I froze the moment I saw the stat bar jump—one click and a striker I loved would gain Shot Power to 99. You know that instant when a small move rewires an entire squad? I felt the stakes then: 50,000 coins on the line and a season’s worth of chemistry in the balance.
I tested the Fantasy FC Path Evolution in EA Sports FC 26, tracked the upgrade chain, and now I’ll show you which attackers actually deserve that coin spend and why. Read this like a short playbook: quick rules, exact requirements, and player choices that keep you winning.
FC 26 Fantasy FC Path Evolution requirements
Observation: I’ve seen squads rejected at the transfer table because one small restriction broke a planned lineup.
If you’re considering the Path Evolution you must meet the filter: Overall max 87, PlayStyle max 10, PlayStyle+ max 1, Position must be ST, and the card cannot be World Tour Silver Stars or LM/RM. The evolution costs 50,000 coins up front.
- Overall: Max 87
- PlayStyle: Max 10
- PlayStyle+: Max 1
- Not Rarity: World Tour Silver Stars
- Position: ST
- Not Position: LM, RM
How much does the Path Evolution cost in FC 26?
It’s a flat in-game fee of 50,000 coins. That’s an investment inside FUT-style ecosystems—so treat it like a roster move, not a disposable buy.
FC 26 Fantasy FC Path Evolution upgrades
Observation: Small attribute jumps can flip how a striker feels during a match—sudden acceleration, crisper finishing.
The evolution is staged across five upgrade levels. Each level adds tangible value: overall bumps, attribute spikes, new roles, PlayStyles and PlayStyle+ progressions. One of those gains—Shot Power to 99 at Level 2—is the kind of leap that changes how a striker wins games; I’d call that move precise, like a scalpel across a defense.
Level 1 upgrades
- Overall: +1 → 88
- Passing: +1 → 87
- Dribbling: +1 → 88
- Physical: +1 → 85
- Acceleration: +1 → 92
- Sprint Speed: +1 → 92
Level 2 upgrades
- Overall: +1 → 88
- Shot Power: +70 → 99
- Roles: Advanced Forward++, Poacher++, False 9++, Target Forward++
Level 3 upgrades
- Weak Foot: +4
- Skills: +3 → 4
- PlayStyles+: Low Driven Shot | 2
Level 4 upgrades
- PlayStyles added: Low Driven Shot, First Touch, Finesse Shot, Power Shot
What are the upgrade steps and requirements?
Short version: play matches and score with the active EVO player in modes like Squad Battles, Rush, Rivals, Champions or Live Events. The tasks are simple—but they force you to use the card in real games rather than bench it.
Level upgrade requirements
Observation: The best evolutions aren’t earned in the transfer market; they’re earned on the pitch.
- Level 1: Win 1 match in any mode with your active EVO player.
- Level 2: Score 1 goal in Squad Battles on at least Semi‑Pro (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using the active EVO player.
- Level 3: Play 1 match in Squad Battles on at least Semi‑Pro (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) with the active EVO player.
- Level 4: Play 1 match in Squad Battles on at least Semi‑Pro (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) with the active EVO player.
Best players to use in Fantasy FC Path Evolution
Observation: I’ve watched community markets swing when one card becomes suddenly more viable after a path update.
Pick strikers that already trend toward pace, finishing, and roles that benefit from Shot Power or Poacher/Advanced Forward boosts. These choices can chain like a relay baton—one evolution hands momentum to the next and keeps value compounding across events and future evolutions.
- Hojlund (TOTW) — pace plus clinical runs; pairs well with the acceleration and sprint upgrades.
- Banda (Winter Wildcards) — versatile attacker who benefits from weak foot and skill gains.
- Gyokeres (Flashback) — physical presence that gets meaner with the Physical and Shot Power spikes.
- Endrick (TOTW) — young, agile striker; PlayStyles here sharpen his finishing instincts.
- Madueke (Winter Wildcards) — dribbling increases and role options make him more unpredictable.
- Ayoze Perez (World Tour) — technical striker who takes full advantage of passing and finesse shot additions.
- Thierry Henry (Winter Wildcards) — icon-level feel; upgrades push legacy cards into competitive territory.
- Johan Cruyff (Winter Wildcards) — classic playmaking forward whose role set explodes with these upgrades.
- Fernando Torres (Base Icon) — straight-line menace amplified by acceleration and shot power.
- Woltemade (Thunderstruck) — niche pick that becomes surprisingly effective after the boost cascade.
Use tools like FUTBIN and FUTWIZ to compare post‑evolution prices and simulated statlines, and keep an eye on community threads on Reddit and Moyens I/O for meta shifts. If you want role-specific validation, check the FIFA/FC 26 community creators and streamers who test builds live on Twitch and YouTube.
Who should I evolve first?
Evolve the striker who closes the biggest gap in your squad: if you lack a power finisher, choose the player who hits Shot Power to 99 at Level 2; if you need pace and dribbling, pick one who benefits from Level 1’s pace and dribble bumps. I prioritize immediate match impact over long-term resale unless market conditions say otherwise.
The path is cheaper than a marquee transfer but it asks you to commit playtime—will you spend the coins to change how your attack behaves on matchday?