Fantasy Premier League is the world’s largest Fantasy Football game, with over 8 million players.
Managers must strategize and use their chips to gain an advantage over their opponents.
Those who still have their second Wildcard chip will almost certainly plan how to use it as the season comes to a close. Is there a benefit to holding off, or should the Wildcard be used before the next deadline?
Read on to learn some strategies on how to use Wildcard in FPL!
What is the Wildcard chip?
In Fantasy Premier League, managers receive free transfers once per week. Each manager can save any of the given transfers for the following gameweek. Any additional transfers are done after the free one is penalized by -4 points. So, for example, if we have a free transfer and we make three extra transfers in the same gameweek – we’ll incur a penalty of -12 points.
According to FPL wildcard rules, the Wildcard chip is used to confirm transfers that cost points and cannot be cancelled once it has been used.
Any saved free transfers will be lost when using a Wildcard. The following Gameweek, you will be limited to one free transfer.
How to use Wildcard in FPL app
Here’s how to activate the Wildcard chip in FPL:
- Open the “Transfers” tab
- Remove the players you don’t want in your team.
- Once you transfer at least 2 players, “Play Wildcard” will appear right next to “Auto Pick” and “Reset” above the team screen.
- Once you click on the Wildcard button, you will be reminded that the Wildcard will activate after the transfers are confirmed.
- Select the players that you want to replace the ones you chose earlier and click on “Make Transfers”
- If you are sure about the transfers you can click “Confirm Transfers” in the next dialog box after which you will have exactly until the following gameweek to make any additional changes.
Wildcard Usage Strategies
Below are some FPL Wildcard tips for the Wildcard chip, which can be used twice per season, once in the first half (before Tue 28 Dec 14:30) and once in the second half.
Early Wildcard Usage
Use the first Wildcard after evaluating the players you selected at the start of the season. Use the first Wildcard to assemble a full squad of players who will play every game, as well as to bring in players who are having an impact. These are the most frequently transferred in players.
Another piece of advice for the first Wildcard is to keep an eye out for fixture swings. These could be identified when putting together your Gameweek 1 squad.
Also, you can benefit from changes in player pricing, which raises the value of your team. And, while having a more valuable team is certainly helpful, you must be cautious of price changes.
Late Wildcard Usage
This is best suited for a Double Gameweek (which usually occurs in the 2nd half of the season). The second Wildcard can be combined with the Bench Boost chip to form a winning combination, with all 15 players getting a Double Gameweek.
Keep in mind that you cannot use both the Bench Boost and the Wildcard in the same Gameweek: use the Wildcard the week before the confirmed Double Gameweek, and then use the Bench Boost immediately after making a significant effect!
Which strategy works better?
The Wildcard chip is best used when changing your Fantasy team is beneficial, such as when your players aren’t performing well or have suffered injuries.
The best time to wildcard varies by season. Some people prefer to use it early in order to stay ahead of the competition. Others prefer to wait until the last minute because more information can lead to better decisions.
It is a hard question to answer, as no strategy is better than the other. In any case, whenever you decide to play it, you must consider the fixtures and plan for the long term.
Which strategy is more advantageous?
Same as the free hit chip, the Wildcard chip is best used when changing your Fantasy team is beneficial, such as when your players aren’t performing well or have suffered injuries.
The best time to wildcard varies by season. Some people prefer to use it early in order to stay ahead of the competition. Others prefer to wait until the last minute because more information can lead to better decisions.
It is a hard question to answer, as no strategy is better than the other. In any case, whenever you decide to play it, you must consider the fixtures and plan for the long term.
Bottom Line
One of the most important skills is the use of chips. In this guide, we discussed how to use Wildcard in FPL, as well as some best practices you can implement in your own squads.
You can now go out there and put them to use!