Madden 21 is the newest entry in Electronic Arts’ annual NFL simulation series to release. Over the years the Ultimate Team mode where players acquire cards and build out their dream NFL roster has exploded in both popularity and profitability.
In many fans’ eyes, its success has come at a loss of quality to the game’s franchise mode and many feel Ultimate Team is extremely predatory. With plenty of new players entering the mode for the first time, they need to know some of the tricks and tips they can use in Madden 21.
10 Explore Sets
One area that Madden Ultimate Team newcomers often overlook are the sets in the mode. These sets ask for certain cards to be acquired and placed inside them and upon completion, the user is rewarded with something. Often it’s a set amount of coins, a special card pack, or simply a specific player. There’s even an entire group of sets that let you turn in lower overall cards that aren’t a part of your active lineup in exchange for a player of a higher overall. This is a nifty way to turn spare cards into useful additions to your evolving roster.
9 Play Challenges
Challenges are the group of solo events that have players entering games and trying to perform certain tasks. Depending on how skilled you are many of them can be done sequentially, and rather quickly. In recent years the developers have made it possible to go from challenge to challenge without returning to the main menu, which was a welcome quality of life change. You may end up preferring to play real people in the online modes, but if you’re patient and love listening to podcasts, grinding solo challenges is an easy way to build up your coins and roster.
8 Singleplayer Vs. Multiplayer
As was just mentioned, challenges are one of the singleplayer avenues players can experience to grow and evolve their team. Madden Ultimate Team also has several other avenues that allow player to test their competitive spirit against live competition. It’s all a matter of preference and skill as those who are good at the game might feel confident in their ability to take down opponents, whereas newcomers might enjoy grinding challenges against a computer A.I. opponent that can help them get better at the game.
7 Know Your Team
Like with most video games, Madden players can come in all shapes, sizes, and preferences. Some players love to spread the offense out and focus on an all-out passing attack, whereas others love to pound the rock and run the ball 30+ times. Going into Madden Ultimate Team you need to know what type of offense and defense you like to run. This will help you focus on what players you should focus on acquiring and you’d be amazed at how helpful having a generation goal and direction in mind can be to newcomers and beginners.
6 Search Auctions
The auction house seems to be the most intimidating section of Madden Ultimate Team to beginners. Assumptions are that it is the place for MUT high rollers and as a new player, you can’t find use in it. This couldn’t be farther from the truth for a variety of reasons.
First off, you’d be surprised at how cheap some cards can go for, and not using this tool to your advantage is a travesty. Secondly, this is the place to sell your extra cards and turn a profit. You never know how much a random card can go for, that’s the rarest part of a set in Madden Ultimate Team.
5 Don’t Double Up
Whether through challenges or other Madden Ultimate Team rewards you’ll often find yourself with the chance to select a specific player card from a group that you can acquire. It’s important to make the most out of these opportunities and never double up on a position you already have secured. The game offers the ability to compare any card to your current starter at the same position, and its the safest way to avoid taking another great player at a position you didn’t need. Nothing’s worse than getting a second elite quarterback when the linebacker you needed was sitting right there.
4 Packs Vs. Players
A common question asked by Madden Ultimate Team first-timers and beginners is how and when you decided to focus on buying packs, and when you should invest in single card purchases. Everyone has their method, but the most common one is pretty simple to understand. You should focus on quantity early on so you can build a level and respectable roster of mid-70s overall players. Once you do this it’s best to focus on upgrading position by position and starting with the spots that most directly affect your offensive and defensive styles.
3 Be Patient
Instant gratification may not be exclusive to humans, but it’s pretty closely tied to many of our behaviors. We like to have things as soon as possible, and that desire becomes even stronger when we see our peers obtain a thing we’re trying to patiently wait for.
Madden Ultimate Team is a game designed to prey on these base human instincts, but you mustn’t give in. Be patient with yourself as well as the game and understand that sometimes the journey to getting somewhere is often more rewarding than the actual destination.
2 No Need To Spend Money
Is Madden Ultimate Team largely predicated on people spending money to get better cards? Yes, that’s the entire reason why it’s become the focus of the franchise over the years. That being said, players who may not have or want to spend more money on a game that cost them $60 have ways to build a solid roster without spending a penny. In almost all aspects of life you’re going to have to spend the money you earned, or the time you have. Younger kids almost also have to shoot for the latter, whereas many adults don’t mind the former.
1 Find Your Grind
As previously mentioned, you don’t need to spend money on Madden Ultimate Team to build a competitive and entertaining roster. There is a trade-off though to not spending money, and that’s figuring out how to best invest your time. Earlier the singleplayer and multiplayer modes were talked about, but who says you can’t do both? You as an individual need to find what grind feels best to you and ultimately decide if you have enough fun in the mode to justify the time investment.
NEXT: Madden 21: The NFL’s 10 Best Offenses In The Game, Ranked
