Alright let me tell you about my whole journey trying to score those fancy high-end cards in Diamond Dynasty without emptying my wallet this time around. MLB The Show 25 just dropped, and everyone’s hyped, but also kinda broke after buying the game, right?
Starting From Absolute Scratch
So first off, I booted up Diamond Dynasty for the first time. Game throws the usual starter pack crap at you.
- Couple low bronze players.
- Maybe a common silver, that’s it.
- Stadiums and logos nobody cares about.
My squad looked like a Little League team trying to compete in the World Series. Not good.
Grinding Mode: Engage
Right, heard this year might have decent “offline” paths. Figured I’d avoid online head-to-head meltdowns for now.
- Conquest Maps: Dove into the new USA map first thing. It eats time, man, playing all those mini games against weak AI. But hey, the goals usually cough up packs and stubs as you conquer each territory. Sneaky good stash builder.
- Programs, Programs, Programs: The Daily Moments thing is still there. Some days it’s super easy, like hit a homer on rookie difficulty. Boom, small rewards stacked daily. Then there’s the bigger Player Programs – these are the real free player goldmine. EA sports being EA sports, they lock a juicy card behind challenges. Like the “All-Star Flashback” I saw.
- Moments Grind: For that All-Star card? Had to hit .500 over 10 games with a specific player, get X homers, buncha stats. Took me maybe… 90 minutes? Annoying? Yeah, kinda. But payoff was a solid 90 OVR card I actually use now. Free!
Playing The Pack Lottery (Free Tickets Only!)
Okay, gotta talk pack luck. The Show is still stingy as heck. BUT, you accumulate free packs from:
- Finishing conquest goals
- Leveling up the main XP reward path (just playing anything earns XP)
- Completing specific program stages
Started cracking those open one by one. Mostly garbage commons and bronzes. Felt pretty bleak. Then, after what felt like the twentieth basic pack? Boom! Gold player. Not the 99 OVR dream, but hey, usable upgrade. Patience, padawan.
The Real Deal – Events & Market Plays
Ventured online, just for the limited-time Events mode. These often have entry requirements about using only gold players or less. Key thing? Winning streaks actually reward solid packs. Lost my first few games miserably. Painful. Finally put together a 3-win run. Reward pack? BAM! Actually pulled an Elite Series card rated 88. Insane pull from a “free” event entry. Didn’t cost me a dime, just sanity.
Also, learned to flip stuff slowly. Seriously. Buy low, sell high, even with silvers. Takes forever, but those extra stubs mean buying a needed player outright becomes possible without money. Built up enough for a budget gold 1B that way.
The Verdict After My Weeks-Long Test
So, did I build a god squad entirely F2P? Heck no, not instantly. But:
- Got that 90 OVR All-Star card purely from grinding programs.
- Pulled an 88 OVR from an Event reward pack.
- Filled gaps with golds earned through XP path rewards or flipping stubs.
Top-tier can happen F2P, but it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Requires grinding offline modes like Conquest and Programs religiously. Taking advantage of every free pack source. Playing the long, tedious market game for stubs. Patience paid off. Team looks respectable now, and my wallet? Still full.
