EA FC Ultimate Team players are used to building the best lineup possible. Every decision in Rivals or Champs is about squeezing out every last advantage, be it through chemistry, meta links, or custom tactics. But EA FC 26‘s new Gauntlet mode promises to turn that philosophy on its head.
Instead of rewarding players for perfection, Gauntlet mode is intended to reward players for depth and making use of squads outside of your main. But what is Gauntlet mode, and how can it change the Ultimate Team formula in EA FC 26?
Luckily, someone has clarified this for us.
What Is Gauntlet Mode In EA FC 26?
Upon its announcement, some people seemed confused about what Gauntlet mode was in EA FC 26. However, Jamey Cane — the Senior Lead Project Manager for EA FC 26 — has stepped up to talk about what the mode is.
To put it simply, Gauntlet mode is a new event-style competition where players are tasked with using multiple squads to progress. The twist? Once you use a player in one round of the Gauntlet, you can’t use them again in later rounds. This means that you’ll need a second, third, fourth, and fifth squad ready to go if you want to make a deep run. Think of it like a war of attrition, but with your club depth as the biggest weapon.
On paper, I love the idea. And I think most players who value an engaging experience will, too.
There Are No Restrictive Squad Requirements (Most Of The Time)
Some of the early confusion about Gauntlet mode revolved around players thinking that there would be some rigid entry requirements like “use a full French squad” or something of that nature. But Cane has clarified that most Gauntlets will have open squad rules, allowing players to use any cards they wish.
The only real rule when it comes to squad selection is that after a player has been used, they’re locked for the remainder of the Gauntlet. So, strategy will be the name of the game, and choosing to play one card in a game instead of another could bring about some interesting results.
Why This Changes The Game In EA FC 26
Gauntlet is an attempt to solve a long-running problem within EA FC Ultimate Team: Players building fun squads they never actually use. Maybe you’ve got an Evolutions-only team, or a team based on one of the more fringe leagues in the game, such as Saudi Arabia or the USA’s MLS (I do the latter every year). In traditional modes such as Rivals or Champs, those squads gather virtual dust for the most part or are used by only the wildest of dreamers.
With Gauntlet, squads like this finally have a reason to not only exist, but also be competitive.
Think of it as a way to extend the life cycle of your club. That 86-rated winger you loved a few months ago when the game first dropped? In Gauntlet, he might be the key to your third, fourth, or fifth squads.
Forget about the gameplay for a second, though. Think of what this does for packs in EA FC 26. Right now, most players only get excited when they pull players that either offer an immediate upgrade to their current squads, or can go for a ton of coins on the market. But with Gauntlet being a thing, pulling a mid-tier card that fits perfectly into one of your backup squads means something again.
Maybe I’m overestimating how popular Gauntlet will be amongst Ultimate Team players — much of that popularity will depend on the rewards they give for doing them. But man, on paper, I love the idea.
