Most of the time, football is a game of 11v11. But even when it’s distilled down to 1v1, as is the case in EA Sports FC Mobile, there’s still plenty of depth and strategy in play.
For those in-the-know tips on how best to climb up the table, we spoke to Arthit Kansangwet (aka Totonnaka22), who was part of the Thai national team that won the FC Pro Festival KeSPA Cup 2024 in South Korea, and Piyapon Ruangsri (aka DiegoMeng), an active streamer of the game with thousands of fans on his YouTube channel.
What’s your team formation reco for newbies?
Arthit: Use 4-4-2 and focus on scoring goals rather than preventing them. Each game has a time limit, so scoring first gives you an advantage.
Piyapon: 4-3-3 holding gets my vote because it balances attack and defence. It gives you enough midfielders to pass the ball which is essential for newbies to practise and imagine the possible shots.
The phrase “playing analogue” is often used within the game community. What does it really mean?
Arthit: It refers to focusing on control and zipping through other players without using the skill buttons. I find that it’s a good approach to use with footballers under 184cm, since taller players are better at sprinting.
Piyapon: Analogue is probably a reference to console controllers, and how you roll your thumbs to move around with them instead of using arrow keys. Skill is easier to anticipate than analogue, so your opponents can’t see through your moves as easily when you go analogue.
We know that META means Most Effective Tactic Available in FC Mobile terms. What does it mean to you?
Piyapon: There are players who work well for each game update. In a patch that emphasises the ability of fast runners, for example, tall players with a high AGI score have an advantage.
Arthit: META players are footballers who are played frequently at a certain point in time. Most of them are household players that you should have.
Piyapon: Each update and event may introduce new players and update the stats of current ones. So do your homework and monitor everything closely.
Do you have a favourite move? Or one that you use at crunch time?
Piyapon: I like the 5-star skill Elastico, or flip-flap, which Ronaldinho used. It’s a skill that’s hard for your opponent to anticipate. I used it once in a match and intimidated my rival for the entire game!
Arthit: I use a combination of two typical skills: step over and lane change. After I hit that, I fly past the opponent to score easily.
There are two ways to score a goal: using the skill button or drawing a line on the screen. What is your preference?
Arthit: I draw a line when I’m in front of the goalkeeper, and this helps me calculate the direction and weight automatically. If I’m coming from the side of the goal, I use the skill button. And the success rate is higher if you hold until you reach the desired energy on the bar.
Piyapon: Drawing a line is great if you’re trying to score quickly, but the button is better for clearer, calculated shots.
Lastly, how do you manage your emotions while climbing the ranks?
Arthit: I used to be a total hothead. I kept losing until I could look back at the matches I lost and start to figure out why I lost, whether it’s because I pulled my defenders up too high or I left the gap too wide. I also watch other streamers to apply their skills, and when I turned pro, ranks and points stopped being everything to me. I focused more on practising and polishing my skills.
Piyapon: The stickers that are sent during and after games can be emotionally taxing. For me, taking control of my emotions sets the stage for winning the game.