MMOexp-EA FC26: Chain-Friendly EVOs Are Here

Chunzliu

With Winter Wildcards just one day away, EA Sports has surprised the community by dropping two brand-new Evolutions on a Thursday-and honestly, it feels like we're getting spoiled. Rather than the usual single EVO or a tightly restricted option, these two new releases signal something much bigger: EA is finally embracing chain-friendly Evolutions that focus on playstyles and stats without inflating overall ratings.

For players working on long-term EVO projects or passion cards buried in their clubs, this is exactly what EA FC 26 needed. Let's break down both Evolutions, why they matter, who they're best used on, and how they set up some absolutely filthy future chains FC 26 Coins.

The Bandit EVO: Playstyles Without Rating Inflation

The headline EVO is The Bandit, costing 20,000 coins or 200 FC Points, and it can be completed twice. Right away, that's a green flag. Even better, it supports any position up to 85 OVR, which massively widens the player pool.

What makes The Bandit special is what it doesn't do:

No overall rating boost

That alone makes it one of the best chain enablers we've seen so far in EA FC 26.

Bandit EVO Requirements & Rewards

Max Overall: 85

Any Position

Max PlayStyles: 10

Max PlayStyle+: 1

Can be completed twice

PlayStyles Added

Anticipate (Base + Plus)

Jockey

Bruiser

Long Ball Pass

Pinged Pass

This is a defensive playstyle evolution through and through, clearly targeting center backs, fullbacks, and CDMs. Anticipate alone is one of the strongest defensive playstyles in the game this year, and locking it in early-especially without increasing overall-opens up huge future flexibility.

Why PlayStyles Matter More Than Ever in EA FC 26

If you're still building EVOs based purely on stats, you're already behind the curve.

This year, playstyles define how a card performs far more than raw attributes. Anticipate changes defensive positioning, Jockey improves lateral movement, and Bruiser alters physical duels entirely. These aren't marginal bonuses-they fundamentally reshape how a card feels in-game.

That's why The Bandit EVO is such a big deal. It allows you to fix missing playstyles on otherwise great cards without ruining their eligibility for future Evolutions.

Best Uses for The Bandit EVO

Center Backs: The Clear Winners

This EVO screams center back value.

Locking in Anticipate+ now can be incredible-but only if it doesn't block a better Plus later.

Standout EVO Targets Worth Watching

Some cards stand out immediately as elite candidates:

Zakaria (84)-Perfect rating, incredible physicals, future monster

Van de Ven-Already strong, Anticipate pushes him over the top

Ed Militão-Endgame defender with the right chain FIFA 26 Coins for sale

Davinson Sánchez-Missing a PlayStyle+ and gets fixed instantly

Even some unconventional options-like repositioned midfielders or hybrid fullbacks-can become viable with these EVOs.

Final Thoughts: A Massive W for EA FC 26

Dropping two chain-friendly Evolutions the day before Winter Wildcards is a bold move-and a welcome one.

The Bandit EVO is one of the best playstyle-focused upgrades we've seen this year, while Thunder-In quietly fixes long-standing stat problems for low-rated cards. Neither inflates ratings, both can be done twice, and both open the door to creative, long-term EVO planning.