--- title: "Guide: All Tactics - Sector Bonuses & When to Use Them" description: "Guide: All Tactics - Sector Bonuses & When to Use Them" url: https://support.goalunited.org/en/articles/188-guide-all-tactics-sector-bonuses-and-when-to-use-them collection: "Expert Guides" updated: 2026-11-12 language: en alternates: [fr, de, it, pl, es, tr] --- # Guide: All Tactics - Sector Bonuses & When to Use Them Guide: All Tactics - Sector Bonuses & When to Use Them Every tactic in goalunited reshapes the 9-sector pitch by applying percentage bonuses to some zones and penalties to others. The benefits grow as you train the tactic; the penalties are fixed from day one. This guide breaks down every tactic with its exact numbers, then explains how to choose between them. > **Info:** Tactics decay slightly every day. Keep them trained with regular daily sessions or by using them in matches. A tactic is not 'done' once it hits 80% — it needs ongoing maintenance. ## **The Standard Tactics** ### **Pressing** Your offensive players press the opponent in their own half, reinforcing the midfield at the cost of both end zones.

Sectors	Effect
Midfield (4, 5, 6)	+ 20% bonus
Defensive (1, 2, 3) and Offensive (7, 8, 9)	− 7.5% penalty

Recommended against: opponents with a weak midfield or those playing a direct counter-attack style. Less recommended against: teams that play Defensive Wall; you press high, they absorb and counter with an unguarded back line. ### **Counter-Attack Play** Win the ball and break immediately. Defense and attack are both strengthened; midfield is weakened.

Sectors	Effect
Defensive (1, 2, 3) and Offensive (7, 8, 9)	+ 10% bonus
Midfield (4, 5, 6)	− 15% penalty

Recommended against: Pressing teams; they press high, you bypass their midfield entirely. Less recommended against: Powerplay/ Dragonplay or Wing Dominance, which dominate the midfield you just vacated. ### **Powerplay** Extreme attacking pressure across the entire offensive half. Six sectors are boosted; only the back three are penalised.

Sectors	Effect
Midfield + Offensive (4–9)	+ 10% bonus
Defensive (1, 2, 3)	− 15% penalty

Recommended against: teams with weak midfield and attack. Less recommended against: strong central sectors, like Pressing Plus, Kick-and-Rush. ### **Kick-and-Rush** Ignore the wings entirely. Long balls through the centre — three central sectors dominate.

Sectors	Effect
Central (2, 5, 8)	+ 20% bonus
All six wing sectors (1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9)	− 7.5% penalty

Recommended against: Over the Wings/ Powerplay. Counters their wing focus with superior centre strength. Less recommended against: any tactic that also strengthens centre, like Pressing PLUS, Pressing. ### **Over the Wings** Use the full width of the pitch. All four attacking wing sectors boosted.

Sectors	Effect
Wing Offensive + Wing Midfield (4, 6, 7, 9)	+ 15% bonus
All five remaining sectors	− 9% penalty

Recommended against: Kick-and-Rush and Defensive Wall. Less recommended against: tactics that strengthen middle sectors and attacking sectors, like Powerplay/ Dragonplay. ### **Defensive Wall** Park the bus. Maximise defensive strength at the cost of everything else.

Sectors	Effect
Defensive (1, 2, 3)	+ 20% bonus
All six forward sectors	− 7.5% penalty

Recommended against: teams where you need to defend a result; Less recommended against: in matches against lower-strength teams ## **Special Tactics (Require Specific Buildings)** ### **Dragonplay — Requires 5 Dragon Monuments** Like Powerplay but stronger. All midfield and attack sectors boosted; defence penalised less. Also unlocks effort up to 175%.

Sectors	Effect
Midfield + Offensive (4–9)	+ 12.5% bonus
Defensive (1, 2, 3)	− 10% penalty

### **Pressing PLUS — Requires 5 Wood Snake Monuments** A well-balanced attacking tactic that also shores up the central defence; superior to standard Pressing in most situations.

Sectors	Effect
Midfield (4, 5, 6)	+ 20% bonus
Central Offensive (8)	+ 10% bonus
Central Defensive (2)	+ 7.5% bonus
Wing Defensive (1, 3)	− 10% penalty
Wing Offensive (7, 9)	− 7.5% penalty

### **Defensive Fortress — Requires Tactics Hub** The strongest pure defensive tactic available; outperforms Defensive Wall in every defensive metric.

Sectors	Effect
Defensive (1, 2, 3)	+ 22% bonus (central) / proportional
Central Midfield (5)	+ 8% bonus
Wing Midfield (4, 6)	− 7.5% penalty
Offensive (7, 8, 9)	− 8.5% penalty

### **Rapid Counter-Attack — Requires Tactics Hub Pro** A specialist tactic for clubs that absorb pressure and punish on the break.

Sectors	Effect
Offensive (7, 8, 9)	+ 12.5% bonus
Central Midfield (5)	+ 10% bonus
Wing Defensive (1, 3)	+ 12.5% bonus
Wing Midfield (4, 6)	− 15% penalty
Central Defensive (2)	− 5% penalty

### **Wing Dominance — Requires Tactics Hub Pro** Total wing control - all 6 wing sectors boosted, the 3 central sectors penalised.

Sectors	Effect
Wing Offensive (7, 9)	+ 15% bonus
Wing Midfield (4, 6)	+ 10% bonus
Wing Defensive (1, 3)	+ 7.5% bonus
Central sectors (2, 5, 8)	− 8–10% penalty

### **Precision Kick-and-Rush (PKR) — Requires 5 GUFA Monuments** A high-tempo tactic with strong central control and wing attacking threat.

Sectors	Effect
Central Defensive (2)	+ 20% bonus
Central Midfield (5)	+ 25% bonus
Wing Offensive (7, 9)	+ 10% bonus
Central Offensive (8), Wing MID/DEF (1,3,4,6)	− 8.5% penalty

## **Standards Training** The team training slot can also be used for Standards (set pieces) and Offside Trap. Standards training improves the conversion rate of free kicks, corners, and penalties across all your players. It is often overlooked but consistently delivers returns; every match has set pieces, and a better-trained standards rating means more goals from them. > **Info:** Standards training does not decay as aggressively as field tactics. A few training sessions at the start of each season keeps it in good shape. Prioritise your field tactic first each day, then fit in Standards whenever your primary tactic is well-maintained. ## **Choosing a Tactic — Decision Framework** Follow this sequence before each important match: 1. Check which tactic is trained above 80% — only those are reliably beneficial. 2. Visit the opponent's contact page and review their last 3–5 match reports. Which sectors did they dominate? Which tactic did they use? 3. Identify their formation type: wing-heavy, central, counter-attack, or defensive. 4. Select the tactic that either exploits their weakest sectors or neutralises their strongest. 5. Use the Tactics Influence visualisation on the formation page to preview sector changes before confirming. [Expert guides](https://support.goalunited.org/collections/33)