The start of a new Madden Ultimate Team (MUT) season is the most exciting—and most important—time to build your squad. The decisions you make in the first few hours can set the tone for your entire year. Whether you‘re a casual player who just wants to enjoy building a fun team, or a competitive grinder chasing top-tier rewards in Head-to-Head Ranked, your early strategy determines how quickly you‘ll be able to keep up with the meta Madden 26 coins and how much value you‘ll squeeze out of your Madden 26 Coins.

By following these nine steps, you‘ll be armed with elite speed, a steady coin flow, and a competitive lineup ready to take on any challenge.

1. Grind the Early Challenges Immediately

The first place you should go once MUT 26 launches is the solo challenge section. Early challenges are designed to give you foundational rewards—coins, packs, and sometimes even a free 80+ OVR player. Don‘t underestimate them. Not only do these challenges ease you into new mechanics and playbooks, but they also deliver quick rewards that boost your lineup without spending a dime.

Pro tip: Focus on challenges that guarantee NCAT (Non-Collectible Auctionable/Tradeable) players or coin packs. Early on, coins are more valuable than low-level players you‘ll replace in a few days.

2. Prioritize Speed Above All Else

In the first two weeks of MUT, speed is king. A 78 OVR wide receiver with 89 speed will perform better than an 84 OVR with 83 speed. Until higher ratings roll out, your team‘s ability to keep up with fast receivers, running backs, and corners matters more than overall.

When scanning the auction house or selecting free player packs, always filter by speed. Build a foundation of playmakers who can break big plays or prevent them. Once speed evens out across higher-tier cards later in the year, you can focus more on overall ratings and abilities.

3. Use Your Welcome Packs Wisely

Every MUT launch provides a set of starter packs and player choices. Many players make the mistake of instantly adding everything to their lineup without strategy. Instead, take a moment to evaluate positions of need and look at early market trends.

If you pull a card that‘s selling high (often quarterbacks, corners, and halfbacks), you might be better off listing it immediately for coins rather than using it. Remember: coins in the first week stretch way further than they do later in the season.

4. Master the Auction House Early

The MUT auction house is where empires are built. Learning how to flip cards, snipe undervalued listings, and sell into demand is one of the fastest ways to gain coin stability.

Check filters for specific OVR ranges and positions—especially QB, WR, CB, and LT, which always carry demand.

Buy low, sell high: Grab cards posted under market value, relist them at the median price, and pocket the profit.

Target promos: New content drops often cause card prices to fluctuate wildly. Be ready to scoop bargains during chaos.

Spending just 10–15 minutes a day in the auction house during the first week can make the difference between being coin-starved and sitting on 300K+ coins before most players hit 50K.

5. Lock in a Reliable QB Early

Quarterback is the engine of every MUT team, and your choice here can determine how competitive you are out of the gate. Some players stick with the starter option until they can afford a superstar, but that often handicaps your offense.

If you see an affordable QB with solid accuracy and 80+ throw power, don‘t hesitate—pick him up. Passing feels smoother, and you‘ll waste fewer drives, which is critical in Head-to-Head games where mistakes punish you more than offline solos.

6. Don‘t Overspend on Your First Lineup

It‘s tempting to blow all your coins on an 85+ OVR card the first night, but restraint pays off. Early cards lose value quickly as promos and special packs roll out. Instead of tying all your resources into one flashy star, spread your investments across key positions: WR, CB, QB, and HB.

Think of it as building a foundation lineup—fast enough to compete, balanced enough to handle solo challenges, and flexible enough to evolve when the first real promo hits.

7. Play Head-to-Head for Coin Multipliers

Once you‘ve got your foundation squad, don‘t be afraid to jump into online Head-to-Head. The coin rewards scale faster than solos once you start winning consistently, and playing human opponents will sharpen your stick skills.

Even if you‘re not ready for Ranked, unranked H2H gives a steady stream of packs and XP. Just remember: every game is also a learning opportunity. Pay attention to the meta plays and strategies other players are using—it gives you a preview of what works at higher levels.

8. Complete Sets Strategically

Sets are one of the most coin-efficient ways to acquire top-tier cards, but they can also drain your resources if done blindly. Early in the season, focus on sets that:

Reward you with players at positions of need.

Provide auctionable cards you can flip for profit.

Tie into ongoing promo programs like Rising Stars or Team Builders.

Avoid high-cost sets during the first week unless you‘ve already built a coin cushion. Patience often pays, as set materials drop in price after the initial launch rush.

9. Stay on Top of Content Drops

MUT is a live-service mode, and content drops shape the market constantly. EA often releases weekly promos, limited-time events, and free pack opportunities that can turbocharge your progress.

Follow community hubs (Twitter, Reddit, YouTube creators) to stay up-to-date on when new content is arriving. Knowing ahead of time lets you prepare—whether that‘s selling cards before prices tank or saving packs for when new players hit the pool.

Final Thoughts: Build Smart, Play Smarter

Launching strong in Madden 26 Ultimate Team isn‘t about spending the most money or lucking into the best pack pull—it‘s about strategy. By grinding early challenges, prioritizing speed, flipping the auction house, and pacing your spending, you can secure a roster that‘s both competitive and flexible.

Remember, the early days aren‘t about creating your dream lineup overnight—they‘re about setting a foundation. The nine steps above give you the strongest possible launchpad for 
cheap Madden 26 coins ensuring you‘ll always be a step ahead of the competition.