The Scout explains the basics of the Wildcard chip for novice managers in 2024/25 Fantasy Premier League.
The Wildcard chip is the most powerful of the five chips available to managers as it allows you unlimited free transfers to overhaul your entire squad without incurring any points hits.
The Wildcard chip can be used twice a season. The first Wildcard will be available from the start of this season until Sunday 29 December 13:30 GMT. The second Wildcard will be available after Sunday 29 December 13:30 GMT in readiness for the January transfer window opening and remains available until the end of the season.
The Wildcard chip is played when confirming transfers and can't be cancelled once played.
When to play your Wildcard is very much a team-dependant decision.
When should you use your Wildcard?
If you have suffered a poor start to 2024/25 and don’t own either Erling Haaland (£15.2m) or Mohamed Salah (£12.6m) – who are the top-scoring players after the first three Gameweeks – then there is plenty of upside in using it now.
Both Haaland and Salah’s potential for huge captaincy hauls means you need to have at least one of them in your line-up to avoid falling further down the overall rankings.
A club’s displays under a new head coach can be another reason to reassess plans for your squad.
If you were cautious over loading up on Liverpool players in your opening squad after Jurgen Klopp departed last season, you could now reverse that decision with a Wildcard.
The Reds have thrived under Arne Slot and are the only side to keep a clean sheet in all three of the opening Gameweeks, with Trent Alexander-Arnold’s (£7.0m) huge attacking potential making him the best option. Meanwhile, Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota (both £7.6m) provide strong double-up picks alongside Salah in attack.
Using the Wildcard now – during an international break – can also help lift your squad value, as players are more likely to change in cost when there is a two-week gap between Gameweek deadlines. Historically, players have risen or fallen in price by a maximum of £0.3m per Gameweek.
Keep an eye out for Gameweek 6
Assessing the schedules for each club can also help managers identify the best time to play their Wildcard.
For example, if you don’t own any Arsenal attackers, then Gameweek 6 could be the ideal time to use the chip to bring in Bukayo Saka (£10.1m) and Kai Havertz (£8.1m).
The Gunners have tough matches against Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City in the next two Gameweeks.
But from Gameweek 6, they have back-to-back home matches with promoted pair Leicester City and Southampton, followed by a visit to AFC Bournemouth.
This window could be particularly appealing if you have loaded up on Newcastle United assets such as Anthony Gordon (£7.4m) and Alexander Isak (£8.5m) in your opening squad. The Magpies host Man City in Gameweek 6 and will then face Chelsea and Arsenal in their subsequent four fixtures.
Typically, the second Wildcard is best to save until late in the season to profit from any Double Gameweeks (DGWs). A DGW is when a club has two matches in a Gameweek and is usually caused by postponements due to domestic cup matches.