Should I use Wildcard or free hit?

Wildcard vs. Free Hit: Which FPL Chip Should You Use?

In Fantasy Premier League (FPL), using chips strategically can give you an edge over your rivals. Two of the most valuable chips are the Wildcard and the Free Hit. Both allow you to make wholesale changes to your team, but they have distinct characteristics that should guide your decision-making.

Wildcard

• Effect: Allows you to make unlimited transfers without taking any hits to your points total.
• Duration: Permanent. Once activated, the Wildcard provides lasting changes to your squad.
• Usage: Ideal for making significant overhauls to your team, such as addressing injuries, adjusting for fixture shifts, or bringing in in-form players.

Pros:

• Flexibility: Grants complete control over your squad, allowing you to make bold moves and experiment with different formations.
• Permanent benefits: Changes made with the Wildcard are permanent, so you can benefit from them for the rest of the season.

Cons:

• One-time use: You can only use the Wildcard once per season, so it’s important to use it wisely.
• Points lost: If you don’t make any transfers, you will still lose points from captaincy changes or injured players.

Free Hit

• Effect: Temporarily alters your team for a single gameweek, returning you to your original selection thereafter.
• Duration: One gameweek. The changes made with the Free Hit revert at the end of the gameweek.
• Usage: Ideal for addressing specific fixture clashes or bringing in players who are expected to perform well in a particular week.

Pros:

• Short-term flexibility: Allows you to make tactical changes for a specific gameweek without permanently altering your squad.
• No points lost: You won’t lose points for captaincy changes or injured players during the Free Hit gameweek.

Cons:

• Limited usage: You can only use the Free Hit twice per season.
• Temporary benefits: Any changes made with the Free Hit are temporary, lasting only for the duration of that gameweek.

Which Chip to Use?

Deciding between the Wildcard and the Free Hit depends on your specific needs and the situation in your league.

• Use the Wildcard when you want to make significant, permanent changes to your team, such as:

  • Addressing injuries or suspensions
  • Adjusting for fixture changes
  • Bringing in new players who have proven to be in-form

• Use the Free Hit when you want to address specific fixture clashes or bring in players who are expected to perform well in a particular week, such as:

  • When multiple key players have unfavorable fixtures
  • When you want to target a specific in-form player
  • When you want to experiment with different formations

By understanding the differences between the Wildcard and the Free Hit, you can use these chips effectively to maximize your points total and improve your FPL performance.