With most domestic leagues approaching the end of their seasons, EA FC 24 Ultimate Team has also announced the upcoming release of the highly anticipated Team of the Season Promo Event.

As one of the largest and best promo events in Ultimate Team, TOTS will reward the best players in world football with significant stat boosts. It’s worth noting that its promotion will be bigger than ever this year, so expect more squads and new TOTS changes in the coming weeks.

In this guide, we’ll talk about how to prepare for this upcoming TOTS promo event and share ways to increase your chances of getting blue player items. If you want a head start when entering this event, don’t miss this guide.

Keys To Prepare For TOTS

Currently, TOTS Warmup Series has been launched, and players can complete a series of challenges to obtain generous rewards before TOTS promo event is officially released.

A fan vote is also expected to be held by Ultimate Team community soon. Players can vote for players they think should be selected for Community TOTS, Premier League TOTS, Bundesliga TOTS, La Liga TOTS and a number of other TOTS squads.

In fact, the keyway to prepare for TOTS promo is to be patient and stock up on enough packs. No matter how tempted you are, save as many packs as you can and don’t be tempted by any released and overpriced Player SBCs. Because you need to save these fodders for when TOTS starts.

But I’m not saying go spend your hard-earned FUT 24 Coins to buy all the packs when TOTS launches, as there are plenty of other ways to get packs without spending a penny.

Participate In TOTS Warmup Series

Since TOTS Warmup Series is now living in Ultimate Team, this event is all about helping you prepare for the official TOTS start date.

The developers will release daily SBC challenges and Objectives for players to complete over the next week, and in return you will receive packs and player picks that can be saved to TOTS. Additionally, daily login upgrades will also be returning in TOTS Warmup, so be sure to take advantage of this. 

But remember, no matter what rewards you get, don’t try to open them! There are only a few days left until TOTS goes live, so try to avoid temptation.

Avoid Wasting Fodder

Currently, there are multiple Icon, Hero and special item player picks SBCs that can be completed, but it has to be said that they are not cheap.

You only have a slight chance of pulling a huge multi-million icon. But more likely than not, your original player picks cost less than the amount of fodder you put into your SBC, and you’ve wasted useful resources by the time TOTS shows up.

Each TOTS promo event arrives, EA Sports releases a series of TOTS-themed SBCs, TOTS players, guaranteed TOTS packs, and more SBCs that will make it even better for you than you already are. So when they drop, save as many fodders as possible just in case.

If you really want to complete some SBCs, the low-requirement upgrade packs are still very useful, as long as you save the upgrade packs for when TOTS arrives.

Spend More Time Completing Game Objectives

The last and easiest way to prepare is to spend more time playing the game before TOTS promo arrives. Rewards in Rivals and Champions in particular have been improved before TOTS, so make sure you play as much as possible to accumulate as many pack rewards as possible.

This way, not only do you complete some objectives, but you also gain access to additional packs. So, this is also another effective way to earn free rewards for TOTS in a timely manner.

It’s important to note that none of these methods guarantee you a TOTS player item, as the items you get in a pack are entirely dependent on luck. But thinking about it another way, if you save more packs, it means you have more chances to get those coveted blue player items! So, hurry up and join in!

In EA FC 24, the defensive depth carries more weight than anticipated, profoundly influencing defensive strategies in real-time situations. This key aspect has the potential to significantly improve your defenses. However, determining ideal defensive depth depends on a variety of factors, including our individual playstyles and the specific opponents we face in each game.

Defensive Depth Of 71

The defensive depth of 71 is something that almost everyone was using when EA FC 24 first dropped. As we remember, because when you put your depth higher than 44, the auto Overload Ball Side comes in, and the team does an auto press.

When you put it higher than 70, the team does auto press plus auto Offside Trap, which makes it very suffocating for your opponent to build up because you are constantly pressing him, there is the auto Overload Ball Side, and you won’t lose as much stamina. And you’re also doing auto Offside Traps, which made 71 depth almost unbeatable.

Defensive Depth Of 44

After EA significantly nerfed the auto press feature, many players reverted to using their preferred defensive depth settings. Now, some experts suggest using a depth of 44 for defensive tactics. They argue that at this depth, there is no auto press, allowing the team to maintain shape without auto Overload Ball Side. This can lead to better defensive organization, making it appealing for less skilled players who struggle with positioning and quick switches.

However, whether this approach is effective depends on various factors. While it may offer defensive stability, a depth of 44 results in a static defensive line with no pressing. This means that players who lack the ability to manually press may struggle to disrupt opponent attacks effectively.

Without pressure on the ball, opponents have more time to build up play, making it challenging to defend against even moderately skilled players. Therefore, while using a depth of 44 may seem like a safe option, it can also expose defensive vulnerabilities, especially against opponents who can exploit space and time on the ball.

Other Defensive Depths

There are some other depths to consider, typically ranging between a depth of 45 to 65, or even extending up to 69. When setting your defensive depth above 45, you'll still experience some level of auto press. However, once you surpass 44, the auto press and auto Overload Ball Side functions are activated. The higher the depth setting, the more aggressive the press and Overload Ball Side tactics become.

Gameplay Example

Choosing the appropriate depth ultimately depends on your preferences and playstyles. Let's delve into an example to better illustrate this concept. In the Weekend League, you will encounter opponents of considerable skill. Enhance your players by investing some EA FC 24 Coins and then you will choose to opt to employ a defensive depth setting of 71.

However, you may soon find that this aggressive approach left too many defensive vulnerabilities. Many adversaries exploited this by consistently employing lobbed through passes, long passes, and ground through passes, creating significant challenges for the defense.

Recognizing the need for a tactical adjustment, you then experimented with reducing defensive depth in subsequent matches. Setting it to values such as 65, 68, or 67 allowed you to maintain a higher defensive line while avoiding the pitfalls of an overly aggressive auto Offside Trap.

Tips & Tricks

Recognizing the signs of ineffective defensive depth is critical to adjust tactics during games. If your opponent consistently finds too much space to take Long Shots or execute finishing moves, it may indicate that your defensive depth is too low. In such cases, increasing your depth can help to tighten up your defense and limit your opponent's scoring opportunities.

Similarly, a lack of Counter Attacks in FC 24 may signal that your defensive depth needs adjustment. If your opponent can counter you too frequently, it suggests that your defensive line may be too high, allowing them to exploit space behind your Defenders. Lowering your defensive depth can help to address this issue and prevent your opponent from capitalizing on counterattacking opportunities.

Hi, players! The 4-3-3(4) formation I am going to talk about is designed for swift build up play and counter attacks in EA FC 24. It offers the versatility to execute tiki taka style football with the right custom tactics. Without wasting times, let's dive in!

Custom Tactics

Defensive Tactics: When it comes to Defensive Style, you can opt for a balanced approach. Regarding Width, I set it to 4, while for Depth, there are 2 viable options. The first involves a depth of 65, resulting in an effective high press during gameplay. However, employing a high press without a CDM in the formation poses risks. If you are against counter attacks, consider a depth of 60.

Offensive Tactics: In terms of Build Up Play, I recommend sticking to a balanced approach. When it comes to Chance Creation, Direct Passing is the best choice, especially effective with a formation featuring a Center Attacking Midfielder. Regarding the others, you can opt for 4 Players in Box, and then set 6 for Corners and Free Kicks.

Player Instructions

Then let's move on to the player instructions. Get ready to boost your players' abilities with some EA Sports FC 24 Coins.

Center Back: In defense, maintain default settings for the Right and Left Center Backs. Focus on keeping the Right Back in a defensive role, instructing them to Stay Back While Attacking. Conversely, encourage the Left Back to Overlap, facilitating both defensive cover and offensive support.

This strategic move ensures that your Left Back contributes to both ends of the pitch. Despite already having a Left Winger in attack, employing the left wing as a forward adds depth to your offensive maneuvers.

CM: Starting with the Left Center Midfielder, who assumes the role of CDM in this formation. You'll find that he operates in a defensive capacity, focusing on intercepting passes, making tackles, and thwarting counter attacks.

Therefore, it's crucial to have a midfielder with exceptional defensive abilities and physical prowess in this position. In EA FC 24, he'll primarily function as a CDM. As for his instructions, set them to Stay Back While Attacking and Cover Center.

Right Center Mid: For the Right Center Mid in the 4-3-3(4) formation, you're looking at the box-to-box role. This player needs well-rounded stats to contribute both offensively and defensively. For the instructions, prioritize Stay On Edge Of Box For Cross and Cover Center to optimize his contributions to the team.

If you are letting your Right Back to help you on the attack and help you on the defense, and your Left Back to Stay Back While Attacking, that time you have to use your Right Center Mid as the CDM on this formation, and your Left Center Mid as the box-to-box.

CAM: Moving on to the Central Attacking Midfielder, the pivotal playmaker in this formation, arguably the most crucial player. Whether it's providing assists, executing precise passes, or initiating attacks, this player will always be at the heart of the action.

Wingers: For the Right Winger and Left Winger, what I recommend using with them is Come Back On Defense, Get In Behind, Cut Inside, and Get Into The Box For Cross. If you want to play it wide, you don’t need your Right Winger and Left Winger to play it narrow.

Striker: For the major player, the Striker, what I’m using with is Get In Behind, Stay Central, and Stay Forward. With these custom tactics, you need a striker who can easily get in behind. This formation is absolutely perfect for counter attacks and fast build up, and with these player instructions, you’re going to see him always trying to get in behind and break the defense line.