Madden 26 Ultimate Team: The First 9 Things You Should Do on Day One
Starting fresh in Madden 26 Ultimate Team (MUT) can feel overwhelming, but if you want to get ahead of the competition, your early moves matter. The right steps can mean the difference between struggling through your first games and dominating with a stacked lineup.
Here are the first nine things you should do immediately after loading up Madden 26 Ultimate Team to maximize your Mut 26 coins, team upgrades, and rewards.
1. Complete the Easiest Challenge in the Game
Head straight to your Challenges tab and locate the Training Camp Challenges. In the Basic Drills section, you'll find a challenge called Practicing Plays. All you need to do is call one offensive play-yes, literally one-and you've beaten it.
Your reward:
79 OVR J.J. McCarthy-an instant starting quarterback for most day-one squads.
Tier 1 Mission completion, earning you a Training Camp Set Token.
Take that token to the Sets tab and exchange it for 79 OVR Xavier Worthy. At 87 speed, Worthy is the fastest card in the game on launch day-a massive upgrade to start your team.
2. Grab the One-Coin Daily Pack
MUT 26 features a daily one-coin offer in the store that you should never skip.
Here's how to get it:
Go to the Marketplace Store.
Switch to the Beginner Offer tab.
Look for the 78+ Platinum Player Pack.
For just 1 coin, you'll pull a platinum player you can quicksell for at least 6,000–7,000 coins. This can only be opened once per day, but it's essentially free coins for logging in.
3. Do Your Daily Objectives for XP
Open your Field Pass, go to the Season 1 tab, and check the Daily Objectives section. Completing all three daily tasks rewards about 5,000 XP per day-enough to gain roughly two levels on your pass.
Daily XP is essential because the Field Pass grants free coins, packs, and upgradeable players. Before you log off each day, double-check that all three daily missions are done.
4. Spend Your Pre-Order Points or Cash (If You're Going To)
If you bought the deluxe edition or pre-ordered Madden 26, you might have 4,600 points waiting. If you plan to spend money at all, launch week is the best time-coins and players are most valuable when the market is fresh.
The best-value packs for your money are:
Grand Platinum Elite Pack-8× 80+ Platinum players.
Pro Platinum Elite Bundle-High coin potential.
Step Offers-Limited-time deals with strong value.
Avoid standard elite packs like the Precision Elite Pack, which tend to have lower returns.
5. Open Your Pre-Order and BND Packs Strategically
Don't rip your pre-order packs right away. Open your paid packs first so you know which positions you've already filled. Most pre-order and bonus content packs are BND (Bound), meaning you can't sell them.
By waiting, you can pick BND players for positions you haven't upgraded yet. For example, if you already pulled an elite WR and EDGE rusher from other packs, you might take a BND Antonio Gates to fill your TE spot.
6. Grind the Right Challenges First
With your starting team set, it's time to grind challenges-but choose wisely. The Tempest & Turmoil solos are perfect early-game content. They're short, easy, and give strong rewards like End Zone Packs, Pay Dirt Packs, and Clutch Elite Packs.
Avoid the Epic challenges early on-they're longer, harder, and less efficient for day-one grinding.
7. Clear Out Your Binder for Coins
After generating your best lineup, go through your binder and sell any player not starting for you. Early in the year, even low-gold cards sell for a premium.
For example, a 77 OVR might fetch 8,000 coins on day one-prices will only drop as the market fills. Turn your unused cards into coin capital now.
8. Use Budget Filters to Upgrade Your Team
Once you've made coins, invest in budget beasts that fit your scheme. The site MUT.gg offers filters to help you find the fastest and most effective players for under a set coin limit.
For example, with a 40K cap:
WR Lad McConkey-83 speed.
WR Jameson Williams-84 speed.
CB L'Jarius Sneed-83 speed, 80 zone.
CB DJ Turner-84 speed, great budget corner.
Bookmark these filters and refresh them throughout the season to find the latest budget upgrades.9. Put Your Team to Work in Games That Match Your Playstyle
Now that your team is upgraded, it's time to hit the field. Choose your mode based on how you want to play:
A) Versus CPU-Solo Seasons: The Run
Great rewards for offline players. Winning five games in a row moves you up levels, with payouts like:
4 Pay Dirt Packs
4 Deep Shot Packs
Coin bonuses
B) Events Tab-Fun, Low-Stakes Online Play
If you want to play online without sweating against top-tier competition, events are perfect. Level up through wins (losses don't reset progress), earning rewards like:
50K coins
End Zone Packs
Clutch Elite Packs
C) Head-to-Head Seasons or Ranked-For Competitive Players
Seasons: Short-term rewards for Super Bowl wins.
Ranked: Long-term grind for top-tier players like 88 OVR Malik Nabers and 89 OVR Ted Hendricks (paid out monthly).
Day-One Flow Summary
If you want the most efficient start possible, here's how your day-one game plan might look:
1.Complete the Practicing Plays challenge → Get McCarthy + Worthy.
2.Grab the one-coin daily pack → Free coins.
3.Knock out daily objectives → Field Pass XP.
4.Spend pre-order points/money now → Max value.
5.Open BND packs after paid packs → Fill gaps.
6.Grind Tempest & Turmoil challenges → Quick rewards.
7.Clear binder of non-starters → More coins.
8.Buy budget upgrades via MUT.gg filters → Faster, stronger team.
9.Play your preferred mode → Earn rewards while having fun.
Final Thoughts
The start of a new Madden Ultimate Team season is the most exciting-and most important-time to build your squad. The moves you make in the first few hours can set the tone for your entire season. By following these nine steps, you'll be armed with elite speed, a steady coin flow, and a competitive lineup ready to take on any challenge.
Whether you're here for casual fun or chasing top-tier rewards in Head-to-Head Ranked, these tips give you the strongest possible launchpad in Madden 26 Ultimate Team.
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