EA FC 26 Evolutions (2025) Best Players to Upgrade Guide

EA FC 26 Evolutions allow you to upgrade your Ultimate Team players with stat boosts and new abilities through completing challenges. The feature returns with major improvements including goalkeeper evolutions, repeatable paths, and cosmetic customization options. Currently, there are three active evolutions available: Intro to Evolutions, Intro to Rewards, and Rising Guard, each offering unique upgrade paths for different player types with varying requirements and expiration dates.

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Quick Summary: Active EA FC 26 Evolutions

Evolution Name	Max OVR	Key Upgrades	Best Players	Expires
Intro to Evolutions	81	+1 OVR, +1 PAC, +1 SHO	Kolo Muani, Rashford, Jackson	Sept 30, 2025
Intro to Rewards	82	+1 OVR, +4 LS, +4 DRI	Benjamin Sesko, Pogba, Havertz	Sept 19, 2026
Rising Guard	82	+1 DEF	Loftus-Cheek, Pogba, Akanji	Oct 10, 2025
Club Member Reward	Varies	New PlayStyles	Available to FC Club Members	Ongoing
Training Camp EVOs	Varies	GK upgrades available	Via Companion App	Ongoing

What Are Evolutions in EA FC 26?

Evolutions in FC 26 have been updated based on community feedback, introducing the ability to evolve goalkeepers for the first time, combine cosmetic upgrades without losing existing styles, and maintain the original look of players when upgrading them. This revolutionary feature lets you transform ordinary gold cards into powerhouse players that can compete with special cards throughout the season.

The system works by assigning eligible players to Evolution paths, completing in-game challenges, and earning permanent upgrades. Unlike Squad Building Challenges (SBCs) which require sacrificing players, Evolutions let you keep and improve your favorite cards. Repeatable Evolutions give you more flexibility, with some able to be completed multiple times on different players or even the same player if eligible, taking the pressure off making the "perfect" choice right away.

Active EA FC 26 Evolutions (September 2025)

1. Intro to Evolutions

Intro to Evolutions is EA FC 26's starter EVO, which essentially reintroduces players to the feature while offering some minor upgrades, including +1 OVR, +1 Pace, and +1 Shooting. The Evolution expires on September 30.

Requirements:

• Excluded Rarity: Special Player Items
• Overall: Maximum 81
• Position Must Not Be: GK

Upgrades:

• Overall: +1
• Pace: +1
• Shooting: +1

Challenges:

• Level 1: Play 1 match in any mode using your active EVO player

Best Players to Upgrade:

1. Randal Kolo Muani (Tottenham) - The French striker becomes an 82-rated speedster perfect for early-game squads
2. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) - England's pacey winger gets even faster
3. Nicolas Jackson (Bayern Munich) - Budget beast striker option
4. Christopher Nkunku (Milano FC) - Versatile attacker with great potential
5. Paul Pogba (Monaco) - The veteran midfielder gets a nice boost
6. Estevao (Chelsea) - Young Brazilian talent worth investing in
7. Lucas Bergvall (Tottenham) - Swedish wonderkid for Spurs fans
8. Rayan Cherki (Manchester City) - Creative midfielder with 5-star skills

2. Intro to Rewards Evolution

This evolution is tied to the Venturing Out Objective, essential for unlocking the Transfer Market. To access the Evolution itself, you'll need to play through three Rush matches. The reward includes +1 Overall, +4 Long Shots, +4 Dribbling, +4 Long Pass, and more. The Evo expires on September 19, 2026.

Requirements:

• Excluded Rarity: Special Item
• Overall: Max 82
• Pace: Max 84

Upgrades:

• Overall: +1
• Long Shots: +4
• Dribbling: +4
• Long Pass: +4
• Additional minor stat boosts

Challenges:

• Level 1: Play 1 match in any mode using your active EVO player
• Level 2: Play 1 match in any mode using your active EVO player
• Additional: Complete 3 Rush matches

Top Player Recommendations:

1. Benjamin Sesko (Manchester United) - Slovenian striker becomes a complete forward
2. Paul Pogba (Monaco) - Excellent all-around midfielder upgrade
3. Kai Havertz (Arsenal) - German attacker gains crucial shooting boost
4. Jurrien Timber (Arsenal) - Versatile defender with pace
5. Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa) - English talent with room to grow
6. Joelinton (Newcastle United) - Physical midfielder becomes more complete
7. Dean Hujsen (Real Madrid) - Young defender with high potential
8. Angel Di Maria (Rosario Central) - Veteran winger still has quality

3. Rising Guard Evolution

The Rising Guard Evolution brought modest upgrades with fully evolved players receiving +1 Defence. Fortunately, there are no challenges associated with it, and the Evo expires on October 10.

Requirements:

• Excluded Rarity: World Tour Silver Stars
• Overall: Max 82

Upgrades:

• Defence: +1

Challenges:

• None required (Free upgrade)

Meta Player Selections:

1. Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Milano FC) - Physical midfielder with defensive improvement
2. Warren Zaire-Emery (PSG) - Young French talent
3. Paul Pogba (Monaco) - Versatile option for multiple evolutions
4. Matteo Guendouzi (Latium) - Box-to-box midfielder
5. Dean Hujsen (Real Madrid) - Promising defender
6. Manuel Akanji (Manchester City) - Swiss defender becomes more solid
7. Otavio (Al Qadisiyah) - Creative midfielder option
8. Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona) - La Masia graduate with potential

4. Club Member Reward Evolution

This exclusive evolution is available only to EA FC Club Members who played FC 25 before November 1, 2025. It provides unique rewards including new PlayStyles and coveted Role++ upgrades.

Benefits:

• 2 new PlayStyles added
• New Role++ unlocked
• Stat improvements vary by player

5. Training Camp Evolutions

Training Camp Evolutions can be assigned through the Companion App. When the training session concludes, players collect their earned upgrades. This includes the new ability to evolve Goalkeepers for the first time in EA FC.

How to Complete Evolutions Effectively?

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Select Your Player Wisely
   • Check current market prices before evolving
   • Consider your team's needs and chemistry links
   • Remember: evolved players become untradeable
2. Understand the Requirements
   • Each evolution has specific overall rating caps
   • Some exclude special cards or certain positions
   • Training Camp evolutions have unique companion app requirements
3. Complete Challenges Efficiently
   • Stack multiple evolutions when possible
   • Use Squad Battles on lower difficulties for easy completion
   • Rush mode counts for most objectives
4. Maximize Your Evolution Slots
   • Ultimate Edition owners start with 2 active slots
   • Standard players have 1 slot initially
   • Plan which evolutions to prioritize

Best Overall Players for Multiple Evolutions

The "Evolution Kings" - Players Eligible for Multiple Paths:

Paul Pogba (Monaco)

• Eligible for: Intro to Evolutions, Intro to Rewards, Rising Guard
• Why: Central position, good links, balanced stats
• Investment Rating: 9/10

Dean Hujsen (Real Madrid)

• Eligible for: Intro to Rewards, Rising Guard
• Why: Young defender with Real Madrid chemistry
• Investment Rating: 8/10

Rayan Cherki (Manchester City)

• Eligible for: Multiple paths
• Why: 5-star skills, Premier League links
• Investment Rating: 8.5/10

Advanced Evolution Strategies

Market Timing:

• Buy eligible players during rewards releases (Thursday 6 PM UK)
• Avoid purchasing during content drops
• Monitor price graphs for trends

Chemistry Optimization:

• Focus on players from top 5 leagues
• Prioritize nation links for hybrid squads
• Consider position changes before evolving

Long-term Planning:

• Save coins for repeatable evolutions
• Keep duplicate eligible players for future paths
• Track evolution expiry dates in calendar

New Features in FC 26 Evolutions

EA FC 26 introduces several improvements including evolving players without changing their item design unless the evolution specifically changes rarity. Evolution status is marked with new badging that can be used in Squad Requirements, making it easier to track evolved players in Live Events and Rush.

Key Improvements:

• Goalkeeper evolutions now possible
• Cosmetic upgrades don't override existing styles
• Repeatable paths for flexibility
• Evolution badges for squad building
• Preview system shows cosmetic changes

Community Resources & Tools

Essential Websites:

• Evolution trackers and comparison tools
• Price checking databases
• AI-powered evolution recommendations

Official Community Channels:

• Official EA SPORTS FC Discord - The official EA SPORTS FC community on Discord with 68,000+ members for sharing feedback, finding teammates, and staying updated with game news.
• EA Forums - Official support and discussion
• Reddit r/EAFC - Community discussions and tips

Content Creator Resources:

Follow these channels for evolution guides:

• YouTube: Search "EA FC 26 Evolution Guide"
• Twitch: Watch live evolution completions
• Twitter/X: Follow @EASPORTSFC for announcements

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Evolving Untradeable Duplicates First
   • Always check if you have tradeable versions
   • Sell tradeable, keep untradeable for evolutions
2. Ignoring Market Value
   • Some base cards spike during evolution releases
   • Sell high, buy back later if needed
3. Not Reading Requirements Carefully
   • Double-check position and rating restrictions
   • Some evolutions exclude special cards
4. Rushing Through Objectives
   • Plan efficient completion methods
   • Combine with other objectives when possible

Future Evolution Predictions

Based on EA's release pattern, expect:

• Weekly Evolution Releases - Every Friday during content drops
• Promo-Specific Evolutions - During Team of the Week, special events
• Seasonal Mega Evolutions - Major upgrades during holidays
• Icon Evolution Paths - For special milestone players

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I evolve special cards in EA FC 26?

Most starter evolutions exclude special cards, requiring base gold items only. However, future evolutions may specifically target special cards for upgrades.

Do evolved players keep their chemistry styles?

Yes, FC 26 allows you to evolve players without changing their item design, and cosmetic upgrades can be combined without losing existing styles.

Can goalkeepers be evolved now?

Yes! For the first time in EA FC history, goalkeeper evolutions are available through Training Camp and other specific paths.

How many evolution slots do I get?

Standard Edition players start with 1 slot, while Ultimate Edition owners receive 2 slots from launch. Additional slots may become available through objectives or season rewards.

Do evolutions expire?

Yes, each evolution has a specific expiration date. The Intro to Rewards evolution is unique with a year-long availability until September 19, 2026.

Can I use the same player in multiple evolutions?

With the new repeatable evolution system, some paths allow the same player to be evolved multiple times if they remain eligible after previous upgrades.

Are evolved players tradeable?

No, once a player enters an evolution path, they become permanently untradeable.

What happens if I don't complete an evolution before it expires?

You keep all upgrades from completed levels but cannot progress further once the evolution expires.

Conclusion

EA FC 26 Evolutions represent a massive improvement over previous iterations, offering more flexibility, better rewards, and the long-awaited ability to upgrade goalkeepers. Whether you're a casual player looking to improve your starter squad or a hardcore trader maximizing every opportunity, understanding evolutions is crucial for Ultimate Team success.

Start with the free Intro to Evolutions path to get familiar with the system, then strategically plan which players to upgrade based on your team needs and playstyle. Remember to check evolution databases daily for new releases and join the official Discord to stay updated with the community.

The meta is constantly evolving in EA FC 26, and with smart evolution choices, your team can keep pace with even the most expensive squads. Good luck with your upgrades, and may your evolution pulls be forever in your favor!