FC 26: Black Friday Market, Icons, and Upgrade Packs

Thunderstruck lands during one of the most volatile times of the FC 26 year: Black Friday, when promo packs, high-end SBCs, and grindable upgrades collide and tempt players to rip packs or buy fc 26 coins more aggressively than usual. EA’s decision to drop powerful Thunderstruck SBCs, a Max 91 Icon pack, and strong season-pass rewards at the same time creates massive pressure on club fodder and tradable markets. As a result, understanding how these pieces interact can save players hundreds of thousands of coins over the course of the promo.

The Max 91 Icon SBC is one of the biggest coin and fodder sinks, promising access to elite names like Ibrahimović, Gullit, Henry, and Morgan that carry enormous prices on the open market. While the pack odds are watered down and the true chance of hitting a top-tier Icon is low, the appeal of potentially pulling a game-breaking card keeps demand high. EA can justify aggressive pricing for this SBC because of the perceived ceiling, which in turn drains fodder and pushes players to grind more upgrade packs or dip into the store.

Store packs and Lightning Rounds during Black Friday further accelerate market crashes, especially when they include strong odds for Thunderstruck cards or high-rated fodder. As more players spend points and open bundles, the influx of supply forces down the prices of many meta gold and special cards, even as demand for SBC fodder spikes. This environment rewards proactive traders who sell into hype before major content drops and then reinvest in underpriced fodder after crashes.

Upgrade packs and player picks also play a major role in Thunderstruck’s ecosystem, with offers like the 82×10 and 3-of-10 80+ SBCs giving menu grinders repeatable paths to refresh their clubs. Compared to last year’s 82×14, the 82×10 offers fewer players, making it slightly weaker on paper but still very attractive for those chasing promo cards while recycling unneeded fodder. Many players also hope for additional repeatable options like 77+ player picks, which historically drive engagement and provide efficient ways to farm rares and boards for SBCs.

Ultimately, Thunderstruck, Black Friday, and the Max 91 Icon SBC combine to create a “perfect storm” where the market experiences both heavy crashes and constant mini-recoveries driven by SBC demand. Players who track content schedules, price trends, and SBC requirements can protect their coin balance, time their purchases, and choose whether to gamble on Icons or stick to targeted SBCs like Koundé, Riton, or Cafu. In a cycle where playstyles and playstyle+ matter more than raw stats, investing in the right untradeables during this window can define a club’s competitiveness for months.