Crafting Upgrades as the Core Recycling Engine

Crafting Upgrades are the most important part of the guide and arguably the smartest design choice in the entire grind. By placing gold commons plus two rares into FC 26 Coins Crafting Upgrades, players effectively generate one rare gold per five commons, while also accessing broader fodder diversity.

The argument for Crafting Upgrades over small league upgrades is compelling:

They offer a better chance at 83+ fodder

They allow TOTY Icons to be packed

They include TOTYs from all leagues

They create a shorter, more flexible recycling loop

Instead of locking yourself into one league too early, Crafting Upgrades keep your club adaptable and resource-rich.

League-Specific Premium Upgrades for Targeted Packing

Once rares are generated, they should be funneled into league-specific Premium Upgrades. This is where the grind becomes strategic rather than random.

The guide correctly recommends:

LaLiga / Liga F during the midfielder phase

Premier League / WSL during defender releases

This supports the argument that timing matters. By aligning league upgrades with active TOTY releases, players maximize the chance that a rare pull actually corresponds to a live TOTY card. Targeted grinding always outperforms unfocused pack opening during promos with split release schedules.

Recycling Golds Under 82 Overall

Gold cards under 82 overall are not useless-they are fuel. Recycling these cards through Steps 3 and 4 ensures that no card sits idle in your club.

This step emphasizes inventory hygiene. By constantly draining storage, players avoid duplicate issues and maintain a steady flow of upgrade SBC completions. It also reinforces the idea that TOTY grinding is about momentum, not saving everything "just in case."

Intelligent Recycling of Higher Fodder

Higher-rated fodder requires smarter allocation. The guide's breakdown is particularly efficient:

82-84 → 85+ ×3

83-84 + TOTW → 83+ ×10

83-84 → 83+ ×5 (ATT/MID/DEF)

85s → Winter Provision Upgrades

86+ → Player or Icon SBCs

This structured approach prevents overusing high-rated fodder too early while ensuring steady progression toward premium SBCs. The supporting argument here is value preservation: fodder should always be exchanged for buy FIFA Coins equal or higher potential value, never downgraded unnecessarily.