How Does a Free Hit Work in Fantasy Football?

The Free Hit is one of the most powerful chips in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) — a one-week reset that lets you field a completely different team without wrecking your season. Used well, it can rescue a blank gameweek or exploit a double. Used badly, it can waste your best asset.

TL;DR: A Free Hit gives you unlimited free transfers for a single gameweek; your squad then reverts to exactly how it was before.

What a Free Hit Actually Does

When you activate the Free Hit chip, you can make as many transfers as you like before that gameweek's deadline. The cost? None — the usual -4 point hit per extra transfer is ignored.

Here's the key rule: your changes last for one gameweek only. Once the week ends, your squad returns to the exact lineup and bank balance you had before you played the chip. It's a temporary team, not a permanent rebuild.

Chip Timing and Availability

Free Hit is part of the standard FPL chip set, alongside Wildcard, Triple Captain and Bench Boost. You get one Free Hit (some seasons offer two), and it cannot be carried over between seasons. Use it or lose it.

When Should You Play the Free Hit?

The classic use is a Blank Gameweek — when several teams don't play, leaving your normal squad thin. A Free Hit lets you load up on players who do have fixtures, then hand your squad back untouched.

The second smart use is a Double Gameweek, where you target players with two matches for extra points.

Avoid the temptation to use it in a normal week just to fix bad form. Save it, and check the official Premier League FPL rules before you commit.

Expert Tips for Using the Chip

• Plan ahead: track blank and double gameweeks using reliable sources like Fantasy Football Scout.
• Don't worry about selling prices — they reset when your team reverts.
• Remember your captain and bench choices reset too, so re-pick them next week.
• Keep your long-term plan intact; the Free Hit is a tool, not a teardown.

Play it right, and the Free Hit becomes the safety net that keeps your season alive.