1, and 3-5-1-1. To switch to the next player who can help contest ball handlers, you may need 3 to 4 switches. Tapping C would usually appoint a farther player or someone that the opposing attacker has already left behind.

Meanwhile, formations like 4-3-3, 4-1-2-3, 3-5-2, 5-1-2-1-1, 3-1-4-2, and everything in the 3-4-3 cluster may not be as problematic when switching among players, but the spacing and how they influence movement and positioning could negate your mechanical skills when you’re on the offensive.

We’re not saying that they are not viable. Some of them can neatly support playstyles as well. However, it will feel like you’re playing with some sort of handicap mode because issues could kick in more often.

After all, the point of this guide is to present the best formations and tactics in Dream League Soccer 2024. Here at Level Winner, we aim to help our community to excel in games, so we will only always share the best practices and the options one must take to execute tricks to perfection!

Behind this guide is an experience worth over 2,500 matches, so you can trust that we have extensively field-tested all of the 28 formations in Dream League Soccer 2024. We have even finished entire seasons sticking to just one or a few in a bid to accurately identify all nuances that each formation has.

If you’re a Dream League Soccer veteran and you have your own formation + tactics + playstyle formula, feel free to share it with the rest of us using the comments section below. Meanwhile, if you’re a newbie and you need us to clarify something that we’ve written here, ask away through comments and we would love to drop some more pointers.

Thank you for the time you spent reading our article. We hope that what we shared in this guide will help you find your comfort formations so you can ace your matches and rake in medals yourself. Your wins are our victories too! Go forth and build your Dream League Soccer legacy, champs!