Pro Evolution Soccer 2018/Tactical

Pro Evolution Soccer 2018
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Info	FAQ Tactical Team IDs
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This page will list as much tactical related stuff as possible, both player and team specific. A lot is still mostly the same compared to Pro Evolution Soccer 2017. Most of the stuff listed here will be there just for reference.

Player Specific Tactical Options

Player Skills

These player skills are sometimes referred to as 'cards'. Assigning a Player Skill to a player might unlock and/or improve the skills he already has.

No.	Player Skill	Description
01	Scissors Feint	Enables players to execute the Scissors Feint at high speed.
02	Flip Flap	Enables players to execute the Flip Flap.
03	Marseille Turn	Enables players to execute the Marseille Turn.
04	Sombrero	Enables players to execute the Boomerang Trap and the Crescent Turn.
05	Cut Behind & Turn	Enables players to execute the Cut Behind.
06	Scotch Move	Enables players to execute the Scotch Move.
07	Heading	Improves the accuracy of headers as well as the frequency of downward headers.
08	Long Range Drive	Enables players to hit curling shots with great accuracy from a distance.
09	Knuckle Shot	Enables players to hit knuckle ball shots with greater ease.
10	Acrobatic Finishing	Enables players to find a finish even from awkward positions or when off balance.
11	Heel Trick	Enables players to pass and shoot using the heel, even from awkward positions or when off balance.
12	First-time Shot	Improves technique and precision when taking first-time shots.
13	One-touch Pass	Improves technique and precision when playing one-touch passes.
14	Weighted Pass	Enables players to apply back-spin when playing lofted passes and through balls improving accuracy.
15	Pinpoint Crossing	Enables players to curl in crosses with great accuracy.
16	Outside Curler	Enables players to shoot and pass using the outside of the boot even at long distances.
17	Rabona	Enables players to execute a Rabona and means they can pass or shoot when the opposition is not expecting it.
18	Low Lofted Pass	Enables players to hit a long accurate Lofted Pass with a low trajectory when appropriate.
19	Low Punt Trajectory	Enables players to take long accurate punt kicks with a low trajectory.
20	Long Throw	Improves the range of long throws.
21	GK Long Throw	Improves the range on throws by the goalkeeper.
22	Malicia	Enables players to win free kicks when on the ball.
23	Man Marking	Enables a player to stick to and persistently chase down an opponent.
24	Track Back	An offensive player who actively pressurises the opposition player who is on the ball and tries to win it back.
25	Acrobatic Clear	Enables players to clear the ball using their feet, even from awkward positions.
26	Captaincy	The strength of character to get more out of the team, pulling players by the scruff of their necks.
27	Super-sub	Improves player's abilities when introduced late in the game.
28	Fighting Spirit	Enables players to perform better under pressure and fatigue, as well as adversity.

Playing Styles

Playing Style refers to the style of play of a player. This attribute will decide how a player behaves on the pitch. Playing styles are position-specific, and only one playing style can be given to a player.

Playing Style	Pos.	Description
Goal Poacher	CF   SS	A predatory striker who players off the shoulders of the last defender.
Dummy Runner	CF   SS   AMF	A player who attracts the defence to create space for others to exploit.
Fox in the Box	CF	A striker who lurks in the opposition 18 yard box just waiting for the ball.
Target Man	CF	A player who becomes the focal point of attack by holding the ball up in an advanced position.
Creative Playmaker	LWF   RWF   SS	A player who likes to drop off into a deeper position in order to orchestrate the attack.
Prolific Winger	LWF   RWF	The winger come striker who looks to cut in from wide into the central area looking to score.
Classic No. 10	AMF   CMF	An old-style static playmaker who makes use of deft touches and passes rather than pace or movement.
Hole Player	AMF   LMF   RMF   CMF	A player who looks to make runs into the opposition goal area when the team is on the attack.
Box-to-Box	AMF   LMF   RMF   CMF	A player who tirelessly covers every blade of grass for the full 90 minutes.
The Destroyer	DMF   CMF	A tenacious battler who keeps opposition attacks at bay through hard tackling and pressing.
Anchor Man	DMF	A deep sitting defensive midfielder protecting the backline.
Build Up	DMF   LB   RB   CB	A player who likes to drop back in order to receive the ball and trigger attacks from deep.
Extra Frontman	CB	A defender who likes to join in the attack and lay siege on the opposition goal at every given opportunity.
Offensive Full-back	LB   RB	An attack-minded full back who will run upfield and join the attack when presented with a chance.
Defensive Full-back	LB   RB	A solid full back who prefers to stay back and stick to defensive duties.
Offensive Goalkeeper	GK	A keeper playing a sweeper type role who often comes out to cover the area behind the defence.
Defensive Goalkeeper	GK	A solid keeper who prefers to stay around the goal line.

COM Playing Styles (When On The Ball)

These COM Playing Styles are sometimes referred to as 'cards'. Unlike normal Playing Styles multiple COM Playing Styles can be assigned to a single player nor are they position-specific. Assigning COM Playing Styles to a player will make an AI controlled player more likely to do specific actions, but they will not improve or unlock specific player stats.

COM Playing Styles	Header text
Trickster	The step-over expert who makes the most of exquisite skills to dribble past the opposition.
Mazing Run	A player who looks to penetrate deep into opposition territory by using deft turns and dribbles.
Speeding Bullet	A pacey player who likes to get forward.
Incisive Run	A dribbler whose expertise is to cut in from the wide areas looking for goal scoring opportunities.
Long Ball Expert	A player who frequently plays the long ball.
Early Cross	A player with great vision who won't miss the chance to hit an early cross.
Long Ranger	A player who frequently takes snapshots at goal from range.

Team Specific Tactical Options

This section will explain as much as possible when it comes to team-related tactical settings. To change the tactics of your team, go to Edit -> Teams -> Your team -> Game Plan.

Important!

When using a keyboard for player 1 in PES18, there is a chance that the controls for the right stick are not yet set up. You will need to set up the controls for this stick in order to switch between Fluid Formations. Go to Settings.exe and set up the keybinds for the R-stick.

Preset Tactics

Here you can change your sliders for your team, set up the man marking and change positions of your players. In PES18 the settings below this will depend on a lot on whether you have multiple presets and/or fluid formations enabled. If you have Switch Preset Tactics enabled under Support Settings, you can move up or down with the stick or keys to switch between your three available presets.

Fluid Formation

Here you can enable or disable fluid formations for each preset. If fluid formation is on, the names of some settings will change too.

Change Formation (Kick-Off when fluid formation is ON)

Here you can select one of the several basic formations in the game for your team (and Kick-Off formation when fluid formation is ON), such as 4-4-2, 3-6-1, 3-4-3, etc..

Team Instructions when in possession (When in Possession when fluid formation is ON)

Here you can set up the Instructions for your team when it is in possession of the ball. If fluid formation is ON Team Instructions when in possession will be below When in Possession.

Attacking Styles

Counter Attack: When on the ball, players will burst forward looking to get themselves into threatening areas.

Possession Game: Players look to retain possession when there is little space. Any available teammates will then provide the necessary support.

Build Up

Long-pass: Direct playing style involving long balls being played to the front line. Players will pull away opposition players to create space and once a long ball hits its target, they turn to providing support to the attackers ahead of them.

Short-pass: Break down the opposition by out-passing the opposition all the way up the pitch. Players keep themselves at a certain distance to create more space for passes.

Attacking Area

Wide: Team attacks mainly from out wide. More links and combinations played in the wings during build up.

Middle: Team attacks mainly through the middle. More links and combinations played in the central areas during build up.

Positioning

Maintain Formation: Players move in a way to maintain the team's overall shape.

Flexible: Players play free-flow football exchanging positions and playing interchanges.

Support Range

The higher the level, the more players tend to spread themselves out when looking to receive passes. This is a 1-10 slider.

Change Formation when in possession

Here you can select one of the several basic formations in the game for your team when it is in possession of the ball and fluid formation is ON, such as 4-4-2, 3-6-1, 3-4-3, etc..

Team Instructions when out of possession (When out of Possession when fluid formation is ON)

Here you can set up the Instructions for your team when it is out of possession of the ball. If fluid formation is ON Team Instructions when out of possession will be below When out of Possession.

Defensive Styles

Frontline Pressure: When possession is lost, players apply pressure from the front looking to win the ball high up the pitch.

All-out Defence: When possession is lost, players drop back into their own half and form a defensive wall.

Containment Area

Middle: Form a defensive line that cuts out all avenues for forward passes, then force the opposition players towards the middle where the team can then defend in numbers.

Wide: When defending, shepherd opposition players out wide then defend in numbers when they try to play forward passes.

Pressuring

Aggressive: The first defender will move in and close down opposition attackers, trying to win back the ball.

Conservative: The first defender will hold up opposition attackers by keeping them at an arm's length rather than move in and risk being beaten.

Defensive Line

The higher the level, the further up the pitch the defensive line will be. This is a 1-10 slider.

Compactness

The higher the level, the more compact the team's overall shape becomes when defending. This is a 1-10 slider.

Change Formation when out of possession

Here you can select one of the several basic formations in the game for your team when it is out of possession of the ball and fluid formation is ON, such as 4-4-2, 3-6-1, 3-4-3, etc..

Advanced Instructions

They let you tell parts of your team to do things. You can set up a maximum of four Advanced Instructions to be on at any time, two in attack and two in defence.

Attack

False Winger: Wingers (or wide midfielders when no wingers are present) who stray from their traditional wide positions to play more centrally. When a false winger comes inside, the full back on the same side will move into advanced positions.

Defensive: Designated players will refrain from pushing forward in attack.

Hug the Touchline: Players on both flanks stay close to the touchline. This means that even if the ball is on the other side of the pitch, the player on the flank will stay wide.

Attacking Full Backs: Both full backs will surge forward while midfielders drop back to cover them. As the full backs push forward, wingers will move towards the middle.

Wing Rotation: When a player is in possession of the ball on the wing, a teammate will head to the touchline to give them passing options. Other teammates will then run into the space that has been created.

Tiki-Taka: The priority is to keep passing the ball. Players take up positions to enable possession to be retained. Players will tend not to try to dash into space behind the opponent's defence.

False No. 9: The striker will frequently drop into the hole to collect passes. As he comes back for the ball, his teammates will push forward to fill the space he has created.

Centring Targets: The aim is to score from crosses. When a player on the wing has possession, forwards will get into position in front of the goal and wait for the cross.

False Full Backs: The full backs stray from their traditional positions and push into the centre. This gives the team numbers in the middle of the pitch.

Defence

Wing Back: Wide midfielders or wingers drop back to cover defensively when needed.

Tight Marking (disabled in Edit mode): Certain players will be marked much tighter than usual, with the marker switching depending on the position. Space tends to open up as players track the opposition player they're marking.

Deep Defensive Line: The defending team drops back to guard against through balls, leaving more space between individual players and the opponent they are marking. As players are no longer tightly marked, it makes it easier to pass the ball to feet.

Swarm the Box: When the opponent is pushing forward up the wing, players will group in front of goal. As players are bunched near the goal, it becomes easier for the attacking team to shoot from far.

Counter Target: Certain forwards stay in the vicinity of the opposition's box rather than dropping back to help the defence. It means that those forwards do not use up energy running back and forward.

Gegenpress: When a team loses possession, they immediately try to win it back with multiple players putting the player on the ball under pressure. It demands a lot of stamina.

Mark Settings

This is disabled in Edit mode. However during a match you can set up all marking settings here. The game will use the out of possession formation if you use fluid formation.

Copy Preset Tactics

Here you choose to fully copy one of the other two presets to your current preset.

Lineup / Edit Position

Lineup / Edit Position allows you to change the lineup of the players on the pitch and the bench. You can also move the players on the field though by holding the shown button. Keep in mind that changing the lineup will affect all presets as well as the fluid formations. You can also change the position of a player should he be at a location on the pitch where two playing areas of a position overlap (for example CMF and AMF). The limits of PES18 are for all three positions: 2-5 defenders, 1-6 midfielders, 1-5 attackers.

Player Settings

Select Captain

Select your team's Captain.

Long FK Taker

Select who will take free kicks that are further away from the opponent's goal.

Short FK Taker

Select who will take free kicks that are closer the opponent's goal.

FK Taker 2

Select who will join the primary FK taker. During normal control of the game you can choose to have the second FK taker take the FK and use the first FK taker as a feint.

Left CK Taker

Select who will take the corner kicks from the left flag.

Right CK Taker

Select who will take the corner kicks from the right flag.

PK Taker

Select who will take the penalties during normal game time.

Players to Join Attack

Select up to three outfield players (not just defenders) who will join the attack during set pieces.

Support Settings

Display in Game Plan (pre-match only)

When this option is turned off, the game will always skip the One-Touch Settings and skip to the extensive tactical options every time.

Simple Settings (pre-match only)

With this option you can quickly select tactics that you want to use, for example Long Ball or Down Middle (Offensive). But keep in mind that it will change your formation as well, so you might have to put players back into position.

Auto Lineup Select (pre-match only)

This option will let you have the game select the best players depending on what you prefer. By Ability will pick the best player for each position depending on their base stat only. By Form will pick the best player for each position depending on their condition only. No preference will pick the best player for each position depending on both their condition and stats.

Choose Manually (pre-match only)

Unlocks all other settings.

Switch Preset Tactics

Turning this on will unlock your other two (defensive and custom) presets. When this is off you will only have access to your first (offensive) preset.

Auto Offside Trap

Turning this on will make your players attempt to catch players of the opponent in an offside trap.

Auto Substition

Here you can choose if you want the game to do automatic substitutions for you but also when. The three other settings besides OFF are Very Early, Flexible and Very Late.

Auto change Preset Tactics

Turning this on will make your automatically switch between the presets (if you have multiple presets enabled) depending on whether they're in the lead or not. Your team will usually play the Offensive preset, but switch to Defensive when it is in the lead (not always). When your team is losing again, it will then switch back to Offensive.

Data Management

Here you can save your current formation (it is not the team export function) and load old formations. You can also default all your team tactics in case you need to do so.