The REAL Difference Between A Wildcard And A Free Hit (FPL)

One of the most confusing problems in FPL comes when you are deciding on which chip to use especially with Free Hit and Wildcard. They are very similar yet different, and mixing one for the other is a common mistake you may make.

Here’s everything you need to know about the differences between these 2 chips.

The Difference Between a Wildcard and a Free Hit

The main difference between a Wildcard and a Free Hit chip is transfers made with a Wildcard are permanent, and those with a Free Hit chip only apply to the gameweek where the chip is used. 

When you use your Wildcard chip to change or make transfers in your team, these changes are permanent. From that moment onward, the players transferred, or the increase in the team value your experience stays with your team beyond that gameweek.

However, if you use your Free Hit, any change or transfer you make will only last for that gameweek. Your team will return to how it was before you played the Free Hit.

There are times when multiple players in your squad underperform, are injured, have tough fixtures, or face each other. You will have to make several transfers or even revamp the entire team.

Your bench may not be strong enough, and you can find out more about how automatic substitutions work in FPL here.

However, you are stuck because FPL managers are only allowed one transfer per week, and any other transfer will incur a -4 point loss.

In such cases, you can consider using either your Wildcard or Free Hit, depending on which is more effective, so that you do not wind up with a 40-point deficit (or more), even before the gameweek starts!

To better understand how to use both chips, let us examine them in more detail.

What are Chips in FPL?

Chips in FPL are a kind of ‘perk or power-up’ that managers can use to improve their team’s performance without incurring unnecessary point deductions. They are limited in number and have powerful effects when used well.  

There are four available chips in FPL: Wildcards, Free Hits, Triple Captain, and Bench Boost.

How you use these chips can define your entire season, but let’s focus on the first two: Wildcard and Free Hit.

Because most managers don’t know the differences, they are often the most misused chips in FPL!

What Is a Wildcard?

A Wildcard allows managers to make an unlimited number of transfers in a single gameweek without incurring any penalties. It is often regarded as the most powerful chip because it is more or less a “reset feature” in the game.

Once a manager activates his Wildcard chip, you can tweak and adjust your team until the deadline for the start of the gameweek. It is a great way to permanently refresh your team and pack it with actual performing players that will guarantee you points.

The Wildcard chip activation tab is shown below.

What is a Free Hit?

A Free Hit chip allows managers to make as many transfers or changes to their team within one gameweek. However, after the gameweek is over, your FPL squad will revert to the players you had before activating the chip.

Once activated, managers are allowed unlimited transfers before the gameweek deadline. It is quite similar to Wildcard. However, it only has a temporary impact on your team.

The Free Hit chip activation tab is shown below.

Rules To Know When Playing Your Wildcard Chip In FPL

There are certain rules you must know before playing your Wildcard chip. When you understand the effects of each rule, you can identify scenarios in which using your Wildcard chip is the best option.

1. Once activated, it is irreversible, so be extra sure you want to play the chip before clicking activate.
2. Each player gets two Wildcard chips per season. The first Wildcard chip is available until about the midpoint of the season, and the second from the midpoint until the season’s completion.
3. You cannot roll over a Wildcard. So if you miss using the first Wildcard chip in the first half of the season, it is gone!
4. Any saved free transfer you had before activating your Wildcard chip will still be lost, and you will be back to just one free transfer the next gameweek.
5. The team in your “Points” tab and the team in your “Transfers” tab will be the same as the changes you make will remain beyond the gameweek.
6. Your bank balance and any price gain or loss on the players transferred in stays with the squad after the gameweek is over.

You will get this prompt when trying to play your wildcard chip:

Rules to Know When Playing Your Free Hit Chip In FPL

Before you click the Free Hit button and activate your chip, there are specific rules you should know. 

1. You cannot cancel the activation of your Free Hit chip once confirmed, so be very sure before activating it.
2. Your Free Hit chip can be played when confirming transfers
3. Each manager gets one Free Hit chip per season.
4. Any saved free transfer you had before activating your Free Hit is lost, and you will have only one free transfer the next gameweek.
5. You will have different teams in your “Points” tab and your “Transfer” tab. This is because changes made are only for that gameweek!
6. If you use your free transfer before activating your Free Hit chip, you lose that initial signing you made.
7. No change in your bank balance as you will not benefit from any price changes during the gameweek your Free Hit chip is active.

You will get this prompt whenever you click the Play Free Hit tab:

Scenarios Where a Wildcard Is Advantageous

Using your Wildcard chip depends on the players on your team, so there is no perfect guide for everyone. However, there are some peculiar scenarios that would be advantageous to use it.

These scenarios include:

#1 Multiple Players With Injuries

Every FPL manager’s worst nightmare is to have four or more players with injuries in the squad at the same time. You cannot transfer your way out of this without getting a heavy transfer point deduction. 

The best chip in this situation is your Wildcard because it offers you the best chance to revamp your team and avoid unnecessary point hits. 

The team below has at least four injured or suspended players and is a fit candidate for a Wildcard hit.

#2 Poor Team Form

If you have the misfortune of stacking your squad with underperforming players, using your wildcard may be your best shot at getting out of that jam.

For example, at the start of the season, there is not much data available to gauge a player’s possible season performance. As a result, most managers rely on the previous season’s performance, which can sometimes be inaccurate.

Stacking your team with underperforming players can be very frustrating and the only way to restart your season is with your wildcard. 

You can use the new opportunity to fill your team with players who are providing consistent returns.

The team below is packed with players that should do very well, but unfortunately, they are producing poor returns. A Wildcard refresh is definitely recommended.

#3 After International Breaks

International breaks are one of the dreaded periods for FPL managers. Players either return late and with injuries or are fatigued because of the long flights and extra matches.

It is ideal to use your Wildcard chip following major international breaks to increase the competitiveness of your squad by adding new active players.

You can find out more about why international friendlies are being played here.

#4 Preparing to use other chips

A well-hidden strategy among top FPL managers is to use their Wildcard chip to prepare for fixture swings so they can use their other chips. 

A common practice is deploying your Bench Boost during the double-gameweek, and you can maximise its effect with your Wildcard chip.

In double-gameweeks, certain teams, like those who have advanced in the FA Cup or EFL Cup, play multiple games in one week to clear their outstanding matches.

You are only able to activate one chip in a gameweek, but you can strategically deploy your Wildcard chip to maximise your other chips during double-gameweeks.

A week before the double gameweek, you can activate your Wildcard chip to load up on players in strong positions from teams with double-game fixtures. You can then play your other chips like the Triple Captain or Bench Boost during the double gameweek, maximising your potential point returns!

Scenarios Where a Free Hit Is Advantageous

There are scenarios where the best chip to play is your Free Hit. A situation where you need a temporary fix to solve your team’s crisis is perfect for activating your Free Hit.

Some good examples of such scenarios are:

#1 During Blank Gameweeks

A blank gameweek in FPL is when some teams have no fixtures and their matches that gameweek has been rescheduled. This is common for clubs that have advanced far in cup competitions.

This is the ideal situation to use your Free Hit chip, especially if several of your squad members have rescheduled matches.

You can activate your Free Hit chip and load up on players who have fixtures that gameweek, ensuring you can get maximum points that week. 

You will effectively have a complete team, while other managers would have just 5 or 6 players available. This can be a big advantage against your Head-to-Head league opponent during a blank gameweek.

The FPL team below, for example, is a perfect candidate for the Free Hit chip as it has players both with no fixtures and injured.

#2 During Double Gameweeks

Double gameweeks occur when some teams have multiple fixtures within the same FPL gameweek. If you are lucky enough to have players in clubs that have these games, they are often monster point haul weeks.

You can activate your Free Hit chip during a double gameweek so you can heavily stack your team with players from teams with those fixtures. 

For example, in GW27 of the 19/20 EPL season, Burnley had double fixtures that gameweek, and many managers activated their Free Hit chip and loaded up on Burnley players just for that gameweek alone.

A good example is the stacked lineup below of players who all have double-game fixtures.

#3 Multiple Suspensions or Short-term injuries

The Free Hit chip is a handy tool if multiple players in your team have suspensions or short-term injuries, and you are looking for a temporary fix.

This is a situation where the short-term effect of a Free Hit is very advantageous. A one-game suspension for multiple players or a slight knock for others won’t leave you with a bare team. 

Managers can activate their Free Hit chip to get temporary cover for their team to enjoy the luxury of a full team. This can be very useful if you are in a Head-to-Head league or during the FPL cup season.

The situation below is a good example. All three players have short-term injuries, and another short-term injury to another player might require the use of the Free Hit chip.

#4 Exceptional Single Gameweek Differentials

FPL managers can use their Free Hit to strategically target certain gameweeks with exceptional fixtures that promise a good point haul. It is usually done when a few of the top sides have excellent fixtures in a single gameweek.

For example, in the 19/20 EPL season, a bunch of strategic FPL managers activated their Free Hit chip for GW 36. The gameweek had big hitters like Chelsea, Manchester United, and Manchester City, all in must-win matches against lower-performing clubs. 

This is a strategic use case scenario and requires a significant level of in-depth analysis before you try it.

Final Verdict

Here is a summary of the differences between Wildcard and Free Hit:

	Wildcard	Free Hit
Transfer Duration	Any changes or transfers made are permanent.	Any change or transfers last for that gameweek only.
Number per season	2 Wildcard chips per season.	1 Free Hit chip per season.
Initial signings	Any initial signings before activating the Wildcard chip are available.	All signings before activating the Free Hit chips are unavailable.
Bank balance	Changes to the bank balance while the wildcard was active remains.	Changes to the bank balance, while the Free Hit was active, will be lost.
Teams	You will have the same squad of players in your “Points” and “Transfer” tabs.	Different sets of players in the “Points” and “Transfer” tabs.

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