Chips can win or lose your Fantasy Premier League season more decisively than any single transfer. Using the right one at the wrong time is one of the most common ways managers throw away points they never get back.
Quick Answer
FPL managers receive two sets of four chips each season: Wildcard, Free Hit, Bench Boost, and Triple Captain, giving eight chips in total. The first set must be used before the Gameweek 19 deadline and cannot be carried into the second half of the season. Only one chip can be played per Gameweek, and each works differently: Wildcard allows unlimited free transfers, Free Hit temporarily rebuilds your squad for one Gameweek only, Bench Boost adds your bench score to your total, and Triple Captain triples rather than doubles your captain’s points.
The Four Chips Explained
- Wildcard. Make unlimited, permanent transfers, including any already made that Gameweek, without losing points. This effectively lets you rebuild your entire 15-player squad from scratch.
- Free Hit. Make unlimited transfers for a single Gameweek only. At the next deadline, your squad automatically reverts to how it looked before the Free Hit was played.
- Bench Boost. The points scored by all four of your substitutes are added to your total for that Gameweek, not just your starting eleven.
- Triple Captain. Your captain’s points are multiplied by three instead of the usual two.
Why You Get Two of Each Chip
Since the 2025/26 season, FPL has given managers two sets of all four chips across the year, doubling the total from four to eight. The first set must be used before the Gameweek 19 deadline, typically around early January, and any unused first-half chips are lost rather than carried forward. A fresh set of all four chips then becomes available for the second half of the season.
Only One Chip Per Gameweek
You cannot combine chips in the same Gameweek. This means, for example, you cannot Wildcard and Bench Boost simultaneously, even though combining a squad rebuild with a bench-boosted Gameweek might seem tempting. Plan your chip sequencing carefully, since playing a Wildcard the week before a Bench Boost is a common and effective combination across two separate Gameweeks instead.
When to Use Your Wildcard
The first Wildcard is often best saved until fixture patterns and player form become clearer, typically after five or six Gameweeks, rather than played immediately based on pre-season assumptions. A well-timed Wildcard targets a clear fixture swing, letting you load your squad with players from clubs entering a favourable run of matches.
When to Use Bench Boost
Bench Boost delivers the most value when all four of your substitutes are genuinely likely to start and score points, not simply squad filler. This often means playing it straight after a Wildcard, when your entire 15-player squad has been freshly rebuilt with useful players throughout.
When to Use Triple Captain
Triple Captain works best on a premium, high-ceiling player facing a favourable fixture, ideally during a Double Gameweek when a team plays twice. Using it on a top captain choice like a club’s primary goalscorer against a newly promoted or defensively weak opponent maximises the potential upside.
When to Use Free Hit
Free Hit is most valuable during a Blank Gameweek, when several of your regular players have no fixture at all due to cup schedules, or when you want to temporarily target a Double Gameweek without disrupting your long-term squad. Since your team automatically reverts afterward, it carries no lasting cost to your regular squad structure.
Common Chip Mistakes
- Playing a chip early simply out of impatience rather than a genuine strategic opportunity
- Using Bench Boost when your bench still contains players unlikely to start
- Saving all chips for the season’s final weeks and missing strong opportunities earlier in the first half
- Forgetting that first-half chips expire at the Gameweek 19 deadline and cannot be carried forward
How Chips Connect to Your Overall Scoring Strategy
Chips only amplify the scoring system already in place, so understanding how points are actually calculated makes chip timing decisions far more effective. See our guide on Fantasy Premier League scoring explained for the full points breakdown behind every chip decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many chips do FPL managers get in total?
Eight: two each of Wildcard, Free Hit, Bench Boost, and Triple Captain, split across two halves of the season.
Can I use two chips in the same Gameweek?
No, only one chip can be active per Gameweek.
What happens if I don’t use my first-half chips?
They are lost. First-half chips must be used before the Gameweek 19 deadline and do not carry over.
Can I cancel a chip after playing it?
Bench Boost and Triple Captain can be cancelled any time before the Gameweek deadline. Wildcard and Free Hit changes are permanent once transfers are confirmed.
What is the best chip to use in Gameweek 1?
Bench Boost is sometimes used in Gameweek 1 since every player theoretically has an equal chance of starting before form and rotation patterns emerge.
Related Reading
This article reflects Fantasy Premier League chip rules for the 2026/27 season.