Free Hit FPL: When to Play It & How to Build the Perfect Squad
Free Hit FPL: When to Play It & How to Build the Perfect Squad
TL;DR — The Free Hit gives you unlimited transfers for one gameweek, after which your original team returns. Save it for Blank Gameweeks where 4+ of your players don't have a fixture. Don't waste it on a DGW (use Bench Boost or Triple Captain instead) or on a regular week when 1-2 transfers would fix the problem. Track your Free Hit live →
How the Free Hit Works
The Free Hit chip lets you make unlimited transfers for a single gameweek. Once that gameweek ends, your original team — including all player prices and team value — reverts back automatically.
| Free Hit | Wildcard | |
|---|---|---|
| Transfers | Unlimited for one GW | Unlimited until deadline |
| Duration | One gameweek only | Permanent |
| Team reverts? | Yes — original squad returns | No — changes are locked in |
| Best for | Blank Gameweeks | Squad rebuilds before DGWs |
The critical difference: Free Hit is temporary, Wildcard is permanent. Using the wrong one is a season-defining mistake. For how the Free Hit fits into your overall chip plan, see our chip strategy guide.
When to Play Your Free Hit
1. Blank Gameweeks (Primary Target)
A Blank Gameweek (BGW) happens when several teams don't have a fixture due to FA Cup rescheduling. If 4+ of your starting XI are from teams that don't play, the Free Hit is the right call.
Why it's the best use:
- You can field a full XI of players who actually have matches
- No need to take -8 or -12 in hits to patch your squad
- Your original (DGW-optimised) squad returns untouched afterwards
- BGWs often have lopsided fixtures that create high-scoring opportunities
When regular transfers are better: If only 2-3 of your players blank, a free transfer and a -4 hit is cheaper than burning the chip.
2. Bridging a Gap Between Chip Weeks
If you've used your Wildcard to build a DGW squad for next week, but this week your team looks terrible, the Free Hit bridges the gap. Your one-week squad handles the current GW, then your DGW team snaps back for the big week.
3. Emergency Use (Last Resort)
A sudden injury crisis that wipes out half your squad might justify a Free Hit. But this is almost always suboptimal — the chip's value is highest in a BGW where the structural advantage is clear.
Building a Free Hit Squad
A Free Hit team is built for one week only. Forget long-term value, price changes, and fixture runs. You're optimising for maximum points in a single gameweek.
Step 1: Target the Best Fixtures
Identify the most lopsided matches on paper. Which teams have easy home games? Which opponents are conceding the most xG? Focus your squad on players from teams in the most favourable positions.
Step 2: Prioritise High-Ceiling Players
This isn't the time for safe, steady 4-pointers. You want players who can deliver double-digit hauls:
- Forwards and midfielders with high xG and shots in the box
- Attacking full-backs on set pieces — they offer clean sheet + assist upside
- Penalty takers — guaranteed involvement in high-value situations
Step 3: Load Up on Attack
Invest most of your budget in your front 8. A £4.5m centre-back who never crosses halfway is wasted money on a Free Hit. Spend that budget on an explosive winger or a penalty-taking forward instead.
Step 4: Captain Selection
Two approaches:
- Shield captain — the highest-owned premium pick. Protects your rank if they haul (everyone benefits equally, so you don't lose ground)
- Sword captain — a lower-owned differential. If they haul, your rank rockets. If they blank, you fall behind
If you're protecting a good rank, go shield. If you're chasing, swing the sword.
Step 5: Don't Neglect Your Bench
Rotation is real. Your three bench outfield players must be genuine starters for their clubs. A £4.0m non-player on your bench is a disaster waiting to happen if one of your starting XI gets a surprise benching.
Tracking Your Free Hit Live
Once your Free Hit squad is locked in, track every point as it happens:
- Live rank — see exactly how your one-week squad is performing against the overall field
- Live bonus points — monitor which of your picks are earning BPS through actions beyond goals and assists
- Mini-league standings — watch how your Free Hit is affecting your league battles in real time
- Defensive contributions — check if your defensive punts are accumulating the clearances and blocks that drive bonus points
Common Free Hit Mistakes
Using It Too Early
Small BGWs (2-3 teams blanking) can be navigated with regular transfers. Save the chip for a big BGW where 5+ teams don't play and your squad is genuinely decimated.
Building a Template Team
If your Free Hit squad has 70%+ average ownership, you're just treading water. Include 2-3 genuine differentials with strong underlying stats — that's where the rank gains come from.
Forgetting Your Team Reverts
Your original squad comes back after the Free Hit. If you temporarily sold a player who's risen £0.3m in price, you might not be able to repurchase them. Always check repurchase prices before selling anyone you plan to keep.
Free Hitting a DGW
DGWs are for Bench Boost and Triple Captain — chips that let you keep DGW players permanently (BB) or maximise a single player's double-fixture output (TC). A Free Hit on a DGW wastes the advantage because all those DGW players vanish after one week.
Ignoring the Bench
With Pep Roulette and late team news, a non-playing bench is a ticking time bomb. Three nailed-on £4.0-4.5m starters on your bench is non-negotiable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Free Hit cancel points hits I already took?
Yes. If you took a -4 or -8 hit and then activate the Free Hit in the same gameweek, those deductions are wiped. Your original team (pre-hits) returns after the Free Hit gameweek.
Can I use the Free Hit and another chip in the same gameweek?
No. Only one chip per gameweek. You can't combine Free Hit with Bench Boost, Triple Captain, or Wildcard.
What happens to my team value during a Free Hit?
Your Free Hit budget is based on your team's selling value at the previous deadline. Price changes to your original squad's players still apply while you're on the Free Hit — so if a player in your permanent squad rises, you keep that value when your team reverts.
Should I Free Hit for an injury crisis?
Almost always no. A -4 or -8 hit to fix an injury crisis is a better use of resources than burning your Free Hit. The chip's highest value is in a Blank Gameweek where the structural advantage (fielding 11 vs 7 players) is enormous. The only exception is a truly catastrophic situation where 5+ players are suddenly unavailable for one week only.
Can I use the Free Hit one week and Wildcard the next?
Yes. Your original team returns after the Free Hit, and you can then Wildcard the following week to rebuild it. This is a valid (if aggressive) strategy for navigating a BGW followed by a Double Gameweek.
Track your Free Hit in real time — See your live rank, bonus points & mini-league standings → or read the complete chip strategy guide.