Pre-Season is chaos in a good way. EA re-releases a mountain of special items and drops new grinds that can carry value into FC 26. Thanks to a larger pool that includes more FUTTIES teams, Batch 2 just hit with over 300 things crammed back into packs. Translation: the market is wild, and you finally have access to endgame pieces that were extinct for months.
Below is a clean, no-fluff ranking of what to chase this week: the 99-rated headliners and the Triple 98 Evolutions that actually move your win rate.
What just dropped (and why it matters)
- Re-Release Batch 2: A gigantic rerun of promos, adding hundreds of cards back into packs for a limited time. If you missed big names earlier, this is your second shot
- FUTTIES capstone: Across July–August, FUTTIES delivered a wave of 99-rated items (Icons, Heroes, active stars). This is the stuff of meta dreams.
- Triple 98 Evolution: An evolution path that turns eligible players into 98 OVR monsters. It’s live now with curated requirements.
- Pre-Season Pass & objectives: Extra grinds with high-rated rewards and SBCs. Good fodder, occasional endgame cards, and ways to angle into re-release pulls.
The 99-Rated Cards — Top 7 to Target
These are the safest, meta-friendly 99s to build around. I’ve prioritised chemistry ease, role scarcity, and reliability under delay.
- Ronaldo (R9), 99 – The gold standard. Elite body type, cracked animations, and automatic finishing from any angle. If you can pack or afford one of the FUTTIES/elite versions, you anchor a whole build around him. (Part of the 99 club during FUTTIES.)
- Lionel Messi, 99 – Low centre of gravity, explosive first step, left-foot shot variety. As a RW/RF/CAM he unlocks narrow or wide metas. FUTTIES versions headline the tracker.
- Kylian Mbappé, 99 – Pace + jam factor. In transition he’s a cheat code; on presses he forces mistakes. Hard to defend, easy to link.
- Caroline Graham Hansen, 99 – One of the most consistent wide creators. Trivially hits bylines, reverse cuts, and first-time crosses. A plug-and-play right side for elite 4-3-2-1/4-2-3-1 shapes.
- Nuno Mendes, 99 – A legit endgame LB. Pace, aggression, and recovery runs make him a lock if you need full-back stability without losing overlap threat. (FUTTIES Team entries show him in the 99 bucket.)
- Andrea Pirlo, 99 – Not for everyone, but if you build around deep playmakers his ping range and set-pieces change matches. In slower, possession-first lobbies he’s surgical.
- Cole Palmer / Désiré Doué, 99 – Two modern hybrid attackers who slot into multiple roles. Great for club links and pressing systems.
How to use the 99s well
- Pair one of the big central scorers (R9/Mbappé) with a wide engine (Hansen/Palmer) to stretch defensive lines.
- If you pull a luxury CAM (Messi), switch to a 3-man midfield with a destroyer behind him so he can free-roam.
- Don’t overpay for nostalgia if it doesn’t fit your scheme. A 99 who doesn’t suit your tactics isn’t “best” for you.
Triple 98 Evolution — What’s actually worth the grind
Triple 98 is where value hides. You’re taking a good card and supercharging it to 98 OVR inside strict eligibility rules.
Best practice: upgrade players who already have meta traits (size, body type, weak foot, work rates) so the stat bumps translate.
Top Evolution archetypes to prioritise
- GK with elite reactions & traits – Shot-stopping scales insanely with the jump to 98.
- Ball-playing CB – Passing upgrades + composure matter more at 98 than raw pace alone.
- Two-way CM/CAM – If the base card already turns well, 98s make them press-resistant.
- Wide RB/LB with stamina – Overlaps need lungs and recovery. The 98 boost keeps them fresh minute 1–120.
Why these paths win: The 98 overlay multiplies what a card already does well; it doesn’t fix a truly flawed base. FifaUltimateTeam’s guidance on Triple 98’s requirements and shortlists is a good sanity check before you lock in a candidate.
Reality check on positions
Some community notes spotlight CAM-focused routes in certain drops, so always verify the specific path live that day. If the Evolution is CAM-locked, apply it to your best mover rather than a stiff name with hype only.
Re-Release & Objective Strategy (Quick Wins)
- Grind the Pre-Season Pass/Objectives for high-rated rewards and SBC fodder. Even if you whiff on a pack pull, the fodder moves you toward daily SBCs that can spit out a re-release banger.
- Open during content windows (lightning rounds, new SBCs). Liquidity is higher; it’s easier to sell dupes fast.
- Club before market. With 300+ items back in packs, it’s tempting to impulse-buy. Clear your club first; let pack luck guide your next upgrade.
So what should you chase first?
- If you’re sitting on coins and want instant impact: R9/Mbappé/Messi (pick the one that fixes your weakest lane).
- If you’re shoring up the back: Nuno Mendes 99 or a Triple-98 CB/GK route—cheaper and immediately noticeable in WL/Champs finals.
- If you’re coin-light but time-rich: Triple 98 Evolution first, objectives second, then roll the dice on re-release packs.
Bottom line
Pre-Season is the most forgiving time to land endgame cards. Use the Batch 2 reruns to hunt 99s that actually fit your tactic, then pour your grind into a Triple 98 on a player who already feels good on the stick. Do that, and your squad will be cleaner, faster, and more flexible heading into FC 26.