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MLB The Show 26 Players Are Sleeping on These Cards - And They're Winning Games
Players unfamiliar with MLB The Show 26 might have a misconception about Diamond Dynasty: that only the most popular player cards can build a high-win-rate team.
This isn't true. The game features many underrated player cards that, when used correctly, can unleash tremendous power. Moreover, you only need a small number of Stubs to acquire them.
Next, I will introduce these underrated player cards in detail according to their position on the field.
Starting Pitcher
Starting Pitcher is the starting point for every game in MLB 26. The following three cards don't require a large number of Stubs, but their pitch types and control are excellent.
Corbin Burnes
Corbin Burnes is a typical underrated card. His pitch mix is very well-rounded, with an excellent Cutter. In MLB 26, Cutter is one of the hardest pitches to hit because it creates a sharp change in direction, both horizontally and vertically, upon reaching the base.
Furthermore, Burnes' control is consistent enough that both beginners and experienced players can easily utilize him effectively.
The price of this card fluctuates; with a bit of luck, you can acquire it for just 5,000 Stubs, which is a great deal.
John Donaldson
John Donaldson is suitable not only as a pitcher but also as a hitter.
His trump card as a pitcher is forkball. While his fastball is 92-93 mph, his forkball is only 81-82 mph.
This near 10 mph speed difference is extremely deadly in the game. When you hit the strike zone with a series of Fastballs and then suddenly throw a slow Forkball, the opponent will often swing too early and make a Lunging Animation.
Andy Pettitte
Andy Pettitte is a player similar to Al Leiter, but you can acquire him for a small amount of Stubs.
Relief Pitcher
Relief Pitcher's importance is especially pronounced when the score is close. The following Relief Pitcher cards are perfectly capable of handling most playstyles in MLB 26.
Kenley Jansen
Kenley Jansen's pitching motion is very unique - he uses a side-screw pitch. In MLB 26, a unique release point often confuses opponents, as they need time to adapt to the ball's trajectory.
Jansen's main pitch is Cutter, which he also throws with a Slider. These two pitches look very similar, but their trajectories are different, making them easy for opposing batters to misjudge.
Moreover, you can acquire him for less than 100,000 Stubs. For players on a budget, Jansen is an indispensable right-handed pitcher.
Aaron Bummer
Aaron Bummer is a left-handed pitcher. His Cutter is excellent, and his H/9 rating is outstanding against both left- and right-handed batters.
This means that Bummer can suppress any type of batter the opponent fields.
Garrett Cleavinger
Garrett Cleavinger consumes the fewest stamps of the three cards. While his abilities are slightly inferior to the other two, he's a perfect transitional choice for players just starting out and struggling with stamps.
Also Read: How to Unlock Ketel Marte for Almost Free in MLB The Show 26 Diamond Dynasty?
Hitter
Hitters are key to scoring. This article categorizes MLB 26 hitters into three types:
Contact Hitters
These hitters are characterized by high contact and vision, are less prone to strikeouts, can hit the ball into the field, and rely on speed to reach base. Here are two recommended player cards:
First, Tony Gwynn. He's a historically dominant hitter. In the game, his contact attribute is extremely high, almost never missing a hit. His speed is also excellent, allowing him to steal bases after a single.
Most importantly, he can play all three outfield positions: Left Field, Center Field, and Right Field. This positional flexibility means you can place him in any open outfield position.
Second is Nico Hoerner. He can almost be considered a Four-Tool Player - a player with all-around qualities in batting average, power, base running, arm strength, and defense.
Nico Hoerner comes close to this standard, perhaps slightly weaker in power. However, his hitting ability and defense are very solid.
Power Hitters
If you're down by two runs and need a home run to tie the game, then you need a Power Hitter. Here are two recommended player cards:
First is Victor Martinez. He's a Switch Hitter, and he's not at a disadvantage whether the opponent sends out a left-handed or right-handed pitcher.
With the release of MLB 26 Weekend Classic Rewind Pack, the number of MLB The Show 26 Stubs needed to acquire him has further decreased, meaning now is a good time to get him.
Second is Anthony Santander, a Budget Power Hitter. A common weakness of many Power Hitters is low vision, making them vulnerable to high-angle shots, but Santander's vision is quite good.
This means he can better judge the strike zone and won't swing to hit bad pitches unnecessarily.
Platoon Bat
A Platoon Bat refers to a batter who performs exceptionally well against specific opponents. Below are two recommended player cards for Platoon Bats.
Bryce Harper is the primary recommendation. Bryce Harper's Power and Contact are significantly improved when facing right-handed pitchers.
Some players believe that, in addition to the standard version, Bryce Harper's World Baseball Classic Card (rated 89 overall) is also very useful, and you can obtain it for free through a program.
This concludes the introduction to some underrated player cards in MLB The Show 26. If you happen to be lacking good player cards, you can immediately add them to your team.
…Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.0 Best Builds: Top Ladder Meta Build for Every Class in Return of the Ancients
As Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.0 Return of the Ancients gradually stabilizes, the ladder landscape for each class is becoming clearer. Many players have transitioned from progression to endgame, and the builds chosen by top-ranked players are increasingly becoming the most valuable reference points for the current meta.
Whether it's a speed-farming build with top-tier map clearing efficiency or a versatile build that balances survivability and boss damage, these builds consistently occupying top positions on the ladder demonstrate their strong competitiveness in the current meta.
For Path of Exile 2 players looking to climb the leaderboards, improve map clearing efficiency, or find their seasonal best-in-slot build, studying the choices of these top players is undoubtedly the fastest way to understand the meta.
Shield Wall Titan Warrior
One of the highest-ranked classes currently is Warrior's Shield Wall Titan. Despite adjustments to some Warrior builds in Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.0, Shield Wall remains extremely strong.
This build empowers itself with War Cry, then unleashes Shield Wall, followed by Shield Charge to detonate Wall for area-of-effect damage, offering both high damage output and exceptional mobility.
The additional area-of-effect provided by Titan Ascendancy further amplifies the skill combo's advantages, making it consistently effective for both map progression and endgame farming in Path of Exile 2, helping you quickly farm Path of Exile 2 Currency.
More importantly, Shield Wall Titan doesn't have the same demanding gear requirements as some popular Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.0 builds, making it a popular choice for both high-level players and beginners.
Twister Martial Artist Monk
In Monk class, Twister Martial Artist has emerged as one of the biggest dark horses in Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.0. While many Monk players still opt for Flicker Strike Martial Artist, top-ranking Path of Exile 2 players prove that Twister also has the potential to reach the top ranks.
Twister Martial Artist continuously generates tornadoes with an extremely fast attack speed, almost covering the entire screen when clearing the map. You'll need to equip multiple unique PoE 2 gear pieces to further enhance attack speed and movement, allowing the character to reach astonishing levels of damage output and mobility.
While Twister Martial Artist has a high initial cost, its potential is also among the top in Return of the Ancients.
Ice Shot Deadeye Ranger
Ranger class remains dominated by Ice Shot Deadeye. As one of the most popular ranged builds in PoE 2 Patch 0.5.0, Ice Shot Deadeye has gained widespread recognition for its extremely high map clearing efficiency and excellent single-target damage.
Mirage Deadeye Ascendancy can additionally summon a Temporary Mirage Archer. With Mirage Archer Spirit Gem, multiple units simultaneously casting Ice Shots will appear on Return of the Ancients battlefield.
A large number of Ice Shots can quickly freeze enemies, creating the perfect environment for subsequent Snipe attacks. Whether for fast-paced map clearing or final boss challenges, this build is highly competitive in POE 2 Patch 0.5.0.
Spirit Walker Twisters Huntress
The new Huntress class quickly became a popular choice after the release of POE 2 Patch 0.5.0, and Spirit Walker Twisters has become its most representative playstyle. This build revolves around Feather mechanic provided by Ascendancy, gaining extra projectiles through frequent rolls and then using Twister abilities to create numerous tornadoes for damage.
Since rolling itself is part of the core skill rotation, you maintain high-speed movement throughout combat. While more difficult to master than other POE 2 classes, once mastered, it offers an extremely smooth combat experience and amazing burst damage. Spirit Walker Twisters is favored by many leaderboard climbers.
Disciple of Varashta Minion Sorceress
For Sorceress class, Disciple of Varashta Minion is the most stable choice in POE 2 Patch 0.5.0. Following the adjustments to the energy shield, many traditional Sorceress builds have been affected, while Minion has risen to prominence thanks to its stable damage output and excellent survivability.
You can choose to use Powered Zealots as your core summons, enhancing energy shield regeneration through Ascendancy nodes, giving your POE 2 character both a powerful summoned army and extremely high survivability.
Whether in the early game progression or the late game gearing phase, this build provides consistent performance and is one of the most suitable builds for average players in POE 2 Patch 0.5.0.
Abyssal Lich Plants Witch
Witch class has seen a complete resurgence with Abyssal Lich Plant build. With Blood Mage gradually fading from the mainstream Return of the Ancients environment, Abyssal Lich has become the new meta choice due to its unique low-health mechanic.
This build utilizes Plant abilities for area-of-effect damage. You need to actively maintain a low-health state to trigger multiple powerful passive effects, gaining higher critical strike damage and casting speed, while a specific gear combination effectively reduces damage taken. Its balanced approach to damage output and tankiness makes it one of the most well-rounded Witch builds in PoE 2.
Grenade Mercenary
While most Mercenary builds on PoE 2 leaderboard currently utilize Banner Bot support playstyle, Grenade Mercenary is clearly more relevant for average players. This build revolves around various grenade skills, enhancing their effects through Gemling Legionnaire ascension, significantly reducing detonation time and increasing coverage.
The optimized Cluster Grenades can deliver burst damage in a very short time, offering excellent map clearing efficiency and dealing considerable damage to PoE 2 elite mobs and bosses. Since all three Mercenary ascensions are competitive, Mercenary still has significant potential for future development.
Grim Totem Oracle Druid
Finally, Druid class deserves attention. As PoE 2 players continue to explore new mechanics, Grim Totem Oracle Druid is rapidly rising to become the most popular Druid build. Grim Totem Oracle Druid allows for the continuous casting of Grim Pillars, followed by the use of Entangles to detonate them, creating a wide-area explosion of damage.
Since Grim Totem Oracle Druid's skill mechanics are relatively new, there is still potential for further optimization and development.
Based on current ladder performance in Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.0, these are undoubtedly the most dominant builds. As the season progresses and subsequent balance patches are released, the leaderboard landscape may change, but at least for now, these builds have proven themselves to be at the top of Patch 0.5.0.
…Forza Horizon 6 Best Cars Guide: Top Meta Vehicles You Should Unlock First
As Forza Horizon 6 continues to update, more and more players are starting to research the truly worthwhile endgame cars to acquire in the current version. Different vehicles in FH6 have completely different roles. Some boast exceptional handling, while others are dominant in off-road racing.
For players looking to improve their race results, increase map clearing efficiency, or simply enrich their garage collection, prioritizing acquisition of truly powerful vehicles can significantly enhance the overall gaming experience.
Below, we'll review the most worthwhile cars to acquire in Forza Horizon 6 and how to obtain them.
- 2018 Lotus Scura Motrosports Exige WTAC
- 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata Forza Edition
- 2018 Ferrari FXX-K Evo 'Welcome Pack'
- 1999 Dodge Viper GTS ACR Forza Edition
- 2020 Lotus Evija Forze Edition
- 1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno GT-APEX Forze Edition
- 1991 Mazda 787B
- 2018 Mercedes-Benz X-Class
- 1998 Subaru Impreza 22B-STi Version
2018 Lotus Scura Motrosports Exige WTAC
This Lotus is arguably one of the most well-rounded vehicles in Forza Horizon 6, its greatest strength being its incredibly powerful handling. Many supercars suffer from under-steer when cornering at high speeds, but Lotus Exige maintains stable, ground-hugging cornering even at speeds exceeding 250 km/h, with virtually no loss of control.
It's not just good for Road Racing; it performs exceptionally well in Dirt Racing as well. It's practically ubiquitous on Rivals leaderboards for challenging off-road races like Gauntlet, thanks to its incredible acceleration on gravel tracks and its stability on mixed road and dirt surfaces.
You can unlock this car simply by progressing through Horizon Legend's Road Racing Collection Journal and completing all Circuit content.
1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata Forza Edition
If Lotus Exige is an all-rounder, then 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata Forza Edition is a pure acceleration monster. This car practically dominates drag racing, with many FH6 players achieving lap times close to 10 seconds.
Its most impressive feature is its explosive acceleration from a standstill; the car can accelerate to high speeds in a brief time, and its top speed is also astonishing. Even more interestingly, this car isn't just for Forza Horizon 6 Drag; it also performs well in Cross Country long-distance races because of its exceptional acceleration after cornering.
You can obtain this Mazda at Drag Strip spawn point near Horizon Festival, making it one of the most readily available and sought-after supercars.
Also Read: Forza Horizon 6 Complete Wheelbase Adjustment Workflow for Optimal Force Feedback
2018 Ferrari FXX-K Evo 'Welcome Pack'
2018 Ferrari FXX-K Evo 'Welcome Pack' biggest advantages are its excellent high-speed stability and powerful braking performance. Even in intense races, it's easy to handle, making it ideal for novice players. While it's no longer among the absolute top-tier cars in the current version of Forza Horizon 6, it still performs admirably in the early and mid-game.
If you own Forza Horizon 6 Premium or Deluxe Edition, you'll get it at the start of the game. You can also obtain it later in the game using approximately 4.5 million Forza Horizon 6 Credits.
1999 Dodge Viper GTS ACR Forza Edition
For FH6 off-road enthusiasts, 1999 Dodge Viper GTS ACR Forza Edition is practically a must-have vehicle. Its biggest strength is its stable off-road handling. Whether in Trailblazer, off-road speed zones, or Cross-Country races, it boasts an extremely high margin for error.
Even if the vehicle collides or rolls over at high speeds, it can quickly recover and continue moving. Many FH6 players rely on this car to complete challenging Trailblazer three-star challenges, especially in Horizon Kaido Trailblazer, where it has almost become the default choice.
However, unfortunately, this car is part of Forza Horizon 6 Credits VIP Membership DLC and is not available to all players.
2020 Lotus Evija Forze Edition
2020 Lotus Evija Forze Edition is one of the most popular drift cars in Forza Horizon 6, boasting incredibly powerful output. It can easily maintain a prolonged drift, making it easy for even beginners to handle. Not only is it great for drifting, but it's also a top-tier vehicle in high-speed racing.
In long straights like Colossus, Lotus Evija FE is also highly competitive. While its potential is extremely high, it demands a certain level of driving skill. Because of its extremely sensitive steering, it's prone to over-steer and loss of control at high speeds. You can obtain it through Wheel spin or Auction House.
1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno GT-APEX Forze Edition
Toyota AE86 Trueno Forza Edition is currently the highest-theoretically speed car in Forza Horizon 6, capable of reaching 523 km/h. However, its biggest drawback is its near-uncontrollability. At extremely high speeds, even a slight turn of the steering wheel can cause it to lose control, making it more suitable for Speed Trap or recreational gameplay than a true racing car.
Nevertheless, it remains a coveted collectible for many players. To unlock it, you need to accumulate 5,000 points in Master Explorer content on Discover Japan, making it one of the most hard car unlocking requirements in Forza Horizon 6.
1991 Mazda 787B
In Circuit Racing and Street Racing, 1991 Mazda 787B is also one of the most popular cars. Its biggest advantage lies in its exceptionally high-speed cornering ability. Even when entering corners at top speed, it maintains a stable line and requires minimal braking.
As a result, its average speed on challenging tracks like Goliath in Forza Horizon 6 is significantly higher than many hypercars. Mazda 787B is a barn find vehicle; you need to progress through Discover Japan Collection Journal and unlock the corresponding barn later to obtain it.
2018 Mercedes-Benz X-Class
Compared to top-tier supercars, 2018 Mercedes-Benz X-Class is an often underrated vehicle, practically dominating the current A-Class Cross Country and Dirt Race.
It boasts exceptional stability and excellent customization potential. More importantly, this car only costs 47,000 credits in Auto Show, making it incredibly cost-effective.
1998 Subaru Impreza 22B-STi Version
This is currently the most popular Forza Horizon 6 skill point farming car. Many players might not find it particularly special at first glance, but its true strength lies in Car Mastery skill tree. Once the key skill that increases Skill Multiplier is unlocked, this car can quickly boost the multiplier, thus rapidly maxing out Skill Chain.
You can use the specially designed Farming map in Event Lab to auto-farm. Turn on Auto Steering and hold down the accelerator; you can gain nearly 9 Skill Points in about 30 seconds - an incredibly efficient method. You can obtain this car directly in Autoshow.
Overall, the current Forza Horizon 6 game environment has developed a very clear division of labor. Some vehicles focus on road racing and rival leaderboards, while others dominate in races. If you want to improve your race results in FH6 and experience the driving fun of different playstyles, then these vehicles are almost all worth prioritizing in your garage.
…ARC Raiders Store Update 1.30.0: Nomadic Envoys Trader Prices Slashed, New Wolfpack Blueprint & Trader Changes
ARC Raiders has released its Store Update 1.30.0, and the most anticipated change is undoubtedly the price adjustment for Nomadic Envoys Trader.
Compared to the previously criticized high exchange costs, this update clearly prioritizes the experience for ordinary players, significantly reducing exchange prices and making the entire resource system more reasonable. This adjustment, in a sense, also represents the development team starting to truly value community feedback.
Let's take a look at Trader mechanism adjustments and other related content brought to us by this ARC Raiders update.
Mechanism Improvements
Last week's update introduced Nomadic Envoys Trader for the first time. You can collect ARC Raiders Items and exchange them with traders for various rewards, including stash expansions, expedition vault slots, blueprints, cosmetics, and raid tokens. However, problems quickly emerged after the system went live.
First, the prices of many items were outrageously high. The most typical example is Tempest blueprint. While it's a high-quality blueprint, it requires Queen Reactors, Matriarch Reactors, Bombardier Cells, and Assessor Matrices to redeem.
What truly fuels player dissatisfaction is Expedition Vault's pricing mechanism. You might not initially realize that the price of Expedition Vault slots increases progressively. The first slot requires 200,000 coins, the second 400,000 coins, the third 600,000 coins, the fourth 800,000 coins, and the fifth jumps directly to 1 million coins.
That means if you want to unlock all five slots, the total cost is a whopping 3 million coins. This figure is almost unacceptable for the average player. However, the problem isn't just the price; more seriously, your inventory might not hold it all.
Since ARC Raiders currently doesn't support phased resource submissions, you must keep all the exchange materials piling up in your inventory for an extended period. To accumulate 1 million resources, you might even need dozens of inventory slots specifically for storing exchange materials.
Based on different materials, a minimum of 50+ storage slots are required, with some low-value materials potentially occupying over 100 slots. This leads to a very awkward situation: players need sufficiently large storage space to redeem ARC Raiders Expedition Vault expansion.
Update Adjustments
Expedition Vault Price Adjustment
In this latest update, ARC Raiders development team has finally addressed this issue. The most significant change is the complete standardization of Expedition Vault slot prices. All five slots now cost a fixed 200,000 coins, no longer increasing progressively.
The total cost, which previously required 3 million coins, has now been reduced to 1 million. This change is arguably the most crucial and popular adjustment in this update. It not only reduces the grind but also finally allows ARC Raiders system to better suit the gameplay pace of average players.
New Content
This week, ARC Raiders Nomadic Envoys Trader shop has added several new redeemable items, including:
- Chap Outfit
- Soda Can Charm
- Can't Hear You Emote
- Wolfpack Blueprint
- Magnetic Accelerato
- Anvil Splitter
- Mushroom
- Raider Tokens
Among them, Wolfpack Blueprint has become another focus of player discussion. Compared to the previous 1 million coins Tempest Blueprint, the current price of 500,000 coins is significantly more reasonable. While it still requires some time to accumulate resources, it is at least achievable with effort.
Especially for ARC Raiders players who cannot frequently participate in Night Raid map conditions, Trader system provides another stable way to obtain high-level blueprints.
From a design perspective, ARC Raiders development team is actually trying to establish a long-term plan. You can either directly farm rare equipment through high-risk dungeons, or slowly redeem rewards by steadily accumulating resources. These two paths running in parallel essentially cater to different types of players.
Unresolved Issues
However, Trader system still has some issues. For example, the exchange rate for Raider Tokens remains confusing for many players. Some ARC Raiders store skins are worth hundreds or even thousands of Raider Tokens, but merchants only offer an option to exchange 150,000 coins for 25 Raider Tokens, a clearly disproportionate rate.
Furthermore, the resource pre-storage feature that players have been eagerly anticipating is still not available. Many hope that Trader system can be like ARC Raiders Project, allowing players to submit materials in advance, instead of accumulating them all in the warehouse at once. Although prices have decreased recently, 500,000 coins still require a significant amount of storage space, making this feature still crucial for the future.
Meanwhile, the official ARC Raiders team has also responded to recent performance issues reported by players. Currently, ARC Raiders is experiencing crashes and FPS drops across various platforms, which some players speculate may be related to the anti-cheat update. While the official ARC Raiders team has not explicitly confirmed the cause, they have stated that they are investigating and working to fix it.
Future Update Schedule
From now on, ARC Raiders will switch to a major Store live update every three weeks, interspersed with smaller hot fixes, store rotations, and event updates. Compared to the previous, more concentrated and larger monthly updates, the new model is more like breaking down what used to be a major update into multiple smaller phases for gradual release.
This means that you may not see a large amount of new content all at once in the future, but ARC Raiders will maintain a more stable and consistent update frequency overall.
Overall, the biggest significance of Store Update 1.30.0 is not just about bug fixes, but that ARC Raiders development team is starting to truly listen to player feedback. ARC Raiders is trying to find a balance between hardcore and casual players. And for a long-running extraction shooter, this balance may be more important than the amount of new content added.
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