Guide
Best Formations and Tactics in PES 2013
The formations that survive a full season in PES 2013: 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3 and 4-4-2 tested, with pressing, defensive line and team style settings explained.
Contents On this page
There is no single best formation in PES 2013, but there are formations that forgive mistakes and formations that punish them for ninety minutes. These three shapes have survived hundreds of hours of testing against the AI and in Master League, and this guide explains when each one earns its place.
Why shape matters more here
PES 2013's ProActive AI reacts honestly to space. Leave the zone in front of your defence empty and the CPU will live in it. Overload one flank and the switch of play will hurt you. A good formation is simply a promise about where your players will be when you lose the ball, and this game collects on broken promises quickly.
The 4-2-3-1: the safe champion
Two holding midfielders screen the defence, the number ten plays between the lines, and the wide midfielders tuck in without the ball. Set a mid defensive line, moderate pressing and short to mixed passing. This is the shape we recommend for Master League beginners because it defends in numbers and still creates through the middle. For the complete picture of the game, start from our full PES 2013 fan guide and work outwards from there.
The 4-3-3: width and Player ID wingers
With genuine wide forwards, 4-3-3 stretches the pitch until something tears. Keep one midfielder anchored, push the full backs on carefully, and play for the far side winger with early switches. It is the most fun shape in the game with fast wide players, and the most fragile without them.
The 4-4-2: direct and honest
Two strikers give you a permanent out ball and a crossing game with real targets. Pair a tall finisher with a mobile partner, keep the midfield line compact, and defend in two banks of four. Against possession sides it can feel like siege warfare, but one accurate long pass changes the whole match.
Team style sliders that matter
Pressing and defensive line do more than any other sliders. High pressing with a high line wins the ball near the opponent's box and concedes through balls behind you; the pairing must rise and fall together. Support range decides whether your passes have options. Change one slider at a time and play three matches before judging it. We go deeper on the connected topic in our PES 2013 controls guide, which pairs well with this one.
Defending the CPU through ball
The classic PES 2013 frustration is the chipped through ball over your defence. The fixes are structural: a deeper line against fast strikers, a holding midfielder who screens rather than chases, and centre backs with response rather than raw pace. Dropping five metres solves more goals than any tackle timing drill.
Attacking patterns that repeat
Build two rehearsed routes to goal. Ours are the early diagonal to the far winger, finished with a low manual cross, and the one touch wall pass at the edge of the box using the through ball just before the striker's run. Repetition beats variety in this engine because Player ID runs trigger off familiar passing angles. We go deeper on the connected topic in our Player ID explainer, which pairs well with this one.
Choosing your shape
Pick the formation your best five players demand, not the one you saw in a final. If your star is a number ten, protect him in 4-2-3-1. If your stars are wide, go 4-3-3. Then leave the shape alone for ten matches: PES 2013 rewards settled sides far more than constant cleverness.
Quick Answers
What is the best formation in PES 2013?
The 4-2-3-1 is the most reliable all round shape because it protects the defence and still creates centrally. The 4-3-3 suits fast wide players, and the 4-4-2 suits direct, crossing football.
How do I stop through balls in PES 2013?
Drop the defensive line against pace, screen with a holding midfielder instead of chasing, and pick centre backs with high response. Structural fixes work better than last ditch tackling.
Which team style sliders matter most?
Pressing and defensive line matter most and should move together. Support range is next, since it decides how many passing options each player has.