Abandoning Theme Team in 26

I am going to abandon my theme team in 26. I've been playing Madden forever and have always just set up my Lions and really never played with other players for very long - except Vick because I'm a VT grad and I love my Hokies. But next year, I'm only getting players I like without regard to what team they played for. The theme teams this year were just really not worth it.

CNIZZOTE said:

I am going to abandon my theme team in 26. I've been playing Madden forever and have always just set up my Lions and really never played with other players for very long - except Vick because I'm a VT grad and I love my Hokies. But next year, I'm only getting players I like without regard to what team they played for. The theme teams this year were just really not worth it.

Theme teams have unfortunately been an afterthought since at least M23, when i first was getting into Ultimate Team.  Back then i was able to purchase a $25 49ers theme team pack, which got me started (in ~JAN `23) and i had an absolute blast.  Ever since, it's too little, too late.

Rather than stressing and worrying about cards and pictures and players, i've begun matching up abilities to specific areas of the field, although it seems much will be changing for M26.  Because who doesn't love even more buggy, inconsistent messes in online H2H competitive titles?  Oof.  Can't wait to pay for cards and abilities that work less than 50% of the time.  F actual skill gap, we can't wait for dice rolls to determine the outcome of the game(s).

I'd love to think that the game will play wonderfully and not need a bunch of arcade style abilities for our various "simulated" professional athletes to simply catch the dang ball, but my goodness... EA hasn't shown any indication, nor ability to understand how to make basic gameplay function...

Meta will always be current promo TT. Most players run youtube glitch schemes. Just have fun your way.

peatrick said:

Theme teams have unfortunately been an afterthought since at least M23, when i first was getting into Ultimate Team.  Back then i was able to purchase a $25 49ers theme team pack, which got me started (in ~JAN `23) and i had an absolute blast.  Ever since, it's too little, too late.

Rather than stressing and worrying about cards and pictures and players, i've begun matching up abilities to specific areas of the field, although it seems much will be changing for M26.  Because who doesn't love even more buggy, inconsistent messes in online H2H competitive titles?  Oof.  Can't wait to pay for cards and abilities that work less than 50% of the time.  F actual skill gap, we can't wait for dice rolls to determine the outcome of the game(s).

I'd love to think that the game will play wonderfully and not need a bunch of arcade style abilities for our various "simulated" professional athletes to simply catch the dang ball, but my goodness... EA hasn't shown any indication, nor ability to understand how to make basic gameplay function...

Yeah, the TT promo last year was a blast - not so much this year. Last year I grinded like crazy to get the CB - can’t remember who it was now, but it was total wins if I remember instead of wins in a row, which was easier to get - for me at least.

Streetz said:

Meta will always be current promo TT. Most players run youtube glitch schemes. Just have fun your way.

That’s right - I used to love getting my Lions good with the boost because it was rare anyone else ran them. This year, a lot of bandwagon fans running the TT and I can’t stand it. Last year even after a loss against a Lions TT I would give my opponent a “One Pride”. This year I did that and someone said Fuck the Lions - lol.

CNIZZOTE said:

Yeah, the TT promo last year was a blast - not so much this year. Last year I grinded like crazy to get the CB - can’t remember who it was now, but it was total wins if I remember instead of wins in a row, which was easier to get - for me at least.

Odell Beckham, Jr. was the House Rules reward last year. Earned through total wins, not [x]-wins-in-a-row. He also had bonus chems like Legion of Boom, which let you get around the priciest item of the four components needed.

This year’s Theme Team Surge program was thrown together when it came to the assignment of the different theme team categories.

Last year’s Super Bowl program and NFL Combine were the theme teams. This year, there really wasn’t anything like those. All-Star Athletes was good for a few weeks, and then that ceased to be useful. By the time the 40/40 theme team threshold made the +2 SPD modifier accessible, goon squads were already dominating.