What Is Free Hit in Fantasy Premier League?

The free hit chip is one of the most misunderstood aspects of Fantasy Premier League. I'm often surprised by how many people don't understand the ins and outs of the free hit, including the best times to use it. Sure, it's funny when your mates activate the free hit early and end up losing the league, but you don't want to fall victim to the same mistakes.

In this guide, I'll cover everything you need to know about the free hit chip, from how it works to the best strategies. Let's dive in.

What is the free hit chip?

There are several chips in FPL. While Triple Captain and Bench Boost are quite well-known, Free Hit and Wildcard may go under the radar. New players might not understand what the free hit chip means.

The free hit chip essentially gives you unlimited transfers for one gameweek and one gameweek only. Usually, you get one free transfer per week – or two if you roll over from the previous week (though it's capped at two). With the free hit, you can make as many changes as you want to your 15-man lineup.

How the free hit chip works

The free hit chip has some unique features you need to be aware of before playing it.

• Duration: The free hit lasts one gameweek. After that week, your squad reverts to the previous lineup, with none of the free-hit team remaining.
• No extra transfers: Any saved transfers will be lost, so you start the next gameweek with one free transfer, as usual. Furthermore, if you use your free transfer and then decide to play the free hit before the gameweek deadline, your initial transfer will be lost.
• Price changes: Managers do not benefit from any price changes and cannot benefit from the value of their free hit team. However, if the original lineup experiences a price drop during that gameweek, you will still lose value on that player when your team reverts to normal.

With these factors in mind, you can play the FPL free hit wisely.

Free hit chip vs. wildcard

The wildcard chip is another boost that allows you to use unlimited transfers. However, with the wildcard, your transfers remain in place after the gameweek is over. Meanwhile, with free hit, your fantasy team reverts back to normal when the week is over.

Both chips have value, and you can maximise your points scored by playing them strategically throughout the season.

How many free hits do you get per season?

Managers get one free hit chip per season. This is another major difference with wildcards, where you get two – one before December and one after.

Since you have only one free hit chip, it's essential to use it wisely.

Using the free hit

Before you get ahead of yourself, there's something important you need to know. Once you activate the free hit chip, you can't cancel it. So, make sure you're sure about your decision before you forego your free transfers and pick a new starting XI.

On the Fantasy Premier League website, the chips are listed below your squad when you pick your team, with free hit on the right.

1. Log into your fantasy.premierleague.com account on your desktop or the app.
2. Select 'Pick Team.'
3. Scroll to the bottom and press 'Play' under Free Hit.
4. Make your transfers, then confirm. Double-check check you're sure before confirming transfers.

The best time to use the free hit: general rules

If you're the Pep Guardiola of your mini-league, you'll likely try to save your free hit for the last few weeks of the season to take advantage of the blank and double gameweeks. However, there are times when you might need to play your chip earlier in the season due to injuries and other unforeseen circumstances.

Most managers play the chip during double gameweeks, since you can get around the fact that players are resting. Your new free hit squad allows you to maximise your points haul in these weeks.

In recent seasons, there have been blank and double gameweeks in the same gameweek, which is a complicated scenario. This is another time to play your chip. You can also use it when a club has a blank gameweek sandwiched between two double gameweeks, ensuring that your entire squad is playing and earning you points.

Should you use the free hit early?

If you're thinking about using the free hit early in the season, it's best avoided. The FPL community will tell you that you can usually look ahead to a specific gameweek late in the season and spot good fixtures for playing the chip. However, if you are facing a problem presented by injuries, suspensions, or postponed fixtures, you might need to use it. That is, if you've already used your wildcard.

However, if you're talking about using the free hit early in the week, then there are some advantages. The key players for a free hit are generally among the most transferred-in, so doing it early means taking advantage of a transfer before the price increases, giving you short-term gains.

Keep in mind that your team reverts back, though, and this strategy can backfire in a few different ways.

When should you play the free hit chip?

If you want to make the most out of the free hit chip in FPL, here are some great times to play it.

Double gameweeks or blank gameweeks

Double gameweeks usually occur around gameweeks 34-37, which is why so many FPL managers hold out until the end. Blank gameweeks occur slightly earlier. These are both great times to play the free hit, but make sure you're okay with your free hit squad reverting back to normal afterward – some players might be rested.

Fixture turns

You can also use it during a fixture turn, ensuring you can change your entire FPL team cheaply to combat a difficult run of fixtures. Most FPL managers don't use it this way since it can be seen as a waste. After all, it's more useful in a double gameweek.

Dominate your mini league rivals and play your chips at the right time

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